I will go and see
her, and tomorrow indeed
come home—even though
the distant other should, if
anything, hold it against me

Meaning

I will go and see her, and tomorrow indeed come home—even if the distant other, rather, takes it amiss.

Commentary

Part One: Usugumo

　Genji smiled and answered Murasaki no Ue's poem with this one. He promised that though he went there, he would surely be home tomorrow, and said he did not care if he displeased Akashi no Kimi. The child, playing on without understanding the exchange, seemed dear to Murasaki no Ue, and for her sake she quite forgave the dig at Akashi no Kimi. Genji took the child into his arms and played at giving her the breast, and the sight had much to delight in.

　"Yukite mite" is to go and see her. "Sane komu" is I will surely come home, with "sa" as emphasis. "Nakanaka ni" is rather, if anything. "The distant other" takes up her own word for Akashi no Kimi at Oi. "Kokoro oku" is to take amiss, to hold something back. Where she reproached the "distant other" as one holding him back, he takes up the same word and answers that though that other should mind it, he will surely return, and the wit of the exchange is kept.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

I will go and see her, and tomorrow indeed come home—even though the distant other should, if anything, hold it against me

I will go and see
her, and tomorrow indeed
come home—even though
the distant other should, if
anything, hold it against me