I had put my trust
in a robe between us worn
until it was known—
and is it over so slight
a thing that we come apart

Meaning

I had trusted in a bond worn familiar between us; is it over so slight a thing that we are to come apart?

Commentary

Part Three: Yadorigi

　Naka no Kimi's reply to Niou's suspicion. She asks whether a bond of years is to break over a trace of scent, and so puts the charge aside. She had never had any intention of an affair with Kaoru, and the suspicion had no ground. But Niou was the man who had gone forward with the match to the Sixth Daughter, and was in no position to suspect anyone: that irony lies inside the exchange.

　Minarenuru is to have grown familiar with the sight of a thing, and takes over his nare. Naka no koromo is the robe that lies between them and at the same time carries naka, the tie between two people. Kabakari is so much as this, with ka sounding ka, scent, so that the irony of "over one fragrance" is in it. Koromo and nare belong together as words. Piling double meanings into a few syllables to make her case is very much her manner.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

I had put my trust in a robe between us worn until it was known— and is it over so slight a thing that we come apart

I had put my trust
in a robe between us worn
until it was known—
and is it over so slight
a thing that we come apart