Tama shikite matamashi yori wa takesokani kitaru koyoi shi tanoshiku omōyu

玉敷きて待たましよりはたけそかに
来る今夜し楽しく思ほゆ

Roma-ji: Tama shikite matamashi yori wa takesokani kitaru koyoi shi tanoshiku omōyu
English Translation: Rather than spreading jewels
and waiting in readiness,
quite unexpectedly
you came to us, and tonight
feels to me all the more joyful
Meaning: Rather than spreading jewels and waiting, this night when you came so unexpectedly seems to me far more joyful.
Commentary: Book Six Miscellaneous Poems 1015

Headnote: "A poem by Prince Enoi, added later in response"
This poem says that rather than spreading jewels and waiting, this night when the guests arrived unexpectedly feels far more joyful. The headnote describes it as "added later in response": Prince Enoi, learning afterward of the exchange at Prince Kadobe's banquet, composed it in reply to the host's poem.
Where the host, Prince Kadobe, welcomed his guests by lamenting that he "would have spread out jewels" had he known, this poem answers that the surprise visit of this very night is more delightful than any prepared welcome, dispelling the host's regret and affirming the joy of the banquet.
The poet, Prince Enoi, is noted in the headnote as "the son of Prince Shiki," and was thus a grandson of Emperor Tenji. Among Prince Shiki's other sons were Prince Shirakabe, who became Emperor Kōnin, and Prince Yuhara.

This poem takes the final line of 1013, "I would have spread out jewels," into its own first line, "Rather than spreading jewels," and responds by contrasting an imagined welcome with the real delight of the unexpected.
The first line, "Rather than spreading jewels," directly echoes Prince Kadobe's phrase.
The second line, "and waiting in readiness," uses the counterfactual auxiliary "mashi" to suppose a preparation that never actually took place, and "yori wa" sets it up as the standard of comparison.
The third line, "quite unexpectedly," renders "takesokani," a rare word thought to mean "by chance" or "unexpectedly." It stands for the sudden visit in contrast to careful preparation.
In the fourth line, "you came to us, and tonight," the emphatic particle "shi" singles out this very night above all others.
The final line, "feels to me all the more joyful," uses "omohoyu," meaning that the feeling arises of itself. The poem closes with a bright affirmation that chooses the joy of chance over prepared hospitality.
Author: Prince Enoi
Source: Manyoshu
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