er think of writing such odd lines as
these?"

"Ah!" said Genji, "I see, 'its summer shade is still thick
though!'"[74]

While he was joking he felt something like nervousness in thinking
what people might say if anyone happened to see him flirting with such
an elderly lady. She, on her side, had no such fear. She replied--

"If beneath that forest tree,
The steed should come or swain should be,
Where that ancient forest grows,
Is grass for food, and sweet repose."

"What?" retorted Genji,

"If my steed should venture near,
Perhaps he'd find a rival there,
Some one's steed full well, I ween,
Rejoices in these pastures green."

And quitted the room.

The Emperor, who had been peeping unobserved into it, after he had
finished his toilet, laughed heartily to himself at the scene.

To-no-Chiujio was somehow informed of Genji's fun with this lady, and
became anxious to discover how far he meant to carry on the joke. He
therefore sought her acquaintance. Genji knew nothing of this. It
happened on a cool summer evening that Genji was sauntering round the
Ummeiden in the palace yard. He heard the sound of a _biwa_ (mandolin)
proceeding from a veranda. It was played by this lady. She performed
well upon it, for she was often accustomed to play it before the
Emperor along with male musicians. It sounded very charming. She was
also singing to it the "Melon grower."

"Ah!" thought Genji, "the singing woman in Gakshoo, whom the poet
spoke of, may have been like this one," and he stood still and
listened. Slowly he approached near the veranda, humming slowly, as
he went, "Adzmaya," which she soon noticed, and took up the song, "Do
open and come in! but

I do not believe you're in the rain,
Nor that you really wish to come in."

Genji at once responded,

"Whose love you may be I know not,
But I'll not stand outside your cot,"

and was going away, when he suddenly thought, "This is too abrupt!"
and coming back, he entered the apartment.

How great was the joy of To-no-Chiujio, who had followed Genji
unperceived by him, when he saw this. He contrived a plan to frighten
him, so he reconnoitred in order to find some favorable opportunity.

The evening breeze blew chill, and Genji it appears was becoming very
indifferent. Choosing this moment To-no-Chiujio slyly stepped forth to
the spot where Genji was resting.

Genji soon noticed his footsteps, but he never imagined