Genji would have liked to put Tamakazura’s affairs in order, but the Silent Waterfall of his longing produced complications. —
源氏本想整理玉鬘的事情，但他的思念之泉产生了复杂的问题。 —

It was beginning to seem that Murasaki’s fears had been well founded and that Genji would be the subject of scandalous rumors. —
源氏开始觉得紫的担忧可能是有根据的，他将成为 scandalous rumors 的对象。 —

Tō no Chūjō was a man who liked to have things clear and in the open. —
当时觉得东中将是一个喜欢事情明了的人。 —

He could not bear subterfuge. How sheepish a son-in-law he himself would be, thought Genji, on the day when everything was revealed to his friend!
他无法忍受诡计。源氏想，当一切都揭晓给他的朋友的那一天，他会是多么的羞愧！

In the Twelfth Month there was a royal outing to Oharano. —
十二月里有一次去大原野的皇家行宫。 —

Like everyone else, the ladies of Rokujō set out in their carriages to watch. —
像其他人一样，六条院的女士们也乘着马车出发观看。 —

The procession, very splendid even for a royal outing, left the palace early in the morning and proceeded south along Suzaku and west on Gojō. Carriages lined the streets all the way to the river Katsura. —
盛大的游行，即使是对于一次皇家郊游而言，也早早从宫中出发，沿着朱雀往南，沿着五条往西。沿途车马络绎不绝，一直延伸到桥上的河岸。 —

The princes and high officials were beautifully fitted out. —
王子和高级官员穿着华丽。 —

Their guards and grooms, very good-looking and of generally matching heights, were in the finest of livery. —
他们的卫兵和马丁，个个英俊，身高相当，身穿最好的侍役服装。 —

All the ministers and councillors and indeed the whole court had turned out for the occasion, the higher ranks dressed uniformly in yellow-green robes and lavender singlets. —
所有的大臣和参议员以及整个宫廷都参加了这个活动，高阶人员统一穿着黄绿色长袍和淡紫色背心。 —

Even the skies seemed intent on favoring the occasion, for there were flurries of snow. —
甚至连天空似乎也想赐福，雪花飘落。 —

The princes and high courriers in charge of the falcons were in fine hunting dress. —
负责猎鹰的王子和高级宫廷成员都穿着优雅的狩猎服装。 —

The falconers from the guards were even more interesting, all in printed robes of most fanciful design. —
卫队的猎鹰师更引人入胜，穿着最奇特的图案印花长袍。 —

Everything was very grand and very novel, and the carriages of the spectators fought for places. —
一切都非常盛大而又新奇，观众的马车争相寻找位置。 —

Some among the spindly carriages of the lesser ladies emerged from the struggle with broken wheels. —
一些较小的女士马车在激烈的竞争中，车轮出了问题。 —

The better carriages had gathered at the approaches to the floating bridge.
更好的马车集结在通往浮桥的道路上。

Tamakazura was among the spectators. As she surveyed the splendid courtiers in such intense competition, it was her verdict that no one compared with the emperor in his red robes. —
玉葫芦也在观众之列。她审视着场上那些华丽的朝臣们在激烈的竞争中，认为没有人能与身着红袍的皇帝相比。 —

He looked neither to the right nor to the left. —
他既不往右看，也不往左看。 —

Then there was her own father, Tō no Chūjō (almost no one knew that he was her father). —
这时她的亲生父亲当年的中将 (几乎没有人知道他是她的父亲)。 —

He was handsome and dignified, in the prime of manhood, though of course circumscribed in his dress by the codes relating to his office. —
他英俊而庄重，正值壮年，在办公室相关规定所限的服饰约束下。 —

He was quite the finest of the courtiers — but her eye returned to the royal palanquin. —
他是朝臣中最优秀的 — 但她的目光仍然回到了皇宫的轿子上。 —

The generals and captains and other high officials who had most of the young women swooning interested her very little. —
那些让大多数年轻女子神魂颠倒的将军和其他高级官员让她并不感兴趣。 —

Yes, the emperor was the best of them — though Genji so resembled him that they might have been mistaken for each other. —
是的，皇帝是他们中最优秀的 — 尽管源氏和他如此相像，以至于他们可能会被误认。 —

Perhaps it was only her imagination that the emperor was a shade the grander of the two. —
或许她只是想象出皇帝更加庄重一些。 —

She was sure that she would have to look very far, in any case, to find their equal. —
她确信，无论如何，要找到他们的匹敌必须搜寻很远。 —

She had thought, because of Genji and Yūgiri, that men of good family were all endowed with superior looks, but the competition today exacted casualties in such numbers that she was inclined to dismiss most of the men she saw as scarcely human. —
她曾因为有源氏和油切这些家世显赫的男子拥有超群的外貌而认为，但今天的比赛导致了大量的牺牲，使她倾向于认为她看到的大多数男人几乎不像人类。 —

Prince Hotaru was present, as also was General Higekuro, always very solemn and important, and today in very grand uniform, quiver and all. —
秋水殿王子在场，还有总领黑黑路，总是看起来很庄重重要，今天穿着非常奢华的制服，连箭筒都带上了。 —

His face was dark and his beard heavy, and she did not think him pleasing — though it would have been too much to expect his roughness to meet the standards of carefully tended femininity. —
他脸色黝黑，胡须浓密，她并不觉得他讨人喜欢 — 尽管期望他的粗野能符合精心打理的女性规范也是太过分了。 —

She sniffed contemptuously. Genji had suggested that she go to court. —
她鄙视地嗤之以鼻。源氏曾建议她去宫廷。 —

She had heard much about the embarrassments and insults which a court lady must be prepared to put up with, but now she wondered whether it might not after all be rather nice to serve His Majesty, though not as one of the ladies of the bedchamber.
她听说过一个宫廷女子必须准备忍受的尴尬和侮辱，但现在她想知道是否侍奉陛下会是一件相当不错的事情，虽然不是作为一名内侍。

The procession reached Oharano, where awnings had been put out. —
队伍到达大原野，搭起了遮阳棚。 —

The high courtiers changed to informal court dress and hunting dress. —
重臣们换上了休闲朝服和打猎服。 —

Refreshments were brought from Genji’s Rokujō mansion. —
饮食是从源氏在鹿苑府邸送来的。 —

The emperor had invited Genji to join the hunt, but Genji had replied that a defilement made it impossible for him to go out. —
皇帝邀请源氏参加狩猎，但源氏回复称因玷污无法出去。 —

By a guards officer the emperor sent a brace of pheasants tied to a leafy branch. —
皇帝派卫兵送了一对系在绿枝上的野鸡给源氏。 —

I shall not seek to record the contents of the royal letter, but this was the poem:
我不打算记录皇帝的信函内容，但其中有一首诗：

“Deep in the snows of this Mount Oshio
“在此抚仙岳的雪深处

Are ancient pheasant tracks. Would you might see them.”
有着古老的野鸡足迹，愿你能看见。”

But I wonder if in fact precedent can be found for inviting a chancellor to be in attendance upon a royal hunt.
不知是否有例可循邀请宰相参加皇家狩猎。

Genji received the messenger very ceremoniously and sent back this answer:
源氏非常郑重地接待了使者，并回复道：

“The snows beneath the pines of Oshio
“在抚仙岳松树下的雪中

Have never known so mighty a company.”
从未有如此众多的人马。”

These are the bits I gathered, and I may not have recorded them accurately.
这些是我搜集到的片段，可能未能准确记录。

Genji wrote to Tamakazura the next day. “I suppose you saw the emperor? —
源氏隔天写信给玉露，“我猜想你见了皇帝？ —

Did you find yourself inclining a little in the direction I have suggested?”
你是否开始略微朝我建议的方向倾斜？”

It was a cozy, friendly sort of note on prim white paper, containing none of the usual innuendos. —
这是一张舒适友好的便条，写在洁白纸上，没有任何暗示性语言。 —

It pleased her and yet she smiled wryly. —
这让她很高兴，但她嘲讽地微笑了一下。 —

He had been very clever at reading her thoughts.
他非常善于读懂她的心思。

“It was all rather confused and unclear,” she wrote back.
“一切都很混乱和不清晰，”她回信说。

“Amid deep snows upon a day of clouds
“在阴云密布的雪地中，

How does one see the radiance far above?”
如何看到高空的光辉？”

Genji showed the letter to Murasaki. “I have, as you see, suggested that she go to court, but I already have the empress there and should perhaps refrain from sending another lady so soon. —
源氏把信给紫式部看。“你看，我建议她去宫中，但现在已经有皇后在那里了，也许我不应该那么快就派另外一个女子进去。” —

And if I were to reveal the secret to her father he would be faced with complications because of his other daughter. —
如果我向她的父亲透露秘密，他将面临困难，因为他还有另一个女儿。 —

A girl who can do as she pleases is of course very eager to go to court once she has had a glimpse of His Majesty.”
一个可以随心所欲的女孩，一旦一睹殿下威严，当然会急切地想去宫廷。

“Don’t you think,” she said, smiling, “that however handsome His Majesty may be, it is good for girls to be a little less forward?”
她微笑着说：“你不觉得，不管殿下有多帅，女孩们都应该保持一点保守吗？”

“You may say so, but I should imagine that you yourself would be first in line.”
“你可能会这么说，但我想你自己应该是最先想去的人。”

He got off an answer:
他回答道：

“The crimson glow is there in a cloudless sky.
“晴空中的赤红光辉耀眼。

Have you let yourself be blinded by the snow?
你是不是被白雪刺眼了？

“You must make up your mind.”
“你必须下定决心。”

There was first the matter of her initiation ceremonies. —
首先是她的入室仪式之事。 —

He was already making preparations, collecting the masterpieces of the finest craftsmen in the land. Ceremonies in which he had a part had a way of becoming very grand even when he did not pay much attention to them, and he was paying a great deal of attention to these, which were to be his occasion for informing Tō no Chūjō.
他已经开始准备，收集了全国最优秀工匠的杰作。他参与的仪式通常即使他没有多加关注也会变得非常宏大，而这次他却很在意，因为这是他告知藤壁居士的时机。

They were set for the Second Month. Even after a lady has reached adulthood and attracted considerable attention, it is not necessary, so long as she is living a quiet life at home, that she step forward and announce herself to the gods, and so Tamakazura’s position had remained ambiguous. —
仪式定在二月。即使女性已经成年并吸引了相当多的注意，只要她在家过着平静的生活，不需要她主动前去通告神灵，所以玉和尚的身份就一直保持模糊不清。 —

But now, if Genji’s plans were to be realized, there was a danger of offending the god of Kasuga, patron of the Fujiwara family. —
但是现在，如果玄宫的计划要实现，就有可能冒犯藤原家的守护神春日大社。 —

Her true identity must be revealed. Not wishing to leave behind a name for furtiveness and duplicity because he had kept the secret so long, Genji even now considered alternative measures. —
她的真实身份必须被揭露。为了不留下因为保守秘密太久而被指责为阴险奸诈的名声，即使在现在，玄宫仍在考虑替代办法。 —

Adoptions were not at all unusual these days among commoners. —
在平民之间，领养如今已属司空见惯。 —

He finally decided, however, that the bond between parent and child is not easily severed and that Tō no Chūjō must be told everything. —
但他最终决定，父母与子女之间的纽带并非易断，必须将一切告诉藤壁居士。 —

He wrote asking that Tō no Chūjō do him the honor of tying the ceremonial apron. —
他写信请当任登殿侍讲仪服。 —

The answer came back that Princess Omiya had been ill since late the preceding year and was not improving and that it would be unseemly for Tō no Chūjō to make ceremonial appearances. —
回信称大宫媛自去年末病倦未愈，当任登殿侍出现在典礼场合不妥。 —

Yūgiri was, moreover, living at Sanjō to be with his grandmother and would not find it convenient to divide his attentions.
况且，夕霧现在在三条陪伴外祖母，无暇另有分身。

And so what was to be done? Life is uncertain. —
那么该怎么办呢？人生无常。 —

Princess Omiya might die, and Tamakazura would be guilty of sacrilege if she did not go into mourning for her grandmother. —
大宫媛若去世，玉和歌樱若不为外祖母服丧则有亵渎之嫌。 —

The princess must be informed. Genji set out for Sanjō, ostensibly to inquire after her health.
必须通知公主。源氏出发前往三条，表面上是为了探询公主身体。

It was no longer possible for him to go out inconspicuously. —
他已经再也无法低调外出。 —

His excursions these days tended to be even grander than royal outings. —
他这些日子的出行比皇家出游还要隆重。 —

At the sight of him, so handsome that he scarcely seemed of this world, Princess Omiya felt her afflictions leave her. —
公主看到他，觉得他这般英俊几乎非人间所能。 —

She got out of bed to receive him. She was very weak and needed the support of an armrest, but her speech was clear.
她从床上起来迎接他。她身体很虚弱，需要扶手的支持，但说话清晰。

“What a pleasure it is to see that you are not as ill as I had feared? —
“见到你没病成重病，真是太高兴了。 —

” said Genji.” My informant seems to have been an alarmist. He led me to fear the very worst. —
”源氏说。” 我的情报员看来有些危言耸听。他让我对情况过于担忧。 —

I do not even go to court these days except on very special occasions. —
除非有特殊场合，我现在甚至不到宫廷去。 —

I stay shut up at home quite as if I had no public duties, and lead an indolent, useless existence. —
我像没有公职一样宅在家里，过着懒散无用的生活。 —

Some men go on working when they are so bent with age that they can hardly carry themselves about. —
一些人即使已年迈弯腰难行，仍然不停地工作。 —

I was not born with great talents, and now I have added laziness to my disabilities.”
我并没有天赋，现在又懒散地增添了我的残缺之处。

“It is a very long time since I first became aware that old age had overtaken me,” replied the princess, “but since the beginning of the year I have felt that I do not have much longer to live. —
“我早已意识到老年追上了我，”公主回答道，“但自新年伊始，我感觉不会再活很久了。 —

It has made me very sad to think that I might not see you again. —
想到可能再也见不到你，我感到非常难过。 —

And here you are, and death does not seem so near after all. —
而现在你来了，死神似乎并不那么近了。 —

I have lived a long life and have no very great wish to live longer. —
我活了很长时间，也没有太大愿望再活得更久。 —

The dearest ones have gone on ahead of me, and the others seem intent on showing me what a mistake it is to live so long. —
最亲爱的人都已经先我而去，而其他人似乎想要向我证明长寿是多么错误。 —

I have been quietly making my preparations. Yūgiri has been the exception. —
我在悄悄地作着准备。只有弓兼一直留在我身边。 —

He is wonderfully kind and attentive. His problems have held me back and made me want to live on.”
他极为温柔体贴。他的问题阻碍了我，也让我有了生存的欲望。”

Her voice was trembling. Her remarks might have sounded like the empty complaining of a dotard, but to Genji they seemed genuine. —
她的声音微颤。这些话听起来或许像是一个顽耄老人的抱怨，但对源氏来说，这似乎是真情流露。 —

He was deeply moved.
他深感动容。

They talked of many things, ancient and recent.
他们谈论了许多事情，古老与近代。

“I suppose your son comes to see you every day. —
“我想你儿子每天都会来看你吧。 —

It would please me enormously if he were to come today. —
如果他今天能来，那将使我无比高兴。 —

There is something I have been wanting to speak to him about, but it is not easy to arrange a meeting when I do not have important business.”
有些事我想和他说，但若没有要紧的事情，很难安排见面。”

“I do not see a great deal of him, I fear, perhaps because he does not have an overwhelming sense of filial duty. —
“我怕我没能经常见到他，或许是因为他并没有太强烈的孝心。” —

What might you wish to speak to him about? Yūgiri has his just grievances. —
你可能想要与他谈谈什么？弓切确实有他的不满。 —

I say to my son that however matters may once have been, rumors that have escaped do not come meekly home again. —
我对儿子说，无论事情过去如何，逃出去的谣言不会悄悄回家。 —

Nothing is to be gained at this late date by keeping the two apart. —
在这个时候再把他们隔开也没有任何好处。 —

The end result could be to make us all look ridiculous. —
最终的结果可能会让我们大家都看起来荒谬可笑。 —

But he has never been an easy man to talk to, and I am by no means sure that he sees the point.”
但他从来不是一个容易交谈的人，我并不确定他是否看到了问题的所在。

Genji smiled. She always thought first of Yūgiri. —
源氏微笑着。她总是先考虑弓切。 —

“But I had heard that your good son was prepared to accept the facts. —
“但我听说你的好儿子准备接受事实。” —

I made bold to drop a few hints of my own, and afterwards rather wished that I hadn’t, because they only got the boy a scolding. —
我冒昧地透露了一些情况，但事后我有点后悔，因为这只会让那个孩子挨一顿骂。 —

Things eventually come out clean in the wash, they say, and I have wondered why he has not seen fit to let the water do its work. —
他们常说，事情终究会水落石出，我一直在想为什么他还没有让真相水落石出。 —

But of course that is not entirely true. —
但当然这并不完全正确。 —

There are things that no amount of laundering does much for. —
有些事情就算洗个不停也没有多大作用。 —

They get worse the longer you wait. I am sorry for the damage that has already been done.
你等得越久，情况就会变得越糟。对已经造成的伤害我感到遗憾。

“But as a matter of fact,” he said, turning to his main business. —
“其实，”他说，转向他的主要事务。 —

“As a matter of fact, there is a girl who should have been his responsibility but who quite by accident has become mine. —
“事实上，有一个女孩本应该是他的责任，但却意外地成了我的责任。 —

I did not at first know the truth and I was not as diligent as I might have been in seeking it out. —
起初我并不知道真相，也没有尽职尽责地去寻找。 —

Having so few children of my own, I convinced the girl in question that it need make no difference if she thought of herself as one of them. —
我自己的孩子如此稀少，我说服这个女孩，让她觉得自己是他们之一并不会有什么影响。 —

I did not try as hard as I might have to make her feel like one of the family, and time passed. —
我没有尽最大努力让她感觉像家人一样，时间悄然而过。 —

Then one day — I cannot think how he heard about her — there was a summons from His Majesty.
然后有一天——我无法想象他是怎么听说她的——来了一道陛下的召见。

“He told me very confidentially that he was concerned about the inner palace. —
“他非常机密地告诉我，他关心内宫的情况。 —

If the ladies’ apartments do not have a competent wardress the ladies are left without proper guidance. —
如果女官们的住所没有一位胜任的女守护人，女官们将缺乏适当的指导。 —

There are two elderly assistant wardresses and there are other candidates as well, all of them most eagerly desiring the appointment, but His Majesty is not enthusiastic about any of them. —
有两名年迈的副守护人，还有其他候选人，她们都非常渴望这个职位，但陛下对她们都不感兴趣。 —

It has been the practice to appoint someone of good birth who is not unduly encumbered by family problems. —
惯例是任命出身良好且家庭问题不多的人为女守护人。 —

He could, he said, consider intelligence and attainments and promote someone who has served long and faithfully, but in the absence of remarkable promise he would prefer a younger lady who is beginning to attract favorable notice.
他说，如果考虑智慧和成就，并提拔那些长期忠诚服务的人，但在没有显著才华的情况下，他更愿意提拔一位年轻的女士，她开始引起赞誉。

“I thought immediately of the young lady I have mentioned, and wondered how your son would feel about proposing her as a candidate. —
“我立即想到了我提到的那位年轻女士，并想知道贵子是否愿意提议她作为候选人。 —

Ladies who go to court, whatever their rank, find themselves in competi- tion for His Majesty’s affection, and the more prosaic work of seeing that the palace continues to function does not seem very attractive or challenging. —
无论她们的级别如何，前往宫廷的女士们都发现自己竞争着陛下的宠爱，而这座宫殿继续运作的更加乏味的工作似乎并不很具吸引力或挑战性。 —

But I have come to think myself that whether it is or is not depends on the lady whose responsibility it is. —
但我自己开始认为，是否具有吸引力或挑战性取决于责任在谁手中。 —

Having made further inquiry about the lady I had taken under my protection, I had concluded that her age identified her as someone who should more properly be under your son’s protection. —
经过进一步了解我保护的这位女士，我得出结论，她的年龄使她更适合由贵子保护。 —

I would like to discuss the matter quite frankly with him. —
我想与他坦诚地讨论这个问题。 —

I do not want anything as grand as a formal conference. —
我不想要什么像正式会议那样的大事。 —

I hoped I had found the occasion for informing him, but when I wrote inviting him to be present he was not enthusiastic and wrote back that your illness made it necessary for him to decline. —
我希望我已经找到了通知他的机会，但当我写信邀请他出席时，他表现得不太热情，回信称因为贵病情需要，他无法前来。 —

I had to agree that my timing was less than ideal. —
我不得不承认，我的时机并不理想。 —

But now I see that you are not as ill as my informant had led me to fear, and so I think I must insist. —
但现在我看到你没有我被告知的那么病重，所以我认为我必须坚持。 —

Could you so inform him, please?”
请你告诉他这件事，好吗？

“How very interesting, and how very unlikely. —
“非常有趣，但非常不太可能。 —

I know that he has been rather indiscriminately collecting children who have claimed to be his. —
我知道他一直在随意地收养声称是他孩子的孩子。 —

It is astonishing that this one went to the wrong father. Was she herself misinformed?”
令人惊讶的是这个孩子去找了错的父亲。她自己是不是被误导了？”

“There is an explanation. I am sure that he will be familiar with the details. —
“有个解释。我相信他会熟悉这些细节。 —

It is the sort of thing that happens in the untidy lives of the lower classes and is always being talked about. —
这是在下层阶级混乱生活中经常发生的事情，总是被谈论的。 —

I have not told even Yūgiri. I hope that you will be as careful as I have been.”
我甚至没有告诉过弓切。我希望你会像我一样小心。”

Tō no Chūjō heard with surprise of Genji’s visit. —
藤壽聽到了源氏的拜訪，感到驚訝。 —

“But they have far too few people at Sanjō to receive such a guest. —
“但三条那里人手太少，招待这样一位客人。 —

Who will be looking after his man and seeing that he is properly entertained himself? —
谁会照看他的仆人，确保他自己被妥善招待呢？ —

I imagine Yūgiri will be with him.” He immediately sent off a few sons and several of their friends. —
我想弓切会陪着他。” 他立即派了一些儿子和几个朋友去。 —

“I ought to go myself, but I would not want to make too elaborate an affair of it.”
“我应该亲自去，但我不想把这件事搞得太复杂。”

A letter came from Princess Omiya. “The Rokujō minister has been kind enough to inquire after my health. —
来了一封来自近江亲王妃的信。“六条大臣很仁慈地询问了我的健康。 —

We are badly understaffed and cannot be making a good impression. —
我们人手严重不足，无法留下良好印象。 —

Do you suppose I might ask you to come, as quietly as possible, without having it seem that I sent for you? —
你认为我可以请你悄悄地来吗，不要让人觉得是我派你过来的？ —

He has said that there is something he wishes to speak to you about.”
他说有件事想要与你谈谈。

What would it be? Yet more about Yūgiri? —
是什么事？又是有关于玉露的吗？ —

Princess Omiya did not have much longer to live and was making strong pleas in Yūgiri’s behalf. —
大宫太子寿命不多了，一直在为玉露请求。 —

If Genji were to lodge a protest Tō no Chūjō would have great trouble turning it away. —
如果玄樱提出抗议，鸟铃将有很大困难拒绝。 —

Tō no Chūjō had been thinking how unfortunate it would be to learn at this late date that Yūgiri’s ardor had died. —
鸟铃一直在想，要是现在才知道玉露的热情消失了就太不幸了。 —

He must find an occasion to let it be known that he might consider acceding to the young people’s wishes. —
他必须找个机会让人知道他可能会考虑满足年轻人的愿望。 —

If Genji and the princess were in collusion he would have very great trouble answering their arguments. —
如果玄樱和公主勾结在一起，他将很难回答他们的论点。 —

He was a stubborn man, however, and a rather perverse man as well, and he did not want to surrender without a fight.
他是一个固执而又有些倔强的人，不想在没有战斗的情况下投降。

His mother had sent for him, and Genji would be waiting. He did not want to offend either of them. —
他母亲召见了他，而玄樱会等着他。他不想伤害他们任何一个。 —

He would see what they had to say. He dressed very carefully and ordered a modest retinue, and presented a very grand figure as he set forth surrounded by sons. —
他要看看他们有什么话要说。他精心打扮，带上一支日常随从队伍，走出去时自成一派。 —

He was tall and strongly built and carried himself with magisterial dignity. —
他高大而强壮，举止庄重。 —

In purple trousers surmounted by a very long train of white lined with red, he might almost have been accused of overdressing. —
紫色裤子搭配一条非常长的白色长袍，里面饰有红色的衬里，有点过于讲究。 —

By contrast, the easy informality of Genji’s dress, a robe of white Chinese brocade lined with red over several red singlets, suggested a prince who has ample time to cultivate his sensibilities. —
反观玄樱穿着随意的服饰，一袭白色的中国缎袍，外面套着几件红色背心，显示出一个有足够时间培养情感的王子。 —

It might have been said that Genji had the finer material to work with and Tō no Chūjō worked harder with what he had.
据说，源氏的素材更好，而等无中将用心谨慎地处理他手上的资源。

His sons were also very handsome. He had two brothers with him, men of considerable eminence, a grand councillor and a chamberlain to the crown prince. —
他的儿子们也很英俊。他带着两个兄弟，都是相当有声望的人，一个是大臣，一个是太子的内侍。 —

Though he did not wish to seem ostentatious, he had in his retinue upwards of ten middle-ranking courtiers of unexceptionable name and family and very good taste, including two privy secretaries, two guards officers, and a moderator, and there were lesser courtiers in large numbers.
虽然他不想显得奢侈，但他的随从中有十多个出身名门，家世良好，趣味独特的权臣，包括两名宫廷秘书，两名护卫军官和一名调解人，还有许多低阶宫廷随员。

The wine flowed freely and pleasant intoxication was general, and the talk was of what a fortunate lady the old princess was.
美酒畅饮，令人沉醉，大家都开心地谈着，赞美老公主是多么幸运的一位女士。

It was also of course reminiscent, for Genji and Tō no Chūjō had not met in a very long time. —
这也让人回忆起了往事，因为源氏和等无中将已经很久没见面了。 —

When they did not see each other they were always finding themselves at odds over things that did not matter, but when they were together all the solid reasons for friendship reasserted themselves. —
当他们不见面时，总是为了无关紧要的事情而意见不合，但当他们在一起时，友情的坚实理由又再次彰显。 —

They talked of happenings old and recent, and presently it was evening. —
他们谈论起古今中外的事，不知不觉已经是傍晚了。 —

Tō no Chūjō continued to press wine on his mother’s guests.
等无中将继续向母亲的客人斟酒。

“I have hesitated to visit Mother without an invitation. —
“没有得到邀请，我一直犹豫要不要前来探望母亲。” —

And what would you have said if I had known you were here and not come?”
“如果我知道你在这里而没有前来，你会说什么呢？”

“Nothing at all, except to apologize for my own remissness — though I have at times, you know, had reason to be annoyed with you.”
“除了为我的疏忽道歉之外，我没有别的话要说——尽管你也知道，有时候我对你有些不满。”

The troublesome matter of the younger generation, thought Tō no Chūjō, retreating into polite silence.
令人困扰的后辈问题，等无中将想着，便礼貌地保持沉默。

“In the old days,” said Genji, “I never felt comfortable unless I had your opinion on every matter, public and private, large and small, and the two of us in His Majesty’s service seemed like two wings serving one bird. —
“在过去的日子里，我对任何事情，无论是公共还是私人、大小，都必须征询你的意见才感到舒适，我们在皇上身边彷佛是一只鸟的两只翅膀。” —

As the years went by there were from time to time things that rather went against my wishes. —
随着岁月的流逝，偶尔有一些事情似乎稍有违背我的意愿。 —

They were private. In matters of public policy I have never doubted our being on the same side, and I do not doubt it now. —
那些事情是私人的。至于公共政策方面，我从来都不怀疑我们站在同一立场上，现在也不例外。 —

I find my thoughts turning more to the past, and I also find that we see less and less of each other. —
我发现自己的思绪越来越回到过去，我们见面的次数也越来越少。 —

It is entirely proper that you should stand on the dignity of your office, and yet I do sometimes wish that in private matters ceremony might be dispensed with. —
在公事上您坚守官职的尊严是完全适当的，但私人事务中我有时希望能够不拘礼节。 —

There have been times when I have wished that you might come calling.”
有时候我希望您能来拜访。”

“Yes, it is as you say. In the old days you must have thought it ill-mannered and inconsiderate of me to make such demands on your time. —
“是的，您说得对。过去您一定认为我对您的时间提出这样的要求是不礼貌和不体贴的。 —

I had no secrets from you and I profited enormously from your advice. —
我没有任何秘密瞒着您，从您的建议中我受益匪浅。 —

You praise me too highly when you suggest that I have ever performed as your companion wing. —
当您说我一直是您的得力助手时，您过于夸奖了。 —

I have made use of your enormous abilities to support my own inadequate ones and so I have been privileged to be of service to His Majesty. —
我利用了您的卓越才能来补足我自己的不足之处，也因此有幸为陛下效力。 —

You must not for a moment think that I am ungrateful. —
您千万不要以为我会忘恩负义。 —

But it is once again as you say: we see far too little of each other.”
但您说得对：我们的相聚确实太少了。”

Genji presently found a chance to turn to his main subject.
源氏很快找到了机会转到谈论主题。

“How perfectly extraordinary.” Tō no Chūjō was in tears. —
“太不可思议了。”当时的都中将泪流满面。 —

“I believe that my feelings once got the better of me and I told you of my search for the girl. —
“我相信曾经因为感情用事告诉过您我在寻找那个女孩的事情。 —

As I have risen to my modest position in the world I have gathered my stupid daughters around me, not omitting the least-favored of them. —
在我在世俗世界里升职时，我把愚蠢的女儿们团聚在我身边，包括那个受宠不尽的女儿。 —

They have found ways to make themselves known. —
她们都找到了让自己被看见的方法。 —

And when I think of the lost ones, it is she who comes first to mind.”
当我想起那些失去的人时，她首先浮现在脑海中。”

They remembered the confessions made and the conclusions reached that rainy night, they laughed and wept and the earlier stiffness disappeared. —
他们记得那个下雨天晚上做出的坦白和得出的结论，他们笑着哭着，之前的尴尬感消失了。 —

It was very late when they went their separate ways.
他们分开回家时已经很晚了。

“The sight of you brings fond memories,” said Genji, “and I do not at all want to leave. —
“看到你让我想起了美好的回忆,” 源氏说,“我真的不想离开。 —

” It was not like him to weep so easily. —
他不像是那么容易流泪的人。 —

Perhaps he had had too much to drink.
或许他喝醉了。

Princess Omiya was weeping copiously. The sight of Genji, so much handsomer and grander than in the old years, made her think of her late daughter. —
深谷殿在大哭。看到比往昔更英俊更高贵的源氏，让她联想到已故的女儿。 —

It does seem to be true that a nun’s habit and briny waters have an affinity for each other.
据说和尼姑的衣袍及咸水有某种亲和关系。

Genji let the opportunity pass to touch upon Yūgiri’s affairs. —
源氏放过了谈及弓切的事情的机会。 —

It would have been in bad taste to introduce so clear a case of injustice on Tō no Chūjō‘s part, and Tō no Chūjō himself thought the matter one for Genji to bring up. —
就源氏应该提出的切题显而易见的不公正不再谈，弓切自己也认为这是源氏该提出的事。 —

And so the tension between them was not after all completely dispelled.
于是他们之间的紧张关系并没有完全消除。

“I know that I should see you home,” said Tō no Chūjō, “but you gave me such short notice, and I would not want to attract attention. —
“我知道我应该把你送回家，”弓切说,“但你通知得实在太晚了，而且我也不想引起注意。 —

I will call on you soon to tell you again how grateful I am for this visit.”
我很快会来拜访你，并再一次表达我对这次访问的感激。”

Genji replied that it had been a joy to find Omiya less ill than he had feared and that he would hold Tō no Chūjō most firmly to his engagement to bestow the ceremonial train.
源氏回答说，发现深谷殿并没有像他担心的那么病重很是开心，并且会让弓切严格遵守赐予礼服的约定。

They parted in the best of spirits, on the surface at least. Their retinues were very grand. —
他们在最好的心情中分开，至少表面上是。他们的随扈们非常庞大。 —

The various sons and brothers in attendance would have liked very much to know what had been discussed. —
在场的各位儿子和兄弟们很想知道讨论了什么。 —

Both Genji and Tō no Chūjō seemed happy with the discussion, and so who might be expected to resign what office now, and in favor of whom? —
亲玉和当家将军似乎对谈话感到满意，现在可以预期谁应该辞职，为谁让位？ —

No one suspected what had in fact been the reason for the meeting.
没人怀疑会议的真正目的。

Tō no Chūjō was badly unsettled. There were difficulties in the way of taking Tamakazura into his house immediately. —
当家将军感到非常烦恼。接纳珠使女进入他的家中存在一些困难。 —

It seemed highly unlikely, everything considered, that Genji had sought the girl out and brought her into his house and then left her quite untouched. —
一切考虑在内，看起来源氏不可能悄悄地把这个女孩带到家里然后不加愚弄。 —

Out of regard for his other ladies, Genji had probably refrained from adding her openly and formally to the company. —
出于对其他妃嫔的尊重，源氏可能没有公开正式地将她加入到妻室中。 —

Probably he was finding the clandestine affair unmanageable and was worried about gossip, and so had chosen to let Tō no Chūjō in on the secret. —
也许他发现了这段私密的关系管理起来很困难，担心会传出闲言碎语，所以选择让当家将军知道这个秘密。 —

It was a pity, of course, but the girl’s reputation need not be thought irreparably damaged. —
当然有些遗憾，但这个女孩的名誉不必被认为是无法挽回的。 —

People could hardly criticize Tō no Chūjō if he were to let Genji keep her. —
如果当家将军选择让源氏保留她，人们几乎无法批评他。 —

Genji’s suggestion that she be sent to court opened the possibility of unpleasantness for the sister already there. —
源氏建议她被送到朝廷，这将为已经在那里的姐姐带来不愉快。 —

But be would respect Genji’s wishes, whatever Genji decided to do.
但是无论源氏决定做什么，他都会尊重源氏的意愿。

The meeting just described took place early in the Second Month. The sixteenth, at the beginning of the equinoctial services, was found to be a propitious day for initiation ceremonies. —
刚刚描述的会议发生在二月初。在二月十六日，春分开始的时候，被发现是行开设仪式的吉日。 —

The soothsayers advised indeed that no better day would come for some time, and Princess Omiya’s illness did not at the moment seem serious.
占卜者们建议说短时间内不会有更好的日子了，而且大宫媛的疾病目前似乎不严重。

In the course of the preparations Genji told Tamakazura in great detail of his conversation with her father. —
在准备过程中，源氏向珠使女详细讲述了与她父亲的谈话。 —

Genji’s kindness could not have been greater, she thought, if he had been her father, and at the same time she was delighted at the prospect of meeting her real father.
她觉得源氏的慈爱无以复加，就好像他是她的亲生父亲一样，同时她对与她的亲生父亲见面的前景感到高兴。

Genji took Yūgiri into his confidence. The pieces fell into place, num- bers of puzzles were solved. Yūgiri now thought Tamakazura in pleasing contrast to the cold lady upon whom he had set his affections, and he thought himself very obtuse for not having guessed earlier. —
源氏将梅桃紫纳入他的信任。事情变得清楚起来，许多谜题得以解决。梅桃紫现在被梓光视为与他所钟情的那位冷淡女子截然不同，并且他为自己没有早些猜到而感到非常迟钝。 —

He was an honest and sensible boy, and he told himself that the possibilities introduced by the new situation must be dismissed from his mind.
他是一个诚实而明智的男孩，他告诉自己，新情况带来的可能性必须从他的脑海中排除。

On the day of the ceremony a secret messenger arrived bringing gifts from Princess Omiya. Despite the shortness of the notice, the princess had put together a fine collection of comb boxes and the like.
在典礼当天，一名秘密使者送来了来自大宫公主的礼物。尽管通知时间很短，公主还是准备了一套精美的梳妆盒等礼物。

“Nuns do not write letters,” she said, “and so I shall be brief. —
“尼姑不写信”，她说，“所以我就简短了事。 —

I hope that I may persuade you to follow my example in living a long and full life. —
我希望能说服你效仿我的生活方式，过上漫长而充实的生活。 —

Perhaps it is improper of me to confess how deeply moved I was to learn of your circumstances. —
或许我透露自己在得知你的处境时有多么感动有些不妥。 —

I would not wish in any way to offend you, but
我并不希望以任何方式冒犯你，但

“Whatever lid the jeweled comb box bears,
“无论镶了多少宝石的梳妆盒，

I still shall think it no one’s box but mine.”
我始终认为这不是别人的盒子，而是我的。”

It was in a tremulous old-fashioned hand. —
那是一个颤抖的老式字迹。 —

Busy with last-minute preparations and instructions, Genji was in Tamakazura’s rooms when it arrived.
忙于最后准备和指示时，光源在玉鹤的房间里。

“Yes, it is a little old-fashioned,” he said, “but it is very touching all the same. —
“是的，这有点老派，”他说，“但仍然很感人。 —

She has aged, poor thing. She used to write a very fine hand. See how it shakes and wanders. —
她老了，可怜的孩子。以前她写字写得很好。看看它是如何颤抖和游荡的。 —

” He read it again and yet again, and laughed quietly. —
” 他再次读了一遍，又一遍，然后静静地笑了。 —

“One might charge her with making too much of her boxes. —
“你可能会指责她过度关注她的盒子。 —

A box per line — I doubt that it would be possible to write a more box-filled poem.”
每一行都是一个盒子 - 我怀疑是否可能写出比这更多盒子的诗。”

Akikonomu sent formal robes, a white train and a Chinese jacket and the rest, and other gifts as well, all of superb quality. —
阿贵子送来了正式的长袍、白色的长裙和一件中国夹克，以及其他礼物，所有物品都是极好的质量。 —

There were combs for the formal coiffure and, as always, the best of Chinese perfumes in a variety of jars. —
送来了正式发髻用的梳子，还有各种瓶瓶罐罐里的中国香水，一如既往地是最好的。 —

And there were robes for Tamakazura from the other ladies at Rokujō, and combs and fans and the like for her attendants, all of them showing very clearly the tastes of the several ladies. —
平安京六条的其他女士们也送了玉梦车的长袍，梳子、扇子等等，都清楚地展现出她们不同的品味。 —

One would have found it quite impossible to say that any one gift was superior to the others. —
完全无法说哪一份礼物更出众。 —

A competition among ladies of taste can produce a most marvelous display.
一场有品位的女士们之间的比赛，能产生出一种非常奇妙的展示。

Though the ladies in the east lodge at Nijō also heard of the preparations, it did not seem their place to offer congratulations. —
尽管二条东邸的女士们也听说了这些准备，但似乎不该恭贺。 —

The safflower princess was the exception. —
红花公主是个例外。 —

Inflexible in her allegiance to good form, she must not let the occasion pass or have it seem that she was unconcerned — and one had to grant that such punctiliousness was in its way admirable. —
她对礼仪非常严格，决不容许这个场合被忽视，或是显得她毫不在意。必须承认，这种拘泥细节的态度，在某种程度上是令人钦佩的。 —

She sent a robe of a greenish drab, lined trousers of a dusty rose or some Such color much admired by the ancients, and a faded purple jacket of a minute weave, all in a beautifully wrought wardrobe and elaborate wrapping.
她送来一套绿灰色的长袍，灰玫瑰色或是古人们非常喜欢的一种颜色的衬裤，以及一件细密编织的褪色紫色夹克，都包裹在精美的抽屉柜和精心包装中。

Her letter was expansive. “I do not hope to make your acquaintance, but I would not for the world want it to seem that I am ignoring you. —
她的信很客气。“虽然我不指望能够和您见面，但我绝不希望让人觉得我对您漠不关心。 —

These poor garments will doubtless seem beneath your notice. —
这些简陋的衣服无疑会被您看不上。但如果您找到一个能穿得下的侍女，就请转送给她吧。” —

If, however, you find an attendant who might be able to use them, please pass them on to her.”
源氏看了，扮出了一副鬼脸。“她是个古怪的老人。

Genji saw it and grimaced. “She is a strange old thing. —
如果她让她的害羞放肆一些，并多守身为好，对我们所有人都会更好。 —

It would be far better for us all if she were to let her shyness have its way and keep to herself. —
我觉得自己在脸红。我想你可能必须回信。如果你不回，她会很沮丧的。 —

I fear I am blushing. You must answer, I suppose. She will be upset if you don’t. —
她既无法猖狂，泯尽世间之人。 —

When I remember how fond her father was of her I find it impossible not to be kind to her.”
每当我想起她父亲是多么喜爱她，我就觉得不可能对她不好。

Attached to the jacket was a poem which showed the usual obsession with clothing.
夹克上附有一首诗，表现出对服装的一贯执着。

“How very unhappy I am, for my Chinese sleeves
“我多么不快乐啊，因为我的中国袖

Cannot be friends with the sleeves of your Chinese robe.”
无法与你中国长袍的袖子做朋友。”

The hand was, as always, rather dreadful, cramped and rocklike and stiff and angular. —
这只手依旧令人恐惧，笨拙僵硬又角弓式。 —

Though discommoded, Genji could not help being amused as well. —
尽管不便，源氏还是忍不住感到好笑。 —

“I imagine that it took a great deal out of her. —
“我想她劳累了很多。 —

She has even less assistance in these endeavors than she used to have. —
在这些努力中，她的帮手更少了。 —

I think I will compose your answer for you, busy though I am.”
虽然我很忙，但我想我会帮你谱写答复。”

“How very observant you are,” he wrote. —
“你多么观察入微啊，”他写道。 —

“You notice things which escape the ordinary eye. —
“你察觉得出那些普通眼光所忽视的事物。 —

Indeed I might almost wish you were a little less so.
事实上，我几乎希望你再少一点。

“A Chinese robe, a Chinese robe once more,
“再次中国长袍，再次中国长袍，

And yet again a Chinese Chinese robe.”
又一次中国中国长袍。”

“It pleases her to make these avowals,” he said, showing it to Tamakazura, “and I defer to her tastes.”
“她喜欢表明这些情感，”他对玉鹿说，将它展示给她，“我尊重她的口味。”

She laughed brightly. “Dare I suspect unkind wit?”
她开怀大笑。“难道我敢怀疑有点不友善的幽默吗？”

But I have lost myself in trivialities.
但我已经迷失在琐事中。

Tō no Chūjō had not been much interested in the ceremonies, but now he was very eager indeed to see the girl. —
道中将军对这些仪式并不怎么感兴趣，但现在他非常迫切地想见那位女孩。 —

He arrived early. Aware of and grateful for all the trouble Genji had gone to, he thought it rather odd even so. —
他提早到了。意识到并感激源氏所做的一切麻烦，他觉得即使如此还是有点奇怪。 —

Late in the evening he was admitted to his daughter’s apartments. Refreshments were served. —
晚上晚些时候，他被允许进入女儿的房间。茶点被端上。 —

The lights were somewhat brighter than one might have expected, and the smallest detail was in careful order. —
灯光比人们预期的要亮一些，而每一个细节都精心布置。 —

The ritual did not permit more than a glimpse of his daughter, but he could hardly keep himself from staring openly as he bestowed the train.
仪式只允许他瞥见女儿，但他几乎无法控制自己直视着她。

“We shall not speak of things long over and done with,” said Genji, “and we would do well not to let the secret out quite yet. —
“我们不会提及过去已经结束的事情，最好还是不要立刻泄露这个秘密。” —

Please try to make it all seem as routine as possible.”
“我无法感谢你足够了。”道中将军举起杯子。

“I cannot thank you enough,” said Tōno Chūjō, raising his cup. —
“这样的好意是没有先例可循的。 —

“There can be no precedent for such kindness. —
而我必须稍微抱怨一下，你隐藏了这个秘密这么久。” —

And yet I must register a brief complaint that you have kept the secret so long.
“遗憾啊，遗憾，捕鱼人

“Bitter, bitter, that the fisherfolk
如此长久地隐藏了海洋的宝藏。”

So long have hidden the treasures of the sea.”
附带着一场流泪的表演。

It was accompanied by an illustrative shedding of tears.
它伴随着一个生动的流泪的表演。

The company of two such splendid gentlemen had reduced Tamakazura to silence. —
这两位出色绅士的到来使玉葉寂静无言。 —

The answering poem came from Genji:
答诗则出自光源：

“The fisherfolk refusing to take them in,
渔民们拒绝收留，

The grasses drifted ashore as best they might.
草叶自行漂流上岸。

“Your objection is not well taken, sir.”
“你的反对理由站不住脚，先生。”

Tō no Chūjō had to grant the truth in it. He had no answer.
藤长者只得承认其中的真理。他无言可答。

The whole court was in attendance, including several of Tamakazura’s suitors. —
整个宫廷都在场，包括几位玉葉的求婚者。 —

It struck them as odd that Tō no Chūjō should stay so long behind her curtains. —
藤长者在她的帐幔后逗留如此之久使他们感到诧异。 —

Of his sons, only Kashiwagi and Kōbai had some glimmering of the truth. —
他的儿子们中，只有柏木和红梅对事情有些悟出端倪。 —

They were disappointed and pleased, disappointed because they had themselves had certain designs upon the girl.
他们感到失望又感到满足，失望是因为他们自己也对这位女孩心存企图。

“I certainly am glad that I did not give myself away,” whispered Kōbai.
“我真庆幸自己没有暴露出来”，红梅低声说道。

“Genji has his own way of doing things,” said someone else. —
“源氏总有他自己的做事方式”，别人又说。 —

“Do you suppose he means to do for her what he did for the empress?”
“你觉得他是不是打算如同对待皇后一样对待她？”

“We must be careful that we do not emerge in an unfavorable light?” said Genji, overhearing. —
“我们必须当心，不要让自己看起来不利？”光源听到后说。 —

“People who are unencumbered with rank and office do all manner of strange things, I am sure, but we are vulnerable. —
“那些没有身份地位和职务的人，做的事情百般古怪，但我们是有弱点的。” —

We must let matters take their course until people are prepared to accept them for what they are.”
我们必须让事情顺其自然，直到人们准备接受它们本身。

“I shall follow your wishes unquestioningly,” replied Tō no Chūjō. —
“我将毫无疑问地遵从您的愿望，”答复藤壬子。 —

“There must have been some bond between the two of you from another life, that you should have found her and taken care of her with no help at all from me.”
“你们俩肯定在前世有某种羁绊，所以你会找到她，并且没有我的帮助就照顾她。”

He was of course richly and imaginatively rewarded for his services. —
当然，他因为自己的服务而得到了丰厚而富有想象力的回报。 —

As for the other gifts, Genji managed to add original touches to what precedent and regulation demanded. —
至于其他礼物，源氏设法为先例和规定所需的内容增添了独特的风格。 —

They were very splendid indeed. Because of Princess Omiya’s illness the concert after the ceremonies was simple.
它们确实非常辉煌。因为近江宫的疾病，典礼之后的音乐会很简单。

Prince Hotaru so descended from his dignity as to plead his case openly. —
蛍舞亲王为了请求开诚布公地降低自己的尊严。 —

“The excuses which you have made,” he said, “would no longer seem to hold.”
“你提出的借口，”他说，“似乎不再站得住脚。”

“We have had overtures from His Majesty. —
“我们已经收到了陛下的慰问。 —

We shall let you have an answer when we know what his reaction has been to our having felt constrained to decline so august an invitation.”
我们会等到知道陛下对我们拒绝如此尊贵的邀请后的反应之后再给你一个答复。”

Tō no Chūjō was consumed with curiosity and impatience. —
藤壬子充满着好奇和不耐烦。 —

He had had a glimpse of his daughter and he wanted a good, clear look at her. —
他曾一瞥到女儿，现在他想好好看一眼她。 —

He was sure that if she had any serious defects Genji would not have gone to troubles that seemed almost exaggerated. —
他确信如果她有任何严重的缺陷，源氏不会费那么大力气。 —

In any event, that strange dream was now explained.
无论如何，那个奇怪的梦现在已经解释了。

Tō no Chūjō took the daughter at court into his confidence. —
藤壬子与宫廷的女儿分享了内心话。 —

They did what they could to keep the secret, but gossip is what people like best. —
他们尽力保守秘密，但人们最喜欢传闲话。 —

Rumors spread and presently reached the ears of his more unruly daughter.
谣言传播，很快传到了他那更加放肆的女儿耳中。

“So Father has a new girl. Isn’t that nice. —
“原来父亲新添了一个女孩。真是不错。” —

So she has both of them to look after her, Father and Genji. Just imagine. —
“所以她有父亲和源氏两个人来照应她。想想看。” —

So her mother’s a poor thing like my own.”
“她的母亲就像我自己一样可怜。”

Her sister could think of nothing to say
她的姐姐无话可说。

“I have no doubt,” said Kashiwagi, “that she deserves all the attention she is getting. —
“我毫不怀疑，”柏木说，“她值得得到所有这些关注。” —

But you should not be quite so open about it, my dear. —
“但是亲爱的，你不应该这么满不在乎。” —

Does it not occur to you that people might be listening?”
“你难道没想过别人可能在倾听吗？”

“Oh, do be quiet, please. I know as much about it as the next one. —
“哦，请安静一点。我和别人一样都知道这件事。” —

I know that Father’s going to send her to the palace and make her the grand high wardress. —
“我知道父亲打算送她去宫中，让她成为高位的宫女。” —

I’ve worked and slaved and hoped he would do something like that for me. —
“我工作拼命，希望他也会对我这样做。” —

I’ve done things when everybody else said no. —
“我做了很多事情，即使所有人都说不行。” —

And see how my own sister treats me.”
“看看我的亲姐姐如何对待我。”

They had to smile. “I thought of asking for the position myself when it came vacant. —
他们不得不微笑。“当那个职位空缺时，我曾经考虑过要争取那个位置。” —

But don’t you think it is rather bold of you to announce your candidacy so openly?”
“但你难道不觉得你如此公开地宣布参选有些大胆吗？”

The Omi lady was very annoyed indeed. “I know I don’t belong in this fine company. —
那位近江的女士确实非常恼火。“我知道我不属于这样的高雅圈子。 —

You. You’re the one. You came hunting me out and now you make fun of me. —
你。就是你。是你找上我的，现在又拿我开玩笑。 —

How can a body be in a place like this? Terrible is what it is. Terrible, terrible. —
一个人怎么会出现在这样的地方呢？太可怕了。太可怕了。 —

” She withdrew to a corner of the room, whence she sent sidelong glances in the direction of her brothers. —
她退到房间的角落，偶尔向她的兄弟那边斜眼瞥视。 —

They may not have been spiteful glances, exactly, but they did suggest someone with strong opinions and purposes.
或许这些瞥视并不是恶意的，但确实显示出一个有着坚定主张和目的的人。

Kashiwagi no longer felt quite so amused. She was right: —
柏木不再感到那么好笑了。她是对的： —

it would have been better for everyone if he had left her in Omi.
如果他把她留在近江，对所有人都会更好。

“I don’t think that anyone is making fun of you,” said Kōbai, standing up to leave. —
“我认为没有人在取笑你，”红梅站起来准备离开。 —

“We do appreciate you. You are such a good worker. Just quietly bide your time. —
“我们很欣赏你。你是个优秀的工作者。安静地等待就好。 —

That is all you have to do. With your energy you should have no trouble making snow of the largest boulder. —
这是你要做的事。凭借你的精力，你应该可以将最大的巨石化为齑粉。 —

I am sure that all your prayers will be answered.”
我确信你的祈祷都会得到回应。”

“Though perhaps it might be better to stay shut up in your cave in the meantime,” said Kashiwagi, also getting up to leave.
“也许在这段时间最好留在你的洞穴里，”柏木也站起来准备离开。

“Terrible, terrible.” She was shedding angry tears. “My very own brothers. —
“太可怕了。太可怕了。”她愤怒地流泪。“我的亲兄弟啊。 —

But I am working and slaving for you,” she said, turning to her sister. —
但我正在为你们工作和劳作，”她转向她的姐姐说道。 —

“You understand even if they don’t.”
“即使他们不明白，你也明白。”

And indeed she did work very hard, plunging into tasks from which the lowest menials tended to pull back. —
她确实非常努力地工作，投入到即便最低等的仆役们也望而却步的任务中。 —

She dashed here and dashed there and quite lost herself in her labors. —
她忙忙碌碌，来回奔波，在工作中彻底迷失了自己。 —

She once more announced her availability should the emperor wish to appoint her wardress of the ladies’ apart- ments. —
她再次宣布自己愿意担任女宫的看守，如果皇帝有意任命她的话。 —

Her sister wondered whether she could be serious. —
她的姐姐不知道她是不是认真的。 —

Tō no Chūjō laughed merrily when he heard of it.
当东宫中将听说此事后，忍不住开心地笑了。

“How would it be if we were to summon our Omi friend? —
“如果我们召唤我们在近江认识的朋友会怎样呢？” —

” he said one day, in the course of a conversation with her sister.
有一天，在与她姐姐的谈话中，他说。

“Oh, just fine,” said the lady herself, emerging noisily.
“哦，很好，”主人公大声说道，显现出来。

“I can see that you work hard and I think you would be a valuable addition to any office. —
“我看得出你很努力，我认为你会是任何办事处的宝贵增添。 —

Why did you not tell me of your wish to become wardress?”
你为什么不告诉我你希望成为看守的愿望呢？”

He said it most solemnly. The lady was delighted. “I did want to feel you out. —
他说得非常郑重。主人公感到高兴。“我想试探一下你的态度。 —

I was sure I could count on Sister here. But they say somebody else might get it. —
我相信我可以指望姐姐。但是他们说可能会给别人。 —

When I heard about it I felt like somebody that got rich and then found out it was a dream. —
听到这件事后，我感觉就像某个人变得富有，然后发现那只是一个梦。 —

But I have my fingers crossed.” There was no suggestion that she lacked confidence.
但我仍抱有一线希望。”没有暗示她缺乏信心。

“As always, you are too self-effacing.” He tried not to smile. —
“一如既往，你总是太谦虚了。”他努力不让自己笑出声来。 —

“If you had only told me, I would have made certain that your candidacy came first to His Majesty’s ears. —
“如果你早告诉我，我一定会确保您的候选人身份第一个传达到陛下的耳朵中。 —

It is true that the chancellor has a daughter, but I feel certain that His Majesty would not turn away a warm recommendation from me, whatever fine ladies might be in the running. —
大臣的确有一个女儿，但我确信陛下不会因为有其他出色女子在竞争，而对我推荐的候选人置之不理。 —

It is still not too late. You must compose your formal application, making sure that it is in the most exalted language. —
现在还不算太迟。你必须起草正式的申请书，确保用最崇高的语言表达。 —

In verse, perhaps. He could not possibly ignore a long poem, and he holds accomplished verse in the highest esteem.”
也许是用诗歌形式。他绝对不会忽视一首长诗，而且他对优美的诗句极为重视。”

He was not being a very good father.
他没有做一个很好的父亲。

“I’m not much of a poet but I’ll give it a try. —
“我不太擅长写诗，但我会试一试。 —

Just tell me in a general way what to put into it. I’ll put the meat on the bones. —
就大致告诉我该写些什么。内容方面我会自己补充。 —

We’ll be partners, you and me. “ She brought her hands together by way of concluding the contract.
我们将会成为伙伴。”她用合拢的手指表示结束契约。

The women behind the curtains were choking and strangling. —
窗帘后的女人们开始感到窒息和窒息。 —

Some had to withdraw lest they disgrace themselves. —
有些人被迫退缩，以免出丑。 —

The sister flushed scarlet.
姐姐脸涨得通红。

“We can always count on our Omi lady to drive away the gloom,” said Tō no Chūjō.
“我们总能依赖我们的寿美女士驱散阴霾，”说着当时的藤原忠常。

People suspected that he was trying to conceal his discomfiture over the affairs of yet another daughter.
人们怀疑他试图掩饰对另一位女儿事务的困扰感。