Page:A History of Japanese Literature (Aston).djvu/76

60 known and most universally studied of all the numerous anthologies of Japanese poetry.

Neatly rendered by Mr. Chamberlain:—

The personification of love, however, is hardly in the Japanese style.

Do I forget thee Even for so brief a space As the ears of grain On the fields of autumn Are lit up by the lightning's glare?"

I fell asleep while thinking of thee; Perchance for this reason I saw thee in a dream! Had I only known it to be one I would not have awaked."

Shall we call that only a dream Which we see While asleep: This vain world itself I cannot regard as a reality."

I know that my life Has no assurance of to-morrow; But to-day, So long as darkness has not yet fallen, I will grieve for him who has passed away."