19. The Princess Ise: Ise
19
THE PRINCESS ISE
ISE
Naniwa gata
Mijikaki ashi no
Fushi no ma mo
Awade kono yo wo,
Sugushite yo to ya.
Mijikaki ashi no
Fushi no ma mo
Awade kono yo wo,
Sugushite yo to ya.
SHORT as the joints of bamboo reeds
That grow beside the sea
On pebble beach at Naniwa,
I hope the time may be,
When thou ’rt away from me.
The Princess Ise was the daughter of Tsugukage Fujiwara, the Governor of the Province of Ise; hence her name. She lived at the Imperial Court, and was the favourite maid of honour of the Emperor Uda, who reigned A.D. 888-897. She was noted for her talents and gentle disposition, and was the mother of Prince Katsura. Naniwa is the old name of Osaka. The picture shows the Princess on the pebble beach at Naniwa, and to the left are the bamboo reeds.