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紫宸殿(ししいでん)で 歌合せが始まりました。
まず、白滝姫より一首
「照り続き 山田の稲の枯れは 何を種とて 命つくらん」
(日照りが続き、あなたの里の稲が枯れてしまったら、何をたよりに、生きていくのでしょう)と、詠むと、
山田の久助は、
「照り続き 山田の稲のこかれなば 落ちてたすけよ 白滝の水」
(私の里の稲が枯れてしまうならば、あなたがお嫁に来て、白滝の水のごとく、私の心をいやして下さい)
と、白滝姫を白滝の水にたとえて、返歌しました。

それを聞いた帝を始めそこにいた人たちは、たいそう感激し、言葉にならないため息が聞えてきました。

 

The contest was held in the Shishiden Hall. Princess Shirataki was called upon first to compose a poem. She wrote:
Should the rice plants become desiccated
From unending drought in Yamada
What will you depend upon for your sustenance?
To which Kyusuke replied in poetry, making a play on the Princess's name, "Shirataki," which means "white waterfall":
Should drought wither the rice plants in Yamada
I pray that the waters of Shirataki
Will quench the thirst in my heart.
Being deeply moved, the Emperor and all those present were left speechless, only their sighs of admiration could be heard.

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Copyright (C)  1998 by M.Matsuzaki & KAIC & Orijin Studio
English by Barbara Kamiyama Kenichi Tsurumi