The Flares

It was now the turn of Lady Ōmi’s eccentricities to become the sole topic of conversation at Court. ‘All this is very puzzling,’ said Genji. ‘Her father gave orders that she was to be kept in close confinement; how comes it, then, that every one seems to know so much about her? One hears nothing but stories of her ridiculous behaviour. So far from keeping the poor half-witted creature out of harm’s way he seems to be positively making an exhibition of her. Here again I think I see the consequences of his obstinate belief in the impeccability of his own family. He sent for her without making the slightest enquiry, convinced that since his blood ran in her veins she must necessarily be beyond reproach. Finding her an exception to this rule he has taken his revenge by deliberately exposing her to derision. However, I can hardly believe that after all the trouble he has taken, it can really give him much satisfaction that the mere mention of her name should evoke peals of laughter....’

Lady Ōmi’s eccentricities had now become the only topic of conversation at Court. ‘All this is very puzzling,’ said Genji. ‘Her father ordered that she be kept in close confinement. So how does everyone seem to know so much about her? One hears nothing but stories of her ridiculous behaviour. Instead of keeping the poor half-witted creature out of harm’s way, he seems to be putting her on display. Once again, I think I see the consequences of his stubborn belief that his own family can do no wrong. He sent for her without making the slightest inquiry. He was convinced that, because she shared his blood, she must be beyond reproach. When he found she was an exception to this rule, he took his revenge by deliberately exposing her to ridicule. Still, after all the trouble he has taken, I can hardly believe it gives him much satisfaction that people burst into laughter at the mere mention of her name....’

The fate of Ōmi seemed, incidently, to afford some justification for Genji’s reluctance to part with Tamakatsura, a fact which she herself recognized. It was by no means safe to assume that Tō no Chūjō would treat a second long-lost daughter any better than the first. The old nurse Ukon, who daily collected for her mistress’s benefit some fresh anecdote of Ōmi’s discomfiture, vigorously supported the view that Tō no Chūjō was not a father to be lightly adopted. ‘True,’ thought Tamakatsura, ‘Genji’s attitude towards me is not quite such as I could wish. But I am bound to confess that hitherto he has never tried to go further than I intend he should, and in practical ways no one could possibly be more kind and considerate.’ Thus gratitude was slowly replaced by friendship and even by a certain semblance of intimacy.

Ōmi’s fate seemed, incidentally, to give Genji some reason for being reluctant to let Tamakatsura go. Tamakatsura recognized this herself. There was no guarantee that Tō no Chūjō would treat a second long-lost daughter any better than the first. Every day, the old nurse Ukon brought her mistress a fresh story about Ōmi’s troubles. Ukon strongly agreed that Tō no Chūjō was not a father to accept lightly. ‘True,’ thought Tamakatsura, ‘Genji’s feelings toward me are not quite what I would wish. But I must admit that, so far, he has never tried to go further than I want him to. And in practical matters, no one could be kinder or more considerate.’ So gratitude slowly gave way to friendship and even to something resembling intimacy.

Autumn had now come, and with it a bitterly cold wind—the ‘first wind’ whose chill breath ‘only a lover’s cloak can nullify.’ He made great efforts to keep away from the Western Wing, but all to no purpose; and soon, on the pretext of music-lessons or what not, he was spending the greater part of every day at Tamakatsura’s side.

Autumn had come, bringing a bitterly cold wind. It was the ‘first wind’ whose chill ‘only a lover’s cloak can ward off.’ He tried hard to stay away from the Western Wing, but it was no use. Soon, he was spending most of each day with Tamakatsura, using music lessons or some other excuse.

One evening when the moon was some five or six days old he came suddenly to her room. The weather was chilly and overcast, and the wind rustled with a melancholy note through the reeds outside the window. She sat with her head resting against her zithern. To-night too, as on so many previous occasions, he would make his timorous advances, and at the end of it all be just where he started. So Genji grumbled to himself, and continued to behave in a somewhat plaintive and peevish manner during his whole visit. It was however already very late when the fear of giving offence in other quarters drove him from the room. Just as he was leaving he noticed that the flares outside her window were burning very low, and sending for one of his men, he had them kindled anew; but this time at a little distance from the house, under a strangely leaning spindle-tree which spread its branches in the form of a broad canopy, near to the banks of a deep, chilly stream. The thin flares of split pine-wood were placed at wide intervals, casting pale shadows that flickered remotely upon the walls of the unlighted room where she and Genji sat. He caught a glimpse of her hand, showing frail and ghostly against the dark background of her hair. Her face, suddenly illumined by the cold glare of the distant torches, wore an uneasy and distrustful air. He had risen to go, but still lingered. ‘You should tell your people never to let the flares go out,’ he said. ‘Even in summer, except when there is a moon, it is not wise to leave the garden unlighted. And in Autumn.... I shall feel very uneasy if you do not promise to remember about this. “Did but the torches flickering at your door burn brightly as the fire within my breast, you should not want for light!”’ And he reminded her of the old song in which the lover asks: ‘How long, like the smouldering watch-fire at the gate, must my desire burn only with an inward flame?’

One evening, when the moon was about five or six days old, he came suddenly to her room. The weather was chilly and overcast, and the wind rustled mournfully through the reeds outside her window. She sat with her head resting against her zither. Tonight, as on so many other nights, he would make his timid advances and end up no further than he had begun. So Genji grumbled to himself and remained somewhat plaintive and irritable throughout his visit. But it was already very late when fear of offending others finally drove him from the room. Just as he was leaving, he noticed that the torches outside her window were burning very low. He sent for one of his men and had them lit again, this time a little distance from the house. They stood under a strangely leaning spindle-tree near the bank of a deep, chilly stream. The tree’s branches spread out like a broad canopy. The thin torches of split pinewood stood far apart. They cast pale shadows that flickered faintly on the walls of the unlit room where she and Genji sat. He caught a glimpse of her hand, frail and ghostly against her dark hair. The cold light of the distant torches suddenly lit her face, which looked uneasy and distrustful. He had risen to leave, but still lingered. ‘You should tell your people never to let the torches go out,’ he said. ‘Even in summer, unless there is moonlight, it is not wise to leave the garden unlit. And in autumn.... I shall feel very uneasy if you do not promise to remember this. “If only the torches flickering at your door burned as brightly as the fire in my heart, you would not lack light!”’ And he reminded her of the old song in which the lover asks: ‘How long must my desire burn only within me, like the smoldering watch fire at the gate?’

‘Would that, like the smoke of the watch-fires that mounts and vanishes at random in the empty sky, the smouldering flame of passion could burn itself away!’ So she recited, adding: ‘I do not know what has come over you. Please leave me at once or people will think....’ ‘As you wish,’ he answered, and was stepping into the courtyard, when he heard a sound of music in the wing occupied by the Lady from the Village of Falling Flowers. Some one seemed to be playing the flute to the accompaniment of a Chinese zithern. No doubt Yūgiri was giving a small party. The flute-player could be none other than Tō no Chūjō’s eldest son Kashiwagi; for who else at Court performed with such marvellous delicacy and finish? How pleasant would be the effect, thought Genji, if they would consent to come and give a serenade by the streamside, in the subdued light of those flickering torches! ‘I long to join you,’ he wrote, ‘but, could you see the pale, watery shadows that the watch-flares are casting here in the garden of the western wing, you would know why I am slow to come....’ He sent this note to Yūgiri, and presently three figures appeared out of the darkness. ‘I should not have sent for you,’ he called to them, ‘had you not played “The Wind’s voice tells me....” It is a tune that I can never resist.’ So saying he brought out his own zithern. When he had played for a while, Yūgiri began to improvise on his flute in the Banshiki mode.⁵¹⁸ Kashiwagi attempted to join in, but his thoughts were evidently employed elsewhere,⁵¹⁹ for again and again he entered at the wrong beat. ‘Too late,’ cried Genji, and at last Kōbai was obliged to keep his brother in measure by humming the air in a low monotone like the chirping of a meditative grasshopper. Genji made them go through the piece twice, and then handed his zithern to Kashiwagi. It was some while since he had heard the boy play and he now observed with delight that his talent was not by any means confined to wind-instruments. ‘You could have given me no greater pleasure,’ he said, when the piece was over. ‘Your father is reckoned a fine performer on the zithern; but you have certainly more than overtaken him.... By the way, I should have cautioned you that there is some one seated just within who can probably hear all that is going on out in this portico. So to-night there had better not be too much drinking. Do not be offended, for I was really thinking more of myself than of you. Now that I am getting on in years I find wine far more dangerous than I used to. I am apt to say the most indiscreet things....’

‘If only the smoldering flame of passion could burn itself out, like smoke from the watch fires. It rises and vanishes at random in the empty sky!’ So she recited, then added: ‘I do not know what has come over you. Please leave me at once or people will think....’ ‘As you wish,’ he answered. He was stepping into the courtyard when he heard music from the wing occupied by the Lady from the Village of Falling Flowers. Someone seemed to be playing the flute, accompanied by a Chinese zither. Yūgiri was surely giving a small party. The flute player could only be Tō no Chūjō’s eldest son Kashiwagi. Who else at Court played with such marvelous delicacy and polish? Genji thought how pleasant it would be if they agreed to play by the stream, in the dim light of the flickering torches. ‘I long to join you,’ he wrote, ‘but if you could see the pale, watery shadows cast by the watch fires here in the western wing’s garden, you would know why I am slow to come....’ He sent the note to Yūgiri, and soon three figures appeared out of the darkness. ‘I would not have sent for you,’ he called to them, ‘if you had not played “The Wind’s voice tells me....” It is a tune I can never resist.’ Then he brought out his own zither. After Genji had played for a while, Yūgiri began to improvise on his flute in the Banshiki mode.⁵¹⁸ Kashiwagi tried to join in, but his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.⁵¹⁹ Again and again, he came in on the wrong beat. ‘Too late,’ Genji cried. At last Kōbai had to keep his brother in time by humming the tune softly on one note, like a thoughtful grasshopper chirping. Genji made them play the piece twice, then handed his zither to Kashiwagi. He had not heard the boy play for some time. Now he noticed with delight that Kashiwagi’s talent was not limited to wind instruments. ‘You could have given me no greater pleasure,’ he said when the piece was over. ‘Your father is known as a fine zither player, but you have certainly surpassed him.... By the way, I should have warned you that someone is sitting just inside. That person can probably hear everything happening out here on the portico. So we had better not drink too much tonight. Do not be offended. I was really thinking more of myself than of you. Now that I am getting older, I find wine much more dangerous than I used to. I am likely to say the most indiscreet things....’

Tamakatsura did, as a matter of fact, overhear every word of this, as indeed she was intended to, and was thankful that he at any rate saw the necessity of keeping himself in hand. The near presence of the two visitors could not fail to interest her extremely, if for no other reason than merely because they were, after all, though themselves entirely unaware of the fact, so very closely related to her; and for long past she had surreptitiously collected all possible information concerning their characters and pursuits. Kashiwagi was, as to her distress she had frequently ascertained, very deeply in love with her. Again and again during the course of the evening, he was on the verge of collapsing altogether; but never was the state of agitation through which he was passing for a moment reflected in his playing.

Tamakatsura did in fact overhear every word, as he intended. She was grateful that he, at least, saw the need to control himself. The presence of the two visitors nearby fascinated her. They were, after all, very closely related to her, though they knew nothing of it. Even if there had been no other reason, that alone would have made her intensely interested in them. For a long time, she had secretly gathered all the information she could about their characters and activities. As she had often discovered to her distress, Kashiwagi was deeply in love with her. Again and again that evening, he came close to collapsing. But his playing never once betrayed the turmoil he was going through.