Ki-no-Kaion

“ How I envy her!"
"Hush, U-noha!" said Komachi blushing. "I see that I must confess the truth to you, but I must ask you to promise not to tell your brother. The man you saw hiding in the carriage is Lord Arihira."
She then told all that had passed between herself and her lover.
"Lord Arihira has promised to come secretly every night to my gate, during my hundred days of fasting and prayer." As she continued her face became wreathed with smiles. "So the man in the carriage must have been he. He is a very kind and trustworthy man. The period of fasting and prayer is nearly at an end. ”

“ With this resolve Komachi unsheathed her dirk with fast falling tears, and she said to herself with a sigh: "I wish I could see my beloved Arihira and father before I die." She raised her hand and was about to plunge the dirk into her throat, when just at the critical moment, someone suddenly seized her hands and prevented her from doing the fearful deed. She looked around, and to her surprise and pleasure, she saw her lover Arihira. He had that day been summoned to the Court on duty, and on hearing of Komachi's appointment as Crown Princess had sought for her to talk with her. ”

“ The disappointed nobleman reflected for a moment, and then thought of the following terrible plan. He determined that he would sacrifice the life of the poor girl, and lay the crime of murder upon his rival.
He suddenly drew his dirk from its sheath, and stabbed U-noha to the heart, and signalling to his retainer, they both disappeared in an instant. The girl fell to the ground, shrieking in her death agony; and Arihira, greatly amazed, jumped down and ran to her assistance.
"Help! Help!" he cried. "Murder! Murder!" ”

“ Both Lady Komachi and Lord Arihira had exchanged vows of eternal fidelity, long before the ex-Emperor appointed her Crown Princess. They were only waiting for their wedding. So, although they had commands from the Emperor, they could not break their vows without violating their duties as a faithful man, and a virtuous woman. Their step was quite unavoidable, and therefore was not a crime. Their only course was to steal out of the palace, and run away. If any one is to blame, it is the ex-Emperor. He forcibly appointed a betrothed woman to be the Crown Prince's consort. ”

“ We disguised ourselves as outlaws and have searched for you in order to catch you. You have eloped in violation of the Imperial command, and if we capture you and take you back we shall obtain our lord's pardon. Fortune has favoured us, and delivered you into our hands."
As they spoke, they bound Komachi and Arihira hand and foot, and were just about to depart for the capital with them, when the priest returned. The priest, who had formerly been a samurai, and was very proficient in military arts, and possessed Herculean strength, was not in the least alarmed at this state of affairs. ”

“ OMACHI, the daughter of Ono-no-Yoshizané, the Lord of Dewa, was the most beautiful woman that Japan has ever produced. She was a remarkably talented poetess, and her name is familiar to everybody in connection with the famous anthology Hyaku-Nin-Isshyu, or "Single Verses by a Hundred Poets."
In her younger days, Komachi was courted by a large number of noblemen and samurai. Two of these suitors were consumed with a burning passion for her. One was Fukakusa-no-Shōshō Arihira, a court noble, who was a handsome and accomplished gentleman. He had written the maiden many letters ”

“ The goblin immediately appeared before them in the shape of a woman, and said angrily:
"Alas! ye foolish priests; no matter how fervently ye may pray, my hatred will never be pacified." With these words, the phantom vanished, and suddenly lurid lightning flashed, and deafening peals of thunder rolled around. ”

“ The priest cut the frightened captives free from their bonds and said:
"As your whereabouts have been discovered, it is dangerous for you to stay here longer. You must fly for your lives at once. If you go along the north side of the valley you will reach Saga. I will stay here for some time, and delay any enemies who may be pursuing you, and afterwards I will overtake you; but you must hasten immediately,"
Urged by the priest, the young lovers fled along the road he had suggested.
After they had gone, the priest fought bravely against the rallying foes and succeeded in repulsing them. ”

“ He also persuaded Chikatada to comply with Sadakagé's earnest request. But Chikatada added that if the real offender did not appear within the stipulated period, he would take Arihira's life.
III
A severe drought had been over the land for several weeks. The earth was parched, rivers were dried up, and rice and all the other crops were ruined. Everyone, from the Emperor downward, prayed to Heaven and Earth, the gods of the sea and the river, for rain; but not a single drop fell. If the drought should continue for a few days more famine and starvation would prevail throughout Japan. ”

“ I must put up with an ill-favoured man. I don't rightly know the reason, but your happy story has made me feel dizzy and heavy-hearted. Will you excuse me if I retire, my lady?"
With these words U-noha went into the next room. Truth to tdl, the maiden had long cherished a secret passion for Arihira, and had written him many a letter, but he had sent her no answer. That was not surprising; for Arihira had been too absorbed in his love for Komachi to pay any attention to the courtship of a comparatively unknown girl. ”

“ They also told how Komachi's poem had caused rain to fall at the "poetry-meeting" in consequence of which she had been appointed Crown Princess. They gave an account of their elopement, and begged the priest earnestly to protect and shelter them for the time being. The priest promptly and willingly consented, saying:
"Willingly, my lord and lady. I will do anything in my power to help you. You can stay here as long as you choose. But I am afraid the accommodation is very inconvenient. However, in such an out-of-the-way place you will be safe from all pursuers. ”