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. 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.