45. Prince Ken-toku: Ken-toku Kō

45 PRINCE KEN-TOKU KEN-TOKU KO Aware to mo Iu beki hito wa Omohoede Mi no itazura ni Narinu beki kana. I DARE not hope my lady-love Will smile on me again; She knows no Pity, and my life I care not to retain, Since all my prayers are vain. The real name of the writer of this verse was Koretada Fujiwara; he died in the year 972, and Prince Ken-toku is his posthumous name. Aware to mo means, in conjunction with the next line, 'that she would give me words of pity'; but aware tomo can also mean 'to meet as a friend.' In spite of the Prince's fears, the illustration seems to suggest that his lady-love changed her mind, and came to visit him once more.