Sanuki no Suke’s Diary (11)

 

     Seeing the golden bowl filled with ice, the Emperor exclaimed, "Looking at that seems to refresh me!  I'd like to put some large ice cubes in a tote jar and gather my courtiers to enjoy some."

     At this, all the ladies-in-waiting rose from their seats.  Only the Chancellor remained in attendance.

     Accompanied by Fujiwara Ieko and Minamoto Shishi, I entered the Emperor’s sleeping room that night.  We set up folding screens at the back door and peered into the room through the opening.  The Chancellor was waiting by the edge of the room.  Right beside the room screen, others followed the Chancellor: the Chancellor's brothers, Minamoto Masatoshi (1063-1122) and Kunizane (1069-1111), who were the uncles of the Emperor; the Chancellor's son, Akimichi (1081-1122), who was the cousin of the Emperor; Minamoto Yoshitoshi (1070-1134); and Minamoto Shigesuke (1045-1122).  The Chancellor took pieces of ice and handed them out to each of them.  Perhaps, intending to "encourage the Emperor's idea," he himself took a piece.  From behind the screen, we thought, "This way.  If only the Emperor would recover like he did last year.  How wonderful that would be!"

     As night fell, and people were preparing lights and other things, the Emperor complained of severe pain, so the ministers hurried into the palace and immediately summoned Priest Zoyo and others.  When the priest arrived, we set up screens around the Emperor and quietly stepped aside and listened.  The priest performed a blessing.  Perhaps because he was reciting sutras, the Emperor became quiet and seemed to be going to sleep.

I remember that this all happened on the 15th.

     And so, another dawn broke, but he still appeared weak.  And so, today, the 16th, also ended.