Sanuki no Suke’s Diary (23)

 

     When the Minister of the Interior, Minamoto Masazane, arrived, he took but one look at the Emperor. I know not what was in his heart, but as he drew the ribs of his fan together, he rubbed them gently, making a faint, rustling sound, before departing in tears. Shortly after, he gave the command: "Lower the lattices at once." Immediately, two of his kinsmen, Akikuni and Iesada, rushed to lower the heavy shutters and withdrew—even though the sun was still shining with brilliant clarity.

     "How heartless! What is happening?" I thought, my mind reeling. "The setting of the sun is beyond our power, yet in the past, I would always wait impatiently for the lamps to be lit before ever thinking of closing the lattices. But today, in the full light of noon, they have lowered them all, plunging us into a deliberate darkness." I felt as if I were losing my sanity. My sister, Kenshi, cried out:

     "How cruel! Why must they treat us so? We can do nothing for him now by gazing upon his face, yet I wished to look upon him in the light while I still could."

     She broke into a fresh paroxysm of weeping.

     Masazane then reappeared and spoke: "We must now change his raiment and replace the tatami with thinner mats, as dictates the custom." His voice faltered, and unable to finish his words, he simply brought a shroud of thin white silk and draped it over the body.

     As soon as Masazane stepped away from the bedside, Kenshi rushed forward and collapsed, lying there as still and silent as the Emperor himself. Seeing this, Masazane summoned his son, Akimichi, and ordered him to lead her away. Akimichi and Kenshi’s maid gently lifted her and departed. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s wet nurse, Ieko, was likewise scooped up and carried away by her sons and others.