平中物語

HEICHU MONOGATARI

A great long time ago, there were two men in earnest

about the same woman. The man who had been the first

to declare his love was higher in rank than the second,

and served in a position very close to the Emperor,

while the second to ask for her hand was at least a

relative of none other than her highness the

current Dowager Empress, though his rank was somewhat lower.

For a reason that I can not comprehend, the lady settled on the second suitor.

Translated by Kenneth L. Richard