Part 3
“ Eleventh day. At dawn, the north sliding doors were removed to merge the two rooms together.”
十一日の暁に、北の御障子、二間はなちて、廂に移らせたまふ。御簾などもえかけあへねば、御几帳をおし重ねておはします。僧正、定澄僧都、法務僧都などさぶらひて加持まゐる。院源僧都、昨日書かせたまひし御願書に、いみじきことども書き加へて、読み上げ続けたる言の葉のあはれに尊く、頼もしげなること限りなきに、殿のうち添へて、仏念じきこえたまふほどの頼もしく、さりともとは思ひながら、いみじう悲しきに、みな人涙をえおし入れず、
「ゆゆしう、かうな。」
など、かたみに言ひながらぞ、えせきあへざりける。
人げ多く混みては、いとど御心地も苦しうおはしますらむとて、南、東面に出ださせたまうて、さるべきかぎり、この二間のもとにはさぶらふ。殿の上、讃岐の宰相の君、内蔵の命婦、御几帳の内に、仁和寺の僧都の君、三井寺の内供の君も召し入れたり。殿のよろづにののしらせたまふ御声に、僧も消たれて音せぬやうなり。
いま一間にゐたる人びと、大納言の君、小少将の君、宮の内侍、弁の内侍、中務の君、大輔の命婦、大式部のおもと、殿の宣旨よ。いと年経たる人びとのかぎりにて、心を惑はしたるけしきどもの、いとことわりなるに、まだ見たてまつりなるるほどなけれど、類なくいみじと、心一つにおぼゆ。
また、この後ろの際に立てたる几帳の外に、尚侍の中務の乳母、姫君の少納言の乳母、いと姫君の小式部の乳母などおし入り来て、御帳二つが後ろの細道を、え人も通らず。行きちがひみじろく人びとは、その顏なども見分かれず。
殿の君達、宰相中将<兼隆>、四位の少将<雅通>などをばさらにもいはず、左宰相中将<経房>、宮の大夫など、例はけ遠き人びとさへ、御几帳の上よりともすれば覗きつつ、腫れたる目どもを見ゆるも、よろづの恥忘れたり。頂きにはうちまきを雪のやうに降りかかり、おししぼみたる衣のいかに見苦しかりけむと、後にぞをかしき。
御頂きの御髮下ろしたてまつり、御忌む事受けさせたてまつりたまふほど、くれ惑ひたる心地に、こはいかなることと、あさましう悲しきに、平らかにせさせたまひて、後のことまだしきほど、さばかり広き母屋、南の廂、高欄のほどまで立ちこみたる僧も俗も、いま一よりとよみて額をつく。
東面なる人びとは、殿上人にまじりたるやうにて、小中将の君の、左の頭中将に見合せて、あきれたりしさまを、後にぞ人ごと言ひ出でて笑ふ。化粧などのたゆみなく、なまめかしき人にて、暁に顏づくりしたりけるを、泣き腫れ、涙にところどころ濡れそこなはれて、あさましう、その人となむ見えざりし。
宰相の君の、顏変はりしたまへるさまなどこそ、いとめづらかにはべりしか。まして、いかなりけむ。されど、その際に見し人のありさまの、かたみにおぼえざりしなむ、かしこかりし。
今とせさせたまふほど、御もののけのねたみののしる声などのむくつけさよ。源の蔵人には心誉阿闍梨、兵衛の蔵人には妙尊といふ人、右近の蔵人には法住寺の律師、宮の内侍の局には千算阿闍梨を預けたれば、もののけに引き倒されて、いといとほしかりければ、念覚阿闍梨を召し加へてぞののしる。
阿闍梨の験の薄きにあらず、御もののけのいみじうこはきなりけり。宰相の君のをき人に叡効を添へたるに、夜一夜ののしり明かして、声も涸れにけり。御もののけ移れと召し出でたる人びとも、みな移らで騒がれけり。
午の時に、空晴れて朝日さし出でたる心地す。平らかにおはしますうれしさの類もなきに、男にさへおはしましける慶び、いかがはなのめならむ。昨日しほれ暮らし、今朝のほど、秋霧におぼほれつる女房など、みな立ちあかれつつ休む。御前には、うちねびたる人びとの、かかる折節つきづきしきさぶらふ。
Eleventh day. At dawn, the north sliding doors were removed to merge the two rooms together. The Queen was carefully moved towards the veranda, as there was not enough time to hang misu. Instead, she was surrounded by kicho, providing a sense of privacy and tranquility. The Reverend Gyocho and other priests performed incantations, while the Reverend Ingen recited a prayer composed by the Lord Prime Minister, embellishing it with his own solemn vows. The words spoken were filled with utmost reverence and hope. The Prime Minister joined in the prayer, instilling a sense of confidence in a fortunate delivery. However, a lingering anxiety persisted, casting a somber tone upon the scene. Many eyes welled up with tears, even though we admonished ourselves that tears were not fitting for the occasion.
It was said that the Queen was experiencing discomfort due to the crowded rooms. As a result, orders were given for people to relocate to the south and east rooms, leaving only the most important figures within the Royal Apartment. The Prime Minister, Lady Sanuki, and Lady Saisho remained behind the protective screen. The esteemed priest from Ninna Temple and the court priest from Mii Temple were summoned to their presence. The Prime Minister issued various commands, and his voice resounded over those of the priests. Ladies Dainagon, Koshosho, Miya-no-Naishi, Nakatsukasa-no-Kimi, Tayu-no-Myobu, Daishikibu-no-Omoto, and Tono-no-Senji—all venerable ladies of experience—were present, yet even they were understandably bewildered. As a novice myself, I keenly felt the gravity of the situation. Behind the curtain, there stood the nurses of Princesses Naishi-no-Kami and Nakatsukasa, the Queen's sister Shōnagon, and her younger sister Koshikibu. These nurses maneuvered through the narrow passage behind the two screens, obstructing anyone from passing that way. Numerous other individuals were bustling about, but I could not discern their identities.
The Prime Minister's son, Lieutenant-General Saisho, Major-General Masamichi of the Fourth Rank, Lieutenant-General Tsunefusa of the Left Bodyguard, and Miya-no-Tayu—all of whom were not intimately acquainted with Her Majesty—gazed over her screen for a considerable time. Their eyes were swollen from weeping, their disregard for the shame of it all apparent. White rice was scattered on their heads, resembling snow. Though their disheveled appearance may have seemed unseemly, such details only occupied our thoughts retrospectively. A portion of the Queen's head was shaved, a sight that greatly surprised and saddened me. However, she delivered her child peacefully. The expulsion of the after-birth was delayed, prompting the priests to gather on the south balcony beneath the eaves of the magnificent main building. Reciting sutras fervently, they often knelt, engrossed in their prayers.
Among the ladies-in-waiting on the east side, a few courtiers could be seen. Lady Kochujo's gaze met that of the Lieutenant-General, causing amusement among onlookers at her astonished expression. She is a captivating and refined individual, always meticulous in adorning her face. However, this morning, her eyes were red, and tears had spoiled her rouge. She appeared disfigured and hardly recognizable. Lady Saisho's makeup was also imperfect, but what about my own? Fortunately, such details go unnoticed during such times.
As the after-birth began, the air was filled with the jealously swearing voices of the evil spirits. Shinzo-Azari took charge of Lady Ben-no-Kurodo, Sōyo took charge of Hyoé-no-Kurodo, and priest Hojuji took charge of Ukon-no-Kurodo. Chiso Azari assumed responsibility for Lady Miya-no-Naishi. However, the latter priest succumbed to the overpowering influence of the evil spirit. Seeing his pitiable state, Ninkaku Azari went to his aid. It was not because the efficacy of his prayer was lacking, but rather, the spirit was too formidable. Priest Eiko was entrusted with Lady Saisho's supplicator of the spirit. Throughout the night, he swore fervently until his voice grew hoarse. Most of the ladies who were summoned in order for the spirits to enter them remained unharmed, causing them great concern as they wished for any attack to benefit the Queen. By noon, we felt as if the sun had finally emerged from behind the clouds. The Queen was at ease!
She is now at peace—a joy beyond compare! Moreover, it is a prince, so the joy cannot be contained. The court ladies, who had spent the previous day in a state of anxiety, unsure of what to do, resembled wanderers in the mist of the early morning. One by one, they retreated to their own chambers to find rest, leaving before the Queen only a select group of elderly individuals fitting for such occasions.