That scent, indeed, brings memories
But rather, to be reminded of that other,
Would hear the cuckoo's[5] voice.
The Prince was on the veranda of his palace, and as the page approached him with important face, he led him into an inner room saying, "What is it?" The page presented the poem.
The Prince read it and wrote this answer:
The cuckoo sings on the same branch
With voice unchanged,
That shall you know.
His Highness gave this to the page and walked away, saying, "Tell it to no one, I might be thought amorous." The page brought the poem to the lady. Lovely it was, but it seemed wiser not to write too often [so did not answer].
On the day following his first letter this poem was sent:
To you I betrayed my heart—
Alas! Confessing
Brings deeper grief,
Lamenting days.
Feeling was rootless, but being unlearned in loneliness, and attracted, she wrote an answer:
If you lament to-day
At this moment your heart
May feel for mine—
For in sorrow
Months and days have worn away.
He wrote often and she answered—sometimes—and felt her loneliness a little assuaged. Again she received a letter. After expressing feelings of great delicacy: