“Ah, my princess, farewell forever. Without thee I faint and die. Thy love alone gave life,” and he sank down upon the sands and was no more.
He had been gone from earth a thousand years.
THE FIREFLY OF MATSUI
Shizoku of Matsui loved a maiden called Kennei-Botaru, for she was bright and sparkling. Late one snowy night he was returning from a wedding party when amidst the tiny snowflakes which were beginning to fall, he saw a strange light flicker and flash before him.
“Kagaribo mo
Hotaru mo hikaru
Genji kama!”[16]
he exclaimed, wondering that the O-botaru (great firefly) should be flitting about in winter snows.
As he gazed upon it, the creature flashed and darted toward him and so annoyed him that he thrust at it with the stick he carried.
Hither and yon it flashed, like a will-o’-the-wisp until at last it darted away into the garden of the house wherein dwelt his betrothed.