YORIMASA COULD NOT TELL WHICH WAS THE LADY AYAME.
The Emperor was pleased at the success of his pleasantry. He saw that Yorimasa was fairly perplexed, and that he was unable to pick out his lady-love from her companions.
"I am a soldier and no courtier," thought the knight, "I may not presume to lift my eyes to a lady above the clouds.[3] Nor can I be sure which is Ayame. Were I to make a mistake and choose the wrong lady, it would be a lifelong disgrace and disappointment to me!"
The perplexity in his mind at once rose to his lips in the form of a short poem, which he repeated:—
"In the rainy season when the waters overflow the banks of the lake, who can gather the Iris?"
Such is the meaning of the verse.
By the rainy season Yorimasa meant his three years of hopeless courting, during which his eyes had become dim with the tears of disappointment he had shed, so that he could no longer see clearly enough to discover which was the lady of his choice. In this way he excused himself for his seeming stupidity, and showed a modest reserve which pleased all present.
The aptness and quickness of Yorimasa's verse won the Emperor's admiration. The tears stood in the august eyes, for he thought of the great love wherewith Yorimasa had loved the Lady Iris, and of the sorrow and patience of his long wooing and waiting. His Majesty rose from his throne, descended the steps of the dais, and going up to Ayame took her by the hand and led her forth to Yorimasa.
"This is the Lady Ayame, I give her to you!" were the golden words of the Emperor.