15

The emperor paid a state visit to Rokujo~ late in the Tenth Month. Since the colors were at their best and it promised to be a grand occasion, the Suzaku emperor accepted the invitation of his brother, the present emperor, to join him. It was a most extraordinary event, the talk of the whole court. The preparations, which occupied the full attention of everyone at Rokujo~, were unprecedented in their complexity and in the attention to brilliant detail.

Arriving late in the morning, the royal party went first to the equestrian grounds, where the inner guards were mustered for mounted review in the finery usually reserved for the iris festival. There were brocades spread along the galleries and arched bridges and awnings over the open places when, in early afternoon, the party moved to the southeast quarter. The royal cormorants had been turned out with the Rokujo~ cormorants on the east lake, where there was a handsome take of small fish. Genji hoped that he was not being a fussy and overzealous host, but he did not want a single moment of the royal progress to be dull. The autumn leaves were splendid, especially in Akikonomu's southwest garden. Walls had been taken down and gates opened, and not so much as an autumn mist was permitted to obstruct the royal view. Genji showed his guests to seats on a higher level than his own. The emperor ordered this mark of inferiority dispensed with, and thought again what a satisfaction it would be to honor Genji as his father.

The lieutenants of the inner guards advanced from the east and knelt to the left and right of the stairs before the royal seats, one presenting the take from the pond and the other a brace of fowl taken by the royal falcons in the northern hills. To~ no Chu~jo~ received the royal command to prepare and serve these delicacies. An equally interesting repast had been laid out for the princes and high courtiers. The court musicians took their places in late afternoon, by which time the wine was having its effect. The concert was quiet and unpretentious and there were court pages to dance for the royal guests. It was as always the excursion to the Suzaku Palace so many years before that people remembered.* One of To~ no Chu~jo~,s sons, a boy of ten or so, danced “Our Gracious Monarch” most elegantly. The emperor took off a robe and laid it over his shoulders, and To~ no Chu~jo~ himself descended into the garden for ritual thanks.

Remembering how they had danced “Waves of the Blue Ocean” on that other occasion, Genji sent someone down to break off a chrysanthemum, which he presented to his friend with a poem:

“Though time has deepened the hue of the bloom at the hedge,

I do not forget how sleeve brushed sleeve that autumn.”

He himself had done better than most, thought To~ no Chu~jo~, but Genji had no rivals. No doubt it had all been fated. An autumn shower passed, as if sensing that the moment was right.

“A purple cloud is this chrysanthemum,

A beacon star which shines upon us all. And grows brighter and brighter.”