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p. 68

68 THE RETIRED EMPEROR SANJŌ

SANJŌ IN

Kokoro ni mo
Arade uki yo ni
Nagaraeba
Koishikarubeki
Yowa no tsuki kana.

IF in this troubled world of ours
  I still must linger on,
My only friend shall be the moon,
  Which on my sadness shone,
  When other friends were gone.

The Emperor Sanjō, who reigned A.D. 1012-1015) was the son of the Emperor Reisei; he fell into ill health, his palace was burnt down twice, and he was forced to abdicate by Michinaga Fujiwara (see verse No. 59)

Next: 69. The Priest Nō-in: Nō-in Hōshi