The Diary of Lady Murasaki by Murasaki Shikibu

Author:Murasaki Shikibu [Shikibu, Murasaki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Classics, Non-Fiction, Biography, History
ISBN: 9780141907659
Google: 2t2R5_ow4FkC
Goodreads: 115776
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 1996-03-07T06:00:00+00:00

The time for the return to the Palace was approaching, but we were constantly rushed off our feet. Her Majesty was involved in her book-binding, and so first thing every morning we had to go to her quarters to choose paper of various colours and to write letters of request to people, enclosing copies of the stories. We were also kept busy night and day sorting and binding work that had already been finished.

‘What on earth are you doing in such cold weather?’ asked His Excellency. ‘You’re meant to be resting!’ Nevertheless, from time to time he would bring her good thin paper, brushes and ink. He even brought an inkstone. When the others found out that Her Majesty had given it to me, they all complained loudly. I had obtained it by going behind their backs, they said. Despite this, she made me another present of excellent coloured paper and some brushes.

Then, while I was in attendance, His Excellency sneaked into my room and found a copy of the Tale that I had asked someone to bring from home for safekeeping. It seems that he gave the whole thing to his second daughter. I no longer had the fair copy in my possession and was sure that the version she now had with her would hurt my reputation.43

The baby was beginning to make a few sounds, so it was only natural that His Majesty was getting somewhat impatient.

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