源氏、中川辺りで、聞こえた琴の音に興を引かれ惟光を入らす。 門前に桂の木あり、時鳥鳴き過ぎる。

Near Nakagawa, drawn by a koto, Genji sends Koremitsu in; a katsura tree stands before the gate and a cuckoo calls as it passes.

源氏、麗景殿女御 (花散里の姉)のもとでも時鳥を聞き、昔話をしてから、花散里に逢う。

At the Reikeiden Consort's (Hanachirusato's elder sister) Genji hears a cuckoo, talks of old times, and then meets Hanachirusato.

政界での立場が悪化し孤立を深める源氏は、五月雨の晴れ間に故桐壺院の後宮であった麗景殿女御の邸を訪れる。世間から見捨てられた静寂のなかで亡き父帝を追慕し語り合ったのち、女御の妹でかつて契りを交わした花散里の部屋を訪れる。激動の最中、源氏は変わらぬ人柄と優しい風情に深い慰めを見出す。

As political hostility surrounds him, Genji visits the residence of the Reikeiden Consort, a gentle lady from his late father's court, on an evening when summer rains clear. In that quiet household they reminisce nostalgically about the old days, after which Genji passes the night with her younger sister, Hanachirusato, finding warmth and peace in her enduring gentleness.

hanachirusato

Scenes