Birds are on the wing, Over the Asuka River, Whose upper rapids Were spanned with a stone bridge, Whose lower rapids Were spanned with a wooden bridge; Towards the stone bridge, Fine and green water-weeds grow, And then withering, Soon prosper exuberantly; Toward the wooden bridge River-weeds grow up waving, And then withering, Soon prosper exuberantly; Like those water-weeds As soon as the Prince arose, The Princess rose, too, Waving like the water-weeds; When the Prince lay, The Princess after him lay, Toward him waving; Why could she forget the Prince By whose side she stood, In the Palace where he passed His mornings and evenings? Why did she leave it vacant? When she was alive, when she was well and happy, In the springtide She decked her hair with flowers, And in the autumn Adorned it with yellow leaves; She intermingled Her sleeves with the Prince's sleeves, And she watched the moon Full and clear as a mirror With admiration, With love and deep affection, Standing by his side; On another occasion She went out with him To the Palace of Kinoe, Where delicacies Were graciously offered to them; This part of Kinoe As her everlasting place, The Princess departed; And we can't see nor speak with her; Be that as it may (or Yet, nevertheless,) Swollen with the deep sorrow, Like the fairy bird, Longing for the departed, Line the morning bird, The Prince did come and go, Like the summer grass Pining and withering away, Like the evening star Going and sinking in grief; Like a swaying ship, The Prince's heart kept wavering; As this I know not How to comfort his sorrow; So I know no way And simply wish to retain The tone of her voice, Only to remember her name For ever and ever, As long as heaven and earth, Her beloved name Committing to memory, And love on her name By the Asuka River For generations As the precious memento Of the dear, deceased Princess (Manyoshu, Volume 2 -196).
飛ぶ鳥の　明日香の河の　上つ瀬に　石橋渡し　下つ瀬に　打橋渡す　石橋に　生ひ靡ける　玉藻もぞ　絶ゆれば生ふる　打橋に　生ひをれる　川藻もぞ　枯るれば生ゆる　何しかも　わが王の　立たせば　玉藻のもころ　臥せば　川藻のごとく　靡かひし　宜しき君の　朝宮を　忘れたまふや　夕宮を　背きたまふや　うつそみと　念ひし時　春べは　花折りかざし　秋立てば　黄葉かざし　しきたへの　袖たづさはり　鏡なす　見れども飽かず　三五月の　いやめづらしみ　念ほしし　君と時時　幸して　遊びたまひし　御食向ふ　きのえの宮を　常宮と　定めたまひて　あぢさはふ　目言も絶えぬ　しかれかも　あやにかなしみ　ぬえ鳥の　片恋嬬　朝鳥の　往来はす君が　夏草の　念ひ萎えて　夕星の　か往きかく去き　大船の　たゆたふ見れば　なぐさむる　情もあらず　そこゆゑに　せむすべ知れや　音のみも　名もみも絶えず　天地の　いや遠長く　偲び行かむ　み名に懸かせる　明日香河　万世までに　はしきやし　わが王の　形見かここを巻2-196