< Page:Insect Literature by Lafcadio Hearn.djvu
This page needs to be proofread.

— 148 —

light suddenly shot toward him. He struck at it with a stick; but it darted away, and flew into the garden of a residence adjoining his own.

Next morning he made a visit to that house, intending to relate the adventure[1] to his neighbours and friends. But before he found a chance to speak of it, the eldest daughter of the family, happening to enter the guest-room without knowing of the young man’s visit, uttered a cry of surprise, and exclaimed, “Oh! how you startled[2] me! No one told me that you had called; and just as I came in I was thinking about you. Last night I had so strange a dream! I was flying in my dream,—flying above the canal in front of our house. It seemed very pleasant to fly over the water; and while I was flying there I saw you coming along the bank. Then I went to you to tell you that I had learned how to fly; but you struck at me, and frightened me so that I still feel afraid when I think of it………" After hearing this, the visitor thought it best not to relate his own experience for the time being, lest the coincidence should alarm[3] the girl, to whom he was betrothed.

VI

Fireflies have been celebrated in Japanese poetry

註

  1. ↑ 冒險に非ず、a remarkable experience; a noteworthy occurrence なり。
  2. ↑ cause to start with surprise; give shock to.
  3. ↑ disturb; agitate, excite, excite with fear.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.