Ochikubo-18
This site gives it a try to read, understand and enjoy a story written in classical Japanese more than a thousand years ago.
Tale of Ochikubo-Hime is a Japanese version of Cinderella which should entertain readers of all ages.
Your joining in this try will be highly welcomed and greatly appreciated.
(Please be informed that this site provides content based on the personal views and opinions of the author of this site.)
Dictionaries and books generally used in this site
『落窪物語』（Tale of Ochikubo）（稲賀敬二）（Inaga Keiji）（新潮社 2017）（Shinchosha）
『全訳読解古語辞典（第五版）』（小型版）（Dictionary for Classical Japanese for Reading and Interpretation, 5th edition, pocket type）（鈴木一雄 小池清治 倉田実 石埜敬子 森野崇 髙山善行）（Suzuki Kazuo Koike Seiji Kurata Minoru Isino Keiko Morino Takaki Takayama Yoshiyuki）（三省堂 2021）（Sanseido Co., Ltd.）
『ルミナス和英辞典（第2版）』（Luminous Japanese-English Dictionary）（小島義郎 竹林滋 中尾啓介 増田秀夫）（Kojima Yoshiro Takebayashi Shigeru Nakao Keisuke Masuda Hideo）（研究社 2006）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
『ニュースクール英和辞典（第二版）』（Kenkyusha New School English-Japanese Dictionary, 2nd edition）（廣瀬和清 伊部哲）（Hirose Kazukiyo Ibe Satoshi）（研究社 2019）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
The original text of Tale of Ochikubo can be found in the website below:
（https://www.komazawa-u.ac.jp/~hagi/txt_ochikubomonogatari.txt）
First of all, we see the characters of this episode of Tale of Ochikubo-Hime.
Characters of this episode
Akoki is raging at deception of her husband. At the same time she will be deploring herself being deceived; she may be blaming herself for her inability to protect her cherished Princess. How so foolish I was! Of course it was my husband that should be accused but I should have also noticed, or sensed, his plot, even its faint sign. Why did I leave my Princess? I shouldn’t have listened to the words of that asshole. In the first place, I shouldn’t have gotten married to him. I must not let my Princess face any danger as her maid. This catastrophe is partly due to my failure. But I cannot restrain my anger against that betrayer. If my Princess should get hurt, I would never forgive him. He shall pay for it.
Tachiwaki pretends ignorance of the affair in which the Princess got involved until he was badly called names by his wife. He seems to have no pang of consciousness in deceit of his wife and her mistress. Maybe he is sure that his master, Ukon’no Shoushou, is certain to be a good lover and husband for Princess Ochikubo and in the end both the Princess and his wife will be happy with, and even grateful for, the savior. But isn’t their way of approach to the Princess quite rough? Can’t they take any way more decent, milder and more acceptable to the Princess and her devoted, steadfast maid?
Akoki and Tachiwaki argue and fight over the Princess; she would not hide her fury and he would conceal his connection with the unusual event happening to the Princess. He may tend to make light of his wife (and her mistress) or any women, meaning no harm. No matter how angry Akoki is, she cannot do anything but to let it happen as her husband and his master intend to. The men wins and the women have no choice but to accede. We hope this tragedy will turn into happiness for the Princess.
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「あこきが臥したる所も近ければ、泣いたまふ声もほのかに聞こゆれば、さればよと思ひて、まどひ起くるも、さらに起きさせねば、「わが君をいかにしなしたてまつりて、かくはするぞや。あやしとは思ひつ。いとあいぎやうなかりける心持たりけるものかな」とて、腹立ち、かなぐりて起くれば、帯刀笑ふ。」
（Akoki-ga-Fushitaru-Tokoro-mo-Chikakereba, Nai-tamau-Koe-mo-Honokani-Kikoyureba, Sarebayo-to-Omoite, Madoi-Okuru-mo, Sarani-Oki-Sase-ne-ba, “Waga-Kimi-wo-Ikani-Shinashi-tatematsurite, Kakuwa-Suru-zoya. Ayashi-towa-Omoi-tu. Ito-Aigyou-Nakari-keru-Kokoro-Motari-keru-Monokana" tote, Haradachi, Kanagurite-Okureba, Tachiwaki-Warau.）
所
（Tokoro）
① place, site, spot ② that land/place, location, house, residence ③ part, point ④ position, status, offical rank ⑤ name of public/government office, especially archival office and office of warriors ⑥ thing, point, time, case, occasion
聞こゆ
（Kikoyu）
hear sound and voice in a natural course ⇒① hear, reach a person’s ear ② say showing respect by lowering
①→③ being rumored, become known to the world →④ understandable, resonable
②→⑤ send a letter/message with respect →⑥ ask/beg/request with respect →⑦ (person’s name, official rank, etc.) call —- with respect
②→⑧ adding and showing respect by lowering
さればよ（＝さればこそ）
（Sarebayo）（＝Sarebakoso）
① (guessing right) just as I told you, as I thought/guessed, as (was) expected ② (dissatisfied with behavior of the relevant person and stop it and stating the will/request) no/well, that is it, no/well, just as it is
まどふ（←まどひ）
（Madou）（← Madoi）
be worried/troubled , not know what to do ⇒① (mind) confused, puzzled, perplexed, agonize ② (of course/way, judgment, etc.) get lost, be at a loss ③ be flustered, flurried ④ terribly do something
起く
（Oku）
① get up, rise ② wake up, rise, get out of bed ③ stay up, stay awake, be up
さらに
（Sarani）
① newly, afresh ② again, further, furthermore, still, even, increasingly, more and more ③ never, not at all, not any, no
さす（←させ）
（Sasu）（← Sase）
① make someone do something ② adding and showing respect by honoring ③ say showing respect by lowering ④ let someone do something, allow someone to do something, be gotten done something
ず（←ね）
（Zu）（← Ne）
not (doing)
しなす（←しなし）
（Shinasu）（← Shinashi）
cause that state, make, create, produce, purposely/intentionally/deliberately do
あいぎやう
（Aigyou）
① (about face, appearance, expression, way of saying, behavior, etc.) natural conveyance of gentle feeling and consideration, leading to attraction/fascination, loveliness, prettiness, cuteness, attractiveness ② love/cherish with a heart of deep/strong love/affection, love and be liked ③ men and women mutually being considerate and united/joined with love and respect, marriage
なし（←なかり）
（Nashi）（← Nakari）
① not exist, no/none ② not live, dead ③ absent, be out/away ④ treated as if existence is denied, not accepted in the world ⑤ unique, incomparable, unparalleled, once in a lifetime, few/little ⑥ not —-
ものかな
（Monokana）
showing strong emotion/admiration
かなぐる（←かなぐり）
（Kanaguru）（← Kanaguri）
tightly/roughly catch and pull/jerk hair/clothes, etc., throw off/fling off violently
In this episode, Tachiwaki seems to be a devil. He should have been a cupid of love. Does he have two or more faces? Does he take any measures to achieve any goals? The justice of Ukon’no Shoushou and Tachiwaki will be the happiness of Princess Ochikubo. Do they (really) have strong resolution for it? Will the devilish act in this episode be justified in the end?
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You can read English version of Ochikubo-Hime for charge. (No refund is available.) ([Caution!] This English version is the same one as that provided for charge in the site of おちくぼ物語 in Japanese https://jacl.it-is-the-tale.com.)