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
