45. The Bridge Maiden / The Lady at the Bridge(橋姫)
Passage
The paper had been attacked by bookworms and was in a moldering condition, but the characters were as clear as if they had been written yesterday, and seeing them staring at him there, as plain as day, Kaoru was thankful indeed that the documents had passed safely into his hands. So full was his mind of this story of his birth—the strangest tale, incidentally, that he had ever heard told—that he found it impossible to face going to the Palace, and presently went to his mother’s chapel.
Kaoru receives a letter from an old woman. It was written by his father(Kashiwagi). Kaoru reads the letter and learns the secret of his birth.
Summary
In Uji, on the outskirts of Kyoto, there lived an aging prince (Hachi No Miya). He was unable to ascend to the throne, his family fell into ruin, he lost his wife, and now lives in a decayed mansion with his two daughters. Kaoru became acquainted with Hachi No Miya and began visiting Uji regularly.
One day, when Kaoru went to the Uji mansion, Hachi No Miya was not at home. From the mansion, the daughters' ensemble could be heard. Kaoru asks the mansion's servant to act as intermediaries with them.The older female servant(Ben) had once been Kashiwagi's wet nurse. Kaoru learned the secret of his birth from her.
Comment
From this chapter to the final chapter(54. The Bridge of Dreams), it is called 'The Ten Chapters of Uji.' The story is set in Uji, a suburb of Kyoto. Did you notice the difference in style and tone compared to the other chapters? The story continues, full of sorrow and loneliness.