春はあけぼの（枕草子）Spring is the Dawn (The Pillow Book)

春は夜がほのぼのと明けようとする頃（が良い）。（日が昇るにつれて）だんだんと白んでいく、山際の辺りがいくらか明るくなって、紫がかっている雲が横に長く引いている様子（が良い）。

夏は夜（が良い）。月が出ている頃は言うまでもなく、（月が出ていない）闇夜もまた、蛍が多く飛び交っている（様子も良い）。また（たくさんではなくて）、ほんの一匹二匹が、ぼんやりと光って飛んでいくのも趣がある。雨が降るのも趣があって良い。

秋は夕暮れ（が良い）。夕日が差し込んで山の端にとても近くなっているときに、烏が寝床へ帰ろうとして、三羽四羽、二羽三羽と飛び急いでいる様子さえしみじみと心打たれる。言うまでもなく雁などが隊列を組んで飛んでいるのが、（遠くに）大変小さく見えるのは、とても趣があって良い。すっかり日が落ちてから（聞こえてくる）、風の音や虫の鳴く音などは、言うまでもなく（すばらしい）。

冬は早朝（が良い）。雪が降（り積も）っているのは言うまでもなく（素晴らしく）、霜が（降りて）とても白いのも、またそうでなくてもとても寒い（早朝）に、火などを急いでおこして、（廊下などを）炭を持って移動するのも、たいそう（冬の朝に）ふさわしい。昼になって、生暖かく（寒さが）だんだんとやわらいでいくと、火桶に入った炭火も白い灰が多くなっているのは（見た目が）よくない。In spring, the time when the night is just beginning to give way to the dawn is delightful. As the day gradually brightens, the slightly illuminated edges of the mountains and the long, horizontal streaks of purplish clouds are especially pleasing. In summer, the night is wonderful. It goes without saying that the moonlit nights are beautiful, but even the dark nights, when countless fireflies flit about, are lovely. And even just one or two fireflies, faintly glowing as they fly, are charming. The rain, too, is delightful. In autumn, the evening is the best time. When the setting sun casts its rays close to the mountain's edge, even the sight of crows hurrying to their nests in groups of three or four, or two or three, is deeply moving. Needless to say, the sight of geese flying in formation, appearing as tiny specks in the distance, is exceptionally beautiful. And of course, the sound of the wind and the chirping of insects after the sun has completely set are also wonderful. In winter, the early morning is the most appealing. It is needless to say how wonderful it is when snow is falling (and piling up). The frost, so white, is also beautiful. Even on mornings when it isn't snowing or frosting, the hurried lighting of fires and the carrying of charcoal through the corridors are very fitting for a winter morning. As daytime arrives and the air gradually warms, the sight of the charcoal in the brazier turning to white ash is not so appealing.