TOKUGAWA MITSUKUNI AND II NAOZUMI
徳川光圀と井伊直澄
In the ninth of Kambun(1670) the Shogun Ietsuna received Tokugawa Mitsukuni and offered him a cup of tea.
寛文九年（１６７０）、将軍家綱は徳川光圀を茶の湯に招待しました。
And Ii Kamon-no kami Naozumi, Lord of Hikone was in attendance also.
その時、井伊掃部頭直澄、彦根藩主も同席しました。
Now it is the custom when the Shogun makes tea himself and offers it to anyone, that the cup should not be returned to him, but become the property of the recipient.
将軍が茶を点てて誰かに馳走する場合、その茶碗は茶を受けた者に下される伝統があり戻す事はありません。
But on this occasion Mitsukuni was in the fullest of Court Dress and so could not retire with the cup in the proper way, and if he did not do so he could not keep it.
しかしこの時、光圀は拝礼の正装で正しい茶碗の扱いをすることが出来ずにいました。
Mitsukuni was at a loss what to do, when Namozumi, seeing the point, said to him, “May I have the honor of drinking after you.”
困っている光圀を見た直澄は「光圀様がお飲みになった後のお茶碗を私に下さることは光栄でありますので頂戴いたしたいのですが」と言いました。
Mitsukuni was quite pleased at this advice and asked the Shogun, and he was pleased to consent.
それを受け光圀は喜び将軍へ願い了承を得ました。
So he passed the tea-bowl on to Naozumi, who put it to his lips and then into his bosom and went out with it.
そして茶碗を直澄へ手渡すと、彼は茶を飲む仕草をした後にそれを懐に入れた後退席しました。