The Tale of Genji is the work of 11th century literature considered by some to be the first novel. And it was the work of one talented Heian lady-in-waiting: Murasaki Shikibu!
"When I think now of how 
ephemeral it has been,"
Cuando pienso en cuán efímero fue,
Quando você pensa em o
quão efêmero tem sido,