GREEN
WILLOW AND
OTHER
FAIRY
JAPANESE
TALES
BY
GRACE
WITH
JAMES
ILLUSTRATIONS
WARWICK
MACMILLAN ST.
MARTIN'S
IN
COLOUR
BY
GOBLE
AND
CO^
STREET, 1912
LIMITED LONDON
COPYRIGHT
First
EditioHt
4/0,
40
/UuttratumSf
1910.
JVhv
Etiifwn,
8cv,
z6
lUustraiionSt
1913.
178020 GOT -9
\m
"BUG7
TO
MISS
ETSUKO
KATO
LIST
OF
The
Moon
The
Flute
The
Peony
The
Sea
ILLUSTRATIONS
IN
COLOUR
Maiden
Frontispiece FACE
The
PACK
lo
Lantern
King
and
25
Magic Jewels
the
.* .
.
.
Star Lovers
45
65
Reflections
78
The
Story of Susa, the Impetuous
99
The
Bell of
The
Singing
A
Legend
The The
D6j6ji Bird
127
148
of Heaven
of Kwannon
Espousal of
the
Strange Story of
The
Matsuyama
The
Nurse
The
Beautiful
165 Rat's the
Daughter
.
.
.
.
.
.
.171
Comb
Golden
Mirror
.
191 228
243 Dancer
of Yedo
250
Karma
270
zi
NOTE
These
talcs
many
sources.
from
the
which
legends have
and
Ko-ji-ki^ or
from
told
are
of them
Some
mythology being
memory,
from
days, originallyheard or
a
favourite
subjects
for
one
an
this, and
form
are
his
allowed
Daughter," to
others
;
of
lips of
the
in
childish fellow school-
a
again, form
them,
translated
appeared
Many
Japan.
relics
of
Matters^
stories into
now
English
this country
probably
are
the
upon
in to
new
English public. Thanks
has
another
or
been
have
of
representation
number
A
gathered together have ere
of
Certain
nurse.
Japanese stage.
long
the
selected
been
Ancient
of
from
collected
have
Record
the
contains
been
Mrs.
version
T.
of
"
to
H. The
due
to
story, be
Marcus **
The
included
James
for
Matsuyama
vii
B.
Huish, Esq.,who
Espousal in this
of the
collection
permission Mirror.'*
to
use
Rat's ;
and
her
CONTENTS
PAGX
1.
Green
2.
The
Flute
3.
The
Tea-Kettle
4.
The
Peony
5.
The
Sea
6.
The
Good
7.
The
Black
8.
The
Star
9.
Horaizan
Willow
10.
Reflections
11.
The
i
lo
17 Lantern
King
25
and
the
Magic
Jewels
.
The
37
Thunder
50
Bowl
56
Lovers
65 71
78
Story
Susa,
of
Impetuous
the
...
12.
.
Wind
Pine
the
in
Tree
89 loi
....
13.
Flower
14.
The
Mallet
15.
The
Bell
16.
The
Maiden
of
108
Peony
the
116
of
Dojoji of
127
Unai
134 ix
CONTENTS PACK
17. The
Robe
18. The
Singing
19. The
Cold
20.
The
Fire
21.
A
22.
The
Feathers
of
Bird
142
Heaven
of
148
....
Lady
153 161
Quest
Legend
165
Kwannon
of
Espousal
of
Daughter
"
.
Land
24. The
Spring
25. The
Strange
26. The
Jelly-Fishtakes
Yomi
Lover
and
Story
the
the
of
Lover
Autumn
Golden
Comb
Journey
a
.
.
.
.
27. Urashima 28.
the
Fox
Maiden
Matsuyama
228
Mirror
Images
Tongue-cut
33. The
Nurse
34. The
Beautiful
233 Sparrow
238 243
Dancer
of
Yedo
.
.
Hana-Saka-Jiji
36. The
Moon
250
258
Maiden
264
37. Karma
38. The
204
223
32. The
35.
191
215
29. MoMOTARo
31. Broken
185
209
Tamamo,
30. The
171 180
23. The
of
Rat's
the
270 Sad
Story
of
the
Yaoya's X
Daughter
.
276
WILLOW
GREEN
the
ToMODATA, the
He
of Noto.
Lord
had
a
poet.
He
a
noble
form
and
a
beloved
was
his
Now
loyal
"
Are
you
"
My
lord, you
"
Do
"
Ay,
love
you
good
my
"Then
fear
Stay
not
life look
bring
me
do the
for
not
your not
?
then
?
lord,'* said
"
kind.
and
wanted
Noto,
a
chose
He
trust.
presence.
daimyo. Tomodata,
it," answered
know me,
his
the
said
asked
the
daimyo.
kneeling
Tomodata,
;
but any word
message,'*
my
carry
and
Ride
and
"
manly
every
him.
before
"
of of
to
was
poor.
Lord
him
called
and
Tomodata,
by
mission
a
He
generous
and
the
daimyoy
undertake
to
man
and
rich
by
in
excelled
graceful dancer, and He wealthy was sport.
face,
beautiful
a
to
and
courtier,
a
address.
winning
a
He
and
voice
very
allegiance
soldier,
a
was
sweet
a
owed
samurai^
young
not
spare
your
mountains storm
nor
betray maid
not
between
nor
any your
beast. the other
the
said
Ride
again quickly.'*
straight,
enemies'
country. Lose
thing. Above
trust.
the
daimyo.
eyes.
all, do
Ride,
and
WILLOW
GREEN
spokethe
Thus
Tomodata
So rode
he
commands,
and straight, three
been
burst,for
it
rode
and
Tomodata
rode
wind
spoke to drew
he
might
rode
month.
had
tempest
Down
bowed
howled
he
poured his head
in the
pine-tree good horse
typhoon. The scarcelykeep its feet,but it and urged it on. His own
close
about
him
l;)low away,
not
autumn
a
could
lord's
He
Ere
country.
Tomodata
It blew
trembled
that it
The
good beast.
the road the
torrent.
on.
branches.
cloak
enemies'
the ninth
was
a
his
his
to
he
away
afraid of the steep mountain
not
daysupon
the rain in and
sparednot was
horse,and
to
Obedient
quest.
of the
nor
passes
of Noto,
got him
his
upon
Lord
i
and
and
held
it
in this wise
so
he
on.
fierce
The
of the
landmark that he
storm
became
many a familiar buffeted the samurai so
swept away
road,and
almost
tide fainting.Noondark as twilight, was as was as dark twilight and when nightfellit was as black as the as night, night of Yomi, where lost souls wander and cry. By this time Tomodata had lost his way in a wild, where, as it seemed to him, no human lonelyplace,
soul inhabited.
weary
His
horse
to
could
carry him
no
foot throughbogs and and he wandered on longer, marshes,throughrocky and thornytracks,until he fell into deep despair. "Alack and
At
I die in this wilder! '* he cried, ness "must the quest of the Lord of Noto be unfulfilled?''
this
moment
the great winds
blew
away
the
WILLOW
GREEN
I
clouds of the
shone very sky,so that the moon forth,and by the sudden lightTomodata brightly his righthand. a littlehill on saw Upon the hill was
small thatched cottage,and before the cottage
a
three green
grew
weeping-willowtrees. indeed, the gods be thanked
Now, Tomodata, "
and
three willow
over
woman,
"I
I
am
a
a
lonelymoor.
myselfand As
My
and
out
old
a
"
she
benighted
is Tomodata*
in the service of the Lord
Show
of Noto,
hospitality
me
food and shelter
crave
horse.*'
my
stood man young from his garments.
put
and
name
the
streamed
night?
a
lost traveller,
weary
samurai
such
upon
upon whose business I ride. for the love of the gods. I for
an
wills he here ? *'
and what
your
upon
opened by
was
poorlybut neatlyclad.
rides abroad
am
their green threw his horse*s
one
the cottage door
very
asked,"
a
of them, and called for the longed-for shelter.
to
Who
"
of the cottage door, hole in the roof. The
Tomodata
of
branch
once
time.
no
swayedand flungout
trees
a
admittance At
of
out
hill in
said
chinks
in the wind.
streamers
rein
the
curled
the
climbed
from
Light shone and smoke
he
!**
hand
to
hold
speakingthe He
on
reeled
a
water
little,
of by the side-post
the door. "
Come
full of
woman,
fire. You fare
in,come
to
in,young
sir ! "
pity. "Come
very welcome. but it shall be offer, are
great good-will. As
to
in We set
cried the old
have but before you
your horse,I 3
the
to
see
warm coarse
with
you have
WILLOW
GREEN delivered him
to
i
he
daughter;
my
is in
good
hands." behind
him,
round. Just sharply stood a very young light,
in the dim
the
girlwith Her
turned
this Tomodata
At
horse*s rein thrown
garments
streamed
hair
loose
wondered
samurai
the old
blown
were
and
about
upon she had come
how
him
into
her
arm.
her
long
wind.
The
there.
Then
the
out
drew
woman
over
the
cottage and
Before the fire sat the good the door. of the house, and the two old people did They very best they could for Tomodata.
shut man
the
gave rice
dry garments, comforted him with hot wine, and quicklyprepareda good supper him
for him. the daughterof Presently
and retired behind to
dress afresh.
him. Her
She
feet
confined
bare.
forth
came
of
robe
blue
a
were
she
hair
Her
house
comb
to
screen
Then
wore
in
a
the
came
hair and
her
wait upon
to
homespun was
in,
cotton.
tied
not
nor
lay along her smooth and long and black,to cheeks,and hung,straight her very knees. She was slender and graceful. Tomodata judged her to be about fifteen years old, and
knew
had
ever
At
any
well
way,
but
that she
was
length she
at
he
seen.
knelt
her.
When
pouring the wine their glances met,
she and
his side to
pour wine the wine-bottle in two
at
into his cup. She held hands and bent her head. look
the fairestmaiden
had
Tomodata had set
and Tomodata 4
turned
made
an
down
the
looked
at
end
to
of
bottle, her full
WILLOW
GREEN
I
the eyes, for he forgotaltogether the Lord of Noto. warning of his daimyoy " ? ** Maiden/' he said," what is your name the
between
She
answered
They
"
:
call
the
me
Green
Willow/' "The
again
he
dearest
name
looked
her
chin
to
the
between
And
eyes.
long her face grew rosy red, forehead,and though she smiled her
because he looked from
said,and
earth,'*he
on
so
eyes filledwith tears. Ah me, for the Lord Tomodata
Then **
of Noto's quest ! made this little song :
maiden^do Long-haired
you know
That with the red dawn Do you wish
far
me
go f
I must ?
away
maiden^say long-haired maiden^if you know hong-haired Cruel
"
That with the red dawn
Why^ the
And "
oh
why
J
do you blush
maiden, the
The dawn
I must
comes
so
Willow, answered
Green
ifI
go^ '*
?
will
or
no
:
;
Never
leave me^ never go. My sleeve shall hide the blush away. The dawn comes ifI will or no ;
Never
leave me^ Lordy I lift my
"Oh,
Green
never
go. sleeve so. long
Willow,
Green
sighedTomodata. That night he lay before 5
the
.'' .
.
Willow fire "
'* .
"
.
but still,
WILLOW
GREEN with he
eyes, for
wide
was
He
weary. Yet
Willow.
bound
sleepcame
no
him
to
though
sick for love of the Green
was
the rules of his service he was over, to think of no such thing. More-
by
in honour
the quest of the Lord of Noto that his heart,and he longedto keep truth
had
he
i
layheavy on and loyalty.
the firstpeep of
At
day he
rose
He
up.
looked
who had been his host,and upon the kind old man left a purse of gold at his side as he slept. The maiden and her mother laybehind the screen.
saddled and
bridled his horse,and mounting,rode slowlyaway through the mist of the earlymorning. The storm was quite over still as Paradise. The and it was as green grass Tomodata
the
and
the
clear,and
was
flowers
Green
"Ah, and
Willow,'*
lay in holy that he
;
the
when
as
to
twilightfell.
he rose, a
cold
That
his mind
that flowed
his
journey;
the shrine's threshold.
Willow, prone
upon
the
night
placewas so midnighttill
havingit in
stream
go refreshed upon
Green
Green
"
"
deserted shrine,and the from of all he slept in spite
stoppedupon the
was
Willow,'' he Green Willow, Willow, Green
a
Then the dawn. wash himself in 80
it
and
autumn
bow, his saddle-
across
Green
Willow,
"
Willow
Green
sky
sad.
was
noontide
at
The
wet.
path very brightwith
streamed sunlight
the
When
the
with
but Tomodata
;
sighed;
shone
leaves
near
but he
to
by, was
There
lay ground. A
thing she lay,face downwards, hair flungabout her. She lifted a
slender
with
her
black
hand
and
6
GREEN
I
held
Tomodata
by
WILLOW the
lord,"she said,and fell to took her in his
He he
soon
set
her
on
"My lord, my sobbingpiteously.
sleeve.
arms
word, and before him, and
without
his horse
a
togethertheyrode the livelong day. It was little they recked of the road they went, for all the while they looked into each other's eyes. The heat and the cold were nothing to them. They felt not
the
of the
Lord
the rain ; of truth or falsehood nor theythoughtnothingat all ; nor of filialpiety, sun
nor
of Noto's
word. plighted
Alas,for the ways
They
quest, nor
of honour
knew
the
but
nor
thing.
one
of love !
At last
unknown to an city,where theycame carried gold and jewels they stayed. Tomodata in his girdle, built of white so theyfound a house with sweet white mats. In every dim wood, spread there could be heard the sound of the garden room
waterfall,whilst
the
flitted
swallow
and
across
the paper lattice. Here theydwelt,knowing but the one thing. Here theydwelt three years of across
for Tomodata and the happydays,and the years were like garlands of sweet In the
the
autumn
of them
two
shake
Willow
flowers.
of the third year it chanced forth
went
dusk, for theyhad a wish to rise ; and as theywatched, the to
Green
into see
the
the
Green
that
garden at
round Willow
moon
began
and shiver.
dear," said Tomodata, "you shake and is shiver ; and it is no wonder, the night wind in." And he put his arm around her. chill. Come
"My
At
this she gave
a
long and pitiful cry, very 7
WILLOW
GREEN
loud and full of agony, and the cry she failed, and love's breast. "
me
; "
i
had
she
when
droppedher
head
Tomodata,'*she whispered,say "
uttered her
upon
prayer for
a
1 die."
Oh, say
not
so,
!
sweet
sweet, my
my
You
but weary ; you are faint.'* He carried her to the stream's side, where the iris grew like swords, and the lotus-leaves like are
He fields,and laved her forehead with water. said : What Look up and live." is it,my dear ? The tree,"she moaned, the tree they "
"
"
"
have
down
cut
tree.
my
"
"
the Green
Remember
Willow." it seemed, from his as slipped, himself upon the to his feet ; and he, casting arms ground,found onlysilken garments, brightcoloured, and sweet, and straw warm sandals, scarlet-thonged. In after years, when Tomodata was a holy With
that she
he travelled from
man,
shrine
shrine,painfully
to
feet,and acquiredmuch he found Once, at nightfall,
upon
hill,and
on
cottage.
The
old been
and
it the door
down.
stilland silent. "
sad
stood for
8
a
himself:
know
I must
three
long since long time
gentlyto
maiden^do you Long-haired That with the red dawn
little
poor thatched fro with broken
that had
he sang
a
a
a
Before it stood
trees
Tomodata Then
and
to
upon
he beheld
of
ruins
swung
of willow
himself
righthand
creakinghinge.
stumps cut
his
On
moor. lonely
latch
merit.
his
go ?
WILLOW
GREEN
I
far away ? Cruel long-haired maiden^say maiden^ifyou know Long-haired
Do you wish
me
"
That with the red dawn
Why^ oh why^do "Ah, foolish song ! I
should
Dead,"
have
recited
said Tomodata.
I must
you blush
The
the
so
go^
f
'*
mc. godsforgive
Holy
Sutra
.
.
.
for the
II
THE
since, their
Long
FLUTE
lived
Yedo
in
a
of
gentleman
His conversation. good lineage and very honest wife was his secret a gentle and loving lady. To she did But a daughter grief,she bore him no sons. give him, whom they called 0'Yon6, which, being of them Rice Each in the ear." interpreted, is loved this child more than life,and guarded her as the the child And apple of their eye. up grew red and white, and long-eyed, straight and slender "
as
the
bamboo.
green
0'Yon6
When
drooped with pined, and ere the
maples
the
earth.
He
cried
ground broke
the
aloud,
of had
dead
he
beat
the
year, faded from shrouded was
his
comfort,
The
slept.
nor
wild
mother
sickened, the
leaves
of
laid
in
and in
and
his
grief.
lay upon the for days he neither child was quite
breast, and
her
old,
years
and
husband
refused fast
his
red
was
The
and
fall
the
she
twelve
was
he
silent. Time
his business. his
wife's
The
passed by. The
grave.
man
of winter
snows
The
perforce went
beaten 10
fell and
pathway
about covered
from
his
(
The
Flute.-/*,
w.
THE
11
house
dwellingof
the
to
undisturbed and
for the
went
making merry gilded paper,
the dead
also,
snow
was
faint
printsof a child's he girdedup his In the spring-time forth to see the cherry blossom, enough, and writinga poem upon
save
sandalled feet. robe
FLUTE
which
he
hung
to
cherry-tree
a
The flutter in the wind/ poem the of of and saki. Later,he praise spring branch
to
planted and thought of his lilyof forgetfulness,
the orange
wife
But
more.
no
the child remembered.
Before the year was with home, a woman
he
out
her, and
her
that all
father loved with
bride
new
black heart.
a
commended
happy,and
believed
her
because
broughta
fair face and
a
poor fool,was
the man, his child to But
Now
in
was
well.
was
her
0'Yon6,
jealousand deadly hatred,and every dayshe dealt cruelly by the child, whose gentleways and patience onlyangeredher
stepmotherhated
the
more.
did
not
a
of her father's presence she do 0'Yon6 any great ill ; therefore
But because dare
to
The poor child passed she waited, bidingher time. her days and her nightsin torment and horrible fear.
But
of these
her father.
Such
thingsshe
is the
Now, after some
said
not
a
word
to
of children.
manner
that the
time, it chanced
man
called away by his business to a distant city. and from Yedo it of the city, Kioto was the name is many days'journeyon foot or on horseback. was
Howbeit, go three and to
moons
the or
man
more.
needs
Therefore
equippedhimself,and go with
him, with
must,
all II
his
and
stay there
he made
servants
ready,
that
thingsneedful
;
were
and
so
THE
which departure, morning.
be very earlyin the him He called 0'Yon6 to to
was
said
Come
"
:
0'Yon6
and knelt before him.
went
giftshall
"What Kioto
?
But
"
she
hung
her head and did
with
shuttlecocks ? Then
took
it and
her
away
silk,or
-feathered light
many bitter
burst into
break.
father,"she said," I
her.
great battledore
a
weeping, and
upon his knees to soothe her. face with her sleeves and cried
would
heart
bade
**
she
her
answer.
roll of
a
brocade, or
images upon
not
little one," he
goldenfan,or
a
obi of red
new
from
home
bring you
he said.
Shall it be
hid
I
Answer, then, rude
"
a
and
dear little daughter.** So
here, then,my
**
ii
the last nightbefore his
to
came
FLUTE
And,
do
not
"
go
O
But as
he she
if her
father,father,
away
"
do
not
go
"
sweet, I needs must," he answered, " I shall be back and soon it will so soon, scarcely that I am I shall be here again seem gone, when
But, my
"
"
fair gifts in my
with
hand."
Father,take me with you,"she said. "Alas,what a great way for a little girl! Will or mount you walk on your feet,my little pilgrim, "
how
you fare in the inns of Kioto ? Nay, my dear,stay; it is but for a little time, and your kind mother will be with you."
a
? pack-horse
She
And
shuddered
in his
Father, if you
"
would
arms.
go, you
more." 13
will
never
see
me
FLUTE
THE
II
the father felt a sudden
Then
chill about
his
But he would not pause. Must he, a strong man grown,
heart, that gave him heed
it.
!
What
swayed by a child's fancies ? He put 0*Yon6 gentlyfrom him, and she slipped away as silently
be
as
a
shadow. But
in the
sunrise with bamboo
she
him
to
came
little flute in her
a
and
morning
before
hand, fashioned of I made
it self," myin the grove that
smoothlypolished, "
she said," from a bamboo As you is behind our garden. I made it for you. with you, take the little flute, take me cannot father.
honourable
will,and
think
handkerchief wound
and silk,lined with scarlet, cord about it,and gave it to her
put it in his sleeve.
departedand As
on
of white
father,who Kioto.
of me.*'
scarlet
a
it sometimes, if you Then she wrapped it in a
Play
he
went went
After
this he
his way, takingthe road to he looked back thrice,and
beheld his child,standing at the gate,lookingafter Then heir no him. the road turned and he saw more.
The
city of
beautiful,and
so
Kioto
the
was
passinggreat
father of 0'Yon6
found
and it.
duringthe day,which sped very well, and his pleasurein the evening, his sound and sleep at night,the time passed and small thoughthe gave to Yedo, to his merrily, moons home, or to his child. Two passed,and three,and he made no plansfor return. One eveninghe was making readyto go forth And
to
a
what
with
his business
and great supper of his friends, '3
as
he searched
FLUTE
THE
in his chest for certain brave he
intended
to
wear
as
an
ii
silken hakama honour
to
the
which he feast,
which had lain hidden upon the littleflute, all this time in the sleeve of his travelling dress.
came
He
it forth from
drew and
its red and white
chief, handker-
he did so, felt strangely cold with an icychill that crept about his heart. He hung over the live charcoal of the hibachi as one in a dream.
put the flute to his
He it
as
a
when lips,
there
from
came
long-drawnwail. He
the
dropped it hastilyupon
and
mats
clappedhis hands
for his servant, and told him he would not not well, go forth that night. He was After a long time he reached he would be alone. for the flute. Again that long, his hand out He
melancholycry. but
he
Yedo
blew
.
.
Father ! '*
the
into
back
come
.
shook
The
from
flute. to
"
head
to
Come
Yedo.
quaveringchildish
.
foot,
back
to
Father .
voice
.
rose
to
! a
shriek and then broke. A the
horrible and
man,
now foreboding
he
was
as
one
took
of possession
beside himself.
He
flunghimself from the house and from the city, and journeyedday and night, denying himself sleepand food. So palewas he and wild that the and fled from him, peopledeemed him a madman or pitiedhim as the afflictedof the gods. At last he came his journey's to end, travel-stained from head to heel,with bleedingfeet and half-dead of weariness. His He
wife said
:
met "
him
Where
in the gate. is the child ? **
FLUTE
THE
II
"
"
The
child
child
Ay, the
he cried in The
an
? " she answered.
my
"
child
.
.
is she ? "
where
.
agony.
laughed:
woman
should
.
.
"
I know
She
?
she is in the
Nay,
"
is within she
or garden,
she has gone forth with her He said : " Enough ; no
my her
at
lord, how books, or
is
or asleep, mayhap ." or playmates, "
"
of this.
more
Come,
"
where
is my child ? Then afraid. she was
Grove,"
she
There
And, him
said,lookingat
the
In the Bamboo
with
wide
But of the bamboos. green stems find her. He not called,'* Yon6 ! Yon6 '* But he had no again," Yone ! Yon6 !
the
wind
eyes.
sought 0*Yon6
ran, and
man
"
among he
did
! '* and answer
;
leaves. dry bamboo Then he felt in his sleeve and broughtforth the little flute,and very tenderly put it to his lips. faint sighingsound. Then voice There a a was
only the
thin spoke,
the
sighedin
and
: pitiful
wicked
"Father, dear father,my killed She
buried
Grove. will me
Three
me.
You
never more.
With
in the
me
may
see "
"
his
and justice,
me
since
moons
she
killed
me.
clearingof
find my any
stepmother
bones.
more
"
the Bamboo As for me, you
^you will
never
see
man
did
"'*
own
two-handed
sword
the
slew
his wicked
wife, avenging the
he dressed child. Then death of his innocent himself in coarse white raiment, with a great ricehis face. And he took a hat that shadowed straw 15
FLUTE
THE
staffand
a
and feet,
thus he
straw
rain-coat and set
forth upon
ii
bound a
sandals
on
to pilgrimage
his the
holyplacesof Japan, And a
he
carried
the little flute with
fold of his garment, upon
i6
his breast.
him,
in
Ill
TEA-KETTLE
THE
Long
ago,
heard
Fvc
as
temple of Morinji, holy priest. there
Now
First,
man.
and a
observances
great
one
of his
of
Province
Kotsuke,
a
things about this reverend in meditations wrapped up
was
forms
and
for the
Sacred
mystical things.
and
the
the
at
three
were
he
in
dwelt
tell, there
and
doctrines.
Sutras, and
Then
he
had
a
He
was
knew
strange
fine
exquisite
and
much so nothing pleased him of the Cha-no-yu ; and the ancient tea as ceremony both sides for the third thing about him, he knew well coin of a copper enough and loved a bargain. he happened None so pleased as he when upon and ancient tea-kettle, lying rusty an dirty and halfof a shop in a back forgotten in a corner poor taste
street
of his
own,
town.
ugly bit of old metal," says the holy man "but it will do well the shopkeeper; to enough to of an boil humble FU drop of water evening. my he did and This took give you three rin for it." of bronze, fine the kettle home, rejoicing; for it was work, the very thing for the Cha-no^yu. "
An
17
c
TEA-KETTLE
THE A
and
it
out
came
scoured
and
cleaned
novice
pretty
as
iii
the
as
you and that,and
tea-kettle,
please.The
down, upside his finger-naiL He he cried, a bargain! and bargain,"
it this way looked into it,tappedit with
turned priest smiled.
rubbed covered
"
his hands. with
over
times, and
then
the kiettleupon a box purplecloth,and looked at it
He a
firsthe
long that
so
to
And
set
fain
was
and he
then, believe
to
them
close
droppedforward
head
'*
"
A
rub his eyes many altogether.His
slept. wonderful
the
me,
thing
though no hand it. A hairyhead, with two was near brighteyes, lid jumped up and looked out of the spout. The and Four brown and hairypaws appeared, down. down In a minute the kettle was a fine bushy tail. from the box and going round and round looking at things.
happened.The
A
"
tea-kettle moved,
comfortable
very
room,
be
to
sure," says
the tea-kettle.
Pleased
enough
began to
soon
sing
and
dance
the top of its voice. studyingin the next
at
were
is
he
be
at
?"
to
caper Three
room.
or "
four novices
The
old
only hark to him. And they laughed in
lively," theysaid ;
can
lodged,it nimbly and to
find itselfso well
to
"
man
What their
sleeves.
mercy, the noise that the tea-kettle Bang ! bang ! Thud ! thud ! thud ! novices soon stoppedlaughing. One of
Heaven's made
!
The them "
slid aside the kara-'kami and
Arah,
the
devil and i8
peepedthrough.
all's in it ! "
he
cried.
THE
Ill
of
badger.
a
The
for certain
or
shall be lost ! it
third
"
the
So
said since,'*
the Holy reciting
his knees.
on
laughed. he said. hobgoblin/'
the
to
catch it.
a
to
the
books
Ha,
and
ha !
Catch
"
me
ha ! "
if you
rushed
They
breathless.
grew
Ha,
to
kettle up with the teaIt danced and it leapt
it flew up into the air. The novices here and there, slipping upon the mats. "
a
they come
bit of it.
They
in
tea-kettle
and
hot.
of
view
nearer
left their
chase
could a
for
Fm
them
gave
But Not
?
of
lot
twinklingsand
grew
a
"
hour
an
novice, and he fell
another A
not
into
from witchcraft,
godsprotect us
we
I scoured
"And Sutras
old tea-kettle turned
the master's
"Here's sort
TEA-KETTLE
laughed the !
can
"
tea-kettle ; ful laughedthe wonder-
tea-kettle.
the priest awoke, Presently
all rosy, the
holy
man. "
says, all?"
what's the
And "
me disturbing
meaning of this racket,"he at my holy meditations and
Master, master,"cry the novices,pantingand mopping their brows, "your tea-kettle is bewitched. "
It
was
been "
badger,no less. givingus, you'dnever a
Stuflf and ?
Not
And
dance
it has
believe ! "
nonsense,"says a
the
bit of it.
the
There
priest ; it rests
"
as
you
please. There 19
was
its
on
box, good quietthing, justwhere I put it," Sure enough, so it did, lookingas hard cold and innocent
witched be-
and not
a
THE hair of
TEA-KETTLE
badgernear
a
It
it.
iii
the novices
was
that
looked foolish.
likelystory indeed," says the priest. I that took wings to itself have heard of the pestle and flew away, partingcompany with the mortar. That is easily But to be understood by any man. "
a
A
"
kettle that turned
badger no, no ! To from pray to be preserved
into
your books,my sons, and of illusion." the perils
a
"
filledthe kettle very night the holyman from the springand set it on water the
That
with
hibachi to boil for his cup of boil
began to
When
tea.
the
water
"
Ai ! Ai ! " the kettle cried ; " Ai ! Ai ! The And it lost no time at heat of the Great Hell ! " "
all,but hopped oflfthe fire as quickas you please.
Sorcery!
"
A
Help
!
Help
!
of his wits,the
runningto
came
A "
priest. Black magic ! devil ! Mercy on ! me "
Help ! dear good see
what
He
was
the novices
All
man.
was
out frightened
the
matter.
tea-kettle is bewitched," he
The
"
cried the
devil !
A
devil !
"
gasped;
it was a badger badger, assuredly speaksand leapsabout the room." Nay, master," said a novice, see rests upon its box, good quietthing." And sure enough,so it did. was
a
"
"
"
"
reverend
Most
all pray
to
be
sir,"said
the
preservedfrom
.
the
it
it both
.
where
novice,
"
"
let
it
us
perilsof
illusion." The
sold priest
the
tea-kettle
got for it twenty copper coins. 20
to
a
tinker and
TEA-KETTLE
THE
Ill
mighty fine bit of bronze,'*says priest, Mind, Fm givingit away to you, '*
It*s
a
"
I cannot
sure
for
The
bargain!
a
carried home
for."
tell what
tinker
the kettle.
Ah,
was
He
a
he
the
was
Fm one
and
happy man
turned
the
it this way into it.
upsidedown, and looked A pretty piece,"says the tinker ; a very he And that when bed to went good bargain." nighthe put the kettle by him, to see it firstthing in the morning. He awoke at midnightand fell to lookingat the kettle by the bright lightof the moon. hand it moved, though there was no Presently and that,and
"
"
it.
near "
said Strange,"
the tinker ; but he
was
a
man
took
who
thingsas they came. hairy head, with two
A
brighteyes,
looked
of the kettle's spout. The lid jumped up and and hairypaws appeared, and Four brown down. out
a
fine bushy tail.
"
quiteclose
to
the tinker
paw upon him. Well ?" says the tinker. I am not wicked," says the tea-kettle.
and laid "
It came
a
**
No," says the tinker.
"
But
I like
to
be well treated.
I
am
a
badger
tea-kettle."
me
"
So it
"
At
and
seems," says the tinker.
the set me
templetheycalled me on
names,
and beat
the fire. I couldn't stand
it,you
know." "
"
I like your spirit," says the tinker. I think I shall settle down with you." 21
TEA-KETTLE
THE **
Shall I
keep you
in
iii
lacquerbox
a
?"
says the
tinker. "
have
bit of it, keep me with you ; let us and again. I am talk now very fond of a
Not a
a
pipe. I like things." "
"
"
"
as
a
your "
rice
to
eat, and
cup of saki sometimes
and
beans
sweet
"
says the tinker. Well, yes, now you mention it.** Fm willing," says the tinker.
A
?
kindly," says the tea-kettle; and, would beginning, you objectto my sharing bed ? The nighthas turned a littlechilly." Thank
"
you
the least in the
Not
world," says
the tinker.
tinker and the tea-kettle became
The
of friends. kettle knew
the best
They ate and talked together.The a thing or two and was very good
company. One
day :
Are
"
" you poor ? says the kettle.
Yes," says the tinker, middlingpoor." kettle, "Well, I have a happy thought. For a tea"
"
I
reallyvery out-of-the-way
am
"
"
I believe
"
My name princeof
very "
**
you," says the tinker. is Bumbuku'-Chagama ; Tea-Kettles." Badger
Your servant, my If you'll take my
I
plished." accom-
am
the
lord,"says the tinker. advice,"says the tea-kettle,
am you'llcarry me round as a show ; I really and it'smy opinionyou'd make a out-of-the-way, mint of money."
"
"
That
would
Bumbukuj' says
be
hard work
the tinker. 22
for you, my
dear
THE
Ill
**
Not
TEA-KETTLE
all ; let
at
us
forthwith,'* says the
start
tea-kettle.
theydid.
So a
The he
theatre,and
Chagama. fun !
For
tea-kettle
bought hangingsfor
tinker called
the
Bumbuku-
show
people flocked to see the and most the wonderful accomplished the tight danced and sang, and walked the
How
It playedsuch born. rope as to the manner tricks and had such droll ways that the people laughed tilltheir sides ached. It was a treat to the tea-kettle bow as gracefully a lord and as see
peoplefor their patience. The Bumbuku-Chagama was the talk of the and all the gentry came to see it as country-side, well as the commonalty. As for the tinker,he the
thank
waved
fan
a
took
and
fat and
believe that he grew to
much
made princesses
of the wonderful
last the tinker retired from
At
the tea-kettle
him
money. rich. He
You even
may went
great ladies and the royal
the
Court, where
the
came
with
tea-kettle.
and business, in its
tears
to
bright
eyes. "*
I'm much
"
Now,
tinker.
**
afraid it'stime
to
leave
it says. you,'*
don't say that,BumbukUy dear,"says the Well be so happy together we are now
rich." **
I've
come
the end of my time," says the old Bumbuku "You'll not see any to
tea-kettle. more ; henceforth
nothingmore "
Oh, my
or
I shall be
an
kettle, ordinary
less."
dear Bumbuku^ what
cried the poor tinker in
tears.
shall I do ?
"
TEA-KETTLE
THE "
of
I think I should like to be
Morinji,as It
never
a
iii
moved
again.
very sacred treasure and the half of his wealth with it. held the tea-kettle was And Some fame for many a long yean a
it as worshipped
temple
says the very sacred treasure,'*
spokeor
it as presented
the
givento
a
saint.
^
kettle. tea-
So the tinker
to
the
in
temple,
wondrous
persons
even
The
Peony
Lantern.-
P.
25.
IV
PEONY
THE
He
possessed and
noble
a
of
and
openly
in
and
Hagiwara. is of
which
honourable.
most a
of
lady
all He
beautiful
very
a
many
face, both
Yedo,
himself, being yet very
For
secret.
called
hatamoto^
the
figure
beloved
was
the
samurai
of
ranks
samurai
a
of
samurai
a
was
the
dwelt
there
Yedo
In
LANTERN
turned
pleasure rather than and to love, and morning, noon night he was with the gay youth of the to wont disport himself of joyous the leader was prince and city. He his
young,
the
parade boon
of
New
Year
laughing
from
his
suburb
streets
houses
heavy
for
without,
and
long together
he
youths
found and
quite were
the
empty,
stood battledore
in
had
He
quarter
own
himself maidens
shuttlecock.
and
a
streets
and
to
of
with
other
side
more
or
gardens. with
great 25
with
bands
the a
playing
of
Yedo,
less,
Hagiwara skill and
of
Festival
company dore battle-
at
far away
wandered
city, and
the
often
would
companions. bright and wintry day during
One of the
doors
within
revels
his
thoughts
was
now
where the
and
wielded
grace,
in the
quiet his
catching
THE
PEONY
LANTERN
iv
the
into gildedshuttlecock and tossingit lightly the air ; but at lengthwith a careless or an illjudged stroke,he sent it flyingover the heads of and over the players, the bamboo fence of a garden he started after it. Then by. Immediately companionscried, Stay,Hagiwara ; here we
near
his
"
have
than
more "
and
Nay," he said, gilded."
but
"
Foolish
"
have
we
dozen shuttlecocks."
a
this
dove-coloured
was
! " answered
one
his friends ; " here all dove-coloured and
six shuttlecocks
gilded." he
But
full of
paidthem
heed, for he
no
had
become
very strange desire for the shuttlecock he had lost. He scaled the bamboo fence and dropped a
into the
Now
gardenwhich had
he
shuttlecock there ;
fence he
so
was
marked
should
upon
the
very spot where
fallen,but
have
he searched
the farther side.
alongthe
it
was
the not
foot of the bamboo
but no, he could not find it. Up and down his battledore, went, beatingthe bushes with "
his eyes on if he had
the
ground,drawing breath heavilyas
lost his dearest
called him, but he did tired and went to their
own
come,
and
homes.
friends
they grew lightof
The
fail.
Hagiwara,the samurai^looked a few a girlstanding saw yardsaway from She beckoned him with her righthand, and left she held a gildedshuttlecock with
day began up and him. in her
to
dove-coloured The Then
not
His
treasure.
the
feathers.
samurai
shouted
girldrew
away
and joyfully
ran
forward.
from him, stillbeckoning 26
'""Digitized by
IV
him
with
THE
PEONY
LANTERN
the
righthand.
him, and he followed. to them, till theycame
garden,and
three
The
So
shuttlecock the
theywent,
the house
that
was
steps that led up
stone
lured two
of
in the to
it.
the lowest
Beside
step there grew a plum tree in step there stood a upon the highest
blossom,and
fair and very young attired in robes of of water-blue
lady. She was high festival.
most
splendidly
Her
kimono
was
of ceremony so longthat theytouched the ground; her under-dress of brocade was and her great girdle stiff was scarlet,
silk,with
sleeves
pins of heavy with gold. In her hair were gold and tortoiseshelland coral. When Hagiwara saw the lady,he knelt down
and
forthwith
like
ground. lady spoke,smilingwith
the
child.
a
head till his foreobeisance,
the
touched Then
her due
and made
"
Come
pleasure house, Hagiwara
into
my the hatamoto. I am of samurai Sama, 0*Tsuyu,the My dear handmaiden, Lady of the Morning Dew.
0*Yon6,
has
Come to me. in, you Hagiwara Sama, samurai of the hatamoto ; for indeed I am gladto sec you, and happy is this hour.*'
brought
So the samurai to
a
room
for the
of
ten
Lady
in the
him
handmaiden,
mats, of the
ancient beat
theybroughthim where they entertained him ; Morning Dew danced before in,and
went
whilst
manner, a
upon
small
O'Yone,
the
scarlet-tasselled
drum.
theyset
food
rice of the festival and
sweet
Afterwards
ate
and drank of the food
before him, the warm
they gave
27
wine, and him.
red he
PEONY
THE It
dark
was
leave.
said again," "
the
0*Yone
Yea, lord,you
the handmaiden. needs must
come," whispered
Lady of the Morning Dew. samurai The laughed. '*And he said mockingly. What ? "
come
iv
night when Hagiwara took his lord, come again, honourable
Come
"
LANTERN
?
come
The
"
if I do if I do
not not
"
and ladystiffened,
grey, but shoulder.
she
"Then,"
laid
she
her
child's face grew
her
hand
said, "it
Hagiwara's
upon
will
it will be for you and for shuddered other way." 0*Yon6
Death
be
death, lord. There
me.
is
no
and hid her eyes
with her sleeve. samurai
The very much not
end
went
out
into
the
night,being
afraid.
Long, long he soughtfor his home and could find it,wanderingin the black darkness from at last he to end of the sleeping city. When
almost reached his familiar door the late dawn was and wearilyhe threw himself upon his bed. come, Then he laughed. " After all,I have left behind me
my The
said Hagiwara the shuttlecock,"
samurai.
day Hagiwara sat alone in his house had his hands from morning till evening. He but did nothingmore. before him ; and he thought, At the end of the time he said, It is a joke that a couple of geishahave sought to play on me. next
"
but Excellent,in faith, So to
he
theyshall
friends.
have
in his best and went For five or six dayshe
dressed himself
joinhis
not
28
!" forth
me
was
at
PEONY
THE
IV
LANTERN
and junketings, the gayest of the gay. joustings his spirits His wit was wild. were ready, he said, By the gods,I am Then sick deathly of this,"and took to walking the streets of Yedo alone. From end to end of the great cityhe went. wandered He by day and he wandered by night, and by street and alleyhe went, by hill and moat castle wall,but he found not what he sought. He could not come cock upon the gardenwhere his shuttle"
lost,nor
was
Morning
Dew.
His
fell sick
and
took
neither This
season, servant
loose
spirithad
the third
He
rest.
no
bed, where
his
to
of the
Lady
slept,but
nor
about
was
month,
a
ate
the
yet upon
he
spectre-thin.
grew month.
In
the
sixth
of niubai^the hot and rainy of all his faithful he rose up, and, in spite could say or do to dissuade him, he wrapped the
at
time
him
robe about
summer
and
at
went
once
forth. "
Alack
!
Alack
!
"
cried the
"
servant,
the
youth has the fever,or he is perchancemad." Hagiwara faltered not at all. He looked neither to the right nor left. Straight to the forward
he
went,
roads lead past my
for he
said
a
"
of
our
wild stone
The
same,
himself,
love's house."
quietsuburb, and to a garden had a splitbamboo and scaled the laughedsoftly to
to
the very
meeting,"he
same
said.
he
Soon
certain
fence.
house
29
All
came
whose
Hagiwara
fence. shall be the He
found
manner
the
Moss covered the overgrown. plum tree that grew steps. The
and
"
garden three there
LANTERN
PEONY
THE
iv
fluttered its green leaves disconsolate. its shutters still,
was
all closed,it
were
house
The
forlorn
was
and deserted.
samurai
The
wondered. said
came
Sir,what
"
The
the
and
into the
man
garden.
He
She
is
do here ? "
flower has fallen from samurai.
Dew
Morning
^
do you
white
said tree,** '*
stood
Hagiwara :
to
"
the
old
an
he
as
fell.
soakingrain
A
There
cold
grew
?
*'
Where
the
plum Lady of
is the
'*
dead," answered
the old
;
sickness.
of a strange and six moons, She lies in the graveyard the on
0'Yon6,
handmaid, lies by her side.
these
five or her
not
suflFerher
the
long nightof
sake
For
Yomi.
it is little that
dead
are
wander
to
still tend
I would
old and
mistress
indeed.
this I
The
he
set
up, and
do.
can
grass
sweet
odours, and
meet,
and
did
welfare of her Then
of
drew
due
burned made
and hill,
sweet
through spirits*
garden,but
I
their
on
He
took
that oflFering
observance,and
a
upon it,in of his lady.
before it incense
every
am
Oh, sir,they
grows
graves.** home. Hagiwara went to his own slipof pure white wood and he wrote largefair characters,the dear name This
sudden
She could
alone
their
dead
"
man
and was
all for the
departedspirit. near
souls. returning
the Festival of The
good
Bony the
folk of Yedo
time took
visited their graves. Bringingfood and flowers, theycared for their beloved dead. On lanterns and
30
PEONY
THE
IV
the
day of
thirteenth
the seventh
month, which,
Boriyis the dayof days,Hagiwara the samurai
in the
in his
walked
It
coolness.
now shrilly leapedin the never
and
windless
was
of
a
dark.
flower sang
pomegranate and
and
again. Now round pond. For
the
cicala
A
again a
carp
it was
rest
still,
leaf stirred.
a
of the Ox,
the hour
About
the sake of the
gardenby night for
in the heart
hidden
and
LANTERN
of
Hagiwara heard the that laybeyond his
in the lane footsteps gardenhedge. Nearer and nearer theycame. He knew Women's geta^'said the samurai. them by the hollow echoingnoise. Looking over his rose come hedge,he saw two slender women
sound
"
of the dimness
out
carried
lantern
a
samurai
bunch
It was
such
as
the
two
the
one
lantern
a
flowers is used
as
walked, castingan
other
side of the knew
He
of
abreast
they came
turned their faces to him. and gave
of them
of peony
women
light. As upon
One
in the service of the dead.
of the Bon
the time
It swung uncertain
a
with
tied to the handle. at
in hand.
hand
the
hedge, they them
at
once,
great cry.
girlwith the peony lantern held it up so the lightfell upon him. Hagiwara Sama,**she cried, by all that is wonderful ! Why, lord,we told that were
The that "
most
"
dead.
were you Nembutsu '*
Come ?
dailyrecited
for your soul these many
is it indeed hand
have
We
Can
!
in, 0'Yon6," he said
in,come your
moons
mistress
it be my
that
lady? 31
.
.
you .
hold
Oh, my
the
"
;
"
by
and the
love ! "
PEONY
THE
OTone and the
answered,
"
how
it be ?
"
it I lost you ? it I lost you, 0'Yon6
*'
was
was
held
up
hide her face.
to
How
"
else should
came
the
her sleeve
Who
"
iv
in at the gardengate. Lady of the Morning Dew
two
But
LANTERN
said the samurai ; ? **
Lord," she said, we have moved to a little house, a very little house, in the quarter of the were city which is called the Green Hill. We suffered to take nothingwith us there,and we "
"
With
very poor.
grown
are
griefand
want
my
to
draw
mistress is become
pale.'' Then sleeve Hagiwara took his lady's it gentlyfrom her face. Lord," she sobbed, you will "
"
am
not
fair."
But
when
he looked upon
up within him him from head She I go
And A
a
He
said
never
a
flamed shook
word.
drooped. Lord," she murmured, he
I
me,
consuming fire,and
foot.
to
her his love
"
stay?
or
like
love
not
"
shall
"
said, Stay." "
little before
daybreakthe
samurai
fell into
a
and awoke to find himself alone in the deep sleep, of the morning. He lost not an instant, clear light and went but rose forth,and immediatelymade the quarter of the city his way throughYedo to Here he inquired which is called the Green Hill. for the house of the Lady of the Morning Dew, could direct him. but no one High and low he
searched the
It seemed fruitlessly.
second
time
he
had
to
him
lost his dear 3*
that
and lady,
for he
PEONY
THE
IV
turned homewards he
he went
marked
was
hung
by
It
of Bon
"
have moved to
We
.
.
.
with take nothing
poor
.
pale.
.'
.
.
will make
of my
us
'*
room
He
a
:
very little
suffered
were
are
grown very mistress is become
my
not
me
for the
loved
have
We
now
.
.
space of my dear/'
.
home.
faithful servant
Now
want
we
a
.
we
.
.
.
in
one
little
he went His
at
house, a dark house, yet you for me, oh, my beloved,paleone
A
desires.
Then
.
there and
leave existences,
ten
.
griefand
with
.
.
littlehouse
a
as
littleand said
a
upon the Green Hill
house
stand
the samurai
he smiled
Then
*
is used
as
in the service of the dead.
Long, longdid dream.
flowers tied
lantem
a
of
there
monument
of peony
such
was
the other
like the tomb
the
bunch
a
side
were
obscure,but
Before
one.
its handle.
graves that
two
fair monument,
a
lantern with
a
the time
to
despair.His way led certain temple,and a
littleand
was
great
some
marked
One
by side.
to
in bitter
throughthe groundsof
him as
LANTERN
what
said,
"
him
met
and cried
ails you, master
?
:
'*
all.
Why, nothing at
I
...
was
merrier.*'
never
the
But "The
servant
of death
mark
whither these
shall I go
arms
departedweeping,and saying,
?
that
on
bore
seven
lantern peony dwelling. Fair weather or them.
his face him
.
as
.
a
and .
I,
child in
*'
Every night,for with
is
the
They
came
at
nights,the maidens to came Hagiwara*s foul
the hour 33
was
the
of the Ox.
to
same
There D
PEONY
THE
LANTERN
iv
mystic wooing. By the strong the dead were illusion the living and together. the seventh night the On servant
samurai^wakeful
fear and
with
bound of
made
sorrow,
of
bond
was
the
bold
througha crack in the peer into his lord*s room shutters. His hair stood on wooden end and his to
blood
cold
ran
to
fearful thing, smilingup
face, strokingits
fingers.With to a holy man told his
at
dank
tale he ?
the power
sacred
text
Before
the
holy man,
of Karma
girdlea
Tathagata. When Hagiwara being drawn as
his arms,
in
covered
him
languid his way he had for
hope
any
these
stand with-
can
Nevertheless,there
told the
the
him
?
every door and house, and he had
weak
its
was
with
who
"
had
one
set
rolled
in
and lightly,
saw
the
of golden emblem done, thingswere
ways became And his servant
laid him
a
window-placeof
self him-
two
water.
he
what
servant
this nightfall,
silk of his master's
as
there
above
master's
his
that
a
"
is a little hope." So he
do.
robe
green
asked, "Is
Alack," said
must
the horror
of
arms
made daylightthe servant of his acquaintance.When
Hagiwara Sama "
in the
Hagiwara
see
upon him
his
took
bed
fall into
a
and
deep
sleep. At
the
hour
of the
Ox
there
was
heard
the
sound of
in the lane,without the garden footsteps they came. hedge. Nearer and nearer They and slow stopped. grew "
What
means
this,0'Yon6, OTon6 34
?"
said
a
THE
IV
voice. piteous see
**
The
is asleep, and I do
house
not
lord."
my "
LANTERN
PEONY
Come
home,
is
lady,Hagiwara'sheart
sweet
changed/' I will
"That
find
must
a
to
way
Lady, we Writing over "
we
not
may There
0'Yon6, OTon6 bringme to my lord/'
not,
.
cannot
every door here." enter
was
a
here.
enter
and
you
"
the
Holy window-place .
of bitter
sound
See
.
weeping
.
and
.
a
long wail. "
Lord, I have
existences."
ten
the
Then
throughthe space of retreated and footsteps
thee
loved
their echo died away. The next nightit was
quitethe
sleptin his weakness
his
wraiths
;
Hagiwara
same.
watched
servant
;
the
and
in sobbingdespair. departed the The third day, when to Hagiwara went bath, a thief stole the emblem, the goldenemblem from his girdle.Hagiwara did of the Tathagata, It it. But that night he lay awake. mark not his servant that slept, out with watching. worn was a great rain fell and Hagiwara,waking, Presently came
of it upon the roof. The heavens and for hours the rain fell. And it
heard the sound
opened
were
holytext from Hagiwara'schamber. the
tore
the hour
At
over
of the
Ox
sound of
in the footsteps
hedge.
Nearer
grew **
slow and
and
the round window
in
heard
the
there
was
lane without
nearer
they
the
came.
garden They
stopped.
This is the last time, OTon^, 35
OTone,
there-
PEONY
THE
fore
bringme
ten
existences.
There
to
be
must
lord.
my
Great a
way.
of the love of
Think
is the
of
power
Karma.
."
.
.
iv
beloved,"called Hagiwara with
Come, my
"
LANTERN
a
great voice. and I come.'* from his couch. move beloved,"he called for the second
Open, lord open But Hagiwara could not
"
.
.
Come, my
"
.
time. I cannot
"
me
like
sins of
a
moaned
sharp sword. former
a
wounds though the separation
come,
life."
like the
O'Yone
the that
lady spoke she
and But
was.
she said.
window,"
in hand
earth.
suffer for the
we
her hand.
took
Hand
So
lost soul
See the round
**
Thus
from the lightly they passed through the
the
two
Like
rose
vapour The window. unguarded to
" samurai called, Come beloved,"for the third time.
me,
He
was
the grey
In his
master
peony The out
answered,
servant
the
dead.
At
burningwith
shivered,took up
light;
I come."
Lord,
morning Hagiwara'sservant
cold and
lantern
"
for
'*
I cannot
36
a
found
his feet stood weird
the
yellowflame.
the lantern and blew bear
it,"he said.
THE
KING
SEA
AND
THE
MAGIC
JEWELS is
This and a
visit
folk
old
the
by
beloved
talc
a
a
"
to
the
Prince
Sea
by
the
children
tale
of
magical
King's
royal maiden,
the
lady
called
was
made
and
Princess
father
her
But
for
betrothal,
his
Princess not
of
fair), for
this, the
Rocks
he
trees.'*
loved
offspring
frail, fading So
Augustnesses,
it
Prince
of
these
falling
is.
At
the
Heavenly
this
her
at
sister, the
elder this
lady
was
Blossoming-
said,
King
was
Rice-Ear-
Princess
only old
and
her
aside
fair
wrath
augustly
(and, indeed,
the
So
Brightly. be
the
And
bride.
sweetly
so was
put
his
beautiful
a
Blossoming-Brightly-
Augustness,
had
Ruddy-Plenty,
and
jewels
loved
her
as-the-Flowers-of-the-Trees, she.
Japan,
palace.
Rice-Ear-Ruddy-Plcnty
and
of
"
of
Because
deities
heavenly
shall
of
like
the
flowers
day,
the
lives
of
their
Sovereigns,
are
not
the
long. Howbeit,
in
the
fullness
of
time,
the
Blossoming-Brightly-as-the-Flowers-of-the-Trees, 37
lady,
SEA
THE bore
and the younger Fire Flash was
Fire Flash Prince his
luck
upon with his
shore
v
children,and
lovelymen
two
KING
the
wide
Fire Fade.
fisherman,who
a
and
sea,
august
called the elder
garments
ran
got the
upon
And
girded.
again,he tarried all the night in his boat, upon the high wave-crests. he caught things And broad of fin and thingsnarrow of fin,and he was a
deityof
the water
of the fishes of the his luck upon
Fade
was
the mountains
sandals fast upon
bound
of the
and
and
waters
sea.
Fire
Prince
But
weeds
his
hunter,who got and in the forest, who feet,and bore a bow a
he caught And arrows. heavenly-feathered thingsrough of hair and thingssoft of hair,and the trail of the badger and he knew the wild time of flowering.For he was a cherry's deityof
and
the woods. Prince
Now
brother. I
am
now
Prince
Fire Fire
Fade
spoke
Flash, and
to
his
elder
said, "Brother,
of the green hills. Therefore exchangeour luck. Give me thy rod
aweary
let
us
and
I
will go to the cool waters. Thou mayest take my and all my arrows heavenly-feathered great bow
and try the mountains,where, see many strange and beautiful
trust
me,
thou
shalt
unknown things,
to
thee before." But not
Prince Fire Flash answered,
"
Not
so
.
.
.
so."
And
again,after
Prince
Fire Fade
of the
green
not
and
came
hills
.
.
.
days were sighed, I am
many the
38
past,
"
fair
waters
aweary call me.
AND
V
Woe
be
to
THE
MAGIC
JEWELS
younger brother !" And when Prince took no heed of him, but angledwith
a
Fire Flash his
rod,day and night,and caughtthingsbroad of fin and thingsnarrow of fin,Prince Fire Fade droopedwith desire,and let his long hair fall untended upon his shoulders. And he murmured, Oh, to try my luck upon the sea ! till at last Prince Fire Flash,his elder brother,gave him the rod for very weariness,and betook himself to the And mountains. all day he hunted, and let fly "
"
arrows heavenly-feathered ; but rough of hair soft of hair,never or a thing did he catch. And he cried, Fool,fool,to barter the heavenlyluck of the gods ! So he returned. Prince Fire Fade, took the And his Augustness, luck of the sea, and angledin sunshine and in of fin,never a gloom ; but broad of fin or narrow
the
"
"
fish did
he
catch.
And,
brother's fish-hook
in the
he
moreover,
he
So
sea.
lost his
hung
his
head, and returned. And
Fire
Prince
the hunter
own,
to
the
sea
nothing home,
the
to .
.
.
and
his to said, "Each fishermountain, and the man
Flash
for thou this
I have
and
brought night we sleephungry. luck of the gods. And
barter the not may where is my fish-hook ? " now, So Prince Fire Fade replied, sayingsoftly, We
"Sweet
brother, be
not
angry
.
.
.
but, toiling
of fin or with thy fish-hook, broad of fin,not a fish did I catch ; and, at the narrow last,I lost thy fish-hook in the sea." Prince Fire Flash, flew At this his Highness, all
day
39
THE into
SEA
great rage, and
a
KING
stamping his feet,required
the fish-hook of his brother. Prince Fire Fade And made
brother,I
have
sea, whose
bottom
no
man
may I could thee,yet thy fish-hook." his elder brother
But
"
answer,
Sweet
the
thy fish-hook,but
not
die for
should
v
deep search. Though I not givethee back
it required
of him
the
urgently.
more
Then tendrils
Prince Fire Fade which
burst the wild
wistaria
his august ten-grasp sword " he said, to his side. And Farewell,good sword." And he broke it into many and made fragments, five hundred fish-hooks to give to his brother. Prince have
Fire Flash.
But
Prince
Fire Flash
would
of them.
none
And
bound
againPrince
furnace,and
Fire Fade
made
toiled
at
a
great
thousand
fish-hooks ; and one his to upon his knees he humbly offered them brother.Prince Fire Flash. For he loved his brother. Nevertheless Prince Fire Flash would not so much as
look
at
them,
but
sat
moody, his
head on his lost fish-hook will I
hand, saying,"Mine own have, that and no other." So
Prince
Fire
Fade
palacegates,and ;
and
grievingfrom lamentingby the
went
wandered his tears fell and
foam.
mingledwith
the shore sea-
the
And, when night came, he had no heart to return homewards, but sat down, weary, upon a rock amid the salt pools. And he cried,"Alas, all to blame, and through my my brother,I am foolishness has this come But oh, my upon me. 40
AND
V
MAGIC
THE
JEWELS
nursed upon the sweet were brother,together we breast of our mother. Princess Blossoming-Brightlyfor almost hand in as-the-Flowers-of-the-Trees, hand did And
we
the
moon
Land
Central
into the world/'
come
of
Fire Fade
Prince
rose
so
Reed
ceased
that the
Plains not
to
was
the
light. But
lament.
Shiko-Tsuchi-no-Kami, the Lord of Sea with the rising fore tide,and spoke,"Where-
Then came Salt,
" weeps the Heaven's Sky Height ? And Prince Fire Fade made answer
:
"
I have
and I have lost it in brother's fish-hook, And though I have given him many
taken my the sea.
fish-hooks for
other none
and
sea
of them, but Truly, the
he will have compensation, desires only the original hook. fishgods know, I would give my
life to find it ; but how should that serve ?" took him Shiko-Tsuchi-no-Kami And by the sleeve to where a boat moved upon the water, and in the boat and pushedit from the shore, set him
saying, My "
son,
pursue
the
path that pleasant the Moon Augustness,
Tsuki-Yomi-no-Kami, His Night Possessor,has made for thee upon the waters. to a And, at the end, thou shalt come palacemade of fishes' scales,which is the palace of the great King of the there is a clear well, and
Sea.
by
the
Before
the
gate
well-side there
branches. grows a cassia tree with many spreading Therefore climb thou into the branches of the cassia tree, and there wait for the King'sdaughter, who
shall
And
come
Prince
givethee counsel." Fire Fade, standing up to
41
in the
boat,
obeisance,and thanked
made But
KING
SEA
THE
this
one
v
the Lord
6f Sea Salt.
girdedhis august garments
and
pushed
the boat before
in the him, tillhe was thigh-deep he said, Nay, nay, fair youth,no
And
water.
"
thanks,only do my the
bidding." Prince Fire Fade, came So his Augustness, to Sea King*spalace. And he forthwith climbed
the cassia tree and waited among At the day'sdawning came of the Sea
its green branches. the
King'sdaughter,with
to draw vessels,
from
water
made
from
a
And
jewelled as they
Fire Fade leaned
the branches
glory of his august brightness upon the waters
And
tree.
them
their
the well.
Prince stoopedto diptheir vessels.
and watched
handmaidens
the
of the cassia countenance
of the
well.
looked up and beheld his comeliness, But he spoke them fairly, amazed.
So all the maidens
and
were
and desired of them So the maidens
drew
a
littlewater
from their vessels.
him
in
water
a
jewelledcup
clouded,because of the (howbeitthe jewelswere coldness of the well water),and they presented it to
him
with
to
the maidens.
all
Then,
the drinking water. Prince Fire Fade took the royaljewel from his neck, and holdingit between his two lipshe droppedit into the cup, and the cup he gave again reverence.
Now
not
theysaw the great jewel shiningin the it,for it clung fast cup, but theycould not move to the gold. So the maidens departed, skimming like the white birds of the offing.And the water to the Sea King'sdaughter, bearingthe theycame cup and the jewelin it. 4^
AND
V
them, "
And
of the maidens
one
in the sitting is by our well."
some
JEWELS
the Princess, lookingat the jewel,asked "Is there, perchance, a stranger at the
And
gate ?
MAGIC
THE
And
There
"
of the cassia
branches
one
which
answered,
is tree
another
said, It is a very beautiful young
another
said,
"
man."
And than
king.
our
And
respectfully gave
is
He
"
of us, so And in this cup.
he asked
him
glorious
more
even
water
water
we
he
of it,but droppeda jewel into it from Thine his lips. So we have brought them unto drank
none
and the jewel." Princess herself took a vessel and
both Augustness,
Then
draw
to
went
the
sleeves,and
the cup
her long And well. of the folds of her august
the
at
water
certain
garments, floated behind bound
with
a
garlandof
the well she looked
to
the cassia Prince
tree.
And
her, and
up
And
flowers.
sea
through the
her
eyes
head
her
was
coming
branches
of
the eyes of
met
Fire Fade.
the Sea she fetched her father, presently King,saying, Father,there is a beautiful person and out at our gate." So the Sea King came And
"
welcomed the
Prince
August Child leadinghim
Fire
Fade,
of the
and
Heaven's
said,"This Sun
is
Height."
palace he caused the floor to be spreadwith eight layersof rugs of of rugs of silk,and set asses' skins,and eightlayers And
into his
the Prince And
upon them. that night he made 43
a
great
banquet,and
THE
SEA
KING
celebrated the betrothal of Prince
v
Fire Fade
fair Jewel Princess.
daughter,the
to
his
for very
And
daysthere was held high revel and rejoicing in the Sea King'spalace. But one night, as they took their ease upon the silken floor, and all the fishes of the sea brought rich dishes, and sweetmeats in vessels of gold and coral and jade to set before them, the fair Jewel Princess herself sat at Prince Fire Fade's right many
hand
to
the
pour
wine
into
his cup.
And
the
silver scales upon the palacewalls glittered in the moonlight. But Prince Fire Fade looked out
thoughtof what had before,and so heaved a deepsigh. Then the Sea King was troubled,and dost thou sigh? him, saying, Wherefore Prince Fire Fade answered nothing.
across
the Sea Path and
"
"
gone asked But
the fairJewel
his betrothed wife, Princess, came closer,and touched him on the breast,and said softly, Oh, Thine Augustness,my sweet And
"
spouse, where
art
the
thou
not
shadows
happy in
our
water
fall green, that thou Or the Sea Path ?
palace, lookest
do our longinglyacross maidens not move silently, please thee, who like the birds of the offing ? Oh, my lord, what is in thine despiseme not, but tell me so
heart." Then
Prince
lady.Thine from them
Fire Fade
answered,
"
My lovely
Augustness,let nothing be
hidden
And he thee, because of our love." and of his all the story of the fish-hook,
brother's wrath. 44
told elder
The
Sea
King
and
the
Magic
Jewels."
P. 45.
AND
V
"
And
MAGIC
THE
said, will the Jewel Princess
he
now,"
JEWELS
"
counsel ? "
giveme
Princess smiled, and and her hair was so long that it lightly, the
Then
the she
Jewel
edge and passedto
of her
hem
up
hung
silken red robe.
to
And
palacesteps led down standingupon the last step
the
where And
into the water.
rose
the fishes of the sea, and summoned So them, great and small, from far and near. the fishes of the sea, both great and small, swam she called
about
feet,and the
her
scales.
to
water
was
silver with
the
King'sdaughtercried, the august find and bringme
And
O
"
of the sea, of Prince Fire Flash."
their fishes
fish-hook
fishes answered, "Lady, the Tat is in misery,for somethingsticks in his throat so this may be the Perchance that he cannot eat. the
And
august fish-hook
of his
Augustness,Prince
Fire
Flash." the Princess
Then
stoopeddown
and lifted the
the water, and with her white hand she took the lost fish-hook from his throat. And after she took it she had washed and dabbled it for a little,
Tai from
in to Prince "
This is indeed my
restore
it
And
Fire Fade.
he
and said, rejoiced
I go to shall be reconciled."
brother's fish-hook.
and instantly,
we
he loved his brother. But the fair Jewel Princess stood silent and " Now will he depart for she thought, sorrowing, For
and leave And
edge,and
me
lonely."
Prince
hastened
Fire Fade
there bestrode 45
a
valiant
to
the
water's
crocodile,who
THE
KING
SEA
v
And end. ere journey's Fair youth,now he went, the Sea King spoke: If thy brother sow counsel. listen to my rice do thou sow thy rice low, in the upon the uplands, meads. his rice in But if thy brother sow water the water meads, then do thou. Thine Augustness, sow thy rice upon the uplands. And I who rule the rains and the floods will continually prosper the labours of Thine Augustness.Moreover, here two are magic jewels. If thy brother should be moved by envy to attack thee,then put forth the shall arise Tide Flowing Jewel and the waters should
bringhim
to
his
"
if thou shouldst have compassion upon him, then put forth the Tide Ebbing Jewel,and all the waters shall subside,and his life him.
to
drown
be
spared." And
his
thanks with
But
And
obeisance.
in his
long sleeve,and hung
about
his neck. and
near
And
the
"While So and his
for
Sea
gave he hid the fish-hook
the
two
great
jewels
the fairJewel Princess
Then
came
tears. farewell,with many King charged the crocodile, saying,
him
crossingthe
of the
middle
sea,
do
not
him.'*
alarm
head
bade
Fade
Fire
AugustnessPrince
Prince
Fire Fade
sat
upon
the
crocodile's
to his own day he came place shore. And to unsheathing sprang lightly dagger,he hung it upon the crocodile's neck
a
;
and in
one
token.
found his brother, fish-hook that had and gave him back his own because of the two been lost. Nevertheless, great
Hereupon,Prince
Fire Fade
46
AND
V
MAGIC
THE
JEWELS folds of his raiment, his brother,and over
in the which he wore jewels, he had everlasting dominion
flourished in all his
And, after Fire Fade the
doings. time, there
some
daughterof
the
Prince
to
came
fair
King, the
Sea
she came the Sea And across Jewel Princess. Path bearingin her arms child. And she, a young weeping,laid down the child at the feet of His Augustnessand said,"My lord,I have brought thy son."
raised her up and made her welcome, and built for her a palaceon the seashore, And the palace at the limit of the waves. Fire Fade
Prince
But
thatched with
was
feathers. So
cormorant's
they
dwelt there with the August Child. And the fair Jewel Princess besoughther lord, saying," Sweet husband, look not on me in the
night,for
dark with
those of my
look
not
misfortune
on
me,
take my it is ever
land lest I
should follow." So
should
promised her,
I must
then
and
spoke
native
Howbeit,
so.
be
shape;
ashamed
and
Prince Fire Fade fair words of many
assurance.
Prince Nevertheless,there came a nightwhen Fire Fade layawake, and could get no rest. And, when it was at length, very dark, before the dawn, he as
arose
she
and
struck
slept.And
a
lightto
he beheld
with translucent eyes, which And Prince couch's foot.
a
look upon
great scaled
was
Fire
coiled up Fade
for terror, and droppedthe morning broke very grey upon the
aloud
47
his bride
dragon, at
cried
the out
light. Then sea.
And
at
THE
SEA
KING
v
instant the great dragonstirred, and from its coils the Jewel Princess lifted up her lovely the
same
like
the
And
head. a
with
garment.
So
child
upon
her
her
head
ness,
my Sea
and
scales fell away from she stood,in a white
her
green
her breast.
wept, saying,"O
sweet
spouse, I had
Path
a
And
she
hung August-
Thine
thoughtto
robe,
have made
highway between thy land and at pleasure. mine, that we might go and come But now, though I warned thee,thou hast looked upon me in the night. Therefore,my lord,between
the
and thee it is farewell. I go Path, and of this going there is no
me
across
the
return.
Sea
Take
August Child/' She spoke,and departed immediately upon her face with Sea Path, weeping and covering hair and lookingback to the shore. And she thou
the
never
her was
upon the Central Land of Reed Moreover, she shut the gates of the sea
more
Plains.
the
seen
and closed the way
to
her father's palace.But
the
she sent to be a nurse to her maid, her sister, babe, and because,for all that had been, she could restrain her lovingheart, she made little not a song, and sent it to her lord by the maid, her
young
sister. *'
And
Oh^fairare
the song said
:
the red jewels^
on which they are fairis the string strung Even so fairis my babe. But brighter far^and more renowned are the white jewels^ that are like my lord^ The jewels
And
.
^
48
"
.
AND
V
the
Then said "
As To
THE
MAGIC
husband answered,
in
a
song
which
:
whom I took to be for thee^my lady^ the wild duck the island where lights the
I
JEWELS
"
my bride^ the bird
ojing, shall notjorget thee tillthe end ofmy life*^
49
of
VI
Folks
spirit,fearful These
folks
are
and
storm,
speak
all the
Taro,
his
evil
But
son.
the
in
his
was
and
one
In
the
of
cool
Cloud,
and
doings
of
only
upon from men
South
they laughed
they sighed. fro One
son,
a
ramparts
Cloud
a
great
was
the
they Rai-
set
and
Rai-Taro
brave
ramparts
to
Land
the
"
East
oh,
boy,
see
and very
Rai-den of
and
the
and
his
of
;
looked.
sometimes
leaned
children
the Plains.
they
often
of
viewed Reed
West
Rai-
Castle
the
they
Rai-Taro
Sometimes
walls
upon
;
of
Elements.
the
and
Often
and
the
evening
upon
and
castle
Castle
a
the
the
North
the
of
wrong.
He
of
man.
of
and
loving un-
him.
walked
Taro
in
to
tempest
Rai-den
are
heaven.
Lord
a
loved
father
lived
blue
god,
mighty
of
can
they
Sama
Rai-den
high
they
an
afraid
and
lightning
is
cruel
mortally
are
hate
who
revengeful,
and
who
Thunder,
the
Rai-den,
that
say
'thunder
GOOD
THE
that
far went
over
to
earth.
night
Rai-den
Sama 50
said
to
Rai-Taro,
"
GOOD
THE
VI
Child, look
well
THUNDER
this
the
night upon
doingsof
!"
men
Rai-Taro
answered,
Father, I will
**
look
well." From
northern
the
they looked, and saw going forth to great lords and men-at-arnis From battle. the southern rampart theylooked, and saw and acolytes priests servingin a holy templewhere the air was dim with incense,and images of goldand bronze gleamedin the twilight. From the eastern rampart they looked,and saw a and a troop bower, where was a fair princess, lady's of maidens, clad in There for her. were with "
Ah, the pretty children ! the
From
western
peasant
a
saw
colour,that made music children there,too, playing
of flowers.
little cart
a
rose
rampart
"
said Rai-Taro.
they looked, and
rampart
toilingin
a
rice-field. He
enough and his back ached. weary toiled with him by his side. If he it is easy to
believe that she
They
very
were
and
poor
more
was
their
wife
His was
weary,
weary
garments
was
still. were
ragged. "
Have
Rai-den
they
no
children ? *'
said
Rai-Taro.
his head.
shook
you looked well,Rai-Taro ? you looked well this nightupon
Presently,Have "
he said. the
"
Have
doingsof **
men
"
? '*
Father," said Rai-Taro, "indeed, I
have
looked well." "
to
Then
choose,my
take up your
son,
choose,for I send you
habitation upon SI
the earth."
"
Must
"
My child,you
"I
I go among
will
Rai-Taro "
THUNDER
GOOD
THE
not "
;
"
the
with
so,
?
head
my
very ill." Will you go,
?
son
my
then,
"
No," said Rai-Taro,
will I have
men-at-arms/* said
likes me fighting
bower the fair lady's
to
? ** said Rai-Taro.
men
must.'*
go
Oho, say you
vi
I
"
shaved
am
a
to
Neither
man.
and live with
go
priests." "
What, then,do you choose will have
You
Taro." Rai-Taro
a
Go, go in
you have
hard
said, "They
Perhapstheywill "
the poor peasant ? life and scanty fare,Rai-
chosen
have
children.
no
love me."
peace,"said wisely."
Rai-den
Sama
"
;
for
shall I go, my father ? " said Rai-Taro. " " it befits a said his father, as Honourably," Prince of High Heaven." How
"
the
Now
which field,
was
san, in the
rice-fieldwas "
Alack
and what
the dear
at
peasant
provinceof
toiled in his rice-
Ichizen.
the
Hakuafter day
Day
brightsun
shone.
The
dry,and
young rice was burnt up. and alas 1 cried the poor peasant man, shall I do if my rice-crop fails? May "
gods have
With
man
the foot of the mountain
after week
and week "
poor
that he
mercy on all poor sat himself down
people! on
"
stone
a
at
the rice-field's for very weariness edgeand fellasleep and
sorrow.
When It
was
but
he woke
the
skywas
noonday,but
it grew 52
black with as
dark
as
clouds.
night.
GOOD
THE
VI
THUNDER
leaves of the trees
The
birds ceased their
shuddered
! ** cried the peasant. " Raiupon his black horse,beating
storm, a storm den Sama goes abroad
of the Thunder.
the great drum
the
singing.
A
"
togetherand
shall have
We
thanks be." plenty, Rain in plentyhe had, sure enough,for it fell torrents, with blindinglightningand roaring
rain in
in
thunder.
Oh, Rai-den Sama,**said the peasant,
"
"
saving
than sufficient.** more your greatness,this is even flashed anew At this the brightlightning and fell
cracked with
heavens
"
Ai !
Ai !
"
earth in
the
to
**
have
Kwannon
of
bdl
livingfire,and the mighty pealof thunder.
a a
cried
the
mercy
on
a
poor peasant man. sinful soul,for now
the Thunder on
Dragon has me indeed.** And he lay the ground and hid his face. the Thunder Howbeit Dragon sparedhim.
And
up and rubbed his eyes. The ball of fire was gone, but a babe lay upon the wet earth ; a fine fresh boy with the rain upon his cheeks and his hair. he
soon
sat
Oh, Lady, Lady Kwannon,** said the poor this is thy sweet mercy.**And he peasant man, "
"
took
the
in his
boy
arms
and
carried him
still
fell,but
the
every
flower
to
his
home.
own
As
he
in
came
out
the
cooler
the
went
the
rain
sky,and
blue
air shone
and
lifted up
its
head. The
peasant
came
to
his cottage door. 53
sun
in
grateful
GOOD
THE
THUNDER
Wife, wife/*he called, somethinghome.** "
**
What
"
The
eldest
I have
broughtyou
it be ? ** said his wife.
may
answered,
man
son
vi
Rai-Taro,
"
the
little
of the Thunder.**
Rai-Taro
grew
tallest, gayest boy
and strong, the up straight of all that country-side.He
and all the delightof his foster-parents, he was When ten neighboursloved him. years the
was
in the rice-fieldslike a worked the wonderful weather prophet.
old he was "
for
he said, My father,** "
let
father,let
;
there will be
a
or
he
that,
said, My "
that,for to-night and whatever he had said, storm,**
the rather do this
us
do this and
**
shall have fair weather
we
us
He
man.
or
And he brought to pass. enough,it came great good fortune to the poor peasant man, and all his works prospered. Rai-Taro When was eighteenyears old all the his birthdayfeast. bidden to neighbourswere There was plentyof good sakiyand the good folk silent was were enough ; only Rai-Taro merry so,
sure
and sad and sorry. " What ails you,
mother.
"
You
who
the gay, why are you "It is because I
Rai-Taro
? **
said his foster-
be the gayest of sad and sorry ? ** silent, wont
are
must
to
Rai-Taro you,**
leave
said. leave said his foster-mother, never Nay,** Rai-Taro, my son. Why would you leave us ? "
"
"
Mother,
because
I
tears.
54
must,**said
Rai-Taro
us, **
in
THE
VI
have
You
"
have
givenus
What
have I
am
more
Then of
till he
down
to
The
to
Wc
and labour,to suffer,
cloud
gained his
he
love.
scaled heaven's blue
father's castle.
I
And
height Rai-den
of them
stood upon the rampart of the Castle of Cloud and looked earth. foster-mother stood weeping bitterly, but The
two
took her hand.
My dear,'*he said,
"
grow
to
you
learned than the Immortals." from them. And in the likeness he went
her husband "
good fortune ; you have I givenyou ? **
received him. western
great
our
givenyou, Rai-Taro, my son ? answered, "Three thingshave
"
white
a
been
all things. What
Rai-Taro
taught me
THUNDER
GOOD
old
apace.**
55
it will
not
be for
long.
VII
THE
Long
ago,
from
Kioto,
honest
the
the
great In
it
it that
the
full
deceiving
the
kitchens
parties
of
mossy said
they
;
forest
the
in
fairies* children
didn't
mind
were
queer
in
which did as
as
were as
the
and
neat
fine
very a
that
and
poor,
boy
in
housewife
the
;
the
had as
for
that one
all
that
rice-fields, and indeed,
for 56
she
couple was
she
within washed
a
"
that
was
they lived as fair daughter.
princess, and
a
this
warlock
a
it
sure
every
woman
was
the
all
honest
the
man
But
be.
above
the
that
ways,
there
and
that
tea-
that
and
hide-and-seek Over
they
they
;
month,
a
at
that
but
They their
thrice
pretty
foxes
trees.
built ground the elves that long-nosed Tengu had
living soul,
to
pine
that
their
may
harm
no
was
as
was
cottage,
haunted.
was
saying
and
woman,
of
an
said
seven.
they wise
wood
dwelt
their
was
wood
deep
a
played
before
morning
lonely place
remote
very
there
city,
gay
of
was
beneath
a
not
country
outskirts
had
Folks
of the
part
a
couple.
upon
said
in
BOWL
BLACK
her
worked doors
and
they poor She
manners as
hard
she
was
cooked
BLACK
THE
vii
drew
and
She
water.
BOWL
went
barefoot
homespun gown, and tied her tough wistaria tendril. Brown
a
grey
hair with
back she
in
and
was
a
thin,
beggar-maidthat ever made shift and no supper. with a bed of dry moss her father dies,and By-and-bythe good man
but the sweetest
the wise
her
woman
mother
the
sickens within
she lies in a corner year, and soon waitingfor her end, with the maid
of the near
cottage
her
crying
bitter tears.
Child,**says the mother, do you know you ? as pretty as a princess I that ? says the maid, and goes on with Am "
"
"
are
'*
"
her
crying.
that your manners fine ? ** are you know says the mother. " Are they,then ? '* says the maid, and goes on with her crying. " My own baby,"says the mother, " could you "
Do
stop your
by her
to be pretty. If she but the innocent,none
will
help you,
of
way from
The "
the
It is a bad
remember.
bowl
to
?"
me
stoppedcryingand put her mother's on the poor pillow.
listen,"says
"Now
a
and listen
minute
the maid
So close
cryinga
my besides.
mother, "and
thingfor
a
head wards after-
poor
girl
is pretty and lonelyand gods will help her. They
poor child,and I have thought Fetch me the great black rice-
the shelf."
girlfetched
See, now,
it.
I put it on
beautyis hidden away." 57
your head and
all your
BLACK
THE
BOWL
vii
"Alack, mother/* said the poor child,"it
is
heavy/* "It
will
from
save
you the said mother. bear,** that you will not " I promise! I
me
know
the time
when
what
a
to
If you love me, promise it tillthe time comes.**
"
move
promise!
shall I
how
But
? **
comes
And now help you shall know. outside,for the sweet morning dawns and Fve as they fancyto see the fairies*children once again, "That
me
is heavier
.
.
.
in the forest.**
run
So the
child,havingthe black
head, held her the
near
mother
in her
bowl in
arms
a
upon her grassy place
great trees, and
fairies*children dark trunks
as
the
presently they saw threadingtheir way between
at theyplayed
hide-and-seek.
the
Their
and theylaughedlightly brightgarments fluttered, smiled to see them ; mother The as they went. before seven she died very sweetlyas she smiled. When
the wooden
with she
must
of rice was
her little store
starve
bowl or
well
knew
go and
done,the
find
enough
maid that
So firstshe
more.
tended her father*sand mother's graves and poured for the dead,as is meet, and recited many a water kilted holytext. Then she bound on her sandals, her grey skirts to show her scarlet petticoat, tied her household gods in a blue printed handkerchief, and set out all alone to seek her fortunes, the brave
girl! For a
all her slenderness and
and rarelyodd sight,
The
great black
bowl
soon
pretty feet she she
covered 58
was
her
to
know head
was
it.
and
THE
VII
shadowed two
BOWL
BLACK
her face.
she looked up from
women
As
througha village washingin the stream, went
stared and
laughed. It's a boggartcome
alive/*says one. Out upon her,"cries the other, for a shameless
"
"
"
wench
upon her false modestyto roam the country thus with her head in a black bowl, as * who should cry aloud to every passing Come man, and
!
Out
wholesome On
!'
is hidden
what
see
It is
enough to
make
a
body sick.** the the poor maid, and sometimes and pebblesfor peltedher with mud
went
children
she
Sometimes
sport.
handled
was
roughly by
louts,who scoffed and caught at her dress village laid hands upon the bowl as she went ; they even itselfand soughtto drag it from her head by force.
theyonlyplayedat that game once, for the bowl stung them as fiercely as if it had been a nettle, and the bullies ran away howling. The beggar-maidenmight seek her fortune, but it was very hard to find. She might ask for But
work
;
but
wishful
to
see,
would
employ a
None she get it ? were girlwith a black bowl on
her head. At
she
sat
on last,
a
her upon
heart would
day when she was tired out, and began to cry as if her stone
fine a
break.
rolled her
Down
under
the black
bowl.
cheeks
and reached her white
They
tears
rolled down
from her
chin.
that way, with wanderingballad-singer passed had a sharp He biwa slung across his back.
A
his eye
and
marked
the
tears
59
upon
the maid*s white
THE chin.
It
"Oh,
girlwith
BLACK
all he
was
"
do
I
of her
sec
bowl
face,and, your head,'*
on
sit weeping
you
weep,*'she answered, I
giveme
hungry and
am
work
"Now that's for he had singer, of my own, sorry for you. do for you is
m
that he
whips
his
and fingers
the
tears
"
vii
by the
side road-
''
is hard. will
could
the black
quothhe, "why ?
BOWL
on
or
or
.
.
"
No
one
money."
unfortunate,"said
the
ballad-
kind
heart ; " but I haven't it would be yours. Indeed I am a
In the circumstances
make
to
the world
because
tired.
me
pay
"
you
his Aiwa starts
little
song."
round, thrums
as
your white
a
the best I
easy
as
on
a
can
With
it with
please. To says, and sings: "
you
chin," he
blooms by the roadside^ cherry black is the canopy ofcloud I How The wild cherry droops by the roadside Beware ofthe black canopy ofcloud. Harky hear the rain^hear the rainfall From the black canopy ofcloud. are Alasy the wild cherryits sweet flowers marred^ Marred are the sweet flowers on the sprayT* forlorn TAe white
^
^
^
"
Sir,I
girlwith "
and
Yet
do not
the bowl
understand on
his way. passingrich farmer. to "
song,"said
the
her head.
it is plainenough,"said the
went
him
your
He
came
to
ballad-singer,
the
house
of
a
he went, and theyasked singbefore the master of the house.
With
all the
In
will
in the 60
world," says
the
BLACK
THE
VII
BOWL
ballad-singer.I will sing him a So he sang I have just made." "
cherryand When
song that of the wild
new
the great black cloud. he had made an end, "Tell
of your song," says interpretation
the
the
us
of
master
the house. With
"
all the will in the
ballad-singer.The "
maiden
I
whom
saw
world," quoth the
cherryis the face of a sitting by the wayside. She wild
great black wooden
bowl
her
head,
wore
a
which
is the great black cloud in my song, and under it her tears flowed like rain,for I saw
from the
her white chin.
dropsupon
she wept for giveher work
hunger,and
upon
And
because
no
she said that one
would
pay her money." Now I might help the poor I would the bowl on her head," said the master
"
with
nor
girl of
the house. That
"
you may if you wish," quoththe balladShe sits but a stone's throw from your
singer. gate." The long and "
to
put
labour
All the with back
that the maid was short of it was in the rich farmer's harvest-fields.
day long she
in the
waving rice,
grey skirts kilted and her sleeves bound All day long she pliedthe with cords. her
sickle,and
the
sun
bowl
she
had
; but
night,and She
kept
worked
was
found
her
in
gatheredin.
shone down upon the black food to eat and good rest at
well content. favour in her
the Then
master's eyes, and fields till all the harvest he
took 6i
her
into his
he was
house,
THE there
where
plentyfor
was
happilyas
bird, and
a
labours.
And
gods for
her
her
do, for his wife
to
went
fortune.
lived well
and
singingabout
her
thanked
nightshe
every
good
vii
the maiden
sickly.Now
but
was
BOWL
BLACK
the august
Still she
upon her head. the New Year time, "
the
wore
black bowl At
Bustle,bustle,** says
scrub and cook and the farmcr*s wife ; dear, for your best foot foremost, my "
have
look
the house
sew
;
put
must
we
its very neatest."
at
be sure, and with all my heart,"says the and she put her back into the work ; " but, girl, "
To
she says, if I may be mistress," are we havinga party,or what ? "
so
bold
to
as
ask,
"
of them," says the " farmer's wife. My son that is in Kioto, the great and gay, is coming home for a visit." home he comes, the handsome Presently young "
Indeed
we
Then
man.
are,
the
and many
called in, and
neighbourswere
merry-making.They Feasted and they danced, theyjestedand they sang, many a bowl of good red rice theyate, and many a cup of with good saki theydrank. All this time the girl, bowl her head, pliedher work on modestlyin great
the
the
was
kitchen,and well
farmer's wife same,
saw
fine
one
to
day
of the way
out
she
was
that, good soul !
the company
the
"
All
called for
the
more
of the
wine, and
the
house
up the saki bottle and goes with it should he see there the kitchen. What
himself
wine
done, so
was
the
son
takes to
but the maiden
fanningthe
sitting upon
kitchen fire with 62
a
and pileof faggots, bamboo fan ! a split
THE
VII
I must
but My life,
"
what
sec
bowl," says the handsome
black
himself.
And
and
care,
BOWL
BLACK
enough
sure
much
peepedas
young made
he
as
is under
he
that to
man
it his
daily
could,which
was
enough for very much ; but seeminglyit was of Kioto, the great him, for he thought no more
not
to do his and gay, but stayed at home His father laughedand his mother
courting. the fretted,
up their hands,all to no purpose. Oh, dear,dear maiden with the wooden bowl, I must other. and she shall be my bride and no
neighboursheld "
her," cried
will have
the
impetuousyoung
man,
he fixed the wedding-day himself. and very soon the time came, the young maidens of the When went to array the bride. village They dressed her in
fair and
a
of white
robe costly
brocade,and
in
hakama of scarlet silk, and on her shoulders trailing they hung a cloak of blue and purpleand gold.
They chattered,but a
word.
She
as
for the bride she said
and bridegroomnothing,
of
his choice
at
sore
nothing,but
the
she
sad because
was
tears
because a
never
brought her
his parentswere
beggar-maid. She said glistenedon her white
chin. "
maidens to to
off with the
Now "
;
do it with the
bowl
it is time
to
ugly old bowl,"
cried
dress the bride's hair and
goldencombs."
So
and
lifted it away,
would
the
have
hands
they laid
but
it. theycould not move Try again,"theysaid,and tugged at it with all their might. But it would stir. not There's witchcraft in it,"theysaid ; try a "
"
"
63
THE
BOWL
BLACK
vii
third time/* They tried a third time,and stillthe bowl stuck fast,but it gave out fearsome moans and cries. "
Ah
!
be, let be for pity's sake,"said the
Let
" poor bride, for you make my head ache/* They were forced to lead her as she was
bridegroom's presence. My dear, I am "
bowl," said the young So
"
mystic
man.
saki from
the silver cup the Three
Times
the
afraid of the wooden
not
theypouredthe
and from
to
two
Three"
the silver flagon, of them drank the
that made
them
man
and wife. Then
the black bowl
noise,and fell to With
the
it fell a shower
burst asunder with
ground in
a
of silver and
been
a
rich and But the
face.
"
dowry that
for
a
loud
thousand
pieces. gold,and pearls jewel of price.
and rubies and emeralds,and every Great was the astonishment of the company
gazedupon
a
as
would princess
they have
rare.
bridegroom looked
My dear," he said,
that shine like your
"
eyes."
64
into
there
arc
the no
bride's
jewels
'
VIII
THE
All
that
you
gods
the
of the
upon
rain,
creeping
nor
sad
the
Hear
you seventh
the
pray
night
moon.
neither
thunder,
them
fair weather
for
patience' sake and and be pitiful that
be
may
lovers, I beseech
true
are
seventh
For pray,
for
LOVERS
STAR
that
upon
hail,
nor
love's
sake,
night
there
cloud,
nor
nor
mist. of
tale
dear
the
prayers. your Maiden The Weaving
Star
Lovers
the
was
and
give of
daughter
a
Her the dwelling was Light, upon which is the of the shore Milky Way, Bright the of Heaven. All River day long she sat at and loom her plied her shuttle, weaving the gay and of the woof, hour gods. Warp garments till it lay fold on web by hour the coloured grew Still she feet. fold piled at her ceased her never
of
Deity
labour, for she "
Sorrow,
spare.
she But
afraid.
age-long
Maiden
Weaving So
was
she
sorrow,
when
laboured,
She
and
she the
herself, poor 65
had
heard
shall leaves
gods
come
saying
a
loom."
had
garments
maiden,
the
upon
her
was
:
to
ill-clad F
;
STAR
THE
LOVERS
she recked nothingof her attire She went that her father gave hen
hang down
her hair
fell upon
long lock it
She
celestial youthsand or
She
weep.
into the
her He
angry. much." "
.
.
wove
a
flung
love
not
sorry.
She
her
being
father,the Deity of Light,grew too said, "Daughter, you weave
It is my duty," she said. At your age to talk of duty!
Out
she
did
She
and
anon
play with the pleasurewith
glad nor .
let
web. many-coloured
Now
"
did not take her
neither
was
and
Ever
maidens.
weaving,weaving
sat
"
or
jewels
and barefoot,
loom, and back
the
of Heaven,
children
of the
or
unconfined.
her shoulden
over
viii
upon
you !
"Wherefore father ? *'
said her father.
"
are
she
"
with me, my displeased her fingersplied the
you
said,
and
shuttle. "
Are
you
a
stock
or
a
stone,
or
pale flower
a
"
by the wayside? Nay," she said, "
"
"
Then
be pleasure,
take your
wherefore
And
"
leave your
I
am
of these."
none
child,and
loom, my as
live ;
others are."
should
I be
as
others
are
?
"
she said. Never
"
dare
to
Come,
me. question
will you
"
leave your loom ? She said," Sorrow, age-long sorrow,
upon
the
Weaving
Maiden
when
she
shall
come
leaves her
loom." "A
foolish
saying,"cried 66
her
father,"not
THE
VIII
worthy of
credence.
her
took
covered
do
from
with
her
of agelong
With
that
and gently,
And
her to be very richly and attired, upon her and garlandedher head
Paradise.
"
hand
cloth.
a
know
we
gods ?
not
we
shuttle
the loom
LOVERS
What
Are
?
sorrow
he
STAR
he
caused
they put jewels with
flowers of
her father gave her for spouse the Herd Boy of Heaven, who tended his flocks upon the banks of the BrightRiver. Now
And
the
Maiden
changed indeed. Her and her lipswere stars were ruddy. She dancingand singingall the day. Long hours
eyes went
was
playedwith the children of Heaven, and she took her pleasure with the celestial youths and maidens. Lightly she went ; her feet were shod with silver. Her lover, the Herd Boy, held her by the hand. She laughed so that the very gods laughed with her, and High Heaven she
re-echoed with
sounds of mirth. of
duty or
As for her
loom,
littledid she think
gods.
the
it from
I have
"
it into
a
And his
it
garments of wept
never
near
another.
to
she said ; live,*'
*'
111
weave
Boy, her lover,claspedher
face
all
was
his breast.
on
of the she
careless ;
was
more."
no
Her
arms.
tears
So
she
and
in
smiles,and
lived her
life.
father,the Deity of Light,was angry. It is too much," he said. " Is the girlmad
her **
She
web
end
life to
my
the Herd
she hid But
moon's
one
She
will
become
Besides,who of the
gods ?
is to
the weave
?
of Heaven. laughing-stock the new springgarments
"
67
THE
LOVERS
STAR
Three
times he warned
Three
times she
viii
his
daughter. and shook laughedsoftly
her
head. **
hand
Your
said, but of "
mortal
surety no
a
said, You "
of
god or
shall find it otherwise
banished
he
to
ever
either of
the Herd the farther side of the
And
cost."
hand
father,"she
shut it.''
can
He
and
openedthe door,my
to
your
for
ever Boy Bright River.
from far and near, and magpiesflew together, theyspreadtheir wingsfor a frailbridgeacross the over river,and the Herd Boy went by the frail the magpiesflew away bridge. And immediately to the ends of the earth and the Weaving Maiden the saddest thingin could not follow. She was Heaven. Long, long she stood upon the shore, and held out her arms to the Herd Boy, who desolate and in tears. tended his oxen Long, long she layand wept upon the sand. Long, long she brooded, lookingon the ground.
The
She
and
arose
went
to
her
cloth that covered
aside the
loom.
She
it.
She
cast
took
her
shuttle in her hand.
Age long sorrow," she said, age long ! sorrow Presentlyshe dropped the shuttle. the pain of it,"and she Ah," she moaned, the loom. leaned her head against "
"
-
-
"
"
"
in
But not was
be
as
a
I
once
neither
she
little while was.
gladnor glad,and
I am weep" Her tears
I did
said, Yet "
not
love
I would
or
weep, I love and
sorry. Now I am sorry."
fell like 68
rain, but
she
took
I I
up
THE
viii
shuttle and
the
with
LOVERS
laboured
of the
garments grey
STAR
gods.
weaving diligently, Sometimes
grief,sometimes The gods were
dreams.
it
was
fain
web
rosy
was
with
strangely Deity of Light,
to
Maiden's
The
the
the
go
father,the for once well pleased. was is my "That child," he said. good, diligent Now you are quietand happy." she said. The quietof dark despair," Happy ! clad.
"
"
I
"
the saddest
am
I
"
thingin Heaven." said the Deityof Light ; sorry,"
am
"
what
shall I do?" back my Nay, child,that I Give
" "
for
and
ever
lover."
me
ever
by
do.
cannot
is banished
He
of
the decree
Deity,that
a
be broken."
cannot "
I knew
"
Yet
it,"she
said.
something I
can
do.
On
Listen.
the
day of the seventh moon, I will summon from the ends of the earth, the magpiestogether the Bright River and theyshall be a bridge over of Heaven, so that the Weaving Maiden shall lightlycross to the waiting Herd Boy on the seventh
farther shore." So it
On
was.
magpiesfrom theyspreadtheir wings for a the Weaving Maiden went moon
the
came
bridge. Her like
a
eyes were bird in her bosom.
there to meet
And
so
her upon it is
day of
the seventh
the seventh
far and
near.
And
frail bridge. And over
by
the
frail
like stars, and her heart And the Herd Boy was the farther shore.
oh, true still, 69
lovers
"
upon
the
THE
LOVERS
STAR
viii
these two keep day of the seventh moon their tryst. Only if the rain fallswith thunder and is cloud and hail,and the BrightRiver of Heaven make swollen and swift, the magpies cannot a Alack, the bridge for the Weaving Maiden. drearytime ! Therefore,true lovers,pray the gods for fair
seventh
weather.
70
IX
HORAIZAN
JoFUKU he
read,
All
the
the
of
knew
he
hand.
his
and
what
he
as
He
metals.
not
lines
and
trees,
and
magic
full of years him
and
but
;
written
in
from
secrets
knew
He philosophy. grew All the people honoured happy, for he had a word
wisdom.
the
knew
flowers
and
herbs
them.
in
was
learned
He
books
Many
and
poetry
was
forgot
beasts, and
rocks
of China,
Man
never
characters
and
and
he
and
palm
birds
Wise
the
was
he
his
upon
heart.
word
The and
day
in
with Mutability. It was him. night, and sorely it troubled the days of Jofuku a tyrant ruled and
China,
he
made
he
"Jofuku/* my
wood
poets." Jofuku "
of my
the
sing
to
could
give
the
me
not
it you,
the
said,
"
all his
ask
though
a
over, Moreover
burden.
nightingales of
songs
it for
do
life
Man's
Wise
said, "teach
Alas, liege,*'he I will
and
him
was
me
it cost
of
Chinese
the
wisdom. another me
thing blood
the
heart."
"Have
a
care," said
the 71
Emperor,
"look
to
HORAIZAN
IX
Wise men arc your ways. " ? to be dishonoured one
another
"
Ask
"
Well, then,scent
me
cheap in
thing,"said
China
the Wise
I
; am
Man.
the peony with the scent imperial ; peony is brilliant,
me
of the
jessamine.The is small,pale, foolish. Nevertheless, jessamine
the
Scent
its perfumeis sweet.
the peony with the
me
of the
jessamine." But Jofuku stood silent and downcast. By the gods,"cried the Emperor,
scent
"
"
is
man
fool !
a
Here,
this wise
of you, off with
some
his
head." *'
Liege,"said
lifeand I will
the Wise
Man,
spare
set sail for Horaizan
Immortality.I will
the herb
"
me
my
where
grows this herb and pluck
bringit back to you again,that you may live and reignfor ever." The Emperor considered. "Well, go," he said,"and lingernot, or it for you." will be the worse Jofuku went and found brave companionsto go with
him
junk with he
took
had made
the great adventure,and he manned a the most famous mariners of China, and
on
stores
all
on
thingsreadyhe
month, about the The
board, and
Emperor
time
the herb
and when
he
sail in the seventh
set
of the full moon.
himself
he
Man,"
and Immortality,
presently.If you return companionsshall die the
down
came
"Speed, speed.Wise me
gold;
see
without death." 72
to
the
shore. sea-
said; "fetch
that you do it it,you and your
HORAIZAN
IX
"
So
The
called Jofukufrom the junk. Farewell,liege," with
theywent
fairwind
a
for their white sails.
the water creaked,the ropes quivered, splashed againstthe junk'sside,the sailors sang as panions eastward, the brave comthey steered a course boards
But
were
looked
merry. forward and
because
of the
the Wise
looked
word
back,
written
of China
Man
upon
and
was
sad
his heart
"
Mutability. for many days upon The junk of Jofukuwas He and the wild sea, steering eastwards. a course the sailors and the brave companionssuffered many things.The great heat burnt them, and the great cold froze them. Hungry and thirsty theywere, and
of them
some
fell sick and died.
More
were
the fightwith pirates. Then came that swept dread typhoon,and mountain waves the junk. The and the sails were washed masts lost away with the rich stores, and the gold was slain in
for
a
Drowned
ever.
and the brave
were
the
companions every
famous one.
mariners,
Jofuku was
left alone.
east
Far to the he looked up. In the grey dawn he saw a mountain, very faint,the colour of
and pearl,
on
the
mountain
top there grew
tall,with
spreadingbranches.
murmured
:
"The
Island of Horaizan
The
is
east
Wise
Mountain. there is Fusan, the Wonder there grows the heightsof Fusan tree a branches hide the Mysteriesof Life."
and weary 73
and could
not
tree,
Man
of the
and
Jofukulayweak
a
east,
On whose lifta
HORAIZAN
IX
finger.Nevertheless,the junk glidednearer the
to
nearer
shore.
Still and
blue
and the
grew
of the sea, and Jofuku saw the brightgreen flowers of the island. grass and the many-coloured Soon there came and maidens troops of young men
waters
bearinggarlandsand singingsongs of welcome ; into the water and they waded and drew the out and of the sweet junk to land. Jofuku was aware spicyodours that clungto their garments and their hair. At their invitation he left the junk,which drifted away
and
said,
He
no
was
more
have
I
"
seen.
come
to
the
Horaizan
that the trees Blest." Looking up he saw full of birds with blue and golden feathers. birds filledthe air with
were
The
On
delightful melody.
all
the citron,the persimmon and the pomegranate, the peachand the plum and the loquat. The ground at his feet was sides there
hung
the
orange
and
rich brocade,embroidered with every flower that is. The happy dwellers in Horaizan took him
as
by
a
the hands and "
How
spokelovinglyto him. strange it is,"said Jofuku,
"
I do
not
old age any more." What is old age ? theysaid.
feel my ** "
"
do I feel any what is pain?
Neither
theysaid. longerwritten on my you speakof,beloved
Now
"
The
*'
What
"
is the Mutability
"
And
"Tell death ?
pain."
"
"
word word
is no do
heart." ?
"
word." "
what
? may be its interpretation Man, "is me," said the Wise
"
74
this
HORAIZAN
IX
have
"We
of
heard
never
death,''said
the
Wasobiobe.
He
inhabitants of Horaizan. The
Wise
full
was
wise
as
of
Man
Japan was
the Wise
as
The
old but young. Often and loved him. not
was
It
boat
his
was
to
out
watery
he
was
pleasureto there
sea,
Once
waste.
of China.
Man
peoplehonoured him happy enough. in
alone
venture
frail
a
in the wild and
meditate
to
He
that
he did this it chanced
as
in his boat,and he slept he fellasleep all nightlong, while his boat drifted out to the eastward. So,
when
he awoke
in the
found
himself
beneath
brightlightof morning,he of Fusan, the
the shadow
of His boat layin the waters Mountain. river of Horaizan, and he steered her amongst a the floweringiris and the lotus,and sprang on
Wonder
shore. The
"
spot in the world !
sweetest
think I have Soon
to
come
the
came
island,and with and
young "
"
When fruit of
to
So
dear
to
in
hunted, or
hear
sweet
the woods
I
of the
of China,
Man
as
brother,"theycried, to
Youth."
eat
of the delicious
them
down
music.
and
bathed in the
feasted and
the
maidens
the Island of Eternal
of flowers
rode and
"
happy as they.
theyhad givenhim the island, theylaid
theywandered They
the Wise
Welcome, welcome,
welcome
bank
as
he said.
the Blest."
Horaizan
youths and
them
**
upon a Afterwards
groves. warm
They
sea-water.
pleasure. enjoyed every delightful and there was no long day lingered, night, 75
HORAIZAN for there
and
weariness
The of China. "
I
"
What
want
no
said
the Wise
to
Man
:
"
*'
You
boat here."
brother,I do.
Indeed, my
take
to
was
find my boat.*' said Jofuku. matter, brother ?
cannot
no "
of Japan came
Man
He
sleep,there
pain.
no
Wise
of
need
no
was
IX
home.
me
I
I
my boat There's
want
sick for home.
am
the truth.'* "
"
The
*'
? you not happy in Horaizan No, for I have a word written upon my heart. word is Humanity.Because of it I am troubled Are
and have
peace." Strange,"said the
"
"
Once
I
no
too
had
a
word
Wise
written
of
Man on
China.
heart.
my
The
but I have forgotten what it Mutability^ Do you too forget." means. said the Wise Man Nay, I can never forget," of Japan. He sought out the Crane, who is a great and besoughther, "Take home to me traveller, word
was
"
land."
own
my
"
Alas," the
die. know
you and "
This
Crane
said, if I "
is the Island of Eternal
did
you would Youth ; do you so
you have been here for a hundred years ? If go away you will feel old age and weariness
pain,then you will die." No matter," said Wasobiobe,
"
take
me
home." Then
the Crane
took
him
76
on
her
strong back
HORAIZAN
IX
tarried and
never "
him.
flew with
and Do
Day
nightshe
tired.
never
the shore ?
you see And he said, ** I
and
At
flew and
last she
said,
"
see
it.
Praise
be
to
the
gods.*' said, Where
She
have but **
shall I carry you ? littletime to live.** "
a
Good
country, under the fisherman
sand
"
of
You
my
pine,there spreading
mending his
net.
Take
laid Wasobiobe
So the Crane
feet. And
arms.
And
me
sitsa poor that to him
I
laid his head
Wasobiobe
againstthe
breast.
have lived for ever,"he said," but that is written on my heart."
might
for the word "
What
word
?
"
Humanity
is
murmured. the
the poor man's fisherraised him in his
at
the fisherman
fisherman's humble
Ah,
dear
.
die in his arms."
I may
"
the
Crane, upon
.
I
"
pain.
"
am
""
said the fisherman. the
word," the
grown He
old
"
hold
Wise me
Man closer.
gave a great cry. he smiled. Then his breath left Afterwards dead. him with a sigh,and he was " said the fisherman. It is the way of all flesh," .
.
77
REFLECTIONS
Long
enough of
journey mind
the
and
rest
her
the
good
his
had
in
They
kept
nothing
their
bothering of
pair The
day
truth
is
be
say
they and
peony
or
their
twist
days
plum,
these
At
to
forth
the
or
as
them
that
wife, and
years,
and
with
quiet
their
and
winning
had
and
they
Sometimes
Other
spring, the
is
long.
fields.
and
of
good from
obi
or
steady
set
never
scarlet
a
His
women-kind,
They
or
simple
on
eyes
morning
night.
till
or
sleeves
long
of
either
house,
of
many
peace
clear
ways. their
estate.
these
great
all
at
in
men-servants
dead
day's
a
gentleman
a
good
lived
man son.
Kioto
been
within
dwelt
but
nianners,
knew
a
of
city
soul,
only
there
ago
and
blue
jolly
as
nay.
admire
they lotus, would
the
tenegui
please,
Often
as
for
enough 78
might
case a
little
about
there
they
sak^y
their was came
the
flower the
view
the rice-
In
cherry
to
out
drink
white
you
set
the
as
the
in
a-fishing.
went
to
later
they
times
they
happy
as
laboured
they
went
the
were
iris
be. and
heads no
one
home
REFLECTIONS
X
their oldest clothes, by lantern light. They wore and were at their meals. mightyirregular But the pleasures of life are fleetingmore's the the father feltold age creeping pity! and presently "
"
upon him. One night, as he hands
the
over
smoking and warming
sat
his
charcoal, "Boy," says he, "it's
high time
you got married." the gods forbid ! " cries the young man. Now Father,what makes you say such terrible things? "
"
Or
are
You
joking?
you
be
must
joking,"he
says. "
joking at all,"says
not
spoke a truer enough."
never soon "
" "
Fm
Fm "
"
But, father,I And
and
that
the
same
?
"
sorry for you, my boy." Then I marry what for must of
In the way
the
nature
wife
a
to
I
"
;
you'llknow
afraid of mortally
am
I not
am
need you'll
and
word,
father
the
women."
says the father. ?"
says the son. I shall die before long, take care of you."
stood in the young man's eyes for he was tender-hearted ; but he heard this,
Now
when
tears
all he said was,
"
I
can
take
care
of
myselfvery
well." "
That's
the very
thing you cannot,"says
his
father. The
long and
the young
man
a
short of it was wife.
She
that
was
theyfound
young,
and
as
was Tassel,just pretty as a picture.Her name that,or Fusa, as they say in her language.
After
theyhad
drunk
down 79
the
"
Three
Times
REFLECTIONS "
Three
and together
so
became
stood alone, the young man girl. For the life of him
say to her. stroked it with
took
He
to
x
at
the
he did not know what bit of her sleeve and Still he
said
mighty foolish. The and pale,turned red again,
looked red,turned
and
wife,they
lookinghard a
his hand.
and
man
nothing girl turned burst into
tears. "
Tassel,don't
Honourable
gods'sake,"says "
"
I suppose
do
the young man. you don't like
that,for the
me,"
dear
sobs the
girl.
I suppose you don't think I'm pretty." " than the My dear," he says, " you'reprettier
bean-flower in the field;
than the you'reprettier hen in the farm-yard prettier ; you're I be the in pond. hope you'll carp
littlebantam than the
rose
happy with
my
father and me."
laugheda little and dried her eyes. Get on another pairof hakama^^ she says, and give me those you'vegot on you ; there's a great I was hole in them it all the time of the noticing wedding ! and taking Well, this was not a bad beginning, one thingwith another they got on pretty well, not as they had though of course thingswere At this she
"
"
"
"
been
in that blessed time
his father did sleeves
or
an
not
the young
man
and
pairof long morning tillnight.
set
obi from
when
eyes upon
a
the way of nature, the old man died. It is said he made a very good end, and left that in his strong-box made the his son which
By
richest
and
man
by,in
in the
But country-side. 80
this
was
no
REFLECTIONS
X
comfort
all to the poor young his father with all his heart. at
paid reverence
to
who
man,
Day
the tomb.
mourned
and
nighthe sleepor rest
Little
he got, and littleheed he gave to his wife,Mistress to the delicate Tassel,and her whimsies, or even
dishes she what
for
Kioto
a
It
little?
to
on
she
says, that
she
'*
as
a
to
were
to
go
"
he says. to
answer,
it would
saw
never
fashions,so
as
to
of
kind
a
duty. They
his country should
loves
say every man Kioto ; and besides,you the
said, "My
say that.
Oh,"
"
if you
it be
to
pale, know
"
but enjoyyourself,"
To
last she
At
for should I do that ? the tip of her tongue
what
was
thin and
grew
her wits* end
at
him.
would
how
And
"
with
do
to
dear, and
do
He
she, poor maid, was
and
"
before him.
set
might give an
tell
what
me
see
eye
like
to
theyare
she says, " are My things," you get home. sadlybehind the times ! Fd like well enough to
when
peopleare wearing!
what
know "
Fve '*
man,
no
and
heart to go to Kioto," says the young if I had, it*s the planting-out time of
the rice,and the
get
the
out
his best hakama
same,
a
Kioto,"he Well, I "
And
may
after
All
his bento for
"
not thing's
to
be
done, so there's
end of it."
an
to
"
what
two
dayshe
and
haouriyand
journey.
"
Fm
bids his wife
make up thinkingof going to
tells her. am
surprised," says
put such
Mistress
idea into your
an
Tassel.
head, if I
ask ? " 8l
G
REFLECTIONS
the young
Mistrefes Tassel
for she
nothingmore, And
duty,"says
man.
Oh, indeed,"says
"
of
kind
thinkingit's a
I've been
"
x
had
this,and
to
grainsof sense. she packs her
some
the next
morning as ever was husband off brightand earlyfor Kioto, and betakes she little matter of house cleaning herself to some has
hand.
on
steppedout along the road, and before long a littlebetter in his spirits, feeling he saw he reached Kioto. It is likely many things wonder to at. Amongst temples and palaceshe and marched He castles and gardens, went. saw fine streets of shops,gazing about up and down The
man
young
his eyes wide open, and his mouth too, a simplesoul. very like,for he was fine day he came At length, one upon a shop in the sunshine, full of metal mirrors that glittered with
him
"
Oh,
the
simple soul near
sat
pretty silver himself.
to
!"
moons
he
And
says
dared
and take up a mirror in his hand. The next minute he turned as white down
him
holdingthe "
mirror
in his hand
and
"
You
are
But
and well.
You
you look. to
come
home
with
did you
?
Now
Yet
I
it.
come
the dear could
are
have
here alive
but how somethingpale still, You and move father, your lips,
speak,but
seem
rice and
as
lookinginto
matter, since you
no
are
that !
come
shop door, still
how
dead, then
not
praisedfor
be
sworn
young
the
seat
Why, father,"he said,
here ?
gods
in
the
on
to
the
me,
I
do
not
dear,and 82
hear
you.
live with
us
You'll
justas
REFLECTIONS
X
you used well." Fine
"
one
of the
you
are
"
said gentleman,"
young
best that
the
smile,that
smile, you
You
mirrors,my
shopman,
best of the
be
can
lot you
is
the
made, and that's
have there.
I
see
judge."
a
The
do ?
to
clutched his mirror
man
young
tightand
enough no doubt. He trembled. stupidly staring he whispered. much Is it for sale ? How ? in a takinglest his father should be snatched He was
sat
"
"
from
him.
For sale it is,indeed,most shopman, " and the priceis
noble
"
It*s almost "
giving it ^//"
Two
praisedfor
bu !
as
Now
"
it was
three bu
and girdle, twinkling. the shopman who
or
even
five.
and tied it up with Father," said the young box
got away
buy
must
my
the
of his
with some
it, before "
gaudsfor
we
the ear,
wished
young about
why, man
but
when
never
buyinghis
said
came
a
word
he out
he put in a fine
mirror
set
out
to to
he
when
man,
old father for two
83
and
green cords.
the young
he
happy
he had
same
for home
had we
there,
woman
wife,you know." Now, for the life of him, he could
told
gods be
the money
All the
good face upon it,and packedthe
white
understand." you'll
" cried mercy ! smiled from ear to
He
the purse out of his purse, in a
asked
I am,
away
only two
had
Now
a
sir,"said the trifle, only two bu.
this their
man.
young
a
"
"
not
his home Mistress
have the Tassel
bu in the Kioto
REFLECTIONS
shop. That thingsturned She
was
as
her fine new him
see "
so
but I
to
and
well
his mistake,as
her he took
happy,"she been mighty
so
say he's after all.
must
quickto get over his sorrow are just like children." unbeknown
made
you like with her coral " obi from Kioto. And
pleasedas
herself;
to
he
out.
and hair-pins, Fm glad to said
where
was
x
But
men
for her husband, bit of green silk from
As a
spreadit in the cupboard of There he placedthe mirror in its
treasure-box and
her
the toko no ma. box of white wood. he
Every morning earlyand the cupboard of to went
every the
evening late,
toko
no
ma
and
his father.
Many a jollytalk they and the had and many a heartylaugh together, of all that countrythe happiest was son side, young man soul. for he was a simple Tassel had a quick eye and a But Mistress sharpear, and it was not long before she marked spokewith
her husband's "
What
ma^^
I
beingone
ways. for does he go
often
to
the toko
no
herself,"and what has he got should be gladenough to know." Not
to
suffer much
asked her husband He
so
asked
she
there ?
new
these
told her the
in silence, she very
things. truth,the good young
soon
same
I have
man.
again, my dear old father home I'm as happy as the day is long,"he says. " H'm," she says. " bu cheap,"he says, " and wasn't two And
"
And
now
wasn't it a strange thingaltogether ?"
84
REFLECTIONS
X
Cheap,indeed,"says she,
**
and
"
and
why, if I may ask," she nought of all this at the first? The
man
young Tm
"
says.
turned,and
wings of the with a clang. at a
once
;
an
What
box.
with
minute
his
she flew
ma
flungopen
on
the doors
"
he
keep in it ? box quickly enough. flat shiningthing! she said,
opened the
What
**
the
and
"
white wooden She
dear,"he
! she cried green silk for sleeve-linings " but I don't see any old father here,only
My
"
and
wind
the
Tassel
the toko no
to
say
"
tell you, my
cannot
Mistress
Up jumped was
did you
"
sorry, but I don't know," out to his work.
that he went
back
says,
red.
grew
Indeed,then, I
"
passing strange;
can
"
odd
the mirror, looked into it. she said nothingat all,but moment of anger and jealousy stood in her
and, takingup For
a
tears
great
the
pretty
eyes, and her face flushed from forehead to chin. ! " she cried,"a woman "A woman ! So that is his secret A
!
He
keepsa
pretty at
girlfrom Kioto,
"
FU
face is scarlet
be bound
;
and
?
cooked
Ah, it's a
With case,
and
Oh
miserable
! oh ! oh !
too ill-tempered
she
could have
his daikon and mended
times.
;
oh, how
little spitfire. Ah, who him
cupboard.
and very pretty-^no, not young A dancingall,but she thinks herself so.
very
woman,
her
in this
woman
girlI
"
frowns, nasty
thought it am
and
"
his hakama
a
of
I've
hundred
"
that, she
threw
slammed-to
the
85
the
mirror
cupboarddoor
into
its
upon
it.
REFLECTIONS Herself
she
sobbed
"
Fve
and in
her, and
to
down
was
get her face up is it,my
"
Tour
darling!
own
through her
sobs ; and
"
from
"
beside
the floor where
answers
want
?
comfort
to
? darling
she I
his knees
on
own "
in the world
he could
doing what
keptit. Why, what
sandal,"says he,
my
But what
instant he
an
Tassel
"
cried and
break.
thong of
the to
come
Mistress she
and
mats,
her husband.
comes
Tve broken
and
the
flungupon
if her heart would
as
In "
x
to
"
says he. very fierce
go home," she
cries. "
sweet, husband."
own
your "
on,
But, my
Prettyhusband
with
are
at
home,
in
that thinks herself beautiful
has my green
there sleeve-linings
Now, what's
with
says,"and prettygoingsthe cupboard! A hateful,
ugly woman "
and
!" she
woman
a
you
all this about
with her women
;
and she
to
boot."
and sleeve-
Sure you wouldn't grudgepoor old father that little green rag for his bed ? Come, my dear,
? linings ril
buy
you twenty
At
that
she
danced
with
rage.
"
The was
"
;
am
with my
woman
on
jumped
to
her
I
a
feet and
father ! old father ! " fool or a child ? I saw
father ! old
Old
screamed
sleeve-linings."
fairly she the
eyes."
own
didn't know whether he poor young man his head or his heels. " Is it possible that
my father is gone ? from the toio no ma.
"
he
said,and 86
he took the mirror
REFLECTIONS
X
"
That's well
bought
for
;
stillthe
bu.
two
nay, then, smile
You
I do.
as
Tassel
Mistress
same
old father that I
seem
worried, father
;
There, that's well." like
came
little
a
fury and
snatched the mirror from his hand. She gave but look into it and hurled it to the other end of one the
It made
room.
that in to
see
such and
servants
what
work, the woodclangagainst neighbourscame rushing a
the matter.
was
It is my father,"said the young bought him in Kioto for two bu.^^ "
"
He
keepsa
stolen my
in the
cupboardwho has sobbed the wife. sleeve-linings," woman
green this there
After
great to-do. the neighbourstook the man's part and
woman's, with such never
as
and
was
none
;
I
"
man.
was
a
some
the
clatter and chatter and
noise
but settle the
of them
of
Some
a
would
thingtheycould
look
the
into
not,
mirror,
they said it was bewitched. They might have gone on the way theywere of them said, Let us till doomsday,but that one ask the Lady Abbess, for she is a wise woman." And off they all went to do what theymight have because
"
done
sooner.
Lady Abbess was of holy nuns. convent
The
of
a
at
prayers
the at
and
"This
She
meditations
she
and
the great
was
at
the head one
of mortifyings
was
she held it in her
long time.
piouswoman,
the less, the clever one, none affairs. They took her the mirror, and
and flesh,
human
a
At last she
poor
and
hands
looked
into it for
a
spoke:
woman," 87
she
said, touchingthe
REFLECTIONS
mirror, woman
for it's as
"
this poor
"
mind
x
that plainas daylight woman
so
was
troubled
the disturbance that she caused in
at
it is
a
in her
quiet
a
house, that she and become
a
has taken vows, shaved her head, Thus she is in her right holynun.
I will
placehere.
keep her, and
instruct her in
Go home, prayers and meditations. you and forget, be friends." children ; forgive all the
Then
peoplesaid, "
The
Lady
my
Abbess
is the wise woman." she
And
kept the
Mistress
mirror
and
Tassel
in her treasure.
her husband
went
home
hand in hand. "
So I
was
"Yes, yes, my man,
"
of
never
But
course.
old father would was
much
after all,"she said. dear," said the simple young
right, you
get of
a
on one
see,
I
wonderinghow at the holyconvent. for religion."
88
was
my He
XI
STORY
THE
When
Izanagi,
back
the
upon
the
Lord
unclean
journeyed
Rice
who
the
and
and
by the side of a clear perform purification. And Izanagi-no-Mikoto reach. reach
is too
reach
;
is
he
but
said,
So
and
And
as
bathed the
deities
"
the
in
there Ama
Then "
who
the
shall
taking
the
-
three
great
upper
of
the
be
bathed
middle
reach
the
from
no
-
the
lower
reach
for the
third
of
river.
the
his
beautiful
three
sublime
of the
Lord
Mikoto
jewels
89
; ;
Sea.
rejoiced, saying,
children
illustrious
of
lower
Glory of High Heaven Moon-Night-Possessor
august
string
upper
the
in
created
Impetuous,
also
the
down
the
Izanagi
Behold
in
went
Terassu,the
Susa, the
bathed
of
were
Tsuki-Yomi-no-Kami, and
might
dropped
water
countenance
he
water
he
he
And
that
he
The
"
the
more
glad.
water
Then
rapid."
had
he
once
to
river
said, "The
sluggish."
too
time
he
But
whither
was
rested
farewell
bade
beheld
Ears,
his
Invites, turned
Dead,
he
quest,
IMPETUOUS
THE
place,
of a
upon of Fresh
Land
SUSA,
World
the
Yomi,
OF
that
are
for
ever."
from
his
mine, And,
neck, he
STORY
OF
bestowed
SUSA,
it upon
IMPETUOUS
THE
xi
Terassu, the Glorious, and
Ama
her, Do Thine Augustnessrule the Plain of High Heaven, shiningin thy beautyby day/'
said to
"
in the
So she took the august jewelsand hid them storehouse of the gods.
And
of Invitation commanded
the Lord
Tsuki-
Thine saying,"Do Augustness of the Night." Now this was rule the Dominion countenance. a youthof a fair and pleasant his AugustAnd to the youngest of the deities, ness the Lord Izanagi gave the Sea Plain.
Yomi-no-Kami,
day,and Tsuki-Yominight. But Susa, the the ground and upon
Terassu ruled the
So Ama
softlyruled the Impetuous,flung himself violently wept, for he said, "Ah, no-Kami
dwell for So
he
ever
in his
not
his tears, and the withered
placeswere
green
sea
took
weeping, and
valleyfor
of the
moisture
the confines of the cold
upon
ceased
miserable,to !" the
that the
so
rivers and
dried up. And evil deities increased and as theyswarmed and flourished, upon the earth streams
were
their noise moon
;
and
was
as
far and
the
noise
wide
of flies in the
there
arose
fifth
portents of
woe.
the Lord of Invitation, came father, and stood terribly by him and said, What is this that I do see and hear ? Why dost thou not rule I charged thee, but with which the dominions ? lie here, like a child,with tears and wailings his
Then
"
Answer."
Susa, the Impetuous,answered,
And because
I
am
in
miseryand QO
love
not
this
"
I wail
but place,
STORY
XI
would
OF
departto
divine
a
IMPETUOUS
who
rules the Nether
is called the
Queen of Yomi,
of the Dead."
the World Then
mother
my
who
Land,
Distant
THE
SUSA,
wroth and expelled him with was Izanagi and chargedhim that he should expulsion,
departand
his face
show
no
more.
Susa,the Impetuous,answered,
And
"
first I will ascend to High Heaven leave of Her who sister, Augustness, my But
Glory of Heaven, So he
went
and then to
up
I will
Heaven
his
So be it. to
take
is the
depart."
with
a
noise and
great
speed,and
shook
every land and country quaked. And Terassu, the Light of Heaven, she also
mountains
coming,and said, This coming Augustness, my brother,is of no good intent, lay hold of mine inheritance,and to take
trembled
of His it
going all
and
Ama
but
at
the
a
to
by
at
force.
his
"
For
this alone
does
he
invade
fastness of High Heaven." And forthwith she divided the hair that
the
hung
her shoulders and rolled it in two august upon and the left the a nd adorned it bunches to to right,
with of a
a
warrior.
young
great bow
and
and five hundred a
she made
jewels. So
bamboo
a
her head
And
she
quiverof
arrows,
like the head
slungupon arrows,
one
her back
thousand
and she took in her hand
staffand brandished
it and
stampedupon
groundwith her armed feet,so that the earth So she came the to flew like powdered snow. and stood bank of the TranquilRiver of Heaven and waited. like unto a mighty man, valiantly, And Susa,the Impetuous, spokefrom the farther the
9"
OF
STORY bank
:
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
xi
Thine Augustness, My lovelysister, why thou thus armed ? me against she answered, "Nay, but wherefore
"
"
comest
And
ascendest thou And
Susa
hither ? "
"There replied,
is
nothing evil
in
Because I desired to dwell in the Land my mind. of Yomi, therefore has my father deignedto expel with a divine expulsion, and I thoughtto take me leave of thee, and so I have ascended hither. I
have
evil intention."
no
she,bendingher great eyes
And "
on
said
him,
Swear.*' he swore,
And
by
girded on him, and jewelsin her hair.
the ten-graspsword after that he swore
that
by
she suffered him
Then
to
was
the
cross
TranquilRiver of Heaven, and also to the FloatingBridge. So Susa, the cross over the Impetuous,entered the dominions of his sister, the
over
Sun
Goddess. But
his wild
never spirit
fair lands
ceased of Ama
to
chafe.
And
Terassu and the divisions of the rice-fieldswhich broke down and filled in the ditches. Still she had planted,
he
pillagedthe
Light of Heaven upbraidedhim not, but said, "His Augustness, my brother,believes that the land and should not be wasted by ditches and divisions, the
rice
should
be
and
more
everywhere,without her soft words distinction." But notwithstanding continued in his evil ways and Susa,the Impetuous, that
became
more
Now, maidens
as
in
sown
violent.
the
great Sun
the
awful
Goddess
Weaving 92
sat
Hall
with
of
her
High
STORY
XI
OF
the
Heaven, seeing to garments of the chasm
he
And
of
brother
of the
chasm
through the piebald horse.
IMPETUOUS
weaving
gods,her roof
the
in
THE
SUSA,
made
a
august
mighty and
Weaving Hall, down
let
the
the
horse
heavenly
a
fled hither
and
thither in terror, and wrought great havoc amongst the weaving maidens. the looms and amongst
And and all
himself followed
Susa like
a
of
storm
confusion
was
Sun
Goddess
shuttle.
So with
the
and
horror.
was
wounded
a
a
And with
cry she fled from a
cave
;
in the
and
she
her
High
press
golden Heaven
rolled
a
rock
the cave's mouth.
across
dark
Then black
dark
eternal earth
the Plain of Land
High Heaven,
of Reed
night prevailed.Hereupon
were
from
Therefore assemble
was
the Central
the deities as
and
rushingtempest floodingthe hall,and
and
herself in
hid
waters
like
theywandered
like
unto
far and did the
with
a
near
the
over
there
arose
Plains,and the voices
the
fliesin the
and
of
face of the fifth moon,
portents of
woe.
Eight Hundred Myriad Deities divine assemblyin the dry bed
of the
Tranquil River of Heaven, there to hold and to make decision what should be done. parley, And His Augustncssthe Lord of Deep Thoughts commanded them. So they called togetherthe Singing Birds of Eternal Night. And they chargedAma-tsu-mara, the Divine Smith, to make them of shiningwhite metal. And a mirror they to charged Tama-noya-no-mikoto stringtogether of curved jewels. And, having hundreds many
performeddivination by 93
the shoulder-blade
of
a
STORY
OF
stag of Mount
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
branches
lower
of white
streamers
bore the
Goddess
And
was.
Then
birds sang.
a
all
with
offerings, blue,and they
of
streamers
before the rock
tree
And
branches.
they covered and
theyhung tree, and they
of the
jewelsupon the branches hung the mirror upon its
a
And
branches.
the
the
sacred tree,
Kagu, theyuprooteda
sakakiyof five hundred
xi
the Sun
where
cavern
assembled
immediatelythe
of fair renown,
divine maiden
for grace and skill in dancinghad no sister, either in the Land of Rice Ears or upon the Plain of
who
And door. High Heaven, stood before the cavern there was hung about her for a garlandthe club from Mount moss Kagu, and her head was bound with
leaves
the
of the
and
-tree spindle
flowers of
and goldand flowers of silver, bamboo-grasswas in her hands.
green
danced heaven
before the and
earth
have
dancing. It was more waving in the wind or the cloud
race
door
cavern
upon
not
as seen
sheaf of And
she
for possessed,
one
the
lovelythan
a
with
like of her
the
pine-tops
of sea foam, and floating Plain of High Heaven is
the
the
be
compared with it. And the earth quaked and High Heaven shook, and all the Eight Hundred Myriad Deities laughedtogether. Now Ama Terassu, the Glory of Heaven, lay and the brightlightstreamed in the rock cavern, from her fair body in rays, so that she was as a gleamed great jewelof price. And poolsof water
not
to
in the floor of the cavern, and the slime walls gleamed with many colours,and
flourished rock-plants
in the unwonted 94
upon the
heat,so
the small that
STORY
XI
OF
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
slept.And she awoke because of the song of the Eternal Singing Birds,and she raised herself and flungthe hair back the
bower
ladylayin a heavenly
over
her
that
singin
and
poor birds there came to
shoulder,and said, Alack, the "
"
the
And longnight! her the sound of dancingand of high revel and of of the gods,so she was still and the merriment listened. And she felt the Plain of High presently Heaven shake, and heard the Eight Hundred Myriad Deities as they laughed together.And she
and
arose
rolled back
the
of the
the door
to
came
stone
great
little way.
a
and
cavern,
And
a
of
lightfell upon the dancingmaiden where she stood,panting, in all her array ; but the other deities were yet in darkness, and they looked at each other and were still. Then spoke the Fair Gloryof Heaven : Methought that because I was hidden the Plain of High Heaven should be dark,
beam
"
and
black
dark
Central Land
the
then, doth
of Reed
Plains.
the
Dancing Maiden go thus, adorned with garlandsand her head tired ? And why do the Eight Hundred Myriad Deities laugh ? together Then the Dancing Maiden O made answer : Thine that art the sweet Augustness, delightof all How,
"
"
the with We more
behold deities, flowers,and
divine
the
maidens
are
decked
the
gods assemble with shouts. and are glad because there is a goddess rejoice illustrious than Thine Augustness.** And
Ama
she covered
Terassu
heard
her face with
the deities should
not
and
her
was
long sleeves,so
her tears ;
see
95
wroth.
And that
howbeit, they
STORY
OF
fell like the
Then
stars. falling
Court
of Heaven
hung
the mirror
stood that
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
by the made
was
the Divine
Smith.
And
and behold
the
paragon
And
in the mirror. dazzled
was
peer, she
Heaven, and
as
her
own
forth
And
the
all the
Dancing with
she looked, and
not
cherryrushed deities joinedtheir hands
Maiden should
with
looked
beheld,and
waved
ears
wild
cavern
and in
**
Deity be
joy they
bore
born ?
the
a
Sun, Then
shut.
cried, O Lady,Thine any
shook
into flower.
of the
was
thee, the Glory of Heaven So
and
countenance
Terassu, the Goddess
Ama
how
!"
of Heaven
beauty,that was without slowlyfrom the rocks of the light of her flooded High
the door of the rock
ness,
by Ama-tsu-Mara, "
the rice
below
themselves,and the about
sakaki tree, where
they cried, Lady,look
her
And
by
came
cavern.
And
the
let slipthe Nevertheless,she presently
that covered
sleeves
youthsof
said,"Indeed, I will
Terassu
Ama
behold."
new
the
xi
to
ring and
the
Augustcompare
"
goddess to
her
place. But
the
Susa,the Swift,the Brave, the Impetuous,
Long-Haired,the
of the trial in
Sea, him
the
Unhappy, the Lord deities arraignedto stand of the TranquilRiver of
Thrice
dry bed Heaven. And they took counsel, and fined him with a great fine. And, having shorn him of his it was hair,which was his beautyand his pride(for and hung below his knee), blue-black as an iris, from the heavenly they banished him for ever precincts. the
96
XI
OF
STORY So
descended
Susa
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
earth
to
by
the
Floating
Bridgewith bitterness in his heart,and for many he knew not whither. dayshe wandered in despair, By fair rice-fieldshe came, and by barren moors, heedingnothing; and at last he stayedto rest by the
side of the
river called
Hi,
is in the
which
land of Izumo. And and
sat, moody, his head on his down at the water, he beheld a he
as
looked
hand,
chop-
the surface of the stream. So on floating Susa, the Impetuous,arose saying, immediately, And he "There are peopleat the river head." pursuedhis way up the bank in quest of them.
stick
And an
when old
man
he had
not
gone
a
great way, he found
weepingand lamentingvery grievously,
the reeds and willows by the water-side. among And there was with him a ladyof great state and the daughterof a deity; but her like unto beauty, marred with many fair eyes were tears, and she And her hands. and wrung moaned continually them these twain had between a young maid of her face Susa very slender and delicate form ; but could not see, for she covered it with a veil. And ever or
and seemed
anon
to
beseech
pluckedthe lady by last but shook
and
she moved
the
old
man
the sleeve ;
their heads
fear, or earnestly,
trembled
at
with
which
and sorrowfully,
their lamentations. And Susa, full of wonder, drew art thou ? the old man, " Who
these
returned
to
near
and asked
"
And the old man answered, " I am This is my deityof the mountains. 97
earthly wife, who an
"
OF
STORY
SUSA,
THE
IMPETUOUS
xi
and the child is by the water-side, my youngest daughter." of him again, What And Susa inquired is the of your weeping and lamentation ? cause
with
weeps
me
"
"
And
he
sir,that I
answered, "Know,
deityof renown, earthly eightfairdaughters. But land,for every year
at
and a
I
the
was
it is
an
father of
horror broods
this time
am
over
the
ravagedby
monster, the eight-forked serpent of Koshi, that in the flesh of young delights virgins.In seven a
children been devoured. sweet years have my seven the time of my youngest-born is at hand. And now Therefore do we weep, O Thine Augustness." Then
said
Susa,the Impetuous, "
likeness of this
monster
?
the deities of the mountain
And
What
is the
"
made
answer
:
and red as the akakagachi (that fiery is,the winter cherry).He has but one body,with eightheads and eightscalytails. Moreover, on his body grows moss, together with the fir and the of the forest. In his going he covers cryptomeria and eighthills, and upon his under eightvalleys side he is red and gory." Then the Lord Susa, the Impetuous,cried, My lord,giveme thy daughter." And the earthly and deity, seeinghis strength and the brightness of his countenance, great beauty knew that he was all a god,and answered, With "
His
eyes
are
"
"
do
reverence
know
not
And
exile of
I offer her
unto
thee.
thine august name." Susa said," I am Susa, the
High
Heaven."
98
Howbeit, Sea
God,
I
the
a
a
STORY
XI
OF
the mountain
And
spoke,saying, "
So
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
deityand
also his fair wife
it.Thine
take Augustness,
be
the young maid." And immediatelySusa saw
And "
the face of his he
touched
her
the
on
in winter.
forehead, and
Fair and beloved,fair and belovedAnd the maid flushed faintly to
barefaced.
Howbeit,
had
she
little
.
.
enough Dear
for her
and
said,
."
stand
thus
need, for the
that stood in my
tears
"
the veil and
flungaway bride,paleas the moon
lord Susa's eyes were modesty. And he said
shall be our beautiful, pleasure
veil
again, hereafter,
may not tarry." So he took the young maid at once, and changed her into a crown Susa wore for his head. And
now
we
gallantly.And he instructed the earthly and together fold theybrewed saU^ refined eightdeity, the saki theyfilledeightvats and ; and with all was in readiness ; and when set them prepared there was a mighty theywaited. And presently
the
crown
noise,like the sound of
and earthquake,
an
the hills
valleysshook. And the serpent crawled in deities huge and horrible,so that the earthly sight,
and
hid their faces for fear.
gazedupon Now
But
the serpent with
the
mediatelyhe
serpent had head
Susa,the Impetuous, his sword
drawn.
eight heads, and into each
im-^
of sak^
vat dippeda drunken and drank long. Thereupon he becamA with the distilled liquor,and all the i^eads lay down and slept. Then the Lord Susa brandished his tfen-grasp and c^t off the sword, and leaptupon the monster
99
STORY
OF
eight heads
with
serpent
slain with
was
IMPETUOUS
THE
SUSA,
eightvaliant great
a
xi
strokes.
So
the
and slaying,
the
And flowed on, a river of blood. Susa the tails of the serpent also,and as he struck cut the fourth tail the edge of his august sword was river Hi
turned found as
a
he
So
probed with great jewelledsword with
known
no
the
back.
sword
Goddess,
smith and
his
sent
point,and blade sharp
its a
could temper it. And he took it for an offering to the Sun This
august sister.
is the
herb-
sword. quelling And the
built him Susa,the Impetuous,
placecalled Suga, and
bride.
And
curtain
round
the
clouds
Susa sang this song "
the
about
dwelt
of heaven
a
palaceat
there with
hung
palace. Then
his
like
a
the Lord
:
Many clouds arise. The manifold clouds fenceofthe forth-issuing Makes a manifold fence ^
For the spousesto be within. Ohy the mangold fence. .'* .
ICO
.
XII
It
from
Deity
a
was
IN
WIND
THE
So and
long
the
the
that
ago
knows
tortoise
said, "I
He
Reed
Plains.
Rice
Ears.
the
planted
the
It
sea
Then
Harima.
of the
way
the
But
there
grew,
Reed
beneath In
is
the
his
hand.
Floating
Lightly,
the
to
land
which
is
the
Fresh
of
sound
Province
High
to
the
satisfied."
am
the
in
again
up
I
within
Tree
of
Land
;
of
Land
of
Heaven
Floating Bridge.
was
spread
came
from
descended.
the
the
to
good
it,
earth.
the
Pine
of
right
come
a
deity
way
his
in
went
Pine
sweet
by
come
flourished.
Tree not
trunk
Its a
brown
nights hand
in
greater
a
Plains. it
Woods
he
only by hearsay
heavenly
have
I have
remember
cannot
crane
it
planted the at Takasaga,
he
And
the
that
Heaven
High
great-grandmother, the Lightly, lightly he came Bridge, bearing the tree lightly his feet touched
the
TREE
Tree.
Pine
by
PINE
THE
was
carpet of
lOI
all
to
Land
rosy of fallen
red,
the
of and
needles.
Children Pine
it
great
the
the
summer
in hand
So
Tree
of
by
THE
IN
WIND
PINE
THE
TREE
xii
their slim dark feet upon the moonlight,slipping and tossing back their longgreen hair. moss, The Children of the Water came by moonlight, all drenchingwet their sleeves,and the bright
dropsfellfrom
The
and
the
from
faces veiled and
theyhung
the Pine Tree
upon
all the
night. live-long crept up the yellow
confines of Yomi
the
came
"
grey forms,theycame, the air about the placewhere thin
so
was,
of
branches,and
Sounds and the Scents of the Dark
the Mysteries, with
Tree's
of the Sea Foam
Children
sands ; and
Pine
music
murmuring
Children
The finger-tips.
rested in the
the Air made
their
that the
placewas
holy and
haimted. the beach at Takasaga of Spirits hear the great company singing
Lovers would
wanderingupon
together. "Joy of
another, my heart,"they said to one " do you hear the wind in the Pine Tree ? and Poor souls lyingsick a-bed would listen, fishermen far out at sea would pause in their labour "
to
whisper,"The
Tree
for the
As
coming
of the
that she great-grandmother in Takasaga. The Maiden slender
;
in face and form
hung down to help her mother drew with
over
in
the
the
water
Maiden, the
Pine
! ** crane
it,but the tortoise has it of his
remember
cannot
wind
the
the sound carries
How
!
wind,
her ;
knees.
born of poor parents brown and tall and
was was
most
She
lovely.Her rose
at
dawn
hair to
she she found sticks for the fire,
She could spinand weave the well. the best ; and for long,long hours she sat
water
at
102
THE
XII
and
WIND
pliedher
IN
wheel
THE
PINE
TREE
her shuttle in the
or
of
shade
the great Pine Tree, whilst her ears heard the sound of the wind in its branches. her eyes Sometimes looked
out
and
waits
pathsof
the
over
watches.
She
than grave gay, seldom. Her voice was
the
as
sea,
calm,
was
who
one
restless,
not
she smiled not voice of a Heavenly
though
more
the
Being. concerningthe the crane of him province, the
is
crane
the streams
and
she says, when
slowlyin He
she
saw
rice-fields.
green
She
of valleys
the
the
The
upon
far
over flying so province,
was
the far
Youth
at
work
in the
lingered,circling
crane
stood up. tlie valleys and streams ; he
brightair.
looked round
looked into the
the
the
something,for
knows
great traveller.
a
from
Youth
Now
Youth
The
sky.
I hear the call,"he said. " I may tarry no longer. Voice in my heart,I hear and I obey." "
that he left the
With to
and
down
came
to
each
to
other.
his friends.
the The
unknown
sped the pathsof
flew behind
pushedthe strong wings. At
one last,
Youth rest
took
of them
a
boat
and
went
stood upon
the the
for many And the sea.
the white
when
the wind
failed,
the wind
of her
boat
the boat.
she
All
together, they seashore,weeping and clinging
away to sea, and the beach. On
well fare-
bade
and his father and his sistersand
his mother
his brothers
and rice-field,
And
boat forward
eveningabout 103
with
a
day over
the hour
crane
of sunset,
WIND
THE
sound
pathsof
boat,and and the
from
him
to
came
the
over
the
it travelled
stood up
He
strong white
her
in his
wings
the shore tillits keel touched
to
the sea-beach of had
Takasaga. ashore he pushed
come
and watched it the waves, The he turned his face inland.
the boat out
againwith
drift away.
Then
of music
still in his
was
was
like the voice of
and
were mystical
^^
xii
singing.The
sweet
land,and
sea.
beat
crane
the Youth
When
the
the
guidedhis boat yellowsand of
sound
of
heard the sound
the Youth
TREE
PINE
THE
IN
The
ears.
voice
HeavenlyBeing,and strange
a
the words
of the song
:
"
to his mistress^ a love gift brought yewelsofjadeupon a silken string ; fFe/l-^arvedJewelsj Well-roundedjewels,
The lover
Green
the grass
as
^
silken string.
Upon a know not one another The jewels The string theyknoWy ! Ohy the strength ofthe silkenstring y
"
The
Youth
Pine Tree and
went to
inland and
the Maid
that
came
sat
to
the
great
beneath,weaving
and singing. The crane came diligently flying with her strong white wings,and perched upon The the Tree^s topmost branches. tortoise lay below
the
on
brown
carpet of
He
his little eyes, but he said nothing, beingvery silent by nature. The Youth stood before the Maiden, waiting.
watched
and
saw
much
with
needles.
104
WIND
THE
XII
Whence
"
eyes. "I
come
And
"
That
she said,lifting up her the
across
I have
path.
sea
afar." wherefore
"
**
TREE
PINE
THE
you ?
come
have from
come
IN
voice that sang in my
"
best,seeingit was
know
must
you
you ?
came
your
heart." "
she said. ? bringme the gift Indeed, I bringyou the completegift, jewels of jadeupon a silken string." Do
"
you
"
Come," she said,and
"
the hand.
And
made
were
theywent
they drank
So
the
tranquillity many, AH
by
Times
Three," and
lived
in
sweet
years. dwelt
crane
branches,and
topmost
him
took
her father's house.
wife, and
many
the time the
to
Three
"
and
man
and
rose
the
in the Pine
tortoise
on
Tree's
the
brown
once
were,
carpet of needles below. last the Youth
At
and Maiden, that
white-haired,old, and
became
withered, by
swift,relentless passage of years. Fair love,"said the old man, "
It is sad
!
grow
Say
"
the old
not
dear "
woman
;
how
I
weary
be old."
to
so,
"
the
say
delightof not
heart,"said
my
so, the best
of all is
to
come." "
to
see
listen
" I have a desire the old man, great Pine Tree before I die, and to the song of the wind in its to more
My dear,"said the once
branches." "
by
Come, then,"she said,and
the hand. 105
rose
and
took
him
THE
WIND
IN
PINE
THE
and faint and worn, with steps,and hand in hand theycame.
Old
I
faint I
How
"
afraid !
am
hand.
"
"
dark
layon the soft brown boughs ; and the wind
She
who
his love
was
and sheltered him.
him
Hold
lie
There,
stilland listen
love ; be the Pine Tree."
Tree's
Ah,
"
man.
you
my
."
down, dear He
old
it is !
I have it fast in mine.
"
xii
feeble, tottering
grow,"said the
How
TREE
to
down, lie
the wind
bed beneath
in
the Pine
sang. his wife
and
bent
over
he suffered the great
And
change. opened his eyes and looked at her. She was and slender, tall and straight in face and form most and each of them was lovely, young as the gods are young. He his hand and put out Your touched ." he her. long black hair Then
he
"
.
.
said. Once
more
she
bade
him,
"
Come."
Lightly
theyleft the ground. To the sound of the wind's music theyswayed,theyfloated, theyrose into the air. Higher theyrose and higher. The branches of the Pine Tree received them, and theywere no seen.
more
Still,in the Children Pine
Tree
feet upon
of the Woods
come
hand
the
summer,
in hand
to
the
by moonlight,slippingtheir slim dark the moss, and tossingback their long
green hair. The Children all
nights of
sweet
drenchingwet
of the Water their 1
06
by moonlight, sleeves,and the bright come
THE
XII
WIND
dropsfallfrom
IN
their
PINE
THE
TREE
The finger-tips.
of
Children
the Air rest in the Pine
murmuring sands
;
music
of the
Children
and
Tree's branches,and make all the live-long night. The
from
the Mysteries,
Sea
creep up the yellow the confines of Yomi the come
Sounds
with faces veiled and and
theyhang
the
Pine
Tree
Foam
upon
and the Scents of the Dark
"
thin grey forms, theycome, the air about the placewhere
is,so
that
the
placeis holy and
haunted. Lovers
wanderingupon
the beach
Takasaga of Spirits hear the great company singing together. "Joy of my heart,"they say to one another, "
do you hear the wind
in the Pine
107
at
Tree
i"
XIII
FLOWER
Aya,
maid,
sweet
the
Province
her
father
was
at
with
at
the
was
was
the
and
of
had
she
Shogun, he
capital, or
armies
child
and
lord
of the
Court
only
Mother
noble
a
PEONY
THE
of Omi.
the
affairs
OF
his
He
weighty and
here
went
overcame
had
he
of
and
none,
warrior.
a or
daimyo
a
enemies.
there
Aya
saw
little of him.
Long maidens
walls
High
was
flowers
lotus
the
foray, and
she
in as
the
"
My
Child,
Sixteen
which
moat
castle. and
was
at
with
rosy
month.
was
sixteen
some
years from victorious
home her
maidens
dressed
father,'* she
and
to
her
in
old
him
meet
bravest, and
said,
"
is
sweet
your
return." how
said, astonished. "
was
father's
her
her
rank.
lord
honourable "
She
her
became
with
and
nurse
well-guarded,
seventh
went
gate.
of
and
Lady Aya daimyo came
her
with
walls
they deep
all the
father
her
a
the
When
dwelt
the
were
foot
their
she
years within
years
you "
How
have old
are
old, lord," she io8
!
grown you,
said.
"
father
her
Aya
f
"
a
FLOWER
XIII
THE
OF
PEONY
all the
gods,you arc become a littlegreat a baby and young lady,and I thought you were broughtyou home a doll for a home-coming gift." He laughed, but presentlyafterwards grew into the castle. grave, and in deep thoughthe went Soon after this he began to look about him, to husband for his daughter. find a fitting "
By
"
Best it should be done
wonder
has
the land
daimyoin
every
at
am
and it will
"
a
peace with last."
not
of Ako, in Harima, had
Lord
The
pass, and I
to
come
now," he said,'* for
three, tall
and warriors all. young men The eldest is over old,"said the Lord
sons, fine "
"
The
youngest is a It
brother ?
do well.
should are
best,"said So
Lady
"
to
seems
set
The
the Lord
there
eyes
sat
with
on
the
man
come
the
brother
thoughts
and
gone, the Lord of young
in rejoicing and
all the
the maiden
had
another.
one
came
the
great
was
Lady Aya
presents that She
say that- second of Omi.
They
for all country-side, never
that the middle
me
after messengers had Aya was betrothed to
Ako, and
of the middle
but what
boy
of Omi.
very gladwhen she saw the from her bridegroom's house.
was
of the castle and
seamstress
the soft stuffsof her fine new
robes.
For
fingered the rest,
playedwith her maidens the live-long day,or took her broidery frame, plyingthe needle and long silken thread. It was the month of May, and very often they took the air in a gardengallery, where and Aya and her maids laughed together, sometimes they spoke of the young Lord of Ako she
109
xiii
and beautiful he was, how in war, rich. When and how
and how
brave
and
art
PEONY
THE
OF
FLOWER
skilful in
evening
the gallery down theyslipped steps and into garden,where they went hither and thither,
came
the
hand, to enjoythe
hand
in
scent
of the flowers.
cool
air and
walked
One
nightthe Lady Aya The to her wont. according
moon
the
in the
sweet
garden
rose, round
and
silver.
"Ah
mc," sighed one
is
moon
a
love-lorn
she goes, and
lady.
she will hide her eyes with
now
even
of the maidens, "the Look how paleand wan
long sleeve of cloud." You speaksooth,"returned Aya,
her
"
"
the
moon
her faint you seen " sister who is sadder and fairer than she ? " " Who, then,is the moon's sister ? asked all the maidens at once. come.** Aya said," Come and see
is
love-lorn
a
lady;
but
have
"
along the pathsof the dancing the gardento the stillpond,where were fireflies and the frogs that sang musically.Holding them
that she drew
With
looked down into each other's hands,the maidens the water, and one and all they beheld the moon's
and they laughed softly sister, together. While they playedby the water's brim, the Lady Aya's foot
stone, and most assuredly have fallen into the pond. But all of a
slipped upon
she would
a
smooth
youth leaptforward out of the sweet and caught her in his arms. secrecy of the night, For a moment all the maidens beheld the glimmer Then he was of his garments. Aya stood gone. sudden
a
no
FLOWER
XIII
THE
OF
alone, trembling. Down
gazed the
eyedand sorrowful ; and sweet, upwardsgazedthe saw
a
PEONY
still more moon's
band of silent maidens
who
widesorrowful and moon,
palesister. They stood in
a
ness wilder-
of
blossomingpeony flowers,that grew the Lady Aya who water's edge. It was them
and had them
to
the
loved
so. planted
lady turned without a word and moved along the pathsof the gardenvery slowly, she came to the garden hangingher head. When she left all her maidens save gallery one, and went to her bower. silently for a longspace, saying There she was nothing. the
Now
She the was
sat
and
traced
the
pattern
on
her
robe with
point of her finger.And Sada, her maiden, her. over against said Aya. At length, He was a great lord," "
"
Truth, lady."
"
He
was
"
He
was
"
Alas ! he saved my
thank "
young.'* well-favoured." passing and I had life,
not
time
to
hini." The
shone
moon
upon
the
jewelled mounting
of his sword." "
his robe that
And
flowers
"
my
peony
broidered with
was
hour
very late."
"
Lady,the
"
Well, then, imtie my
''
You
"
Small
"
Lady,what
of Ako
"
What
not
look
peony
flowers." grows
girdle."
pale,lady."
marvel, I
weary."
am
of the young Lord of him ? Why, I have Ill
seen
?" him.
FLOWER
Enough,
let be
drowsy,I
know
OF no
"
PEONY
THE
of him.
more
xiii
Alas ! I
am
I
what
say." Lady Aya, that had been of the so fresh and fair and dancinggay as a wave pale melancholy. By day she sea, fell into a sighed,and by night she wept. She smiled no she beheld her rich wedding-garments, more as and she would not playany more with her maidens like a upon the garden gallery.She wandered And in her bower. all shadow, or layspeechless After this
the
wise
not
night the
and
men
were country-side
all the able
not
wise *
to
women
heal her
of that of her
sickness. Then
Sada, weeping and hidingher the Lord of the her sleeve,went to
the maid
face with
told him
and
House
of the
moonlightadventure
and the fair youthof the peony "
Ah
me,"
she
said, "
my
bed. mistress
sweet
pines
and dies for the love of this beautiful young man." " " how you talk ! My Child,"said the daimyOy
daughter's gardenis well guardedby walls and by that any stranger It is not possible men-at-arms. should
and
moon
it.
enter
What, then, is
samurai
a
in peony
this tale of the
garments
and
all
of other foolishness, and how will such tale sound in the ears of the Lord of Ako ? " manner
Sada
But
wept
said,"My
and
a
mistress will
die." to flatterat Court fightin the field, said to speak in Council, all these are easy," daimyOy but preserve me from the affairsof "
To
"
women,
for
theyare
too
hard for me." 112
and the
my
xiii
FLOWER
OF
PEONY
THE
search of all the castle that he made With a but not a trace did he find and the castle grounds, of any stranger in hiding. for That nightthe Lady Aya called piteously to her the cooler air,so they bore her out on A where she layin O Sada's arms. gardengallery, took his biwa^ and to minstrel of the household
soothe her he made "
this song
:
Music ofmy lute Is it born^does it die^ "
Is it truth
or
a
lie?
W hence y whence and where ^
Enchanted air ? Music ofmy lute Is mute. **
Sweet scents in the night do theyseem^ Do they floaty "
theyessence ofdream^ said Or thus are they The thoughts ofthe Dead? Sweet scents in the night Delightr
Are
Now, while the minstrel sang and touched his the rosy sea a fair youthstood up from instrument,
peoniesby the pond. All there saw him clearly, his brighteyes, his sword, and his dress broidered with flowers. The Lady Aya gave a wild cry and to the edge of the gardengallery, ran holdingout of
her
white
arms.
immediatelythe
And "3
vision I
and sang
more
once
Love
"
PEONY
xiii
minstrel took
the
But
passedaway.
THE
OF
FLOWER
up
his biwa
:
strangethan death
more
"
than Is it longer
life^ ? Is ithotter than strife Strongs strongand blind^ kind Transcending Love
more
"
strangethan death
Or breath:'
stood
eyes
mysteriousknightof the flowers and his shining and tall, againstraight fixed upon the Lady Aya. of the daimyo^ of the company a gentleman
this the
At
once were
Then who
forthwith
do battle with his master's
the
across
sudden The
was
face
moon's
at
if
as
his sword
a
cloud drew
from
of
a
the south.
the garden gallery, while their garments together
the
the peony troubled sea, and the
sleeves floated out.
tossed about
that
and by faery,
blew
wind
upon
held their
long gossamer bed
daughter. And
great hot
a
drew
amongst the peoniesto the bold stranger that so gazedupon
lightsdied
maidens
of war,
mighty man and leaptdown
a
was
like
a
All
petalsflew like foam. A mist, over-sweet, hung upon the wind, so that there grew faint and clung to one all who were another,trembling. When recovered,they found the they were The soldier undimmed. nightstilland the moon stood pantingand white as of the daimyo^s company
pink and damp and
white
114
FLOWER
XIII
death
righthand a
steps of the
the
at
I have
escape
garden gallery.In
shouted
he
I have him Give
Aya said, "
it her without
sword, in his
his left
flower.
him,"
me.
Then
PEONY
he held his unstained
perfect peony "
THE
OF
a
Aya
the flower
word,
**
he
"
; and
could
not
fast."
me as
in
one
her
to
went
;
he gave
dream.
a
bower
and
sleptwith
the peony upon her breast and was satisfied. For nine daysshe kept the flower. The sweet colour
She
her
face,and
healed perfectly
was
She not
to
came
set
the
peony
droop or fade,but
all the nine
ridingin great long-promised lady. in the midst
a
grew
the
thrown
bronze
and it did
vase
largerand
more
lovely
same
the young
Lord
of Ako
and state to claim his pomp So he and the Lady Aya were
of much
Howbeit, they say And
in
days.
came
wed
her eyes.
lightto
of her sickness.
the end of this time
At
the
day
she
and rejoicing. feasting but a pale bride. made
the peony
away.
"5
withered
and
was
XIV
MALLET
THE
There
and
plant
to
backs
thousand
a
when
sickle
poured down their digging rain
straw
they
eat
The
From
a
had
and
too,
with
his
all
cup
for
bread.
elder
of the
and
a
had
not
a
year
his
rice, and
with of
tea
beggar
there
for
a
be so
He
money.
but
he
that
much
wayfarer, His
ii6
He "
as
a
or
a
children
did
and
believed.
Cho. rich.
a
big
well, what
his
granaries
of
show
to
was
good
cake
him,
had
nothing
was
did
with
way
silk-worms,
But
not
man.
of
mint
a
brows
passing
was
at
rice-
called
was
saving
a
in their
of their
he
hard
rain
still
were
up
brothers
so
had
by
they
sweat
two
laboured he
the
in
this, if it will
man
sour a
for
their
boy
there
the
when
;
like, huddled
such
or
shone
sun
torrents,
storehouses.
and for
in
put
farm,
hot
seed-time
in
knee-deep in their rice, bending the ; they wielded
hour
an
were
stood
young
times
coats,
he
all
For
the
the
hard
They
out
who
men
worked
harvest-time.
in
water
of them
Both
brothers.
farmer
two
once
were
a
day cold
whimpered
mean, "
and rice
when
THE
XIV
he
came
MALLET
them, and his wife
near
much
was
be
to
pitied. The Kan^. as
For
mouse.
died,and
spiteof
this he
was
brothers
two
all he laboured
church
a
of the
younger
hard he
so
called
was was
as
poor his his worms silkwas luck, his rice would flourish. In not Bad
a
merry
fellow,a bachelor who His roof, cup of saki.
song and an honest his pipe,his meagre supper, all these he would with the first-comer. He had share,very gladly,
loved
a
tongue for
nimblest
the
a
comical
kindest heart in the world.
But
joke,and
it is a true
the
thing,
cannot though it is a pityall the same, that a man live on love and laughter, Kan^ was and presently
in
a
bad way. "There's
nothing for it,''he says, "but pride (forhe had some) and go "
pocketmy
"
to
and
my brother Cho will do for me, and I'm mistaken if it will be much." greatly clothes from a friend for So he borrows some see
what
off in very neat hakama^ looking gentleman,and singinga song to keep
and the visit,
quite the
sets
his heart up. He sees his brother
standingoutside
and
he
the
first minute
Cho boggart, he singsout,
is in such "
You're
You're
"
May
"
Yes," says Cho,
I
come
he
raggedgear. Cho." early,
Kane," early,
"
thinks
you
can
a
bit ? ;
But
seeinga presently
"
asks Kani.
but you won't
to eat at this time of day, nor anything be avoided." so let disappointments
117
is
says Cho.
in and talk "
his house,
yet
to
find
drink,
THE
Very well,"
"
not
food Fvc When
on
the
come
says Kane for."
xiv
;
"
as
inside the
they were
it
happens,it's
house
says, "That's
Cho
mats,
clothes
MALLET
and
sitting
fine suit
a
of
You be must you, Kane. doingwell. It'snot me that can afford to go about the muddy roads dressed up like a prince. Times bad, very bad." are
youVe got
on
spiteof this not being a good beginning, Kane plucks up his courage and laughs. And he says : presently In
here, brother.
Look
"
clothes,my
will
own
These
borrowed
are
hardlyhold together. My
rice crop was ruined,and my silk-worms I have not a rin to buy rice seed or new at
am
end, and
wits'
my
I have
dead.
are
I
worms.
to
come
you For have the sake of it. the begging, now you that bore us both, give me mother handful of a seed and a few silk-worms' eggs." so
this Cho
At
astonishment *'
Alack
made
and
!
as
if he
faint with
would
dismay.
Alack
!
"
he
says.
Must
I
"
am
I rob
a
poor wife and
very poor man. my " And thus he bewailed my miserable children ? himself and talked for half an hour. a
man,
But
out
make
long story short,Cho
says that and because of the blessed mother of filial piety, to
of them
a
both, he
must
make
shift to
giveKane
the
silk-worms' eggs and the rice. So he gets a handful of dead eggs and a handful of musty and mouldy rice.
"
These
the old fox
to
are
no
good to
himself,and ii8
he
man
or
beast," says
laughs.
But
to
his
THE
XIV
MALLET
blood-brother
It's says, "Here, Kani. the best silk-worms* eggs I am givingyou, and the best rice of all my poor store, and I cannot afford
own
it at all ; and may
he
the
poor wife and my children." Kani thanks his brother with
my
for
me godsforgive
robbing
all his heart for
his great generosity, and bows his head to the mats three times. Then off he goes, with the silk-worms' and jumping eggs and the rice in his sleeve,skipping with joy,for he thought that his luck had turned at
last.
careful
was
in the
But
hold
to
muddy parts of
the
his hakama^ for
up
road
he
theywere
borrowed. he reached home
When
he
of green mulberryleaves. that were going to dead eggs. silk-worms that
was
lost
no
And to
he
sat
for the silkworms be hatched out of the This
was
and waited
down
And
come.
gatheredgreat store
for the
theydid,too, and
come
dead very strange, because the eggs were The lot ; silk-worms were a lively eggs for sure. and theyate the mulberryleaves in a twinkling, into
time
that
cocoons
happy
man.
fortune
to
all,but began to wind
at
He all the
went
his mistake.
who
did his rounds to
take
out
and
Kan^
was
told
his
neighbours. This
made
message
Then
minute.
to
And
he
found
themselves
was a
the
good
where
he
peddlarman
in those parts,and gave him a his brother Cho, with his compliments
thanks,that the silk-worms respectful were doing uncommonly well. This was where he made a biggermistake. It was a pityhe could and
not
let well done. 119
THE When
MALLET of his brother's luck
heard
Cho
he
pleased.Prettysoon
not
sandals and he
when He
he
when
got there,but Cho
themselves
took
a
have
he
When
Kanfe
as
many before.
the silk-worms When
Cho
silk-worms
own
cut
every
to
to
his head
and
for that.
care
And
of them
one
And
a
bit queer.
he
says. Then
that
mulberryleaves. and
to
there
up the
ate
just
were
spinningaway was
there
as
very strange, because
dead for sure. heard of this he goes and were
in two
throw
with
them
away
sowed
a
chopshis
sharpknife
next
;
but he
silk-worms as
dead, and
rice-field. 120
his
morning.
the young
as
Kane's
never
the rice seed that he had
his brother,and when
and settled on
he
out
rice
green as you pleasehe plantedit out and soon care, and it flourished wonderfully, formed in the ear. rice was of swallows One day an immense flight up
in
says, "It almost of them has been cut in
silk-worms
After this Kan^ from
out
was
! away home, the bad man look after his silk-worms he
gainednothing by that,for the moved again,but stayedas dead wife had
not
straw
silk-worms.
goes and gathersa great lot of And all those half silk-worms set mulberry leaves, and after that were
Kan^
was
beginning to spin he neat as you please,
appears as though each half. They seem dead," he
twice
his
on
help thinkingtheylooked
not
scratches
He
as
and
went
came
he
they were
sharp knife Then
did the
at
into cocoons,
two.
could
look
a
how
saw
tied
off to Kane's farm.
was
to
went
xiv
came
with the
came
MALLET
THE
XIV
"
!"
! Arah
Arah
He
shouted.
Kane
clapped
So stick. his hands and beat about with a bamboo In two flew away. minutes back the swallows
theycame. !*'Kane
! Arah
**Arah
and
his hands
beat about
shouted,and with
flew away.
So the swallows
he
clapped
his bamboo
stick.
In two
minutes
shouted.
He
back
theycame. "
! '' Kane
I Arah
Arah
beat about
and
his hands
with In
flew away.
So the swallows
clapped stick.
his bamboo
back
minutes
two
theycame. time, "
This
scared them
he had
When
into
grows
minutes back
he says. habit,**
a
the swallows
came
for the ninth
and wipes tenegui
takes his
Kane
away
face.
his
But
in two
for the tenth time.
"
Kanfe shouted, and he chased hill and dale,hedge and ditch,rice-field them over till at last theyflew away from and mulberry-field,
"
Arah
!
Arah
!
sight,and he found himself in a mossy dell shaded by spreading Being very tired pine trees. with running he lies down his full lengthupon and snoring. fallsfast asleep the moss, and presently He that he dreamed. The next thing was
his
thoughthe saw for mossy glade, well
where
he
and there among as
a
troop of children
in his dream
had
very children fluttered here
butterflies. One
or
dancingbare
long,loose and black the plum blossom.
;
feet ; their hair their skins
121
the
he remembered
trunks. They pine-trees*
the
pretty as flowers
them
The
was.
to
come
were
and
were
all of
hung down, white
like
MALLET
THE For
" "
seen
them
there
the
upon
!"
Leader
or
children made
The sat
for evil,"says Kan^ the fairies*children."
good
I have
himself,
ground in
a
and dancing, ring. Leader ! "
Fetch us the mallet." Then beautiful boy, about fourteen or
a
up
to
end of their
an
theycried.
rose
xiv
"
fifteen years old,the eldest and the tallest there. He lifted a mossy stone quiteclose to Kane's head. Underneath
was
a
plainlittlemallet
of white wood.
it up and went and stood within the circle of children. He laughedand cried," Now
The
boy
what
took
will you
have ?
kite,
"A
"
kite,"
a
calls
out
of
one
the
children.
boy shakes
The
the mallet,and lo and behold of it I a great kite with a tail
he shakes
a
kite out
it,and
a
good ball
to
"
what
Now
of twine
else ?
and
"Battledore
"
"
as
asks the
shuttlecock
well.
boy. for me,"
says
a
little girl.
And
sure
the best,and and
enough there theyare, a battledore of meetly feathered twenty shuttlecocks,
gilded. what
"
Now
"
A
"
Greedy !
"
this
says the
boy.
lot of sweets." "
mallet,and there "
else ? " says the are
boy, but
he
shakes
the
the sweets.
red crepe frock and a brocade c?^/." Miss Vanity!" says the boy,but he shakes all A
gravelyout
of the mallet.
Books, story books." "That's better,"says "
122
the
boy, and
out
come
MALLET
THE
XIV
and score, all open
by the dozen lovelypictures.
the books the
show
the children had their hearts'desires,
Now, when the leader
to
put away
beneath
the mallet
its mossy
time they stone, and after theyhad playedfor some tired ; their bright attires melted became away and their of the the into wood, gloom pretty then
voices grew distant and It was very still.
Kan^
awoke, good
darkness
and
mossy stone and there was
heard
were
found
and
man,
no
the
fall. There
beginningto rightunder his
hand.
more.
He
set
sun
the
was
lifted it,
the mallet.
said Kane, takingit up, " beggingthe pardon of the fairies'children,I'll make bold to
Now,"
"
and
sleeve
spent
a
in his
took it home
he
So
that mallet."
borrow
pleasanteveningshakinggold
it,and saki^ and new clothes,and farmers' tools,and musical instruments,and who of
piecesout
what
knows
^1 !
he believe that pretty soon farmer in all that the richest andjolliest became Sleek and fat he grew, and his heart country-side.
It is
not
hard
biggerand
was
But
what
kinder
like
of all this ?
wind turned
green
to
with
than
was
Ay,
ever.
Cho's
there's the
envy,
as
mallet,too,"he fairy nothing. Why should that have all the good fortune ? have
a
"
says,
123
"
he
got
question.Cho I'll and be rich for
as
green
grass.
"
idiot
Kane spendthrift So he goes and begs his brother giveshim
his brother,which a good sackful. willingly,
rice from
very
heart when
And
he waits
for
MALLET
THE
xiv
ripen,quitewild with impatience.It ripens of swallows sure enough,and sure enough a flight and settles upon the good grainin the ear. comes shouted Cho, clappinghis Arah ! Arah I aloud for joy. The swallows hands and laughing it to
"
"
flew away, and Cho hill and them over
after them.
was
He
dale, hedge and
chased
ditch,rice-
till at last they flew away mulberry-field, and he found himself in a mossy his sight, shaded by spreadingpine-trees.Cho looks
fieldand from dell
about him. should
This
"
and
lies down one
place,"says he. So he one wily eye shut and
be the with
waits
wily eye
open. who should Presently
fairies*children ! moved "
Up
! Fetch
as
they
the mallet,"they steppedthe leader and lifted away the behold
And
stone.
mossy
the dell but the
Very fresh they were trunks. pine-tree
the among Leader I Leader
cried.
tripinto
us
there
was
no
mallet
there !
the fairies*children became
Now
very angry.
stampedtheir littlefeet,and cried and rushed
They wildly to and fro,and were because the mallet altogether "
See," cried the leader
old farmer Let
us
man
pullhis
With
a
; nose
shrill
he
must
beside was
at
themselves
gone.
last, "
have taken
see our
this
ugly
mallet.
for him." the
scream
fairies*children
set
They pinched him, and pulledhim, upon Cho. and buffeted him, and set their sharpteeth in his Worst of all,they flesh till he yelledin agony. 124
THE
XIV
laid hold of his and
longer.
MALLET
and
nose
pulledit. Long
It reached
his waist.
it grew,
It reached
his
feet.
theylaughed,the fairies'children I theyscamperedaway like fallen leaves before
Lord, how Then
the wind. and sighed,
Cho
he
and groaned,
he cursed,and
he swore,
but for all that his
shorter.
So, sad and sorry, he gatheredit up
his
hands
two
"
and how
;
he
kind
was
yet he
went
not
was
inch
an
in
Kane's house.
to
very sick,"says he.
Kanfe,I am Indeed,so
"
nor
and
nose
I
see,"says Kane,
did you catch it ?
that he never
"
a
ness terrible sick-
"
he says. And so laughedat Cho*s nose,
never
smiled,but there
were
tears
in
his eyes at his brother's misfortunes. Then Cho's heart melted and he told his brother all the tale, he
and
never
kept back
how
about
the dead
silk-worms'
other
thingsthat
have been
Kane
to
"
him forgive
and
to
he
mean
had
been
eggs, and about the told of. And he asked
helphim.
you stilla minute," says Kan^. goes to his chest,and he bringsout
Wait
He mallet.
Cho's
And
long
the
he rubs it very gently up and down nose, and sure enough it shortened up
very quickly.In two minutes it was a natural size. Cho danced for joy. looks at him and says, " If I were Kane you, home and be different." rd justgo try to Cho had gone, Kan^ sat stilland thought When for he
a
long time.
went
out
and
When took
the the 125
moon
mallet
rose
that
night
with
him.
He
THE to
came
the
mossy
MALLET dell
pine trees, and spreading old placeunder the stone. **
be
Fm
the last
man
to the unfriendly
xiv
that
was
shaded
he laid the mallet
in the
in its
world/* he said,
fairies*children/*
126
with
"
to
The
Bell
of
Dojoji.-P.
127.
XV
DOJOJI
OF
BELL
THE
but old in years hours he read scholarship. Every day for many of the Good Law and Books the Great never Anchin
monk
The
holiness
in
he
;
countenance
his
smile
an a
to
He
angel's.
of
monastery
mystic
the
his
old
"My sandals
a
with
the
strictest
his an
upon son, to
bind your
errand your
a
sent
day
of
mercy. fast sandals
girdle, take 127
your
hat
autumn
;
like in
men
learned
was
bound content, trees
and
streams.
in
the
;
he
was
of the
smooth
was
pine
great
water
Abbot,
He but
His
holy
where
the
on
in
of
score
vows,
of
as
voice
Gods.'*
running happened that
man,
a
the
shade
his
;
mountains, of
and
pool
Buddha
dwelt
Way by the the
in
it
Now
Anchin
of
brown
a
as
acquainted
was
meditations.
ivory
as
of the
sound
the
"
order
rejoicing the
white
that
was
He
prayers. of sublime
deep
were
eyes
his
long
was
him.
to
in but old young years his body under by fastingsand
blessedness
the
hard
not
were
was
kept
and
watchings with
Anchin
monk
The
in
young
characters
hard
and
wearied,
was
spring-time, monk
young And and and
he tie
your
said, spare staff
THE
DOjOjI
OF
BELL
xv
and your rosary and begging bowl, for you have and stream, and across mountain far to go, over the
great plain." Anchin
So the monk "
My son," the
do you
the
ready. said, if any wayfarer
Abbot
"
not kindness,forget
a
him
commend
to
him
to
so
he
the space of nine existences." I will remember," said the monk, and
gods for "
set
made
his way. mountain and
forth upon Over
he
and as he passed, his spirit and went was wrapped in contemplation, he recited the Holy Sutras aloud in a singing voice. stream
Birds called and twittered from branch to branch of the tall trees,the birds that One beloved of Buddha. bird chanted the are the
And
Wise
of grandScripture
the Nicheten,the Praise of the Sutra of the Lotus, of the Good Law, and the for he other bird called upon his Master's name, cried "
:
thou
O
Mind Compassionate
!"
Mind monk
The he said. And
the
smiled. bird
Mind Mind
I
I
Sweet
"
answered, "
.
.
O
and "
thou
O
happy bird," thou
passionate Com-
Compassionate
"
When the plain, blue and
the monk sun
was
Anchin
weary, Mere, where
came
high in the
goldenflowers
the noon-tide very
O thou Compassionate
!
of the
to
the
great
heavens,and all the plainlanguishedin
heat. The monk likewise became and when he beheld the Marshy were
bulrush 128
and
sedge that
cooled
THE
XV
DOjOjI
OF
BELL
he
their feet in the water, under a sycamore tree
laid him
that grew
down
to
rest
by the Marshy
Mere. Over
and upon the farther side of it haze. glittering
the
mere
there
hung a Long did the monk Anchin lie ; and as he lay he looked through the glittering haze,and as he looked the haze quiveredand moved and grew and At gatheredupon the farther side of the mere. the last it drew into a slender column of vapour, and forth a very dazzling out of the vapour there came woven, robe of green and gold,intera lady. She wore and goldensandals on her slender feet. In hands
her
jewellike
jewels
were a
"
star.
Her
in each
hair
was
hand
bright
one
tied with
a
braid
and she had a crown of scarlet flowers. of scarlet, the Marshy Mere. She came, She came, skirting glidingin and out of the bulrush and the sedge. In the silence there could be heard the rustle of her green skirt upon the green grass. The monk stumbled to his feet Anchin he trembling, Nearer
and
leaned nearer
the against came
the
sycamore
and,
tree.
lady,tillshe
stood
before Anchin and looked into his eyes. With the jewel that was in her righthand she touched his forehead and his lips. With the jewelthat was in her left hand she touched his rice-straw hat and his staff and his rosary and his begging bowl. After this she had him safe in thrall. Then the blew a tress of her hair across his face,and when he felt it he gave one sob. For the rest of his journey the monk went as a
wind
129
K
THE in
man on
Once
dream.
a
threw
horseback
begging bowl
OF
BELL
rich
woman
a
xv
traveller
silver coin
a
once
;
a
DOJOJI
riding
into Anchin*s
gave
him
a
piece
of cake made of millet ; and once a littleboy knelt of his sandal that had down and tied the fastening But each time the monk become loose. passedon for he forgot without the a word, to commend souls of these
for the space of In the tree-topsthe Wise nine existences. Birds of Buddha sang for him no more, only from the heard the cry of the HototqgisUy thicket was the bird lovelorn and forsaken.
compassionateones
Nevertheless, well errand of mercy another way.
Howbeit,
sweet
he
had
in which
The
Mere. him
and
no
Great
longer;
no
performedhis the monastery by
ill,he
or
returned
to
peace left him from the hour the lady of the Marshy seen of the Good
Books more
was
he
sufficed
Law
with acquainted
His heart blessedness of divine meditations. hot within him ; his eyes burned and his soul was longedafter the ladyof the green and goldenrobe. the
and he murmured She had told him her name, !" it in his sleep." Kiohim^ Kiohime Waking, he repeated it instead of his prayers to the great "
"
of the brethren,who and said," Is our brother mad scandal
whisperedtogether ?"
lengthAnchin went to the good Abbot, and ear pouredforth all his tale in a passionof mingled love and grief, humbly askingwhat he At in his
must
do. The Abbot
said,"Alack, my 130
son,
now
you
THE
XV
BELL
suffer for sin committed Karma
in
needs be worked
must
Not
very great strait." " Are you angry with "
former
a
life,for
out."
asked him, " Then is it past help? " that,"said the Abbot, " but you are in
Anchin "
DOJOJI
OF
Nay,
forbid, my
Heaven
**Then
what
?"
me
I do ?
must
said Anchin.
poor son." "
Fast and pray, and for a penance ice-cold water of our mountain torrent
stand in the
"
sunrise and
hour
an
purged from
a
hour
an
at
Thus
at sunset.
carnal affection and
shall you be escape the perils
of illusion." fasted and
So Anchin
body,and ice-cold
hour
after hour of the
water
breast. He could not faithful to his love. brethren
monk he a
Anchin,
bewitched
he
did
as
like flames. be faithful to
was
by a
fox
learned
so
a
or
trouble
raged his
wondered, "What
who
ghost he
a
His
battle
A
in the
penance
Wan
torrent.
grew, and his eyes were leave him. would not
The
he scourgedhis prayed,
badger,or
and
vows
can
and
in his
so can
ail the
holy "
is
he have
devil ? " But
the Abbot
Now
on
a
said,
hot
"
Let be."
night of
the monk
summer,
in his cell, he was visited by being sleepless The Kiohim6, the magic lady of the mere. moonlightwas on her hands and her long sleeves. Her robe was ; golden green and gold,interwoven were
her
sandals.
scarlet and adorned
hair
Her
was
braided
with scarlet flowers. 131
with
"
DOJOJI
OF
BELL
THE
Long, long have
xv
for thee
I waited
the
on
she said. The nightwind sighsin the plains," sedge the frogs sing by the Marshy Merc. "
"
Come, lord. But "
he
that I have vowed I keep faith and that I love.
cried,"My
^alas! the
love
the loyalty,
come." She
"'*
"
"
bird in my
smiled, May "
bosom
not
that she liftedthe monk
?"
I may
...
said,and with
she
Anchin
not
in her
arms.
all his strength tore he, gathering together,
But
himself from
fled from
her and
bareheaded
and
through the flying, the
where
vows
air
was
he
the
went,
footed place. Bare-
robe
his white
halls of the monastery, heavy with incense and sweet dark
rested upon with prayers, where the goldenAmida her lotus,ineffably smiling. He leapedthe grey from her shrine and stone steps that led down
gained the pine
trees
he fled on
the
and the
mountain
path.
Down,
down
Kiohim6
pursuing. As for her, her feet never the ground, and she spread her green like wings. Down, down gether, they fled to-
touched sleeves
and
so
close
was
she behind
felt her breath upon
monk "
As
a
young
rough way,
him
the
nymph
that the
his neck.
she goddess,
is fleetof foot
.
." "
he moaned. At
last
they came
Dojoji,which
was
to
upon
the famed the
temple of plains. By this
Anchin sobbed and staggered as he ran ; his knees failed him and his head swam. " I am lost,"he cried," for a hundred exist132
ences.*'
But
with
DOjOjI
OF
BELL
THE
XV
that
he
bell of
Dojojithat hung but a ground. He cast himself down it,and
so
Then the did
Kiohim6,
moonlight shone not sigh, nor cry,
stood
still for
great
littleway and
a
the
Merciless
her
upon
temple
from
the
crept beneath
himself sheltered and
deemed came
the
saw
secure.
Lady,and
long sleeves.
She
her love.
She
call upon little space and nor
smiled.
Then
she sprang to the top of the great bronze lightly and with her sharp teeth she bit bell of Dojoji, throughthe ropes that held it, so that the bell to the ground and the monk was came a prisoner.
And She
Kiohime
crept about
green robe flowed with a thousand from the
the bell with
embraced
it,she crawled
arms.
it and
her
Her
green robe glittered golden scales;long flames burst
over
it.
about
her
some lipsand from her eyes ; a huge and fearDragon,she wound and coiled herself about bell of Dojoji. With her Dragon'stail she her
and lashed it tillits bronze lashed the bell, hot. while the monk Stillshe lashed the bell,
for piteously
And
when
he
was
red
called
quiet she did not stop. All the night long the frogs and the wind sighedin sang by the Marshy Mere the the sedges. But the Dragon Lady was upon and she lashed it furiously with bell of Dojoji, mercy.
her tail tilldawn.
133
was
very
XVI
of
Maiden
The
the
but
dwelt
cheer
mother
who
tended
her.
The
black
her
and
him
honour. and
here
pattering a
great
with
green lifted
stranger After water,
and
silver
sand
and his
taking he
father's rice
house
sat
feet
and
let
eaten,
from it
and he his
in
wallet
slip through 134
made whilst
mistress,
little
or
maid
the
for a
his
a
to
was
sleeve,
bouncing And
corner.
marked called
sore foot-
tea,
mats,
her
to
mother's
a
old,
was
the
her the
ball
scarlet
eyes
at
who
came,
with
and
her
years
He
the
over
and
hanging
house.
soul
a
nurse
traveller,
by,
catching
bare
had
he
a
with
not
seven
and
Meanwhile
there,
ancient
about
man,
her
of the
master
this.
loose
ancient
an
was
and
house,
kept watch, her
was
hair
to weary, served
welcome,
do
maid
father's
and
She
her.
live-long day
who
cause
earthly deity,
an
behold
her
the
father
her
the
shoulder,
made
as
not
in
place
kept ward,
When
with
might
she
tell, but
could
fair
was
man
hidden
a
of what
the
of
eyes in
Unai
UNAI
OF
MAIDEN
THE
the
child. bowl
of clear
handful
fingers
of and
fine it
sank
lord," he
house, "I fed
said
is hard for
show
to
me
I
am
a
I
kindness
your
have
of
and
poor
and it
man
I
far-famed
Therefore, in looked
into the
the have
you
gratitude.Now
my
divination.
little he
a
master
weary,
soothsayer by profession, very
skill of my
In
the
to
me.
UNAI
bowl.
hungry and
was
and refreshed
me
OF
of the
the bottom
to
spoke. "My
a
MAIDEN
THE
XVI
am
for the for
return
future
of
"
? your child. Will you hear her destiny The child knelt in a corner of the
bouncingher The
master
green and scarlet ball. of the house bade the
room
soothsayer
speakon. This
looked
one
the sand
where
down
was,
and
into the said
:
"
bowl The
of
water
Maiden
of
up fairer than the children of beautyshall shine as the beautyof an
shall grow
Unai
Her
men.
her who looks upon earthlydeity. Every man shall pinewith love and longing, she is and when
fifteen years old there shall die for her sake a mighty hero from near, and a valiant hero from afar. because
sound
there
And
of
her, loud
and
sorrow
and
so grievous, shall reach High Heaven the gods.**
of it
the peace of The master
divination ?
shall be
mourning that and
of the House said," Is this
the
offend
a
true
"
it is lord,"said the soothsayer, true." And with that he bound on his sandals, too and takinghis staffand his great hat of rice-straw, his ways ; neither he spokeno other word, but went "
Indeed, my
"
135
THE he any
was
MAIDEN
more
seen
OF heard
nor
UNAI
xvi
tell of upon
that
country-side. the child knelt in
And
a
of the room,
corner
bouncingher The
green and scarlet ball. father and mother took counsel.
The
mother
who
wept, but she said, Let be, for "
alter the pattern
can
of the weaving father cried, "I
up upon of Heaven ? "
women
will
fight.
I
thingshall not come I that I should give credence am lies in his teeth ? who soothsayer portent
;
counsel So
heed, for
no
theyhid
old
an
her head
wise
he
and was
the child in woman
to
the
Who dog of
a
And
moaned, a
avert
the
pass.
to "
looms
But
will
the
his wife shook
the
set
he
a
though gave her
man.
chamber, where her, fed her, bathed
a secret
tended
her hair,taught her to make songs sing,to dance so that her feet moved like
her, combed and
to
the white mats, or rosy butterflies over frame with of needlework wonder a
upon it,drawingthe needle hour after hour.
and
to
sit
at
a
stretched
the silken thread
For
eight years the maid set eyes upon no human being save her father,her mother, and her nurse, these three only. All the dayshe spent in from the sights her distant chamber, far removed and the sounds of the world. Only in the night forth into her father's garden,when the she came shone and the birds sleptand the flowers moon And with every season that passed had no colour. the maid beautiful. Her hair hung grew more down
to
her
knees
and
was
136
black
as
a
thunder-
THE
XVI
cloud.
forehead
Her
cheek
MAIDEN
the wild
OF the
was
and cherry,
UNAI
plum blossom, her
her
mouth
flower
the
of the pomegranate. At fifteen years old she was the loveliest thingthat ever the light, and the saw sun
sick with
was
because only the jealousy
might shine upon her. In spite the ot all, and
known,
because
fame
of her
she
beautybecame kept so guarded
was
thought of her the more, and might not be seen men longed to
men
And
of
because
the
mystery
and gallants
warriors and
far and
and flocked
near
they made a hedge about their brightswords ; and would the
leave the
not
maid,
favour
and
the
must,
and he
down.
So
"
her.
the
maiden, from
came
of Unai
and
;
and
themselves
silk and
and
did
even
as
he
bring the maid went, takingwith her a of brocade, a great girdle
the mother
maid
house
her mother
gold; and in her daughter, sitting The
behold
that they they swore placetill they had sightof have either by they would of the
master
sent
of grey
green
she
note
the house it with
because
by force.
or
Then
robe
this
and of
men
to
moon
she
to
found
chamber
secret
sang thus
the
maid,
her
singing.
:
Nothinghas changedsince the time ofthe gods Neither the running ofwater nor the way ofloveJ^ ^
And "
What
the
a
thingas
astonished
was
of song
manner
you of such
mother
is
this,and
love ? 137
"
and
where
said, heard
THE
And
MAIDEN
she answered,
OF "
UNAI
xvi
read of it in
I have
a
book." Then
theytook her, her mother and the wise and theytied her hair and pinned it high woman, and held upon her head with gold and coral pins, it with a great lacquercomb. She said,"How heavyit is ! While they dressed her in the robe of grey silk, and tied the girdleof brocade,first she shuddered Then and said,"I am cold." they would have her a mantle thrown broidered with plum over blossom and pine,but she would have none of it, saying, No, no, I burn." They paintedher lipswith beni^and when she "
"
saw
it she
my
lips!
murmured, "
"
they led
But
is blood upon and out on down
Alack, there her
assembled where the men who were balcony, might see her. She was fairer than the children of men, and her beauty shone like the beauty of an earthly deity.And all the warriors who were for already there looked upon her and were silent, theywere faint with love and longing. And the maid stood with eyes cast down, and slowly the to
a
hot
blush
rose
and she
her cheek
to
lovelier
was
than before.
Three
or
four
score
of
men
soughther
name
for love of her, and amongst hand, beingdistraught them The
two
were one
came
braver
from
afar and
Chinu, and the other of Unai. haired.
They They were
and
came
were
nobler was
than
the
from near, young,
equalin 138
the rest.
champion of the champion
strong, and
years, in
black-
and strength,
THE
XVI
MAIDEN
Both
in valour.
OF
UNAI
and
girdedwith full-charged quiverswere upon
and
six-foot bows
hands.
great swords,
were
of white
their backs,
wood
Together they stood
beneath
their
in
were
the
balcony in beauty
of the maiden
of Unai, like twin brothers and attainments. Together theycried aloud
with
of their eternal love, and voices,telling passionate biddingthe maiden choose between them. She lifted up her eyes and them, but spokeno word. Then
theydrew
fightthe matter father spoke:
looked
fixedly upon
their swords and made there and then
out
;
if to
as
but the maid's
your swords, fair sirs ; I have devised a better way for the decision of this thing. If it pleaseyou, enter my house.*' a
up
part of the house of Unai
Now
upon It was
Put
"
the
platformover fifth month
the
blossom
nearlyinto
the
and
apart, and
and the wise hid
sky,and
to
the was
and
in
was
brought the
house
But
there also.
little way
a
long
droppedfrom
fro upon
past.
swift and
was
stood
woman
water-bird
rocked
river
out
downwards
hung
faces in their
their
a white Presently
the wistaria
The
water.
deep. Here the master of champions,and the maiden the mother
river that flowed
and trellis,
the
upon
built
was
the
sleeves.
the blue
water
of the
river.
champions,"cried
"Now,
maiden, you upon
an
"
draw
arrow
the
and prove
me
at
river.
himself
the
father of the
and let your bows yonder white bird that
He to
be
flyeach that
floats
shall strike the
the better marksman, 139
of
bird he
MAIDEN
THE
shall wed Unai."
immediatelythe of white
their bows
true.
cried,
let
flyeach
of them
the
tail
so
Then
that the the
white
champions
of this
There is but trifling. again their brightswords leapt
Enough And
way."
one
in
scattered.
were
"
champions drew
two
and
of
arrow
her
struck
feathers
xvi
sped swift ; each arrow The champion of Chinu struck the in the head, but the champion of
water-bird Unai
wood
Each
arrow.
struck
UNAI
Maiden daughter,the peerless
my
Then
an
OF
their scabbards. the maid stood But
from
of the
gnarledstem
and shook
trembled
flowers fell about
wistaria
her.
not,"she but
"
that,stillholdingto
river. deep and swift-flowing "Weep dies to-day. It is cried, for no woman "
child that is lost." And so she sank. Down into the sprang the champion of Chinu a
in the
champion of arms
that
entangledin three of them But dead
My lords,my lords,"she beautiful heroes of fame, it "
the wistaria, and dropped herself clear of the balcony
flood,and the
that the
so
She frail
one
I honour I am. farewell." With she swung into the
hands.
of you should die for such as therefore you ; I love you both
that
meet
in her
the branches
cried,"oh, brave and is not
trembling,holding the
at
rose,
same
instant down
sprang
the
Alack, theywere heavywith they bore, and they sank and were
Unai. the were
long water
weeds.
And
so
the
drowned.
night when to floating
the
moon
shone, the pale
the surface of the 140
water.
THE
XVI
The
hand in his own, with his head her
to
layhe
but
long hair
;
they lifted from togetherupon a bier of
theystrewed
wood, and over them flowers,and laid a silk.
incense. her
of her
tress
heart,bound
three corpses
and laid them
And
Gallants
loved the
who
maiden's
right lay
and
as
he
smiled.
The
white
held
againstthe
by a
UNAI
the maiden*s the champion of Chinu
of Unai
champion
close
OF
MAIDEN
veil
bier and made
their faces of fine
over
warriors
maiden, alive a
hedge
water, fair white
herbs and sweet
they lightedfires and
the
and
and
burned of
men
dead, stood
or
with
themselves
note
about and
and brightswords. And there was sorrow that the sound of so mourning,loud and grievous, and offended the peace of it reached High Heaven the gods. A grave was dug wide and deep,and the three maid buried therein. The were they laid in the middle, and the two champions upon either side. Idzumo the native placeof the champion of was Chinu, so they brought earth from thence in a junk,and with this earth they covered him. So the maid sleptthere in the grave, the guardingher, for they had championsfaithfully their
buried
with
them
their bows
of white
wood
and
their spears and and their good armour that is bright swords. Nothing was forgotten their
needful for adventure
in the Land
141
of Yomi.
XVII
Mio
Strand
sand
is
the
ebb
lean
all
wind
is
tide.
pine
way, Before
with
trees
are
the
is Mio
the
the
Its
shells
rose
and the
that
at
they wild
sea,
and
sacred,
the
deep
most
Small
mountains.
Suruga.
ancient
way
rolls
Fugi,
rises
of
of
fine, strewn
Its
Mio
FEATHERS
Province
which
one
mountain
the
in
and
yellow
wills.
behind
OF
ROBE
THE
that
marvel
the
Mio. to come Strange People should much is known, Of the Strange People not there. it is sure at Mio, though even they come the It seems pity. shy indeed, more's they arc the through the blue air, or across They come Their footprints are mysterious paths of the sea. the wet beach, for they seen never never, upon in their tread too dancing lightly. But sometimes
they ribbed
This
is
a
true
the
Once
fisherman
enough,
and it
leave
may
it be
Mio. is
upon talked with eyes
;
sand
upon often so,
robes
rufHed
and at
seen
their
sweep
all.
not a
maiden
her
thing,
a
of
and
made
and
thus
the
her it 142
came
of
Mio
set
Strange People, and do his bidding. This about.
THE
XVII
The He
cast
OF
ROBE
fisherman his
FEATHERS
here and
net
in his boat
out
was
he
cast
his
all
night.
there,but
net
he caughtnothingat all for his pains. It may be believed that he grew weary enough before the In the cold of the dawn
morning. boat
to
shore and
Then,
foot
Mio
on
he
so
says, a warm through his garments
blew
he flushed and comfort to his a
set
of
a
and
him
met
and
his hair,so that full of very sand was the
wind
warm
borne, cedar and vervain,and
hundred
Flowers
wind
feet. Upon chilly
was fragrance
scent
The
glowed.
broughthis Strand,shivering. he
the
flowers.
through the droppedsoftly
air like
brightrain. The fisherman stretched out his hands and pomeand caught them, lotus and jessamine granate. And
all the while
This is never
"
I have
"
thousand times Alack, I fear me a
Isles unawares,
or
music
sounded.
Strand,"cried the fisherman,
Mio
bewildered, where
sweet
flown
or
I have
kites upon sailed to the
to unwilling
come
boat ashore
pulledmy
a
holiday.
Fortunate
the Sea
King's
garden; or very like I am dead and never knew it, and this is Yomi. O Yomi, Land of Yomi, how like thou art to Mio Strand,my dear home !" After he had said this,the fisherman looked up the beach and down the beach, and he turned and saw Fuji,the mountain of mountains, and then he turned and Mio
at
was
the
saw
and
no
deep rollingsea and other place,
and knew gave
a
he
long
sigh. Thanks
"
saw
a
be,"
he
robe of feathers
his eyes he said,and lifting
hangingupon H3
the branch of
THE a
ROBE
OF
FEATHERS
In the robe
pinetree.
birds that
fly, every the goldenpheasant,
feathers of all the
were
; the
one
xvii
and kingfisher
the
bird,the swan, the crow, the dove,the bullfinch, the falcon, love
the cormorant, and the heron. the plover,
**
Ah, the pretty fluttering thing! said the fisherman,and he took it from the pinetree where "
it hung. "
Ah, the
"
sweet, fairy thing! said the take it home for a treasure, sure no
warm,
fisherman ; " TU could buy it,and FU show it to all the folk money And oflfhe set for home with the of the village.'* feathers over fairy
with the White
Children She
looked
throughthe cold clear water and marked that branch. robe hung no longeron the pine-tree "
Alas, alas !
robe !
"
her
"
she
cried,** my
robe,my feather
Swifter than
the water, sand. The
and
she sprang from any arrow sped,fleet of foot,along the wet
Children
White
heels. flashing
of the Foam
followed
Clad in the cloak of her
long
up with the fisherman. " Give me and held my feather robe," she said, her hand for it. " " Why ? said the fisherman.
hair,she out
StrangePeople had
that live in the salt sea.
of the Foam
at
of the
playingall this time
been
her
arm.
the maiden
Now
up
his
came
I
it.
I
"
'Tis mine.
"
Oho," said the fisherman, "
and he didn't "
"
want
am
have
a
144
it.**
finding's keeping,'*
giveher the feather robe.
Fairy,"she said. said the Farewell,Fairy,'* I
must
fisherman.
THE
xvii
OF
FEATHERS
Fairy,"she said. said the fisherman, "Farewell, Moon Fairy,** he made to take his way alongMio Strand. At
and
Moon
A
"
snatched
she
that
and
droppedupon "I
do
wouldn't
I
am
feathers fluttered
that," said
the
fisherman.
dawn
I
cannot
in back to my place, my home Therefore give me my feathers."
without
;
my
to
came
fair Mio
Heaven.
Strand
at
playupon go
out
pieces."
and Fairy,
Moon
a
the
robe, but
the sand.
You'll have it all to "
feather
the
at
fast. The
held
fisherman
"
ROBE
feathers I
High
No," said the fisherman. Oh, fisherman,fisherman,giveme my robe." "I couldn't think of it," said the fisherman. "
"
this the
At
droopedlike her
arms
and
as
her
she held she
tears
the fisherman
clung to
upon
him
I A
am
a
felt
him, he beseeching
:
bird with broken
diefarfrom
For the Five Woes
Faintness comes
wings^
home^
are
come
in my hair The red flowers My robe is made unclean ; I cannot
knees,
bird^a frailbirdy
wounded
I must
about the
his bare feet.
wept and said
She ^^
a
fell upon her knees and lilyin the heat of the day. With maiden
upon
me
upon me. are
fadedi
;
dear sight see"farewell^ ofmy
eyes;
/ have lostjoy. 145
L
ROBE
THE
FEATHERS
OF
xvii
and happybirdsy clouds^ Ohy blessedflying And golden dust in the wind^ And flying and flying thoughts prayers ! ^^ I have lostall joy.
"
"
may
your robe."
have
she cried.
"
Give,"
"
said the fisherman. Softly, softly," I will give you your robe if you
fast, for
Oh, stop,"said the fisherman, you
here
me "
What
"
You
Mio
on
?
dance the
must
the Palace of the Moon She
said, "Give
dance it.
Not
so
will dance
Strand."
I dance
must
"
"
she asked.
mysticdance
turn me
my
that makes
round," feathers and
I will
my feathers." " if you cheat me, what if you break What and to the moon your promiseand flyimmediately I
dancingat
no
"Ah,
Fairy!
without
all ? "
fisherman,"she said,"the
faith of
a
"
Then
Now, back
dance
cannot
her
he gave her the robe. when she had arrayed herself and
hair,the Fairybegan
to
dance
flung
upon
the
yellowsand. In and out of the feather robe crept her fairy she went with folded feet. Slowly, softly, wings and sang : **
Oh J
And
the goldand silvermountains ofthe the sweet
Birds ofHeaven Singing
Moon^ !
Theysingin the branches ofthe cinnamon tree^ To entertainthe thirty kingsthat are there. 146
THE
XVII
ROBE
FEATHERS
OF
Fifteen kingsin white garments To reign teen days. forJif Fifteen kingsin black garments To reign forff teen days. I hear the music ofHeaven ; Awayy away^ I flyto FairyPlaces^^ y
j
At
this the
the
wings,and
Fairyspreadher rainbow-coloured that they made fluttered the wind
red flowers in her hair.
Out
the robe of
streamed
feathers brightand gay. The
Fairylaughed. of the
waves
flowers
the
branches "
he At
sea
;
her
no
the
They
the grass and the high touched
pinesand then the white
Farewell, fisherman !
saw
feet touched
her feet touched
inshore.
of the
Her
"
the
clouds.
Fairycried,and
more.
Long, long he stood gazing up lengthhe stoopedand pickedup
into the a
sky.
little feather
from the shore,a grey dove's feather. He smoothed and hid it in his girdle. it out with his finger Then
he
went
to
his home.
147
XVIII
descend
shall
of
Land shall
land.
For
the
stood looked
For
and
down,
back
turned
be
And who
had
her
head
Ears, land
this
descend
not
the
of the
Land
Reed blood
strife,and
made
war
there
that
saw
High
to
even
arose,
of
August Child, the heavenly born, the Floating Bridge, and swore
across
would
of
he
the
deities
sounds
the
So
Heaven.
should
earthly
fearful
and
of
of
August Child, Floating Bridge
the
upon
great unquietness upon
Plains.
Rice
So
Autumns.
High
Land
a
of Fresh
Land
a
is
it
of
Augnstness, Conqueror,
the
called
is
Augustness,
and
a
"His
saying,
Plains,
his
Heaven
he
Light
king.*'
Conqueror,
ran,
the
Thousand
a
be
Now
was
Glorious,
the
to
Reed
Luxuriant
he
HEAVEN
who
Child,
August
my
OF
commanded,^
Heaven,
a
the
Terassu,
Ama
BIRD
SINGING
THE
rule
the
Light
of
to
land
until
it
cleansed.
Terassu,
Ama
the
with
together in a the Tranquil
set
sun
the
fast between
jewels, divine
River
her
and
gathered assembly, to hold
Bed.
And
148
she
Heaven,
High
bound
eyes, the
deities
council
spoke
and
in
said,
The
Singing
Bird
of Heaven.
-P.
148
"
SINGING
THE
XVIII
Who
the
shall subdue
August Child And
all the
ness, send
the
down
?
BIRD
OF
HEAVEN
the land that I have
givento
''
deities cried," O Thine Augustthe Lord of Spears.'* Therefore
of
Lord
down Spearswent by the lightly bound FloatingBridge; and there were upon his back eighthundred spears. Howbeit, he made a of the Reed and for three years there
truce
with the Lord
there
;
Therefore, once called him
whom
feet.
Ama
the
more
Plains and tarried was
report.
no
Queen
of
Heaven
Wonderful, and gods name she called the Lord of Deep Thoughts,and likewise she called every deity of Heaven, and they came to council in the TranquilRiver Bed, so that upon left the printof their august the sand there was Lord to
And
of
rule
Terassu
said, Behold
Spearsis faithless. the
answered, O "
ness,
the
land ?
**
Mother
send me.''
And
"
Whom
shall
the And Young of Heaven, Thine
now we
the
send Prince
August-
all the deities assented with
accord and cried," Send him, send him," till like thunder in the River Bed. there was a sound one
and Young Prince bound on his sandals, theybroughtto him the great bow that stands in the Hall of High Heaven, and bestowed it upon So the
they gave him many heavenly-feathered So theymade him ready, and theybrought arrows. him to the Floating Bridge.And the Young Prince while his garments shone with descended lightly, But when he touched the the gloryof Heaven. his heart beat fast and his tops of the high hills, Therefore he cut the fastening blood ran warm. him,
and
149
THE
SINGING
BIRD
of his sandals and ran
the
to
came
Now,
them
cast
palaceupon
xviii
him,
and
he
and earthlydeity,
an
the Reed
Plains.
of the
the door
at
HEAVEN behind
feet,like
his bare
upon
OF
palacethe Princess growing flower. So the
stood,like a Undershining Young Prince beheld her and loved her, and he built him a dwellingupon the Reed Plains,and took
for his bride.
the Princess
And, because he loved her and her earthly children,he brought no the waiting report to High Heaven, and he forgot deities.
For
Heaven
was
to
vague
him
as
a
dream. But the
And
gods were
weary.
Terassu
Ama
said,"Long, long tarries
messenger, and bringsno Lord, the August Child, waxes
our
word
again. My impatient ; whom shall we send ? Thereupon,all the deities, the Lord of Deep Thoughts,replied,Send of High the Singing Bird, the beloved "
now
and
"
down
Heaven.** So Ama
Terassu
took the
goldenSingingBird, and said, Sweet music of the divine gods,spread thou thy bright wings,and flyto the Land of Reed Plains,and there search out the Young Prince, the "
of Heaven, and, when thou hast found him, singin his ear this song : * Ama Terassu,the fares How Goddess of the Sun, has sent me saying. messenger
the
quest of
message So to
High Heaven,
and
how
fares the
is the report of the gods ? * " the bird departed, singing. And she came ?
the Land
the branch
Where
of the Reed of
a
Plains,and perchedupon
fair cassia ISO
tree
which
grew
hard
by
SINGING
THE
XVIII
the
Young
BIRD
Princess
again,but
not
sat
and
night, thoughtlong for
gods in Heaven SingingBird. Howbeit
sweet
HEAVEN
dwelling. Day
she sang, and the
their
OF
the branch
upon
she returned of the cassia
tree.
the
Prince
gave no heed. She that SpeakethEvil heard the words And that the bird sang. And she whisperedin the But
Young
Princess ear, " See now, my lord,this is an evil bird,and evil is its cry ; therefore take thou and go forth and slay thine arrows it.*' So she urged
Young
and, by glamour,she prevailed continually, upon Then the Young Prince arose, and took his him. and he let bow and his heavenly-feathered arrows, into the branches of the cassia tree. flyan arrow And suddenlythe sweet sound of singingceased, and the goldenbird fell dead,for the aim was true. took wing But the heavenly-feathered arrow and pierced the floor of Heaven, and reached the where sat the Sun Goddess, together high place, in the TranquilRiver with her August Counsellors, the god called Wonderful And Bed of Heaven. took up the arrow, and beheld the blood upon its feathers. And the Lord of Deep Thoughts said, "
This
is the
arrow
that
was
given to
the
Young
it to all the deities. And Prince has shot this arrow
and he showed Prince,*' he said, If the Young at the evil deities, accordingto our command, let it do him no hurt. But, if his heart be not pure, "
then let the Young Prince perishby this arrow." back to earth. And he hurled the arrow Now
the
Young
Prince
lay upon
a
couch,
THE
SINGING
sleeping.And
OF
BIRD the
HEAVEN
xviii
and pierced his heart fell,
arrow
that he died.
no
SingingBird of Heaven gods were sorrowful. Young Prince laydead wailingof his spouse, the
Yet the sweet more ; and the Howbeit, the
returned
upon his bed ; and the Princess re-echoed in the wind, and was heard Undershining, in Heaven. So the Young Princess father descended with
cries and
lamentations,and there
mourning house upon and the Young Prince
the Land was
was
of Reed
built
a
Plains,
laid there.
for him the wild And there came to mourn and the kingand the pheasant, fisher. goose of the river, for him eightdaysand And theymourned
eightnights.
152
XIX
THE
Onc" in
old
an
LADY
a
man
and
man
young
order
in
company,
COLD
make
to
laid
had
they
of
because
or
war,
All
known.
forgotten. It is they accomplished winter
Now
as
their
missed
country, no
and
black the
The
wandered soul
that
say
longer
no
long it
that
is
since
likely
ferry.
no
clouds
dry
and
flakes
happened that they in a lonely part of the all the day long and came Near nightfall guide them.
to
themselves
swift-flowing
ford,
very
vow
they turned the about setting-in of the for wayfarers. evil time is an
they journeyed, and, being way,
they good
found
they
were
for
knows.
Heaven
upon
great is
a
desires, for
their
which
season,
or
into
of love
money,
souls, it
things to enough
homewards
faces
their
small
some
their
upon these
of
matters
village
journey they went
a
whether
Now, province. for pleasure or for profit, distant
or
left their
There
and
a
little
the
no
night,
shrewd
wind
Presently the
scanty reeds. fell upon
was
the
came
of
brink
the
upon
river.
Down
it
dark 153
water
a
broad
bridge, with
pitch-
that snow
of the
no
blew came.
river.
THE
white, how
How
"
LADY
COLD white
xix
! " cried the
theyare
man.
young But bitter
old
the
In truth it
shivered.
man
cold, and they were
in
a
bad
was
Tired
case.
down sat him out, the old man upon the ground ; he drew his cloak round him and clasped his hands to fingers
warm
and little,
at
by
a
Bad
He
last he found
it is
went
the
up
his
upon bank
a
hut,deserted
small poor
ferryman.
or
best,"said
the
at
a
blew
man
young
them.
charcoal-burner
"
"
The
his knees.
about
the young
man,
for any shelter on such a praised carried his companion to the hut.
yet the gods be
night." So he They had no
food
and
no
of dried leaves in the
bundle
rain-coats ; and in
spiteof
the
was
Here
corner.
and covered themselves
laydown
there
fire,but
they
their
with
a
straw
cold,they soon
fell
asleep. About
by
an
midnightthe
icy air
upon
young his cheek.
man
awakened
was
The
door
of the
hut stood wide
open, and he could see the whirling " It was A without. not snow-storm very dark. " " It has pest upon the wind ! said the young man. has drifted in blown open the door,and the snow and he raised himself upon and covered my feet," that there was his elbow. Then he saw a woman in the hut.
She knelt and almost
white
met. were
by
the side of the old man,
bent
low
White her
white with the
over
him
trailing garments
snow
;
her
that had fallen upon 154
panion, com-
till their faces
her face and
was
his
beautiful hair it.
was
Her
;
THE
XIX
hands
COLD
LADY
stretched forth
were
the
over
that
man
slept,
and
Her brighticicles hung from her finger-tips. breath was quite plainlyto be seen as it came firom her partedlips. It was like a fair white end of leaning smoke. she made an Presently old
the
over
slender.
and
man,
rose
fell from
Snow
up
her in
a
very tall and shower she as
moved. That
"
was
the young his hand
in
before,he
was
man,
she murmured, and came easy," and sinking down beside him If the
hers. colder
He
now.
head
to
It seemed
blood
froze,and his heart
heel.
stood stillin his bosom.
grew
him
to
as
took cold
was
from
numb
if his very of ice that
lump deathlysleepstole over a
was
A
man
young
to
him. "
This
death,'*he thought.
is my Thank
"
Can
this
the
gods there is no pain." But Cold Lady spoke. A pretty boy," It is only a boy,"she said. kill him." I cannot his hair ; said,stroking
be all ?
the
"
"
she
^^
"
The
Listen,"she said.
"You
must
night,"she
moaned. young man speak of me, nor of this
never
said.
Not
father,nor
mother, nor sister,nor brother,nor to betrothed maid, nor to wedded wife,nor to boy child,nor to girlchild, to sun, nor nor wind, rain, nor water, fire, moon, Now
snow.
He
it.
swore
warm
sun
to
it."
swear
he murmured, When he the
"
"
Fire
^wind
"
"
rain
"
and fell into a deep swoon. himself it was to came shone.
A 155
kind
snow
high
countryman
.
.
."
noon,
held
THE him
in his
COLD
LADY
him
and made
arms
xix
drink from
a
ing steam-
cup.
Now, boy/*said the countryman,
"
you should
"
do.
in time, By the mercy of the gods I came though what broughtme to this hut, a good three ri out of my way, the August Gods alone know. So you may thank them and your wondrous youth. As for the good old man, your companion,it is a He different matter. is past help. Already his feet have come to the Partingof the Three Ways.'* the
! *' cried the young and the storm, and the
Alack
"
snow
Alack, for
"
man.
bitter night! bitter,
friend is dead."
My
he said
But
no
broughthim day's journey For he remembered
words "
were
You
must
home
his oath.
in his
did
then,nor
more
his
to
when
he
village.
own
the Cold
And
a
Lady's
ear.
speak of
never
of this
nor
me,
father,nor
nor mother, nor sister, to wedded brother, nor to betrothed maid, nor wife, nor to boy child,nor to girlchild,nor to .*' nor wind, rain,snow. water, fire, sun, nor moon, Some years after this, in the leafy summer time,
night,not
to
"
.
it chanced
the young
that
abroad
alone,and as he about sundown, he was the
path a though she
little way
had
come
was aware
young
went man
wearily. It should
It seemed
for distance,
some
kilted up, she wore and she carried a bundle.
his walks
returninghomewards, of a girlwalking in
before him.
was
and
took
man
sandals tied
to
Moreover, she was
not
come presently
156
as
her
robe
her
feet,
drooped
strange that the up with her,nor
COLD
THE
XIX
LADY
that he should pass the time of day. He at saw that the girlwas and slender. once very young, fair,
Young maiden,"
"
bound
?
said, whither "
are
you
''
answered, "Sir, I
She
I intend
where
he
to
will find
there who
take
service.
me
place.''
a
'*
I have
Yedo,
a
sister
he asked.
"
What
"
My
"
O'Yuki,'*said the young
? is your name is OTuki." name
for
bound
am
man,
"
you look very
pale." Alas ! sir,"she murmured, " I faint with the heat of this summer day." And as she stood in the pathher slender body swayed,and she slid to *^
his feet in
a
swoon.
The
young her in his arms
man
lifted her
to
his mother's
carried
and gently,
house.
Her
head
and as he looked upon her face, his breast, he shivered slightly. " All the same," he said to himself," these
layupon
chillyabout sundown,
daysturn
summer
to
seems
O'Yuki
was
the
continue
her
house.
In
the
she had little strength to
of Yedo
streets
beautiful
hands, for
as
she passedthe nightin their journey, truth she passedmany nights there,
man grew young wife ere many moons more
it
recovered of her swoon, she and his mother man sweetly
young for their kindness,and
and
so
me."
When
thanked
or
"
to
her, and made
love
out.
were
fairshe was,
all she used them 157
her, for the
knew
never
her
Dailyshe
and white.
for work
his
became
Her
little
in the house
THE and
in the
work
flowers ; the hot
LADY
fields, were
as
white
burn
her
could
sun
not
xix
jasmine
as
neck,or her
In the fulness of time
delicate cheek.
paleand bore
COLD
she
children,all as fair as she,and theygrew
seven
tall and strong with straight noble limbs ; their equalcould not be found upon that country-side.
up
mother
Their
for them.
loved
;
dimness
no
All the
women
line upon her forehead, to her eyes, and no grey hairs. of the placemarvelled at these
there
no
came
talked of them
things,and 0'Yuki*s
husband
till the
was
they
tired.
were
man happiest
round, what with his fair wife and
miles
children.
said,
"
On
the
not
for
his fair
evening he prayed and
and
Morning
Let
much
godsvisit it upon
if I have
me
joy." certain
a
put her children with
was
them, laboured
spiteof passingyears, in spiteof the painsof motherhood, she looked like a
slender maiden
too
reared
In
joys and
But
them,
her
eveningin winter,0*Yuki, having to bed and warmly covered them,
husband
in
the
The all the doors of the next
room.
glowed in the hibachi ; house were shut, for it was bitter cold,and closely outside the first big flakes of a snow-storm had at little begun to fall. O'Yuki stitched diligently An andon stood on the bright-coloured garments. floor beside her, and its lightfell full upon her charcoal
face. Her "
I
am
many
husband
Dear," he reminded
looked
at
her, musing.
.
said, when I look at you of an adventure that came "
years since."
158
.
.
to-night to
me
O^Yuki It
"
spokenot
all,but stitched it
I
was
man
telL
cannot
I did not
I think
dream, yet
a
as
was
diligently.
dream," said the
a
or
which
her husband, "and
Strangeit
at
adventure
an
was
LADY
COLD
THE
XIX
sleep/* O'Yuki
went
sewing.
onlythen, I
Then,
"
on
you are and very like you.'*
beautiful was
as
"Tell
white
as
who
woman,
was
as
indeed,she
.
.
.
her," said OTuki,
about
me
a
saw
lifting
not
her work.
her eyes from
I have never spoken Why," said the man, of her to anybody." Yet he spoke then to his and how he and undoing. He told of his journey, his companion,being benightedin a snow-storm, took shelter in a hut. He spokeof the white Cold Lady,and of how his friend had died in her chill "
"
embrace. but she
me,
boy she
she
Then
"
*
said,
I
...
was
swear. "
.
.
You
cold.
how
she
before
swear,
me
It is
only a boy .
.
leaned
side and
my
kill him.*
cannot .
.
.
to
came
.
left
"
.
!
Gods
cold
How
she made
Afterwards me
pretty
a
.
she
over
made
me
." must
never
speak of
me,
nor
of this
nor mother, nor said, not to father, maid, nor to to betrothed nor brother,nor sister, to girlchild, to boy child,nor wedded wife,nor wind, rain, nor to sun, nor water, fire, nor moon, to me, my husband, even All this you swore snow.
OTuki night,"
to
me.
your
And oath.
"
after all these yearsyou have and Unkind, unfaithrul, 159
untrue
broken !"
She
folded her work she
went
face
to
the
she drew
turn.
Cold
"
quiltup
"
.
Cold
.
"
.** .
his shoulder.
over
*'
"
.
.
"
and threw
his littlearms.
out
She said," I have grown more." With "
Then
and bent her
were,
youngest cried, Mother
The
xix
laid it aside.
the children
where
eldest murmured
The so
togetherand
each in
over
LADY
COLD
THE
that
she
back
came
Farewell,"she said.
you for my well." The White
man was
;
her
to quiteplainly partedlips. It was
be
seen
like
a
Farewell
Farewell
!
thin
and
voice
grew
wind.
form grew vaporous cloud.
white
the air.
Her
Then
hole in the
Guard
it
white
was
fallen upon
was
"
hair
rose
and ceiling
it
as
!
"
she
chill like as
vague For
an
a
were
i6o
no
her were
breath her
smoke.
cried,and
her
piercingwinter
a snow
wreath
or
a
instant it hung upon
slowlythrough the was
it
from
came
fair white
her.
saw
as
kill
them
Her
it.
any
husband.
I cannot
now
lifted up his eyes and her face and beautiful ; white that had
snow
Even
"
her
to
little children's sakes.
trailing garments with
cold to weep
too
more
seen.
smoke-
XX
FIRE
THE
Wise
The
Poet
taper.
It
cicala
sang
frog
sang
the
stars,
But
the
the
was
the
air
rainbow-tinted. Fire
Quest in
wings
one
;
and
flame
the
light
the
of
month.
his The the
pomegranate,
moon
and for
and
out
was
all
sweet-scented. moths
by
came
light of his taper ; not moths only, and their wings dragon-flieswith and all they came One the upon and all they burned their bright
the
cockchafers
but
The
the
seventh
heavy happy,
was
not
was
to
score
of
flower
pond.
the
Poet
of the
night
the
in
by
reading by
sat
a
QUEST
died.
so
And
the
Poet
was
grieved. said,
harmless
Little
"
why
"
Never,
will
Foolish
Firefly Queen The
the
fly upon heard
never
you
night,'*he Fire Quest ?
strive
the
and
die.
story of the
''
and
moths
fluttered
flies
?
the
attain, yet you
you
have
ones,
still
you
can
never
of
children
the
about
cockchafers
the
and and
taper
the
paid
dragonhim
no
heed. "
"
They
have
yet it is old
never
enough.
heard Listen l6l
it," said
the
Poet
: M
;
THE
FIRE
QUEST
xx
"The
the brightest and Queen was Firefly that fly. She dwelt beautiful of small things
most
in the heart of stilllake,and
it
like the reflectionof
was
You
"
know,
must
in the water. oh, little children of a
It
star
the
Queen had many suitors. Firefly cockchafers and dragon-flies able innumer-
and
flew
lotus grew on a and fro upon the lakers
the
night,that Moths
The
swayed to the Firefly Queen sleptwithin.
while
bosom
rosy lotus.
a
to
the
lotus
on
the
lake.
And
their
filled with
love. *Have passionate flies, they cried, Queen of the Firepity,have pity,* BrightLight of the Lake.' But the Firefly Queen sat and smiled and shone. It seemed that hearts
were
*
she
not
was
about
last she
all,what make house
arose
her. At
"
sensible of the incense of love that
?
Prove
said, Oh, you *
you here
lovers,one
and
idly, cumbering my
your love,if you
Go, you lovers,and bring me
love
and fire,
lotus
indeed.
me
then
I will
answer.'
Then, oh,
"
a
was
swift whirr of
cockchafers and the
wings,for
night,there
the moths
and
the
innumerable swiftly dragon-flies Fire Quest. But the Firefly
departedupon the Queen laughed. Afterwards of her laughter. reason "
of the
little children
I will tell you
So the lovers flew here and
the
there in the still
night,takingwith them their desire. They found lightedlattices ajarand entered forthwith. In one there was chamber a girlwho took a love-letter from
her
pillowand
read it in tears, by the 162
lightof
THE
XX
In another
taper.
a
close
to
'
*
Alack
she
great white
A
! I
holdingthe light looked and painted
sat
woman
a
tremblingcandle-flame "
QUEST
mirror, where
a
face.
her
FIRE
moth his
with
put
wings.
afraid/shrieked
am
the horrible dark !
the
out
the
woman
;
'
placethere laya man dying. He said, For pity'ssake lightme the lamp, for the black nightfalls.' have lighted We it,'theysaid, long since. It is close beside you, and a legionof moths and "
In another
*
"
'
'
flutter about it.' dragon-flies I cannot see anythingat all,'murmured *'
*
"
But
the
man.
those that flew
their frail wings in
lay dead by
the Fire
Quest burnt the fire. In the morning they on
and
the hundred
forgotten. The Firefly Queen "
and
swept away
were
safe in her lotus bower
was
her beloved,who was as brightas she, for he No need had he a great lord of the Fireflies.
with was
the Fire
Quest. He carried the living flame beneath his wings. Thus the Firefly Queen deceived her lovers, and therefore she laughedwhen she sent them from to
go upon "
her
on
"
a
Be
vain adventure."
not
deceived," cried
little children is
alwaysthe But
the
of the same.
moths
dragon-flies paid no
the Wise
night. Give
and
over
the
heed
to
163
The
Poet, oh, Queen Firefly "
the Fire
cockchafers the words
Quest." and
the
of the Wise
THE Poet.
FIRE
QUEST
they fluttered about their brightwings in
Still
they burnt
xx
his
taper, and
the flame and
so
died.
Presentlythe must
needs
Poet
sit in the
blew
out
the
dark," he said ;
only way."
164
light. "I "
it is the
A
Legend
of Kwannoii."
/^. W5.
XXI
LEGEND
A
KWANNON
OF
.
In
was days of the gods, Ama-no-Hashidate of this the Floating Bridge of Heaven. By way from the heaven deities earth, to bridge came and bearing their jewelled spears, their great bows and their wonder robes heavenly-feathered arrows,
the
their
closed
was
way
and
heaven, of
Land
the
Fresh
of
Views
with
covered There
Zenji.
great
youth
Buddha
well
;
philosophies
and
the
ineffable he
pass
man
He
up.
in
;
he
the
the
where like
upon still called of
the a
happy
Three
Fair
of
strip
a
and
earth
sake
of
direct
land
floating bridge
a
trees.
followed
and
would
holy
a
had
He
sea,
pine
the
one
is
blue
dark
was
his
It
the
into
is
more
people
for
place
Yamato.
out
no
Ears, the
Rice
when
between
been
walked
deities
This
memory.
from
had
that
Ama-no-Hashidate,
place
runs
Afterwards,
mirrors.
magic
was
versed knew
of
Kioto
the
Way
also was
the
a
called
of
the
disciple he
Gods of
the
doctrines
in
perils
joys of Nirvana. mystic meditation, 165
Saion
of
Long and
illusion hours
many
of
A
LEGEND
he Scriptures pilgrimagehe
the
had
a
came
heart.
by
his eyes. said,"The
xxi
When
he
was
Ama-no-Hashidate,
to
thanks
offered up
he
KWANNON
OF
the
because
on
and
place was
so
lovelyin He
that trees
and
and
blind
the
rocks and
ignoranthave
green
it
sea-water
are
things,but the wise know that they also sing aloud and praisethe Tathagata. Here will I take up my voice with rest, and join my and will not see my home theirs, again." So Saion Zenji, the holyman, climbed NariaiAma-no-Hashidate. San, the mountain over against And when he had come the placeof the Lone to sentient
not
Pine, he
built
Merciful,and All
dawn
a
day he
to
him
hut
to
eventide
he
in
his voice grew The blue marvel.
bowed
reverence
distilled incense
own
head.
Holy
Sutras.
From
sang, till his very beingwas float in an ecstasyof praise.
to
Then
the
the
Kwannon
to
his
cover
chanted
exalted and seemed
a
shrine
a
loud and clear that it was
so
campanula of
its head
from
;
the
the mountain
great white
lily
deep heart; the cicala Forsaken Bird gave a long note its
shrilled aloud ; the from the thicket. About
the hermit^s hut
fluttered
butterflies innumerable,
which
and dragon-flies
there
the souls of the
happy dead. In the far the peasant peoplewere comforted in their valleys toil,whether they plantedout the green young The and the sun rice,or gatheredin the ears. wind were tempered,and the rain fell softly upon and climbed their faces. Ever the again they are
steep hillside
to
kneel
at
i66
the
shrine of Kwannon
A
XXI
the
LEGEND
Merciful, and
whose
down
came
KWANNON
speak with
to
the
holy man7
theywould fillwith rice or beans. Sometimes he or barley-meal and went where through the villages,
wooden
millet,or
OF
bowl
he soothed the sick and touched
the littlechildren.
said that his very garments shone. in that country there came Now
Folks
the like of which
season
of
the memory
ing snow
the
First
man.
been within
the wind
came
blow7
the the north, and then came in great flakes which ceased to fallfor never period of nine days. All the folk of the
and those that had ill.
But, ah
heightsof
doors
drifted. could
no
be
more
lived for
man,
hut, the
shrine of
in his wooden
some
Saion
the
upon the food that was he drew about him Then
bowl.
thought,and passedmany and drink and
it
man
earth
and
Merciful
Zenji,the holy
illusion.
to
piledand
was
daysin meditation,which was Howbeit, even sleepto him. the clouds of not dispel utterly came
none
time
garment of
warm
snow
Kwannon
seen.
fared
stores
bitter cold upon the the Lone Pine, and
At
!
might be,
as
warm
for the
me,
Nariai-San
The
as
their winter
the hermit*s
about
the
not
winter
wildly from
valleyskept within so
there had
a
all the
meat
his clear
could spirit At length
trembled
with
bodilyweakness. the Merciful,"said Forgiveme, O Kwannon that if I Saion Zenji; but verily it seems to me "
"
have
no
food I die."
Slowlyhe
rose, and
the door of his hut.
he pushed painfully The
167
snow
had
open ceased ; it
A
clear and
was
of the
Pine, and
Bridge. Forgiveme, Saion Zenji; I
O
"
"
loath
xxi
were
all white
the
branches
the
Floating
the Merciful," said the reason, but I am
Kwannon
know
departand
to
White
cold.
Lone
KWANNON
OF
LEGEND
not
the Shades of Yomi. the Merciful."
be with
O Kwannon life, Turning, he beheld a dappledhind lying on his the snow, newly dead of the cold. He bowed Poor head. gentlecreature,"he said, never in the hills, and nibble the shalt thou run more Save
this
me
"
"
flowers." And grass and the sweet hind's soft flank,sorrowing. "
not
deer, I would
Poor
forbidden
by the forbidden by
it not
Merciful he
mused
him, "
?
"
to
the
of
mused.
Is it ?
even
that
Is the
Kwannon
But
voice
a
as
he
spoke to
:
if thou Alas, Saion Zenji,
cold, what
thy flesh.
eat
word
hear
and the voice said
stroked the
of the Blessed One
Law he
Thus
seemed
not
he
die of
hunger and people,the poor
of my Shall theynot
shall become
folk of the
be comforted ? valleys by the Sutras of the Tathagata? Break any more the law to keep the law, beloved, thou that the world well lost for a divine song." countest Saion Zenjitook a knife,and Then presently him cut a piece of flesh from the side of the and dappledhind. And he gatheredfir cones made
a
littlefireand
iron pot. his And
When
it
cooked was
the
deer's flesh in
readyhe
ate
an
half of it.
him to strengthcame again,and he the Tathagata, to opened his lipsand sang praises i68
in
hear him.
to
I must
"Howbeit
Zenji. So
Saion
dying fire leaptup
of the
and the very embers
flame
KWANNON
OF
LEGEND
A
XXI
But
look
hind
did
went
he
where he
he
bury
sec,
to
might
the
poor
deer," said
the
door
of his hut.
deer
no
of
yet the mark
nor
dappled
nor
in the
one
deepsnow. he It is passing strange,"
"
As
from
the
as
throughthe snow gods send he be
" The and the stormy weather. dead of cold or hunger," not
they said one to another. chantingin his hut, and had
eaten
of the flesh of
satisfied. " I cut but
a
wondered.
the poor folk up came their hermit had fared
might be, valleyto see how
soon
said,and
But he
a
they found
told
them
dappledhind
hand's breadth
him
how and
he was
of the meat," he
and half of it is yet in the iron pot." look in the pot, they But when to they came found there no flesh of deer,but a piece of cedar
said, "
the
wood
gilded upon greatly, theycarried
it
the Merciful,and when deep snow, all of them the
of
one
to
side.
theyhad went
the
Marvelling
the shrine of Kwannon in
to
cleared away the worship. There
heavenlylady, golden among her golden flowers. In her right the gildedwood side there was was a gash where Then the poor folk from the valley cut away. brought that which theyhad found in reverently the hermit's pot, and set it in the gash. And immediatelythe wound was healed and the smooth goldshone over the place. All the peoplefell on smiled
image
169
sweet
A
LEGEND
KWANNON
OF
but the hermit stood their faces, of Kwannon the Merciful. praise
The
from softly
the Lone
upon the
made Saion an
in
and
shrine
The
cold
Pine
her
valleyfolk crept
moon
and
the
rent
down
went
and
their
to
the stars shone
FloatingBridge and
in the shrine^s roof
the face of Kwannon
visible
singingthe high
glory. The
Through a
sea.
illumined
"
the
homes.
own
in
set
sun
xxi
manifold
the arms
they
Merciful,and of love.
servant, stood before her ecstasy,with tears upon his face :
Zenji,her
Yet
singing
wonder-womariy strongand beautiful^ and thousand-armed! Tender-hearted^ pitiful^
O
Thou hast fed me
with thine ownjlesh "
! Mysteryofmysteries Poor dead
hind thou cam'st to me ; dappled In the deepofmine own heart thou spoketo me To keep^ keepthylaw yet breaksand breakings ! Mysteryofmysteries Kwannon^ the Merciful Lady^staywith me^ Save me from the perils ofillusion; Let me not be afraid ofthe snow or the Lone Fine. Mysteryofmysteries Thou hast refused Nirvana^ Help me that I may losethe worldscontent And singthe Divine Song.'' "
"
y
170
XXII
ESPOUSAL
THE
OF
RATS
THE
DAUGHTER
in
the
in
his
from
whom
he
not
of his
one
the
him
horse
of
the
was
generations cosy
fields and
Rat
on
where
bank, the
precedence
the
of the
gods
well-to-do been hard
the
been
Daikoku,
great
one
country-side,where in spring he could 171
most
crops nibble
the had
the ? had
home
His a
had
even
and
Fortune
in
a
companion
revered
life.
of the
into
being
chosen
of Good in
For,
tiger, and the gods,
most
established
by
intimate
first animal
the
as
in
ancestors
itself; for
time
as
so
was
back
went
dragon, the intimacy with
forebears
of his
Mr.
and
his
to
was
Good^Fortune.
selected
hours,
of their
to
the
beneficent
most
far
as
the
of
ancestry
been
over
As
? one
for
fact
race
of
cycle
given not
gods his
past, in
remote
in
the
remembered,
it
and
descended,
he
This line
long
personage
least
at
"
estimation.
the
to
was
with
association
important
an
lived
wife*s
due
course,
was
he
his
and
own
of
Rat,
where
hamlet
part,
be
the
Nedzumi,
Mr.
warm snug, fertile rice-
never
his
failed, fill of
the
DAUGHTER
RATS
THE
green shoots,and in of the storerooms supplies
young
for all his
gatherinto his ripenedgrainsufficient duringthe coming winter.
his needs
For cost
wants
him
but
the smallest
xxii
not
were
autumn
Entertainment
great.
and, unlike his fellows,he had little, in fact a family of families, of one only.
than regardsthat one, qualitymore for it consisted of a compensated for quantity, daughter,of a beautyunsurpassedin the whole of envy province. He himself had been the object for he had had the good fortune in his married life, to marry into a familyof a very select piebald
But,
as
breed,which
seldom
condescended
to
its blood
mix
his ordinaryself-coloured tribe,and now white, and had daughterhad been born a peerless of Yuki, owing to her resemreceived the name blance
with the
to
pure
snow.
then, that as she grew up her father^sambitions feature,
It is little wonder,
beautiful in form and were
to marry fired,and that he aspired
in the land. highest As it happened, the not
very far removed
and
Mr.
her to the
hamlet where he lived was from a celebrated temple,
Rat, havingbeen broughtup in the odour
had all his life long been accustomed to sanctity, he There make pilgrimages to the great shrine. of an old priest, had formed the acquaintance who was good enough to providefor him out of the for gossip in return as to the doings templeofferings of his village, which happenedto be that in which had been born and bred. To him the the priest
of
rat
had
often unburdened 172
his mind, and
the
old
XXII
THE
had priest
come
RATS
DAUGHTER his friend*s
self-importance and his littleweaknesses,and had in vain impressed upon him the virtues of humility. Now
to
Mr.
Rat
see
could
had
become
now
him
insatiable
an
amongst
one
no
inform
village companionsto what
find
where
to
his
attain
desire, namely,
fine
marriagefor his daughter. So he turned and one to the templecustodian for advice, summer found him morn hammering on the gong which summoned his friend the priest. a
"
Mr.
Welcome,
for your visit ? had
shown
'*
him
Rat
; to
what
I indebted
am
for experience said the old priest, that his friend seldom came far so
afield unless he had
Thereupon Mr.
request to make.
some
unburdened
Rat
himself of all
and of the in his mind, of his aspiration, he had in ascertaining in what manner he difficulty
that
was
could
obtain it. did the
Nor
he
third
day
There
is
the
a
was
oracle
gave
answer
doubt that apart from
no
for
difficultone, and would consideration. However, on the
said the matter
requiremuch **
him, priest immediately satisfy
follows
as
the
:
gods there
exercises so beneficent or who powerful, Had I a a rule over us, as His Majestythe Sun. and did I aspire to such daughter, heightsfor her is no
one
so
my suit to him, and I you do, I should make of so doingwhen should take the opportunity he down earth at sundown, for then it is to our comes as
that he decks himself in his most moreover,
day'swork
he is is
more
done,
gorgeous
apparel;
approachedwhen readily and
he is about 173
to
take
his his
THE
well-earned but
DAUGHTER
RAT'S rest.
xxii
I would
I you
Were
lose
no
myselfin company with your wife and daughterto him honourable this very evening at the end of the great Cryptomeria it Avenue he especially honours at the hour when it with his beams." by flooding time,
"A
thousand
thanks/' said
is to be lost if I
time at
present
the time
placeyou
fortune
Good
"
and
to
am
I hail you the next time I to His Majestythe Sun." At to
were
the
be
get my
see
appointedhour seen
clothes ; and
as
rays illumined
folk
the
together
you
as
priest ;
"
may
father-in-law
parents and
in the avenue, the sun came
the
"No
Rat.
mention."
you,"said
to
Mr.
daughter
robed in their finest earthwards
and
his
the great pines, Mr. Rat, noway abashed, addressed His Majesty and at oncp informed him of his desire.
gloom
under
consideringthat one Majesty,evidently business personage addressing another should not time in beatingabout the bush, repliedas waste follows : I am extremelybeholden to you for to wed your kind intention of allowingme your and beautiful daughter,O Yuki honourable San, but may I ask your reason for selecting to be me His
**
your honourable
son-in-law
?"
replied,We have determined is the most to our daughter to whoever marry powerfulpersonage in the world, and that is why desire to oiFer her to you in marriage." we Yes," said His Majesty, you are certainly be the without in imagining me not to reason To
this Mr.
Rat
**
"
"
.
174
RAT'S
THE
XXII
DAUGHTER
august and
powerful person in the world ; but, it has been my misfortune to discover unfortunately, that there is one other even more powerfulthan I have no whose against plottings myself, power. It is to him that you should very certainly marry your daughter." "And ask you who that honourably may we most
potentatemay "
be ? " said Mr.
rejoinedthe Certainly,**
Cloud.
Oftentimes
illumine
the world
so
personage bestow It
her
on
across
my
no
one
is the
whom
honourable
It
is the
myselfto path and
O
you Yuki
hour
most
powerful
seek for your
San, you
must
else than the Cloud.*'
for both
father
of the Sun's advice, his suggestion they determined to wait to see
upon the Cloud
an
set
requiredlittle consideration
and mother
at
"
I have
comes
in the world
daughter,the
on
he
If, therefore,it
power.
and
when
Sun.
my face so that my subjects may not see me, in his long as he does this I am altogether
covers
and
Rat.
the wisdom
the very earliest opportunity, and before he rose from his bed, which he at
usuallymade on the slopesof a mountain some leaguesremoved from their village.So theyset out, and a longjourney theyhad, so long that Mr. Rat decided that if he was to present his daughter she was when lookingher best,the journeymust instead of arriving not be hurried. Consequently, at earlydawn, it was full afternoon when they neared the summit where the Cloud was apparently But he roused himself as he wrappedin slumber. and bade them welcome the family saw approaching, 175
THE in
urbane
so
a
DAUGHTER
this
honoured
the
xxii
that the Rat
manner
layhis requestbefore
to
To
RATS
Cloud
at
once
ceeded pro-
him.
answered, "I
condescension
am
indeed
in
proposingthat I should marry your beauteous daughter, O Yuki San. It is quitetrue, as His August Majestythe Sun says, that when I so desire I have the strength from exercising his power to stay him upon his and I should much the privilege esteem subjects, of wedding your daughter. But as you would singleout for that honour the most powerful person seek out His Majestvthe in the world, you must for as I have no Wind, againstwhom strength, by
your
he competes with me for supremacy fain flyaway to the ends of the earth." soon
as
"
You
word
your
whether
said the Rat,
me," surprise for it.
His
I would,
and shortly,
where
I may
I
afraid I
cannot
"
when
am
he
best
will be
meet
who subjects
act
theyare
all
now
this moment, in the Eastern at
as
my
outposts, but, as
moment
usually of my you
see,
restingquietly. His Majestyis I believe,holdinga court far out Seas.
Were
down to the seashore and is often somewhat inclined he
this way
him."
likelyto be his coming by harryingsome
announces
the time
but I take
tell you at the He this way.
is
must
ask you therefore,
Wind
Majestythe
"
I
I you await his
to
be
I would
go He
coming. short-tempered by
gets up into these mountainous
parts,
owing to the obstructions he has met with on his and he will have had few of these vexatious journey, the sea." annoyances duringhis ride over 176
THE
XXII
DAUGHTER
RAT'S
Now, althoughfrom the
looked
sea
of slopes
the
the mountain
it was very far distant,
not
in
reality
delicately-nurtured young ladysuch Yuki, and every mile of the journeythat she as Her had to traverse increased her querulousness. father had often boasted of the journeysthat he
a
for a
longway
taken down
had in
the coast, free of cost, concealed
to
of rice,and she would that there was to the no railway
truck-load
a
excuses
which
they were
no
pointat
Highnessthe Wind,
await His
to
take
althoughhad there been it would never have done for a party engaged on such an embassyto ride in truck. Nor was her humour a railway improved by the time theyhad to wait in the very secondafforded by a fishing rate accommodation hamlet,as of them
none
were
accustomed
to
a
fish fare.
But
after many
signsthat the great days there were with and they watched arriving, personage was the sea, although his passage over some trepidation when, in due time, he neared the shore theycould as to his strength, hardlycredit the Cloud^s assurance for he seemed of all that was the personification Rat at once the interposed gentle; and Madame remark that you should never judge a person^s character by what you hear, and that the Cloud owed the Wind a grudge. evidently So
Wind
the
it
as
making
knows
at
came
once over
in as
himself
unburdened the
towards
water
its face
itselfwas the Rat
Rat
with smiles. ripple the fairestgood humour
follows
:
"
Mr.
fullwell that I have 177
Cloud no
And
to
the
him,
the Wind
and addressed
and is a flatterer,
power
againsthim N
THE he
when
RAT'S
comes really
thunderous
moods.
from ?
come
is
daughtermust
sorry I
am
I
but
cannot
not
am
one
of his
powerful
Where
nonsense.
do you villagethere is
high wall that of your good neighbour. If fain marry the strongestthing
in the world, wed her to the wall. him a very stalwart spouse. I wish
I
in
the most
me
in that very the me, namely,
fences in the house your
call
Why,
stronger than
one
To
xxii
againstme
up
in the world
person
DAUGHTER
oflFeryou the
going in
You
will find
you
good day.
in my chariot, direction of that wall a
seat
to-day,else I should have had much pleasurein introducing your honourable self to my powerful antagonist." heartened, By this time the party was gettingmuch disand
the
of the
journeyand the were chagrinof so many disappointments beginning O Yuki San's beauty. But Mr. Rat said to tell on there was home nothing for it but to return ; he knew the wall in question very well, but had no idea it stood so high in the world's estimation he had alwaysthoughtof it as somewhat of a dullard. So theytrudgedhomewards, and it was weary stress
"
work, for the Cloud Wind
had
had
hidden
fretted the Cloud,
the Sun, and the who his illshowed
humour
of moisture he a surplusage by discharging had in his pocket, and theyapproached their home As luck out. wet through,bedraggledand worn would have it,justas they gainedthe wall which the wind had singled for its power, a heavier out and they were on downpour than ever came glad to
take
shelter under
the lee of the wall. 178
Now
Mr.
Wall
Mr.
it is
for his
known
from
said,arose
one
inquisitive side of his
being able to see what was going on on his leeward side addressing other ; and so hearing from that he had come Rat, and ascertaining
face the
alwaysbeen
had
which,
nature,
DAUGHTER
RAT'S
THE
XXII
never
sea, the
the
side
windward
at
whether
asked
once
of that scoundrel the Wind, who tidings alwayscoming and chafinghis complexion.
he had was
any
said Mr.
"Why," and recently,
he desired
to
the
said, was
he
who,
Rat,
"we
met
but
him
be remembered
to
strongest person
in
you, the
world." I the
"
his
It shows
strongest I
ignorance.
Why, onlyyesterday your nephew, the big brown rat, because he would not be at the trouble of going The round, must needs gnaw a hole through me. strongest thingin the world ! Why, next time the this way he'll rush through the hole wind comes and be telling your nephew that he's the strongest person in the world." rolled
the
this moment
At
the
by,and
rain
shone
sun
stopped,the
out, and
Mr.
themselves congratulating
clouds
and Mrs. that
they themselves by proposing had not had to demean their daughterin marriageto a neighbour with Rat went
such
her
false character. afterwards O And a month a
determination
parents not
home
were
fain
to to
provedhimself
in the world
her
marry
givetheir to
be the
?
179
Yuki
San
expressed
cousin, and
consent, for had
most
her he
powerfulperson
XXIII
LAND
THE
From
the
glorious
divine
the
of
of Invitation, and
with
Izanami,
the
mists
For
to
swirled
confusion
in
had
them to
been
given
consolidate
make,
driftinglands. had granted them
the
Her
the Lord
August-
And
this
to a
Floating down
end
the
feet.
their
arid
give
where
to
beneath
power and
Bridge
ment command-
birth
august
heavenly jewelled
the
to
powers And
spear.
the deities, standing upon Floating Bridge lowered the Heaven, jewelled spear head-first two
into
so
that
waited,
the
chaos,
they
the
mists
brine
divided.
were
dripped
And
by
His the
Invitation, his
Augustness, the Lord Her hand Augustness, lovely Younger 1
80
And,
from
the
of the
Sister, and
as
jewels
formed
there the was spear-head, and upon of Onogoro. is the island island. This
took
great
forth
issued
Lady of Invitation. the Together they stood upon and High Heaven, they looked
of
the
the
ness,
the
and
Augustncss,
him,
from
Heaven,
essence,
His
Izanagi,
"
of
vital
High
deities, there
eternal
heavenly pair
of
clouds
ether, the
concourse
YOMI
OF
an
Invitation,
Lady of together
THE
xxiii
they And
OF
LAND
descended
to
they made
the
YOMI
island that
the
islands of
created.
was
the land of
Japan;
lyo,which is called Lovely Princess ; the land of Toyo, which is called Luxuriant Sun Youth ; the Prince Boiled land of Sanuki,which is called Good Rice ; and Great Yamato, the Luxuriant Island of
the were
and many
Dragon Fly ;
more,
of which
to
tell
weariness.
Furthermore, theygave birth to many myriads the earth,and the air,and of deities to rule over the
deep
sea
;
and
for every
and every placewas deities, were
like the needles of the
Now,
when
the
time
season
there
sacred,for
the
pine trees
were
deities
in number.
for the Fire God,
came
be born, his mother, the Lady burned, and suffered a change ; and
Kagu-Tsuchi,to Izanami,
was
she laid herself upon the ground. Then Izanagi, the Prince who is it that asked, " What Invites, has
come
to
And
she
draws departure my ofYomi.^' And
His
droppinghis pillow. And deities. Then was
and
'*
lovelyYounger Sister ? time answered, weeping, "The
thee, my
near
I go
...
Augustness Izanagiwept
land
aloud,
her feet and upon her upon and became all his tears fell down
tears
the Lady Izanami Nevertheless, His
the
to
of
the Augustness,
wroth, and
Prince who lifted his face to High
departed. Invites, Heaven,
Thine cried, O Augustness,my lovely Younger Sister,that I should have given thee in "
exchangefor
this
singlechild
!"
And, drawingthe ten-grasp sword i8i
that
was
THE
LAND
YOMI
OF
xxiii
girdedupon him, he slew the Fire God, and bindingup his long hair,he followed Izanami
the
to
his child ; the Lady
of Yomi, the world
entrance
of the
And
she, the Princess who Invites, ing appearshe when forth as was to came alive, lovely
dead. as
she lifted up
And
greet him.
Palace of Hades
the
of the
curtain
that
theymight speaktogether. And the Lord Izanagisaid, I weary for thee, and the lands that thou lovelyYounger Sister, I created togetherare not finished making. "
my and
Therefore Then
back."
come
the
made
Lady
lord,and my
sweet
that thou
of the baked
eaten
"
spouse, it is very
not
camest
saying, My
answer,
sooner
unto
me,
of Yomi.
meats
lamentable
for I have
Nevertheless,
honoured in thy coming me dearly Elder Brother, here.Thine Augustness, my lovely if it may be, I will return with thee. I go to lay as
thou
hast
desire before the
my here
until I
again,and,
come
look upon me she spokeand left him.
seek
not
of Yomi.
Gods
if thou
love
till the time."
to
thou
Wait And
me, so
of the upon a stone at the entrance Palace of Hades until the sun set, and he was of gloom. And because she weary of that valley and plucked a comb tarried long,he arose from
Izanagisat
of his hair,and broke off a tooth from
the left tress one
he But
end of the drew he
round Thunder.
back
comb, the
and
about
her
They
of the
curtain
his beloved
saw
it to lighting
are
be
Palace
a
torch,
of Yomi.
and lying in corruption, the eight deities of
were
the 182
Fire
Thunder,
and
the
LAND
THE
xxiii
Black
Thunder, and the Earth Thunder, and
the
the
CleavingThunder, and and the Roaring Thunder, the Thunder, and Young
Couchant And
Thunder.
YOMI
OF
her
by
terrible
head
the
was
Great Thunder. And
Izanami
but
away,
put
to
me
seen
who
take and
Invites.
But
the
defilement.
my
on.
him
; so
But
toothed
then
Females the he
hair,and
cast
took
from
comb
stayedto a
the
wreath
his
of grapes, which he devour. And still pursued
multitudinous him.
from
and it fell to the
righttresses
it behind
of
ran
of Yomi
Females
Females
for his life, in the rocks of the valley he
gloom stumblingupon And tearingthe vine long hair he flungit behind him, groundand became many bunches fled
hast
slayHis Augustness,
of Yomi.
the Hideous
flee
thine also."
see
and bade them
the Lord
to
cried, "Thou
she called to her the Hideous
And
Yomi,
and
arose
shame, for thou hast
I will
Now
turned
Izanagi,being overawed,
When
and
close-
of his
long
it touched
ground it became a groove of bamboo shoots, and again the females stayedto devour ; and Izanagifled on, panting. his Younger But, in her wrath and despair, Sister sent after him the Eight Thunders, together the
with Hades
a
;
thousand
five hundred
warriors
drew yet he, the Prince of Invitation,
ten-grasp sword
him, and
and that
of the
augustlygirded upon it behind him gained at last brandishing was
Pass base of the Even of Yomi. he And mouth the
183
of Hades, the
black
plucked there
three
THE
peachesthat
LAND
YOMI
OF
xxiii
his upon a tree, and smote enemies that they all fled back ; and the peaches called Their Divine Great were Augustnesses, grew
Fruit.
Then,
last of
Princess who
all,his Younger Sister,the to out Invites,herself came pursue.
Izanagitook a rock which could not have been lifted by a thousand men, and placed it between them Pass of Hades. in the Even And standing and behind the rock,he pronounceda leave-taking words of separation. But, from the farther side of called to him, "My the rock, Izanami lovely of small avail Elder Brother, Thine Augustness, shall be thy making of lands,and thy creatingof for I, with my powers, shall strangle deities, every day a thousand of thypeople.** So she cried, him. taunting But he answered her, "My lovelyYounger if thou dost so, I shall Sister,Thine Augustness, day, fifteen hundred to be born. cause, in one So
Farewell." the Lady who Invites,is Augustness, called the Queen of the Dead. But the great lord.His Highness,the Prince who Invites, departed, crying, Horror ! Horror ! Horror ! I have come to a hideous and polluted he lay still by the river-side, until land.'* And So Her
"
such time
as
he should
recover
purification.
184
to perform strength
XXIV
THE
SPRING
LOVER LOVER
AUTUMN
This
gods and
story
of the
still walked
upon
is
a
took
pleasure
THE
AND
the
the
in
of
youth
of the
Land fresh
when
Yamato,
and
Reed
waving
the Plains
rice-ears
of the
country-side. There of was a lady having in her something and earth She a something of heaven. was king's She was daughter. augustly radiant and renowned. She called the Dear the was Delight of the World, of the She Fair. was Greatly Desired, the Fairest and slender at once mysterious and strong, gay, fickle yet faithful, gentle yet hard The to please. gods loved her, but men worshipped her. The this Delight was coming of the Dear on wise. Ama Boko red Prince had a jewel of one of his enemies. The a jewel was peace-oifering. Prince He
said,
jewel Her Prince
Boko
Ama "
This
set
is
a
it in
name
the
was
Ama
Boko
of
jewel
transformed
was
into
an
of
Lady took
casket
a
her 185
upon
price.**
a
Then
stand. the
exceeding fair lady. Red the Jewel, and to
wife.
There
was
SPRING born
to
them
LOVER
AUTUMN
AND
only daughter,who
one
GreatlyDesired,the Fairest of It is true that eightymen and
hand.
her
seek
deities.
from far.
Princes
They
Across
came
the Sea Path
the
was
the Fair.
of
name
and
theywere, from
xxiv
near
and
theycame
to
came
warriors,
theycame in great brave and
white sails or creakingoars, with ships, lustysailors. Through the forestsdark and dangerous made their the to Princess,the they way Desired ; or lightly, theydescended lightly Greatly by way of the FloatingBridge in garments of glamour and silver-shod. They broughttheir gifts with them gold,fair jewelsupon a string, light of feathers, singingbirds,sweet thingsto garments eat, silk cocoons, oranges in a basket. They brought and dancers and tellersof tales minstrels and singers "
to
the Greatly entertain the Princess, Desired. she sat still in her white As for the Princess,
bower
with
wood,
and
her
maidens
about
her.
Passingrich her robe,and ever and anon her maidens spread was the mats, set out her deep sleeves, it afresh over or her long hair with a goldencomb. combed about the bower was of white Round a gallery here the
presence of their
suitors
came
and
knelt
in the
liegelady.
and
Many many a time the carp leaptin the gardenfish-pond. Many and many a time a scarlet pomegranate flower flutteredand droppedfrom the tree. Many and many a time the ladyshook her head and Now went
to
his way, sad and sorry. it happened that the God of Autumn
a
lover went
try his fortune with i86
the
Princess.
He
SPRING
XXIV
was
brave
a
the
AND
flamed
colour
;
was
girdedwith
Ardent
in his dark
sword
a
LOVER
indeed.
man
young
eyes
AUTUMN
that
ten
cheek. could
men
his
were
He not
lift. The his his
of autumn burned upon chrysanthemums in cunning broidery. He came and bent coat proud head to the very ground before the
then Princess,
raised it and
eyes. She opened her said nothing but shook
red
sweet
of Autumn
the God
waited
lips "
"
her head.
"
So
her full in the
looked
forth from
went
presence, blinded with his bitter tears. He found his younger brother,the
her
of
God
Spring. fares it with
How
"
of
the God
Spring.
111,ill indeed,for
"
is the
Ah, my
"
You'd with
But "
she will not
proudlady. Mine
"
over
brother ? *' said
you, my
brother best
of
What,"
home
with
Spring. for all is
me,
of Autumn.
the God
I stay here." is it likely, then,
Springsaid,
"
cried his
heart.'* of
said the God
She
me.
is the broken
'*
come
us," said
the God
!
have
brother,
"
of me ? you if she'll have none the smooth cheeks of a child and
that she will take Will
she
flout the brother ? "
"
"
A
full grown
She'll
wager " I'll
!
A
give you
in grief
!"
wager a
merry
lose her, the
my
Will
?
laugh at you go," said the
saki for the
If you drown
man
Still I will
cried. her
love
you go
to
her,
for your pains." God of Spring. the God
of Autumn
cask of saki if you win feast of your wedding.
saU
it."
187
will
be
for
me.
I'll
SPRING
AUTUMN
AND
LOVER of
"Well, brother,"said the God
xxiv
"
Spring,
I
You'll have your saki like enough take the wager. indeed." of Autumn, I think," said the God "And so his ways. and went of Springwent Then the young God to his
mother, who "
Do
loved him.
you
love me,
answered,
She
mother
my
?
"
than
"More
he said. hundred
a
existences."
Mother," he said, get me for my wife the the Fairest of the Fair. She is called the Princess, do I desire oh, greatly, GreatlyDesired ; greatly, "
"
her." "
You
*'
More
love
her,my
than
a
?"
son
hundred
said his mother.
he said. existences," son, my best beloved,lie
lie down, my and I will work for you." down and sleep, So she spreada couch for him, and when was asleepshe looked on him. "
Then
face,"she said,"is the
"Your
sweetest
he
thing
in the world." There
but she
sleepfor her the live-long night, she knew where to a place of, swiftly droopedover a stillpool. She plucked
was
went
the wistaria
no
her sprays and tendrils and broughthome as much she could carry. The wistaria was white and as
purple,and
you flower,but hidden she
also,and
in the
magicallya
wove a
In the
bow
know
must
and
it
was
not
unopenedbud.
robe.
She
yet in From
it
fashioned sandals
arrows.
morning she
waked i88
the God
of
Spring.
SPRING
XXIV
robe
LOVER
son," she said,"let
Come, my
"
AUTUMN
AND
put this
me
you."
on
of
God
The
Springrubbed courting,"he said.
suit for
mother
bade him.
his eyes. " A But he did
he bound
And
the
sober
his
as
sandals
on
and slungthe bow and the arrows in their feet, quiveron his back. Will all be well,my mother ? he said. will be well, beloved," she answered "All his
"
"
him. of
So the God
of the Fair. said
And
before the Fairest
Springcame
of her maidens
one
laughedand
:
"
See, mistress,there
little plainboy,all in sober
onlya But
the
The "
wistaria
burst into flower.
and
white
grey."
lifted up her eyes of Spring. And in the
the God
upon
moment
clothed
to-day
you
the Fairest of the Fair
and looked same
to woo
comes
purplefrom
Princess
from
rose
He
head
Lord," she said,
"
I
which
with
was
sweet-scented,
was
to
he
heel.
the white am
mats.
if you
will
togetherto
the
yours
have me." Hand
of the God
mother "
with
me.
from
won
He
My
they went of Spring.
mother," he said,
Ah, my ?
now
hand
in
"
brother He
will
him
in
will seek to take "
Be
the God not a
our
is angry the saki I have
Great
lives."
is his rage.
,
beloved," said his mother, still,
not." 189
shall I do
of Autumn
give me
wager.
what
"
and fear
SPRING She took
a
AND
AUTUMN
LOVER
xxiv
cane
of hollow
bamboo, and
in the
she put salt and stones wrapped the cane round with
hollow
the smoke The
"
do, my
of the fire.
sink,you
she hung it in leaves,
said
:
must
you sink. like the ebb tide." fail, so
must
You
must
The must
the tale is told,and all the world knows Spring is fresh and merry and young, and
Now
why
she had
green leaves fade and die. So you eldest bom, the God of Autumn.
sinks in the sea,
stone
She
and when
;
Autumn
the saddest
thingthat
190
is.
XXV
STORY
STRANGE
THE
GOLDEN
In
North.
Hasunuma Now
of
and
of
house
Or
the
And
as
comb
very
he
and
The
day,
born
child
the
to
selfsame
Aiko,
called
girl they
Saito.
born
was
boy
arms.
other
was
there
of the
in
the
the
upon
hour,
Sendai
brothers
daughter
a
and
son.
the
wife
the
to
they which
away fine work,
the
aroused
was
her
Saito
the
shall
called means
in
a
chest.
It
was
well and
ire
but
;
his house, of
his 191
innocent another.
one
gave
a
golden
For the saying : Aiko's enough." handkerchief, and "
old
be
with
to
Saito
comb
adorned
very
of
Hasunuma,
she
their
over
betrothed wife
of
when
in
it
passed
were
the
wrapped
upon
had
a
the
This came
a
token
hair
mother
named,
that
year children
a
to
child^s
and
in
of Love.
ever
heads
laid
Saito
Child
the
friends
selfsame
and
Konojo,
dwelt
Hasunuma,
the
in
samurai
was
happened
it
house
one
THE
COMB
days two They were
ancient
OF
of
gold lacquer,
golden dragon-flies. before
long
for, by
feudal
sad
misfortune
mischance,
lord, and
he
was
STORY fain
OF
THE
flyfrom
to
GOLDEN
Sendai
and by night,
him, and the child.
with
COMB
No
xxv
his wife knew
man
was
where
of them, nor of how theywent, or had any news they fared,and for long,long years Hasunuma heard
not
child Aiko
The
had
She
Sendai.
she
and city,
the
She
seen.
of the
as
a
than
maiden
dancer graceful of the sea,
wave
bamboo
or
a
and light,
the Water
ladyin
cloud
Sendai.
Aiko
but
streets
moon
ever
Iris ; and
of Sendai, folk said,"There and the south wind."
the
in
grass in the wind. than she, younger
moons
Aiyame, or
any
brown, quick,and Aiyam6 was laughing. When theywent abroad in
white,
was
the most
was
the second loveliest
was
be the loveliest ladyin
longerhair
the wild
called
to
grew
sister eleven
a
was
she
moved
sky,or
She had who
of them.
word
one
idle
the
go
day when all the air was the cicala sang ceaselessly as he swung the pomegranate bough, the maidens rested on on of their ladymother^s bower. the cool white mats Upon an and languid,
Their
dark locks
summer
loose,and their slender feet
were
them ancient bare. They had between an Bride Box of their lady chest of red lacquer, a mother's, and in the chest they searched and were
rummaged "
for
said Aiyam6, See, sister,"
thongs,the what
very
is this ?
beautiful ! Aiko this
treasure.
A
thing for
my
here
"
sandals
crystal rosary, I
scarlet
are .
declare !
.
.
and
How
"
said, My
lengthof
"
violet
mother, I pray you giveme silk,it will make me very fine 192
STORY
XXV
OF
undersleeves let
to
have
me
THE
grey gown for a crimson
the
dragged silver !
"
do
need
not
an
it from
petticoat ; and
this little bit of
cried Aiyam6, as obi^'^ the chest, "grass green she
Springinglightly up,
lengthabout
her
slender
body.
shall be the she
daughterof
this wonder
sees
the rich
she and
wound
the
behold
"Now
for the finest ladyin all Sendai.
me
and, mother,
;
"
what
"And
COMB
new
my
mother, you surely, brocade ?
GOLDEN
Very
envious
Hachiman, when
obi ; but I shall be calm
and say, lookingdown careless,
thus
and
humbly, Your that I wear this foolish trifling pardon,noble lady, for your great presence I obi^unmeet Mother, mother, giveme the obi'^ Arab ! Arab ! Little pirates said the ! mother, and smiled. *
*
"
"
thrust
Aiko chest. "
a
Here
"
littlecasket
How
her
hand
the
to
is somethinghard," she
wrapped in
a
it smells of orris and
of the
bottom
murmured,
silken handkerchief. ! spices
ancient
now
"
"
the she unwound So saying, may it be ? kerchief and openedthe casket. "A goldencomb !*' what
she said,and laid it on her knee. " Give it here,child,"cried the mother " it is not for your eyes." But
the
the maiden
golden comb.
fine work, adorned For her
a
time
her eyes upon quitestill, of gold lacquer, It was very with goldendragon-flies. sat
the maiden
mother, though she
lightLady of the
quickly;
South
was
said
a
troubled
Wind 193
not
seemed
word, ;
and
did
nor
the
even
stricken into o
STORY
OF
and silence,
and
COMB
GOLDEN
THE
the scarlet sandal
drew
xxv
thongsthrough
through her fingers.
Aiko
at
of this
what
Mother,
"
and
said
last.
My sweet, it is Konojo, the son
"
?"
golden comb
the love-token
of Saito, for you But
in your cradles. fifteenyears since Saito went
betrothed
night,he
all his
and
between
house,
two
and
were
it is full
now
from
you
Sendai in the left no trace
behind." love dead ? " said Aiko.
Is my
"
that
"Nay,
I know
not
but
"
he
will
never
of him, my I beseech you, think no more pretty bird. There, get you your fan,and dance and for your sister." for me come
; so,
Aiko
Then
she
like
a
first set
flungopen
her fan to dance.
of the sea,
wave
in her
goldencomb
the
or
a
She moved
cloud of the
She had grass in the wind. long before she droppedthe fan,with a that hour she
From
in her bed She
could
nor
her
South
her
mother, Wind, were
she Presently is
more
was
than
I
nor
she had
her
turned can
long cry,
to
pleasure rain at night no
her father, the Lady of the sister,
more.
any
able
danced
lovelorn and forsaken.
sunrise and the sound of
nothingto
were
not
length upon the ground. in a piteous way, and lay
like a maid sighing, not eat nor sleep;
in life. The
the
sky,or
wild bamboo
and she herself fell her
hair.
Not
giveher
her face
to
any
ease.
the wall.
"
understand,"she said,and
It so
died. When
the they had prepared 194
poor young
maid
STORY
XXV
OF
COMB
GOLDEN
THE
for her grave, her mother crying,to look at came, her for the last time. And she set the golden in the maid's
comb
My
"
hair,saying: littlechild,I pray that
dear
own
in other
know happiness.Therefore take may your goldentoken with you ; you will have need the wraith of your lover." of it when you meet lives you
she believed that
Konojo was
But, alas,for Karma
that is
For
had
moon
brave young at
the maid man,
so
in her
been
dead. one pitiless,
grave
her betrothed,came
to
short
when
the
claim
her
her father's house.
of Saito,alas, brave young late you have come ! too man, my Your joy is turned to mourning,for your bride lies Alas and
"
in the
moonlightto spoke Hasunuma
the
water pour the samurai.
weeping
of the dead.*'
there are Lord," said the brave young man, and the sword, the strong girdle, ways left, "
"
three the
son
the green grass, and her sister goes
under
Thus
alack,Konojo,the
river.
These
are
the
short roads
to
Yomi.
Farewell." held the young man by the arm. Nay, then, thou son of Saito,"he said," but hear road to the fourth way, which is far better. The But Hasunuma
"
Yomi
is
short,but
it is very dark ; moreover,
the confines of that country few return. stay with me, Konojo,and comfort me
age, for I have So
no
from
Therefore in my
old
sons."
Konojo entered
the household
the samurai^and dwelt in the
gate. 195
of Hasunuma
gardenhouse by the
STORY Now
wife
THE
OF in the
and
the
GOLDEN
third
month
daughterthat
earlyand dressed and presently were temple they were
COMB
xxv
Hasunuma
and
left them
was
his
arose
in garments of ceremony, borne away in kago^for to the
them
and
bound,
to
their ancestral
theyoffered prayers and incense the live-long day. It was when theyreturned, and brightstarlight cold the nightwas, stilland frosty.Konojo stood and waited the garden gate. He waited for at He drew his their home-coming, as was meet. tombs, where
cloak about
evening.
and gave ear to the noises of the heard the sound of the blind man's
him He
whistle,and the off he
Far
heard
staffupon
the
laugh twice
;
blind man's
heard
a
child
singingin chorus, as
men
cheer themselves
in their
of song he heard
the
that the
bore
men
men
stones.
then
who
he
sing to
labour,and in the pauses creak,creak of swingingkago upon their shoulders,and he
said, They come.'* "
"
I go to the house ofthe Beloved^ Her plum tree stands by the eaves
;
It isfullofblossom. The dew So
liesin the heart
theyare
of the flowers^ the drinking-cups ofthe sparrows.
do you go to your love's house ? wind. Even upon the wingsofthe night
How
road leads to your love's house ? All the roads in the world.*^
Which
This
was
the song of the
196
kagomen.
First the
OF
STORY
XXV
GOLDEN
THE
COMB
the samurai turned in at the kago of Hasunuma garden gate, then followed his lady; last came Upon the roof of Aiyame of the South Wind. her kagothere laya blossomingbough. Rest well, lady," said Konojo,as she passed, "
and had
back.
answer
no
Howbeit
it seemed
that
kago^and fell with a little noise to the ground. He stooped comb. and picked up a woman's of gold It was lacquer,very fine work, adorned with golden and warm Smooth it layin the hand dragon-flies. he went of Konojo. And his way to the garden lightthing droppedfrom
some
of the
the hour
the
the
samurai young his book of verse, laid himself upon his threw down bed, and blew out his light. And the selfsame house.
At
he heard
moment
a
wanderingstep without.
it be that visits the garden may " by night? said Konojo,and he wondered. the wanderingfeet till at and about went
And
"
house About
who
and lengththey stayed, an
Konojo !
Konojo !
"
What
is it ?
**
Open, open
**
Who
"
I
am
with
'*
"
said the samurai. I
;
am
afraid.*' *'
why are you afraid ? night. I am the daughter the samurai. Open to me for gods." .
the love of the
Konojo undid the
face,for she
to
find
threshold.
held
.
.
the latch and slid back
gardenhouse
lady upon
touched
was
you, and afraid of the are
of Hasunuma
of the
the door
hand.
uncertain
"
rat
her
a
He
slender and
could
long sleeve 197
the door
so
drooping
not as
to
see
her
hide it
STORY from
him
OF but
;
frailshoulders "Let
asked her Are
xxv
swayedand trembled,and with sobbing.
perplexed,Konojo
:
Aiyam6,whom
you
I
"
Lady,you
am
The
theycall
the
Lady
Wind?"
"
she." comb
do
!
"
me
much
honour."
she
said, "
the
goldencomb
she said this,she threw the veil from face,and takingthe robe of Konojo in both As
littlehands,she looked
into his eyes as forth his very soul. The
draw
would
her
forthwith
in," .she moaned, and
gardenhouse. smiling and much
South
"
COMB
GOLDEN
the
Half
ofthe
she
shook
me
entered
"
THE
!" her
her
though she lady was
and
quick and light. Her eyes and her for laughing,and passingstrange made lipswere then. she looked in the guisethat she wore The comb ! she said, the goldencomb ! I have it here," said Konojo ; only let go brown
"
"
"
"
"
my
"
I will fetch it you."
robe,and
lady cast herself down upon the white mats in a passion of bitter tears, and Konojo, his hands together, pressed quite poor unfortunate, At
this the
beside himself. do ? " he said ; " what to do ? " At last he raised the lady in his arms, stroked her littlehand to comfort her. "
"
What
to
Lord,"
she
said,as simplyas
a
and
child, lord, "
"
do you love me ? And he answered more
than many
her in
lives,O
" I love you moment, Lady of the South Wind."
198
a
STORY
XXV
"
said,"
answered
her,
COMB
GOLDEN
THE
she
Lord,"
then ?
OF
will
with
come
you
me
"
He
Yomi,"
"
Even
of
land
the
to
and took her hand.
theywent into the night,and theytook the road together.By river-side they went, and over plainsof flowers ; theywent by rockyways, or through the whispering pines,and when they had wandered far enough,of the green bamboos they built them a little house to dwell in. And theywere there for a year of happydaysand nights. Now a morning of the third month upon with Konojo beheld men kago come swinging throughthe bamboo grove. And he said : "What have they to do with us, these men and their kago? to bear us Lord," said Aiyam6, theycome Forth
"
"
"
to
father's house."
my He
will
cried,
not
Indeed, and
"
Go
to
I
am
go,"said Konojo ;
the "
lady. for me,
as
I
happy."
Ah, lord,"she said, ah, my dear, do you love me less,who vowed to go with me, even "
the Land
Then broke
must
we
you, then," said
stay here where then
We
go."
"
"
is this foolishness ?
What
"
a
of Yomi did
?
"
all that
she
blossomingbough
from
he
by and laid it upon the swiftly theywere Swiftly, a men sang as they went, light. near
199
would. a
And
that grew
tree
roof of her
kago.
borne, and song
to
he
make
the
kago-
labour
OF
STORY
GOLDEN
THE
COMB
I go to the house ofthe Be loved ^ Her plum tree stands by the eaves
'*
xxv
;
It isfullofblossom.
liesin the heart
The dew
oftheflowers the drinking-cups ofthe sparrows. j
So
they
are
do you go to your lovers house ? wind. upon the wingsofthe night
How Even
Which road leads
your lovers house ? All the roads in the world.^' This
the song of the
was
kagomen. nightfall they came
About
the
to
house
Go
you
the South
dear
in,my
Wind.
"
lord,"said
I will wait
Lady of
the
if my him the
without
;
father is very wroth with you, only show with that she took And goldencomb." hair and
her
gave hand.
his
lay in
of
the samurai.
Hasunuma "
to
it him. Then
and
Smooth
Konojo
it from warm
it
into
the
home, Konojo, son
of
went
house.
"Welcome, Saito !
"
cried
welcome Hasunuma.
adventure knightly Knightly adventure I
with your "
How
"
"
?
it fared
has
"
said
Konojo,
and
blushed. "
It is
a
year since your
sudden
and departure,
supposedthat you had gone upon a quest, or laid upon your soul." of some in the expiation vow Alas, my good lord,"said Konojo, I have sinned against And your house." you and against we
"
"
he told Hasunuma When
what
he had made
he had done. an 200
end of his tale
:
OF
STORY
XXV
THE
GOLDEN
Boy," said the samurai^ jestis ill-timed. Know
"
COMB
"
merry
as
even
dead.
one
sickness and
none
jest,but
your
that my child lies year she has aeither risen She is visited by a heavy
a
smiled.
spoken nor
nor
For
you
heal her.
can
Sir," said Konojo, your child,the Lady of the South Wind, waits in a kago without your "
"
gardenwall. I will fetch her in presently." the young man Forth they went and together, the samuraiy but they found no kago without the and no lady. Only a gardenwall, no kagoA"t,zxtx% blossom broken bough of withered lay upon the ground. Indeed, indeed, she
"
here
was
but
now
her comb me Konojo. "She gave See, my lord,here it is." goldencomb. is this,Konojo ? Where What comb
cried
"
"
you
this comb
and
buried
that
with
set
was
her
in
beneath
a
dead the
maid's
!" her
got
hair,
grass ? Where got you the comb of Aiko, the Lady of the Moon, that died for love ? Speak,Konojo,son of This
Saito.
is
a
strange
green
thing."
Konojo stood amazed, and leaned bewildered againstthe garden wall, a She moved lightly through the trees.
whilst
Now silent and
ladycame
of the sea, or a cloud of the sky,or the wild bamboo grass in the wind. "Aiyam6," cried the samurai^ "how are you able to leave your bed ? " said nothing,but fell on his The man young as
a
wave
knees came
beside
the
garden wall.
him
and
bent
to
so 201
There
that her
the
hair and
lady her
OF
STORY
COMB
GOLDEN
THE
garments overshadowed
xxv
him,
and
her
I
the
of spirit
held
eyes
his. "
Lord/# she said, I
your love.
pityon for
with
went
I
tears.
my
short year sister. And now
one
my
am
The
to
Aiko dwell
took
dead
very
return, and sweet body of
permittedto
was
inhabit
to
heart
broken
a
of Yomi.
the shades
with
"
the is
time
my
I go my
come.
the grey country. I shall be the happiest Now I have known soul in Yomi you, beloved. in your arms, for I grow very faint." take me
ways
to
"
that she sank
With
put his
His
his heart.
ground,and Konojo laid her head against
the
and
her forehead.
fell upon
tears
me," she said, that you the Lady of wife Aiyam6,my sister, Promise
"
to
her
about
arms
to
*'
will the
take
South
Wind." "
"
Ah," he cried, my ladyand she said. Promise, promise," "
Then
he
After
a
"
What
promised.
littleshe stirred in his is it ?
soft her
So
** love 1
my
"
arms.
he said.
voice
silence but floated upon " The comb," she
that
it did
not
break
the
it.
murmured,
"
the
golden
comb." And A
Konojo set
burden, pale but breathing, Konojo carried of Hasunuma
into the house
white hours
it in her hair.
mats a
and
young
and
silken cushions.
maid
sat
up 202
and
laid upon the And after three
rubbed
her
sleepy
STORY
XXV
eyes.
She
OF
brown
was
laughing. Her
hair
cheeks, unconfined stared firstat that
man
was
THE
GOLDEN and
COMB
quick and
tumbled
was
any braid her father,and then in
by
her
bower.
lightand
about
comb.
or
She
her rosy
at
the
She young
smiled, then
flushed,and put her little hands before her face.
Greeting,O Lady of Konojo. "
203
the
South
Wind,"
said
XXVI
THE
Once
as
upon fellow.
the
and
full
these.
as
He
walk
upon was
his
little
feet
the
land
as
end,
school.
he
he
he
She
right.
would
It all
and
that
fins than
he
in
could
the
sea.
beloved of
spite
this, to
come
a
books
at
in
this
about
came
and
all
his
mind
not
round
more
would
he
said
had
was
In
King.
because
and
scales
so
some hand-
very
swim
as
gay,
always
was
well,
well
Dragon
he
but
as
was
a
glittering
have,
had
grandmother
bad
had
fishes
and
JOURNEY
beautiful,
was
He
other
A
jelly-fishwas
form
His
merry of the
trusted
the
time
a
moon.
tail
a
He
TAKES
JELLY-FISH
wise.
The the
Dragon
took
folk
in
last
day
near,
and
good nor
Lady
young
She
at recover
The
King
to
bed
Dragonland was
at
they
all could
and
hand. dosed
they
her
of her
Dragon
King
their Doctors
her
and
do
fell
heads came
they
her, the
bled
poor
204
beside
sick.
and
wise
and
said
her
from
far
and
her, young
sickness. was
when
very
there,
stayed
shook
wed
lately
wife
his
Dragon
her
but
was
himself.
but
no
thing,
THE
XXVI
JELLY-FISH
Heart's Desire," he said to his would givemy lifefor you/' "
Howbeit, if you
"
I will
will fetch
monkey'sliver
monkey'sliver
A
it do
1
"
me,'* she answered.
me
monkey'sliver
a
it and live."
eat
A
"
"
good would
Little
"
palebride,
!"
cried the
You
!
talk
Dragon King. wildly,O light
of mine
shall I find a monkey'sliver ? How eyes. Know one, that monkeys dwell in you not, sweet whilst we the trees of the forest, in the deep are sea
?
"
Tears
down
ran
the
Dragon Queen's lovely
countenance. "
If I do
not
have
the
monkey'sliver,I
shall
die," she said. the
Then
the
Dragon went
jelly-fish. The Queen must
have
"
said,
"
"
to
cure
a
to
him
monkey'sliver,"he
her of her sickness."
will she do with
What
forth and called
the
monkey'sliver ?
"
asked the
jelly-fish. Why, she will eat it,"said the Dragon King. Oh ! said the jelly-fish. said the King, "you must "Now," go and fetch me live monkey. I have heard that they a "
"
"
dwell swim
with "
with "
in the
tall
of the forest. Therefore and bring a monkey jelly-fish,
trees
quickly,O you back again." How me
Tell
?
"
will I get the monkey said the jelly-fish.
him
Dragonland.
to
of all the beauties and
Tell him ^
he will be 20S
come
back
of pleasures
happy here
and
THE that he
JELLY-FISH
play with
may
xxvi
mermaids
all the
day
long/' said the
"Well,"
FU jelly-fish,
tell him
"
that."
Off
jelly-fish ; and
till at last he reached
swam,
the
the
set
tall
of the
trees
he
and
swam
the shore where
forest.
And,
he
grew
enough,
sure
in the branches of a monkey sitting persimmon tree, eatingpersimmons. The very thing," said the jelly-fish to himself; there
a
was
"
"
I'm in luck."
monkey," he said, Dragonlandwith me ?
will you
should I get there ? "
said the
"
Noble
"
come
to
"
"
How
sit
"Only "
on
and 111 take you
at
my
back,"
there ;
said the
have you'll
monkey. jelly-fish, trouble
no
all." "
Why
monkey. "
should I go there,after all ? " I am very well off as I am."
Ah," said
little of all
know
Dragonland. is long. You Besides,you "
said the
it's plainthat you jelly-fish, the beauties and pleasures of you will be happy as the day "
great riches and
will win
play with
I'll come," said the
the
honour.
mermaids
from
monkey.
down from the persimmon tree slipped back. jumped on the jelly-fish's of them were When the two about half-way the jelly-fish to Dragonland, laughed. Now, jelly-fish, why do you laugh? said the jelly-fish. I laugh for joy," When And
over
There
may tilleve."
morn
and
the
"
he
"
"
"
"
206
THE
XXVI
JELLY-FISH
master, the Dragon King,will get your liver,and giveit to my mistress the Dragon Queen to eat, and then she will recover from her sickness."
Dragonland, my
to
come
you
"
My liver ? said the monkey. Why, of course,"said the jelly-fish.
"
"
**
alack," cried the
and
Alas
if it'smy
grievedindeed,but it with
I haven't
monkey, Vm liver you'rewanting "
To
tell you the truth,it I justtook it out and hung
me.
weighspretty heavy,so branch of that
persimmon tree where you found me. Quick,quick,let's go back for it." Back they went, and the monkey was up in the persimmon tree in a twinkling. "Mercy me, I don't see it at all,"he said. it upon
"
a
Where
if some surprised
rascal has stolen had jelly-fish
if the
Now
he
school,would
been
have
monkey ? You may believe alwayssaid he would I shall be
"
monkey. land.
"
The
The
best be
King
would
best of
You
monkey
it,"he said.
minded
his books
hoodwinked
at
by the mother grand-
not.
But
his
come
to
bad end.
a
for you to be call for me another day. be
can
and
findingit,"said the home to Dragongetting
the
loath
partedon jelly-fish
the
Dragon King set eyes on the monkey ?" he said.
the
terms.
The
minute
the
"Where's jelly-fish, "
be
not
time
some
You'd
after dark.
out
I should
mislaid it ?
I have
can
I'm
to
call for him
And jelly-fish.
another
day,"said
he told all the tale. 207
the
THE The
JELLY-FISH
Dragon King
flew into
called his executioners
He
and
a
xxvi
toweringrage.
bid them
beat the
jelly-fish. "
"
Break
beat him
every to
a
in his
bone
As to
he ! Jelly jelly-fish
this very day.' for the young Dragon to
Queen, she
she heard the story. If I can't have a monkey'sliver I
was
fain
laughwhen "
Give it," she said. and I will get up, for brocade gown do
cried ;
jelly."
Alas for the sad fate of the remains
body,"he
without
"
deal better."
208
me
must
my
I feel a
needs best
good
XXVII
URASHIMA
Urashima
was
night
Every both
fishes
fisherman
of the
he
his
small,
Upon a certain night the making plain the paths of the kneeled the
his
in
and
boat
the upon that listed
spread
waves,
boat
or
drifted And
he
him
made
moon
the
Then she
took
him. her
the
upon She sea
He
said,
She
told
right
till his
paid to
came
of the
fisherman
in
hand
in
hair
lay
heed
no
to
haunted
a
his He
place.
sleeping, for
nor
cold
Deep
Sea
arose,
arms,
and
sank
sea
the
and
long did she him, spell upon held
his
eyes
and with
She
cave.
and
sea
him
Who
her
her
to
her
to "
Urashima
trailingfishing-net.
Daughter
cast
songs
his
he
brightly,
And
sea.
sea
Thus
shone
moon
he
waking
sandy bed,
a
the
mad.
down,
down,
him, him
neither
was
his
to
caught
He
upon darkness.
leaned,
and
till he
his boat
in
he
Sea.
trade.
dabbled
Low
water.
green
Inland
being
of
hours
long living.
his
plied
and
great the
through made
a
look and
with
laid
upon sang hers.
"
are
him, "The
lady ? Daughter of you,
209
the
Deep
Sea." p
URASHIMA Let
"
wait and
go home," he said ; tired."
me are
"
Nay, rather stay with me,"
"
"
XXVII
littlechildren
my
she said
:
Urashima^ Thou Fisherman
ofthe
Inland Sea^
Thou art
beautiful ; Thy longhair is twisted round Go not from me^ Onlyforgetthyhome.'^ "
Ah, now," said the fisherman, let be, for the "
gods*sake.
dear
she said
But "
my heart ;
I would
...
go
to
mine
own."
again:
Urashima^ Thou Fisherman
ofthe
Inland Sea^
thycouch with pearl; ril spread thycouch with seaweed and seafowers; Thou shalt he King ofthe Deep Sea^ And we will reign together. ril
set
^^
"
Let
me
littlechildren wait and But "
she said
Urashima
said
home,"
go
Urashima
"
;
my
tired."
are
:
:
ofthe Inland Sea, he afraid ofthe Deep Sea tempest;
Thou Fisherman
Never We
will rollrocks about
Neither be
afraidofthe
our
cavern
doors ;
drowned dead;
Thou shalt not die''
"Ah,
now,"
said the 210
fisherman,"let
be, for
URASHIMA
XXVII
the
dear
gods' sake.
I would
...
mine
to
go
own/*
Staywith me this one Nay, not one." Then the Daughterof
night."
"
"
Urashima
I will stay with you So after the nightwas the sand and
to
Are
"
Deep
Sea wept, and
her tears.
saw
this
he said. night," she broughthim passed,
"
up
the
we
the seashore. ? " she said.
your home
near
one
told her, " Within a stone's throw." "Take of me." this,"she said,"in memory He
She
gave him rainbow-tinted
a
casket and
its
of
mother-of-pearl ; it was of coral and of were clasps
jade. Do
"
not no
open more
seen,
As to
" O fisherman,do open it,"she said ; with that she sank and was it." And
not
come
the
for Urashima, he ran his dear home. to
laughed for joy. catch the "
And
he
And
"
Soon
he he
they do
Now
the as
tossed up
pine trees
he
he
went
the casket
to
sweet
scent
of
the
he went
So
call that
strange
Sea.
Deep
sun. "
note.
the
beneath
Ah, me," he said, the
pines! a
Daughterof
when
to his children with calling had taught them, like a sea-bird's It is ? said, Are they yet asleep "
not
he
me."
answer
to
came
his house
he found
four
Nightshadeflourished threshold, death lilies by the hearth, soul was there. and ladyfern. No living
lonelywalls, moss-grown. on
the
dianthus "
Now
what
is this ? " 211
cried Urashima.
"
Have
URASHIMA wits ?
I lost my sea
?
down
sat
dear
eyes in the
deep
children ? He
the grassy floor and thought " he said. gods help me !
wife,
is my
Where
and
where
are
my
little
"
to
went
the
where village,
he
knew
the
in the way, and every tiled and tilted eave familiar ; and here he found folk him most
stones to
and
walking to But
upon
The
"
long.
was
I left my
Have
"
He
"
XXVII
fro, going upon
their business.
all strange to him.
theywere "Good
morrow," they said,"good wayfarer.Do you tarry in our town ?
morrow,
"
He
children
saw
beneath
put his hand
their
at
often he
play,and
their chins
to
turn
their
Alas ! he did it all in vain. faces up. " " Where are my little children,"he said, O the Merciful ? Peradventure the Lady Kwannon the
gods know
meaning of
all this ; it is
too
much
for me:" When
sunset
stone, and he
ways "
know
by the
We
and
stood
town.
As
sleeve
at
the
men
heavy as partingof the passed by he was
:
Friend," he said, I ask your pardon,did you "
a
fisherman of this
And "
went
outside the
pulledthem
his heart
came,
never
the
that
men
heard
"
placecalled Urashima ? him, passedby answered
of such
an
one."
people from the Some rode on mountains. went a-foot,some singingtheir patientpack-horses.They went There
passedby
country songs, and
the peasant
they carried 212
baskets of wild
URASHIMA
XXVII
strawberries backs.
sheaves of lilies bound
or
And
the lilies nodded
passedby,all clad
in
as
their
upon
grims Pil-
they went.
white, with
hats,sandals fast bound
and
staves
gourds of water. Swiftly theywent, softly theywent, thinking of holythings. And lords and ladies passedby, in brave attire and great array, borne in their gilded kago. The nightfell. I lose sweet said Urashima. hope,*' rice-straw
and
"
But
Oh, old,old man,"
"
have
passedby an old,old-man.
there
seen
In this
days; know
many the
that name,
you
fisherman, you "
oughtof Urashima
?
he born and bred."
placewas
Then
cried the
old
said,"There
man
but, sir,that
of
one
drowned
was
one
was
long
could scarce remember My grandfather years ago. little boy. Good him in the time that I was a
stranger,it was Urashima
dead
said, "
No
man
and
their
"
many
many, more sons
He
is dead
dead are
ago."
years ?
he.
His
sons
Good
even
to
than
dead.
"
are
you,
stranger." Urashima
Then must
And
was
afraid.
But
he
said,
where the dead go to the green valley he took his way. to the valley He
said,
"
How
chill the
night wind
"
sleep." blows
The shiver and trees grass ! leaves turn their palebacks to me." that showest me He said,^^ Hail, sad moon,
through
the
the
quietgraves.
the
moon
He
Thou
art
I
the all
nothingdifferent from
of old."
said, "
Here
are
my 213
sons* graves and
their
URASHIMA
Urashima, there
sons* graves. Poor dead than he. more
ghosts.
will comfort
Who
"'
he
Then
will comfort
?
me
**
and
to
the seashore.
cried Urashima. the mountain
from out
"I
But
it a
to
his sleeve and faint white smoke
casket."
opened it.
very
weary,"said
his hair turned
that had
been
as
He
am
made
What He
sea
And There
Urashima.
white
as
and
snow.
grew
In
a
He dim.
lustyswayedand
old,"said Urashima. to
saying,"Nay, ever.
so
young he stood.
tottered where I
sky
that floated away
trembled, his body shrank, his eyes
"
the
the far horizon.
grow
moment
He
"Who
of the
waves
is the
said,"There
he took it from and
the
lonelyamong
on.
Urashima
rose
man
? " said Urashima.
me
back
went
unmoved,
rolled
I
am
no
nightwind sighedand nothingmore.
The
was
Yet
is
.''
.
.
XXVII
but shut the casket lid, the
matters
laid down
vapour it ? his
of smoke
droppedit, is gone
for
"
lengthupon
died.
214
the sand
and
XXVIII
THE
TAMAMO, A
found
child
a
"Well,
and
a **
do
pack, I
the
sell
wayside
said
sandals
the
?
Kioto,
gauds
my
?
child,
outworn
for
bound
to
the upon city of Kioto.
pack
the
to
by
you,"
and
am
Palace,
his
Ah,"
"
What
said
I have
"
Whence
"
"
"
"
I
to
"
with
"
How
be
the
the
ladies
here
you been
long more
Pedlar
too."
me
little
girl?
"
"
about
seven
?
years
"
waiting
you." "
have than
for
a
waited ? you hundred years."
laughed. 215
staff
Mikadoes
and
age."
no are
I have
The
to
seem
Why
take
my
you ? nowhere."
come
I have
"
name,
from
You
For
child,
a
"
name."
no
come
"
"
the
is your
"
He
"
Court" "
great
sittingall alone by the wayside. what little girl," he said, "and my
all alone
you What
"
leads
which
high-road
make
with
journeyed
PEDLAR
MAIDEN
FOX
old."
of
the
"
Take
"
You
MAIDEN
FOX
THE
TAMAMO,
xxviii
Kioto/' said the child. if you will,"said the Pedlar. come
to
me
may
they went to they came
in
and together,
their ways
So
time
Palace. the child danced in the august presence of Here She was the Son of Heaven. as lightas the seaWhen she had made an bird upon a wave's crest. end of
the dancing,
Little
"
?
giveyou O
"
Ask
The So
called her
Mikado
to
him.
guerdon shall I
maid," he said, what "
!"
Ask
I
...
ask.
cannot
the
child,
"
I
...
am
Son
afraid."
fear,"said the Mikado. Let me child murmured, stay without
"
brightpresence **
the Mikado's
to
DivinelyDescended," said
of the Gods "
and
Kioto
be
of your
it,"said
in the
Augustness."
the
and he
Mikado,
received he called her
And
the child into his household. Tamamo. she Very speedily lovelyart. She could
became
sing,and
she
could
play
more
skill
She had
any instrument of music. than any painter in the land in painting upon
wonder The
of every
mistress
with
the needle and
poetry that she made
a
wonder
moved
men
;
at to
she
was
a
the loom. tears
and
laughter.The many thousand characters were she child's playto her,and all the hard philosophies She knew Confucius well ends. had at her fingers' of Buddha, and the lore of enough,the Scriptures Perfection, Cathay. She was called the Exquisite the Jewel without Flaw. the Gold Unalloyed, to
And Soon
the Mikado he
clean
loved her.
forgothonour 216
and
duty and
kinglystate.
MAIDEN
night he keptTamamo by rough and fierceand passionate,
and
Day
He
his side.
FOX
THE
TAMAMO,
XXVIII
grew
approachhim. He and languid, he pined,and his grew sick,listless, could do nothingfor him. physicians and alack,'* "Alas they cried,"what ails the DivinelyDescended ? Of a surety he is bewitched.
so
feared
that his servants
! for he will die upon
! woe
Woe
Out
"
Mikado,
to
upon for a
"
them,
pack of
every
hands."
our
one," cried
tedious fools.
As
the
for me,
I will do my own will and pleasure." He was mad for love of Tamamo.
her
his Summer Palace,where he To the feast prepareda great feastin her honour. bidden all the highestof the land,princes and were lords and ladies of high estate ; and, willy-nilly, to took
He
the Summer
to
Palace
the Mikado,
where they all repaired,
and
wild,and mad with love,and side,attired in scarlet and cloth of
wan
by his gold. Radiantlyfair
Tamamo
saki
Mikado's
was
of
out
she was,
and she
poured the
goldenflagon.
a
looked into her eyes. " feeble toys beside you,"he Other women are here that's fit to said. " There's not a woman He
the end of your I love you. ..."
touch
sleeve.
spokeloudlyso when laughedbitterly Now
sky moon
lord
My
as
became and
the
.
.
.
the
he had
stars
how
my
spoken. ..."
lord
with
hid.
were
217
said Tamamo.
the feasted, black clouds,and the
high company
overcast
Tamamo,
that all could hear him, and
He
"
O
sat
and
Suddenlya
fearful
wind
FOX
THE
TAMAMO,
throughthe
tore
MAIDEN
Summer
Palace and put out of Feasting.And
every torch in the great Hall down in torrents. the rain came darkness fear and horror fell upon The
courtiers
full of
and fro in
to
ran
cries,the
tables
xxviii
In
the
the
pitchy assembly.
panic,the
a
air
overturned.
were
was
The
dishes and
the crashed together, drinking-vessels Then and soaked into the white mats. spilled
saki a
radiance
made
was
placewhere
Tamamo
flames of firefrom Mikado
The "
And
was,
body.
cried
aloud
he had
when
and
her
! Tamamo
Tamamo
It
visible.
from
it streamed in
a
this he
in
the
long
terrible voice, ! three times. **
! Tamamo done
came
fell in
deathly
a
upon the ground. And for many dayshe was thus,and he seemed him either asleep or dead,and no one could recover swoon
from
his
swoon.
and together, they called to said
them
Ab6
and
land
the
Yasu, the Diviner.
met
gods, They
: "
for
when
Holy Men of the they had prayed to
the Wise
Then
Ab6
O
Yasu, learned
in dark
find out things,
the cause, and if it may be, the cure, of our Lord's strange sickness. Perform divination for us,
O
us
Ab6
Yasu."
Then
Ab6
Yasu
and performeddivination,
before the Wise
came
"
Men
and said
:
The wine is sweety but the aftertaste is bitter. Set not your teeth in the golden persimmon ^
It is rotten at the
core.
218
he
THE
TAMAMO,
XXVIII
MAIDEN
FOX
Fair is the scarletflowerofthe Death
Lily^
it not.
Pluck What
is beauty ?
What
is wisdom ?
What
is love ?
Be not deceived.
threads in the fabricof
Theyare
illusion!''
Men
said, Yasu, for your sayingis dark,and Then
the Wise
Speak
"
out, Ab6
cannot
we
stand under-
it." I will do
than
speak,"said Ab6 Yasu. he spent three daysin fasting and in prayer. And Then he took the sacred Gohei from its placein the him to he Temple, and callingthe Wise Men "
sacred Gohei and with
the
waved
of them.
one
more
And
bower, and Ab6
it touched
together theywent
Tamamo's
the sacred Gohei in his
took
Yasu
to
each
righthand. was
in her bower
were
with her.
Tamamo
her maidens
My lords,"she said, "
"
would
What
the
"
I have
Chinese.
made
You
song
a
who
me
all unbidden.
come
?
"
said Ab6
lady Tamamo,"
"My Diviner,
you
with
have
you
and adorningherself,
are
Yasu
the
after the fiishionof learned
in poetry, I
pray you hear and "
I
am
in
dear lord
my
'"
judge my song." she said, mood for songs," no lyingsick to death."
Nevertheless,my you needs
mine "
"
must
Why, then, if I
ladyTamamo,
this song
hear." must
219
..."
with
she said.
of
spokeAh6
Then "
MAIDEN
FOX
THE
TAMAMO,
Yasu
xxviii
:
is bitter. The wine is sweety the aftertaste Set not your teeth in the golden persimmon ^ It is rotten at the core. Fair is the scarletflowerofthe Death Pluck
it not.
What
is beauty ?
What
is wisdom ?
What
is love ?
Be
not
deceived.
illusionI Ab6
When
threads in the fabricof
Theyare
"
the
Yasu
Diviner
and he
Tamamo
to
came
Lily^
had
touched
spoken,he
her
with
the
sacred Gohei. gave a loud and terrible cry, and instant her form was changedinto that of She
fox
having nine long
fox fled from Tamamo's
The
wire.
hair like
tails and
on
the
great
a
golden
bower, away
of Nasu, and and away, until it reached the far plain that was it hid itselfbeneath a great black stone upon
that
But
plain.
the
Mikado
was
immediatelyrecovered
from his sickness.
Soon, strange and
terrible
the great stone of Nasu. A concerning flowed from under it and water poisonous the brightflowers of the plain. All who the
stream
died,both
nothingcould traveller who and
go
near
man
the
and
beast.
stone
rested in its shadow
the birds that
perched upon 220
told
thingswere
and arose
of
stream
withered drank of
Moreover, live. no
it fell dead
The more,
in
a
People named
moment.
called for
thus it was
it chanced
Then
MAIDEN
FOX
THE
TAMAMO,
XXVIII
it tl"eDeath Stone, and than a hundred years.
more
Genyo, the High Priest, and his who was indeed,took his staBf a holy man beggingbowl and went upon a pilgrimage. he
When O
Death
thou Stone
while
shall all
Holy Man," they said, "
of Nasu.
and staff,
Death
he ;
sunder.
there
a
She /
am
I
am
I
From
to
the Death
the stone
Stone.
with
cried,"Come forth.Spiritof come forth,I conjurethee.'* was
the
great flame
a
the Stone
rending noise, and
I
the
"
his way incense, he struck
Stone
Then
I
beware
in its shade."
not
that he took
burnt
I
Rest
into Nirvana.*
enter
With
"
the
is written in the my children,what * Law of the Good : Herbs, trees and rocks
Book
came
upon
Know,
"
He
the dwellers
Genyo, the High Priest,havingremained thus : in thought,made answer
But a
Nasu,
to
came
rice into his bowl.
plainput "
that
burst
and
from
Holy
Man.
stone
his the
of fire and and
a
splitin
the fire there
woman.
stood before the
Tamamo^
once
called the Proud
She said
Perfection ;
the
Fox ; golden-haired know the Sorceriesofthe East; was by the Princes of Ind worshipped was s undoing ; great Cathay* wise and beautiful^ was
;
Evil incarnate. The power
ofthe
Buddha 221
has
:
^me ; changed
THE
TAMAMO, / have dwelt in
Let
MAIDEN
xxviii
hundred years ; and my sin. my beauty
grief for a
Tears have washed
Shrive me^
FOX
away
Genyo^shrive me^ Holy Man
;
^^
have peace.
me
Take said Genyo. Spirit," my staff and my priestly robe and my beggingbowl and set of repentance.** forth upon the longjourney Tamamo robe and put it upon took the priestly "
Poor
"
in the other the her ; in one hand she took the staff, bowl. And when she had done this,she vanished
for
men. sightof earthly O and thou, Tathagatha,"said Genyo, thou, Kwannon, Merciful Lady,make it possible ever
from
the
*'
that
"
one
day even
she may
222
attain Nirvana."
XXIX
MOMOTARO
If
believe
you'll
fairies
were
when
time
there
were
every
day,
be
to
and
they
as
dug
to
and
up,
when
men,
and
magic
of
store
great
was
That
now.
are
talked
the
when
time
a
enchantments
there
when
was
beasts
spells
treasure
shy
so
none
the
was
there
me
hidden
for
adventures
the
asking. that
At an
old
time,
lived
woman
were
good
and
at
all.
children One
fine
morning,
good
"Oh," sticks
for
wife
"
? "
Oh," to
stream
she
my fire.
the
says
wash
are
old
And
old
old
what
are
you
"
woman,
It's
clothes.
my
had
doing off
gather
to
They no
this
woman.
"Fm
man,
billhook
and
man
they
you
the
says
the
and
poor
'*
old
Fm
to
the
faggot of doing, good a
off
to
the
day,"
washing
adds. So
old
our
were
an
themselves.
by
"What ?
man
says with
mountains
alone
they
day,
know,
must
you
woman
the
old went
went
man
to
the
to stream,
223
the
mountains
and
the
MOMOTARO while she
Now,
she
should
see
down floating enough,and
was
rosy red
morning,"said the dame, peach to shore with a split
stick.
bamboo
her
when By-and-by,
good man the peach
hills,she set Eat, good man," she said
from "
both sides.
on
this
pulled the
she
and
what washing the clothes, but a fine ripepeach that came ? The the stream peach was big
in luck
"Fm
XXIX
the
and
I found in the stream But the old man And
did he
why All
there
the
of
not
this is a
luckypeach broughthome for you." got a taste of the peach. ;
been.
"
Mercy me ! says the old Mercy me ! says the old The boy baby firstate up one "
he
then
and
ate
this he
done **
Truth born
was
was
in he
soon
half of the
!" cries the old
a
peach
man
;
peach."
it is indeed,"says the old
woman
"
;
he
peach."
Both of them that
Momotaro
of the
son
man.
he had up the other half. When finer and stronger than ever. !
Momotaro
the eldest "
woman.
"
"
"
him.
peach burst in two and it,but a fine boy babywhere
should have
stone
before
the
to
stone
home
?
sudden
a
no
was
never
"
came
was
took such the
stoutest
good care
of Momotaro
and bravest
boy of
all
credit to them, you He was a country-side. neighboursnodded their heads may believe. The is the fine young man !" and theysaid,"Momotaro one Mother," says Momotaro day to the old make me a good store of kimi-dango woman, that
"
"
"
224
MOMOTARO
XXIX
(which is the in those
theycall
millet
dumplings
parts). "
for do you
What
"
that
way
? kimi-dango
want
says his
mother.
"Why,** says Momotaro, "Fm going on a journey,or as you may say, an adventure,and I shall be needingthe kimi-dango the way/' on Where ? are says his you going,Momotaro '*
"
mother. off to the
Fm
Ogres'Island,"says Momotaro, if to get their treasure, and I should be obliged as soon as you'dlet me have the kimi-dango may "
"
be," he says.
theymade
So
them
in
a
him
the
and kimi-dango^
he
tied the wallet
wallet, and
girdleand off he set. and good luck ^^Sayonara^ cried the old "
Sayonara! hadn't
He
! Sayonara
"
to
his
woman.
cried Momotaro.
far when
gone
put
you, Momotaro!"
to
and the old
man
he
he
fell in with
a
monkey. "
Kia !
Kia !
"
says the
you off to, Momotaro
?
Says Momotaro, for
an "
your
"
Where
are
"
I'm off
to
the
Ogres'Island
adventure." What
have
? girdle
"Now
"
;
dumplingsin Give
go with
you
got in the wallet
me
hangingat
"
you're asking me
Momotaro "
"
monkey.
sure,
I've
some
something," says of the
best millet
all Japan."
one," says the monkey,
"
and I will
you." 225
Q
MOMOTARO So
XXIX
Momotaro
gave a millet dumpling to the monkey, and the two of them joggedon together.
They hadn't pheasant. are
!
Ken
"
far when
they fell in
with
!'' said the
pheasant.
Where
gone Ken
you off to, Momotaro
SaysMomotaro, for
?
Fm
'*
off
to
the
Ogres*Island
adventure."
an
"What ? "
"
"
a
have
taro got in your wallet, Momo-
you
'*
IVe
got
of the best millet
some
dumplingsin
all Japan." Give
"
go with
me
"and one," says the pheasant,
I will
you." Momotaro
So
gave a millet dumpling to the and the three of them joggedon together. pheasant, They hadn't gone far when they fell in with a
dog.
are
"Bow! Wow! Wow! you off to, Momotaro
SaysMomotaro, have
"What ?
Give
me
dog, and
taro got in your wallet,Momo-
of the best millet
one," says
the
dog,
"
dumplings
and I will go
the
gave a millet dumplingto the four of them jogged on together.
theycame By-and-by my
Ogres'Island."
you."
So Momotaro
"
off to the
"I'm
you
I've got some in all Japan."
with
?
"Where
"
"
"
"
"saysthe dog.
Now,
plan.
to
the
Ogres'Island.
brothers,"says Momotaro, The
pheasantmust 226
flyover
"
listen to the castle
MOMOTARO
XXIX
gate and climb The
peck the
over
dog
the
Ogres.
The
monkey must pinch the Ogres.
and
castle wall
and I will break the bolts and
will bite the
Ogres,and
I will
bars.
fightthe Ogres."
the great battle. The pheasant the castle gate : flew over " Ken ! Ken ! Then
there
was
broke
Momotaro
He
dog leapt into
bolts and
the
the
castle
"
Ken
!
bars,and the
courtyard.
**
Bow
!
Wow!"
Wow!
companionsfoughttillsundown and that were the Ogres. Those left alive overcame a they took prisonersand bound with cords wicked lot they were. Now, brothers,"says Momotaro, bringout the Ogres'treasure." So they did. The treasure worth having, indeed. There was were magic jewels there, and caps and coats to make was gold and silver, you invisible. There and jadeand coral,and amber and tortoise-shelland mother-of-pearl. The
brave
"
*^
"
"
"
my
for
riches
my
Ken
Lord "
Kia ! "
Kia !
Lord "
"
Here's
all," says
Momotaro.
Choose, brothers,and take your fill."
"
Bow
says the
monkey.
"
Thanks,
Momotaro." !
Ken
!
"
says the
pheasant. Thanks, "
Momotaro." !
Thanks, my
Wow
!
dear Lord
Wow
!"
Momotaro."
227
says
the
dog.
XXX
THE
A a
time
long
LONG,
and
man
young
little
daughter,
their
hearts.
have
they of
the
the
MIRROR
MATSUYAMA
there
whom I
long
tell
cannot
been
since
of
Province
They
in
their
you
lived
child,
one
;
for
names,
the
but
name
in
Matsuyama,
was
a
all
with
loved
forgotten
they Echigo.
quiet spot
a
had
both
they
where
place
lived
ago his wife.
It
still the little girl was happened once, while obliged to go to the a baby, that the father was business. some great city, the capital of Japan, upon It was far for the mother and her little baby to too he out set alone, after bidding them bye goodgo, so and home to promising bring them some
present.
pretty
mother
The than a
the
little
had
frightened
taking
such
proud
too,
she
village,and
next
a
the
who his
he
was
had
great
could
thought
long journey
for
country-side the king and
at
farther
been
never
;
and
been lords 228
to
of
yet she
first
the
not
the
lived,
man
from
home
help being her was
in
big
town
and
where
husband a
all
little
that
where there
were
so
MIRROR
MATSUYAMA
THE
XXX
beautiful and
many
curious
thingsto
be
seen.
At
last the time
husband
her best
back,
clothes,and she knew
which You
so
herself put her husband
on
a
might expect the baby in its
pretty blue dress
liked.
gladthis good wife safe and sound, and
home
come
she
she dressed
fancyhow
may
him
see
when
came
was
how
to
the
girlclapped her hands, and laughed with delightwhen she saw the pretty toys her father He had much had brought for her. to tell of all the wonderful thingshe had seen upon the journey, little
in the
and "
I
said he
have to
itself.
town
brought you
his wife
"
;
a
very
it is called
a
pretty
thing," Look
mirror.
you sec inside.'* He gave to her she a box, in which, when plainwhite wooden had opened it,she found a round pieceof metal. and tell me
One
side
what
was
white, like frosted silver,and
mented orna-
of birds and flowers ; figures the other was brightas the clearest crystal.Into mother looked with it the young delight and astonishment,for,from its depthswas lookingat her with partedlipsand brighteyes, a smiling happy face. do you see ? What againasked the husband, and gladto show that at her astonishment pleased he had learned somethingwhile he had been away. I see a pretty woman lookingat me, and she and her lipsas if she was dear moves speaking, how odd, she has on a blue dress just like me, with
raised
"
"
"
"
mme
1 229
"
Why,
MIRROR
MATSUYAMA
THE
it is your
silly woman,
you
xxx
face
own
'*
said the husband,proudof knowing " That round somethingthat his wife didn't know. that you
!
see
In
the
everybodyhas one, although we have them in this country-place before."
not
piece of
wife
The for
a
few
for you
the firsttime
a
own
wonderful
use, and
soon
with
she
her
that
remember
had
seen
a
she had
pretty face.
thing far
But
as
seen
seen
often
this
mirror, so, of
ever
town
present, and
look into the mirror
not
must
the firsttime
of her
mirror.
a
charmed
was
dayscould
enough ; it was
is called
metal
was
course,
the reflection
she considered such
preciousfor everyday in its box againand put
too
shut it up
her most valued treasures. it away carefully among Years passedon, and the husband and wife still lived
happily.The who little daughter, her mother, and who
joy
of their
grew was
so
life
was
their
up the very image of dutiful and aflfectionate
everybodyloved her. Mindful of her own little passingvanityon findingherself so lovely, the mother hidden away, kept the mirror carefully that the use of of it might breed a spirit fearing pridein her little girl. She never spokeof it,and as for the father he had forgotten all about it. So it happened that the daughter had grew up as simpleas the mother been, and knew nothing of her own good looks, that
or
of the
mirror
which
would
have
reflected
them. But to
this
by-and-bya terrible misfortune happened good, kind happy little family. The 230
THE
XXX
fell sick
mother
waited
MATSUYAMA
upon
;
MIRROR
and, although her
her, day and night,with
and worse, until she got worse die. doubt but that she must
When her
she
husband
daughter lovingcare,
found
and
she
that
at
last there
must
child,the poor
so
was
no
leave
soon
felt very
woman
for those she was sorrowful, grieving going to leave behind, and most of all for her little daughter. She called the girl to her and said, My darlingchild,you know that I am very sick ; soon "
I
die and
must
alone. will
When
look
leave I
am
dear
your
gone,
into this mirror
there you will
morning ; stillwatching over am
father and
you that you
promise every night and
see
me
me,
and know
every that I
you." With these words and gave she took the mirror from its hiding-place child promised,with it to her daughter.The calm many tears, and so the mother, seemingnow died a short time after. and resigned, this obedient and dutiful daughternever Now forgother mother's last request, but each morning and eveningtook the mirror from its hiding-place, she There and looked in it long and earnestly. the bright and smilingvision of her lost saw Not in her last days, mother. as pale and sickly of long ago. To but the beautiful young mother her at night she told the story of the trials and difficulties of the day ; to her in the morning she in whatever looked for sympathyand encouragement might be in store for her. So day by day she lived as in her mother's her as she had done in stillto please sight, striving 231
THE
MIRROR
MATSUYAMA
and careful alwaysto lifetime, might painor grieveher. her
Her
greatestjoy was
to
xxx
avoid whatever
be able
look in the
to
and say, " Mother, I have been to-day what to be." you would have me Seeing her look into the mirror every night and hold to fail,and seem morning without mirror
converse
with of
the
reason
she
said,
length asked
at
her strange behaviour.
I look
"
father
it,her
in the
mirror
"
every her."
Father,"
day to
and to talk with Then my dear mother told him of her mother's dyingwish, and how had
failed to fulfilit.
never
Touched
by
her
so
see
she she
much
such faithful, lovingobedience,the father shed tears of pityand affection. Nor could and simplicity, he
find it in his heart
image she of
her
saw
own
sympathyand dead
mother's
tell the
to
in the mirror sweet
was
child
but the reflection
face,becoming by
association
more
dayby day.
232
that the
and
more
constant
like her
XXXI
IMAGES
BROKEN
there
Once in
dawn
dark
to
he
could
himself
his
the
the It all
way,
a
fair
day early
of
bright-
dreamer dark
and
would
Sweetly
of
or
war,
his
;
he
thoughts.
fairies
the
arrows.
and
a
to
his
or
of
to
of
took
yellow the
is
woods,
his
by
book
the
of
green
the
the
joys smiling. he
holy
hunter
as
time
his
stream's
betook
his
was
in
wont.
hand,
and,
side, where
mimulus.
fairies*
the
a
the
summer
the
to
wandered
he
when
And 'came
love,
tell stories
very dreamer
musing,
buy
of
was
dawn
with
or
his
strong
brother
from
went
and
was
loved
gods.
Upon
"
he
;
He
He
bow
From
book
sing
fields, and of the
run
gentle. his
chase.
his
younger
were
sit with
the
with
could
Swiftly he eyed. The
grew
princes
were
hunter.
a
was
and
woods
deep
But
brother
elder
The
eyes
who
brothers
two
land.
the
the
lived
of
had
money,** fairyland ! continued
shrine. ^33
And
he **
said
So
for
"
;
he
went
will on
time, he
some
there
it
led
to
the
IMAGES
BROKEN
xxxi
and grey. steps, moss-grown guardianlions,carved in steps were
hundred
shrine
a
Beside
the
stone.
Behind
shrine
the
Fugi, the Mystic and all the lesser beautiful,
and
Mountain, white
was
softly up like prayers, '*0 peerless Fugi,*'said the dreamer, "O mountain wonder ! To see thee is to passionless hills
hear
rose
music
sweet
without
of silence.*'
harmony Then
he
climbed
the
rose
up
him
to
the lions that were and followed him, and
the
inner
and
steps,moss-grown carved
And
grey.
blessed
sound, the
in
stone
with
they came
gates of the shrine and
stayed
there. the
In
smoke
The
shrine
there
of incense
was
a
hush
curled and
of
hung
noonday. upon
the
Dimly shone the gold and the bronze, the and the mysticmirrors. lights sound There of singingin the shrine, was a and turning, the dreamer saw who stood at a man The taller than any his right hand. was man air.
child of earth. Moreover, his face shone with the He held gloryof a youththat cannot pass away. and hushed child upon his arm it to a year-old the singinga strange melody. When sleep, and smiled. well pleased, he was fell asleep "
"
"
What
babe is that ?
'*
babe
said the dreamer.
O
dreamer,it is no babe, but a spirit." said the Then, my lord, what are you ? "
dreamer. "
I
am
children.
Jizo,who It is
most
guards the to pitiful
^34
souls
of little
hear their
crying
BROKEN
XXXI
when
IMAGES the
sandy river-bed, the Sai'-no^kawara. O dreamer, they come alone, as needs they must, wailingand wandering, stretching their pretty hands. out They have a task,which of prayer. But in the is to pilestones for a tower the Oni to throw down the towers and nightcome to
they
to
come
So the children
all the stones.
scatter
and their labour is lost." afraid, What then,my lord Jizo? "
then I come, I call And
Why,
"
leave.
me
souls.* And
on
my
breast,where
lightand
cold
for the '
Come
made
said the dreamer. Great
One
gives hither,wandering
that I may hide I carry them in my arms
theyflyto
long sleeves.
in my
'*
are
me
them and
they lie lightand cold, as the morning mist the upon "
as
mountains.** When
he had
and murmured
:
and fro in the
child spoken,the year-old so
he
rocked
stirred
it,and wandered
quiettemplecourt
and hushed
to
it
as
he went. So
the
swift
flew and
moments
passedaway. there came to the Presently gentleand beautiful. Grey was had
silver sandals
called The
on
Merciful.
shrine
the
a
noontide
lady most
her
robe,and she her feet. She said,"I am For mankind's dear sake,I
refused eternal peace. The Great One has givento me a thousand lovingarms, arms of mercy. full of gifts. O hands are And dreamer, my when you dream your dreams you shall see me in have
my
lotus
boat
when
I
mere.'* 23s
sail upon
the
mystic
BROKEN
Lady,Lady Kwannon
"
Then a
IMAGES
clothed
one
came
.
.
in
xxxi
"'*said the dreamer.
blue,speakingwith
voice. sweet, deep,well-known " I am Benten, the Goddess of the Sea and
of
Goddess
about
Song. My dragonsare
and
me
feet.
See their green scales and O dreamer ! " Greeting,
beneath my
opaleyes.
After her there
came
band of
a
the
their
bloomingboys,
laughingand holdingout the
are "
of
Sons
" their rosy arms. We Sea Goddess," they said.
the
Come, dreamer, come of
God
The
hands, for
his
Three
he
could
see
the three
were
apes covered
three
his
and
came,
first ape
The
messengers.
cool caves."
our
Roads
him.
with
messengers
to
his eyes with evil thing. The
no
second ape covered his ears with his hands, for he third ape covered could hear no evil thing. The with his hands, for he could speak no his mouth
thing.
evil
Then
who
takes the
able
to
pay
came
She, the fearful of the
clothes
dead
their toll,so that of the the entrance
at shivering Ways. They
who
woman
not
are
stand they must mysteriousThree
unfortunate indeed.
are
saw many and many a vision the dreamer in that enchanted shrine. and tempest And dark night fell,with storm
And
and
the
dreamer
never
of
sound
sound
the roof. Yet the rain upon stirred. a Suddenlythere was
of
hurryingfeet
without.
loud, My brother,my brother,my "
In sprang
the hunter
A
voice
called
brother !
.
.
."
through the golden temple
doors.
236
IMAGES
BROKEN
XXXI
"
Where
"
he cried,** my brother, you ? He had his swinginglantern in
arc
brother ! **
my
and
his hand
held
hair back
blown
brightwith the as an eagle's.
high,as
rain upon
"
he
flunghis long
his shoulder.
over
brother
'*0
it
it,his eyes
." said the
.
face
His were
was
keen
as
dreamer, and
ran
him.
to meet
the dear
Now
"
gods be
thanked
that I have
" Half the you safe and sound," said the hunter. nightI have soughtyou, wandering in the forest all to blame for and by the stream's side. I was
leavingyou
.
.
.
my
he took his brother's
little brother."
face between
With
his
two
that, warm
hands.
sighed,**I
dreamer
the
But
have
he said,"and gods all night," still. The placeis holy."
the them
the
Then
hunter
flashed his
been
I think
with
I
lightupon
templewalls,upon the gildingand he said. I see no gods,"
see
the
the bronze.
"
What
see
"
I
a
with
him
see
scent "
"
images,grey,
feet." grey because
theyare sad,theyare because theyare forgotten," said the dreamer. But the hunter took him by the hand and led into the night. They
The the
you, brother ? of stones, broken row
moss-grown
"
sad
"
"
Now
are
dreamer
said, O brother,how "
sweet
is
of the bean fieldsafter the rain." bind your
and I'll run
you
a
sandals on," said the hunter, home." to our race 3^37
XXXII
THE
Once
TONGUE-CUT
and
world.
the cross
not
the
sing
and
was
say,
and
sour
and
all
sad,
all the
as
side. country-
for
and
ever,
of
time
kind
for
smile
in
the
pass
and
a
growled
day
head
on
all
the
home,
side,
one
with
kept tricks, man
night.
at
the
on
he
master," and
talk
old
his work
pert
as
the
twittering
sparrow
Welcome
of
manner
So
from
home
be "
do
he
could
sparrow
company.
came
that
sparrow
The
and
good
and
pet
a
eye.
dance
would
his
his
he
when
doorstep,
had
of
very
There
and as
man
apple
and
and
found
be
who
woman
merry
was
lived
folk.
old
The
was
woman
much
so
respectable
found
old
The
man
who
man
old
an
word
good
a
patch as could She grumbled
a
would
as
with
gentle,
old
an
was
old
The
all alone.
lived
was
there
And
alone.
all
there
time
a
upon
SPARROW
pretty
would as
you
please. One the home
day
the
it
was
her
off
went
man
The
mountains.
for
old
old
washing 238
woman,
day.
to
cut
she She
wood
in
stayed made
some
at
TONGUE-CUT
THE
XXXII
good starch door
and
she put it outside her
he
But
she
said
made
a
the bamboo littlesparrow flew over lightedon the edge of the starch bowl.
the starch with
pecked at
his littlebeak.
peckedand he pecked till all gone, and a good meal he made, to
the
He
Then to
she it,**
readywhen I want that's just where
The
mistake. fence and And
bowl
It will be all
herself.
to
a
cool.
to
"
in
SPARROW
out
the old
came
starch
was
be sure. for the starch
woman
starch her clothes. You
believe she
She caught angry. roughlyin her hand, and, alas
may
the little sparrow and alack ! she took and
Away
hill and over " And a old
sharp,sharpscissors
a
she let him
Then
his littletongue.
away dale.
was
flew the
and
go.
little sparrow,
!"
good riddance,too
cut
over
said the cruel
woman.
the old
When
man
from the
home
came
tains moun-
his pet sparrow gone. And before long he knew all the tale. He lost no time, the good old man ; he set out at once on foot,calling " Sparrow,sparrow, where are you, my tongue-cut he
found
" sparrow ? hill and Over "
dale
over
Sparrow,sparrow, where
sparrow At
?
sparrow
calling
went,
you, my
tongue-cut
**
last and
at
lengthhe
house, and the sparrow flew Then
are
he
there
was
a
to
came
out
to
^39
and
sparrow's
greet his
to twittering,
called his brothers
the
be
master.
sure.
sisters and
The
his
TONGUE-CUT
THE
his wife
children and
and
his mother
his
out
him
into the house
mats
of silk.
and
xxxii
his mother-in-law
they all They brought
honour.
man
and
they set him down upon theyspreada great feast ; red
Then
and who daikon and fish^ besides,and the very best saU rice and
knows
what all drink. The
to
sparrow waited upon the good old man, brothers and sisters and his children and and his mother and his mother-in-law with grandmother
After
and
grandmother. And
do the old
flew
to
SPARROW
and
his his wife and
his
him.
sparrow danced, whilst his grandmotherplayedthe samisen and the good old the
supper
beat time.
man
It
was
evening. good thingscome
a
merry last,"All
At
says the old
"
man
;
to
I fear 'tislate and
end,"
an
hightime
I
home." getting
was
without
"Not
"Ah, But
littlepresent," says the sparrow.
dear," says the old
sparrow
have
sooner
a
than yourself
the sparrow
any
shook
"Fd
man,
present."
his head.
Presently theybroughtin two wicker is heavy,"says the of them One the other is light. Say, master, "and take the heavybasket or the light? "
baskets. sparrow, will you
"
"Fm
not
good old the
have carry
"
So When
man.
so
as
young "
I
was," says
once
Fd Thanking you kindly,
lightbasket
;
it will
suit
me
the
sooner
better
to
that is,if it'sthe same to you,"he says. home with he went the light basket. he
opened it,wonderful 240
to
it was tell,
full
SPARROW
TONGUE-CUT
THE
XXXII
tortoise-shell and
gold and silver and jade and fine rolls of of
silk.
So
the
coral and
good old
man
rich for life.
was
all
this,she
road
tied
took
skirts and hill and
over
the
to
the
when
Now,
bad old her
on
stout
a
sandals and
stick in her
dale she went,
tell of
heard
woman
and
kilted her
took the
sparrow'shouse.
Over
hand.
There
straight the
was
his brothers and sisters sparrow, and there were and children and his wife and his mother and his mother-in-law and his grandmother. They were not
too
to pleased
the bad old woman,
see
but
they
couldn't do less than ask her in as she'd come so far. They gave her red rice and white rice and
fish,and who
daikon and she
gobbledit up of saki.
cup
Then
time
more
any
in
a
knows
what
and twinkling,
up
here,"
she got. she
says,
presents." They broughtin two wicker
bringout One
and besides, drank
"
a
I can't
"
so
good waste
you'd best
your
of them
baskets.
is
heavy,"says the sparrow, and the other is light. Say,mistress, will you take the heavy basket or the light? I'lltake the heavy one," says the old woman, quickas a thought. So she heaved it up on her Sure enough it was back and off she set. as heavy "
"
"
**
as
lead. When
did
she
was
gone, Lord
! how
the sparrows
laugh ! No
sooner
did she reach home
than she undid
the cords of the basket. *'
Now
for the
she said,and gold and silver,"
TONGUE-CUT
THE
smiled
though
"
she
SPARROW hadn't
smiled
she lifted up the lid. Kowai! Ai! Obaki da I
xxxii
for
a
month. twelve-
And ''Ai!
Oiai^ r' she
screeched. The
basket
pixiesand
demons
the old wqman, push her and to
tease to
was
of fright
her
full of
uglyimps and elves and and devils. Out they came to to pullher and to poke her, pinch her. She had the fine
I warrant life,
242
you.
XXXIII
THE
samurai
the
Id"
NURSE
wedded
was
called
only child, a boy of war, man mighty an
from
away lord.
So
the and
mother Matsu the
home
her
was
and
strong
often
as
the
the
Pine
and
of
woman,
which
is, in
Tree.
And
was
his
reared
was
had
he
not
as
faithful
was
liege his
by
his the
a
nurse.
of
speech
even
the
as
pine
she, unchanging
was
evergreen,
Ide
business
Fugiwaka
name,
the
country,
tree,
child
fair wife
a
Fugiwaka.
and
upon
by
to
and
enduring. In
the
Aforetime
sword.
and-forty battle. He
kept
of
The
to
make
to
reverence
Morning O
Matsu,
my
there
sword
with
and
Id6's
was
in
away
a
evening glorious
the
nurse,
in
place
with
the
child
Fugiwaka of
knelt
by "
his
Show
Fugiwaka.
one
treasure.
his
household
memory
243
sword
safe
the
said
clan
this
precious slew eight-
very
sacred
evening,
nurse,"
a
most
before
the
and
was
of Id6*s
hero
enemies
salutations
Matsu,
Id^ a
his
it laid
gods. Morning
And
of
house
hold house-
came
gods, his
and
ancestors.
side. me
the
sword,
THE And
O
Matsu
NURSE
made
lord,I will show
xxxiii
'*
answer,
Of
surety, my
a
it to
you." from its place, she brought the sword Then of red and goldbrocade. And wrapped in a covering she drew off the coveringand she took the sword the bright from its golden sheath and displayed steel to Fugiwaka. And the child made obeisance tillhis forehead touched bedtime
At She
O
Matsu
sang this song "
the mats. and
sang songs
lullabies.
:
little child^ sleep sweetly
Sleepy my
"
Would you know The secret
of the
the secret
hare
o
^
Nennin
Tama
?
littlechild^ sleepsweetly
Sleepy my
shall know
Tou
the secret.
Ohy the august hare of Nennin Tama^
longare augustly
Why
should this be^ohybest beloved? shall know
Tou
His mother
ate
His mother Hush
And O
the
seed. loquat
ate
the
!
Hush
you know
Matsu
Fugiwaka
the bamboo seed.
! "
Now O
the secret.
little childy sweetly sleep
Sleepy my
Then
!
Hush!
Hush!
lord
his ears
How
?
said, "
the secret.^* Will
you
sleepnow,
my
**
child answered,
"
I will
sleepnow,
Matsu." "
Listen,my
lord,"she said, and, sleepingor "
^44
THE
XXXIII
NURSE The
waking,remember.
sword
is your The sword
sword
The
is your trust. Cherish it,guard it,keep it."
fortune.
Sleepingor waking,I
"
treasure.
is your
remember,*' said
will
Fugiwaka. in
Now
evil
an
day the And
fell sick and died. of Id^. the house
past,the samurai took son
by
her and
himself
Id^
there
Fugiwaka mourning in
was
Howbeit, when years another bride,and he
called him slain
was
of
mother
had
a
after this
Goro.
And
an
ambush,
in
were
and
his
and laid him with retainers broughthis body home his fathers. Fugiwaka was chief of the House of Ide. But was Lady Sadako, his stepmother,
the
Black mischief stirred in her and she brooded brows as
bearingher babe in her
heart she
;
ill-pleased. she
bent
her
her
went
ways, At nightshe tossed
arms.
her bed.
upon
child is a
My
"
beggar,"she
is chief of the House
It is
!
him
too
of Id6.
much,"
spoke and tossed upon plan. When Fugiwaka was
she
turned
him
"
Why
out
his back, nor
sup
Evil fortune
a
"
.
.
."
Thus
her bed, thinking of
a
fifteen years old she house with a poor garment
of the
with barefooted,
goldpieceto
see
him
never
"
"
? birthright MS
a
bite
nor
a
his way.
on
Ah, ladymother," he said, you do you take my
betide
proud lady. I beggar! I would
it ; my child a him with my hands. strangle
rather
Fugiwaka
"
said the
brook
will not
upon
said.
use
me
ill.
NURSE
THE
I know
"
of
nought
xxxiii
she birthrights,"
said.
fortune if you can. your own of Id6." brother Goro is chief of the House make
Go,
"
that she bade them
With
shut
the
Your
door
in his
face. and Fugiwaka departedsorrowfully, O
cross-roads had
Matsu,
herself
made
ready for
had
kilted,she
was
his nurse,
a
met
him.
staff in her
hand
the She
her
journey:
a
at
robe
and sandals
her feet.
on
'*
the world's
to
you
she said, I lord,'*
My
"
Then
follow
to
come
end." and
Fugiwaka wept
the woman's
am
laid his head
upon
breast.
! And," my nurse " father's sword ? he I have The of IdL sword lost the precioussword is
Ah," he said, my said, what of my "
"
my
treasure, the
my
fortune.
I
keep
it.
it,to
I
! ofId6!"
is
me
"
"
Oh, say
sword
is my
bound
am
But
to
I have
now
undone, and not
so,
trust, the sword is cherish it,to guard
so
lost it.
is all the
lord," said O
my
Woe House Matsu.
gold; go you your way and I will return guard the sword of Id6." his way with the goldthat So Fugiwaka went
Here
and
am
nurse,
is
gave him. and took As for O Matsu, she went straightway the sword from its placewhere it lay with the household gods, and she buried it deep in the
his
nurse
ground
until such
to safety
her young
time
as
lord.
246
she
might
bear
it in
THE
XXXIII
But
Lady Sadako
the
soon
the sacred sword It is the
"
was
that
aware
gone. !
nurse
.
.
Then
"
she cried.
"
The
has
nurse
bringher to me.'* peoplelaid their hands and brought her before Matsu for all they could do O But She sealed. a spoke never
Some
.
O
roughly upon mistress.
Matsu^s
became
of you the Lady Sadako's
stolen it.
their
NURSE
lipswere
word,
neither
where
the
could
sword
Lady Sadako her She pressed
the
was.
find
out
thin
lips
together. The
"
matter
for such
;
obstinate,"she said.
is
woman
fault I know
a
the
No
"
sovereign
cure."
Lady dungeon.
Sadako
Well,"
"
Will
she
you say ? But
O
darkness
" "
went
in
nor
a
dark
drink.
"
dungeon Every day
of the dark
the door
to
said, where
is the sword
answered
not
she wept and Alas ! Alas !
a
word.
sighedto never
herself in the
alive may I come have the sword
young lord. Yet he must of Id6, and I shall find a way." Now after seven days the Lady Sadako
to
my
the
garden-house The
summer. saw
a
garden flowers
and
the
she
slow
woman
;
as
was
came
in
herself,for it was she evening. Presently her through the towards Frail and
trees. came
sat
cool
to
time that
woman
of Ide ?
"
Matsu
Howbeit
Matsu
food
neither
and gave her
the
O
locked
she
So
her
steps faltered. 247
slender
body swayed and
was
her
NURSE
THE "
"
this is strange !
Why, is O
Here
dungeon," O
But
Matsu, that And
she
Matsu
her
locked
was
the
to
she was, the earth.
draggingat hands and they bled. earth and found
the
at
The
at
with
Woman, Sadako, and "
"
she
in its
was
it to clasped
loud cry. I have you now," shrieked the a
the
of Id6
sword
well !
as
And
and ran leapedfrom the garden-house speed. She stretched forth her hand to O Matsu by the sleeve,but did not have
full
at
catch her
or
cither,for both of them were gone in a she the ladybeat the empty air. Swiftly
the sword and flash,
body of poor O Matsu, dungeon floor. Send
she
dark
dungeon,and as peopleto bringtorches.
the
called her
"
Lady
"
she
sped to
the
away
It
last.
and wrapping of gold and scarlet, her bosom
tore
her
cut
stones
Still she
the sword
she had
groundwith weeping and moaning
fingers.There
and
dark
in the
placewhere
and scratched
buried the sword
Lady Sadako.
said the
still, watching.
sat
went
**
xxxiii
me
the
Wise
cold and
went
There dead
laythe
upon
said the
Woman,"
she the
Lady
Sadako. So
Lady dead ? The
theysent Sadako
for the Wise
asked,
"
And
Woman.
How
long
has
she
the been
"
Wise
Woman
said, She "
death ; she has been dead two you gave her fitburial ; she
for the sword
was
starved
to
days. It were well a good soul." was
found. of Id6,it was not Fugiwaka tossed to and fro upon his lowlybed
As
248
THE
XXXIII
in
his
he
nurse
to
came
it seemed
And
waysidetavern.
a
NURSE
him
and knelt
by his
to
him
side.
that Then
soothed.
was
O
Matsu
Fugiwaka ? And
said, "
Will
you
sleepnow,
my
lord
"
he
answered,
"
I
will
sleep now,
O
Matsu." "
she said, and, sleeping or lord,''
Listen,my
"
waking,remember.
The
sword
is your The sword
The
sword is your trust. fortune. Cherish it,guard it,keep it.*' The
sword
and scarlet,
she
boy turned
over
sword
treasure.
is your
wrapping of gold and laid it by Fugiwaka'sside. The and his hand claspedthe to sleep,
was
in
its
of Id^.
"Waking
or
he sleeping,"
remember."
249
said,"I
will
XXXIV
BEAUTIFUL
THE
This
the
is
who
Cherry,
of
Sakura-ko,
the
beautiful
tale was
geisha^ born herself into bondage her mother might
She
was
sold that the
of
The
it !
Namida
called
of
the
Yedo. that
daughter,
her
have
food that
that
Kani^
no
of
dancer
after
money
YEDO
Flower
samurais
a
a
pity
OF
DANCER
father to
died,
is
Ah,
eat.
her
bought "the
so
was
of
money
tears.*' dwelt
She
the
where
plum
trees
the gets Aa there
in
the
in
red
and
flourish
street
narrow
white
lanterns
the
low
is full of music,
for
by
bkoa^
kottOy the could
make
long,
her
and
it too
She the
;
geisha^ and
swing The
eves.
they play
the
of
street
the
samisen
she the
and sing them. Her songs hair was black, her hands
dusk
to
dawn the
she cool
could
of
was
and to
skilful
samisen^ the
hand-drum.
small
power
In
indeed
played
wonderful, beauty was dawn to please. From
heart.
the
all
day long. Sakura-ico played lovely art. every
Her
of
She
eyes were
wonderful
dusk, and
were
white. her
from
go smiling and hide her the stand day she would 250
The
Beautiful
Dancer
of
Yedo.
P.
250.
THE
XXXIV
DANCER
OF
YEDO
of gallery
her mistress's house, and muse down into the street of the as she stood and looked geisha.And the folk that passed that way said the
upon
another,
See,
yonder stands Sakura-ko, of the Cherry,the beautiful dancer of Flower without peer/* Yedo, the geisha to
one
Little
"
looked
Sakura-ko
But
said,
"
full of vain and
love
and
hopes
mused
vain
regrets ; The
and
geisha^ paved houses
are
youth
and
hearts,your
here.
griefdwell
and
of the
street
narrow
bitterness and broken
with
down
flowers in your
watered with tears.*' are gardens needs have their The gentlemenof Yedo must served at feasts every night. so Sakura-ko pleasure, They whitened her cheeks and her forehead,and silk attires, gildedher lipswitH beni. She wore goldand purpleand grey and green and black,obi Her hair was of brocade tied. magnificently pinnedwith coral and jade,fastened with combs of gold lacquerand tortoise-shell. She pouredsak^y she made More merry with the good company.
this,she danced.
than
Three "
She
is
of her
poets sang
lighterthan
dancing.
One
rainbow-tinted
the
said,
dragon-
fly.'" And the
the third
the river of the But The
He
"
the
morning when And
was
She
said,
another
moves
brightsun
said, "
She
like the mist
of
shines.**
is like the shadow
in
waving willow-branch."
it is time
to
first lover
tell of her three lovers. was
neither
passingrich,and 2SI
a
old
great
man
nor
young. in Yedo.
He
his servant
sent
You
are
lost your
of the
street
O
me,
"
have
should there
master
you.**
Must
?
**
she
master
himself.
came
a
"Come
he said, Cherry,**
of the
Flower
the
dolls here.**
no
arc
in
have
to
gone
toy-shopsand bought your
have
must
door
the
"
You
doll ; let him know After this the to
shut
with geisha
she said, you fellow,**
wrong,
way.
xxxiv
of the
street
girdle.Sakura-ko
money in his his face. "
the
to
YEDO
OF
DANCER
THE
"
said,and looked
down
with
for I her
long eyes. he said, Aye,** the Cherry.** "
of
"
"
What
"
Fine
and
mats
will you cool
"
Flower
? ** she said.
giveme
galleries ; servants
goldhairpins what "
O
word,
silk and brocade,a house, white attires,
"
"
is the
must
What
to
wait
on
you,
you will.'* '*
do I
giveyou ? she Yourself, justthat,O Flower Body and soul ? she said.
said. of the
Cherry.**
'*
he answered
her, Body and soul.'* Now, fare you well,**she said, I have a she fancyto remain a geisha.It is a merry life," said,and she laughed. And
"
"
"
So that The wise "
the end of the firstlover.
was
second
is very
lover
old.
was
well, but
he
was
To old
Sakura-ko,"he cried, ah, cruel "
be
and
one,
I
old
and
foolish. am
mad
'*
for love of you ! " My lord,"she said," I He
said, "
I
am
not
so
252
can
believe easily
very old."
it."
THE
XXXIV
told
the
By
"
him,
divine
old
the
But
counsel.
nightto
a
home
and
would
lover
they had
when
feast she danced before him and
a
robe of
made that who
her
gold brocade.
sit beside him
the
time read
gods,"she prepare for good law."
to
the
nothing of
hear
Instead,he bade great feast which
And
her.
yet have
you may Go
YEDO
compassionof
"
end.
your
OF
DANCER
her
his house
to
he
had
made
her
by
preparedfor end
an
of
the
wearingscarlet hakama After the dancinghe and
he
called for
wine,
they might drink together. And the geisha pouredthe saki was called Silver Wave, When they had drunk together,Sakura-ko old
her
and cried "
lover, he
drew
her
to
him
are
mine
and
:
Come, my
bride,you
love, my
the time of many
existences ; there
for we the cup. Be not afraid, Come with me to the Meido." But
Sakura-ko
Wave, and
I
are
was
shall die
for
poisonin together.
said,"My sister,the Silver not children,neither are we old
and foolish to be deceived. I drank no saki and no the Silver Wave, poured fresh poison. My sister, tea so
Howbeit in my cup. I am I will stay with you till you and He died in her arms alone
way "
But
to
"
was
cried the Flower
her sister. Silver
"
fain
to
take his
was
of the
Cherry.
Wave, gave her counsel you will yet have cause
Keep your tears, for weeping. Waste not grief that
die."
the Meido.
Alas ! alas !
And
sorry for you, and
the end
such
as
of the second
253
thus
he." lover.
:
for
THE The
DANCER
third lover
Impetuous he
OF
YEDO
xxxiv
young and brave and beautiful. He
and
was
was,
of the
eyes on the Flower his father's house.
Cherryat
Afterwards
her out in the street of the she leaned againstthe as
he
a
gay. first set
festivalin
went
seek
to
geisha.He found railingof gallery
her her
mistress's house.
She looked
down
and sang this song *'
of the
into the street
geisha
:
My
mother bade
Out
ofthe yellowsea
finethread spin
me
sand
"
hard taskya hard task. May the dear godsspeedme A
My fathergave
me
saidj Draw
He
*
basket ofreeds
a
water
carry it a mile
And
!
from
the
;
spring
' "
hard task^a hard task. May the dear godsspeedme A
!
My heart would remember^ My heart must forget; Forgety my heartyforget "
A
hard
the dear
May When lover **
of
saw
Do
the
task^a
she had
hard task.
made
that her eyes you remember
Cherry ?
I
! *'
godsspeedme end
an
were
of
full of
singing,the
tears.
me,*'he said, O
Flower
"
saw
you
last
night
at
my
father'shouse." "
Aye, my
remember
young lord,"she answered
you very well." 254
him,
"
I
DANCER
THE
XXXIV
said, I
He
"
O
you,
so
of the
Flower
this she flushed neck
At
Be
Cherry.
I love
And
very young.
gentle,hear
dear wife."
free,be my
be
me,
not
am
YEDO
OF
and
chin,cheeks and
forehead.
dear," said
"My are
"
no
of the
Flower
I
Old
!
"No,
His
eat,
year
no
"
drink,nor
nor
house.
at
There
lived in
He
One street
dawn
his house
stayedwith
him
there
for both
"
he
time
no
of
more
fire. He
could
He
torment
weak
;
festival in She
he
was
said
a
great
word, outside Yedo, and
full three nursed
the swiftly, Swiftly,
no
And
moons.
back
ruddy glad days sped by to
of them.
This
happy time of gods,"said Flower
is the
thank the dear one
a
she found him. to
eternity,"
an
at night he fell fainting of the geisha.Sakura-ko
from
him
health.
year
pinedand grew his heart heavy night,
sleep.
but she bore after that
a
thoughtof nothing on
was
day and
grew, and weaker. of the the entrance home
lover
blood
young
pale,he wandered with longing.
came
lies*not
year, but of the Cherry. " Think a
me," she said ; but the else.
me
you."
as
why, there
"
of
"
not
said Flower
"
and think
old for such
he said ;
!
us
you
Cherryindeed."
too
am
"
"now
man,
"
between
not
young
Child," she said, go home
more. "
the
evening. My dear,"the
young hither your samisen and let 255
man me
all my
life. I
of the
bade hear you
her,
Cherry "
fetch
sing."
DANCER
THE she
So
song you have "
She
did.
heard
YEDO
OF
said,
'^
xxxiv
I shall
sing you
a
already."
My
mother bade
Out
ofthe yellowsea
thread spinjine
me
sand
"
hara task^a hard task. May the dear godsspeedme A
My fathergave
me
saidy Draw
He
'
A
basket
a
water
And
carry it a mile hard task^a hard
!
ofreeds ;
from
the
spring
* "
task.
May the dear godsspeedme My heart would remember ; My heart must forget ty my hearty forget Forge
!
y
"
hard task^a hard task. me May the dear godsspeed
A
Sweet," he said, what does this song "
"
and
! '*
why She
leave
do you
singit ?
answered, and
you,
forgetyou
;
"
Mv
lord,it means
therefore
you
do
I
that I
sing it.
forgetme.
must
mean,
"
I
That
must must
is my
desire."
said,"I
He
thousand
will
never
forgetyou,
cried, "
but yours, O "
world
The
in
a
existences."
She smiled, " Pray the gods you wife and have children." sweet He
not
No
Flower
wife
but you, and
of the us."
256
no
wed
a
children
Cherry."
gods forbid, my dear,my
lies between
may
dear.
All the
THE
XXXIV
The
OF
DANCER
day
next
she
YEDO
High and low lamentingand
was
gone. the lover wandered, weeping and seekingher both near and far. It for he found her no
more
Yedo
knew
her
Sakura-ko,the beautiful dancer.
"
her
And Howbeit
at
for him
cityof
The
not.
all in vain,
was
a
mourned
lover
last he
very
was
sweet
many
comforted, and
fairladywhom
days.
many
they found
he took
to
wife
enough, and soon she bore him a son. willingly And he was glad,for time dries all tears. five years old he sat in Now when the boy was gate of his father's house.
the that
alms.
The
would
have
it chanced
that way begging for of the house broughtrice and
wandering nun
a
And
came
servants
put it into her begging bowl, but the
child said, Let me give." So he did as he would. "
he
As
down the
filled the
the rice with nun
a
caught him
begging wooden
by the
bowl
spoon
and and
sleeve and
patted laughed,
held him
and looked into his eyes. "
Holy
nun,
why
do
you
look
at
so
me
? *'
cried the child. had a little boy like She said," Because I once you, and I went away and left him." " Poor littleboy ! " said the child. "
It
was
better for him, my
dear, my
dear
"
far,
far better." And
when
she she had said this,
2S7
went
her way.
XXXV
HANA-SAKA-JIJI
hard-working, their
Now
in
make
both But
They went
be
fond
of
One
clever.
woman
went
garden,
and
out
the
they ground, and
the
earth "
old
He
old
do
bit
of
with
went
working
presently his
can
the
he
to
of
bit
a
If
the
was
the
do
they
nothing
their
it with
a
could
ever
about
house
dog,
it.
you
for
they faithful, good, the
and
man
digging
old
their
in
them. the
dog
began
sniflHng
was
scratch
to
up
paws. be
dog
about
?
now
'*
says
the
woman. "
"
What
with
said in
sup
poor.
creatures. not
evening to
were
or
and
been
long.
they
him.
dog
While the
hungry
or
is
day
bite they had sure they shared
very
and
cold
the
if
it, and
were
as
old
poor
complain,
not
merry bed
to
may
did
they
the
meet,
couple.
honest
long
ends
were
old
good
a
been they had but they had always old it was all they age
lives
their
All
lived
there
early days
the
In
he's
Oh,
just nothing
at
all,*' says
playing." 258
the
old
man
;
HANA-SAKA-JIJI
XXXV
than playing," It's more says the old woman, belief he's found It's my something worth "
"
having." So
off she
went
to
what
see
the
dog would
be
followed her and leaned on his at, and the old man spade. Sure enough the dog had dug a pretty big this time, and he went with on scratching his paws for dear lifeand barkingshort and sharp. The old man helped with his spade,and before a on big box of hidden treasure, long theycame hole
by
silver and
gold and jewelsand
It is easy
good old couple clever dog,and he
that the
believe
to
rich stuffs.
glad. They pattedtheir jumped up and licked their faces. were
After this
carried the treasure into the house. to and fro and barked.
Now,
next
another old
door
to
the
good
The
old
they dog ran
couplelived
but envious goodas they, the dog found the hidden and discontented. When treasure theylooked througha hole in the bamboo hedge and saw the whole affair Do you think theywere pleased? Why, not a bit of it. They were so angry and envious that theycould get no pleasure by day nor rest at night. At last the bad old man to the good old came not couple,
so
man. "
Fve
he says. " With "
take him So
him
to
come
to
all my
ask for the loan of your
heart,"says
the
good old
dog,** man
;
and welcome."
the bad old their best
man
room.
took And 259
the
dog and brought
the bad old
man
and
HANA-SAKA-JIJI
xxxv
his wife put a supper, of all manner to eat, before the dog,and bade him
of fine things fall to.
Honourable Dog,'*theysaid, you are good and wise, cat and afterwards find us treasure.** "
*'
dog would
But the
All the
"
not
eat.
left for us,** said the
more
greedyold
couple,and they ate up the dog*ssupper in a round his neck twinkling.Then theytied a string and draggedhim into the gardento find treasure. But
never
a
morsel
glintof gold,nor
a
he find,nor shred of rich stuflF. treasure
did
a
devil's in the beast,** cries the bad old and he beat the dog with a big stick. Then The
"
man,
dog began to
the
of
scratch
up
the
earth
with
his
paws. " V
Oho
wife,
"
But a
!
now was
Oho
to
it treasure
It was tell of. But
the bad
and
hidingtheir
old
man
to
his
for the treasure.**
bit of it.
bad
! ** says the bad
old
Arab, arah
dog dug
up ?
Not
rubbish,too heap of loathly theysay it smelt most vilely fain to run couplewere away, a
with
noses
that the
their sleeves.
!**
theycried, the dog has deceived us.** And that very nighttheykilled the poor dog and buried him at the foot of a tall pinetree. Alack for the good old man and the good old when woman they heard the dog was gone ! It was theythat wept the bitter tears. They pulled flowers and strewed them on the poor dog*sgrave. They burned incense and they spreadout good thingsto eat, and the vapour that rose from them comforted the poor dog*s spirit. "
"
260
HANA-SAKA-JIJI
XXXV
the
Then
good
a tree, and made rice in the mortar
old
down
the
of its wood.
He
cut
man
mortar
and
pounded
the
pine put
rice with
a
pestle. of wonders," cried the old woman, lookingon, " wonder of wonders, good
Wonder
"
who
was
man,
our
So it
rice is all turned into broad
in Presently,
the loan of the Fm
"For
Take
"
the bad old
comes
to
man
ask for
mortar.
needing a
special," says
"
enough.
sure
was
goldpieces!
somethingvery
mortar
he.
good old
the
it,"says
"
man
;
Fm
sure
you'rewelcome." took away the he had got it home
So the bad old
man
his arm, and when with rice in a twinkling. And at
he
mortar
under
he filled it
pounded away
it for dear life'ssake. Do
"
Never
"
gold coming ? lookingon.
see
you his wife, who
was a
bit," she says,
queer." Queer enough it was, use
to
man
or
deceived
under
us."
"
he
says
to
but the rice looks
mildewed
and rotten,
no
beast.
Arab, arah !
"
"
any
"
And
they cried, the they didn't let the "
their feet, but
lit
a
fire and
mortar
has
grass grow
burnt
the
mortar.
Now mortar.
old
folk.
good old couplehad lost their fairy said a word, the patient But theynever took some of the The good old man
the
ashes of the
mortar
and
went
261
his way.
HANA-SAKA-JIJI it
Now
yet
time, and
mid-winter
There
bare.
were
not
was
flower
a
all the trees
be seen,
to
nor
little green leaf.
a
does the
What a
was
xxxv
good old
and scatter
cherrytree
the branches
In
?
a
a
do but climb
man
into
handful of his ashes the tree
moment
over
covered
was
with blossoms. and down It will do,'*says the good old man, he gets from the tree and off he sets for the Prince's "
he
where palace,
knocks
at
the
gate
bold
as
as
brass. "
Who
**
I
am
makes
who
man
is with
** you ?
theyask him. Hana^saka-jijij* says the are
dead
trees
old man,
blossom
to
the
business
my
the Prince.** when
Mighty pleasedthe Prince was cherrytrees and his peach trees
his
;
"
and
he his
saw
plum
rush into blossom.
trees
'*Why,**he said,"it is mid-winter, and we And he called forth his have the joysof spring.** ladywife and her maidens and all his own retainers of Hana^saka-jiji. At last he sent to see the work home with a passing rich reward. the old man what of the bad old couple? Were Now they content
to
let well alone ?
Oh
no.
all the They gatheredtogether
ashes that
theyhad put them in a about the town crying: We the Hana^saka-jiji. **We are
and when left, went
dead
trees
they make
can
blossom.**
out Presently
company
basket
were
to
see
the
comes
the show. 262
Prince
And
the
and
all his
bad old
man
HANA-SAKA-JIJI
XXXV
climbs
into
up
a
forthwith
tree
and
scatters
his
ashes. But the
tree
never
ashes flew into the flew into bad
old
and
sorry
a
rage.
couplewere
blossomed,never Prince's
There
was
eyes, and a
caughtand
a
bit. The
the
Prince
prettyto-do. well beaten.
The
Sad
theycrept home at night. It is to be hoped that theymended their ways. Howbeit the good people,their neighbours, grew rich and lived happy all their days.
263
XXXVI
MOON
THE
There
He
Tori.
was
an
hard-working,
and
in
cottage
a
he
the
on
Tak^ and
Tori
for he
sold
he
thus
gained the
Up bamboo
age, a
upon
fair
a
humble he
hillside
!
**
he the to
He
pity."
said.
I
"
good wife help us sighed as
not
am
so
the
he
to
got
to
came
work,
the
his blue
took
age,
and
town,
for
young there's
old
our
his wont,
Alack
either, and in
souls.
was
He "
none,
morning,
and
went,
wife
had
summer
price in living.
old
good
poor
as
out. quite wearied wiped his forehead,
child
nor
old
and
poor
they
grove
nor
was,
his
steep
teneguiand bones
for
them
his
bamboos
cut
to
very
Children
their
early
rose
man,
with
lived
hills. in
forth
went
old
Tak6
called
cutter
honest
little comfort
and
bamboo
old
an
was
MAIDEN
as
old
my I
no
once
chick
the
more's
Tak6
poor
Tori. he
Soon
green "
it
was
"Is
stems
What dim it
the
saw
a
bright light shining
of the
bamboos.
is this
?
and
"
Tak6
said
shady enough
sun?''
said
Tak6 264
in
Tori, for the
Tori.
the
among
as
bamboo
"No,
a
rule
grove.
that
THE
XXXVI
well
cannot
stems
to
Sure
be, for
he
Very soon
it
ground."
through the brightlightcame
from
Tak6
bamboo.
the
bamboo
way
the
what
see
from
comes
pushedhis
enough it came
green down
MAIDEN
MOON
the
of
root
his
took
Tori
a
from.
great and
axe
the great big green bamboo, and there fine shininggreen jewel,the size of his
a
big cut was
two
fists. "
Wonder
IVe
of
Wonder
"
of wonders bamboo.
cut
!"
wonders !
For
This
Tak6
cried
Tori.
five-and-thirty years
is the
very
first time
Fve found a great big green jewel at the root of one of them." With that he takes up the jewel in his hands,and as soon he does that,it bursts as in
with
two
of it
out
came
loud
a a
noise,if you'llbelieve it,and
young
and
person
stood
Tak6
on
Tori's hand. You
must
understand
but very beautiful.
small
the young She
was
person was dressed all in
green silk. "
easy
Greetingsto you, as you please.
Tak6
Tori," she says,
"
as
Thank Mercy me ! says Tak6 Tori. you I he be a fairy," kindly. suppose, now, you'll ? says, if I'm not making too bold in asking You're right,"she says, it's a fairyI am, and I'm come to live with you and your good wife "
**
"
"
"
for
a "
"
little."
Well, now," says Take
pardon,we're very poor. Our enough,but I'm afraid therc'd be a ladylike you." 265
beggingyour cottage is good
Tori,
"
no
comforts for
THE **
Where's
Take
"
will do
and now, Home
xxxvi
to
Tak6
Tori, let
they
went.
here's
with,**says
on
go
Wife
the
fairy. Why, fairy ;
for home."
make
us "
''
says the halves. "
big green jewel?
picksup the two he says. goldpieces,"
That
Tak6
the
MAIDEN
Tori
it'sfull of "
MOON
wife ! "
!
cried
live with us, to come fairy and she has broughtus a shining jewelas big as a persimmon,full of goldpieces." The good wife came running to the door. believe her eyes. She could hardly What is this,"she said, about a persimmon I have seen and gold pieces? Persimmons often it is the season but gold enough moreover, piecesare hard to come by."
Tori,
"
a
"
"
"
"
be, woman," said Take
Let
"
dull."
he
And
into broughtthe fairy
fast the
Wondrous
"
you
are
the house.
Before many fine tall maiden, as fresh
fairygrew.
a gone she was fair as the morning,as
dayswere and
Tori,
day, brightas the noonand still as the evening, and as deep as sweet the night. Tak6 Tori called her the Lady as of the because she had come out Beaming Bright, shining jewel. Take Tori had the goldpieces out of the jewel grew rich,and spent his money every day. He like a man, but there was always plenty and
to
as
spare.
servants
to
Brightwas was came
famed to
He
built him
wait
near
an
and
fine house, he The
him.
on
lodged like both
a
Lady Beaming
empress.
far,and
seek her hand. 266
had
scores
Her
beauty of lovers
MOON
THE
XXXVI
But
she
would
Tori and the dear she said
I will
"
;
MAIDEN
have
of them.
none
good wife
are
live with
"Tak6
lovers/*
true
my
and
them
be
their
daughter/* So
three
third year
happy
years went Mikado himself
the
Lady Beaming Bright.
He
by
and
;
to
came
the the
woo
brave lover,
the
was
in
indeed.
Lady,"he said, I bow before you, my soul salutes you. Sweet lady, be my Queen." Then the Lady Beaming Bright sighed and "
"
great tears stood in her eyes, and she hid her face with her sleeve.
"Lord, I;cannot," she said. "
O
Cannot
dear
?
"
Mikado
said the
Lady Beaming Bright?
;
**
and
why
not,
"
and see, lord,"she said. Now about the seventh month she grew very sorrowful,and would go abroad no more, but was "
for
Wait
long upon
house. There
There she
sat
and the stars. the moon was
gardengalleryof Tak6 Tori's she sat in the daytimeand brooded. at night and gazed upon the moon There she was fine nightwhen one the
at
its full.
Her
maidens
were
with
her, and Take Tori and the good wife, and t^^ Mikado, her brave lover. "
How
brightthe
moon
shines ! "
said Ta
Tori. **
Truly,"said
the
good wife,
"
it is like
brass saucepan well scoured." "
"
See how
it is like
a
paleand wan it is,"said the sad despairing lover." 267
Mikac
THE How
"
MOON
MAIDEN
long and brighta
"It
is like
beam
xxxvi
! **
quoth Take
highway from the moon reachingto this gardengallery/' O dear foster-father," cried the Lady Beaming Bright. You speaktruth,it is a highwayindeed. And countless heavenly along the highway come bear me home. to beingsswiftly, swiftly, My father is the King of the Moon. I disobeyed his Tori,
a
"
"
He
behest.
The
in exile.
earth three years to dwell three years are past and I go to mine
sent
to
me
Ah, I am sad at parting." The mist descends,"said Tak6 Tori. Nay," said the Mikado, " it is the cohorts of
country.
own **
"
the
King
of the Moon."
in their hundreds and their theycame thousands, bearing torches. Silently they came, round about the garden gallery.The and lighted chief among them brought a heavenly feather robe. Up rose the Lady Beaming Brightand put
Down
the robe upon
her.
"Farewell, Tak6
Tori," she
said, "farewell,
dear foster-mother,I leave you my jewel for a As for you, my lord,I would remembrance. with me but there is no feather you might come .
...
"
I leave you a phial of the pure for you. elixir of life. Drink, my lord,and be even the as Immortals." robe
spreadher bright wings and the closed about her. Together cohorts of Heaven and were they passed up the highwayto the moon, Then
no
more
The
she
seen.
Mikado
took the elixir of lifein his 268
hand,
MOON
THE
XXXVI
and he
went
to
MAIDEN
the top of the And he made
highestmountain
in
that country. a sume great fire to confor he said," Of what profit the elixir of life, shall it be to me to live for ever, beingpartedfrom the
Lady Beaming Bright? So the elixir of life was
vapour
said, "
floated up Let
my and reach the
to
"
consumed,
Heaven.
And
and its blue the
Mikado
message float up with the vapour of my Lady BeamingBright/* ears
269
XXXVII
KARMA
Ito
The
man, young after a homeward
city of foot, and
the on
he
with
his
weighed
him
went
cares
full
of
the
and
rocks was
wild
a
across
it
stones,
summer
dark
pine boughs.
tree,
before
woman
him
with
time,
and
with
gnarled
him
in
here
the
in a simple girl dressed along Lightly she went deepening twilight. "
I
say
gentle
some "
should
The
such
a
So
is
way child the
as
young
she
of
was
trunk
of
gown
lonely
lady," Tatewaki solitary and the
mind
him
to
ing leadwere
flowers, for a
grew
and
It
the
his
there
and
way.
the
the
moor
beheld
and
upon
lonely road
abundance
an
and
taken
the
to
alone
and
had a
taken
bent
down
Upon
up
had
way
eyes
upon
moor.
looked
Tatewaki a
found
his
which
business
Night
he
made
returning
was
which
He
for
Kioto.
journey
Kioto.
ground, was
Tatewaki,
crooked
the
figure
was
a
slender
blue
cotton.
road
in
the
serving-maid said time
to
is
quickened 270
his
pace
of
himself.
dreary
she." man
of
and
came
for
/"
s u
Id
KARMA
XXXVII
maiden.
the
with
up
gently, since "
us
"
tread
we
the
very lonelyroad let
same
for now fellow-travellers,
be
the
be dark/* and it will soon The pretty maiden turned
said
he
Child,"
twilight passes
him
to
with
bright
eyes and
smilinglips. "Sir," she said, **my
mistress
be
will
glad
indeed." mistress ?
"
said Tatewaki.
**
Your
**
Why, sir,of a suretyshe I
? '*
"
Because
"
Indeed,and indeed the
am
come
said the serving-maid ; that." of more the
by
went
"
has been
time
but
maiden's
long,"
she will think
now
she not ? " said Tatewaki.
Will
"
gladbecause
come."
are
you
will be
And
side,walking
as
on
no
he in
one
a
dream.
Presentlythe house,
of them
two
far from
not
the
came
roadside.
to
little
a
Before
the
fair
small
garden,with a stream runningthroughit and a stone bridge. About the house and the garden there was a bamboo fence,
house
a
was
and in the fence "
the
dwells
Here
maid.
a
wicket-gate. my
said mistress,"
And
they went wicket-gate.
Now house.
Tatewaki He
saw
a
into the
to
came
the
the
serving-
garden through threshold
ladystandingupon
of the
the threshold
waiting. She
giveme
said, "
You
have
come
comfort." 271
at
last, my
lord,to
KARMA And
he
When
"
had
O
"
and
Before
the
vessel of
woman
and she
needful. "Three
time
is not
by the hand, and theywent with togetherand into a room
house
mats
And
was. "
she took him
the
Here
loved her since love
we."
as
Then white
that he loved
love, love," he murmured,
for such into
said this he knew
had
lady,and
the
I have come."
answered, he
XXXVII
round latticed window.
a
there
window
stood
lilyin
a
a
water.
the
held
two
together.
converse
after some
time
that
with
there
*was
an
saki in
old ancient
silver
flagon; and all things broughtsilver drinking-cups came
Tatewaki
And Times
Three"
and
a
the
ladydrank the together.When theyhad
done
this the ladysaid," Love, let us go out into the shine of the moon. See,the nightis as green as
an
emerald.
." .
.
they went and left the house and the small Or ever fair gardenbehind them. theyhad closed the wicket-gate the house and the gardenand the itself all faded away, dissolving in a wicket-gate faint mist, and not a signof them was left. So
"
"
Alas ! what
"
Let be, dear
is this ?
they pass, for we Then
Tatewaki
the
ladyupon
grew
about
cried Tatewaki.
love,"said have saw
the wild them
"
in
no
the
moor.
need
more
that
lady,and
he
was
And
smiled ;
of them." alone the
tall lilies
ring. So they stood touching one another
a
live-longnight,not lookinginto each other's 272
eyes
most
with
the but
steadfastly.
KARMA
XXXVII
dawn
When
ladystirred and
the
came,
one
gave
deep sigh. *'
said, Lady,why do you sigh? her when he asked her this,she unclasped
Tatewaki And
"
which fashioned after the form was girdle, goldenscaled dragonwith translucent eyes. she took the girdle and wound it nine times
about
her
part
and she love's arm, these are the years until touched
the
Then are
Tell
you ? She
with
me
the
you
.
and
I ?
plains.Do
...
not
love, who
."
I go seek for me
when
the
lady had
to
Tatewaki
my people there. .
ethereal,like grew the cast himself upon
his hand
to
hold her sleeve.
a
When
the
"The
he said,"the plains,"
sun
wound
his arm, the plains.He came saw
about
folk
up he
was
there will I find her."
the
.
.
ground But
meadow-sweet. banks called
the And
to
and
put
he could
not
laystill
arose.
low
to
the broad
.
.
.
river,where
the green banks.
river there floated boats of fresh and
And
plains So, with the goldentoken he sped down, down fleetly
on standing
red dianthus
faded
mist.
stay her. And his hand grew cold and he as one dead, all in the grey dawn.
he
do
to
we
spoken she
slowly and
to
she
for me/'
And
out
"O
have
love, what
:
arm.
aloud, .
a
And
again." So
his
name.
your
love, we
meet
we
cried
said, "O
names,
upon Wait
"
goldencircles on
Tatewaki
O
said,
of
And
on
the flowers,
campanula,goldenrod and the people upon the river
Tatewaki
:
273
T
KARMA
XXXVII
Staywith us. Last nightwas the Night of where earth and wandered Souls. to They came To-day theywould, the kind wind carried them. theyreturn to Yomi. They go in their boats of the river bears them. flowers, Stay with us and bid the departing Souls good speed." And Tatewaki cried, May the Souls have I cannot sweet stay." passage. So he came but did not at last, to the plains find his lady. Nothing at all did he find,but a *'
"
...
wilderness of ancient graves, with nettles overgrown and the So
waving green Tatewaki
nine
long years happinessof home
grass. his to went he lived a
and
place,and for The lonely man. own
little children
he
never
knew.
love," he
"Ah,
I wait patiently,
said,
for you.
"not
.
.
.
not patiently, Love, delay not
your coming." the nine years were And when past he his gardenupon the Night of Souls. And he
up
saw
a
that
woman
was
looking
towards
came
in
him,
threadingher way through the paths of the slender a garden. Lightlyshe came ; she was girl,dressed in a simple gown of blue cotton. Tatewaki stood up and spoke: "
the for
Child," he same
now
said very lonelyroad let
the
gently,since "
be
us
twilightpasses
and
we
tread
fellow-travellers, it will
soon
be
dark." The
maid
turned
to
him
smilinglips: 274
with
brighteyes
and
KARMA
XXXVII
"
Sir,"she
mistress
said, my "
will be
glad
indeed." "
Will
she be
"
The
time
**
Long
"
But
that.
.
now
Guide
"
said Tatewaki.
has been
and very
long." weary,"said will
you
Tatewaki.
think
no
more
of
." .
"Take "
glad?
me
me,
for my afraid. am
limbs
to
for I
your cannot
fail. Do Take
me
mistress,"said Tatewaki. see
any
more.
leave go my
not
to
your
Hold
me,
hand, for I
mistress," said
Tatewaki. found morning his servants dead, quietly lyingin the shade of
In
and
the
him the
garden
trees.
27s
cold
T2
XXXVIII
OF
STORY
SAD
THE
YAOYA'S
THE
DAUGHTER
There a
house
great
ballad-singer who where they wished
wandering
a
was
Yedo
in
to
came
be
to
entertained. Will
"
ballad-singer people
the
"
Oh,
"
Will
bade
be
a
tale
I tell
of
the
said "
The
story.
a
tale
a
or
"
story ?
a
tell
love
?
song
you
him
of love,** have
you
of
war
?
'*
tale
sad
a
they
said. or
a
merry
?
"
asked
ballad-singer. all
were
that
agreed
they
hear
would
a
tale.
"Well, and
house
tale
a
They sad
shall
a
or
ballad-singer.
the
said
it
dance
a
or
"
;
of the
Shall
"
have
you
I
will
then," tell
said
the sad
the
you
ballad-singer, "listen, story
of
the
Yaoya*s
daughter." So
The
his
he
told
Yaoya
daughter
this
was was
tale-
a
hard-working sweetest thing
poor
the
276
man,
in
but Yedo.
THE
XXXVIII
You
YAOYA'S
she
know
must
DAUGHTER one
was
of the five beauties of
in the city,that grew like five cherry-trees of the springblossoming.
the time
In
the hunters lure the wild deer with
autumn
the sound
of the flute. The
they
believe
mates.
So
calls to
deer
are
deceived,for
they hear the voices of their theytrappedand slain. For like calls to youth, beauty to Youth
that
are
like.
beauty,love to love. This is law, and this the undoingof the Yaoya'sdaughter. was When
there
more
than
that
was
the
a
great fire in Yedo,
half of the
so
law
great
burned,
citywas
ruined also. And the Yaoya'shouse was Yaoya and his wife and his daughterhad no roof over them, nor anywhere to laytheir heads. So they went to a Buddhist temple for shelter and stayedthere many days,tilltheir house should be Ah me, for the Yaoya's rebuilt. daughter! Every morning at sunrise she bathed in the springof the temple. Her that was clean water near eyes and her cheeks Then she were ruddy. bright and sit by the waterwould put on her blue gown side her long hair. She was and to comb sweet a fifteen years old. Her slender thing,scarce name the
O
was
Schichi.
"Sweep
the
temple
her father bade her. much So O
for the
and
*Tis well
*'
who good priests
Schichi took the broom laboured
the
she
and
temple courts," we
should
give us swept.
merrily,and of the templegrew bright. precincts there was Now a young acolytewho she
sang
277
do
so
shelter." And the
as
grey
served in
YAOYA^S
THE
DAUGHTER
xxxviii
and beautiful. holy place. Gentle he was Not a day passedbut he heard the singingof O Schichi ; not a day passedbut he set eyes upon her, going her ways, so lightand slender,in the of the temple. ancient courts It was not long before he loved her. Youth love to love. It calls to youth,beautyto beauty, not long before she loved him. was together in the temple Secretlythey met Hand in hand theywent, her head against grove.
the
his
arm.
be !
I
"
a
thing should
happy and unhappy. Why
am
?
own
you, my
such
she cried,"that
"Ah,"
of the
Because
do
I love
"
power
acolyte. Nevertheless,we we sin,and I know grievously "
of Karma," said the sin,O heart's desire, not
what
may
come
of it." "
with "
Alas," us, and I cannot
Then
and to
she we
the
said,
"
will ?
so
young tell,"he said
two
of them
weeping.
But
the
gods
be
angry
"
"
;
but I
afraid."
am
ling trembclungtogether,
they pledgedthemselves
each other for the space of many existences. The Yaoya had his dwellingin the quarter of
his house citycalled Honjo,and presently rebuilt which had been destroyed by the fire. and his wife were glad,for they said, Now
the
"
was
He we
shall go home." O
Schichi
hid her
face with
her sleeve and
wept bitter tears. "
Child,what
ails you ?
278
"
said her mother.
THE
XXXVIII
YAOYA'S
DAUGHTER "
" Oh ! oh ! oh ! she cried, Schichi wept. and swayedherself to and fro. ** " Why, maid, what is it ? said her father.
O
Schichi wept. cried,and swayedherself Still O
"
to
! oh ! oh j ** she and fro. Oh
nightshe went to the grove. There beneath acolyte, very pale and sorrowful,
That
the
was
the
trees. "
They
part us," she cried, O
will
heart's desire. and dear
The
dear
gods are
young."
so
we "
my dear angry with us, "
afraid. Ah," he said, I was maid, O little maid, sweet
Farewell,
"
Remember
we
pledgedto
are
.
.
.
and
slender. another for the
one
space of many
existences." the two of them
Then
and
weeping,
thousand
day they bore O languid and grew
next
She
Honjo.
white
grew,
drooped
the
as
farewell
the
with
Schichi
a
home
to
listless. White
buckwheat
failed.
she
and
numbered likened
bade
they
times.
The
she
and
ling trembclungtogether,
No
flower.
She she
longer was
five beauties
of Yedo,
nor
in the time of the spring cherry-tree blossoming. All the day long she brooded in her low bed. At nightshe layawake silently. "
to
a
! oh !
Oh
night! Shall longing? Oh
"
I
she
moaned, see
never
him
"
the weary, weary Must ? I die of
! oh ! the weary, weary
night. .
"
."
Her "
eyes grew largeand burningbright. Alas ! poor maid," said her father.
**I
am
afraid
.
"
." said her 279
mother.
"She
THE
YAOYA'S
lose her
will
wits.
DAUGHTER "
.
She
.
xxxviii
does
not
weep
any
straw
and
more." made
it into
the
in
of
and
the
0
all the
I shall
;
a
gallery fire
set
to
the whole
burnt
of her
father's
burnt
was
him
!
"
to
the
shrieked
that she had
So she
be tried for her
was
set
fire
taken before the
wrong-doing. "
thing?
the
swoon.
Child," said the judge,
"
this
see
cityknew
her father's house.
judge to
house
the
charcoal
put
she
Then the wood
Schichi,and fell in Howbeit
to
him
see
she
charcoal,and
merrily. Furthermore house took lightand ground. I shall
took
it beneath
father's house.
straw
*^
and
;
laid
and
and
arose
bundle
a
bundle
her
the
Schichi
last O
At
what
made
you
do
"
said, I did it for love's sake. the house, we shall have 1 said,'I will burn shall take nowhere to lay our heads, then we "
I
mad,"
was
shelter
the
at
Lord, I have "
"
not
him
seen
nor
"
is your lover ?
Who
will
I
temple;
see
lover.'
my
heard of him
Then
she told him.
Now
as
for the
law
said the
of the
judge.
city,it
the be altered. Death was for the crime of the Yaoya'sdaughter. "
might escape. My little maid,"
the
years old ?
perhapstwelve Nay, lord,"she "
judge said,
"
answered. 280
hard
was
and could not
child
these
moons."
many
many,
she
"
penalty
Only
are
a
you
YAOYA'S
THE
xxxvm
Thirteen, then, or fourteen ?
"
be fourteen.
you may "
"
You
The
gods send
littleand slender."
are
Lord,**she said,*' I am fifteen." Alas, my poor maid," said the judge, you *'
all
are
DAUGHTER
old."
too
So
her
they made
Nihonbashi. There
she
upon
the
for all the world
was
the
bridgeof
theytold her story aloud ; they so that all might hear. house-tops
And
called it from
stand
to
look upon.
Every day for seven days she stood upon the bridgeof Nihonbashi, and drooped in the glareof the sun and of men's glances. Her face was white as
of the buckwheat.
the flower
and
wide
burning bright. thing under the sky. piteous to
wept
see
her.
daughterthat
They said, "
was
one
of
Her
She
was
eyes
were
the
most
tender-hearted
The
Is this the
the
Yaoya's
five beauties
of
Yedo?" After O
the
Schichi
days were
seven
to
a
stake,and
about her and
wood
the thick smoke "
It
voice. CC'
was
And
The
set
the
passedtheybound of they piledfaggots faggotsalight. Soon
rose.
all for when
tale is
love," she cried with a she had said this,she died. told," said
the
loud
ballad-singer. calls to youth,beauty to beauty, love to Youth This is law, and this law was the undoing love. of the Yaoya's daughter.*' *'
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