The Noh Plays of Japan (11 page)

Blows sleep away and the dreams of recollection.

(While the
CHORUS
sings these words an
ATTENDANT
brings on to the stage the three dwarf trees.
)

TSUNEYO

How cold it is! And as the night passes, each hour the frost grows keener. If I had but fuel to light a fire with, that you might sit by it and warm yourself! Ah! I have thought of something. I have some dwarf trees. I will cut them down and make a fire of them.

PRIEST

Have you indeed dwarf trees?

TSUNEYO

Yes, when I was in the World I had a fine show of them; but when my trouble came I had no more heart for tree-fancying, and gave them away. But three of them, I kept—plum, cherry, and pine. Look, there they are, covered with snow. They are precious to me; yet for this night's entertainment I will gladly set light to them.

PRIEST

No, no, that must not be. I thank you for your kindness, but it is likely that one day you will go back to the World again and need them for your pleasure. Indeed it is not to be thought of.

TSUNEYO

My life is like a tree the earth has covered; I shoot no blossoms upward to the world.

WIFE

And should we burn for you

These shrubs, these profitless toys,

TSUNEYO

Think them the faggots of our Master's servitude.
*

WIFE

For snow falls now upon them, as it fell

TSUNEYO

When he to hermits of the cold

Himalayan Hills was carrier of wood.

WIFE

So let it be.

CHORUS

"Shall I from one who has cast life aside,

Dear life itself, withold these trivial trees?"

(
TSUNEYO
goes and stands by the dwarf trees.
)

Then he brushed the snow from off them, and when he looked,

"I cannot, cannot," he cried, "O beautiful trees,

Must I begin?

You, plum-tree, among bare boughs blossoming

Hard by the window, still on northward face

Snow-sealed, yet first to scent

Cold air with flowers, earliest of Spring;

'You first shall fall.'

You by whose boughs on mountain hedge entwined

Dull country folk have paused and caught their breath,
*

Hewn down for firewood. Little had I thought

My hand so pitiless!"

(He cuts down the plum-tree.
)

"You, cherry (for each Spring your blossom comes

Behind the rest), I thought a lonely tree

And reared you tenderly, but now I,

I am lonely left, and you, cut down,

Shall flower but with flame."

TSUNEYO

You now, O pine, whose branches I had thought

One day when you were old to lop and trim,

Standing you in the field, a football-post,
^†

Such use shall never know.

Tree, whom the winds have ever wreathed

With quaking mists, now shimmering in the flame

Shall burn and burn.

Now like a beacon, sentinels at night

Kindle by palace gate to guard a king,

Your fire burns brightly.

Come, warm yourself.

PRIEST

Now we have a good fire and can forget the cold.

TSUNEYO

It is because you lodged with us that we too have a fire to sit by.

PRIEST

There is something I must ask you: I would gladly know to what clan my host belongs.

TSUNEYO

I am not of such birth; I have no clan-name.

PRIEST

Say what you will, I cannot think you a commoner. The times may change; what harm will you get by telling me your clan?

TSUNEYO

Indeed I have no reason to conceal it. Know then that Tsuneyo Genzayemon, Lord of Sano, is sunk to this!

PRIEST

How came it, sir, that you fell to such misery?

TSUNEYO

Thus it was: kinsmen usurped my lands, and so I became what I am.

PRIEST

Why do you not go up to the Capital and lay your case before the Shikken's court?

TSUNEYO

By further mischance it happens that Lord Saimy
ō
ji
*
himself is absent upon pilgrimage. And yet not all is lost; for on the wall a tall spear still hangs, and armor with it; while in the stall a steed is tied. And if at any time there came from the City news of peril to our master—

Then, broken though it be I would gird this armor on,

And rusty though it be I would hold this tall spear,

And lean-ribbed though he be I would mount my horse and ride

Neck by neck with the swiftest, To write my name on the roll. And when the fight began

Though the foe were many, yet would I be the first To cleave their ranks, to choose an adversary To fight with him and die.

(He covers his face with his hands; his voice sinks again.
)

But now, another fate, worn out with hunger

To die useless. Oh despair, despair!

PRIEST

Take courage; you shall not end so. If I live, I will come to you again. Now I go.

TSUNEYO and WIFE

We cannot let you go. At first we were ashamed that you should see the misery of our dwelling; but now we ask you to stay with us awhile.

PRIEST

Were I to follow my desire, think you I would soon go forth into the snow?

TSUNEYO and WIFE

After a day of snow even the clear sky is cold, and tonight—

PRIEST

Where shall I lodge?

WIFE

Stay with us this one day.

PRIEST

Though my longing bides with you—

TSUNEYO and WIFE

You leave us?

PRIEST

Farewell, Tsuneyo!

BOTH

Come back to us again.

CHORUS
(speaking for
PRIEST
)

"And should you one day come up to the City, seek for me there. A humble priest can give you no public furtherance, yet can he find ways to bring you into the presence of Authority. Do not give up your suit." He said no more. He went his way—he sad to leave them and they to lose him from their sight.

(Interval of Six Months.
)

TSUNEYO
(standing outside his hut and seeming to watch travelers on the road
)

Hie, you travelers! Is it true that the levies are marching to Kamakura? They are marching in great force, you say? So it is true. Barons and knights from the Eight Counties of the East all riding to Kamakura! A fine sight it will be. Tasselled breastplates of beaten silver; swords and daggers fretted with gold. On horses fat with fodder they ride; even the grooms of the relay-horses are magnificently apparelled. And along with them
(miming the action of leading a horse)
goes Tsuneyo, with horse, armor, and sword that scarce seem worthy of such names. They may laugh, yet I am not, I think, a worse man than they; and had I but a steed to match my heart, then valiantly—
(making the gesture of cracking a whip)
you laggard!

CHORUS

The horse is old, palsied as a willow-bough; it cannot hasten. It is lean and twisted. Not whip or spur can move it. It sticks like a coach in a bog. He follows far behind the rest.

PRIEST
(again ruler
*
of Japan, seated on a throne
)

Are you there?

ATTENDANT

I stand before you.

PRIEST

Have the levies of all the lands arrived?

ATTENDANT

They are all come.

PRIEST

Among them should be a knight in broken armor, carrying a rusty sword, and leading his own lean horse. Find him, and bring him to me.

ATTENDANT

I tremble and obey.
(Going to
TSUNEYO.
) I must speak with you.

TSUNEYO

What is it?

ATTENDANT

You are to appear immediately before my lord.

TSUNEYO

Is it I whom you are bidding appear before his lordship?

ATTENDANT

Yes, you indeed.

TSUNEYO

How can it be I? You have mistaken me for some other.

ATTENDANT

Oh no, it is you. I was told to fetch the most ill-conditioned of all the soldiers; and I am sure you are he. Come at once.

TSUNEYO

The most ill-conditioned of all the soldiers?

ATTENDANT

Yes, truly.

TSUNEYO

Then I am surely he. Tell your lord that I obey.

ATTENDANT

I will do so.

TSUNEYO

I understand; too well I understand. Some enemy of mine has called me traitor, and it is to execution that I am summoned before the Throne. Well, there is no help for it. Bring me into the Presence.

CHORUS

He was led to where on a great daïs

All the warriers of this levy were assembled

Like a bright bevy of stars.

Row on row they were ranged,

Samurai and soldiers;

Swift scornful glances, fingers pointed

And the noise of laughter met his entering.

TSUNEYO

Stuck through his tattered, his old side-sewn sash,

His rusty sword sags and trails—yet he undaunted,

"My Lord, I have come."

(He bows before the Throne.
)

PRIEST

Ha! He has come, Tsuneyo of Sano!

Have you forgotten the priest whom once you sheltered from the snowstorm? You have been true to the words that you spoke that night at Sano:

"If at any time there came news from the City of peril to our master

Then broken though it be, I would gird this armor on,

And rusty though it be, I would hold this tall spear,

And bony though he be, I would mount my horse and ride

Neck by neck with the swiftest."

These were not vain words; you have come valiantly. But know that this levy of men was made to this purpose: to test the issue of your words whether they were spoken false or true; and to hear the suits of all those that have obeyed my summons, that if any among them have suffered injury, his wrongs may be righted.

And first in the case of Tsuneyo, I make judgment. To him shall be returned his lawful estate, thirty parishes in the land of Sano.

But above all else one thing shall never be forgotten, that in the great snowstorm he cut down his trees, his treasure, and burnt them for firewood. And now in gratitude for the three trees of that time—plum, cherry, and pine—we grant to him three fiefs, Plum-field in Kaga, Cherrywell in Etch
Å«
and Pine-branch in K
ō
zuke.

He shall hold them as a perpetual inheritance for himself and for his heirs; in testimony whereof we give this title-deed, by our own hand signed and sealed, together with the safe possession of his former lands.

TSUNEYO

Then Tsuneyo took the deeds.

CHORUS

He took the deeds, thrice bowing his head.

(Speaking for
TSUNEYO.
)

"Look, all you barons! (
TSUNEYO
holds up the documents.
)

Look upon this sight

And scorn to envy turn!"

Then the levies of all the lands

Took leave of their Lord

And went their homeward way.

TSUNEYO

And among them Tsuneyo

CHORUS

Among them Tsuneyo,

Joy breaking on his brow,

Rides now on splendid steed

To the Boat-bridge of Sano, to his lands once torn

Pitiless from him as the torrent tears

That Bridge of Boats at Sano now his own.

N
OTE ON
K
OMACHI
.

T
HE
legend of Komachi is that she had many lovers when she was young, but was cruel and mocked at their pain. Among them was one, Shii no Sh
ō
sh
ō
, who came a long way to court her. She told him that she would not listen to him till he had come on a hundred nights from his house to hers and cut a hundred notches on the shaft-bench of his chariot. And so he came a hundred nights all but one, through rain, hail, snow, and wind. But on the last night he died.