The Noh Plays of Japan (7 page)

But Ushiwaka parried it lightly and sprang to the left,

Kumasaka was after him in a moment, and as he sprang nimbly over the pike,
*

Turned the point towards him.

But as he drew back the pike, Ushiwaka crossed to the right.

Then leveling the pike, Kumasaka struck a great blow.

This time the boy parried it with a blow that disengaged them,

And springing into the air leapt hither and thither with invisible speed.

And while the robber sought him,

The wonderful boy pranced behind and stuck his sword through a chink in his coat of mail.

"Hey, what is that?" cried Kumasaka. "Has this urchin touched me?"

And he was very angry.

But soon Heaven's fatal ordinance was sealed by despair:

"This sword-play brings me no advantage," he cried; "I will wrestle with him."

Then he threw away his pike, and spreading out his great hands, Down this corridor and into this corner he chased him, but when he would have grasped him,

Like lightning, mist, moonlight on the water— The eye could see, but the hand could not touch.

KUMASAKA

I was wounded again and again.

CHORUS

He was wounded many times, till the fierce strength of his spirit weakened and weakened. Like dew upon the moss that grows.

KUMASAKA

Round the foot of this pine-tree

CHORUS

Are vanished the men of this old tale.
"Oh, help me to be born to happiness."

(
KUMASAKA
entreats the
PRIEST
with folded hands.
)

The cocks are crowing. A whiteness glimmers over the night.
He has hidden under the shadow of the pine-trees of Akasaka;

(
KUMASAKA
hides his face with his left sleeve.
)

Under the shadow of the pine-trees he has hidden himself away.

By Miyamasu (Sixteenth Century?)

KICHIJI

We as travelers dressed—
Our weary feet upon the Eastern road
For many days must speed.

I am Sanj
ō
no Kichiji. I have now amassed a great store of treasure and with my brother Kichiroku am going to take it down to the East. Ho! Kichiroku, let us get together our bundles and start now.

KICHIROKU

I am ready. Let us start at once.

USHIWAKA

Hie, you travelers! If you are going up-country, please take me with you.

KICHIJI

That is a small thing to ask. Certainly we would take you with us...but by the look of you, I fancy you must be an apprentice playing truant from your master. If that is so, I cannot take you.

USHIWAKA

I have neither father nor mother, and my master has turned me adrift. Please let me go with you.

KICHIJI

If that is so, I cannot any longer refuse to take you with me.
(Describing his own action.
)

Then he offered the boy a broad-brimmed hat.

USHIWAKA

And Ushiwaka eagerly grasped it.
Today, he said, begins our troublous journey's toil.

CHORUS
(describing the journey and speaking for
USHIWAKA
)

Past the creek of Awata, to Matsusaka,

To the shore of Shinomiya I travel.

Down the road to the barrier of Osaka walking behind pack-ponies,

How long shall I serve in sadness these hucksters of gold?

Here where once the blind harper
*
lay sorrowing

On a cottage-bed, far away from the City,

Thinking perhaps some such thoughts as I do now.

We have passed the plain of Awazu. Over the long bridge of Seta

The hoofs of our ponies clank.

We cross the hill of Moru, where the evening dew

Lies thick on country paths and, caught in the slanting light,

Gleams on the under-leaves till suddenly night

Comes on us and in darkness we approach

The Mirror Inn.

KICHIJI

We have traveled so fast that we have already reached the Mirror Inn. Let us rest here for a little while.

MESSENGER

I am a servant in the Palace of Rokuhara. I have been sent to fetch back young Ushiwaka, Lord Yoshitomo's son, who has escaped from the Temple of Kurama. It is thought that he has taken service with the merchant Kichiji and has gone up-country with him; so they sent me to bring him back. Why, I believe that is he! But perhaps he is not alone. I cannot be sure. I had better go home and fetch help, for if I were one against many, how could I hope to take him?

USHIWAKA

I think it is about me that this messenger is speaking. I must not let him know me. I will cut my hair and wear an
eboshi,
*
so that people may think I am an Eastern boy.

(He goes to the curtain which separates the green-room from the entrance-passage. This represents for the moment the front of the hatmaker's shop.
)

May I come in?
(The curtain is raised.
)

HATMAKER

Who is it?

USHIWAKA

I have come to order an
eboshi.

HATMAKER

An
eboshi
at this time of night? I will make you one tomorrow, if you like.

USHIWAKA

Please make it now. I am traveling in a hurry and cannot wait.

HATMAKER

Very well then; I will make it now. What size do you take?

USHIWAKA

Please give me an
eboshi
of the third size, folded to the left.

HATMAKER

I am afraid I cannot do that. They were worn folded to the left in the time of the Minamotos. But now that the Tairas rule the whole land it would not be possible to wear one folded so.

USHIWAKA

In spite of that I beg of you to make me one. There is a good reason for my asking.

HATMAKER

Well, as you are so young there cannot be much harm in your wearing it. I will make you one.

(He begins to make the hat.
)

There is a fine story about these left-folded
eboshi
and the luck they bring. Shall I tell it you?

USHIWAKA

Yes, pray tell me the story.

HATMAKER

My grandfather lived at Karasu-maru in the Third Ward.

It was the time when Hachimantar
ō
Yoshi-iye, having routed
*
the brothers Sadat
ō
and Munet
ō
, Came home in triumph to the Capital.

And when he was summoned to the Emperor's Palace, he went first to my grandfather and ordered from him A left-folded
eboshi
for the Audience. And when he was come before the Throne

The Emperor welcomed him gladly

And as a token of great favor made him lord

Of the lands of Outer Mutsu.

Even such an
eboshi
it is that I am making now,

A garment of good omen.

Wear it and when into the world

CHORUS

When into the world you go, who knows but that Fate's turn

May not at last bring you to lordship of lands,

Of Dewa or the country of Michi.

And on that day remember,

Oh deign to remember, him that now with words of good omen

Folds for you this
eboshi
.

On that day forget not the gift you owe!

But alas!

These things were, but shall not be again.

The time of the left-folded
eboshi
was long ago:

When the houses of Gen and Hei
*
were in their pride,

Like the plum-tree and cherry-tree among flowers,

Like Spring and Autumn among the four seasons.

Then, as snow that would out sparkle the moonlight,

Gen strove with Hei; and after the years of H
ō
gen,
⁺

The house of Hei prevailed and the whole land was theirs.

So is it now.

But retribution shall come; time shall bring

Its changes to the world and like the cherry-blossom

This
eboshi
that knows its season

Shall bloom again. Wait patiently for that time!

HATMAKER

And while they prayed

CHORUS

Lo! The cutting of the
eboshi
was done.

Then he decked it brightly with ribbons of three colors,

Tied the strings to it and finished it handsomely.

"Pray deign to wear it," he cried, and set it on the boy's head.

Then, stepping back to look,

"Oh admirable skill! Not even the captain of a mighty host

Need scorn to wear this hat!"

HATMAKER

There is not an
eboshi
in the land that fits so well.

USHIWAKA

You are right; please take this sword in payment for it.

HATMAKER

No, no! I could not take it in return for such a trifle.

USHIWAKA

I beg you to accept it.

HATMAKER

Well, I cannot any longer refuse. How glad my wife will be!
(Calling.)
Are you there?

WIFE

What is it?
(They go aside.
)

HATMAKER

This young lad asked me to make him an
eboshi,
and when it was made he gave me this sword as a present. Is it not a noble payment? Here, look at it.
(The wife takes the sword and when she has examined it bursts into tears.)
Why, I thought you would treasure it like a gift from Heaven. And here you are shedding tears over it! What is the matter?

WIFE

Oh! I am ashamed. When I try to speak, tears come first and choke the words. I am going to tell you something I have never told you before. I am the sister of Kamada Masakiyo who fell at the Battle of Utsumi in the country of Noma. At the time when Tokiwa bore Ushiwaka, her third son, the lord her husband sent her this weapon as a charm-sword, and I was the messenger whom he charged to carry it. Oh were he in the world again;
*
then would our eyes no longer behold such misery. Oh sorrow, sorrow!

HATMAKER

You say that you are the sister of Kamada Masakiyo?

WIFE

I am.

HATMAKER

How strange, how strange! I have lived with you all these years and months, and never knew till now. But are you sure that you recognize this weapon?

WIFE

Yes; this was the sword they called Konnent
ō
.