Certain Noble Plays of Japan Part 6

k.u.mASAKA

First Part

PRIEST Where shall I rest, wandering, weary of the world? I am a city-bred priest, I have not seen the east counties, and I've a mind to go there.

Crossing the hills, I look on the lake of Omi, on the woods of Awatsu.

Going over the long bridge at Seta, I rested a night at Noje, and another at s.h.i.+nohara, and at the dawn I came to the green field, Awono in Miwo. I now pa.s.s Akasaka at sunset.

s.h.i.+TE (In the form of an old priest) I could tell that priest a thing or two.

PRIEST Do you mean me, what is it?

s.h.i.+TE A certain man died on this day. I ask you to pray for him.

PRIEST All right, but for whom shall I pray?

s.h.i.+TE I will not tell you his name, but his grave lies in the green field beyond that tall pine tree. He cannot enter to the gates of Paradise, and so I ask you to pray.

PRIEST But I do not think it is proper to pray unless you tell me his name.

s.h.i.+TE No, no; you can pray the prayer, Ho kai s.h.i.+jo biodo riaku; that would do.

PRIEST (praying) Unto all mortals let there be equal grace, to pa.s.s from this life of agony by the gates of death into law, into the peaceful kingdom.

s.h.i.+TE (saying first a word or two) If you pray for him,--

CHORUS (continuing the sentence) If you pray with the prayer of 'Exeat' he will be thankful, and you need not be aware of his name. They say that prayer can be heard for even the gra.s.s and the plants, for even the sand and the soil here; and they will surely hear it, if you pray for an unknown man.

s.h.i.+TE Will you enter? This is my cottage.

PRIEST This is your house? Very well, I will hold the service in your house; but I see no picture of Buddha nor any wooden image in this cottage, nothing but a long spear on one wall and an iron stick in place of a priest's wand, and many arrows. What are these for?

s.h.i.+TE (thinking) Yes, this priest is still in the first stage of faith. (aloud) As you see, there are many villages here: Zorii, Awohaka, and Akasaka. But the tall gra.s.s of Awo-no-ga-kara grows round the roads between them, and the forest is thick at Koyasu and Awohaka, and many robbers come out under the rains. They attack the baggage on horseback, and take the clothing of maids and servants who pa.s.s here. So I go out with this spear.

PRIEST That's very fine, isn't it?

CHORUS You will think it very strange for a priest to do this; but even Buddha has the sharp sword of Mida, and Aijen Miowo has arrows, and Tamon, taking his long spear, throws down the evil spirits.

s.h.i.+TE The deep love.

CHORUS --is excellent. Good feeling and keeping order are much more excellent than the love of Bosatsu. 'I think of these matters and know little of anything else. It is from my own heart that I am lost, wandering. But if I begin talking I shall keep on talking until dawn. Go to bed, good father; I will sleep too.' He seemed to be going to his bedroom, but suddenly his figure disappeared, and the cottage became a field of gra.s.s.

The priest pa.s.ses the night under the pine trees.

PRIEST I cannot sleep out the night. Perhaps if I held my service during the night under this pine tree....

(He begins his service for the dead man.)

Second Part

SECOND s.h.i.+TE There are winds in the east and south; the clouds are not calm in the west; and in the north the wind of the dark evening bl.u.s.ters; and under the shade of the mountain--

CHORUS There is a rustling of boughs and leaves.

SECOND s.h.i.+TE Perhaps there will be moon-s.h.i.+ne to-night, but the clouds veil the sky; the moon will not break up their shadow. 'Have at them!' 'Ho there!'

'Dash in!' That is the way I would shout, calling and ordering my men before and behind, my bowmen and hors.e.m.e.n. I plundered men of their treasure, that was my work in the world, and now I must go on; it is sorry work for a spirit.

PRIEST Are you k.u.masaka Chohan? Tell me the tale of your years.

SECOND s.h.i.+TE (now known as k.u.masaka) There were great merchants in Sanjo, Yos.h.i.+tsugu, and n.o.butaka; they collected treasure each year; they sent rich goods up to Oku. It was then I a.s.sailed their trains. Would you know what men were with me?

PRIEST Tell me the chief men, were they from many a province?

k.u.mASAKA There was Kakusho of Kawachi, there were the two brothers Suriharitaro; they have no rivals in fencing. (omotenchi, face to face attack)

PRIEST What chiefs came to you from the city?

k.u.mASAKA Emoi of Sanjo, Kozari of Mibu.

PRIEST In the fighting with torches and in melee--

k.u.mASAKA They had no equals.

PRIEST In northern Hakoku?

k.u.mASAKA Were Aso no Matsuwaka and Mikune no Kure.

PRIEST In Kaga?

k.u.mASAKA No, Chohan was the head there. There were seventy comrades who were very strong and skilful.

CHORUS While Yos.h.i.+tsugu was going along in the fields and on the mountains we set many spies to take him.

k.u.mASAKA Let us say that he is come to the village of Ubasike. This is the best place to attack him. There are many ways to escape if we are defeated, and he has invited many guests and has had a great feast at the inn.

PRIEST When the night was advanced the brothers Yos.h.i.+tsugu and n.o.butaka fell asleep.

k.u.mASAKA But there was a small boy with keen eyes, about sixteen or seventeen years old, and he was looking through a little hole in the part.i.tion, alert to the slightest noise.

PRIEST He did not sleep even a wink.

k.u.mASAKA We did not know it was Us.h.i.+waka.

PRIEST It was fate.

k.u.mASAKA The hour had come.