Certain Noble Plays of Japan Part 8

KAGEKIYO Strange, I feel that woman who has just pa.s.sed is the child of that blind man. Long ago I loved a courtezan in Atsuta, one time when I was in that place. But I thought our girl-child would be no use to us, and I left her with the head man in the valley of Kamega-engayatsu; and now she has gone by me and spoken, although she does not know who I am.

CHORUS

Although I have heard her voice, The pity is that I cannot see her.

And I have let her go by Without divulging my name.

This is the true love of a father.

TOMO (at further side of the stage) Is there any native about?

VILLAGER What do you want with me?

TOMO Do you know where the exile lives?

VILLAGER What exile is it you want?

TOMO Akushichi-bioye Kagekiyo, a n.o.ble of Heike's party.

VILLAGER Did you not pa.s.s an old man under the edge of the mountain, as you were coming that way?

TOMO A blind beggar in a thatched cottage.

VILLAGER That fellow was Kagekiyo. What ails the lady? she shivers.

TOMO A question you might well ask. She is the exile's daughter. She wanted to see her father once more, and so came hither to seek him. Will you take us to Kagekiyo?

VILLAGER Bless my soul! Kagekiyo's daughter. Come, come, never mind, young miss.

Now I will tell you, Kagekiyo went blind in both eyes, and so he shaved his crown and called himself 'The Blind man of Hinga.' He begs a bit from the pa.s.sers, and the likes of us keep him; he'd be ashamed to tell you his name. However, I'll come along with you, and then I'll call out, 'Kagekiyo;' and if he comes, you can see him and have a word with him.

Let us along, (they cross the stage, and the villager calls) Kagekiyo, Oh there, Kagekiyo!

KAGEKIYO Noise, noise! Someone came from my home to call me, but I sent them on. I couldn't be seen like this. Tears like the thousand lines in a rain storm, bitter tears soften my sleeve. Ten thousand things rise in a dream, and I wake in this hovel, wretched, just a nothing in the wide world. How can I answer when they call me by my right name?

CHORUS Do not call out the name he had in his glory. You will move the bad blood in his heart, (then taking up Kagekiyo's thought) I am angry.

KAGEKIYO Living here....

CHORUS (going on with Kagekiyo's thought) I go on living here, hated by the people in power. A blind man without his staff, I am deformed, and therefore speak evil; excuse me.

KAGEKIYO My eyes are darkened.

CHORUS Though my eyes are dark I understand the thoughts of another. I understand at a word. The wind comes down from the pine trees on the mountain, and snow comes down after the wind. The dream tells of my glory, I am loth to wake from the dream. I hear the waves running in the evening tide, as when I was with Heike. Shall I act out the old ballad?

KAGEKIYO (to the villager) I had a weight on my mind, I spoke to you very harshly, excuse me.

VILLAGER You're always like that, never mind it. Has anyone been here to see you?

KAGEKIYO No one but you.

VILLAGER Go on, that is not true. Your daughter was here. Why couldn't you tell her the truth, she being so sad and so eager. I have brought her back now. Come now, speak with your father. Come along.

HIME O, O, I came such a long journey, under rain, under wind, wet with dew, over the frost; you do not see into my heart. It seems that a father's love goes when the child is not worth it.

KAGEKIYO I meant to keep it concealed, but now they have found it all out. I shall drench you with the dew of my shame, you who are young as a flower. I tell you my name, and that we are father and child; yet I thought this would put dishonour upon you, and therefore I let you pa.s.s. Do not hold it against me.

CHORUS At first I was angry that my friends would no longer come near me. But now I have come to a time when I could not believe that even a child of my own would seek me out.

(singing) Upon all the boats of the men of Heike's faction Kagekiyo was the fighter most in call, Brave were his men, cunning sailors, And now even the leader Is worn out and dull as a horse.

VILLAGER (to Kagekiyo) Many a fine thing is gone, sir; your daughter would like to ask you....

KAGEKIYO What is it?

VILLAGER She has heard of your old fame in Uashima. Would you tell her the ballad?

KAGEKIYO Towards the end of the third month it was, in the third year of Juei. We men of Heike were in ships, the men of Genji were on land. Their war-tents stretched on the sh.o.r.e. We awaited decision. And Noto-no-Kami Noritsune said: 'Last year in the hills of Harima, & in Midzushima, and in Hiyodorigoye of b.i.t.c.hiu, we were defeated time and again, for Yos.h.i.tsine is tactful and cunning.' 'Is there any way we can beat them?'

(Kagekiyo thought in his mind) 'This Hangan Yos.h.i.tsine is neither G.o.d nor a devil, at the risk of my life I might do it.' So he took leave of Noritsune and led a party against the sh.o.r.e, and all the men of Genji rushed on them.

CHORUS Kagekiyo cried, 'You are haughty.' His armour caught every turn of the sun. He drove them four ways before them.

KAGEKIYO (excited and crying out) Samoshiya! Run, cowards!

CHORUS He thought, how easy this killing. He rushed with his spear-haft gripped under his arm. He cried out, 'I am Kagekiyo of the Heike.' He rushed on to take them. He pierced through the helmet vizards of Miyonoya. Miyonoya fled twice, and again; and Kagekiyo cried, 'You shall not escape me!' He leaped and wrenched off his helmet. 'Eya!' The vizard broke and remained in his hand and Miyonoya still fled afar, and afar, and he looked back crying in terror, 'How terrible, how heavy your arm!' And Kagekiyo called at him, 'How tough the shaft of your neck is!' And they both laughed out over the battle, and went off each his own way.

CHORUS These were the deeds of old, but oh, to tell them! To be telling them over now in his wretched condition. His life in the world is weary, he is near the end of his course. 'Go back,' he would say to his daughter.

'Pray for me when I am gone from the world, for I shall then count upon you as we count on a lamp in the darkness ... we who are blind.' 'I will stay,' she said. Then she obeyed him, and only one voice is left.

We tell this for the remembrance. Thus were the parent and child.

END

NOTES

Ernest Fenollosa has left this memorandum on the stoicism of the last play: I asked Mr. Hirata how it could be considered natural or dutiful for the daughter to leave her father in such a condition. He said, 'that the j.a.panese would not be in sympathy with such sternness now, but that it was the old Bushido spirit. The personality of the old man is worn out, no more good in this life. It would be sentimentality for her to remain with him. No good could be done. He could well restrain his love for her, better that she should pray for him and go on with the work of her normal life.'

Of the plays in this book, 'Nishikigi' has appeared in 'Poetry,'

'Hagoromo' in 'The Quarterly Review,' and 'k.u.masaka,' in 'The Drama;' to the editors of which periodicals I wish to express my acknowledgment.

Ezra Pound.