More Portmanteau Plays Part 13

I am looking.

RIKI

Place your hand upon your heart.

AOYAGI

Ay.

RIKI

Now I am the Prince. With sword in hand I come to you. From Kyushu to Koban I've fought my way to you;--through forest, marsh and mountain path I've striven for you. Now I am here.--Look at me.

AOYAGI

Ah!

[_With a cry of delight she rushes to his arms._

RIKI

And did they wed?

AOYAGI

Ah, love beyond love.

RIKI

And did they have great happiness?

AOYAGI

Ah!

[_She nestles close to him._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LADY OF THE WEEPING WILLOW TREE

ACT III.]

RIKI

My little princess! I did not come to you sword in hand; I did not fight my way from Kyushu to Koban. But I strove for you through forest, marsh and mountain pa.s.s.--Within me throbbed a mighty song that I could not sing. I saw almost all the world, it seems, and once I heard a voice that seemed to call to me alone. It was at the ferry of Ishiyama. I followed the sound--and there she stood all aglow in the morning sunlight. But when I saw, the song still throbbed within my heart and I could not sing to her.--Someone else called to me--"Hai! Hai! Hai!"

AOYAGI

And what of her--the vision at the ferry of Ishiyama?

RIKI

For all I know she may still be standing there in the morning sunlight all aglow.--I have found you!

AOYAGI

And was she--fair?

RIKI

Ay--how can I say? Now all the world is fair because I see only you in earth and sky and everything.

AOYAGI

She was aglow in the morning sun.

RIKI

How can I say? I heard her voice;--a song was in my heart--a song for you.--I saw her--the song staid locked in my heart for you.

AOYAGI

Riki--Riki--

RIKI

A dream that's true.

AOYAGI

I do not understand it all.--Obaa-San--you--this happiness.--I have known happiness, but not like this.--When I was in the weeping willow tree--sometimes I was happy and sometimes I was hurt.--Oh, Riki, Riki, this glade is like the weeping willow tree! Whenever the soft air sways the leaves, I feel the same sweet joy as when the little breezes played amongst my branches. The rain--oh, the gentle little rain that cooled me in the hot summer--the drops that danced from leaf to leaf and felt like smiles upon my face. Tears! The rain is not like tears, Riki.

RIKI

The dew is tears, perhaps.

AOYAGI

The dew! It came to me like a cool veil that the morning sun would lift and little breezes bear away. Then sometimes--the voice, the loneliness of Obaa-San.

RIKI

Look where her home lies. Far down there beyond that stream, see--there is Kyushu.

AOYAGI

Oh, Riki, my Riki, my august lord, why, why can I stay here in happiness with you when I know that Obaa-San is miserable and alone?

RIKI