by A. L. Sadler
RAIZAN: Oh, don’t you bother yourself about that. I’ve forsaken the world altogether, and my life is of no more importance than a bit of wood or stone. It certainly isn’t worth while throwing away good money and bothering people for a trifle like this. So let things be as they are. It’s no consequence.
CHUĒMON: How can I do such a thing? You who are the mainstay of the house of Konishi! And this fleeting world of trouble that you have cast off, I am afraid circumstances have arisen that make it necessary for me to entreat you to come back to it again.
RAIZAN: My good Chuēmon, you really look very worried. And what are these circumstances you speak of then?
CHUĒMON: Well, master, the circumstances are these. Ever since you handed over the succession and property of the family to your nephew, the young master, and retired to this villa at Imamiya, I have done all I could with my small ability to keep the business as prosperous as ever. But some time ago the young master began to frequent the pleasure quarters. Well, young men will amuse themselves, of course, and if it had been what you might call just ordinary dissipation I should not have thought it worth while mentioning, but lately he has become more and more addicted to it, and now, to crown all, he intends to buy out a certain singing-girl named Ko-fuji and bring her home as his wife. That is bad enough, but when I made inquiries about her family, as I did at once, I found that though her mother was known, nothing at all could be ascertained as to who her father was or where he came from. Now however much the young master may be attached to her, I said, to bring home a foundling bride would be a great blemish on the house of Konishi, but he won’t listen to my objections, and so I thought there was nothing to be done but to come and ask you to use your authority to make him give her up.
RAIZAN (shaking his head): I suppose I was the one who built up the fortune of the house of Konishi more or less, but seeing that I have handed it over to my nephew Seibei he must look after it himself and sink or swim as best he pleases. And whether he takes a singing-girl or a strumpet into the family, if he likes her, that’s his affair. I, Raizan, have no more connection with this fleeting world and care for none of these things.
CHUĒMON: Yes, I suppose in the master’s present way of thinking it is natural that he should not care what becomes of the property, but Konishi’s is a house with a reputation. It stands among the very first druggists in the city. And though it is perhaps over-bold of, me to say such a thing, does not the master think it is his duty that he owes to his ancestors to see that people do not point the finger of scorn at it?
RAIZAN: If one is not of the world, how can one have any duty to the world?
CHUĒMON: Then I understand that you don’t care what happens?
RAIZAN: I think you had better let things take their course.
CHUĒMON: Well, this is a pretty state of affairs!
(Folds his arms and sits silent with a gloomy expression. Meanwhile Tōki Iyo-no-kāmi, dressed in haori and hakama in the style of a Daimyo incognito, has come up to the gate and been standing there listening for a few minutes, and now enters.)
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Ah, Raizan Dono! Excuse my want of ceremony.
RAIZAN: Oh, it’s Uko Dono, is it? Very pleased to see you.
(Iyo-no-kāmi comes up and sits down by Raizan.)
IYO-NO-KĀMI: I have just heard of the sudden misfortune that has happened to you. Really I am astonished at the stupidity of the Bugyo.
RAIZAN: Oh, don’t mention it. I suppose a poet ought to think it a great honor to be persecuted for poetry’s sake.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Yes, you need that spirit of magnanimity to savor the real elegance of life. Still, it is possible to be too detached, for if one plunges too deeply into this world of elegance and taste there may he a danger of becoming indifferent to one’s family and humanity.
RAIZAN: It looks as if Uko Dono must have overheard our conversation.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Yes, as I came along by the fence outside I could not well help overhearing what you said. I admire your clerk’s spirit and devotion.
RAIZAN: Then you were alluding to that in what you said just now?
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Ah, Raizan, you may put the world away from you, but you can’t get rid of the fetters of duty.
RAIZAN: What do you mean?
ITO-NO-KAMI: Look at those manacles on your hands. Don’t they show that you can’t cut yourself free from the world, however much you try? You may say you are a man of letters who has retired from society, but still you are under the jurisdiction of the Bugyo and have to obey his orders. And just in the same way you are still liable to the claims of duty. Or would you venture to break those manacles and throw them away?
RAIZAN: Well, hardly, I think.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Yes, even such a steadfast spirit as Raizan can hardly do that. And neither while one is alive can he get free from his duty to others. If you are not moved by this clerk’s loyalty to his master’s house, to go back and experience once more the trials of this fleeting world, I don’t think you can qualify as a real man of taste.
(Raizan is silent, but Chuēmon comes forward.)
CHUĒMON: Please accept my very humble thanks for supporting my appeal to my master. My name is Chuēmon, a mere servant of the Konishi family. May I have the honor of knowing who you are?
IYO-NO-KĀMI: My name is Uko, and I come to this villa once or twice a month to enjoy the simple life of elegance with its master. Out of affection for him I have given this advice. Please don’t take it badly, Raizan Dono.
RAIZAN (perceiving his fault): No, no. On the contrary you have showed me where I was wrong.
CHUĒMON: In that case, the master will do as I ask?
RAIZAN: Until Seibei awakes from his dream of illusion, I will become once more Konishi Shirobei and again behold this world of unreality.
CHUĒMON: I am more than grateful. But indeed it is due to the kindness of Uko Sama, and to him also I cannot sufficiently express my thanks.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: There is no need to thank me. But I think these manacles on Raizan’s wrists will inconvenience him, so I will relieve him of them.
(Draws near to Raizan.)
RAIZAN: But that can’t be. You know that no one can take these off without permission from the Bugyo.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: But I have already asked and obtained the permission of the Bugyo.
RAIZAN: Oh, that’s very kind of you. Then it will be all right.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Yes, we need not bother any more about that.
(Takes off the manacles and puts them aside.)
RAIZAN: It is solely owing to your kindness that I am saved from this durance and can look on creation a free man again.
CHUĒMON: Yes, indeed, I must again thank you, for I feel yet more deeply indebted to you. But, sir, judging from the crest you wear on your haori and by the way you spoke just now, I can’t help thinking we must be addressing His Excellency the Lord Warden of Osaka.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Ah, ha! You’re a pretty sharp fellow, Master Clerk. My friend Raizan only knows me by my nom-de-plume “Uko,” sure enough, but as you say, I am Tōki Iyo-no-kāmi, the Lord Warden. (Raizan and Chuēmon both sit in silent amazement.) But that’s just the charm of the aesthetic life, that noble and commoner can enjoy each other’s company in it quite freely without any hedge of ceremony.
RAIZAN: Well, well! How graceful that is. But after all it is only what I should have expected of you, Uko. (Turns to Chuēmon): And will you hurry home and bring Seibei back with you as soon as you can. I’ll give him a straight talk about his affairs.
CHUĒMON: I expect the young master is at Shima-no-uchi as usual, so it won’t take long for him to get here. (Turning to Iyo with a bow): Excuse me, Your Excellency.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: No ceremony, please. I’m not the Lord Warden here, you know.
CHUĒMON: Ah, pray excuse my thoughtlessness, Master Uko. I must be off immediately, but please do not hurry away.
(Exits in haste.)
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Well, the house of Konishi is fortunate
in such a worthy manager as Chuēmon. But I must be going too, for it’s twilight already.
RAIZAN: Oh, there’s no hurry. Won’t you wait at least till I get you a cup of tea?
IYO-NO-KĀMI: That’s very kind, but I think I must be off. (Steps down from the room. There is a sound of the chirping of insects.) Ah, what a charming sound!
RAIZAN (after a moment’s thought): Imamiya shrills with insects’ voices, but can’t hear them.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: That’s a good one. Yes, things are like that.
(Just then several retainers come up carrying the hasami-bako and other insignia of a Daimyo. They approach from the Hana-michi.)
RETAINER: At your service, my lord.
IYO-NO-KĀMI: Ah, obliged.
(Retainers draw in their breath as they crouch down. Iyo-nokāmi goes to the beginning of the Hana-michi.)
IYO-NO-KĀMI (repeats): Imamiya shrills with insects’ voices
RAIZAN: But can’t hear them.
(Both look at each other and laugh. Iyo-no-kāmi goes offlaughing after the retainers. Raizan stands thoughtful.)
RAIZAN: Ah, well, I suppose Raizan will have to become an ordinary man again even though he has for saken this fleeting world!
(Draws his writing-table toward him. Enter Ko-fuji barefooted and in haste. She is dressed as a geisha and she opens the wicket and runs in.)
KO-FUJI: Please hide me for a while somewhere, if you will be so kind.
(Looks anxiously behind her.)
RAIZAN: H’m! You seem to have come from the pleasure quarter. How is it you have run away?
KO-FUJI: I had to go to the Shimaya tea-house with a guest and he tried to lay hands on me, and I wouldn’t have it and so I ran away. And I’m afraid he is following me, so won’t you please let me hide somewhere. Do, please, kind sir, and I shall be so grateful to you.
RAIZAN: Well, I’m sorry for you if that’s the reason. Come in then and I’ll see what I can do. There’s a cloth over there, please wipe your feet and then come this way.
(The stage makes a half turn. Ko-fuji wipes her feet and follows Raizan into the detached room on the right. From the right enter Arimura Ichigāku dressed in the style of a Satsuma samurai in hakama and wearing two swords. He appears to have followed Ko-fuji. After standing outside a moment considering, he comes in at the gate.)
ARIMURA: Hullo! Hullo! Inside there! I want to know if a girl hasn’t just run away and hidden in this house. Answer me, please!
RAIZAN (appearing in front of the house with a lantern in his hand): Girl? Why no. Not even a she-cat has come along this way so far as I know. I think you had better go and ask elsewhere.
ARIMURA: But this confounded girl certainly ran in this direction. There is no other place she could have found to hide in but this cottage, so please allow me to come in and see for myself.
(Goes to enter the house.)
RAIZAN: I can’t have that. This cottage may be little more than a tinder-box perhaps, but it is still the residence of Konishi Raizan. Cross the threshold at your peril.
ARIMURA: Bah! You silly blow-away-at-a-breath old man! I shall come in anyhow, so you needn’t try to stop me.
RAIZAN: Don’t you put one foot inside here, you woman-besotted samurai!
ARIMURA: None of your impertinence! (Pushes past Raizan, who tries to stop him, but gets flung aside and kicked out of the way in doing so. The shōji of the detached room open and Ko-fuji runs out.) Ha! There’s Ko-fuji. You see you can’t get away, so you had better resign yourself to be mine. Eh?
KO-FUJI: No, I won’t. I have no intention of yielding to you. I only came out because I couldn’t see you kick and hurt this kind old man. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Hit me instead as much as you please. You can kill me if you like, but I won’t do your will.
(Thrusts herself toward him.)
ARIMURA: They say the greater the love the greater the hate. So it seems in your case. Now I’ll thrust this sword of mine through that breast that is colder than its icy blade.
KO-FUJI: Do you want to kill me then?
ARIMURA: Why not? That’s the way in my province, if the girl will not yield, to finish the matter with a single blow.
KO-FUJI: But I don’t want to be killed by you. There is someone else I love.
ARIMURA: You wench! I’ll slash your face in half!
(Draws his long sword. Ko-fuji jumps down on to the ground and Raizan interposes his body between her and the blade.)
RAIZAN: Pray, wait a moment! Don’t be so sudden! Is it to kill a woman that you wear that blade that you samurai hand down from generation to generation and treasure as your soul?
ARIMURA: What’s that?
RAIZAN: It is the way of samurai to be violent and headstrong, and it is natural that Your Honor should want to cut down a troublesome wench like this, but please be so good as to think over it a moment. If you cut down a woman you will have to expiate it by cutting yourself open afterwards, and your parents will be made to look ridiculous over it, while to crown all the affair will be a blot on the memorial tablets of your ancestral shrine. And is there any woman who is worth such a price? What are women? They are just like this doll here, painted up on the surface to look pretty and nothing but clay underneath. The man who is infatuated enough to throw away his precious life for a thing like that must be a big fool. I have good reason to be convinced that women are a cold-blooded lot of painted dolls, but that’s another story, and the fault wasn’t on my side anyhow. But Your Honor is young and no doubt has a father and mother at home, and if it is only the scruple of a samurai that if he draws he must not return his blade to the scabbard bloodlessly, well, cut this doll in half and let the other go. Now isn’t that a way out, Sir Samurai?
(During this speech Arimura becomes meditative, and at the end drops his head and sits down.)
ARIMURA: Yes. You’re quite right. I’ll take your advice and leave the girl alone.
RAIZAN: Then you pardon her?
ARIMURA: You’re lucky, girl, to escape with your life. You were within a hair of being in halves just now.
(Exit humming an air.)
KO-FUJI: I have no words to thank you. It is only by your kindness I escaped this danger.
RAIZAN: Yes, I was a bit anxious about you at one time. But that’s just like a Satsuma samurai. Frank and outspoken to a fault. And now about yourself. Where do you belong to?
KO-FUJI: I come from the Shimaya, and my name is Ko-fuji.
RAIZAN: Oh! So you are Ko-fuji, are you?
(Looks thoughtful and lights the andon.* Enter Konishi Seibei, who comes along the road in a palanquin with Chuēmon, dressed in the style of a well-to-do young tradesman.)
CHUĒMON: Put us down here!
SEIBEI: Oh, is this Imamiya? Why we’re here in a moment. It seems nearer than usual.
(Gets out of the palanquin. Chuēmon gives the bearers a tip.)
CHUĒMON: Thanks for your trouble.
FIRST BEARER: Don’t mention it. Thank you very much, sir. The sky looks as if it was going to rain soon.
SECOND BEARER: Yes. We’d better get back before it comes on.
(They turn back with the empty palanquin.)
SEIBEI: H’m, and my feelings are like the sky.
CHUĒMON: Oh no. On the contrary everything is going to clear up. (Opens the gate and enters.) I have brought the young master.
RAIZAN: Ha! You’ve come at the right time. This way, please.
(Seibei comes in and catches sight of Ko-fuji.)
SEIBEI: Why! There’s Ko-fuji!
KO-FUJI: Yes, sir.
(They run toward each other, but Raizan interposes himself between them.)
RAIZAN: No. no. You had better keep away from each other. So it will be easier to resign yourselves to separate as I am afraid you cannot marry each other. When young people are in love with each other it is hard for them to part at the time, but ... well, after all, it’s for their own good in the end. Now, Seibei, what have you to say?
SEIBEI:
It is very painful to me to go against your wishes, uncle, after you have been so patient and not reproved me once all these years, but I have promised Ko-fuji faithfully that I would make her my wife, and if I break my word I shall feel not a man at all.
CHUĒMON: Just so. Very naturally, sir, but all the same if you take a girl for your wife whose father is quite unknown, then the family will not be able to hold up its face to the world at all. And after all if you can’t keep to this contract, no doubt a certain sum of money will settle it. Please consider that a blot on the family name cannot be wiped out.
SEIBEI: However much I consider, my mind is made up. Anyhow ... If I can’t have Ko-fuji for my wife... . Look here! I’ll get right out of the Konishi family altogether! Then I can please myself. Chuēmon! You will arrange for my uncle to disinherit me at once.
CHUĒMON: Do you mean that you are asking to be disinherited?
SEIBEI: Yes. That’s the easiest way out of it, I fancy. Well, come along, Ko-fuji.
(He takes her hand. Raizan stands staring at them.)
RAIZAN: Seibei! Wait a moment! If you cut yourself from the family and go offwith this girl how do you propose to live from now on? It pains me beyond words to hear you ask to be dis-inherited in that calm unfeeling way. Have you no heart at all? Even though you may have some slight knowledge of the trade of a druggist, you have never known what it is to have to get your own living by yourself, and it makes me weep to think of you thrown on an unsympathetic world with your inexperience.
There is no need to remind you that I am your father’s younger brother, and when he died, leaving you only a baby, the family responsibilities fell on me. And as your mother was already dead I felt sorry for you left without any parents at all, and though I had enough to do with the business I found time to bring you up myself without leaving you to outsiders, and a young child is no small tie either. But I did not grudge it, and without waiting till you were full twenty-five I handed over the property to you and retired, looking forward to spending my remaining years of leisure in peace and quietness. But you were not long before you gave yourself up to dissipation, and every now and then unpleasant rumors about you would come to my ears. Still I thought it better to let things go as they would and I didn’t interfere, and you need not think that my coming back like this to reprove you and take charge of things again at Chuēmon’s special request, after I had sworn that I would have nothing more to do with this silly world, is because I begrudge the money you are wasting in the least, because it isn’t. It is simply my deep anxiety to prevent you becoming a laughing-stock to people. However many times you may tell me to disinherit you I won’t do it. I know well enough that people laugh and say what a fool Raizan is not to turn out that profligate spendthrift Seibei neck and crop, but I don’t care. So if you have the least feeling for me and any understanding of my affection for you, you will put aside your attachment for Ko-fuji and marry a girl of a respectable family. Do you let the tears of a singing-girl move you and yet pay no heed to the feelings of your uncle and this honest Chuēmon who are really devoted to you? Haven’t you any natural affection at all?
