The Noh Plays of Japan

by Arthur Waley

  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.

  EBOSHI-ORI

  By Miyamasu (Sixteenth Century?)

  KICHIJI

  We as travelers dressed—

  Our weary feet upon the Eastern road

  For many days must speed.

  I am Sanjō 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 aneboshi,* 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 Hachimantarō Yoshi-iye, having routed* the brothers Sadatō and Munetō, 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 Hōgen,+

  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 patie
ntly 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 Konnentō.

  HATMAKER

  Ah! I have heard that name. Then this must be the young Lord Ushiwaka from Kurama Temple. Come with me. We must go after him and give him back the sword at once. Why, he is still there! (To USHIWAKA.) Sit, this woman tells me she knows the sword; I beg of you to take it back.

  USHIWAKA

  Oh! strange adventure; to meet so far from home

  With humble folk that show me kindness!

  HATMAKER and WIFE

  My Lord, forgive us! We did not know you; but now we see in you Lord Ushiwaka, the nursling of Kurama Temple.

  USHIWAKA

  I am no other. (To the WIFE.) And you, perhaps, are some kinswoman of Masakiyo?*

  WIFE

  You have guessed wisely, sir; I am the Kamada's sister.

  USHIWAKA

  Lady Akoya?

  WIFE

  I am.

  USHIWAKA

  Truly I have reason to know...And I

  CHORUS

  Am Ushiwaka fallen on profitless days.

  Of whom no longer you may speak

  As master, but as one sunk in strange servitude.

  Dawn is in the east; the pale moon fades from the sky, as he sets forth from the Mirror Inn.

  HATMAKER and WIFE

  Oh! it breaks my heart to see him! A boy of noble name walking barefoot with merchants, and nothing on his journey but cloth of Shikama to clothe him. Oh! piteous sight!

  USHIWAKA

  Change rules the world for ever, and Man but for a little while. What are fine clothes to me, what life itself while foemen flaunt?

  HATMAKER

  As a journey-present to speed you on the Eastern road...

  CHORUS

  So he spoke and pressed the sword into the young lord's hands. And the boy could not any longer refuse, but taking it said, "If ever I come into the World* again, I will not forget." And so saying he turned and went on his way in company with the merchants his masters. On they went till at last, weary with travel, they came to the Inn of Akasaka in the country of Mino.

  KICHIJI (the merchant)

  We have come so fast that here we are at the Inn of Akasaka.

  (To his BROTHER.)

  Listen, Kichiroku, you had better take lodging for us here.

  KICHIROKU

  I obey. (Goes towards the hashigakari or actors' entrance-passage.) May I come in?

  INNKEEPER

  Who are you? Ah! it is Master Kichiroku. I am glad to see you back again so soon.

  (To KICHIJI.)

  Be on your guard, gentleman. For a desperate gang has got wind of your coming and has sworn to set upon you tonight.

  KICHIJI

  What are we to do?

  KICHIROKU

  I cannot tell.

  USHIWAKA (comes forward)

  What are you speaking of?

  KICHIJI

  We have heard that robbers may be coming tonight. We were wondering what we should do...

  USHIWAKA

  Let them come in what force they will; yet if one stout soldier go to meet them, they will not stand their ground, though they be fifty mounted men.

  KICHIJI

  These are trusty words that you have spoken to us. One and all we look to you...

  USHIWAKA

  Then arm yourselves and wait. I will go out to meet them.

  CHORUS

  And while he spoke, evening passed to darkness. "Now is the time," he cried, "to show the world those arts of war that for many months and years upon the Mountain of Kurama I have rehearsed."

  Then he opened the double-doors and waited there for the slow incoming of the white waves.*

  BRIGANDS

  Loud the noise of assault. The lashing of white waves against the rocks, even such is the din of our battle-cry.

  KUMASAKA

  Ho, my man! Who is there?

  BRIGAND

  I stand before you.

  KUMASAKA

  How fared those skirmishers I sent to make a sudden breach? Blew the wind briskly within?

  BRIGAND

  Briskly indeed; for some are slain and many grievously wounded.

  KUMASAKA

  How can that be? I thought that none were within but the merchants, Kichiji and his brother. Who else is there?

  BRIGAND

  By the light of a rocket I saw a lad of twelve or thirteen years slashing about him with a short-sword; and he was nimble as a butterfly or bird.

  KUMASAKA

  And the brothers Surihari?

  BRIGAND

  Stood foster-fathers to the fire-throwers and were the first to enter.

  But soon there meets them this child I tell of and with a blow at each whisks off their heads from their necks.

  KUMASAKA

  Ei! Ei! Those two, and the horsemen that were near a hundred strong—all smitten! The fellow has bewitched them!

  BRIGAND

  When Takase saw this, thinking perhaps no good would come of this night-attack, he took some seventy horsemen and galloped away with them.

  KUMASAKA

  Ha! It is not the first time that lout has played me false. How fared the torch-diviners?*

  BRIGAND

  The first torch was slashed in pieces; the second was trampled on till it went out; the third they caught and threw back at us, but it too went out. There are none left.

  KUMASAKA

  Then is all lost. For of these torch-diviners they sing that the first torch is the soul of an army, the second torch is the wheel of Fate, and the third torch—Life itself. All three are out, and there is no hope left for this night's brigandage.

  BRIGAND

  It is as you say. Though we were gods, we could not redeem our plight. Deign to give the word of retreat
.

  KUMASAKA

  Why, even brigands must be spared from slaughter. Come, withdraw my men.

  BRIGAND

  I obey.

  KUMASAKA

  Stay! Shall Kumasaka Chōhan be worsted in tonight's affray? Never! Where could he then hide his shame? Come, robbers, to the attack!