kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第15节
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end。 I am not able to supply his omissions； or to repair his faults of
construction； but I must venture to put in a few explanatory details；
without which the rest of the tale would not hold together。。。 It appears that
Tomotada rashly took Aoyagi with him to Kyoto； and so got into trouble；
but we are not informed as to where the couple lived afterwards。＇
。。。Now a samurai was not allowed to marry without the consent of his
lord； and Tomotada could not expect to obtain this sanction before his
mission had been accomplished。 He had reason； under such circumstances；
to fear that the beauty of Aoyagi might attract dangerous attention； and
that means might be devised of taking her away from him。 In Kyoto he
therefore tried to keep her hidden from curious eyes。 But a retainer of Lord
Hosokawa one day caught sight of Aoyagi； discovered her relation to
Tomotada； and reported the matter to the daimyo。 Thereupon the daimyo
a young prince； and fond of pretty faces gave orders that the girl should
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be brought to the place； and she was taken thither at once； without
ceremony。
Tomotada sorrowed unspeakably； but he knew himself powerless。 He
was only an humble messenger in the service of a far…off daimyo； and for
the time being he was at the mercy of a much more powerful daimyo；
whose wishes were not to be questioned。 Moreover Tomotada knew that
he had acted foolishly； that he had brought about his own misfortune； by
entering into a clandestine relation which the code of the military class
condemned。 There was now but one hope for him； a desperate hope： that
Aoyagi might be able and willing to escape and to flee with him。 After
long reflection； he resolved to try to send her a letter。 The attempt would
be dangerous； of course： any writing sent to her might find its way to the
hands of the daimyo； and to send a love…letter to anyinmate of the place
was an unpardonable offense。 But he resolved to dare the risk； and； in the
form of a Chinese poem； he composed a letter which he endeavored to
have conveyed to her。 The poem was written with only twenty…eight
characters。 But with those twenty…eight characters he was about to express
all the depth of his passion； and to suggest all the pain of his loss： ＇4＇
Koshi o…son gojin wo ou； Ryokuju namida wo tarete rakin wo hitataru；
Komon hitotabi irite fukaki koto umi no gotoshi； Kore yori shoro kore
rojin
＇Closely； closely the youthful prince now follows after the gem…bright
maid；
The tears of the fair one； falling； have moistened all her robes。
But the august lord； having one become enamored of her the depth
of his longing is like the depth of the sea。
Therefore it is only I that am left forlorn； only I that am left to
wander along。＇
On the evening of the day after this poem had been sent； Tomotada
was summoned to appear before the Lord Hosokawa。 The youth at once
suspected that his confidence had been betrayed； and he could not hope； if
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his letter had been seen by the daimyo； to escape the severest penalty。
〃Now he will order my death；〃 thought Tomotada； 〃but I do not care to
live unless Aoyagi be restored to me。 Besides； if the death…sentence be
passed； I can at least try to kill Hosokawa。〃 He slipped his swords into his
girdle； and hastened to the palace。
On entering the presence…room he saw the Lord Hosokawa seated
upon the dais； surrounded by samurai of high rank； in caps and robes of
ceremony。 All were silent as statues； and while Tomotada advanced to
make obeisance； the hush seemed to his sinister and heavy； like the
stillness before a storm。 But Hosokawa suddenly descended from the dais；
and； while taking the youth by the arm； began to repeat the words of the
poem： 〃Koshi o…son gojin wo ou。〃。。。 And Tomotada； looking up； saw
kindly tears in the prince's eyes。
Then said Hosokawa：
〃Because you love each other so much； I have taken it upon myself to
authorize your marriage； in lieu of my kinsman； the Lord of Noto； and
your wedding shall now be celebrated before me。 The guests are
assembled； the gifts are ready。〃
At a signal from the lord； the sliding…screens concealing a further
apartment were pushed open； and Tomotada saw there many dignitaries of
the court； assembled for the ceremony； and Aoyagi awaiting him in brides'
apparel。。。 Thus was she given back to him； and the wedding was joyous
and splendid； and precious gifts were made to the young couple by the
prince； and by the members of his household。
* * *
For five happy years； after that wedding； Tomotada and Aoyagi dwelt
together。 But one morning Aoyagi； while talking with her husband about
some household matter； suddenly uttered a great cry of pain； and then
became very white and still。 After a few moments she said； in a feeble
voice： 〃Pardon me for thus rudely crying out but the paid was so
sudden！。。。 My dear husband； our union must have been brought about
through some Karma…relation in a former state of existence； and that
happy relation； I think； will bring us again together in more than one life to
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come。 But for this present existence of ours； the relation is now ended；
we are about to be separated。 Repeat for me； I beseech you； the Nembutsu…
prayer； because I am dying。〃
〃Oh！ what strange wild fancies！〃 cried the startled husband； 〃you
are only a little unwell； my dear one！。。。 lie down for a while； and rest； and
the sickness will pass。〃。。。
〃No； no！〃 she responded 〃I am dying！ I do not imagine it； I
know！。。。 And it were needless now； my dear husband； to hide the truth
from you any longer： I am not a human being。 The soul of a tree is my
soul； the heart of a tree is my heart； the sap of the willow is my life。
And some one； at this cruel moment； is cutting down my tree； that is why
I must die！。。。 Even to weep were now beyond my strength！ quickly；
quickly repeat the Nembutsu for me。。。 quickly！。。。 Ah！。。。
With another cry of pain she turned aside her beautiful head； and tried
to hide her face behind her sleeve。 But almost in the same moment her
whole form appeared to collapse in the strangest way； and to sank down；
down； down level with the floor。 Tomotada had spring to support her；
but there was nothing to support！ There lay on the matting only the empty
robes of the fair creature and the ornaments that she had worn in her hair：
the body had ceased to exist。。。
Tomotada shaved his head； took the Buddhist vows； and became an
itinerant priest。 He traveled through all the provinces of the empire； and； at
holy places which he visited； he offered up prayers for the soul of Aoyagi。
Reaching Echizen； in the course of his pilgrimage； he sought the home of
the parents of his beloved。 But when he arrived at the lonely place among
the hills； where their dwelling had been； he found that the cottage had
disappeared。 There was nothing to mark even the spot where it had stood；
except the stumps of three willows two old trees and one young tree
that had been cut down long before his arrival。
Beside the stumps of those willow…trees he erected a memorial tomb；
inscribed with divers holy texts； and he there performed many Buddhist
services on behalf of the spirits of Aoyagi and of her parents。
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JIU…ROKU…ZAKURA
In Wakegori；
