kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第2节
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not found the perfect peace。
Some centuries ago there lived at Akamagaseki a blind man named
Hoichi； who was famed for his skill in recitation and in playing upon the
biwa ＇3＇。 》From childhood he had been trained to recite and to play； and
while yet a lad he had surpassed his teachers。 As a professional biwa…hoshi
he became famous chiefly by his recitations of the history of the Heike
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and the Genji； and it is said that when he sang the song of the battle of
Dan…no…ura 〃even the goblins ＇kijin＇ could not refrain from tears。〃
At the outset of his career； Hoichi was very poor； but he found a good
friend to help him。 The priest of the Amidaji was fond of poetry and music；
and he often invited Hoichi to the temple； to play and recite。 Afterwards；
being much impressed by the wonderful skill of the lad； the priest
proposed that Hoichi should make the temple his home； and this offer was
gratefully accepted。 Hoichi was given a room in the temple…building； and；
in return for food and lodging； he was required only to gratify the priest
with a musical performance on certain evenings； when otherwise
disengaged。
One summer night the priest was called away； to perform a Buddhist
service at the house of a dead parishioner； and he went there with his
acolyte； leaving Hoichi alone in the temple。 It was a hot night； and the
blind man sought to cool himself on the verandah before his sleeping…
room。 The verandah overlooked a small garden in the rear of the Amidaji。
There Hoichi waited for the priest's return； and tried to relieve his solitude
by practicing upon his biwa。 Midnight passed； and the priest did not
appear。 But the atmosphere was still too warm for comfort within doors；
and Hoichi remained outside。 At last he heard steps approaching from the
back gate。 Somebody crossed the garden； advanced to the verandah； and
halted directly in front of him but it was not the priest。 A deep voice
called the blind man's name abruptly and unceremoniously； in the
manner of a samurai summoning an inferior：
〃Hoichi！〃
〃Hai！〃 （1） answered the blind man； frightened by the menace in the
voice； 〃I am blind！ I cannot know who calls！〃
〃There is nothing to fear；〃 the stranger exclaimed； speaking more
gently。 〃I am stopping near this temple； and have been sent to you with a
message。 My present lord； a person of exceedingly high rank； is now
staying in Akamagaseki； with many noble attendants。 He wished to view
the scene of the battle of Dan…no…ura； and to…day he visited that place。
Having heard of your skill in reciting the story of the battle； he now
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desires to hear your performance： so you will take your biwa and come
with me at once to the house where the august assembly is waiting。〃
In those times； the order of a samurai was not to be lightly disobeyed。
Hoichi donned his sandals； took his biwa； and went away with the stranger；
who guided him deftly； but obliged him to walk very fast。 The hand that
guided was iron； and the clank of the warrior's stride proved him fully
armed； probably some palace…guard on duty。 Hoichi's first alarm was
over： he began to imagine himself in good luck； for； remembering the
retainer's assurance about a 〃person of exceedingly high rank；〃 he thought
that the lord who wished to hear the recitation could not be less than a
daimyo of the first class。 Presently the samurai halted； and Hoichi became
aware that they had arrived at a large gateway； and he wondered； for he
could not remember any large gate in that part of the town； except the
main gate of the Amidaji。 〃Kaimon！〃 ＇4＇ the samurai called； and there
was a sound of unbarring； and the twain passed on。 They traversed a space
of garden； and halted again before some entrance； and the retainer cried in
a loud voice； 〃Within there！ I have brought Hoichi。〃 Then came sounds of
feet hurrying； and screens sliding； and rain…doors opening； and voices of
womeni n converse。 By the language of the women Hoichi knew them to
be domestics in some noble household； but he could not imagine to what
place he had been conducted。 Little time was allowed him for conjecture。
After he had been helped to mount several stone steps； upon the last of
which he was told to leave his sandals； a woman's hand guided him along
interminable reaches of polished planking； and round pillared angles too
many to remember； and over widths amazing of matted floor； into the
middle of some vast apartment。 There he thought that many great people
were assembled： the sound of the rustling of silk was like the sound of
leaves in a forest。 He heard also a great humming of voices； talking in
undertones； and the speech was the speech of courts。
Hoichi was told to put himself at ease； and he found a kneeling…
cushion ready for him。 After having taken his place upon it； and tuned his
instrument； the voice of a woman whom he divined to be the Rojo； or
matron in charge of the female service addressed him； saying；
〃It is now required that the history of the Heike be recited； to the
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accompaniment of the biwa。〃
Now the entire recital would have required a time of many nights：
therefore Hoichi ventured a question：
〃As the whole of the story is not soon told； what portion is it augustly
desired that I now recite？〃
The woman's voice made answer：
〃Recite the story of the battle at Dan…no…ura； for the pity of it is the
most deep。〃 ＇5＇
Then Hoichi lifted up his voice； and chanted the chant of the fight on
the bitter sea； wonderfully making his biwa to sound like the straining of
oars and the rushing of ships； the whirr and the hissing of arrows； the
shouting and trampling of men； the crashing of steel upon helmets； the
plunging of slain in the flood。 And to left and right of him； in the pauses of
his playing； he could hear voices murmuring praise： 〃How marvelous an
artist！〃 〃Never in our own province was playing heard like this！〃 〃Not
in all the empire is there another singer like Hoichi！〃 Then fresh courage
came to him； and he played and sang yet better than before； and a hush of
wonder deepened about him。 But when at last he came to tell the fate of
the fair and helpless； the piteous perishing of the women and children；
and the death…leap of Nii…no…Ama； with the imperial infant in her arms；
then all the listeners uttered together one long； long shuddering cry of
anguish； and thereafter they wept and wailed so loudly and so wildly that
the blind man was frightened by the violence and grief that he had made。
For much time the sobbing and the wailing continued。 But gradually the
sounds of lamentation died away； and again； in the great stillness that
followed； Hoichi heard the voice of the woman whom he supposed to be
the Rojo。
She said：
〃Although we had been assured that you were a very skillful player
upon the biwa； and without an equal in recitative； we did not know that
any one could be so skillful as you have proved yourself to…night。 Our lord
has been pleased to say that he intends to bestow upon you a fitting reward。
But he desires that you shall perform before him once every night for the
next six nights after which time he will probably make his august
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return…journey。 To…morrow night； therefore； you are to come here at the
same hour。 The retainer who to…night conducted you will be sent for you。。。
There is another matter about which I have been ordered to inform you。 It
is required that you shall speak to no one of your visits here； during the
time of our lord's august sojourn at
