kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第22节
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appear splendid in the eyes of men。 And the end of it was that the Emperor
Genso died a pitiful and painful death all because of your light and
trifling mind。 Indeed； your real character can easily be seen from your
conduct in other matters。 There are trees； for example； such as the
evergreen…oak and the pine； whose leaves do not fade and fall； but
remain always green； these are trees of firm heart； trees of solid
character。 But you say that they are stiff and formal； and you hate the sight
of them； and never pay them a visit。 Only to the cherry…tree； and the kaido
＇15＇； and the peony； and the yellow rose you go： those you like because
they have showy flowers； and you try only to please them。 Such conduct；
let me assure you； is very unbecoming。 Those trees certainly have
handsome flowers； but hunger…satisfying fruits they have not； and they are
grateful to those only who are fond of luxury and show。 And that is just the
reason why they are pleased by your fluttering wings and delicate shape；
that is why they are kind to you。
〃Now； in this spring season； while you sportively dance through the
gardens of the wealthy； or hover among the beautiful alleys of cherry…trees
in blossom； you say to yourself： 'Nobody in the world has such pleasure as
I； or such excellent friends。 And； in spite of all that people may say； I most
love the peony； and the golden yellow rose is my own darling； and I will
obey her every least behest； for that is my pride and my delight。'。。。 So you
say。 But the opulent and elegant season of flowers is very short： soon they
will fade and fall。 Then； in the time of summer heat； there will be green
leaves only； and presently the winds of autumn will blow； when even the
leaves themselves will shower down like rain； parari…parari。 And your fate
will then be as the fate of the unlucky in the proverb； Tanomi ki no shita ni
ame furu ＇Even through the tree upon which I relied for shelter the rain
leaks down＇。 For you will seek out your old friend； the root…cutting insect；
the grub； and beg him to let you return into your old…time hole； but now
having wings； you will not be able to enter the hole because of them； and
you will not be able to shelter your body anywhere between heaven and
earth； and all the moor…grass will then have withered； and you will not
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have even one drop of dew with which to moisten your tongue； and there
will be nothing left for you to do but to lie down and die。 all because of
your light and frivolous heart but； ah！ how lamentable an end！〃。。。
III
Most of the Japanese stories about butterflies appear； as I have said； to
be of Chinese origin。 But I have one which is probably indigenous； and it
seems to me worth telling for the benefit of persons who believe there is
no 〃romantic love〃 in the Far East。
Behind the cemetery of the temple of Sozanji； in the suburbs of the
capital； there long stood a solitary cottage； occupied by an old man named
Takahama。 He was liked in the neighborhood； by reason of his amiable
ways； but almost everybody supposed him to be a little mad。 Unless a man
take the Buddhist vows； he is expected to marry； and to bring up a family。
But Takahama did not belong to the religious life； and he could not be
persuaded to marry。 Neither had he ever been known to enter into a love…
relation with any woman。 For more than fifty years he had lived entirely
alone。
One summer he fell sick； and knew that he had not long to live。 He
then sent for his sister…in…law； a widow； and for her only son； a lad of
about twenty years old； to whom he was much attached。 Both promptly
came； and did whatever they could to soothe the old man's last hours。
One sultry afternoon； while the widow and her son were watching at
his bedside； Takahama fell asleep。 At the same moment a very large white
butterfly entered the room； and perched upon the sick man's pillow。 The
nephew drove it away with a fan； but it returned immediately to the pillow；
and was again driven away； only to come back a third time。 Then the
nephew chased it into the garden； and across the garden； through an open
gate； into the cemetery of the neighboring temple。 But it continued to
flutter before him as if unwilling to be driven further； and acted so queerly
that he began to wonder whether it was really a butterfly； or a ma ＇16＇。 He
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again chased it； and followed it far into the cemetery； until he saw it fly
against a tomb； a woman's tomb。 There it unaccountably disappeared；
and he searched for it in vain。 He then examined the monument。 It bore the
personal name 〃Akiko；〃 （3） together with an unfamiliar family name； and
an inscription stating that Akiko had died at the age of eighteen。
Apparently the tomb had been erected about fifty years previously： moss
had begun to gather upon it。 But it had been well cared for： there were
fresh flowers before it； and the water…tank had recently been filled。
On returning to the sick room； the young man was shocked by the
announcement that his uncle had ceased to breathe。 Death had come to the
sleeper painlessly； and the dead face smiled。
The young man told his mother of what he had seen in the cemetery。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the widow； 〃then it must have been Akiko！〃。。。
But who was Akiko； mother？〃 the nephew asked。
The widow answered：
〃When your good uncle was young he was betrothed to a charming
girl called Akiko； the daughter of a neighbor。 Akiko died of consumption；
only a little before the day appointed for the wedding； and her promised
husband sorrowed greatly。 After Akiko had been buried； he made a vow
never to marry； and he built this little house beside the cemetery； so that he
might be always near her grave。 All this happened more than fifty years
ago。 And every day of those fifty years winter and summer alike your
uncle went to the cemetery； and prayed at the grave； and swept the tomb；
and set offerings before it。 But he did not like to have any mention made
of the matter； and he never spoke of it。。。 So； at last； Akiko came for him：
the white butterfly was her soul。〃
IV
I had almost forgotten to mention an ancient Japanese dance； called the
Butterfly Dance （Kocho…Mai）； which used to be performed in the Imperial
Palace； by dancers costumed as butterflies。 Whether it is danced
occasionally nowadays I do not know。 It is said to be very difficult to learn。
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Six dancers are required for the proper performance of it； and they must
move in particular figures； obeying traditional rules for ever step； pose；
or gesture； and circling about each other very slowly to the sound of
hand…drums and great drums； small flutes and great flutes； and pandean
pipes of a form unknown to Western Pan。
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MOSQUITOES
With a view to self…protection I have been reading Dr。 Howard's book；
〃Mosquitoes。〃 I am persecuted by mosquitoes。 There are several species in
my neighborhood； but only one of them is a serious torment； a tiny
needly thing； all silver…speckled and silver…streaked。 The puncture of it is
sharp as an electric burn； and the mere hum of it has a lancinating quality
of tone which foretells the quality of the pain about to come； much in the
same way that a particular smell suggests a particular taste。 I find that this
mosquito much resembles the creature which Dr。 Howard calls Stegomyia
fasciata； or Culex fasciatus： and that its habits are the same as those of the
Stegomyia。 For example； it is diurnal rather than nocturnal and becomes
most troublesome in the afternoon。 And I have discovered that it comes
from the Buddhist cemetery； a very old cemetery；
