kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第9节
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Kyobashi quarter； who died about thirty years ago。 This is the story； as he
told it：
One night； at a late hour； he was hurrying up the Kii…no…kuni…zaka；
when he perceived a woman crouching by the moat； all alone； and
weeping bitterly。 Fearing that she intended to drown herself； he stopped to
offer her any assistance or consolation in his power。 She appeared to be a
slight and graceful person； handsomely dressed； and her hair was arranged
like that of a young girl of good family。 〃O…jochu；〃 ＇1＇ he exclaimed；
approaching her； 〃O…jochu； do not cry like that！。。。 Tell me what the
trouble is； and if there be any way to help you； I shall be glad to help you。〃
（He really meant what he said； for he was a very kind man。） But she
continued to weep； hiding her face from him with one of her long sleeves。
〃O…jochu；〃 he said again； as gently as he could； 〃please； please listen to
me！。。。 This is no place for a young lady at night！ Do not cry； I implore you！
only tell me how I may be of some help to you！〃 Slowly she rose up； but
turned her back to him； and continued to moan and sob behind her sleeve。
He laid his hand lightly upon her shoulder； and pleaded： 〃O…jochu！ O…
jochu！ O…jochu！。。。 Listen to me； just for one little moment！。。。 O…jochu！
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O…jochu！〃。。。 Then that O…jochu turned around； and dropped her sleeve； and
stroked her face with her hand； and the man saw that she had no eyes or
nose or mouth； and he screamed and ran away。 （2）
Up Kii…no…kuni…zaka he ran and ran； and all was black and empty
before him。 On and on he ran； never daring to look back； and at last he
saw a lantern； so far away that it looked like the gleam of a firefly； and he
made for it。 It proved to be only the lantern of an itinerant soba…seller； ＇2＇
who had set down his stand by the road…side； but any light and any human
companionship was good after that experience； and he flung himself down
at the feet of the soba…seller； crying out； 〃Ah！ aa！！ aa！！！〃。。。
〃Kore！ kore！〃 （3） roughly exclaimed the soba…man。 〃Here！ what is
the matter with you？ Anybody hurt you？〃
〃No nobody hurt me；〃 panted the other； 〃only。。。 Ah！ aa！〃
〃 Only scared you？〃 queried the peddler； unsympathetically。
〃Robbers？〃
〃Not robbers； not robbers；〃 gasped the terrified man。。。 〃I saw。。。 I
saw a woman by the moat； and she showed me。。。 Ah！ I cannot tell you
what she showed me！〃。。。
〃He！ （4） Was it anything like THIS that she showed you？〃 cried the
soba…man； stroking his own face which therewith became like unto an
Egg。。。 And； simultaneously； the light went out。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
ROKURO…KUBI
Nearly five hundred years ago there was a samurai； named Isogai
Heidazaemon Taketsura； in the service of the Lord Kikuji； of Kyushu。 This
Isogai had inherited； from many warlike ancestors； a natural aptitude for
military exercises； and extraordinary strength。 While yet a boy he had
surpassed his teachers in the art of swordsmanship； in archery； and in the
use of the spear； and had displayed all the capacities of a daring and
skillful soldier。 Afterwards； in the time of the Eikyo ＇1＇ war； he so
distinguished himself that high honors were bestowed upon him。 But when
the house of Kikuji came to ruin； Isogai found himself without a master。
He might then easily have obtained service under another daimyo； but as
he had never sought distinction for his own sake alone； and as his heart
remained true to his former lord； he preferred to give up the world。 so he
cut off his hair； and became a traveling priest； taking the Buddhist name
of Kwairyo。
But always； under the koromo ＇2＇ of the priest； Kwairyo kept warm
within him the heart of the samurai。 As in other years he had laughed at
peril； so now also he scorned danger； and in all weathers and all seasons
he journeyed to preach the good Law in places where no other priest
would have dared to go。 For that age was an age of violence and disorder；
and upon the highways there was no security for the solitary traveler； even
if he happened to be a priest。
In the course of his first long journey； Kwairyo had occasion to visit
the province of Kai。 （1） One evening； as he was traveling through the
mountains of that province； darkness overcame him in a very lonesome
district； leagues away from any village。 So he resigned himself to pass the
night under the stars； and having found a suitable grassy spot； by the
roadside； he lay down there； and prepared to sleep。 He had always
welcomed discomfort； and even a bare rock was for him a good bed； when
nothing better could be found； and the root of a pine…tree an excellent
pillow。 His body was iron； and he never troubled himself about dews or
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rain or frost or snow。
Scarcely had he lain down when a man came along the road； carrying
an axe and a great bundle of chopped wood。 This woodcutter halted on
seeing Kwairyo lying down； and； after a moment of silent observation；
said to him in a tone of great surprise：
〃What kind of a man can you be； good Sir； that you dare to lie down
alone in such a place as this？。。。 There are haunters about here； many of
them。 are you not afraid of Hairy Things？〃
〃My friend；〃 cheerfully answered Kwairyo； 〃I am only a wandering
priest； a 'Cloud…and…Water…Guest；' as folks call it： Unsui…no…ryokaku。 （2）
And I am not in the least afraid of Hairy Things； if you mean goblin…
foxes； or goblin…badgers； or any creatures of that kind。 As for lonesome
places； I like them： they are suitable for meditation。 I am accustomed to
sleeping in the open air： and I have learned never to be anxious aboutmy
life。〃
〃You must be indeed a brave man； Sir Priest；〃 the peasant responded；
〃to lie down here！ This place has a bad name； a very bad name。 But； as
the proverb has it； Kunshi ayayuki ni chikayorazu ＇'The superior man does
not needlessly expose himself to peril'＇； and I must assure you； Sir； that it
is very dangerous to sleep here。 Therefore； although my house is only a
wretched thatched hut； let me beg of you to come home with me at once。
In the way of food； I have nothing to offer you； but there is a roof at least；
and you can sleep under it without risk。〃
He spoke earnestly； and Kwairyo； liking the kindly tone of the man；
accepted this modest offer。 The woodcutter guided him along a narrow
path； leading up from the main road through mountain…forest。 It was a
rough and dangerous path； sometimes skirting precipices； sometimes
offering nothing but a network of slippery roots for the foot to rest upon；
sometimes winding over or between masses of jagged rock。 But at last
Kwairyo found himself upon a cleared space at the top of a hill； with a full
moon shining overhead； and he saw before him a small thatched cottage；
cheerfully lighted from within。 The woodcutter led him to a shed at the
back of the house； whither water had been conducted； through bamboo…
pipes； from some neighboring stream； and the two men washed their feet。
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Beyond the shed was a vegetable garden； and a grove of cedars and
bamboos； and beyond the trees appeared the glimmer of a cascade；
pouring from some loftier height； and swaying in the moonshine like a
long white robe。
As Kwairyo entered the cottage with his guide； he perceived four
persons men and women warming their hands at a little fire kindled in
the ro ＇1＇ of the principle apartment。 They bowed low to the priest； and
greeted him in the most respectful manner。 Kwairyo wondered that
persons so poor； and dwelling in such a solitude； should be awar
