 | The Feather Mantle (Hagoromo: a woman play) |  |
ISSEI
ISSEI
Sideman and Side Secondby Mio
down the curving shore
small craft row
and fishermen
call o'er the sea lanes!
NANORI
SidemanI'm a fisherman known on the pine barrens of Mio as Hakuryō.
SASHI
Sideman and Side Secondof mild calm!
Spring again has touched
pine barrens
wave on lingering wave
the morning mists,
moon loitering in sky meadows
endless
the gaze roves on:
a scene to quiet,
to absorb the heart!
SAGEUTA
how mountain trails
we took to Clearview Cove,
and spied afar
Mio's pine barrens:
come now, friends,
there's where we'll go
come now, friends,
there's where we'll go!
AGEUTA
the clouds float high
waves then to you
the clouds float high
waves then to you
are they, men,
no fishing done,
will you hurry home?
Wait! It's spring a while,
and mild blows the morning breeze,
yes, the pines' song everlasting,
waves are silent
in the morning calm
and fishermen crowd forth
in teeming craft
fishermen crowd forth
in teeming craft!
*
SidemanI've just come up to the pine barrens of Mio, and I'm gazing at the view of the shore, when from the void blossoms fall, music resounds, and wondrous fragrances pervade all space. This can hardly be common. And in fact I see here, hung on this pine tree, a beautiful mantle. A closer look now: color and scent are marvelous indeed. This is no ordinary mantle. I'll take it home with me to show my friends, and to keep as an heirloom in my house.
Carrying the mantle in both hands, he starts toward Sideman's spot. But Doer calls to him as she comes through curtain, and starts down bridgeway. She wears the zō-onna mask and an angel's glittering crown.
MONDO
DoerI'm sorry, but that mantle's mine! Why have you taken it?
Sideman is now at Sideman's spot.)
Sideman
I just happen to have run across it, so I'm taking it home with me.
Doer
But it's an angel's feather mantle! It isn't supposed to be given to a human being! Do please leave it where it was!
Sideman
As I understand it, then, this is an angel's mantle. Why, in that case, it's obviously a wonder in these latter days, and I ought to have it as a treasure for the whole land! I'm not going to give it back.
Doer
Oh no! Without the feather mantle, flying is over for me; I'll never be able to return to Heaven! Please, please give it back!
will not heed
this gracious plea,
but grows stubborn:
heartless I've always been,
I, a fisherman.
The celestial
feather mantle
he hides from her.
and turns to go.
Doer
the angel,
like a wingless bird,
Sideman
has no mantle;
Doer
in the nether world.
Sideman
she laments,
Doer
will keep the mantle,
Sideman
helpless,
Doer
hopeless
AGEUTA
Chorusshining jewel headdress,
flowers in her hair
droop and wilt:
the five signs
of an angel's fall
are here
before my very eyes—
oh pitiful!
She gazes up to her right into the sky.
SHIMO-NO-EI
Doerbackward I gaze,
but mists rise,
cloudways blur,
the path is lost!'
SAGEUTA
Chorusthe sky, oh when
shall I pass yonder move
the clouds
and enviously
I look on!
AGEUTA
voice I loved
the kalavinka's
voice I loved
to hear, now fades
and wild geese cry
down the skyways,
going home—
and oh, this
Plovers, gulls,
with waves offshore come and go
breezes of spring
blowing through the sky, they too
quicken yearning
blowing through the sky, they too
quicken yearning!
She gazes up at sky, and weeps.
MONDO
SidemanI can see now you're suffering terribly. I'll give you back your mantle.
Doer
Oh, I'm so happy! Then do bring it to me!
She presses toward Sideman.
Sideman
A moment, though.
He retreats an equal distance.I'll return your mantle if you'll be kind enough to do right here and now the angel dance I've heard tell of.
Doer
I'm so happy! Yes, I will get home to Heaven! And for joy I'll indeed dance, right here and now. You shall pass my dance on to the downcast folk of your world. But I can't do anything without my mantle. Please give it back to me first.
Sideman
Oh no, if I return your mantle you won't dance, you'll head straight up to Heaven.
Doer
No, suspicion's for the human realm; in Heaven there's no falsehood.
Sideman
I'm so ashamed! Why then, says he, by all means; and gives her back the mantle.
Side gives mantle to Doer, then goes to sit at Sideman's spot.
MONO-GI-ASHIRAI
Doer withdraws to stagehand spot, where she puts on the mantle. She then comes out to main spot.KAKEAI
in mantle clothed,
does Rainbow Skirts and Cloak of Wings;
Sideman
feather mantle
moves to the winds,
Doer
the blossom sleeves,
Sideman
as music plays
Doer
and she dances on!
SHIDAI
Chorusfrom East Country Pleasures
the Suruga Dance
from East Country Pleasures:
Sparely, this
is how it began!
KURI
the long-faring sky:
ages past, in the Twin Gods' time,
when they laid out the world
in each one
of its ten directions,
the sky had no end,
and that it why
they dubbed it
long-faring.
SASHI
Doerof the Moon,
with glittering ax
hewn for all eternity:
Chorus
the angel throng
made two bands,
each of thrice five,
and all moon long,
night by night,
a celestial maid
with task assigned
carries out her role.
Doer
celestial maiden
Chorus
laurel tree,
I've split in two,
to visit
and myself pass on
to your world here
the Suruga Dance
of the East Country!
KUSE
trail on long-faring
moon laurel flowers bloom!
Yes, crown of blossoms
in full hue
surely means spring!
Oh lovely!
Though no Heaven,
here too we've sweet grace.
Winds of the skies,
passageways!
The maiden lingers,
pine barrens'
spring hues to see
on Mio Cape,
and the moon so
Clearview Cove,
snows of Fuji—
which excels?
Peerless this spring dawn,
the waves,
the pining wind
so mild,
the tranquil shore!
Sky and earth, why, what parts them?
Zoned with light
are Inner Shrine and Outer,
whose gods' offspring
rule here still;
the very moon's
spotlessly clear
our sunrise land, Japan!
Doer
celestial
feather mantles
seldom descend:
Chorus
yet wears not away,
oh happy news!
Songs of the East:
with voices join
in sweet concert
drone-pipes, flutes,
harps and zitherns
swelling out past the Lone Cloud;
red sinks the sun,
so mirroring Mount Sumeru;
green in the waves
Float Isle Moor
gale-swept,
where blossoms fall,
yes, whirling snow
the white cloud sleeves
are lovely indeed!
Pausing in her dance movements, Doer sits at main spot and joins palms in reverence.
EI
DoerHail to thee, Seishi, oh thou True Ground of the Moon, daughter of Heaven!
Chorus
from the East Country Pleasures.
JO-NO-MAI
Doer rises and, between these two passages of text, dances a jo-no-mai dance. She goes on dancing, however, as text resumes.NORIJI
Doerthat's Heaven's lofty sky,
Chorus
that rises in spring,
Doer
both delight!
The maiden's train
all rustling,
flowers nod in her hair;
celestial
feather sleeves
billow, coil and turn,
the dancing sleeves!
HA-NO-MAI
Between these two passages, she dances a ha-no-mai dance. Again, she continues dancing as text resumes.NORIJI
the dances go
as on and on
the dances go,
she who's named moon
palace lady
high in the dark sky
this thrice fifth night
becomes again
face of True Semblance,
the full moon, and rains riches:
prayers fulfilled,
the realm replete,
the seven treasures
overflowing,
these on our land bestows;
and so time runs,
the celestial
feather mantle
wind-borne billows
down the shore;
pine barrens of Mio,
Float Isle's clouds,
Mount Ashitaka, yes,
and Fuji's
towering peak
fade out,
mist-veiled
into high Heaven
she is lost from view.
| The Feather Mantle (Hagoromo: a woman play) | |