 | Pining Wind (Matsukaze: a woman play) |  |
SHIDAI
Sideman enters and stands at main spot, facing back of stage.
SHIDAI
on-w
along those shores
Suma, Akashi
along those shores
the moon an
we'll wander forth!
NANORI
off-sp
You have before you a brother who's taking a look at all lands. Lately I've been in Miyako, where I've seen each scenic spot and ancient relic of noble Rakuyō. Now, I've decided to tramp on to the lands of the West.
TSUKI-ZERIFU
off-sp
Hurrying along that way, here I am all right in the land of Tsu at Suma shore, or some such place.
He notices the pine and moves toward it.Remarkable! Right here on the beach there's a striking pine. This pine undoubtedly has a history. I think I'll ask one of the local people.
He goes to main spot. Fool is sitting at Fool's spot, and stands up when called.
MONDO
off-sp
Hello! Is anyone around?
Fool
What can I do for you?
Sideman
I beg your pardon, but I'm very struck by this pine here on the shore. Can you tell me anything about it?
Fool
Well, I'm afraid I'm very ignorant when it comes to things like that. But from what I've heard, that
Sideman
Then I'll do so. Thank you.
Fool
At your service.
Fool exits. Sideman moves to center, facing pine.
*
off-w*
s
Pining Wind, Sudden Rain
so-called, two seafolk's
ancient relic.
A sad, sad story!
Their bodies are in earth buried
but the names linger
now, for their sign
unchanging in hue
a pine, one lone tree
leaves a green fall.
Ah, most moving!
Now that I've prayed that way with sutras and invocations to Amida, well, it's just as you'd expect on a fall day: in no time the sun's gone down. That hamlet at the foot of the mountains is a long way off, so I think I'll go up to this seafolk's salt shed and see the night through here.
Sideman retires to Sideman's spot.
SHIN-NO-ISSEI
Stagehand brings on the brine scoop wagon, represented by a small, light framework prop, and places it at base of mark post. One bucket is loaded on it. Now Second enters, wearing the tsure, or Second, mask, and carrying another bucket. She is followed by Doer, wearing the wakaonna, or Young Woman, mask. Second stops at first pine, Doer at third pine. They face each other.
ISSEI
off-w
wheels meagerly
the sorry world
round and round
so cruelly fickle!
Second
facing front
on Suma shore
again face to face
a trailing
Second now moves to center, Doer to main spot. They face front.
SASHI
off-w
in the fall wind
so while the sea
was somewhat far
Doer, Second
face to face
the Middle Counsel
sang '. . . blows through the pass'
where the curved shore waves
surge nigh each night
sounding so near
the seafolk's home;
the hamlet's far
down our path to and fro
beside the moon
there's no company.
Doer
work does claim us
but utterly wretched
the seafolk's craft
that makes no way
over life, this dream
where 'I live' is no word
for a bubble of froth
on the brine
scoop wagon
without safe haven
for us, the seafolk
whose sleeves together
with yearning love
the heart never lets dry!
They face front.
SAGEUTA
on-w
does all life seem
hard to pass through'
that in envy
we dwell
on the clear moon's
rising tide, come, scoop!
Scoop the rising tide!
Noticing her reflection, she lowers her head. At 'lingering,' she stares into water again; at 'in the sun,' looks to her right as though gazing along the shore; at first 'shrivel,' retreats to main spot and expresses grief.
AGEUTA
on-w
my own form
this image shames me
my own form
shrinks low, a wain
drawn withdrawing tides
leave lingering pools
how long to live on?
Yes, on meadow grasses
dewdrops in the sun
dwindle and vanish
but on the pebbled shore
sea wrack-raking seafolk
cast weeds all a-tangle
to shrival, wilting
trailing sleeves
shrivel, wilting
trailing sleeves.
KAKEAI
off-w
she says
at the sea's edge
flood and ebb
tides saltyclothes,
Second
drape on the shoulder
Doer
or so we hope
Second
try as we may
Doer
a woman's wagon
AGEUTA
on-w
single breakers
roll in fall back
single waves;
cranes start up crying,
all four storm blasts
add their roar;
night's icy cold,
how'll we live it through?
The deepening moon
shines so bright!
Our scoops catch
the reflection!
Salt fire smoke:
watch out for that!
This is the way
we seafolk
shall live out gloomy fall.
Doer kneels on one knee beside the wagon; at 'scoops,' uses fan to mime ladling brine into bucket, while gazing at moon's reflection within.
SAGEUTA
on-w
Hero Island's seafolk
beneath the moon
scoop reflections, ah,
with keen delight
scoop reflections, ah,
with keen delight!
Doer returns to main spot.
RONGI
on-w
far up north
in Michinoku
where the name's Near
Chika, and Shiogama Salt Kilns . . .
Doer
hauled salt wood . . .'—
on Akogi coast it was
withdrawing tides . . .
Chorus
Futami, Twin Glance, shore,
and it's twice
I'd go out in the world!
Doer
hazy glows the sun
as tide roads, far, far out
sound past Narumigata,
Bight of the Sounding Sea;
Chorus
here at Naruo
beneath the pines
moonlight's blocked off
by Reedy Roofs
of Ashinoya.
Doer
Nada Channel's
a sad life, though
tell none willow comb
scoop down and
look! the moon
right in my pail!
Above at 'thrust,' Second approaches wagon and places her bucket on it. Doer stares into buckets from where she stands. Now, Doer advances a little; Second hands her the cord for pulling the wagon, then goes to main spot. At 'moon is one,' Doer gazes aloft, then back to wagon; at 'for tonight,' she pulls wagon up to drums, then turns round and gazes into buckets once more; at 'tide roads,' stamps beat.
Doer
the moon's slipped in!
Chorus
Here too the moon!
Doer
Moon is one
Chorus
three the brimming tide
for tonight our wagon's
loaded with the moon.
Sad? Why, not at all,
the tide roads of the sea!
Stagehand removes the wagon. Doer sits on a stool before drums, facing front; Second sits in the ordinary way a little behind her and to her right. They are in the salt shed. Sideman stands and faces them.
MONDO
off-w*
sp
Excuse me, there in the salt shed! I beg your pardon!
Second stands and advances a little toward Sideman.
Second
What is it?
Sideman
I'm traveling through, and the sun's gone down on me. I'd appreciate shelter for the night.
Second
Please wait a moment. I'll ask the owner.
She kneels on one knee before Doer. Henceforth she moves thus between Doer and Sideman, as appropriate.Excuse me, but a traveler has come. He says he'd like
Doer
That's a simple request, no doubt, but this place isn't fit to be seen. Please tell him we really can't let him stay.
Second
I asked the owner, who says that as this place isn't fit to be seen, we really can't let you stay.
Sideman
I quite understand. But if the place isn't fit to be seen, it certainly won't bother me. I'm a wandering monk, after all. So I do ask you again: please allow me to see the night through here.
Second
The traveler is a monk, and he insists on asking again for a night's shelter.
Doer
What! You say the traveler's a monk?
s
By the moon's night shine I see one who's cast off the world; well, it
will do, this seafolk's home with posts of pine and bamboo fence. The
night's cold, I know; tell him to warm himself at our rush fire and stay.
Second
Do please come in.
Sideman
Ah, with pleasure!
Sideman advances a few steps and sits, while Second returns to her place. They are in the shed.
MONDO
off-w*
sp
From the start I wanted to put you up. But this place isn't fit to be
seen, and that's why I refused.
Sideman
Thank you for your kindness. I've always been a monk and a wanderer, and it's not mine to settle anywhere. So how should I choose my shelter? Certainly, here on Suma shore, any sensitive person ought actually to prefer a rather melancholy life:
s'Should one by chance
inquire for me,
say I'm at Suma shore;
sp
say the tangle-salt drips down and I am sad.' Yes, that's what Yukihira himself sang. By the way,
when I saw that lone pine over there on the shore, I asked a fellow about it. He said something about it being an ancient relic of two seafolk named Pining Wind and Sudden Rain. Of course they're nothing to me, but I did comfort them and pray before I went on.
Doer and Second both hide tears.
Doer, Second
s
When love's within,
love's hues show without!
The way you quoted,
'Should one by chance
inquire for me,'
gave such pangs of longing!
And tears of Jambudvīpa,
the world of clinging,
wet our sleeves once more.
They both weep.
MONDO
off-sp
Tears of Jambudvīpa, the world of clinging? You talk like people who've left this life! And the poem 'Should one by chance' gives you pangs of longing, or so I gather. It's all very strange. Both of you, name yourselves!
KUDOKI-GURI
off-w
Let me begin to tell,
and should one by chance
inquire after me,
he'd vanish, a shadow
world where salt-drenched
I learn no lesson
but ever assume a
surely bitter heart!
KUDOKI
off-w
what need we
so carefully conceal?
We are . . .
This twilight past
you kindly raised
two vanished shades
up from the moss
beneath that pine,
Pining Wind, Sudden Rain,
have come to you here.
a full three years
lightened his leisure
with pleasant boating;
the moon cleared his heart
on Suma shore.
While we hauled the night brine
with seafolk maidens
he courted and chose us.
'What perfect names
for now!' he said
and deigned to call us
Pining Wind, Sudden Rain.
The moon we knew well,
we Suma seafolk.
Doer
were all transformed
Doer, Second
censed with sweet fragrance.
Doer
then Yukihira
went up to our Sovereign's Seat.
Second
than this life, so young,
Doer, Second
he departed: so we heard.
Doer
oh, I've missed him so!
Still, perhaps
in another life
he'll come calling
UTA
on-w
Wind and Sudden Rain
drench these sleeves
helpless, alas,
with love far beyond us.
The Suma seafolk
are deep in sin:
raise our shadows!
They turn front again. At second 'dew,' Second goes to sit before Chorus, while Sideman retires to Sideman's spot; at 'melt away,' Doer looks down, showing deep emotion.
AGEUTA
on-w
dew, passions
all tangled
dew, passions
all tangled;
the heart's madness
wears dear
easy robes.
The Day of the Serpent
brings a blessing!
Mulberry streamers
to ask the
wave on useless
wave-borne froth
we grieve and melt away
to lasting sorrow!
After opening words of the passage below, stagehand gives Doer a length of cloth to represent the cloak, and an eboshi hat. At 'each time,' Doer lifts them up and gazes at them; at 'blade tips,' she gazes at ends of her own sleeves; at 'his keepsakes,' lifts them high again; at 'someone sang,' lowers them and checks tears; at 'on and on,' stands, still holding hat and cloak, and goes to mark post; at 'fruitless,' throws them down, but instantly picks them up again and holds them close; at 'standing, lying,' turns to her right up to main spot, then looks back toward bridgeway as though pursued by a power; at 'sink down,' collapses, weeping, to a sitting position.
KUSE
on-w
When I recall the past
I miss him so!
Yukihira
the Middle Counsel
three years dwelt
on Suma shore,
then went up to
our Sovereign's Seat.
'Some keepsakes of these days!'
he said
and kindly left us
a tall court hat,
a hunting cloak.
Each time I see them
ever more
passion grasses spring;
the blade tips bear
dewdrops gone
so soon might I forget,
oh, wretched agony!
'His keepsakes, yes,
are now my foe:
without them
a forgetful pause
might come,'
so someone sang:
very true!
More and more my love
deepens in power.
Doer
before I sleep
I shed the hunting habit,
Chorus
and on I beg
that in one same world . . .
Life is empty,
I can't forget
these fruitless keepsakes!
She throws them down
but cannot leave them,
takes them up and his shape looms.
Standing
lying
are the same:
'From the pillow,
from the bed's foot
love comes against me;'
helpless, weeping
I sink down
in utter misery.
Stagehand approaches Doer, drapes the cloak over her and places the hat on her head. Below, Doer checks tears.
SHIMO-NO-EI
off-weak
endless tears,
that unhappy shoal,
hold, yes, even they,
a gulf of churning love.
She looks up.
KAKEAI
off-w*
s
Oh, what happiness! Yukihira's standing right over there!
'Pining Wind!' he's calling! I'm going to him!
Second quickly stands, grasps Doer's right sleeve. At 'crazed longing,' Doer goes to drums, Second retreats toward side.
Second
How awful! It's just the state you're in now that sinks one in the sin of clinging. You still haven't escaped the crazed longing you felt when you belonged to the world! That's a pine tree. Yukihira just isn't there.
Doer
sp
to talk that way!
That pine
is
Yukihira!s
we may be parted,
tell me you're pining
and I'll come back:
so he sang for us—
now what do you say?
Second
I'd completely forgotten!
Though for a while
we may be parted,
pine and I'll come:
those were the words
Doer
pining
wind's up now
he's coming home,
his message
Second
sudden rain
to wet these sleeves a while, surely
he's coming home,
Second
we trusted rightly
Doer
his dear poem:
WAKA
off-w
'I'm up to leave you,
Hiding tears, Doer runs toward bridgeway; Second, crying too, goes to sit before Chorus.
CHU-NO-MAI
Doer runs back onstage from first pine, stopping at main spot. She then does a chū-no-mai dance. At last, as she resumes the singing of the poem, she strikes fan high pose.
WAKA
off-w
for Inaba's mountain
peaks so green with
pining's needless:
call me
and it's now I'll be home.'
Below, at 'yonder,' Inaba,' Doer gazes into distance toward bridgeway; at 'here my longing,' comes to center, pointing at pine with fan; at 'curved shore,' sweeps fan around, indicating an expanse of sea; at 'back with me,' turns right up to drums; at 'by the tree,' glides down to the pine; at 'love him still,' retreats, weeping, back to drums.
NORIJI
onori-w
far mountain pines
Chorus
my beloved Lord here
on Suma's curved shore
pines Yukihira
back with me
while by the tree
I rise now, draw near
so dear
the wind bent pine,
I love him still!
HO-NO-MAI
Doer stops weeping, lifts her head and dances round and round the tree. This ha-no-mai dance is brief, but spirited. As text resumes, she moves to center, making beckoning gestures; at 'mighty waves,' sweeps fan around and gazes out over sea; at 'clinging,' turns right up to main spot; then moves to center, kneels facing Sideman and joins palms in prayer; at 'good-bye,' stands,
NORIJI
onori-w
wind turns mad,
Suma's mighty waves
rage the night through;
wrongful clinging dreams
us for you, kindly,
raise our shadows!
Good-bye we say
retreating waves sound
UTA
on-w
blows the back hills'
seaward breeze;
the pass road's where
cocks are crowing,
the dream is gone
without a shadow
night opens into dawn.
Sudden rain
you heard indeed
but this morning see,
pining wind is all
that lingers
pining wind alone
lingers on.
| Pining Wind (Matsukaze: a woman play) | |