"Noh", or, Accomplishment : a study of the classical stage of Japan |
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 | "Noh", or, Accomplishment : |  |
PART II
ChorioA fine stork, a black stork sings in the heaven,
Autumn is deep in the valley of Hako,
The sad monkeys cry out in the midnight,
The mountain pathway is lonely."
Chorus
And flows through the gap of these mountains,
White frost is on Kahi bridge, the crisp water wrinkles beneath it,
There is no print in the frost on the bridge,
No one has been by this morning.
Chorio, that is your luck. That shadow shows a man urging his horse.
I am the old man, Kosekko. Since Chorio
is loyal in service, no fool, ready at learning . . .
Chorus
Since he cares so much for the people . . .
Kosekko
His heart has been seen in high heaven.
Chorus
The Boddisatwa are ready to bless him.
Kosekko
I will teach him the secrets of battle.
Chorus
He says he will teach Chorio to conquer
the enemy, and to rule well over the people.
He urges his horse, and seeing this from far
off, seeing the old man so changed in aspect,
with eye gleaming out and with such dignity
in his bearing, Chorio has knelt down on the
bridge awaiting Kosekko.
Kosekko
Chorio, you are come in good time. Come
nearer and listen.
Chorio then stood up and smoothed out
his hat and his robe.
Kosekko
I know quite well he is wise, but still I will
try him.
Chorus
Kosekko kicked off his shoe so it fell in
the river. Then Chorio leapt in for the shoe,
but the river flowed between rocks; it was
full of currents and arrow-like rapids. He
went diving and floating and still not reaching
the shoe.[2]
See how the waves draw back. A thick
mist covers the place, a dragon moves in
darkness, ramping among the waves, lolling
its fiery tongue. It is fighting with Chorio;
see, it has seized on the shoe.
Chorio
Chorio drew his sword calmly.
Chorus
He struck a great blow at the dragon;
there was terrible light on his sword. See, the
dragon draws back and leaves Chorio with
and brought up the shoe to Kosekko, and
buckled it fast to his foot.
Kosekko
And Kosekko got down from his horse.
Chorus
He alighted, saying, "Well done. Well
done." And he gave a scroll of writing to
Chorio, containing all the secret traditions of
warfare. And Kosekko said, "That dragon
was Kwannon. She came here to try your
heart, and she must be your goddess hereafter."
Then the dragon went up to the clouds,
and Kosekko drew back to the highest peak,
and set his light in the sky; was changed to
the yellow stone.
| "Noh", or, Accomplishment : | |