University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

A Garden of the Palace, laid out in the Japanese style, with rocks, dwarf-trees, bridges, fish-ponds, stone lanterns, &c., &c.
Enter Sakamune.
Sakamune.
I would I could dare more, or did hate less
Three in this world make the world ill to me,
But when I seek how to be quits with them
The fearful half in me pulls at the sleeve
Of the bolder half, and bids me take good heed
Lest when I dig them pits I fall therein.
First of the three, Wataru most I hate—
My friend, a goodly man—because he sleeps
Nightly in that sweet paradise I sought,
Adzuma's arms; her thrice, thrice happy Lord!
And next I hate, as hot as once I loved,
Adzuma's self, who had no eyes for me
When I did ask her for my wife—and there
Her mother shares my spite, Morito's Aunt.
Last comes Lord Morito—also my friend,
Also most goodly! oh, a soldier forged
Of stuff as fine as any Bizen blade;
Yet doth he cross me, and doth humble me,
Holding the manly mirror of his force
Up to this face of weakness I would hide.
A headstrong lord withal, whom I can bring
With craft to the slaughter, as a butcher leads
His brute ox by the nose-ring. Craft shall do't.
I will devise that each one pushes each
To tears and ruin, while I laugh and watch,
Always “Kind Sakamune! honest friend!”
But were I otherwise, if that in me
Which should be soldier, matched my pitiless mind—
This way were pleasanter, and short to take:
[He draws one of his two swords, and lops off the top of a young pine-tree.]
Wataru's head rolled in the dust—like that!
[He cuts off another pine-tree top.]
Morito's proud brows rolling—like to that!
[He aims to cut off a stalk of flowering Golden Lily, but pauses in the blow.]
And Adzuma's—! But, oh thou Lily-Flower,
That art so fair, so pure, scented so sweet
As if the Angels' breaths came with thee here;
And dropped with purple gouts, and rosy stains,
And dusted with pale gold, all like the moles,
And birth-marks, and the ambered silken glow
Of Adzuma, to show fairness more fair,
The white skin whiter, and to draw the eye
Into the madness of the wondering mind,
The longing hand, the yearning hungry blood!
Thus would I end thee, and my aches for thee
Not by some too kind stroke, but so!—and so!
[He plucks and breaks slowly to pieces a Lily-blossom.]
Crushing thy sweet, desired, unwilling heart—
The rose, gold, purple, white—all, to one wrack
Of scattered satin leaf, and silver stem,
And soft green cup! Oh, thus! thus! thus! and thus!
That if I wear them not, none other shall,
And that thy soul exhale, in dew of tears,
Sweet incense to the nostrils of my wrong.

Enter Morito Endo.
Morito.

Why, Sakamune! do you practise sword-play
with the trees and flowers?

Sakamune.

Ah! Morito; truly you have caught
me idling! I was meditating I know not what. 'Tis
a new blade the sword-maker Masamura hath forged
for me, and, having it in hand, I tried a cut or two.

Mor.

'T would be better training if the Emperor's
saplings and lilies borrowed the bees' stings, and went
armed! Steel upon steel is what teaches a soldier,
and it has been said well:—“The girded sword is the
living soul of the Samurai.” Grant me a respectful
glance at your new katana.

Saka.

It is at your honourable service, like him
that owns it.

Mor.

My ever good friend! In truth, an excellent
piece of sword-craft! the mune solid, yet not over-weighted;
the hira delicate, but firmly-fashioned; and
the nioi marks playful as watered silk, yet misty as
the breath of a musume upon her looking-glass. You
must stain such an edge in our next wars with better
blood than pine-juice!

Saka.

I hope it may be at your side, then, to show
me how swords should be wielded.

Mor.

Domo! What have I ever done? You are

too kind to me. I sought you here, in truth, to
ask your forgiveness about the wrestling-match this
morning. I fear I handled you rudely.

Saka.

It was my fit punishment for challenging a
better man.

Mor.

Nay, thou art my master in the ring, and
it was only by a false step that I flung thee. But
indeed, there is that in my elements, which a friend
must find grace to put by. I desire to live knightly—
but, at times, there comes upon me a passion which
has no conscience. When I felt that thou wouldst
trip me, the evil spirit arose. I am quiet as a pigeon
with a full crop until it rouses, and then 'tis as 'twere
an eagle's wrath, which sets my breast on fire, and
brings the lightning to my eyes. Give me thy forgiveness!

Saka.

It is nothing, it is nothing!

Mor.

No! but 'twas less than friendly that I should

take thee so, when thy leg slipped on the sweat of
my thigh. I am very humbly sorry, and I have
said it elsewhere, that thou art my teacher in the
wrestling-ring.

Saka.

I say it was nothing.

Mor.

Then you will bear no grudge? That is
gracious! I had a little thing further to declare.
The great new bridge in the City square is to be
opened to-morrow, and I am appointed to keep the
way with five shotai of soldiers, and to receive the
Emperor's procession. Also I was to choose my
second in the commandment, and I have named thy
name, Sakamune!

Saka.

Now thou dost right courteously raise up
a fallen foe. I thank thee, Morito Endo! At what
hour do we gather?

Mor.

At the hour of the Rat.

Saka.

And where post we our fellows?

Mor.

On the south end of the bridge, where the
open place is. If the Emperor be well pleased with
the doings of the day, there will be another fief for
thee; or, mayhap, a sword of honour wherewith to
chop lilies and fir-tops, until better business comes.
Sayonara!

Saka.
Sayonara! and my best service.
[Exit Morito.
Aye! proud Bird,
That hast, indeed, the old life rank in thee,
So com'st thou to my springe, full-winged! This hap
Brings what I sought. Now shall they blindly meet,
Morito and the lovely, spotless wife
Who dwells as high o'er my desire—and his—
As yonder evening star above this pool
Where the frogs croak. Beyond my love thou art,
Adzuma, with the honeyed mouth, but not
Beyond my hate! Ah, far star! thou shalt know
Better shine lowly than have me for foe!
[Exit Sakamune.