 | Adzuma : or The Japanese Wife |  |
Scene 3.
A Banquet-room in a Tea-house, opening on a Garden. Many high officers and Samurai seated upon the mats, drinking saké, and conversing. Dancing girls perform, with music, singing, &c. Painted lanterns and lamps illuminate the Banquet-room and Garden. Morito, Sakamune, Kameju, and the Lord of Idzu are among the company, with Hojo, Doi, and Adachi, all Samurai.Hojo.
I tell you the old days were the good days.
It was merry in Japan before we fetched in from China
the outlandish letters and ways.
Doi.
Oh, a cup of saké with you, Sir! You are
augustly right! The good old times went out with
the Shinto times.
Lord of Idzu.
Yes, and the worst is tha the pretty
faith, and manners. Minamoto Genji was well advised
to spend his rainy nights railing at the ugly
faces of our modern Japan girls.
Sakamune.
O Yuki!
[to a Waiting-maid]
fill up
again my Lord of Idzu's sakazuke, and let him see
your black eyes sparkle over the rim of it. He will
perchance think better of his land then.
L. of Idzu.
Oh, she is all very well for a maiko.
But where are gone the famous beauties of Kyôtô?
Who is there now left to match Inishiyi with the
moon-face, or Soto-öri the desire of her day, or
Komachi, who wrote the verses, and was so beauteous
that people bought the mirrors into which she
had looked, to get dreams from them?
Saka.
Think you there are none such now?
L. of Idzu.
I say it, Sir! Here sit I, a Hokumen
of the Court, that hath two swords, and am of repute;
six fingers, and is not exactly shark-skinned; but,
since she hears me not, I will honestly tell you, she
hath the eyes of a monkey, the nose of a fox, and the
mouth of a frog.
Adachi.
Truly, in old times a great nobleman had
better fortune.
Saka.
She is doubtless an excellent Lady in the
dark, and a good blade mends a bad scabbard. It
won't do, however, to tell us that Kyôtô holds no
perfect beauty while Wataru's wife dwells in the
city.
L. of Idzu.
Is she so fair?
Saka.
Nay, ask Morito. He galloped away from
us all, last week at the Bridge, only to get a second
look at an angel he had spied, which angel, I heard,
was Wataru's wife.
Hojo.
I have seen her; and truly she is of a rare
a most holy Lady! Oh, she hath no eyes except for
her husband, and goes not abroad once in a moon,
save to pray at the shrine of Kwannon, or to write
poetry to the plum and cherry blossoms.
Saka.
She is fair enough. But she is only a
woman, after all, like the rest. Who wants may have,
if he only knows the right road.
Hojo.
What are you saying, Sir Samurai? She
hath a husband whom she adores. Dream you she
is of the flesh that makes a geisha or a joro? Why,
naruhodo! you set us laughing.
Saka.
O warai nasaruna! Don't laugh till you
know! I am saying what is true. The woman is
well enough: I speak naught against her, specially
since Morito has cast his eyes that way. But her
mother Koromogawa possesses an extremely base
mind. While Adzuma was yet unpromised many a
spurned them all, rejected even our noble Morito,
looking about for a rich husband, with plenty of rice-bags
and gold koban.
Hojo.
You have drunk too much saké, Sakamune.
Saka.
Nay! I am talking sooth. Forgetting justice
and shame, she sold her pretty daughter to Watanabe;
and she would sell her over again to you, my Lord of
Idzu; or to Morito; if there were only money enough
forthcoming to gild the palm of the old bargainer.
Mor.
[starting up, and half drawing his sword.]
That is a lie, Sakamune! And, were it not a lie,
what intend you, to speak so before this honourable
company of one who was my father's sister? It is
much if I do not smite you.
L. of Idzu.
Morito, good Morito! sweet Lord
Morito! be patient! He is thy friend, and only a
little drunk. Remember, if you draw point from
blood upon it.
[They succeed in restraining Morito.
Saka.
I was to blame; I lay my head at your feet,
Endo Morito! The wine had loosened my tongue
too much. I was a fool to forget that one like your
worship bears an aunt no grudge for discarding him
as a breeder does a half-bred stud-horse. It is not
well, I see, to be faithful to friends. If you are angry,
take my head; I will not defend it.
Mor.
Nay! but thou shalt not say Adzuma hath
a price.
Saka.
Oh, I doubt not she herself is innocent
enough. I was incensed against her mother for
despising you. If it is for that you would kill me,
strike! I will not even lift up my hand.
L. of Idzu.
We think he meant no wrong, Morito!
Saka.
How should I mean wrong to Morito Endo,
forgive me also. I was to blame; I beg
forgetfulness.
Mor.
Why, then, let it be forgotten. I think,
indeed, thou art honest. I am over-quickly moved.
Thou, too, shalt pardon my hot blood.
L. of Idzu.
Sa, sa! this is well! And now let us
walk under the stars, and cool our heads. There was
never trouble yet between good fellows, but some
woman's name brewed it. Sa! sa! sa!
[Exeunt Omnes.
| Adzuma : or The Japanese Wife | |