 | Adzuma : or The Japanese Wife |  |
Scene 7.
An apartment in the house of Koromogawa, at Toba, near Kyôtô. Koromogawa is sitting with her maids, who are embroidering.Koromogawa.
Draw the threads thus, Tora San,
if you would have your dragon stand forth finely
from the silk. What are you doing, O Tatsu?
O Tatsu.
I am designing birds and trees, Go Inkyô
Sama! for an over-gown.
Koromo.
This is well; but you must have the
proper birds and creatures with the proper trees.
Do you not know that the sparrow goes with the
bamboo; the lion and the peacock with the peony;
the dove with the wistaria; the crow with the pine;
and ducks and fishes with the lotus.
O Tatsu.
I thank you, madam! I will make it so.
Musumé.
Okusâma! The Lord Morito Endo
stands at the gate, asking to speak with you.
Koromo.
Beg of him the august pardon. To-day
I receive no guests.
Musumé.
Your honourable forgiveness! He bade
me say he prayed not to be denied.
Enters Morito abruptly.
Morito.
Nay! but he said that he would not be
denied. As you see, Aunt Koromogawa, I have
admitted myself. Dismiss the serving-girls. I would
talk with you alone.
[The Musumés all retire.
Koromo.
Do you not even salute me, Morito?
Mor.
No, kinswoman! And take heed that none
of thy servants eavesdrop, for what I must say is for
thy private ear.
Thy manner pleaseth me not, Morito!
Mor.
It is not meant for liking. Listen! If there
should be one among a man's relations to whom his
father showed great kindness, saving and restoring
her after a heinous fault, and if she repaid that
kindness with slight and despite to the son, were
it becoming in that son—a soldier—to restrain his
wrath?
Koromo.
I do not understand.
Mor.
But thou shalt! Dost thou remember who it
was—desolate and disregarded—that prayed long and
hard for a husband in the Hase-dera at Kyôtô, and
afterwards stole from a sleeping woman there a blue
haori spotted with chrysanthemums?
Koromo.
It was the will and way of the goddess
that I should take it. Long ago was it given
back.
Mor.
Thy crime served thee well, I know—but it
law is mutilation and degradation.
Koromo.
Dost thou dare to speak such words to
the sister of thy father?
Mor.
I dare, because my father's sister hath
wrought me bitter wrong. I dare, because she can
atone for it, and shall atone for it; or I myself will
denounce her to the justice of the Mikado.
Koromo.
What wrong, Morito? I have feared
thee, but never misliked thee before.
Mor.
This wrong: you married Yasuhira, and
became a well-reputed and happy wife. But you had
deceived your Lord when he questioned you, touching
your kinsfolk in Kyôtô, and you would have stood
declared a liar—as already you were secretly a thief
—except for the chance which brought you into my
father's house, and the grace shown by Morimitsu and
Shiraito to the concubine's daughter.
I have my dagger here. Morito! I will
not endure such words.
Mor.
Aye, Obâsan! That dagger is part of the
story. Morimitsu saw and recognised it, as the
gift of his father to thy mother, and, freely admitting
thee his sister by blood, forgave thy sin
and the robe stolen from my mother, Shiraito—for it
was she whom thou didst rob—took thee to peace
and honour; and died thy benefactor, friend, and
brother.
Koromo.
I deny nothing of this, save that my
taking the robe was by a dream from the goddess.
We must obey Heaven—but indeed I sought long and
hard to restore the blue kirtle.
Mor.
Dost thou deny that, being left alone, but
well-provided, by favour of my dead father, thou
didst refuse to me, his son—through Dôsen—the fair
daughter thou gladly gavest to rich Wataru?
Yes, but for thy sake and for hers, if
thou knewest all.
Mor.
How meanest thou?
Koromo.
They that hate thee and me, and have
set thee on to this, have not told thee of the old beginnings
of thy life, and Adzuma's. They have not
told thee of the dreams which brought my lovely child
to me from the snake's bank, and thee to thy mother's
womb from the eagle's eyrie. There was between
you a destiny of mutual ruin, only to be overcome by
virtue, and the mercy of the Compassionate One. I
did thee true service keeping Adzuma from thine eyes.
Mor.
To the priests and the country-gossips with
such folly!
Koromo.
It is no folly. We do not touch the
sleeve of another person in this existence, but it
imports contact heretofore and mingling fortunes.
Morito, I even loved thee. I would have desired that
not again meet, and, moreover, my child's heart was
already given. The goddess had, of herself, brought
together Adzuma and Wataru.
Mor.
You lie, my Aunt! And, if you lie not, I
will not now be lulled with nursery tales, like a
chikusai, a child that smells of milk. If this be true,
did not my father know it, who wished Adzuma for
me? You refused her. The unsatisfied longing of
spirits holds them from their repose, and these many
years Morimitsu's soul hath wandered indignant. Hear
me! I love Adzuma! With all my body and my
blood I do desire her sweet beauty. With all my wit
and will I do seek possession of it. I will not live
without her; nor will I suffer thee to live, unless
thou dost comply with my demand. Help me to have
Adzuma!
Koromo.
Oh, unhappy and unknightly one! Adzuma
faithful wife of a noble Lord, to whose ears I bid thee,
if thou dar'st, speak these base words. Could I be
vile enough to fear and to aid thee, she would never
be. Thou dost lose thy shameful labour!
Mor.
Nay! I know what I ask. Adzuma also
desires me.
Koromo.
Though thou slay me I call thee liar,
saying so.
Mor.
I will show thee sure proof, and to spare, of
it. Moreover, she shall herself avow in thine hearing
that she loves me only, and that thou didst commit a
second great crime, keeping her from my bed.
Koromo.
A second crime?
Mor.
Aye, for the first awaits the executioner's
knife, upon a word from me in the ear of justice.
Koromo.
Coward, as base as liar!
Mor.
I will not kill thee now. I will kill thee if
same room. She shall confirm what I have told thee;
and then thou shalt give her to me, or die.
Koromo.
I fear thee not. I can die by my own
dagger if what thou sayest were true. But I fear thy
evil spirit. There is some miserable plot herein which
her truth shall shame. Adzuma shall come hither tomorrow
to answer thee, and afterwards it is Wataru
Watanabe to whom thou thyself shalt answer. Begone!
lest a knight's widow smite thee on the mouth
for her daughter's name. To-morrow; in the afternoon!
[Exit Morito.
| Adzuma : or The Japanese Wife | |