kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第12章
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verse； than delighted by the assurance which the verses conveyed。 He was
now certain that in all this world he could not hope to meet； much less to
win； a girl more beautiful and witty than this rustic maid before him； and a
voice in his heart seemed to cry out urgently； 〃Take the luck that the gods
have put in your way！〃 In short he was bewitched bewitched to such a
degree that； without further preliminary； he asked the old people to give
him their daughter in marriage； telling them； at the same time； his name
and lineage； and his rank in the train of the Lord of Noto。
They bowed down before him； with many exclamations of grateful
astonishment。 But； after some moments of apparent hesitation； the father
replied：
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〃Honored master； you are a person of high position； and likely to rise
to still higher things。 Too great is the favor that you deign to offer us；
indeed； the depth of our gratitude therefor is not to be spoken or measured。
But this girl of ours； being a stupid country…girl of vulgar birth； with no
training or teaching of any sort； it would be improper to let her become the
wife of a noble samurai。 Even to speak of such a matter is not right。。。 But；
since you find the girl to your liking； and have condescended to pardon her
peasant…manners and to overlook her great rudeness； we do gladly present
her to you； for an humble handmaid。 Deign； therefore； to act hereafter in
her regard according to your august pleasure。〃
Ere morning the storm had passed； and day broke through a cloudless
east。 Even if the sleeve of Aoyagi hid from her lover's eyes the rose…blush
of that dawn； he could no longer tarry。 But neither could he resign himself
to part with the girl； and； when everything had been prepared for his
journey； he thus addressed her parents：
〃Though it may seem thankless to ask for more than I have already
received； I must again beg you to give me your daughter for wife。 It would
be difficult for me to separate from her now； and as she is willing to
accompany me； if you permit； I can take her with me as she is。 If you will
give her to me； I shall ever cherish you as parents。。。 And； in the meantime；
please to accept this poor acknowledgment of your kindest hospitality。〃
So saying； he placed before his humble host a purse of gold ryo。 But
the old man； after many prostrations； gently pushed back the gift； and
said：
〃Kind master； the gold would be of no use to us； and you will
probably have need of it during your long； cold journey。 Here we buy
nothing； and we could not spend so much money upon ourselves； even if
we wished。。。 As for the girl； we have already bestowed her as a free gift；
she belongs to you： therefore it is not necessary to ask our leave to take
her away。 Already she has told us that she hopes to accompany you； and to
remain your servant for as long as you may be willing to endure her
presence。 We are only too happy to know that you deign to accept her； and
we pray that you will not trouble yourself on our account。 In this place we
could not provide her with proper clothing； much less with a dowry。
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Moreover； being old； we should in any event have to separate from her
before long。 Therefore it is very fortunate that you should be willing to
take her with you now。〃
It was in vain that Tomotada tried to persuade the old people to accept
a present： he found that they cared nothing for money。 But he saw that
they were really anxious to trust their daughter's fate to his hands； and he
therefore decided to take her with him。 So he placed her upon his horse；
and bade the old folks farewell for the time being； with many sincere
expressions of gratitude。
〃honored Sir；〃 the father made answer； 〃it is we； and not you； who
have reason for gratitude。 We are sure that you will be kind to our girl； and
we have no fears for her sake。〃。。。
＇Here； in the Japanese original； there is a queer break in the natural
course of the narration； which therefrom remains curiously inconsistent。
Nothing further is said about the mother of Tomotada； or about the parents
of Aoyagi； or about the daimyo of Noto。 Evidently the writer wearied of
his work at this point； and hurried the story； very carelessly； to its startling
end。 I am not able to supply his omissions； or to repair his faults of
construction； but I must venture to put in a few explanatory details；
without which the rest of the tale would not hold together。。。 It appears that
Tomotada rashly took Aoyagi with him to Kyoto； and so got into trouble；
but we are not informed as to where the couple lived afterwards。＇
。。。Now a samurai was not allowed to marry without the consent of his
lord； and Tomotada could not expect to obtain this sanction before his
mission had been accomplished。 He had reason； under such circumstances；
to fear that the beauty of Aoyagi might attract dangerous attention； and
that means might be devised of taking her away from him。 In Kyoto he
therefore tried to keep her hidden from curious eyes。 But a retainer of Lord
Hosokawa one day caught sight of Aoyagi； discovered her relation to
Tomotada； and reported the matter to the daimyo。 Thereupon the daimyo
a young prince； and fond of pretty faces gave orders that the girl should
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be brought to the place； and she was taken thither at once； without
ceremony。
Tomotada sorrowed unspeakably； but he knew himself powerless。 He
was only an humble messenger in the service of a far…off daimyo； and for
the time being he was at the mercy of a much more powerful daimyo；
whose wishes were not to be questioned。 Moreover Tomotada knew that
he had acted foolishly； that he had brought about his own misfortune； by
entering into a clandestine relation which the code of the military class
condemned。 There was now but one hope for him； a desperate hope： that
Aoyagi might be able and willing to escape and to flee with him。 After
long reflection； he resolved to try to send her a letter。 The attempt would
be dangerous； of course： any writing sent to her might find its way to the
hands of the daimyo； and to send a love…letter to anyinmate of the place
was an unpardonable offense。 But he resolved to dare the risk； and； in the
form of a Chinese poem； he composed a letter which he endeavored to
have conveyed to her。 The poem was written with only twenty…eight
characters。 But with those twenty…eight characters he was about to express
all the depth of his passion； and to suggest all the pain of his loss： ＇4＇
Koshi o…son gojin wo ou； Ryokuju namida wo tarete rakin wo hitataru；
Komon hitotabi irite fukaki koto umi no gotoshi； Kore yori shoro kore
rojin
＇Closely； closely the youthful prince now follows after the gem…bright
maid；
The tears of the fair one； falling； have moistened all her robes。
But the august lord； having one become enamored of her the depth
of his longing is like the depth of the sea。
Therefore it is only I that am left forlorn； only I that am left to
wander along。＇
On the evening of the day after this poem had been sent； Tomotada
was summoned to appear before the Lord Hosokawa。 The youth at once
suspected that his confidence had been betrayed； and he could not hope； if
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his letter had been seen by the daimyo； to escape the severest penalty。
〃Now he will order my death；〃 thought Tomotada； 〃but I do not care to
live unless Aoyagi be restored to me。 Besides； if the death…sentence be
passed； I can at least try to kill Hosokawa。〃 He slipped his swords into his
girdle； and hastened to the palace。
On entering the presence…room he saw the Lord Hosokawa seated
upon the dais； surrounded by samurai of high rank； in caps and robes of
ceremony。 All were silent as statues； and while Tomotada advanced to
make obeisance； the hush seemed to his sinister and heavy； like the
stillness before a storm。 But Hosokawa suddenly descended from the dais；
and； while taking the youth by the arm； began to repeat the words of the
poem： 〃Koshi o…son gojin wo ou。〃。。。 And Tomotada； looking up； saw
kindly tears in the prince's eyes。
Then said Hosokawa：
〃Because you love each other so much； I have taken it upon myself to
authorize your marriage； in lieu of my kinsman； the Lord of Noto； and
your wedding shall now be celebrated before me。 The guests are
assembled； the gifts are ready。〃
At a signal from the lord； the sliding…screens concealing a further
apartment were pushed open； and Tomotada saw there many dignitaries of
the court； assembled for the ceremony； and Aoyagi awaiting him in brides'
apparel。。。 Thus was she given back to him； and the wedding was joyous
and splendid； and precious gifts were made to the young couple by the
prince； and by the members of his household。
* * *
For five happy years； after that wedding； Tomotada and Aoyagi dwelt
together。 But one morning Aoyagi； while talking with her husband about
some household matter； suddenly uttered a great cry of pain； and then
became very white and still。 After a few moments she said； in a feeble
voice： 〃Pardon me for thus rudely crying out but the paid was so
sudden！。。。 My dear husband； our union must have been brought about
through some Karma…relati
