Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/283

Rh :(The Hunter turns and holds out his arms beseechingly toward the Monk.)

In the sunlight of Buddha, the All Compassionate, the sins of man become like dew upon the grass: make the blessing-bestowing Sun to shine on me, O monk.


 * (The Hunter drops his arms and turns back toward the audience. The Chorus now describes the locale, while the Hunter makes a slow tour round the stage, revisiting the scenes of his earthly life.)

The place is Michinoku. The place is Michinoku. And here, in a lonely fishing village, upon an inlet of the sea, fenced round as though on the Isle of Hedges—now by the interlacing lower branches of the pine trees which follow along the strand, now by the salt reeds which grow drooping and matted in the ebb and flow of the tide—here at Soto no Hama stands the rush-mat hut. A humble dwelling, its roof so sparsely thatched. But now when the moon shines through the thatch into the room—a home for one’s heart. Oh! truly a home for one’s heart.


 * (The Hunter returns now to the Name-Saying Seat, where he leans motionless on his stick, looking toward the Wife and Child, indicating he has reached the house. The Wife and Child raise their heads and look toward the Hunter.)

Softly! the shape will vanish if you but say a single word.


 * (They rise and the Wife leads the Child a few steps toward the Hunter, describing her actions.)

The mother and child clasp hands … and there is nought but weeping.


 * (Leaving the Child standing, the Wife returns to her original position, kneels and weeps.)

Alas! in other days this was the wife of my bed, the child of my heart. But now we are estranged forever—like the parent