Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan.pdf/170

154 and terrible feeling of depression came over her. She stopped short, and closed her eyes. She thought she heard the sound of a man’s hoarse voice singing in the distance. It was so faint to her ears that she could not quite make out what it was, but there was something very repulsive in the voice.

From that time on, she heard the voice every night. It came nearer and nearer. Sometimes, when the wind or breeze was blowing in the direction of her house, she could even hear some of the words of the song, and then she knew that it was some unlucky curse that was enfolding her. She knew that, if she stopped weaving the tapestry, some evil would befall her.

The song of imprecation seemed to approach nearer and nearer every night. At last she could distinguish these words: “Know yourself, and cease weaving your tapestry, or you will become a spider!”

The maiden grew more and more afraid. She understood that the Goddess of Jealousy had put a curse upon her, but she did not like to speak of it to her uncle or to her lover. If she should reveal her secret to her uncle, he would certainly prohibit her from weaving. It would be no better if she told it to Adani, for she knew that he would request her to cease her weaving, and would insist on her marrying him immediately. But she entertained a strong fear that, if she married him without finishing the tapestry, the Goddess might deprive her altogether of her lover. So she made up her mind not to reveal her secret to anyone whomsoever, and to do her utmost to complete her