Page:Japanese plays and playfellows (1901).djvu/159

131 its charm than those European peoples—Greek, Italian, French—whose feeling for line and colour is reckoned a superiority in them to their Northern neighbours. Yet the panegyric of his mistress's hair or eyes or bosom is entirely banished from even vulgar songs. Innate refinement rather than cold indifference is probably the cause. The tree of the spirit is preferred to the fruit and flowerage of the flesh. Yet one seems to detect a flavour of apology in this:

Stylish appearance Does not bewitch me; Fruits pass, and flowers: I love the tree.

The Japanese word ki signifies both "tree" and "spirit." Quite commonplace, I own, is the consolation afforded by some lines engraven on a toothpick, but how many almond-eyed maidens visiting the tea-house which thus combined mental with carnal refreshment have tittered to read them!

In mine ears linger Words said at parting; Sleeping alone, I I Hope for a dream.

Rather quaint is the following lament over conjugal incompatibility. But the wife knows that she must submit, on pain of divorce; and the word kigane, which I have rendered "trouble," is used of little inevitable domestic worries. The terms "fire-nature " and " water-nature" are taken from Chinese philosophy.