Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/30

4 A good while later, tears he wiped away, And said in whispers, 'Mother, grandmother, 'Tis my last farewell unto you, my dears. As my request is granted willingly, I leave this world without regrets whatever. How kindly eighteen years you've brought me up! Your favours higher than the mountain are. And deeper than the ocean depths indeed! Remember 'tis a soldier's common lot To bravely fight to death on battlefield. And pardon me for leaving life ere you. And now, Hatsugiku, 'tis fortunate For us, that we've not nuptial cups exchanged. So give me up, and wed another man. But oh, poor girl! at tidings of my death. How bitterly she'll weep and grieve, methinks!'"

But in substance and use, the jōruri is a drama. It has a well-marked movement of plot from the opening soene, up to the final catastrophe; it abounds in dramatic situations, and many of the scenes are obviously designed with a view to spectacular effect. It was originally written for the ayatsuri shibai, or marionette theatre, but afterwards its use was also adopted for the regular theatre.

Its large narrative element, and often a part of the dialogue are of the poetic character just