Page:Things Japanese (1905).djvu/486

474 Chorus. Dance on, sweet maiden, through the happy hours!

Dance on, sweet maiden, while the magic flow'rs

Crowning thy tresses flutter in the wind

Rais'd by thy waving pinions intertwin'd!

Dance on! for ne'er to mortal dance 'tis giv'n

To vie with that sweet dance thou bring'st from heav'n:

And when, cloud-soaring, thou shalt all too soon

Homeward return to the full-shining Moon,

Then hear our pray'rs, and from thy bounteous hand

Pour sev'nfold treasures on our happy land;

Bless ev'ry coast, refresh each panting field,

That earth may still her proper increase yield!

But ah! the hour, the hour of parting rings!

Caught by the breeze, the fairy's magic wings

Heav'n ward uplift her from the pine-clad shore,

Past Ukishima's widely-stretching moor,

Past Ashitaka's heights, and where are spread

The floating clouds on Fujiyama's head,—

Higher and higher to the azure skies,

Till wand'ring vapours shroud her from our eyes!

 Time. Official and educated japan is now entirely European and commonplace in her manner of reckoning time. Inquisitive persons may, however, like to take a peep at her earlier and more peculiar methods, which are still followed by the peasantry of certain remote districts. Old Japan had no minutes, her hours were equivalent to two European hours, and they were counted thus, crab-fashion:—

Half-past nine (kokonotsu han) was equivalent to our one o'clock, and similarly in the case of all the other intermediate hours, down to half-past four which was equivalent to our eleven