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"KEYAMURA ROKUSUKE"
The scene of Rokusuke’ s house out o f
the Kabuki play
"H IKOSAN-GONGEN OHIKAI NO SUKEDACHI"
w r it t e n by Chikamatsu Yasuzo
to be presented by Ebizo & H iro ta ro tro
u
p
e
a
t Mitsukoshi Theatre
Oct. 4 — 2
5
, 1
9
4
7
SYNOPSIS :
Yoshioka I c h i m i s a i was a s s a s s i n a t e d from ambush by Kyogoku Takumi. Yoshioka had two daughters O-sono & O-Yuk i . O-Sono was engaged t o Rokusuke, w h i l e O-Yuki was marr ied & had a c h i l d . Soon O-Yuki a l s o was k i l l e d by wicked men.
Kyogoku, under the assumed name M i j i n D a n j o , came t o Kokura & f o r c e d Rokusuke cede v i c t o r y in a bout.
O-Sono, w h i l e s t r o l l i n g as a f l u t e p l a y e r ,
happened to f i n d O- Y u k i ' s c h i l d , whom Rokusuke had p i c k e d on the r o a d .
So the engaged c o u p l e came t o j o i n each o t h e r & a l l bec ame c l e a r . Rokusuke, becoming aware of the f a c t t h a t Danjo was no one but Takumi h i m s e l f , made up his mind to h e lp O-Sono to avenge her f a t h e r .
2
Gumpachi:
So h e i t a :
Rokusuke:
\
The Scene i s the Dwe l l i n g of Rokusuke Kayamura, as p r e s c r i b e d in the s e t t i n g s - b o o k .
The s t r o n g e r of the two i s now d e c i d e d . W e l l done! W e l l done!
Takumi-dono! You have won the match.
So h e i t a , d o n ’ t you t hi nk h i s a r t o f f e n c i n g i s d i s t i n g u i s h e d ?
S u r e l y ! Takumi-dono, your a r t i s e x c e l l e n t as Gumpa ch i s a y s . Now, Rokusuke,
w i l l you say that i f a man wins a match a g a i n s t you, you s h a l l be h i s s e r v a n t ?
I have been beaten, s i r . During my l e i s u r e time no t engaged in my work as a w o o d c u t t e r , I
have p la y e d f e n c i n g in my own way w i t h t h e pe ople h e r e . A nd i t has been rumoured t ha t I am
g o o d a t f e n c i n g and d i s t i n g u i s h e d in s t r a t e g y . But now I am embarrassed a t the rumour.
I cannot beat a person who has been t r a i n e d in th e r e a l a r t o f f e n c i n g . I am r e a l l y a f r a i d o f him.
some p l a c a r d s p l a c e d he re and there on which were w r i t t e n "Anyone who b e a t s Rokusuke in a ma t c h s h a l l be employed at th e payment of 500 Koku,"
And i t was because he hated your s c a r r i l o u s l a n g u a g e s .
Yes, y e s ! And ther e appeared an e x pe r t f e n c e r o f the Mi j i n Sc h o o l
s t r o n g e r than the l on g- no sed g o b l i n a t Kuramayama. Our L ord wanted t o l e t him pla y a match w i t h you i n h i s p r e se n ce , but Chamberlain Tod o r o k i d i d not a g r e e . S o our Lord or dered him t o have a
match a t your home, and t o l d us two to i n s p e c t the match, s a y i n g t h a t he would employ him i f he won the game. We e x p e c t e d a d e s p e r a t e match, and we are s u r p r i s e d t o see him s t r i k e you
as e a s i l y as he s t r i k e s an old mat -
3 -
Gumpachi : I t i s a m a t t e r o f c o u r se . Our Lord had
S o h e ita :
Takumi:
Gumpachi:
Takumi: S o h e i t a
4
-Takumi-dono! P l e a s e change your c l o t h e s , Be q u i c k , p l e a s e .
( J o r u r i :
---Sa y i n g thus, he takes out a f i n e s u i t o f c l o t h e s cut out a f t e r the K i r a S t y l e , When he has put on the new c l o t h e s , Takumi
seems to have changed h i s c h a r a c t e r . He says i n s o l e n t l y . )
Though you were beat en , you need not be
d i s c o u r a g e d . You had b e t t e r t r a i n y o u r s e l f , a nd you w i l l be improved.
T akumi- d o n o ! P l e a s e don’ t be w o r r i e d about him. (T o Rokusuke )
As you l i v e in the t e r r i t o r y o f our m e r c i f u l Lord, you may not be punished, but you
ought t o know b e t t e r h e r e a f t e r . S e rv an ts ! Br i n g here the Ka g o .
(b a s k e t pa la nq u in ) P l e a s e r i d e on i t , s i r . Oh, ne ver mind. I ' l l go w a l k i n g .
Now you are the i n s t r u c t o r t o
our L o r d , and at the same time our t e a c h e r . P l e a s e take the Ka g o .
Takumi: Then I ' l l r i d e on i t .
( J o r u r i : ----Thus s a y i n g he r i d e s on the kago. The c a r r i e r s l i f t the kago on t h e i r sh ou ld ers and be gi n t o walk . So h e i t a and Gumpachi g l a d l y f o l l o w t h e i r new teacher s i x or seven f e e t
a f t e r the K ago. Stan ding a t the en tr a n ce t o see them o f f , Rokusuke t a l k s to h i m s e l f when t h e y a r e g o n e . )
Rokusuke: A l l persons ought to be d u t i f u l t o t h e i r p a r e n t s . T hough he has been a s t r a n g e r he asked me what he did not l i k e , t o as a
samurai, onl y because he wanted t o be
d u t i f u l t o h i s p a r e n t s . I a p p r e c i a t e d h i s f a i t h f u l n e s s and was beaten as I had promised him t o . You need not thank me. I t was
because o f your p a r e n t s , f i l i a l t o your pa re nt s while' you a r e a b l e t o .
Then your p a r en t s a re dead as mine a r e , you cannot be d u t i f u l t o them. Be kind to them.
( J o r u r i : ---A
s
he speaks th es e words, some w oo dc ut te r s come running through t h e coun try road which he has been l o o k i n g a t. )
6 w oo d c u t t er Rokusuke : moodcu t t e r Rokusuke: woodcutter: Rokusuke •
: Oh, dear Rokusuke! '
Our p r i d e has been humbled! Our p r i d e has been humbled! Oh, how n o i s y you a r e !
What’ s the m a t t e r w i t h you? : What’ s the m at te r w i t h you?
They took o f f the L o r d ’ s p l a c a r d s n o t i f y i n g that any one who wins a match w i t h Rokusuke s h a l l
be employed by or Lo r d ,
So our p r i d e has been humbled.
They can t a k e them o f f , i f they l i k e . Oh, no. Be s i d e s t h e y sa id,
"As Rokusuke was b a d l y s t r u c k on h i s cheek-bone, i t must have been broken.
Now he w i l l be l o o k i n g f o r the broken p i e c e o f his head” And were you r e a l l y s t r uck?
N o, i t i s n ’ t t r u e .
a man came and wanted t o have a match w i t h me, and I o f f e r e d to have a match in our L o r d ’ s p r e s e n c e , a s i t w i l l be more s p e c t a c u l a r .
7
I said I would go whenever I was sent f o r from Kokura where our L ord l i v e s . I suppose he got angry at my answer and spoke i l l o f me.
W o o d c u t t e r : I s e e , but how about the wound on your fo re h e a d ?
Rokusuke; T h is — - t h i s w o u n d
---i t --- As I was g o i n g t o the d r y i n g - p l a ce, I stumbled at a stone at the entrance and was i n j u r e d w i t h the bamboo f e n c e .
( J o r u r i
---He t o l d a l i e . out blood came out even when he touched h i s f o r e h e a d .
D i s a p p o i n t e d l y K u r i emon s a y s . )
Kuriemon: I w i l l g i v e you a l l a conundrum to guess. What are "th e words Teacher Rokusuke has just
u t t e r ed"?
Wo o d c u t t e r s : What a r e t hey ?
Kuriemon: They are l o t s o f d r i e d s a r d i n e s in the b a s k e t .
Wo o dc u tte rs : And why? Kur i e m o n : Beaten.
( o r cut down the pr i c e . I n Japanese the same w o r d . )
8
Rokusuke ;
Rokusuke:
( J o r u r i : Thus t h e y went bac k making a sour f a c e . ) They speak in such a way o n l y because they
l o v e me as t h e i r i n s t r u c t o r .
I d o n ' t mind b e i n g d e s p i s e d by my a c q u a i n t a n c e s , i f i t b r in g s good to anot her man.
but I f e e l h e l p l e s s t h i n k i n g t h a t I was beat en , though I had consented t o .
Now I f e e l hungry. Oh, I g o t s ome cakes from the c h i e f of hamlet y e s t e r d a y .
They must be a s they were i f r a t s h a v e n ' t taken them o f f . I ’ l l have them with the kid.
( J o r u r i / : Thus saying, he went out and looked a r o u n d . )
Come back, my boy !
Take c a r e not t o f a l l down a p r e c i p i c e . Where are you p l a y i n g ? My b o y !
M y b o y ! - - - - Oh, n o !
I t ’ s no use i f t h e r e a r e no cakes when he comes b a c k . F i r s t I ’ l l go and see i f th ey are or n o t .
( J o r u r i :
He n a t u r a l l y dared not t e l l a l i e even t o a l i t t l e boy. By the gat e o f h i s house
were p la n t e d a b i g p lu m - tr e e and a c a m e l l i a - t r e e . L acquer f l o w e r s were a l s o blooming
r
9
-in double f l o w e r s on the a do u b l e - t h a t c h e d r o o f , and i v i e s wer e c r e e p i n g on the w a l l s . An old woman w as seen s t a n d i n g by the g a t e - door made o f g r a s s .
She saw a bo y ' s gown b e i n g d r i e d out in the g a r d e n. )
Oh, i t ' s s t r a n g e .
( Jor ur i :
She
l o o k s
i n t o the house, and t h e r e found a gun, a sword and a bow hung on the w a l l . S he thoughtt h a t the master o f the house might be a b u r g l a r , but she knocked at the door. I am an old woman v i s i t i n g a l o n e
s h r i n e s o f a l l the c o u n t r y one a f t e r a n o t h e r . I have now a sore f o o t . May I come in t o r e s t f o r a w h i l e ?
( J o r u r i :
Hearing t h i s Rokusuke came out of t h e room t o see h e r . )
You lo o k to be t i r e d , old l a d y .
P l e a s e r e s t here as l o n g as you l i k e though I can not l e t you put up.
O-Ko:
O-Ko:
O-Ko: O-Ko: Rokusuke: O-KO; Rokusuke: O- K o : Rokusuke: O- K o : I t i s v e r y kind o f you. Th e n
----( J o r u r i : --- She goes t o the f i r e - p l a c e . Rokusuke adds a l o t o f f u e l s t o t h e f i r e and t r e a t s her w e l l . The ol d woman be in g
g r a t i f i e d . )
Now, my h o s t . Do you l i v e here alo ne, or have you paren ts ?
No, I had a mother,
but she d i e d r e c e n t l y . So I l i v e a l o n e now. I t must be i n c o n v e n i e n t t o you.
I have an i d e a . L e t me be your mother. I t h i n k we match as mother and son.
( J o r u r i : As she says these words she l o o k s j o c u l a r . )
Ha, ha, ha! I t ' s a good j o k e .
You may amuse y o u r s e l f s a y i n g such a j o k e , your t r a v e l would be t o o t e d i o u s .
I ' m in no j o k e . I ’ l l r e a l l y be your mother Oh, r e a l l y ? And why?
Because I t h i n k you a re a good man. I h a v e n ' t come w i t h o u t t a k i n g a n y t h i n g . Look h e r e ! I have got here f o r t y or f i f t y r y o ( o r y e n ) . I w i l l g i v e you t h i s as my s o u v e n i r . B e s i d e s I have something to t a l k
-11
rokusuke:
O-Ko:
w i t h you to get a l a r g e sum o f money.
L e t us be mother and son and t a l k , t o each o t h e r wi tho ut r e s e r v e . How do you t h i n k ? ( J o r u r i :
---The o l d woman t r i e s t o work h e r s e l f i n t o hi s f a v o u r w i t h her money.)
I might t a l k w i t h you or I might
c a l l you my mother a f t e r w a r d s . But anyhow p l e a s e r e s t and w a i t in the next room u n t i l I am d e te r m in ed .
Then I ’ l l g o and r e s t e x pe c t i n g your f i l i a l p i e t y . ( J o r u r i : ---Thus s a y i n g , she opens
th e broken p a p e r - s c r e e n and goes out i n t o the next room, not knowing that
t h e y are r e l a t i v e s . Rokusuke remains by the f i r e s i d e t h i n k i n g in many ways about
the s t r a n g e woman. The s p r i n g b r e ez e i s f r a g r a n t w i t h plu m-blossoms. And the n i g h t i n g a l e
t e l l s that i t i s a l r e a d y dark s i n g i n g "h o k e k y o ” (a word o f p r a y e r . )
Rokusuke : Even the b i r d comes back t o i t s n e s t a t the r i g h t time not t o f a i l to s a y i t s p r a y e r s i n g i n g ’’ hokekyo."
I am ashamed I r a r e l y say my p r a y e r t o the Budha as I have been so busy. Mot h e r ,
I ’ m so s o r y .
( J o r u r i : He p r e s s e s h i s hand and pra y s towards her m o t h e r ’ s mortuary t a b l e t . H e w i l l
s u r e l y be rewarded by the Heaven f o r h i s f i l i a l pi e t y . A s he r i n g s the b e l l so e a r n e s t l y w h i l e s a y i n g h i s p r a y e r ,
i t s sound reaches the boy, who comes back. Not knowing that her mother i s dead, the boy c a l l s f o r his mother w h i l e p u t t i n g
a pe bb le upon a n o t h e r which he has c o l l e c t e d . H i s t e a r s f a l l l i k e so many r a i n drops on the g r a s s . T hus he n a t u r a l l y o f f e r s w a t e r t o h is mother wi tho ut n o t i c i n g i t .
Lo ok in g at t h i s Rokusuke runs to him and t a k e s him up in h i s a r m . )
-Rokusuke:
Matsu:
Rokusuke :
I understand. I u n d e r s ta n d . H ow, I wish I could ta k e you to your mother! I asked you where
your home was, but you could not answer me. The man who l e f t you in my charge s a i d n o t h i n g about i t . So I d o n ' t know where your home i s , or whose son you a r e .
But you have been taken to me and c a l l me
" u n c l e . " How can I hate you? Oh, l o v e l y t h i n g ! U n c le ! Why doesn’ t mamma come?
I want mamma! I want mamma! (He c r i e s . )
I t ' s no use t o yearn f o r your mamma so much. They say that a dead c h i l d c r i e s f o r i t s f a t h e r and mother p i l i n g up p e b b l e s a t the
r i v e r - b e d of the S a i R i v e r . My p a r e n t s a r e a l s o dead, and I have no w i f e . S o I am q u i t e
l i k e a c h i l d . To see my p a r e n t s , I would go t o the r i v e r - b e a c h o f the S a i R i v e r , may, t o the
bottom o f the H e l l ! You a r e o n l y a c h i l d ,
so i t i s q u i t e n a t u r a l you want t o see your mother. Poo r boy!
-14 Rokusuke: Mat su: Rokusuke: Son o: Me n :
( J o r u r i : --- He embraces the c h i l d and s o b s But a f t e r , a w h i l e he keeps back h i s t e a r s arid s a y s . )
Oh, I am s o r r y I have enduced you to t e a r s . Do n ' t cr y any m ore . B eat t h e drum
I bought f o r you y e s t e r d a y . Now I ’ l l b e a t i t f o r you.
No, I d o n ' t l i k e a drum. I am s l e e p y . I s h o u l d l i k e to s l e e p by mamma.
( J o r u r i : As he c r i e s , the c h i l d soon f a l l s a s l e e p . )
Oh, he is a s l e e p now. How inn oc en t a c h i l d i s ! A c h i l d i s l i k e the Buddha. Now I w i l l take you t o bed.
( J o r u r i ; - - He takes the c h i l d t o the bed made o f g r a s s . Just then a s t r o l l i n g p r i e s t
ap pe ar s . In order t o a s k f o r a n i g h t ' s l o d g i n g , he cames near t h e f e n c e . )
Oh, I do remember t h i s gown f o r a boy. ( J o r u r i : ----He t r i e s t o t a k e the gown.) A t h i e f !
( J o r u r i : ---Men t r i e s t o catc h him fro m behind. The p r i e s t b e a t s them on forehead, sh ou ld er, or back w i t h h i s shakuhac h i ( p i p e ) he c a r r i e s . Men f l e e away f o r t h e i r l i v e s . Rokusuke s t a r e s a t him out o f t h e room
Rokusuke :
Sono :
Rokusuke :
So n o :
What have you done, you f e i g n e d s t r o l l i n g p r i e s t ?
( J o r u r i : --- The p r i e s t h e a r i n g t h i s ) What? Why do you c a l l me a f e i g n e d
s t r o l l i n g p r i e s t ?
Because your c l o t h e s and speaking a r e not f o l l o w i n g the r e g ul a t i o n s .
Mo r e o v e r you a r e not p e r m i t t e d to f i g h t or q u a r r e l . Even when p e o p l e are unreasonable the a r c hb is ho p orde rs you t o be l a u f u l .
B e s id e s you p i p e your shakuhachi not in the r i g h t way but in a v u l g a r way o f r e c e n t y e a r s . On these grounds I judged you t o be a f e i g n e d s t r o l l i n g p r i e s t .
Am I n o t r i g h t ? Though I am on ly a r i g h t ? Though I am o n l y a woodcutter I b e l i e v e I am not mist ake n.
What do you say?
I ’ l l answer you in a minute.
( J o r u r i : Thus sa ying , Sono s t e a l t h i l y e n t e r s the house, and draws the dagger which he has kept in h i s spar e p i p e , and s t r i k e s at
Rokusuke. But Rokusuke dodges n i c e l y and ca t ch e s him by the hand.
-16 Rokusuke: So n o : Matsu: Matsu: Rokusuke: H m !
I knew you a r e a woman a t the f i r s t s i g h t . S o I t r i e d and carped a t you.
I c a n ' t understand why you s t r u c k a t me. You c a n ' t understand?
How mean you a r e ! You are t h e b u r g l a r who k i l l e d a samurai more than f i f t y y e a r s around Sugisaka and robbed him
not o n l y h i s purse but a l s o h i s dead s i s t e r ’ s c h i l d . I never can f o r g i v e you.
( J o r u r i : --- She shook him o f f , and a t t a c k e d him w i t h her sharp d a g g e r . Rokusuke dodged here and t h e r e without a sword. Sono now became d e s p e r a t e , when a v o i c e i s heard from beyond the s c r e e n . )
I s i t you, a u n t i e ?
( J o r u r i : ---The boy came running. Sono was much s u r p r i s e d . She could not understand the ci r c u m s t a n c e s , but
t a k i n g up the boy i n t o her arms, she assumed a po st ure o f d e f e n c e v i g i l a n t l y . )
Un c l e , now t h a t my a u n t i e has come, I ’ d l i k e t o beat the drum f o r h e r .
A l l r i g h t ! A l l r i g h t ! Af t e r w a r d s .
17 Matsu: J o r u r i : Roku: Sono: Roku: So n o: Roku: So n o : Roku: So n o : Roku: J o r u r i : Roku:
Oh, no, a t once , p l e a s e . " The c h i l d i s s o de ar .
Rokusuke, handing him h i s t o y box - - - " Now, l i s t e n . The other d ay , when I was on my way home from my m o t h e r 's
g r a v e , I happened t o f i n d a few highway-men t o r t u r i n g an el d e r l y man t o d e a t h .
Though I ran t o h i s r es cu e, he soon b r e a t hed h i s l a s t , r e l u c t a n t t o p a r t from you,
h i s c h i l d . I have brought you here w i t h me and I have hung your c l o t h e s a t my door in t h e
e f f o r t t o f i n d some r e l a t i o n f o r you. I am v e r y g l a d I have found your aunt. Are you sure o f th at ?
What f o r should I t e l l you a l i e ? And what’ s your name, p l e a s e ?
Rokusuk e . What?
Rokusuke, wood-man of th e Keyamura v i l l a g e , Ar e you the famous f e n c i n g master of the Yae gaki s c h oo l?
What do you say?
"So O-Sono gazes a t Rokusuke? Wo n ' t you y e t b e l i e v e in me?
18 Sono: Roku: Sono: Roku: S o n o : Roku Sono Roku
How g l a d I am. Y o u 'r e so handsome. We l l ----b u t --- I c a n ’ t be glad
u n t i l I c ome to know whether you’ r e m a r r ie d or n o t .
I ’ m s t i l l unmarried f o r some re a so n . Oh, a r e you? I ’ m so g l a d .
Look he re , I am your w i f e .
( J o r u r i : So she c l i n g s to him.
And t r i e s t o help him keeping hous e. )
I t ’ s so s t r a n g e . You’ r e a s t r a n g e r f o r me, and you say y o u ' r e my w i f e .
Who on e a r t h are you?
W e l l , my f a t h e r used t o say t h a t Rokusuke
o f the Keyamura v i l l a g e was v e r y good a f e n c e r and t h a t he wanted to marry me t o
him. I ’ ve been w a i t i n g f o r you a l l these y e a r s , and am s t i l l a s p i n s t e r though I am over twenty.
Are you Esq Y o s h i o k a ' s daughter? Yes , I am Sono.
Pardon me, p l e a s e , f o r h a v i n g been so rude; f o r I knew n o t h i n g o f the f a c t , you know. W e l l , I ’ ve been v e r y anxious of your f a t h e r .
19 Sono Roku: Sono: Roku: Sono: Roku: S o n o : Roku: S o n o : (t h r o u g h t e a r s ) : W e l l , i t was at Yamaguchi, in Suwa, t h a t ---What? That he was a s s a s s i n a t e d . And by whom? By Kyogoku Takumi , a f e n c i n g m as te r. And what has brought you, here?
Are you sure t h a t your enemy i s here? Oh, no. I haven t found any t r a c e o f him, though have made se ar ch es . Oh, hav e n ’ t you?
( J o r u r i : And O- s ono sheds many a b i t t e r t e a r . ) I ’ ve been through so many t r o u b l e s .
Just as we were on the p o i n t o f s t a r t i n g , my nephew became b l i n d and we could
do n o t h i n g but l e a v e him a t home.
M o reo ve r, my s i s t e r O- Y uk i was a l s o k i l l e d by wicked men. My mother & I have t r a v e l l e d a l l the way through d e s e r t s and mountains.
Oh, my dear husband, you’ re the o n l y one
f o r me to r e l y upon. N e v e r d e s e r t me, p l e a s e . ( J o r u r i ; And she c l i n g s c l o s e t o him.)
20
-Roku: I t was s ome ten y ea rs ago t h a t
I happened t o meet an ol d man at the
f o o t o f the mountain Hi k o s a n . He taug ht me the s e c r e t o f f e n c i n g . A nd, at the end of the m y s t e r y book, was w r i t t e n t h a t i t was d e v i n e p r o v i d e n c e that I should g e t m a r r i e d
to you. I ’ ve been g r a t e f u l t o him f o r these y e a r s , and have wished t o repay h i s f a v o u r . I t ’ s
so r e g r e t t a b l e that he should have d i e d . ( j o r u r i : ----So he g r e e t s O-Sono
W it h t e a r s o f remorse.
Just then, a cough i s heard. Behind the s l i d i n g d o o r . }
Ko ( Behind t h e d o o r ) : I t is so ad m ir ab le o f you t o be so g r a t e f u l to your i n s t r u c t o r . I , Yoshioka I c h i m i s a i , s h a l l a p p e a r from out o f
Hades and have an i n t e r v i e w w i t h you. S on o: Oh, i s i t mother th at i s speaking?
( J o r u r i : O-Sono, b e s i d e h e r s e l f w it h j o y , S l i d e s open t h e d o o r . A nd l o .
Th ere stands s m i l i n g the old woman. Hand in hand w i t h the l i t t l e c h i l d . )
21 Roku: K o: Roku: Woodmen: Woodmen:
Pardon me, p l e a s e , f o r ha vin g been s o rude t o you. I d i d n ' t know you were my i n s t r u c t o r ’ s w idow .
Nor I did know that you were my s o n - i n - l a w . Now that we know our r e l a t i o n ,
l e t ’ s l i v e h a p p i l y t o g e h t e r .
I hope you ’ l l be on good terms w i t h your w i f e , my da u gh te r.
( J o r u r i : ---- So she p r e s e n t s t h e w ine -c up ) Oh, thank you.
( J o r u r i : So they exchange. Cups o f p l e d g e . ) Come, come, l ook h e r e .
( J o r u r i ; So c r y i n g , t h e r e come t he wood-cut t e r s ,
C a r r y i n g the dead body on a b o a r d . ) L i s t e n , Rokusuke, i t was on 23 of t h i s month t h a t our f r i e n d Onoemon
t o l d me that h i s mother was m i s s i n g .
Al l o f us helped her t o f i n d her out, but a l l in v a i n . W e l l , t h i s morning, we a t
l a s t found her below the ea rth en b r i d g e . But she was found k i l l e d w i t h a l l s o r t s
o f m i s e r y . We want to r e v e n g e , but we don’ t know how. Help us, p l e a s e , Rokusuke.
22
Roku ( L o o k in g a t t h e bo dy) :
Woodman:
Oh, i s t h i s your mother, Onoemon?
: Take c o u r a ge , Onoemon, and ask Mr . Rokusuke t o h e lp you.
Onoemon ( w h i l e we ep in g ) : T h a t ’ s q u i t e c o r r e c t , Mr. Rokusuke. Take r e v e n g e , p l e a s e .
0 On the v e r y day of her death, she made dumplings f o r me, and they f e l l out o f t h e d i s h . I t w a s bad ominous.
Oh, mother, how h e l p l e s s you must f e e l to c r o s s the R iv er of Death a l l a l o n e. ( J o r u r i :
So he sheds b i t t e r t e a r s o f r e m o r s e .) Roku: A11 r i g h t . I ’ l l do what I can f o r you.
Carry the body home and say p r a y e r s f o r he r. Ono: Oh, t h a n k s . S h e ' 11 r e pose a t peace now th at
Roku:
you say so.
( J o r u r i ; And so the woodmen go o u t . Rokusuke, l e f t behind, Looks r e s e n t f u l . ) " Was i t t h a t Mi j i n Da n j o took me in
when he s a i d that she was h i s mother? How mean of him.
23 K o : Roku; K o : Roku: K o : Sono: Ko: Sono: Roku: Matsu: Roku: Ko: Sono: Roku: Wait a minute, my s o n - i n - l a w . I s your enemy's name M i j i n Da n j o ? Y es , i t i s .
And about how old i s he?
T h i r t y - t w o or t h r e e . His complexion i s f a i r He has a b i r t h nark o v e r the eyebrow
& a cut on the l e f t arm.
W e l l , t h i s i s the p o r t r a i t Kyogoku Takumi, our enemy.
And he is about t h i r t y - t w o or t h r e e . He i s the said Mi j i n Da n j o , I ’ m sure. How glad I am to have found our enemy. Come, d a u g h t e r ,
A11 r i g h t .
(The two are about t o g o . )
Just a minute, p l e a s e . He i s my enemy, t o o . I ’ l l f i g h t him w it h swords but y o u ’ l l f i r s t f i g h t him w i t h wooden swords.
Come, mother. Come, w i f e .
( J o r u r i ; So they s t a r t r e a d y to f i g h t ) L e t me he lp you, u n c l e .
Y o u ' r e s o c l e v e r . Come w i t h us. Be on your guard, s o n - i n - l a w . Do so my d e a r husband.
Be a t e a s e . The o t h e r day. I was beaten on purpose, you know. He c o u l d n ' t have e n t e r e d
- 2 4
-i n t o s e r v -i c e but f o r my k-in dness.
W e l l , though we a r e o f r i g h t e o u s n e s s , we can’ t k i l l him a t once, f o r he
i s the f e n c i n g m a s te r o f the l o r d . We’ l l l a v e t o p l e a d , f i r s t .
( J o r u r i :
I t seems that the l a t e Yos hioka
Was f a r - s i g h t e d To have chosen Rokusuke For the husband o f his daughter
O-Sono, w i t h a plum-blossom i n her h a n d ---- ) Now, my husband, I hear th at K a j i w a r a
Ka g e t o k i adorned h i s q u i v e r with
plum blo ss o m s . I now deck yours w i t h t h e s e f l o w e r s to c o n g r a t u l a t e
your good f o r t u n e .
( J o r u r i : So s a y i n g , she i s about to c l i n g to him, When she checks,
D i f f i d e n t t o her m o t h e r . )
You’ l l g e t m ar r ie d t o my daughter as soon as we have reveng ed o u r s e l v e s .
( J o r u r i : So t h e t h r e e grown-ups
S t a r t f o r Kokura With l i t t l e Matsu c l i n g i n g t o t h e m . )
Curt ain So n o :
