ACT II
A Bamboo Glade on the Mountain-side.
[The Gaki comes in.
THE GAKI
This is the glade on the mountain side—the glade where Aoyagi and Riki think to find their happiness. Here must I feed or I shall die in this shape.—Hai!—They come.
[Riki and Aoyagi enter.
RIKI
... and so like every other prince who is a real prince, he charged to the top of the hill before his men; and they, following him, fell upon the enemy and victory was theirs.
AOYAGI
And then—?
RIKI
And then the Princess laid her hand upon her heart.
AOYAGI
Is that all?
RIKI
Is that all? What more need there be?
AOYAGI
Did they not wed and have great happiness?
RIKI
You can answer that.
AOYAGI
I? I never heard the story before.
RIKI
One may always end a story—just right.
AOYAGI
Not a weeping willow tree?
RIKI
Even a weeping willow tree!
AOYAGI
How?
RIKI
I'll show you.—Stand right here.—So! I stand here.—Now look at me.
AOYAGI
I am looking.
RIKI
Place your hand upon your heart.
AOYAGI
Ay.
RIKI
Now I am the Prince. With sword in hand I come to you. From Kyushu to Koban I've fought my way to you;—through forest, marsh and mountain path I've striven for you. Now I am here.—Look at me.
AOYAGI
Ah!
[With a cry of delight she rushes to his arms.
RIKI
And did they wed?
AOYAGI
Ah, love beyond love.
RIKI
And did they have great happiness?
AOYAGI
Ah!
The Lady of the Weeping Willow Tree
Act III.
[She nestles close to him.
RIKI
My little princess! I did not come to you sword in hand; I did not fight my way from Kyushu to Koban. But I strove for you through forest, marsh and mountain pass.—Within me throbbed a mighty song that I could not sing. I saw almost all the world, it seems, and once I heard a voice that seemed to call to me alone. It was at the ferry of Ishiyama. I followed the sound—and there she stood all aglow in the morning sunlight. But when I saw, the song still throbbed within my heart and I could not sing to her.—Someone else called to me—"Hai! Hai! Hai!"
AOYAGI
And what of her—the vision at the ferry of Ishiyama?
RIKI
For all I know she may still be standing there in the morning sunlight all aglow.—I have found you!
AOYAGI
And was she—fair?
RIKI
Ay—how can I say? Now all the world is fair because I see only you in earth and sky and everything.
AOYAGI
She was aglow in the morning sun.
RIKI
How can I say? I heard her voice;—a song was in my heart—a song for you.—I saw her—the song staid locked in my heart for you.
AOYAGI
Riki—Riki—
RIKI
A dream that's true.
AOYAGI
I do not understand it all.—Obaa-San—you—this happiness.—I have known happiness, but not like this.—When I was in the weeping willow tree—sometimes I was happy and sometimes I was hurt.—Oh, Riki, Riki, this glade is like the weeping willow tree! Whenever the soft air sways the leaves, I feel the same sweet joy as when the little breezes played amongst my branches. The rain—oh, the gentle little rain that cooled me in the hot summer—the drops that danced from leaf to leaf and felt like smiles upon my face. Tears! The rain is not like tears, Riki.
RIKI
The dew is tears, perhaps.
AOYAGI
The dew! It came to me like a cool veil that the morning sun would lift and little breezes bear away. Then sometimes—the voice, the loneliness of Obaa-San.
RIKI
Look where her home lies. Far down there beyond that stream, see—there is Kyushu.
AOYAGI
Oh, Riki, my Riki, my august lord, why, why can I stay here in happiness with you when I know that Obaa-San is miserable and alone?
RIKI
I can not say? I only know that we are here—you and I—and we are happy. Two make a world, Aoyagi. Why? How? I do not know.
AOYAGI
Can we not send a message to Obaa-San?
RIKI
Yes. I shall go down the mountain to the road and tell some passer-by.
AOYAGI
And I?
RIKI
Sit here and rest—and watch the silver stream at Kyushu.
AOYAGI
I shall wait—I shall wait.
RIKI
Sayonara.
AOYAGI
Sayonara.—Sayonara, my august lord.
[Riki goes out. Aoyagi, left alone, feels the air in the old way. She sways slightly in the breeze, then flutters toward the steps.
Oh, Kyushu! The silver stream at Kyushu!
[She evidently sees the place where Obaa-San lives. Her eyes dim a bit and slowly she hums the old lullaby:
See, baby, see,
The ears of the wolf are long;
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Thy father is brave and strong.
Poor Obaa-San!
[The Gaki appears.
THE GAKI
[Aoyagi turns quickly, questioning him almost fearfully with her eyes. There is something of the Aoyagi of the time when The Gaki bade her leave Obaa-San.
AOYAGI
Whither are you bound?
THE GAKI
I am a stranger bound for Kyushu.
AOYAGI
There is Kyushu. (She indicates the silver stream)
THE GAKI
I am told there is a ferry on the way to Kyushu.
AOYAGI
Yes,—at Ishiyama.
THE GAKI
At—Ishiyama.
AOYAGI
Why do you speak so?
THE GAKI
I merely echoed your own words.
AOYAGI
I did not say them so terribly.
THE GAKI
What is in your heart came into your voice, perhaps.
AOYAGI
There is the way to Kyushu.
THE GAKI
Down that path?
AOYAGI
Yes. Did you not meet Riki?
THE GAKI
AOYAGI
Yes, my august lord.
THE GAKI
I passed no one—except—a tall woman who was climbing slowly and singing a wonderful song—which I had heard once near the ferry at Ishiyama.
AOYAGI
But Riki just left me here. You must have passed him on the way.
THE GAKI
The by-paths are many and the trysting places are secret—like this.
AOYAGI
Riki would take no by-path. My august lord needs no trysting place save this.
THE GAKI
I do not know. I saw no Riki.
AOYAGI
My lord needs no trysting place. I am here. He knows I am here—waiting.
[The Gaki looks at her.
THE GAKI
Riki?
AOYAGI
He knows I am waiting—
THE GAKI
Riki?—Oh, yes the name—I heard it—once—at the ferry at Ishiyama. He has been there.
AOYAGI
Yes.
THE GAKI
AOYAGI
Yes.
THE GAKI
He writes wonderful love-songs—they say.
AOYAGI
They?
THE GAKI
Yes,—the people at Ishiyama. I heard one.—It goes—let me see:
"Butterfly, butterfly, alight upon the willow tree—"
AOYAGI
He did not speak that at Ishiyama. He made that for me.
THE GAKI
I heard it, strange to say, at Ishiyama. Perhaps they brought it from—where did you say?
AOYAGI
He made that for me only yesterday.
THE GAKI
And I heard it—yesterday—at Ishiyama. There the wonderful woman was singing. (She looks at him) The one I passed just now.
AOYAGI
That is a mistake.—You are wrong.—I know my—Ah! what is it here—that hurts me, tears me, seems to choke me! Riki!—I am all in all to him—he told me that.—He can not make poems for another.
THE GAKI
I should not have told anything.—Forgive me.—I did not know.—To speak truth is deep in my heart.—I have no gracious subtleties.—I am sorry—
AOYAGI
In the valley there is a mist. I can no longer see the silver stream at Kyushu.—Who are you?—I am afraid!—Riki—Riki—
[There is no answer.
THE GAKI
He does not seem to hear.—I shall go to meet him. He went this way, you say?
AOYAGI
Yes.—There is a mist in the valley and I can not see the silver stream at Kyushu—
[She does not see The Gaki who goes in the direction opposite to the one Aoyagi has indicated.
Oh, the little day—the little day—of love beyond love.—Riki—my mother, Obaa-San.—Yesterday the mountain-top gleamed like the topmost heaven in the spring sunlight. Today—the valley dies in mist and the mountain-top is lost in the sky.
RIKI (coming in singing)
Hai! Hai! Hai!
RIKI
Aoyagi!
AOYAGI
I must go back to Obaa-San, my mother.
RIKI
What has happened, Aoyagi?
AOYAGI
We came up the mountain path side by side, Riki. Without question I gave myself to you.
RIKI
Aoyagi!
AOYAGI
I gave my love—my love beyond love. I believed.
RIKI
Why not believe?
AOYAGI
Your first words were—"You are she!" I did not question. And now—
RIKI
Oh, my little love, was I gone too long?
AOYAGI
My love knows no time, Riki.—You were gone—how can I say?—ages.
RIKI
It was ages, too, to me, Aoyagi.
AOYAGI (softening)
I watched the silver stream at Kyushu—and I waited.
RIKI
What, are those tears?
AOYAGI
Nothing, Riki—but I feel so far away—from Obaa-San.
RIKI
She can bridge the distance with her heart. A mother can always bridge all distance with her heart.
AOYAGI
Hai!
RIKI
Our happiness is all she wants.
AOYAGI
Our happiness—(bitterly)
RIKI (He goes to her. She moves away)
Why—
AOYAGI
The silver fishes—
RIKI
What has happened, Aoyagi?
AOYAGI
Did you send the message to Obaa-San?
RIKI
Yes.
AOYAGI
Did you go down the path?
RIKI
Yes.
AOYAGI
Did you pass a stranger on the way?
RIKI
No.
AOYAGI
A stranger just came by.—He came up the mountain path.
RIKI
I crossed the stream.
AOYAGI (She takes a deep breath)
You crossed the stream.
RIKI
Aoyagi—little sweetheart—I cannot understand.—What do you mean?
AOYAGI
Oh, Riki, Riki, I am so alone. Tell me what—why—why—
RIKI
Aoyagi, was I gone too long? Has some demon come to you?
AOYAGI
No demon came. You were gone too long.
RIKI
I went down the path and crossed the stream to take a shorter way. I met a stranger—
AOYAGI
Singing?
RIKI
Yes—I think she was singing.
AOYAGI
She was singing.
RIKI
What do you mean, Aoyagi?
AOYAGI
Who was she?
RIKI
I do not know.—She said she would pass Ishiyama.
AOYAGI
Where did you see her?
RIKI
Beyond the stream—in a little glade.
AOYAGI
Did she sing your song?
RIKI
My song? No.
AOYAGI
Did she know your songs?
RIKI
Aoyagi! What do you want to know?
AOYAGI
Did she know your song to me—"Butterfly, butterfly, alight upon the willow tree"?
RIKI
Perhaps.—I made that to you years ago—when you were a dream in my heart.
AOYAGI
At Ishiyama?
RIKI
Perhaps.
AOYAGI
Hai!—Obaa-San, my mother!—Oh, my heart—my heart—
RIKI
Aoyagi—what have I done? Let me comfort you!
[He goes to her.
AOYAGI
You leave me nothing in all the world.
RIKI
I give you all my world.
AOYAGI
Hai! Hai! Hai!
RIKI
Let me go and call the lady bound for Ishiyama.
AOYAGI
Riki!—ah!
RIKI
Little Aoyagi—my love—she will be tender with you.—And when your tears are gone, she'll bear your message on to Obaa-San.
[He goes to her, but she draws away. For a moment he is uncertain what to do;—then—he speaks.
I'll bring her back to you.
AOYAGI
Riki!—No!—We came up the mountain-path together—side by side.—We—but now, Riki, we go two ways.—I to Obaa-San—you to—
RIKI
What do you mean?
AOYAGI
Go sing your songs at Ishiyama! Go make your poems to the butterfly.—I—
RIKI
I have made songs only for you.
AOYAGI
But the songs for me are on every tongue.
RIKI
Ay—I am proud of that.
AOYAGI
The lady at the ferry at Ishiyama—
RIKI
She learned the song to you!
AOYAGI
Ah!
[Aoyagi rushes upon him and before she realizes what she is doing, she strikes him. He stands petrified a moment, then faces her very calmly.
RIKI
I shall find the stranger-woman and send her to you.—I can no longer help you.
AOYAGI
You can no longer help.—Oh—life—oh, love—this too short day—
RIKI
I shall stay near at hand until you return to Obaa-San.
AOYAGI
I shall find the path alone.
RIKI
I'll send the stranger-woman to you.
[Riki goes out.
AOYAGI
Hai! Hai! Hai! I watched the sunrise only yesterday and I trembled with the wonder of the dew-cooled dawn. Life seemed all peace and—today—I have known a mother's love and my mother.—I have known a lover's touch—love beyond love.—I am waking from a dream. The Gaki said I'd waken—I'd be as free as one in life. Oh, what is this thing they call life? No happiness complete—a vision of a mountain top—a climbing to the goal—a bamboo glade—oh, the mist at Kyushu.—When I go back to Obaa-San—I shall love her so—but oh, the memory of Riki—the mountain gleaming in the sun—
[She starts sadly from the path. The Gaki enters.
THE GAKI
Lady, I am here again. It seemed to me that I must return to you. Something seemed to call. (Aoyagi almost collapses) I feed! I feed!
AOYAGI
I can not go!
THE GAKI
You seem to suffer.
AOYAGI
Oh—I have lost my way in life—
THE GAKI
Lost your way in life? Let me help you.
AOYAGI
I have stood on the mountain side and I have seen the green valleys far below.
THE GAKI
Talk to me—as you would to yourself.—I hear but I shall not speak what I hear.
AOYAGI
Riki—no, I can not speak even to myself. Deep in me there is a hurt.—I can not tell—
THE GAKI
A woman gives all;—the man forgets.
AOYAGI
But to Riki—he knows—I brought him my full belief—my all-in-all.
THE GAKI
Your perfect faith.
AOYAGI
Ay, my perfect faith.—He spoke to me and then I bowed to my august lord.—I followed him without question.—And he forgets so soon.
THE GAKI
Are you sure he has forgotten?
AOYAGI
You know—you saw the lady from Ishiyama.
THE GAKI
AOYAGI
You did not meet him on the path.
THE GAKI
True.—I did not meet him on the path.
AOYAGI
He crossed the stream.
THE GAKI
Perhaps to shorten the way.
AOYAGI
He met her in a little glade.—Hai!
THE GAKI
What shall you do?
AOYAGI
I'll go my way. I'll return to Obaa-San.
THE GAKI
I'll guide you down the mountain side.—Come, we'll take the shorter way—the by-paths—across the stream—through the little glade—
AOYAGI (She looks about once more at the scene of her happiness)
Hai!
THE GAKI
Come!
AOYAGI
No, let us go down the path.—I want to see my footprints—side by side with his.
THE GAKI
Perhaps they're being crushed under the feet of the lady from Ishiyama!
[Aoyagi starts a moment as though to fly along the path before the lady comes.—She sways slowly—and then falls in a pitiful little heap.—The Gaki takes her in his arms and, utterly triumphant, starts up the mountain-side.
We'll go up—up—sweet Aoyagi, to the snow peak—gleaming in the sun.—You'll find the mountain-top—not lost in the sky.—Your perfect faith!—Oh, you silly human—oh, futile love—climb, Aoyagi—climb without love.—But first we'll make footprints for the lover's eyes.—Blindness will lead him to the mists at Kyushu.—Jealousy will lead you to the lonely stars.
[He holds Aoyagi so that her feet touch the ground—toward the downward path. Then with a wild laugh, he turns toward the mountain top. As the laughter dies, the voice of Riki is heard calling
Aoyagi! Aoyagi!... Oi!
[The laugh of The Gaki is heard once more very far away—as he ascends the mountain with his burden.
RIKI
Aoyagi!—Aoyagi!
[Riki comes running in. Presently he sees the footprints.
Oi!—Aoyagi!
[He runs down the path.
Aoyagi!—Aoyagi!
[Far, very far away The Gaki's laugh is heard.
RIKI
Aoyagi!—Aoyagi!
[Night has fallen slowly.
Aoyagi!—Aoyagi!