ACT III
Before the House of Obaa-San
[It is moonlight. As the curtain opens, Obaa-San is heard singing the lullaby; from the distance the voice of Riki calls.
RIKI
Aoyagi!—Aoyagi!—Aoyagi!—Aoyagi! Oi!
[Obaa-San appears in the doorway.
Aoyagi!
OBAA-SAN (She goes toward the voice)
Oi!
[Riki enters.
RIKI
Obaa-San! Where is Aoyagi?
OBAA-SAN
Where is Aoyagi?
RIKI
Is she not here?
OBAA-SAN
She is not here. Where—Riki!
RIKI
I left her in the bamboo glade—and when I returned she was gone. Her footprints pointed toward the path—and then were lost.
OBAA-SAN
Why did you leave her?
RIKI
I left her because she—I left her.
OBAA-SAN
I do not know, Riki, what has come to pass—but this I know—I am waiting for her.—I am waiting for her. Go seek for her—and bring her back to me.
RIKI
I shall search for her.—Obaa-San, she—
OBAA-SAN
I care not what she did. I am waiting here for her.
[Riki looks at Obaa-San a moment and then understands.
RIKI
Aoyagi!
[He goes out. Obaa-San turns to the empty house—the empty willow tree.
OBAA-SAN
She will come back to me.
[She goes into the house. The Gaki enters.
THE GAKI
Foolish Riki! He searches in the valley. Mad Aoyagi! Alone with the lonely stars!—Oh, wondrous misery that makes itself.
[He sees Obaa-San. She enters from the house.
Good-morning, Obaa-San, my friend.
OBAA-SAN
Good-morning, traveller.
THE GAKI
Why do you rise before the dawn?
OBAA-SAN
I could not rest.—Why are you not at Kyushu?
THE GAKI
There is a mist at Kyushu—and I feared to lose my way.
OBAA-SAN
Did you pass a little lady—Aoyagi, by name—alone—
THE GAKI
It seems—I met a little lady.—She was not happy.—That one?
OBAA-SAN
Where?
THE GAKI
I am a stranger here—I cannot say. Over there—or over there.
OBAA-SAN
She will come to me, perhaps.
THE GAKI
Do you know her?
OBAA-SAN
She is my daughter,—Aoyagi.
THE GAKI
Do you not fear for her?
OBAA-SAN
Perhaps.—She will be here soon.—Riki has gone for her.
THE GAKI
She must know the way.
[The voices of O-Sode and O-Katsu are heard.
This has been a restless night for age. (He disappears. O-Sode-San and O-Katsu-San enter)
OBAA-SAN
Good-morning, O-Sode-San. Good-morning, O-Katsu-San.—The lily hands of sleep have passed you by.
O-KATSU-SAN
A strange unrest has seized upon me. I think—and think of my little one. She is glorious in my heart, and words with wings seem to flash before my eyes like fireflies in the darkness.
O-SODE-SAN
I, too, have lived in words.
O-KATSU-SAN
Obaa-San, is it not wonderful to put a joy or pain in words?
OBAA-SAN
Ah, yes—if there is anyone to hear them. All my long, long years before Aoyagi came to me, my heart sang, and words freighted with my dreams and my love would come to me—here; and they would die because they found no ear attuned to them.—Tell me what you thought, O-Sode-San.
O-SODE-SAN
The moon in calm restlessness
Shows the water grasses of the River of Heaven,
Swaying in the cool spring air—
I know the time to meet my lover
Is not too far away.
OBAA-SAN
Every one has a poem in his heart, I believe.—What was your poem, O-Katsu?
O-KATSU-SAN
Oh, messenger of the other world,
My little one is young;
She can not find her way—
Do you kindly take my little one
Upon your warm, broad back
Along the twilight path.
O-SODE-SAN
And you, Obaa-San,—was it words that kept sleep from your eyes?
OBAA-SAN
Ay, bitter dream-words. And for the bitterness I am paying dearly.—Over and over the words came to me:
Here lies my daughter's sleeping body
On the mat beside me.
But her soul is far away
Asleep in her lover's arms—
And I, her white-haired mother,
Hold only an empty shell.
Oh, I am ashamed—ashamed.—And just now Riki came to me—and told me he could not find Aoyagi.
O-KATSU-SAN AND O-SODE-SAN
Hai!
O-SODE-SAN
Can we not search for her?
OBAA-SAN
I am waiting here.—She may find her way back.—I would not have her come to an empty house.—Come—let's go within—and dream that yours and yours and mine are on their way to us.
[The old women go into the house. There is just a moment's silence—then:
AOYAGI
Hai! Hai! Hai!
[Aoyagi, utterly forlorn, enters. She looks at the house, turns and sees the mountains, covers her eyes, and drags herself wearily to the willow tree. She moans as though winter had fallen upon the world and were taunting her. The Gaki enters.
THE GAKI
So you have found your way—in life.
AOYAGI
Oh, let me go back to my tree!
THE GAKI
No, little Aoyagi—you would be happy then.
AOYAGI
Let me die!
THE GAKI
One can not die.
AOYAGI
Hai!
THE GAKI
Where have you been?
AOYAGI
So far—so far!—I am weary.—When I awoke, I was on the mountain-top—alone.
THE GAKI
Were there no stars?
AOYAGI
Oh—the stars, the lonely, lonely stars! I tried to touch them—they seemed so near.—I found the path—the glade—our footprints—strange people—I am here. Let me back! Let me back!
THE GAKI
And what of Riki?
AOYAGI
THE GAKI
And what of Obaa-San?
AOYAGI
What can I give to Obaa-San now—but misery? Am I never to be free?
THE GAKI
What would you do if you were free—climb to the mountain top to see the lonely stars?
AOYAGI
Hai!—Riki!—Obaa-San!
[Obaa-San enters. The Gaki disappears.
OBAA-SAN
Was my name spoken in the dawn?
AOYAGI
Mother!
[With a cry of joy, Obaa-San enfolds Aoyagi in her arms.
OBAA-SAN
Nadeshiko! My little girl!
AOYAGI
Where is Riki?
OBAA-SAN
He has gone to search for you.
AOYAGI
Was he alone?
OBAA-SAN
Alone?
AOYAGI
Yes. Was there no woman with him—a lady from Ishiyama?
OBAA-SAN
A lady from—
AOYAGI
OBAA-SAN
He was alone. A lady from Ishiyama—(Aoyagi shudders with dread) brought me a message in the early night—
AOYAGI
It was she—young?
OBAA-SAN
No—old.
AOYAGI
Had she seen Riki?
OBAA-SAN
Yes. On the mountain-side—
AOYAGI
The stranger said she was young and fair.
OBAA-SAN
Perhaps the stranger did not see with honest eyes.
AOYAGI
He would not lie.
OBAA-SAN
Sometimes the eyes and the ears lie.
AOYAGI
Ah!
OBAA-SAN
And if she had been young and fair?
AOYAGI
Riki met her in a glade.
OBAA-SAN
Did you see them meet?
AOYAGI
No—she was singing.
OBAA-SAN
AOYAGI
She sang the song he made to me.
OBAA-SAN
How do you know?
AOYAGI
Riki said she knew his song to me.
OBAA-SAN
Ah, that is beautiful, that she should love his song to you.
AOYAGI
He—
OBAA-SAN
My little darling, I do not know what really happened; but this I know, you did not speak fairly to Riki or Riki did not speak fairly to you. Almost every unhappiness comes because we speak too much of our pride and speak too little of our hearts.
AOYAGI
I asked him if he saw her.
OBAA-SAN
Why?
AOYAGI
A stranger told me—
OBAA-SAN
Was it the stranger you believed before Riki could defend himself?
AOYAGI
But, mother, I gave my all in all to Riki. He does not care.
OBAA-SAN
Do you know?
AOYAGI
OBAA-SAN
Did he tell you?
AOYAGI
He seemed to be proud to tell.
OBAA-SAN
Then he was unashamed to tell—
AOYAGI
I asked him questions.
OBAA-SAN
But did you ask him the great question in your heart?
AOYAGI
Oh—
OBAA-SAN
Did you say, "Riki, my love, you are in all my heart. Am I in all yours?"
AOYAGI
He told me that.
OBAA-SAN
And did you believe?
AOYAGI
Above all the world!
OBAA-SAN
Then why doubt him later?
AOYAGI
The lady from Ishiyama passed by.
OBAA-SAN
My child, a lady bound for Ishiyama passed by! Had she been singing all the love-songs of all the worlds; had she been fairer than the lotus-flower, why should you have doubted Riki?
AOYAGI
OBAA-SAN
A stranger!—a stranger!—Oh, why—why—why do the eyes of love grow blind because a stranger speaks? You, Aoyagi, did not see the lady bound for Ishiyama. You did not hear her song—and yet upon the ears and eyes of a stranger you would shatter your love.—I saw the lady.—She was singing.—She was not fair.—If she had been—Oh, my little child—Riki is Riki, your august lord, the lord of your life. When he comes back, go to him and speak from your heart.
AOYAGI
What shall I say?
OBAA-SAN
I need not tell your heart.—It is only your head that can not learn to speak unprompted.—Do you love Riki?
AOYAGI
Ay—so dearly!
[The voice of Riki is heard.
RIKI
Aoyagi!
AOYAGI
He is coming!
[Obaa-San, unnoticed, goes into the house. Riki enters.
RIKI
Aoyagi!
[When he sees she is safe, he drops suddenly. She goes to him.
AOYAGI
Riki, my august lord, listen to my heart.—Forget my anger.—Tell me once again that you love me.—I'll believe.
RIKI
You know—I have always loved you.—When you were a song in my heart, I loved you so! And now—
AOYAGI
Oh, Riki, can we ever forget the blow I struck?
RIKI
That was yesterday—see, this is today: the dawn has spread across the sky. What shall we do? Look back upon the bitterness of yesterday, or try to see the fears of tomorrow, or live in the gladness of today?
AOYAGI
The Gaki of Kokoru is here at the tree. He will not let us live in happiness. He let me go with you because he meant to feed upon the misery of poor Obaa-San.
RIKI
He has not come upon us yet. We are struggling against tomorrow. This is the dawning of today.
AOYAGI
Then shall we live—today.
[Obaa-San enters from the house.
OBAA-SAN
Come, Aoyagi; come, Riki. We have found happiness at our door. Within there is rice and tea. Come.
[They go into the house. The Gaki enters.
The Lady of the Weeping Willow Tree
Act III.
THE GAKI
There is love!—Now what shall I do for misery? Old Obaa-San remembers happiness. She has taught O-Katsu and O-Sode to remember happiness. The lovers are reunited;—now they understand.—And I—I, ah, I must die in this dread shape and stay in this hell through all the eternities unless I bring new misery to them. What can I do? (He turns to see the tree) Ah—I shall kill the tree—slowly—slowly—and I'll feed upon them all. Aoyagi is bound to the tree as one is bound to his body in a dream.—I'll kill the tree.
[He draws his short sword and smites the tree. There is a cry from the house and Aoyagi enters quickly, followed by Riki, Obaa-San, O-Katsu-San, and O-Sode-San. Aoyagi holds her heart.
RIKI
Aoyagi! (She droops in his arms. Obaa-San lays her hand upon her dear child's head. O-Katsu-San understands. The Gaki in triumph smiles again. Aoyagi cries out and shudders as she clings to Riki) Oh, whatever power gave strength to me and led me to my love, give me the chance to save my love.
AOYAGI
The tree!—The tree!
[The Gaki smites again.
RIKI
The Gaki of Kokoru! Ay, I know! I know! I fight a fear, Obaa-San. Hold Aoyagi fast—with all your love.—I shall find the Gaki of Kokoru! (The Gaki smites the tree again and again, and at each stroke Aoyagi fails more and more until she finally crumples in a heap among the three old women) All strength! All faith to me! Into my hands give the power to break the bitterest hell asunder! Into my eyes put light that I may see the cowardly fears that infest our way.—Gaki! Gaki! where are you?—I pass about you and in my heart I carry fearlessness and faith.—Upon your wickedness I hurl belief.—Ah, now, I see you.
THE GAKI
Let me go! Let me go!
RIKI
You shall bring misery into no more hearts!
THE GAKI
Ah, pity me! Let me go! I must feed or I shall die!
RIKI
You shall feed no more!
THE GAKI
Do not let me die in this sixth hell! Do not let me die! Once I was human—like you and you. I came into this hell because I was bitter in life.—I made misery for others.—I put mischief in their minds.—
RIKI (leaping upon him)
You shall make no more misery.
THE GAKI
Let me feed! Let me live! I can not die thus.
RIKI (throttling him)
Dread demon, the end has come!
THE GAKI
Please—please—hear me.
RIKI
Nay, you have made your last horror in our lives.
OBAA-SAN
Riki! Hear him—hear him.—We know not what we do, perhaps.
RIKI
Then speak.
THE GAKI
Let me go! Do you think it did not punish me to see your misery, to bring misery upon you? That is what these hells are. In life we can not always see what wretchedness we make; in the hells we see and know and understand, but we can not escape our evil until we've sucked the bitterness, the horror to the blackest end. Oh—five hells lie between me and human life. In each I may perchance forget the lesson learned before. Let me live! Let me live!—I can not fight your faith!—Let me live!
RIKI
What further harm will you do?
THE GAKI
I cannot help myself. I must live on you.—You are young—
[He tears himself from Riki and once more rushes to the tree. Aoyagi writhes a moment in agony. Riki leaps upon The Gaki, throttling him once more. The struggle is terrific.
RIKI
Die!
THE GAKI
Let me go! Let me live!—I promise anything—I—
RIKI
Too late!—You shall harm no more!
[With one supreme effort, The Gaki draws himself to his full height and seems about to crush Riki. He leaps upon the prostrate Aoyagi and flings her body high above his head. Riki starts for him.
THE GAKI
I shall live! I shall live!
RIKI
Aoyagi!
THE GAKI
Come not near me, Riki, or I shall crush her at your feet. I shall live!
[He laughs the hideous laugh of triumph which rang out on the mountain side yesterday.
OBAA-SAN
Give her back to us! Feed on me!
THE GAKI
In your heart there is only hope and beautiful memory. Old fool, I can not feed on you.—But now in my arms I hold the precious gift by which I shall pass from hell to hell.
O-KATSU-SAN
Take me!
THE GAKI
Silly old woman, you, too, like Obaa-San, can not feed me. Age learns to grasp at bubbles and pretend that they are stars.
O-KATSU-SAN
But I shall dream of my little girl.
THE GAKI
Ay, dream of her and have tender memories that are not pain.
O-SODE-SAN
I shall think of him and long for him, my lover.
THE GAKI
Ay, and in the memory of the firefly fête you'll make a poem that will leave you all melting-like and holy—then where shall I feed?
RIKI
Obaa-San, are you content? I'll let her die at my own hand before I'll let him live.
[He draws his dagger and leaps toward The Gaki; but old Obaa-San is too swift for him. She catches his hand.
OBAA-SAN
Riki! Would you kill the evil by killing the joy of us all?
RIKI
But the joy—my little Aoyagi—can not live so. See—
OBAA-SAN
O Gaki of Kokoru—I stand before you, no longer a suppliant. I am old and in my years I have known all the wanting, all the hopelessness one can know in life. But in your evil way, you brought to me a moment of happiness yesterday and in that moment I saw the beauty that I had always believed must be and yet that I had never known. In your evil arms you hold the treasure of my life—you hold the songs that filled the heart of Riki. But you do not feed, oh, Gaki of Kokoru. You can not feed. Oh, Gaki, what is this sixth hell of yours?—Who made it? Some man who was afraid of the joy of life;—it was too beautiful for his belief. Misery makes itself: so happiness makes itself. You stand before us, holding the darling of our dreams, but there is no misery so great as yours. See! I stand before you—unafraid—and in my heart lies happiness.—Aoyagi rested in my arms and my breast is warm and there is a glory where her dear head lay. In my life—if you take her from me—there will be an emptiness.—There will be long silences in the days to come; but my breast will still be warm with her touch and my ears will still hear the sweet words you cannot unsay—the lullaby I sang.—Oh, Gaki—it has been sung to her.—The climbing to the mountain gleaming in the sun—the glade where love found the perfect mystery—that cannot be undone whether we live or die.—Love that has been can never be undone.
[The Gaki looks from one to the other, but finds only that splendid happiness that is almost pain. He loosens his hold upon Aoyagi and turns to Riki with her.
THE GAKI
She is yours!—I have met perfect faith.—Five hells lie before me—but I have met a perfect faith.—You cannot know what wonder I am knowing. From the sixth hell I have seen a perfect faith.—I am content to die in this shape. Strike, Riki!
RIKI
I have my love.
THE GAKI
But a peace has come upon me, a peace that I have never known.—I seem to be on wings—afloat in the sky.—Stars and suns swing gently by—and cool clouds brush my brow.—Five hells lie before me.—Can it be, in each I shall find peace like this?—(He falls on his knees) Now a fire rages deep in me—a pain—I'm torn.—Oh, Obaa-San, I die—I die.—Come to me—touch me—let me feel your gentle hands.—So! So!—I have never known such gentleness.—Oh, I am cold—cold! Hold me—
[He rises—sways—and falls. It is full day. The Gaki rises wonderfully.
Obaa-San—I see—I see.—The hells were made by some man afraid of the joy of life.—It was too beautiful for his belief.—Riki—Aoyagi, there is the mountain gleaming in the morning light.—Go—see your footprints side by side.—A Gaki's feet trod upon them, but left no mark—and they are there side by side.—O-Sode-San, I look across the River of Heaven;—there stands your lover waiting for you—an empty boat is here to bear you to him.—O-Katsu-San,—the messenger of the other world bears your little one upon his broad, warm back.—They are smiling, O-Katsu-San—Obaa-San—
[He points to Riki and Aoyagi. Obaa-San goes to them and lays her hands upon them.
OBAA-SAN
My little girl!—my little boy!—Today the sun is very bright.