But left upon the beach, wildly he waved his sleeves,
Stricken as she[207] who on the shore
Of Matsura waved till she froze to stone.
ENVOYS, NANITSUNE and YASUYORI (together).
Unhappy man, our hearts are not cold. When we reach the City, we will plead unceasingly for your recall. In a little while you shall return. Wait with a good heart.
(Their voices grow fainter and fainter, as though the ship were moving away from the shore.)
SHUNKWAN.
“Wait, wait,” they cried, “Hope, wait!”
But distance dimmed their cry,
And hope with their faint voices faded.
He checked his sobs, stood still and listened, listened—
(SHUNKWAN puts his hand to his ear and bends forward in the attitude of one straining to catch a distant sound.)
THE THREE.
Shunkwan, Shunkwan, do you hear us?