[Weeps in her sleeve.
Sanko I fear,
And fears of many
Worlds crowd round me—
Many karmas
Of pain and passion,
Births and rebirths.
Ama. And 'tis because
This evil priest
Stands in the door of your heart.
O-Umè. Will you revile him?
Ama. Cursed be he!
O-Umè. Ama!
Ama. I pray it!
[Rises slowly.
And curst he shall be.
[O-Umè stares trembling.
For, O blind one,
By him blinded,
Do you not know
The people have heard
How he has bid you
Cast away from you
The gods of your house?
The blessed Buddha
And all the tablets
Kept, ancestral?
Ai, they have heard
And tonight have risen!
This night of the dead
They have gone forth,
With Sanko to lead them—
Gone to tear down
The house of the priest!
Gone to destroy
The image he worships!
Gone to——
O-Umè (stricken). Ama!
[Shrinks from her and then speaks wanly.
Never is there
Trust in any?
Only faith that fades?
This was known—
But kept from me,
Kept in silence,
Kept for Sanko?...
O lord Buddha,
Thou, or Christ,
Is there peril?——
[Turns on her.
You have done ill!
Ama. I have done well.
O-Umè. Ill! and ill shall come to you!
For do you think
So to prevent me
From my fate-way?
No, I will find it!
The Buddha and all
The tablets ancestral
Will I take down from the wall,
And from me cast them
Into the river ...
They shall float down to the sea.