SCENE
A mountain side at Miyasaki in the province of Hiuga. Time about 1190.
HITOMARU AND SERVANT
The dew remains until the wind doth blow,
The dew remains until the wind doth blow.
My own life fleeting as a drop of dew,
What will become of me as time does pass?
HITOMARU
My name is Hitomaru, and I am
A maiden, who in Kamakura[31] dwells.
My father’s name is Kagekiyo, called
By some the Boisterous, and he is a friend
Of the Hei[32] clan, the Taira family
And so is by the Gen[32] house hated much.
To Miyasaki exiled, in Hiuga
He deigns, in shame, long months and years to pass.
To travel unaccustomed, I am tired,
And yet inevitable weariness
I mitigate by thinking of my quest,
And I am strengthened for my father’s sake.
HITOMARU AND SERVANT
The tears of anxious sleep run down my cheek
And to the dew upon the pillowing grass
Add drops that drench my sleeves.
From Sagami the province we set out,
From Sagami the province we set out,
Asking from those we met, the road to take
Toward our destination. And we passed
The province Tōtōmi,[33] and crossed by boat
The distant bay. And Mikana we passed,
By Mikana, spanned o’er with bridges eight.
Oh, would that we could grow accustomed soon
To our short nights of sleep that we might dream
Of the high capital above the clouds,
Of the high capital above the clouds.
SERVANT