That we may acquire power, Even in our faint substance, We will show forth even now, And though it be but in a dream, Our form of repentance. (explaining the movement of the Shite and Tsure) There he is carrying wands, And she has no need to be asked. See her within the cave, With a cricket-like noise of weaving. The grass-gates and the hedge are between them; That is a symbol. Night has already come on. (now explaining the thoughts of the man's spirit) Love's thoughts are heaped high within him, As high as the charm-sticks, As high as the charm-sticks, once coloured, Now fading, lie heaped in this cave. And he knows of their fading. He says: I lie a body, unknown to any other man, Like old wood buried in moss. It were a fit thing That I should stop thinking the love-thoughts. The charm-sticks fade and decay, And yet, The rumour of our love Takes foot and moves through the world. We had no meeting But tears have, it seems, brought out a bright blossom Upon the dyed tree of love. SHITE Tell me, could I have foreseen Or known what a heap of my writings Should lie at the end of her shaft-bench? CHORUS A hundred nights and more Of twisting, encumbered sleep, And now they make it a ballad, Not for one year or for two only But until the days lie deep As the sand's depth at Kefu, Until the year's end is red with Autumn, Red like these love-wands, A thousand nights are in vain. And I stand at this gate-side. You grant no admission, you do not show yourself Until I and my sleeves are faded. By the dew-like gemming of tears upon my sleeve, Why will you grant no admission? And we all are doomed to pass, You, and my sleeves and my tears. And you did not even know when three years had come to an end. Cruel, ah cruel! The charm-sticks.... SHITE Were set up a thousand times; Then, now, and for always. CHORUS Shall I ever at last see into that room of hers, which no other sight has traversed? SHITE Happy at last and well-starred, Now comes the eve of betrothal: We meet for the wine-cup. CHORUS How glorious the sleeves of the dance, That are like snow-whirls! SHITE Tread out the dance. CHORUS Tread out the dance and bring music. This dance is for Nishikigi. SHITE This dance is for the evening plays, And for the weaving. CHORUS For the tokens between lover and lover: It is a reflecting in the wine-cup. CHORUS Ari-aki, The dawn! Come, we are out of place; Let us go ere the light comes. (to the Waki) We ask you, do not awake, We all will wither away, The wands and this cloth of a dream. Now you will come out of sleep, You tread the border and nothing Awaits you: no, all this will wither away. There is nothing here but this cave in the field's midst. To-day's wind moves in the pines; A wild place, unlit, and unfilled. HAGOROMO HAGOROMO, A PLAY IN ONE ACT. PERSONS OF THE PLAY