CHORUS Nor is this rock of earth over-much worn by the brushing of that feather-mantle, the feathery skirt of the stars: rarely, how rarely. There is a magic song from the east, the voices of many and many: and flute and shae, filling the space beyond the cloud's edge, seven-stringed; dance filling and filling. The red sun blots on the sky the line of the colour-drenched mountains. The flowers rain in a gust; it is no racking storm that comes over this green moor, which is afloat, as it would seem, in these waves. Wonderful is the sleeve of the white cloud, whirling such snow here. TENNIN Plain of life, field of the sun, true foundation, great power! CHORUS Hence and for ever this dancing shall be called, 'a revel in the east.' Many are the robes thou hast, now of the sky's colour itself, and now a green garment. SEMI-CHORUS And now the robe of mist, presaging spring, a colour-smell as this wonderful maiden's skirt--left, right, left! The rustling of flowers, the putting-on of the feathery sleeve; they bend in air with the dancing. SEMI-CHORUS Many are the joys in the east. She who is the colour-person of the moon takes her middle-night in the sky. She marks her three fives with this dancing, as a shadow of all fulfilments. The circled vows are at full. Give the seven jewels of rain and all of the treasure, you who go from us. After a little time, only a little time, can the mantle be upon the wind that was spread over Matsubara or over Ashilaka the mountain, though the clouds lie in its heaven like a plain awash with sea. Fuji is gone; the great peak of Fuji is blotted out little by little. It melts into the upper mist. In this way she (the Tennin) is lost to sight. KUMASAKA A PLAY IN TWO ACTS BY UJINOBU, ADOPTED SON OF MOTOKIJO. PERSONS OF THE PLAY A PRIEST FIRST SHITE, OR HERO The apparition of Kumasaka in the form of an old priest SECOND SHITE The apparition of Kumasaka in his true form. CHORUS This chorus sometimes speaks what the chief characters are thinking, sometimes it describes or interprets the meaning of their movements. Plot: the ghost of Kumasaka makes reparation for his brigandage by protecting the country. He comes back to praise the bravery of the young man who killed him in single combat. KUMASAKA First Part PRIEST Where shall I rest, wandering, weary of the world? I am a city-bred priest, I have not seen the east counties, and I've a mind to go there. Crossing the hills, I look on the lake of Omi, on the woods of Awatsu. Going over the long bridge at Seta, I rested a night at Noje, and another at Shinohara, and at the dawn I came to the green field, Awono in Miwo. I now pass Akasaka at sunset. SHITE (In the form of an old priest) I could tell that priest a thing or two. PRIEST Do you mean me, what is it? SHITE A certain man died on this day. I ask you to pray for him. PRIEST All right, but for whom shall I pray?