her brooding ceases. Asking herself in a murmur if people know how she is placed, she crosses the bridge at Shirasuka, and further on, at Yoshida and Akasaka, the women of the inns in a loud voice invite the passers-by. “If you would seek a mate,” they sing, “go to the Temple of Kiyomizu, plunge into the Falls of Otowa, and pray for one every day. The dancers’ drum has broken our midday nap.” Oh, how she wishes to tell of her hardships to her husband in the Capital! If it is only the couple and the mother, the Goddess of Ise has brought them together; and the country song is a good omen to her. She comes to Narumi; ah, is that the Shrine of Atsuta over yonder? The boat has hoisted its sail on the seven-_ri_ ferry and the boatmen keep time as they row. The sound of their steering, it is like the cry of the _suzumushi_ (bell-insect); nay, it is sad and lonely as the cricket’s chirp.[4] The boats are few in number, and so runs the mother, and runs the daughter. The hail falls from the sky, and they put up umbrellas with their fellow-passengers in the boat. Now they come to Shono and stop at Kameyama, where part the roads to Ise and to the East. The bells (_sazu_) of the postal road are heard at Suzukagoe, and the rain falls at Tsuchiyama.[5] So they all say at Minakuchi. At Ishibe and Ishiba she picks up stones, big and little, and fondles and rubs them[6] as they remind her of her husband. In time they reach Otsu and cross the foot of the Temple of Miidera. and hurry to a village not far from Yamashina. [Illustration: Pines tree] [1] In this Act, such frequent allusions are made to the different places on the highroad from Yedo to Kyoto that, without the knowledge of their names, it is well-nigh impossible to make much meaning out of the whole piece. [2] Refers to an ode by Saigyo-hoshi (1118-1190). [3] The formal coiffure of young unmarried women is called shimada after this town. [4] Refers to an ode by Gokyogoku (died 1190), which runs:— Sweetly chirps in the frosty night, The lonely cricket at my side; But lonelier far am I and cold, With half my bed unoccupied. [5] Refers to a popular local song, which runs:— At Seki, it is burning hot o’erhead At Suzuka the clouds have spread; And at Tsuchiyama, the half-way town, The rain comes pouring down. [6] Oboshi’s real name is Ōishi, which means ‘big stone’; hence the allusion. ACT IX. ACT IX. RECITATIVE.