CHORUS.--Ah, dewy tears! in this our world of woe If any stay, the friends he loves must go:-- Thus 'tis ordain'd, and he that smiles to-day To-morrow owns blank desolation's sway. But now 'tis time to part, the good priest cries-- Him his disciple follows, and they rise; While Nakamitsu walking in their train, The palanquin escorts; for he would fain Last counsel give: "Beware, young lord, beware! Nor cease from toilsome study; for if e'er Thy sire again be anger'd, all is lost!" Then takes his leave, low bending to the dust. Forward they're borne; but Nakamitsu stays, Watching and weeping with heart-broken gaze, And, mutely weeping, thinks how ne'er again He'll see his child borne homeward o'er the plain. ABSTRACTION [_The Japanese title is "Za-zen"._] DRAMATIS PERSONAE A HUSBAND. HIS WIFE. TARAUKUWAZHIYA, their servant. ABSTRACTION Scene I.--A Room in a Private House in Kiyauto HUSBAND.--I am a resident in the suburbs of the metropolis. On the occasion of a recent journey down[170] East, I was served (at a tea-house) in the post-town of Nogami, in the province of Mino, by a girl called Hana, who, having since then heard of my return to the capital, has followed me up here, and settled down at Kita-Shira-kaha, where she expects me this evening according to a promise made by letter. But my vixen of a wife has got scent of the affair and thus made it difficult for me to go. So what I mean to do is to call her, and tell her some pretty fable that may set me free. Halloo! halloo! are you there, pray? are you there? WIFE.--So it seems you are pleased to call me. What may it be that makes you thus call me? HUSBAND.--Well, please to come in. WIFE.--Your commands are obeyed. HUSBAND.--My reason for calling you is just simply this: I want to tell you how much my spirits have been affected by continual dreams that I have had. That is why I have called you. WIFE.--You are talking rubbish. Dreams proceed from organic disturbance, and do not come true; so pray don't trouble your head about them. HUSBAND.--What you say is quite correct. Dreams, proceeding as they do from organic disturbance, do not come true nine times out of ten. Still, mine have affected my spirits to such an extent, that I think of making some pilgrimage or other to offer up prayers both on your behalf and on my own. WIFE.--Then where shall you go? HUSBAND.--I mean (to say nothing of those in the metropolis and in the suburbs) to worship at every Shintau shrine and every Buddhist temple throughout the land. WIFE.--No, no! I won't allow you to go out of the house for a single hour. If you are so completely bent upon it, choose some devotion that can be performed at home. HUSBAND.--Some devotion to be performed at home? What devotion could it be? WIFE.--Burning incense on your arm or on your head.[171]