the ninth vibration-第37部分

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eariness；　and　thought　that　all　the　stories　of　the　ancients　might　flow　past　them　in　the　weird　music　that　seemed　to　have　neither　beginning　nor　end。

〃It　is　as　the　river　that　changes　and　changes　not；　and　is　ever　and　ever　the　same；〃　said　the　Emperor　in　his　own　soul。

And　certainly　had　a　voice　announced　to　His　Augustness　that　centuries　were　drifting　by　as　he　listened；　he　could　have　felt　no　surprise。

Before　them；　as　they　sat　upon　the　silken　floor　cushions；　was　a　small　shrine　with　a　Buddha　shelf；　and　a　hanging　picture　of　the　Amida　Buddha　within　it　…　the　expression　one　of　rapt　peace。　Figures　of　Fugen　and　Fudo　were　placed　before　the　curtain　doors　of　the　shrine；　looking　up　in　adoration　to　the　Blessed　One。　A　small　and　aged　pine　tree　was　in　a　pot　of　grey　porcelain　from　Chosen　…　the　only　ornament　in　the　chamber。

Suddenly　His　Majesty　became　aware　that　the　Dainagon　also　had　fallen　asleep　from　weariness；　and　that　the　recluse　was　no　longer　playing；　but　was　speaking　in　a　still　voice　like　a　deeply　flowing　stream。　The　Emperor　had　observed　no　change　from　music　to　speech；　nor　could　he　recall　when　the　music　had　ceased；　so　that　it　altogether　resembled　a　dream。

〃When　I　first　came　here　…　〃the　Venerable　one　continued…〃　it　was　not　my　intention　to　stay　long　in　the　forest。　As　each　day　dawned；　I　said；　‘In　seven　days　I　go。'　And　again　…　'In　seven。'　Yet　have　I　not　gone。　The　days　glided　by　and　here　have　I　attained　to　look　on　the　beginnings　of　peace。　Then　wherefore　should　I　go？　…　for　all　life　is　within　the　soul。　Shall　the　fish　weary　of　his　pool？　And　I；　who　through　my　blind　eyes　feel　the　moon　illuming　my　forest　by　night　and　the　sun　by　day；　abide　in　peace；　so　that　even　the　wild　beasts　press　round　to　hear　my　music。　I　have　come　by　a　path　overblown　by　autumn　leaves。　But　I　have　come。〃

Then　said　the　Divine　Emperor　as　if　unconsciously；

〃Would　that　I　also　might　come！　But　the　august　duties　cannot　easily　be　laid　aside。　And　I　have　no　wife　…　no　son。〃

And　Semimaru；　playing　very　softly　on　the　strings　of　his　biwa　made　no　other　answer；　and　His　Majesty；　collecting　his　thoughts；　which　had　become；　as　it　were；　frozen　with　the　cold　and　the　quiet　and　the　strange　music；　spoke　thus；　as　if　in　a　waking　dream；

〃Why　have　I　not　wedded？　Because　I　have　desired　a　bride　beyond　the　women　of　earth；　and　of　none　such　as　I　desire　has　the　rumor　reached　me。　Consider　that　Ancestor　who　wedded　Her　Shining　Majesty！　Evil　and　lovely　was　she；　and　the　passions　were　loud　about　her。　And　so　it　is　with　women。　Trouble　and　vexation　of　spirit；　or　instead　a　great　weariness。　But　if　the　Blessed　One　would　vouchsafe　to　my　prayers　a　maiden　of　blossom　and　dew；　with　a　heart　calm　as　moonlight；　her　would　I　wed。　0；　honorable　One；　whose　wisdom　surveys　the　world；　is　there　in　any　place　near　or　far　…　in　heaven　or　in　earth；　such　a　one　that　I　may　seek　and　find？〃

And　Semimaru；　still　making　a　very　low　music　on　his　biwa；　said　this；

〃Supreme　Master；　where　the　Shiobara　River　breaks　away　through　the　gorges　to　the　sea；　dwelt　a　poor　couple　…　the　husband　a　wood…cutter。　They　had　no　children　to　aid　in　their　toil；　and　daily　the　woman　addressed　her　prayers　for　a　son　to　the　Bodhisattwa　Kwannon；　the　Lady　of　Pity　who　looketh　down　for　ever　upon　the　sound　of　prayer。　Very　fervently　she　prayed；　with　such　offerings　as　her　poverty　allowed；　and　on　a　certain　night　she　dreamed　this　dream。　At　the　shrine　of　the　Senju　Kwannon　she　knelt　as　was　her　custom；　and　that　Great　Lady；　sitting　enthroned　upon　the　Lotos　of　Purity；　opened　Her　eyes　slowly　from　Her　divine　contemplation　and　heard　the　prayer　of　the　wood…cutter's　wife。　Then　stooping　like　a　blown　willow　branch；　she　gathered　a　bud　from　the　golden　lotos　plant　that　stood　upon　her　altar；　and　breathing　upon　it　it　became　pure　white　and　living；　and　it　exhaled　a　perfume　like　the　flowers　of　Paradise；　This　flower　the　Lady　of　Pity　flung　into　the　bosom　of　her　petitioner；　and　closing　Her　eyes　returned　into　Her　divine　dream；　whilst　the　woman　awoke；　weeping　for　joy。

But　when　she　sought　in　her　bosom　for　the　Lotos　it　was　gone。　Of　all　this　she　boasted　loudly　to　her　folk　and　kin；　and　the　more　so；　when　in　due　time　she　perceived　herself　to　be　with　child；　for；　from　that　august　favour　she　looked　for　nothing　less　than　a　son；　radiant　with　the　Five　Ornaments　of　riches；　health；　longevity；　beauty；　and　success。　Yet；　when　her　hour　was　come；　a　girl　was　born；　and　blind。〃

〃Was　she　welcomed？〃　asked　the　dreaming　voice　of　the　Emperor。

〃Augustness；　but　as　a　household　drudge。　For　her　food　was　cruelty　and　her　drink　tears。　And　the　shrine　of　the　Senju　Kwannon　was　neglected　by　her　parents　because　of　the　disappointment　and　shame　of　the　unwanted　gift。　And　they　believed　that；　lost　in　Her　divine　contemplation；　the　Great　Lady　would　not　perceive　this　neglect。　The　Gods　however　are　known　by　their　great　memories。〃

〃Her　name？〃

〃Majesty；　Tsuyu…Morning　Dew。　And　like　the　morning　dew　she　shines　in　stillness。　She　has　repaid　good　for　evil　to　her　evil　parents；　serving　them　with　unwearied　service。〃

〃What　distinguishes　her　from　others？〃

〃Augustness；　a　very　great　peace。　Doubtless　the　shadow　of　the　dream　of　the　Holy　Kwannon。　She　works；　she　moves；　she　smiles　as　one　who　has　tasted　of　content。〃

〃Has　she　beauty？〃

〃Supreme　Master；　am　I　not　blind？　But　it　is　said　that　she　has　no　beauty　that　men　should　desire　her。　Her　face　is　flat　and　round；　and　her　eyes　blind。〃

〃And　yet　content？〃

〃Philosophers　might　envy　her　calm。　And　her　blindness　is　without　doubt　a　grace　from　the　excelling　Pity；　for　could　she　see　her　own　exceeding　ugliness　she　must　weep　for　shame。　But　she　sees　not。　Her　sight　is　inward；　and　she　is　well　content。〃

〃Where　does　she　dwell？〃

〃Supreme　Majesty；　far　from　here　…　where　in　the　heart　of　the　woods　the　river　breaks　through　the　rocks。〃

〃Venerable　One；　why　have　you　told　me　this？　I　asked　for　a　royal　maiden　wise　and　beautiful；　calm　as　the　dawn；　and　you　have　told　me　of　a　wood…cutter's　drudge；　blind　and　ugly。〃

And　now　Semimaru　did　not　answer；　but　the　tones　of　the　biwa　grew　louder　and　clearer；　and　they　rang　like　a　song　of　triumph；　and　the　Emperor　could　hear　these　words　in　the　voice　of　the　strings。

〃She　is　beautiful　as　the　night；　crowned　with　moon　and　stars　for　him　who　has　eyes　to　see。　Princess　Splendour　was　dim　beside　her；　Prince　Fireshine；　gloom！　Her　Shining　Majesty　was　but　a　darkened　glory　before　this　maid。　All　beauty　shines　within　her　hidden　eyes。〃

And　having　uttered　this　the　music　became　wordless　once　more；　but　it　still　flowed　on　more　and　more　softly　like　a　river　that　flows　into　the　far　distance。

The　Emperor　stared　at　the　mats；　musing　…　the　light　of　the　lamp　was　burning　low。　His　heart　said　within　him；

〃This　maiden；　cast　like　a　flower　from　the　hand　of　Kwannon　Sama；　will　I　see。〃

And　as　he　said　this　the　music　had　faded　away　into　a　thread…like　smallness；　and　when　after　long　thought　he　raised　his　august　head；　he　was　alone　save　for　the　Dainagon；　sleeping　on　the　mats　behind　him；　and　the　chamber　was　in　darkness。　Semimaru　had　departed　in　silence；　and　His　Majesty；　looking　forth　into　the　broad　moonlight；　could　see　the　track　of　his　feet　upon　the　shining　snow；　and　the　music　came　back　very　thinly　like　spring　rain　in　the　trees。　Once　more　he　looked　at　the　whiteness　of　the　night；　and　then；　stretching　his　august　person　on　the　mats；　he　slept　amid　dreams　of　sweet　sound。

The　next　day；　forbidding　any　to　follow　save　the　Dainagon；　His　Majesty　went　forth　upon　the　frozen　snow　where　the　sun　shone　in　a　blinding　whiteness。　They　followed　the　track　of　Semimaru's　feet　far　under　the　pine　trees　so　heavy　with　their　load　of　snow　that　they　were　bowed　as　if　with　fruit。　And　the　track　led　on　and　the　air　was　so　still　that　the　cracking　of　a　bough　was　like　the　blow　of　a　hammer；　and　the　sliding　of　a　load　of　snow　from　a　branch　like　the　fall　of　an　avalanche。　Nor　did　they　speak　as　they　went。　They　listened；　nor　could　they　say　for　what。

Then；　when　they　had　gone　a　very　great　way；　the　track　ceased　suddenly；　as　if　cut　off；　and　at　this　spot；　under　the　pines　furred　with　snow；　His　Majesty　became　aware　of　a　perfume　so　sweet　that　it　was　as　though　all　the　flowers　of　the　earth　haunted　the　place　with　their　presence；　and　a　music　like　the　biwa　of　Semimaru　was　heard　in　the　tree　tops。　This　sounded　far　off　like　the　whispering　of　rain　when　it　falls　in　very　small　leaves；　and　presently　it　died　away；　and　a　voice　followed　after；　singing；　alone　in　the　woods；　so　that　the　silence　appeared　to　have　been　created　that　such　a　music　might　possess　the　world。　So　the　Emperor　stopped　instantly；　and　the　Dainagon　behind　him　and　he　heard　these　words。

　　　〃In　me　the　Heavenly　Lotos　grew；　　　　　The　fibres　ran　from　head　to　feet；　　　　　And　my　heart　was　the　august　Blossom。　　　　　Therefore　the　sweetness　flowed　through　the　veins　of　my　flesh；　　　　　　And　I　breathed　peace　upon　all　the　world；　　　　　And　about　me　was　my　fragrance　shed　　　　　That　the　souls　of　men　should　desire　me。〃

Now；　as　he　listened；　there　came　through　the　wood　a　maiden；　bare　…　footed；　save　for　grass　sandals；　and　clad　in　coarse　clothing；　and　she　came　up　and　passed　them；　still　singing。

And　when　she　was　past；　His　Majesty　put　up　his　hand　to　his　eyes；　like　one　dreaming；　and　said；

〃What　have　you　seen？〃

And　the　Dainagon　answered；

〃Augustness；　a　country　wench；　flat　…　faced；　ugly　and　blind；　and　with　a　voice　like　a　crow。　Has　not　your