Kagekiyo Read online

  Again I caught, but once again it slipped

  And thus three times did he escape, though I

  Determined that he should not flee, for he,

  He was the foe that I had chosen.

  Eiya! As with the whole strength of my arms

  I pulled, and as I hauled the cape broke off,

  And part stayed in my hand, [32] but he escaped.

  When at some distance from me, he turned back

  And said, "Now thou art mighty strong of arm

  Although thou didst allow me to escape."

  Then Kagekiyo answered back, "The strength

  Lies in the neck bone of Mihonoya."

  So smiling, did we part to left and right. [33]

  He who has told the tale of olden days--

  Days ne'er forgotten--is now sadly waned

  And e'en confused in mind. Ah, what a shame!

  The end of all this woe of life is near,

  For in this world at most my time is short.

  At once return, [*] and when I am no more

  I pray thee deign to offer prayers for me.

  That in dark places there shall be a light

  For this blind man, and over evil roads

  A bridge. So will I look upon thy prayers.

  "I stay," said he, and she "I go,"

  His ears retained but her one word "I go."

  And thus between the parent and the child

  This was the legacy at last exchanged--

  Between the parent and the child exchanged.

  Footnotes

  (denoted by asterisks [*])

  [*]

  I have put this all in one metre, making no difference between the "words" and "song". (See p. 33.) [To hide my fleeting* self. . .]

  The words used give a suggestion of dew-like. [At once return*]

  The Chorus here speaks for Kagekiyo to Hitomaru.

  NOTES ON "KAGEKIYO"

  Page 53, note 19. [Kagekiyo]

  Kagekiyo's full name is Aku-Shichibioe Kagekiyo. Aku--literally means "wicked"; but sometimes has a special meaning of "wild" or "boisterous," as in the present case, where it intimates that the man is rough in manners and strong in arms. Page 56, note 20. [Kamakura]

  In the original it reads, "Kamegaegayatsu in Kamakura"; but as this will not fit into any possible metre the first word is left out. Page 56, note 21. [Hei]

  Taira becomes Hei when compounded with a following character; thus Taira House is Hei-Ke. Similarly "Minamoto" becomes Gen, thus Gen-ji is the Minamoto family. Page 57, note 22. [Tōtomi]

  Totōmi, the name of one of the provinces through which they came, means "distant bay." Also to or tou with a different ideagraph means "to ask." Mikana, the name of another province through which they passed, means "three rivers," which leads to the idea of bridges. But more than that, Mikana is noted for its eight bridges, spanning over the streams which branch off like the legs of a spider, which is kumo in Japanese; and this idea leads on to that of "clouds," which are pronounced kumo, though written with a different ideagraph. The idea of "clouds" leads on, finally, to that of the "capital," where only those of high rank "above the clouds" are dwelling. Page 59, note 23. ['Tis only in the heavenly expanse.]

  Kagekiyo takes up Hitomaru's words, originally used in a simple, physical sense, and applies them to the spiritual world. It is, nevertheless, not supposed to be a dialogue; each is soliloquising. Page 60, note 24. [It was a girl. . .]

  And therefore could play no part in his warlike schemes. Page 63, note 25. [That name in Hiuga facing to the sun]

  The Chinese character for the name of the province means "facing the sun." Page 65, note 26. [Does a father's love / Depend upon the nature of the child?]

  Meaning that if she had been a boy he would have welcomed her; but now he takes no account of her hardships and difficulties in reaching him. Page 65, note 27. [Thou wouldst announce. . .]

  Proclaiming herself the child of an exile and beggar, to her social detriment. Page 66, note 28. [There was scarce room to live. . .]

  The word sumu, "to live," also signifies "clear," which is associated in poetry with the moon, which in its turn leads to the thought of shadow, Kage leading to Kagekiyo. Page 66, note 29. [. . . and rather worse than a useless horse.]

  A mythical animal, of which the nearest translation is perhaps the unicorn. There is a proverb which states that though it is the king of beasts, when old it is worse than a useless horse. Page 67, note 30. [the third year of the Ju-ei]

  That is in the year 1185. Page 67, note 31. [Yoshitsune]

  Yoshitsune's complete name was Kurō Hangwan Yoshitsune. One of these, or all three names may be applied to him. As the three names make an impossible encumbrance for a line I only give him one, even where the Japanese original calls him by his full name. Page 68, note 32. [the cape broke off / And part stayed in my hand.]

  The jointed cape of his opponent's armour. Page 68, note 33. [Then Kagekiyo. . . left to right.]

  The Minamoto clan were victorious, and when in power they banished Kagekiyo as a specially dangerous enemy.