井筒

ワキ詞

Sideman

I'm a brother who's taking a look at all lands. These few days past I've been in the Southern Capital. Now, though, I mean to visit Hatsuse. When I inquired about the temple before me here, I was told it's called Ariwara Temple. So I think I'll go up to it and have a look.

moving to center

I do believe this Ariwara Temple must be at Isonokami, where in the old days Narihira and Ki no Aritsune's daughter lived their wedded life. And surely the verse, 'Let winds blow, and offshore white waves mount Tatsuta. . .' refers to what happened here.

歌

Now I've reached this storied spot where Narihara and his chosen love, Ki no Aritsune's daughter tarried so short a while I'll comfort those lovers two I'll comfort those lovers two.

シテ次第

Doer

Morn by morn blessed holy water morn by morn blessed holy water shall clear both heart and moon!

サシ

And all the while, these forsaken autumn nights, seldom comes another's face, the old temple's pining wind blows through the small hours, moon drops low past low eaves' grasses; long forgot, the past, abashed, I recall, oh, how long with all hope gone must I live on? For in this world all things linger in memory of him.

下歌

But ceaselessly, with single mind I trust the Buddha's offered cord; guide me, I beg, voice of the Dharma!

上歌

'Delusion itself shall I illumine,' such is his vow 'shall I illumine,' such is his vow, and he truly will, for dawns do move toward the western hills while all around is autumn sky; the song of pines alone is heard while gale winds blow all ways changing life goes on and lived in dream—

She advances two steps, kneels, lays her twig down as an offering, then joins palms over rosary and bows.

at what sound then shall we waken at what sound then shall we waken?

ワキ詞

Sideman

sp

Just as I'm resting and clearing my heart at the temple here, a very lovely lady draws water from the well in the yard and gives it as an offering. It seems she's bringing comfort to this grave mound. Who are you, pray?

シテ詞

Doer

I live nearby. Ariwara no Narihira, whose vow founded this temple, left to the world his name; and the mark of his shade, they say, lies under this mound. I myself know little about him, but I do look after him so, by offering flowers and water.

ワキ

Sideman

Narihira is indeed one who left his name to the world. And yet, now removed from the far time of the age-old tale here shadowed, you, a woman, look after him so. . . With that Ariwara no Narihira then

s

you surely have some link.

シテ

Doer

sp

Have I a link? you are pleased to ask. Even then Narihira was dubbed a Man of Old; and now, far removed in time, one hardly could have with him link or tie.

ワキ

Sideman

s

What you say is convincing enough, yet here from the past is an ancient relic,

シテ

Doer

the man being far Narihira's

ワキ

Sideman

shadow lingers, yes, for still

シテ

Doer

his fame's unwithered; should that tale

ワキ

Sideman

be told, even now

シテ

Doer

the Man of Old

地

Chorus

in name alone lasts: Ariwara Temple, his trace, grows old Ariwara Temple, his trace, grows old and the pine grown from the mound's weeds. . . His grave it is, where the departed left his shade pampas grasses rise in full plume—

Doer moves toward well cradle, stares at grasses, then sweeps gaze around.

to recall when? Wild, wild the weeds, deep, deep the dews on the old mound fall. Oh, it's too true! Out of the past this shadow holds my love still

She turns left and back to main spot, faces Sideman.

this shadow holds my love still!

ワキ詞

Sideman

Do please tell me more about Narihira.

地クリ

Chorus

Ages ago, Ariwara, the Middle Captain, long years here at Isonokami was pleased to dwell, the ancient village in spring yielding blossoms and moons in fall.

シテサシ

Doer

Then courted he Ki no Aritsune's daughter, and the lovers' hearts surely were not shallow;

地

Chorus

and yet, in the land of Kawachi, at Takayasu, he had a dear one, so that two roads it was he stole down.

シテ

Doer

'Let winds blow and offshore white waves mount Tatsuta—

地

Chorus

it's midnight my Lord goes forth alone!' sang she, anxious where night might take him, till that worry left her heart free, the other love fading away.

シテ

Doer

Yes, delicate the song bubbled forth;

地

Chorus

froth, she told sorrow quite naturally. Once in

クセ

this land some people lived door to door, with at their gates, a well cradle. There the children leaned and chatted, close friends, watched each other water-mirrored, cheek to cheek, sleeve on sleeve; and their hearts' waters knew no soundings. Moons and suns built each on each till they grew up and felt shame now one toward the other. Then later on that staunch man wrote in gemmed tracery words given hue by his heart's flower:

シテ

Doer

'Cradle well cradle well cradle that told who was the taller,

地

Chorus

I've grown up, love, since you saw me last,' and sent them to her. Then the lady: 'The girlish hair I'd hold to yours is past my shoulders; if not you, who'll do it up for me?' So she answered, and this perhaps is why we hear of the Well Cradle Lady, an old name for Ki no Aritsune's daughter.

ロンギ地

Yes indeed, an old tale it is you tell, but your strangeness strikes me greatly. Pray, say your name!

シテ

Doer

If in truth I be, love-wrapped so, Ki no Aritsune's daughter I little no white waves Mount Tatsuta for lost in night I come to you.

地

Chorus

Amazing! Then Mount Tatsuta aglow with red

シテ

Doer

leaves Ki no Aritsune's daughter,

地

Chorus

Well Cradle Lady,

シテ

Doer

turning to Sideman

disclosed, oh shame, as I!

地

Chorus

cries she;

Doer stands, goes to main spot.

when we vowed love's long-coiled strand should bind us always, nineteen years was I from the cradle well cradle well cradle, there she's hidden and gone in the well cradle she's hidden and gone.

ワキ歌

Sideman

Deeper yet! o'er Ariwara Temple the night moon o'er Ariwara Temple the night moon drawing the past back turn I my sleeves and, open to dreams, briefly pillowed, lie me down on a bed of moss lie me down on a bed of moss.

後ジテ

Doer

'Fickle's the name you've made yourself, cherry blossom; a man too I've longed for, the year round rare. Here too the singer

turning to Sideman

is I, wherefore I'm dubbed as well the Pining Lady. Since the old days of cradle well cradle

turning front again

years have flown by till now that world's lost Narihira's keepsake cloak I don—

Oh shame! to dance the Man of Old,

地

Chorus

blossom sleeves swirling snow. . .

シテワカ

Doer

Once come hither, back I bring the old days of Ariwara

地

Chorus

onori

Temple well roundly clear brilliant the moon shines brilliant the moon shines.

シテ

'Not the moon, no, nor the spring of old. . .' sang he—when, I wonder?

地

'Cradle well cradle well cradle that told

シテ

Doer

who was the taller,

地

Chorus

I've grown up, love. . .'

シテ

Doer

I've grown old, yes!

地

Chorus

Yet he who courted me, the Man of Old's headdress, his cloak, hide the woman, show me a man! Narihira's face

シテ

Doer

I see; how I miss him!

地

Chorus

Oh, in spite of me, I miss him! Dead lover in phantom form, a flower withered,

She sits dejectedly before drums, then almost immediately stands again; she listens to bell, stamps beat.

all hue gone but fragrant yet Ariwara Temple bell gently, gently tolls in dawn;

Pointing her folded fan in front of her, she comes down to edge of stage near Sideman's spot, then returns to main spot, stamps beat.

ah, pining wind at the old shrine! a plantain leaf dream breaks to waking dream breaks into dawn.