More Portmanteau Plays

_A Bamboo Glade on the Mountain-side._

[_The Gaki comes in._

The Gaki. This is the glade on the mountain side--the glade where Aoyagi and Riki think to find their happiness. Here must I feed or I shall die in this shape.--Hai!--They come.

[_Riki and Aoyagi enter._

Riki. ... and so like every other prince who is a real prince, he charged to the top of the hill before his men; and they, following him, fell upon the enemy and victory was theirs.

Aoyagi. And then--?

Riki. And then the Princess laid her hand upon her heart.

Aoyagi. Is that all?

Riki. Is that all? What more need there be?

Aoyagi. Did they not wed and have great happiness?

Riki. You can answer that.

Aoyagi. I? I never heard the story before.

Riki. One may always end a story--just right.

Aoyagi. Not a weeping willow tree?

Riki. Even a weeping willow tree!

Aoyagi. How?

Riki. I'll show you.--Stand right here.--So! I stand here.--Now look at me.

Aoyagi. I am looking.

Riki. Place your hand upon your heart.

Riki. Now I am the Prince. With sword in hand I come to you. From Kyushu to Koban I've fought my way to you;--through forest, marsh and mountain path I've striven for you. Now I am here.--Look at me.

Aoyagi. Ah!

[_With a cry of delight she rushes to his arms._

Riki. And did they wed?

Aoyagi. Ah, love beyond love.

Riki. And did they have great happiness?

Aoyagi. Ah!

[_She nestles close to him._

[Illustration: THE LADY OF THE WEEPING WILLOW TREE

ACT III.]

Riki. My little princess! I did not come to you sword in hand; I did not fight my way from Kyushu to Koban. But I strove for you through forest, marsh and mountain pass.--Within me throbbed a mighty song that I could not sing. I saw almost all the world, it seems, and once I heard a voice that seemed to call to me alone. It was at the ferry of Ishiyama. I followed the sound--and there she stood all aglow in the morning sunlight. But when I saw, the song still throbbed within my heart and I could not sing to her.--Someone else called to me--"Hai! Hai! Hai!"

Aoyagi. And what of her--the vision at the ferry of Ishiyama?

Riki. For all I know she may still be standing there in the morning sunlight all aglow.--I have found you!

Aoyagi. And was she--fair?

Riki. Ay--how can I say? Now all the world is fair because I see only you in earth and sky and everything.

Aoyagi. She was aglow in the morning sun.

Riki. How can I say? I heard her voice;--a song was in my heart--a song for you.--I saw her--the song staid locked in my heart for you.

Aoyagi. Riki--Riki--

Riki. A dream that's true.

Aoyagi. I do not understand it all.--Obaa-San--you--this happiness.--I have known happiness, but not like this.--When I was in the weeping willow tree--sometimes I was happy and sometimes I was hurt.--Oh, Riki, Riki, this glade is like the weeping willow tree! Whenever the soft air sways the leaves, I feel the same sweet joy as when the little breezes played amongst my branches. The rain--oh, the gentle little rain that cooled me in the hot summer--the drops that danced from leaf to leaf and felt like smiles upon my face. Tears! The rain is not like tears, Riki.

Riki. The dew is tears, perhaps.

Aoyagi. The dew! It came to me like a cool veil that the morning sun would lift and little breezes bear away. Then sometimes--the voice, the loneliness of Obaa-San.

Riki. Look where her home lies. Far down there beyond that stream, see--there is Kyushu.

Aoyagi. Oh, Riki, my Riki, my august lord, why, why can I stay here in happiness with you when I know that Obaa-San is miserable and alone?

Riki. I can not say? I only know that we are here--you and I--and we are happy. Two make a world, Aoyagi. Why? How? I do not know.

Aoyagi. Can we not send a message to Obaa-San?

Riki. Yes. I shall go down the mountain to the road and tell some passer-by.

Aoyagi. And I?

Riki. Sit here and rest--and watch the silver stream at Kyushu.

Aoyagi. I shall wait--I shall wait.

Riki. Sayonara.

Aoyagi. Sayonara.--Sayonara, my august lord.

[_Riki goes out. Aoyagi, left alone, feels the air in the old way. She sways slightly in the breeze, then flutters toward the steps._

Oh, Kyushu! The silver stream at Kyushu!

[_She evidently sees the place where Obaa-San lives. Her eyes dim a bit and slowly she hums the old lullaby_:

See, baby, see, The ears of the wolf are long; Sleep, baby, sleep, Thy father is brave and strong.

Poor Obaa-San!

[_The Gaki appears._

The Gaki. I have lost my way.

[_Aoyagi turns quickly, questioning him almost fearfully with her eyes. There is something of the Aoyagi of the time when The Gaki bade her leave Obaa-San._

Aoyagi. Whither are you bound?

The Gaki. I am a stranger bound for Kyushu.

Aoyagi. There is Kyushu. (_She indicates the silver stream_)

The Gaki. I am told there is a ferry on the way to Kyushu.

Aoyagi. Yes,--at Ishiyama.

The Gaki. At--Ishiyama.

Aoyagi. Why do you speak so?

The Gaki. I merely echoed your own words.

Aoyagi. I did not say them so terribly.

The Gaki. What is in your heart came into your voice, perhaps.

Aoyagi. There is the way to Kyushu.

The Gaki. Down that path?

Aoyagi. Yes. Did you not meet Riki?

The Gaki. Riki?

Aoyagi. Yes, my august lord.

The Gaki. I passed no one--except--a tall woman who was climbing slowly and singing a wonderful song--which I had heard once near the ferry at Ishiyama.

Aoyagi. But Riki just left me here. You must have passed him on the way.

The Gaki. The by-paths are many and the trysting places are secret--like this.

Aoyagi. Riki would take no by-path. My august lord needs no trysting place save this.

The Gaki. I do not know. I saw no Riki.

Aoyagi. My lord needs no trysting place. I am here. He knows I am here--waiting.

[_The Gaki looks at her._

The Gaki. Riki?

Aoyagi. He knows I am waiting--

The Gaki. Riki?--Oh, yes the name--I heard it--once--at the ferry at Ishiyama. He has been there.

Aoyagi. Yes.

The Gaki. A poet?

Aoyagi. Yes.

The Gaki. He writes wonderful love-songs--they say.

Aoyagi. They?

The Gaki. Yes,--the people at Ishiyama. I heard one.--It goes--let me see:

"Butterfly, butterfly, alight upon the willow tree--"

Aoyagi. He did not speak that at Ishiyama. He made that for me.

The Gaki. I heard it, strange to say, at Ishiyama. Perhaps they brought it from--where did you say?

Aoyagi. He made that for me only yesterday.

The Gaki. And I heard it--yesterday--at Ishiyama. There the wonderful woman was singing. (_She looks at him_) The one I passed just now.

Aoyagi. That is a mistake.--You are wrong.--I know my--Ah! what is it here--that hurts me, tears me, seems to choke me! Riki!--I am all in all to him--he told me that.--He can not make poems for another.

The Gaki. I should not have told anything.--Forgive me.--I did not know.--To speak truth is deep in my heart.--I have no gracious subtleties.--I am sorry--

Aoyagi. In the valley there is a mist. I can no longer see the silver stream at Kyushu.--Who are you?--I am afraid!--Riki--Riki--

[_There is no answer._

The Gaki. He does not seem to hear.--I shall go to meet him. He went this way, you say?

Aoyagi. Yes.--There is a mist in the valley and I can not see the silver stream at Kyushu--

[_She does not see The Gaki who goes in the direction opposite to the one Aoyagi has indicated._

Oh, the little day--the little day--of love beyond love.--Riki--my mother, Obaa-San.--Yesterday the mountain-top gleamed like the topmost heaven in the spring sunlight. Today--the valley dies in mist and the mountain-top is lost in the sky.

RIKI (_coming in singing_)

Hai! Hai! Hai!

Riki. Aoyagi!

Aoyagi. I must go back to Obaa-San, my mother.

Riki. What has happened, Aoyagi?

Aoyagi. We came up the mountain path side by side, Riki. Without question I gave myself to you.

Riki. Aoyagi!

Aoyagi. I gave my love--my love beyond love. I believed.

Riki. Why not believe?

Aoyagi. Your first words were--"You are she!" I did not question. And now--

Riki. Oh, my little love, was I gone too long?

Aoyagi. My love knows no time, Riki.--You were gone--how can I say?--ages.

Riki. It was ages, too, to me, Aoyagi.

AOYAGI (_softening_)

I watched the silver stream at Kyushu--and I waited.

Riki. What, are those tears?

Aoyagi. Nothing, Riki--but I feel so far away--from Obaa-San.

Riki. She can bridge the distance with her heart. A mother can always bridge all distance with her heart.

Aoyagi. Hai!

Riki. Our happiness is all she wants.

Aoyagi. Our happiness--(_bitterly_)

RIKI (_He goes to her. She moves away_)

Why--

Aoyagi. The silver fishes--

Riki. What has happened, Aoyagi?

Aoyagi. Did you send the message to Obaa-San?

Riki. Yes.

Aoyagi. Did you go down the path?

Riki. Yes.

Aoyagi. Did you pass a stranger on the way?

Riki. No.

Aoyagi. A stranger just came by.--He came up the mountain path.

Riki. I crossed the stream.

AOYAGI (_She takes a deep breath_)

You crossed the stream.

Riki. Aoyagi--little sweetheart--I cannot understand.--What do you mean?

Aoyagi. Oh, Riki, Riki, I am so alone. Tell me what--why--why--

Riki. Aoyagi, was I gone too long? Has some demon come to you?

Aoyagi. No demon came. You were gone too long.

Riki. I went down the path and crossed the stream to take a shorter way. I met a stranger--

Aoyagi. Singing?

Riki. Yes--I think she was singing.

Aoyagi. _She_ was singing.

Riki. What do you mean, Aoyagi?

Aoyagi. Who was she?

Riki. I do not know.--She said she would pass Ishiyama.

Aoyagi. Where did you see her?

Riki. Beyond the stream--in a little glade.

Aoyagi. Did she sing your song?

Riki. My song? No.

Aoyagi. Did she know your songs?

Riki. Aoyagi! What do you want to know?

Aoyagi. Did she know your song to me--"Butterfly, butterfly, alight upon the willow tree"?

Riki. Perhaps.--I made that to you years ago--when you were a dream in my heart.

Aoyagi. At Ishiyama?

Riki. Perhaps.

Aoyagi. Hai!--Obaa-San, my mother!--Oh, my heart--my heart--

Riki. Aoyagi--what have I done? Let me comfort you!

[_He goes to her._

Aoyagi. You leave me nothing in all the world.

Riki. I give you all my world.

Aoyagi. Hai! Hai! Hai!

Riki. Let me go and call the lady bound for Ishiyama.

Aoyagi. Riki!--ah!

Riki. Little Aoyagi--my love--she will be tender with you.--And when your tears are gone, she'll bear your message on to Obaa-San.

[_He goes to her, but she draws away. For a moment he is uncertain what to do;--then--he speaks._

I'll bring her back to you.

Aoyagi. Riki!--No!--We came up the mountain-path together--side by side.--We--but now, Riki, we go two ways.--I to Obaa-San--you to--

Riki. What do you mean?

Aoyagi. Go sing your songs at Ishiyama! Go make your poems to the butterfly.--I--

Riki. I have made songs only for you.

Aoyagi. But the songs for me are on every tongue.

Riki. Ay--I am proud of that.

Aoyagi. The lady at the ferry at Ishiyama--

Riki. She learned the song to you!

Aoyagi. Ah!

[_Aoyagi rushes upon him and before she realizes what she is doing, she strikes him. He stands petrified a moment, then faces her very calmly._

Riki. I shall find the stranger-woman and send her to you.--I can no longer help you.

Aoyagi. You can no longer help.--Oh--life--oh, love--this too short day--

Riki. I shall stay near at hand until you return to Obaa-San.

Aoyagi. I shall find the path alone.

Riki. I'll send the stranger-woman to you.

[_Riki goes out._

Aoyagi. Hai! Hai! Hai! I watched the sunrise only yesterday and I trembled with the wonder of the dew-cooled dawn. Life seemed all peace and--today--I have known a mother's love and my mother.--I have known a lover's touch--love beyond love.--I am waking from a dream. The Gaki said I'd waken--I'd be as free as one in life. Oh, what is this thing they call life? No happiness complete--a vision of a mountain top--a climbing to the goal--a bamboo glade--oh, the mist at Kyushu.--When I go back to Obaa-San--I shall love her so--but oh, the memory of Riki--the mountain gleaming in the sun--

[_She starts sadly from the path. The Gaki enters._

The Gaki. Lady, I am here again. It seemed to me that I must return to you. Something seemed to call. (_Aoyagi almost collapses_) I feed! I feed!

Aoyagi. I can not go!

The Gaki. You seem to suffer.

Aoyagi. Oh--I have lost my way in life--

The Gaki. Lost your way in life? Let me help you.

Aoyagi. I have stood on the mountain side and I have seen the green valleys far below.

The Gaki. Talk to me--as you would to yourself.--I hear but I shall not speak what I hear.

Aoyagi. Riki--no, I can not speak even to myself. Deep in me there is a hurt.--I can not tell--

The Gaki. A woman gives all;--the man forgets.

Aoyagi. But to Riki--he knows--I brought him my full belief--my all-in-all.

The Gaki. Your perfect faith.

Aoyagi. Ay, my perfect faith.--He spoke to me and then I bowed to my august lord.--I followed him without question.--And he forgets so soon.

The Gaki. Are you sure he has forgotten?

Aoyagi. You know--you saw the lady from Ishiyama.

The Gaki. True.--I saw her.

Aoyagi. You did not meet him on the path.

The Gaki. True.--I did not meet him on the path.

Aoyagi. He crossed the stream.

The Gaki. Perhaps to shorten the way.

Aoyagi. He met her in a little glade.--Hai!

The Gaki. What shall you do?

Aoyagi. I'll go my way. I'll return to Obaa-San.

The Gaki. I'll guide you down the mountain side.--Come, we'll take the shorter way--the by-paths--across the stream--through the little glade--

AOYAGI (_She looks about once more at the scene of her happiness_)

Hai!

The Gaki. Come!

Aoyagi. No, let us go down the path.--I want to see my footprints--side by side with his.

The Gaki. Perhaps they're being crushed under the feet of the lady from Ishiyama!

[_Aoyagi starts a moment as though to fly along the path before the lady comes.--She sways slowly--and then falls in a pitiful little heap.--The Gaki takes her in his arms and, utterly triumphant, starts up the mountain-side._

We'll go up--up--sweet Aoyagi, to the snow peak--gleaming in the sun.--You'll find the mountain-top--not lost in the sky.--Your perfect faith!--Oh, you silly human--oh, futile love--climb, Aoyagi--climb without love.--But first we'll make footprints for the lover's eyes.--Blindness will lead him to the mists at Kyushu.--Jealousy will lead you to the lonely stars.

[_He holds Aoyagi so that her feet touch the ground--toward the downward path. Then with a wild laugh, he turns toward the mountain top. As the laughter dies, the voice of Riki is heard calling_

Aoyagi! Aoyagi!... Oi!

[_The laugh of The Gaki is heard once more very far away--as he ascends the mountain with his burden._

Riki. Aoyagi!--Aoyagi!

[_Riki comes running in. Presently he sees the footprints._

Oi!--Aoyagi!

[_He runs down the path._

Aoyagi!--Aoyagi!

[_Far, very far away The Gaki's laugh is heard._

Riki. Aoyagi!--Aoyagi!

[_Night has fallen slowly._

Aoyagi!--Aoyagi!

_The Curtains Close._