LITMIR.BIZ

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and let nothing deflect you from your aim. You will end up with your own temple.

      KyŌgetsu (solemnly): I am obliged to you for your advice. I swear that I will do my best.

      Sagobei: Remember what Seishin told you when you grow up. Be a good priest. Oh! What with the business with KyŌgetsu here, I had forgotten. Here is the wadded silk gown my daughter sent over yesterday with instructions that it be given to you. Throw away your dirty clothes and dress in something clean.

      He takes out the silk gown from its cloth wrapper.

      Seishin: (astonished): You mean Izayoi made this garment and is giving it to me?

      Sagobei: Yes. A gown, an undergarment, a sash, a towel, and even a pair of slippers.

      Seishin (moved): Ah! What a touching kindness for someone in the pleasure quarters! I accept them gratefully.

      Sagobei: Come, exchange your dirty clothes for clean ones as quickly as you can.

      Seishin: No. To wear them as I am would soil them. I will put these on after I clean myself at the baths.

      Sagobei: To be sure. That is a good idea. Where do you intend to go from there?

      Seishin: As I am embarrassed to be seen, I will quit this place tonight. I will stay in Kyoto for a while to train myself anew to become a true priest. Izayoi may think me untrue to our vows, but tell her that under the present circumstances, our affair is ended and she must resign herself to that fact.

Sagobei: Ah! That is a commendable resolution! The truth is that I did not approve of a person in your position doing what you did. But even though I felt that it was a bad business, I could do nothing about it after you became lovers. But wisdom comes with experience, they say. You showed good sense when you said that you will take this opportunity to renounce her completely. Of course, when my daughter hears that you have gone to Kyoto forever, I fully expect her to protest. But as her father, I will make her give you up, no matter what she says, since it will be for your sake, whom she loves and cherishes. Please have no concern.

      Seishin (with a touch of regret): The fact is that I would like to see her once more without her seeing me. But I am afraid that if I did, I would be reluctant to part from her.

      Sagobei: It would be better not to see her. But when I say this, Seishin, please do not think that I looked the other away and let you see my daughter while you were at the Paradise Temple but that I ask you not to now because of your disgrace. I swear by the Nyorai Buddha that such is not my intention.

      Seishin: I know your heart. Why should I doubt you?

      A temple bell tolls the hour.

      Seishin: It should not be long before dusk. No matter how long we talk, the sorrows of parting will never end. Please leave me.

      Sagobei (sadly): I take my leave of you, but somehow I feel we will never meet again . . . .

      KyŌgetsu: . . . and I grieve at this parting.

      Seishin: You are right. This is not a case where I can return in a year or two. . . .

      Sagobei: . . . and in interim of the long months and days. . . .

      KyŌgetsu: . . . in a world that is full of uncertainties. . . .

      Seishin: ... this may be our parting.

      Seishin takes KyŌgetsu's hands.

      Sagobei: Ah, do not say such an unpropitious thing! The gods protect us!

      Seishin: Then if fortune smiles on us....

      Sagobei: ... we will, in time. . . .

      Seishinand Sagobei: ... see each other again.

      Sagobei and KyŌgetsu rise.

      KyŌgetsu: Goodbye, Seishin.

      Seishin: Learn your sutras well.

      KyŌgetsu: I will.

      Sagobei: Come, let us go.

      To a song offstage and a bell tolling, Sagobei and KyŌgetsu exit hand in hand down the runway. Seishin watches them go.

      Seishin: How thoughtful that wise little KyŌgetsu is, even of me. He shows every sign of becoming a fine priest in the future. But the precept against carnal desire is difficult to observe. Ah! I hope he will be spared my fate. It is already dusk. This suits me fine. I will leave as quickly as I can before people see me.

      He rises, carrying the bundle.

      Seishin (wavering): But wait. I have renounced her, but Izayoi and I were inseparable these last two years. If I could have just one more glimpse of her. . . .

      With his hand, he gestures as though to banish such a thought.

      Seishin: Ah! Passion, like a dog, will not leave me though I drive it away. I prostrate myself before the Amida Buddha! Hail to the Amida Buddha!

      He prays reverently. The stage set revolves to the sound of temple bells.

      II. 2

      Time: evening of the same day

      The scene: the Hundred Piles Breakwater. Along the full length of the stage, a raised level, two feet high, represents a stone wall. At stage left is the breakwater piling. Also at stage left a Buddhist altar with its rear to the audience is set on the raised level. At stage right a pine branch overhangs a bamboo fence. The entire down stage area represents water.

      The bell tolls and there is drum and flute music until the set comes to rest. Suddenly there is a commotion, and Kane, an unlicensed prostitute, runs out from the crossroads shrine pursued by Ichisuke, the footman from the previous scene.

      Ichisuke (furiously): Hey, hey, you slut! Give me back those hundred coppers!

      Kane: Give them back my eye! You didn't pay me for last night.

      Ichisuke (indignantly): That was on the cuff last night. Even so a hundred coppers are too much when it should only be twenty-four. I need a little money tonight, so give me the change.

      Kane: (soothingly): Don't be such a tightwad. I will show you a good time.

      Ichisuke (curtly): Not tonight. I told you I need the money. I can't be hanging about.

      Kane (equally curt): If you don't have the time tonight, come tomorrow night.

      She prepares to go. Ichisuke grabs her.

      Ichisuke (threateningly): So you won't return it even after I have pleaded with you?

      Kane (scoffingly): Why should I?

      Ichisuke (seeing red): You slut! I'll teach you a lesson or two!

      He seizes the edge of Kane's sash. Kane resorts to masculine gestures for comic effect.

      Kane: What impudence!

      The two scuffle in knockabout fashion, fighting for possession of the coppers. They drop the bag. They cannot locate it in the dark.

      Kane (dismayed): Oh, oh! What a calamity! I dropped the money!

      Ichisuke: What? You dropped it?

      Kane: Find it and I will give you half.

      They search. He finds the money and a rolled poster.

      Ichisuke: I found the money and this thing.

      Kane: Read it quickly and see if we can turn it into cash.

      Ichisuke: I hope I can read it without stumbling.

      He unrolls the poster

      Ichisuke: "The title of the following musical narrative is The Early Evening Moon Seen Through the Plum and Willow Trees'. The singer is Kiyomoto Enjudayū and the samisen player is Kiyomoto Tokubei. The actors are Iwai Kumesaburō and Ichikawa Kodanji."

      Kane (disappointed): Oh, bosh! That's only a poster for the musical narrative in this scene.

      Ichisuke (businesslike): Come on, you promised.

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