by Ueda Akinari
‘I hope you won't mind the intrusion,’ said the young lady, and it being a small hut, the pair sat facing one another. The more Toyoo gazed on her, the more he was struck by her ethereal beauty.
‘You appear to be of noble birth,’ said Toyoo, utterly bewitched. ‘Are you on a pilgrimage to the Three Holy Places, or on your way to the Minenoyu Hot Springs ?414 What can you find to admire by a barren coast such as this? After all, a poet of bygone days wrote:
Kurushikumo How painful it is,
furi kuru ame ka This rain that pelts on me
Miwa ga saki At Miwa's rugged cape,
Sano no watari ni And by the Sano Crossing
ie mo aranaku ni415 No cottage appears in sight.
That day must have been as dreary as this one. Even though this is a lowly hut, the master is indebted to my father, so rest yourself until the rain is over. Meantime, do you mind if I ask where you plan to stay tonight? It might appear improper for me to escort you, but you may certainly borrow my umbrella.’
‘How generous of you,’ the young lady replied. ‘Your thoughtfulness makes me feel as if I were already dry.416 I'm not from the capital, however. I have lived nearby for quite a while, and thinking that it was a splendid day, I went to Nachi417 to pray. On my way home in my fright at this sudden shower I had no idea where I might seek shelter, and I inexplicably found myself here. My home isn't far away, and now that the downpour has let up somewhat, I must be going.’
‘Do take the umbrella,’ Toyoo urged, ‘since the rain hasn't completely stopped. I'll get it sometime later. Please tell me where you live,418 and I may send someone for it.’
‘Around Shingū just ask anyone for Agata no Manago's house,’ replied the young lady. ‘It's growing dark, and I shall take advantage of your kindness and use this on my way.’ Accepting the umbrella, she departed as Toyoo watched anxiously. He then borrowed a straw raincoat from his host and returned home.
Toyoo found himself unable to forget even the slightest detail of Manago's appearance. After a fitful night's sleep, toward dawn he dreamed of visiting her house. The entrance and the dwelling itself looked large and grand, with the shutters tightly drawn and the screens lowered, as though she lived in comfort and elegance. Manago emerged to greet him, saying, ‘I couldn't forget your kindness, and I was hoping that you might come. Please enter,’ and leading him inside, she served him wine and various fruits until he felt pleasantly intoxicated. She furnished him a pillow, and they lay down together. When Toyoo awoke from his dream, he found that it was morning.
‘If only it were true!’ he thought, and completely forgetting about breakfast, he went out, disturbed and agitated, and he walked to the village of Shingū, where he repeatedly inquired for Agata no Manago's palace. No one, however, knew where it was, and afternoon came419 while he was still searching laboriously. Then he noticed Manago's young maidservant walking toward him from the east.
‘Where does your mistress live ?’ Toyoo asked, rejoicing to see her. ‘I thought that I'd come by for the umbrella.’
‘How kind of you,’ replied the maid, with a smile. ‘Please follow this way,’ and presently she led him to an imposing gate in front of a spacious dwelling and said to him, ‘here is where we live.’ The building corresponded in every detail, down to the tightened shutters and the lowered screens, to the palace he had seen in his dream, and he marvelled at this as he entered.
‘The gentleman who lent us the umbrella has called, and I have brought him here,’ the maid announced, hurrying inside.
‘Where is he? Show him in,’ said Manago, as she appeared.
‘I'm sorry to bother you,’ said Toyoo, ‘but I was on my way to visit Master Abe, who has been my teacher for several years, and thinking that I might pick up the umbrella and return it to him, I decided to stop by. Now that I know where you live, I'll call again sometime,’ and he seemed determined to withdraw.
Manago, however, demanded that he remain and said, ‘Maroya, don't let him go.’
‘Didn't you urge us to take the umbrella ?’ said the maid, blocking Toyoo's way.420 ‘Now in exchange we insist that you stay here,’ and she took him to the southern front room,421 where floor mats had been arranged. The curtains,422 the articles in the cabinet,423 and the design on the drapery424 were all of the best quality and classical fashion and marked the owner of the house as no commoner.
‘It so happens that my husband has died,’ said Manago, reappearing, ‘and therefore I can't entertain you with a proper feast, but at least let me offer you a cup of poor wine.’
vii The Lust of the White Serpent: (I) Manago and Maroya in their human form leap into the cascade and disappear
Tall dishes and flat dishes of exquisite taste, each filled with delicacies from the sea and the mountains, and ceramic cups with a jar of wine were all set before him, after which Maroya began to serve the food and drink. Toyoo was beside himself with wonder and could hardly believe all that was taking place. Guest and host alike became flushed with wine, and as Manago raised her cup to Toyoo, her features looked as lovely as a garland of cherry blossoms425 reflected in the water; a smile rippled on her lips like a spring breeze, and her voice sounded as sweet as a nightingale soaring and flitting among the trees.426
‘Although it embarrasses me very much, there is something that I must tell you,’427 she proceeded to say. ‘After all, if I were not truthful and consequently fell ill, what innocent god might have to endure unjust accusations ?428 Even though I frankly reveal my feelings towards you, you mustn't take me to be inconstant in my affections429 - on the contrary. I lost both of my parents while still an infant in the capital. I was brought up by my nurse and married to a man named Agata, a subordinate to the governor of this province. Three years have already passed since I came here with him, and this spring before his term of office expired he died after a brief illness, leaving me to fend for myself. I have heard that in the meantime my nurse became a nun and left the capital to practice her austerities elsewhere, so you can understand that even my native place is no longer home to me. But because you were so kind in sheltering me from the rain yesterday, I know that you are a generous man, and I want to devote the rest of my life to serving you. If you'll take me even though I was married before,430 I want to pledge a thousand years of love with you.’
Already excited with the idea of Manago's becoming his wife, Toyoo felt his heart stir as if a bird rising from its nest. But he was not free to do as he wished: he needed his father and his brother's permission to marry. His happiness immediately gave way to sorrow, and he said nothing to Manago.431
Obviously upset, Manago hurriedly added, ‘I'm ashamed that I can't take back what I said. I shouldn't have shown what foolish ideas I have in my poor heart. It was a terrible mistake of me to cause you so much distress, and I wish that I could call on the sea to rise and cover me.432 Although I meant everything I said, think of it as the result of the wine's heat. Let us forget about the whole matter.’
‘I thought from the start,’ Toyoo replied, ‘that you came from a good family in the capital, and now I see that I was right. It's unbelievable that someone raised as I was along the lonely seashore visited mainly by whales should ever receive such an attractive proposal. But I couldn't answer you directly, because I'm dependent on my father and elder brother, and except for my skin and bones there is nothing that I can call my own. I have no prospects or resources to support you with, and I possess no special talent - all of which causes me great regret. But if you are willing to accept someone like me and suffer come what may, I shall love and cherish you forever. When one stumbles on the hill of love, as did even Confucius,433 he forgets about both filial piety and his very life itself.’
‘I'm delighted that you should make such a promise,’ she said. ‘In spite of my inadequacies, please come often and stay with me. Meantime, here is something that my former husband prized as a matchless treasure.434 Keep it with you, always,’ and she gave him a precious antique sword ornamented
with gold and silver. Feeling that it would be unlucky to refuse such a gift at the beginning, Toyoo accepted the object.
‘Tonight you must stay here with me,’435 Manago implored, but Toyoo replied,
‘My father would punish me if I spent the night away without his permission. Tomorrow evening I'll find some pretext for coming,’ and he took his leave. Toyoo again found himself unable to fall asleep before dawn.
Early in the morning when Tarō arose to oversee the fishermen436 and passed by the partly open door to Toyoo's bedroom, he happened to glance inside. By the glow of the fading lamplight he caught a glimpse of the sword, which Toyoo had placed next to his pillow while he slept. ‘How strange,’ thought Tarō, with considerable apprehension, ‘where did he ever get such a thing ?’ At the sound of his noisily opening the door all the way, Toyoo awoke.
‘Did you call me ?’ he asked, seeing his brother.
‘Why do you have that sword by your pillow?’ Tarō said. ‘It's improper to keep such an extravagant thing in a fisherman's house. If father finds out, you know what he'll say.’
‘But I wasted no money on it. I didn't buy it,’ protested Toyoo. ‘Someone gave it to me yesterday,437 and I merely brought it home.’
‘How would anyone around here ever present you a treasure like this ?’ replied Tarō. ‘In the past you've even wasted money on bothersome Chinese books, but because father rarely says anything to you, up till now I haven't complained either. If you expect to wear this sword on parade in the great shrine festival,438 you must be out of your mind!’ he shouted, raising his voice so loudly that their father heard.
‘What has the wastrel done this time?’ said the father. ‘Tarō, send him in to me.’
‘I don't know where on earth he got it,’ Tarō replied, ‘but Toyoo bought a shiny sword, such as a general might have, and that's no good. You should ask him about it and get to the bottom of things. I'll go and see that the fishermen aren't idle,’ and so saying, he departed.
Then the mother called Toyoo and said, ‘Why did you buy such a thing? All of our rice and money belongs to Tarō. What do you have that you can call your own? Every day we allow you to do as you wish, but if you continue to make Tarō angry, where under the sun could you ever find a place to live? As someone who has had the benefit of education, why can't you understand that much ?’
‘But really,439 mother, I didn't buy it,’ Toyoo said. ‘A certain person gave it to me, for a reason, and when Tarō saw it, he falsely accused me.’
‘What did you do, then,’ the father shouted, ‘that someone should give you such a treasure? That makes the matter even worse. You'd better tell me all about it immediately.’
‘But to explain it just now would be very embarrassing. I'd rather speak to someone else.’
‘To whom can you tell anything that you won't say to your elder brother or to me ?’ said the father, with irritation.
At this point, Tarō’s wife, who was also present, restored the calm by taking Toyoo aside, reassuring him, ‘Although I may not be able to help, come and explain things to me.’
‘Even before Tarō found the sword and raised a fuss,’ said Toyoo to his sister-in-law, ‘I had wanted to talk to you privately and tell you about what happened, but meantime I'm already in trouble. Actually, I got the blade from a young lady who is living alone and has asked me if I would look after her. But I'm completely at a loss, because I have no experience, and if I became involved without permission, I'd be mercilessly disowned. Please try to understand.’
His sister-in-law smiled at him and said, ‘I've always thought it a pity that you aren't married, and I'm happy for your sake. Although it may be beyond my power,440 I'll try to convey your feelings to the others.’
That night when she explained the situation to Tarō she said, ‘Don't you agree that this is good news? I hope that you'll do your best to convince father.’
‘I don't like the idea,’ replied Tarō, obviously upset. ‘I've never heard of anyone by the name of Agata in the service of the governor of this province, and we should certainly have learned of such a person's death, considering that father is the headman of the village. But first of all, go and bring me the sword.’ She immediately carried it in, and after examining it carefully, Tarō sighed and said in a worried voice, ‘This is terrible. Recently, a great minister in the capital offered prayers and donated many valuable objects to our shrine, but it seems that these sacred treasures have suddenly disappeared from the storehouse, and the head priest has reported the theft to the governor of the province. In order to find the thief the governor has commanded his deputy, Bunya no Hiroyuki, to go to the head priest's mansion, and I know that they've been working hard on the case. This sword is certainly not the sort of object a petty official would use. We must show it to father.’ Taking the weapon to his father,441 he explained matters and said, ‘In such a horrifying predicament, have you anything to suggest ?’
‘What a dreadful thing to happen!’ said the father, his face turning pale. ‘Up till now Toyoo has never stolen so much as a single hair.442 Through what sin of ours should he turn to such evil ?443 But if anyone else reports him, it will mean the end of our entire house. For the sake of our ancestors and descendants, we can't be sentimental over an unfilial son. Turn him in tomorrow.’444
First thing in the morning, Tarō went to the head priest's mansion to tell what had happened and present the sword for examination. The head priest said in amazement, ‘Yes, this is the same blade that the nobleman gave to us.’
‘We must question him about the other lost goods,’ said the governor's deputy when he was informed, ‘so arrest the suspect,’ and dispatching ten warriors, he had Tarō show them the way. Meanwhile, unaware of these events, Toyoo was reading when the warriors burst in to take him away.
‘What have I done ?’ he protested, though in vain, as they placed him in bonds, while the father, the mother, Tarō, and the sister-in-law stood by in confusion and sorrow over such misfortune.
‘The court has summoned you,’ said one of the warriors. ‘Hurry up, move,’ and forming a cordon around the prisoner, they escorted him to the head priest's mansion,445 where the deputy glared at Toyoo.
‘By stealing a sacred treasure,’ he said, ‘you have committed a terrible crime. Now confess in full where you have hidden the remainder of your loot.’
‘I haven't stolen anything!’ Toyoo sobbed, as he began to understand the reason for the inquiry. ‘The widow of a man named Agata gave me the sword, saying that it had belonged to her deceased husband. Please summon her, and she will explain that it's all a mistake.’
‘There has been no one in our service by the name of Agata,’ said the deputy, growing more angry. ‘Lying will only make your punishment harsher.’
‘When you've arrested me and have me at your mercy,’ said Toyoo, ‘how can I lie? I beg of you, please call the woman and ask her.’
Turning to the warriors, the deputy sputtered, ‘Where is this Agata no Manago's house? Make the prisoner show you, and arrest the woman.’
The warriors acknowledged the command and forced Toyoo to lead them to Manago's palace, but when the troop arrived there, Toyoo discovered that the once-imposing pillars of the entrance446 were rotted, and most of the tiling had fallen and lay smashed, and from the eaves dense shinobu grass hung down, altogether lending the place an appearance of being deserted. Toyoo stood utterly dumbfounded447 at the sight, while warriors ran about rounding up the people in the immediate neighbourhood, and presently an old woodcutter, a rice-pounder, and others assembled, bowing down in fear.
‘Who lives in this house ?’ the captain demanded of them. ‘Is it true that this dwelling belongs to the wife of a man by the name of Agata?’
‘I have never heard of a person by such a name,’ replied an old smith, coming forward and kneeling. ‘Until three years ago a man named Suguri used to reside here in very prosperous circumstances, and then he sailed to Tsukushi448 with a shipload of merchandise. T
he vessel was lost, and his family, which he had left behind in the house, were scattered, and since then no one has lived here. But yesterday the man accompanying you entered the property and stayed there for quite a while, as the old lacquer-maker told me, thinking it very suspicious.’
‘In that case,’ said the captain, ‘search the house thoroughly, so we can report to the deputy.’ Pushing the gate open, the warriors entered, and proceeding inside they found that the dwelling itself was in even greater ruin than the exterior. They advanced to the main quarters, and in the spacious garden, once magnificently landscaped, they saw a dried-up pond with a few withered water plants, and in the tangled thickets, which had grown wild, a large pine tree lay sprawled,449 toppled by the wind - a most desolate sight. As the warriors opened the shutters to the main hall, a foul stench came forth, overcoming all who were present and causing them to fall back in horror. Toyoo watched, speechless and with heavy heart.
Among the warriors, one named Kose no Kumagashi, a brave and robust soul, shouted, ‘Come men, follow me!’ and tramping with a loud clatter across the floor boards, he charged forward. A full inch of dust lay accumulated, and rat feces were scattered everywhere. Amid the ruins there hung curtains behind which sat a young lady, as still and lovely as a lotus-blossom.
‘The governor of the province summons you,’ said Kumagashi, facing the woman. ‘Come at once!’
She gave no answer, and just as he advanced nearer, intending to seize her, a clap of thunder resounded; before they had any chance to move, everyone was suddenly thrown to the ground as if the earth were rent. No sooner had this happened than the woman vanished without a trace. On the floor lay a glittering heap, which the warriors approached with the utmost caution and examined. They found it to contain objects such as Korean brocades, Chinese damask, twill bands, shields, halberds, quivers, and hoes - all part of the sacred treasure stolen from the shrine. After the warriors had taken these things back450 with them and explained in detail about the strange happenings, both the deputy and the head priest realised that this was the work of the supernatural. They therefore sentenced Toyoo leniently, though he could not avoid being charged with the actual crime. He was remanded to the provincial office and cast into jail, but Tarō and his father were able to purchase his freedom, and following one hundred day's confinement, Toyoo was released. ‘After what has happened, I'm ashamed to be seen around home,’ he said to his father. ‘May I visit elder sister in Yamato and stay at her place for a while ?’