the ninth vibration-第42章

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so；　when　in　due　time　she　perceived　herself　to　be　with　child；　for；　from　that　august　favour　she　looked　for　nothing　less　than　a　son；　radiant　with　the　Five　Ornaments　of　riches；　health；　longevity；　beauty；　and　success。　Yet；　when　her　hour　was　come；　a　girl　was　born；　and　blind。〃

〃Was　she　welcomed？〃　asked　the　dreaming　voice　of　the　Emperor。

〃Augustness；　but　as　a　household　drudge。　For　her　food　was　cruelty　and　her　drink　tears。　And　the　shrine　of　the　Senju　Kwannon　was　neglected　by　her　parents　because　of　the　disappointment　and　shame　of　the　unwanted　gift。　And　they　believed　that；　lost　in　Her　divine　contemplation；　the　Great　Lady　would　not　perceive　this　neglect。　The　Gods　however　are　known　by　their　great　memories。〃

〃Her　name？〃

〃Majesty；　Tsuyu…Morning　Dew。　And　like　the　morning　dew　she　shines　in　stillness。　She　has　repaid　good　for　evil　to　her　evil　parents；　serving　them　with　unwearied　service。〃

〃What　distinguishes　her　from　others？〃

〃Augustness；　a　very　great　peace。　Doubtless　the　shadow　of　the　dream　of　the　Holy　Kwannon。　She　works；　she　moves；　she　smiles　as　one　who　has　tasted　of　content。〃

〃Has　she　beauty？〃

〃Supreme　Master；　am　I　not　blind？　But　it　is　said　that　she　has　no　beauty　that　men　should　desire　her。　Her　face　is　flat　and　round；　and　her　eyes　blind。〃

〃And　yet　content？〃

〃Philosophers　might　envy　her　calm。　And　her　blindness　is　without　doubt　a　grace　from　the　excelling　Pity；　for　could　she　see　her　own　exceeding　ugliness　she　must　weep　for　shame。　But　she　sees　not。　Her　sight　is　inward；　and　she　is　well　content。〃

〃Where　does　she　dwell？〃

〃Supreme　Majesty；　far　from　here　…　where　in　the　heart　of　the　woods　the　river　breaks　through　the　rocks。〃

〃Venerable　One；　why　have　you　told　me　this？　I　asked　for　a　royal　maiden　wise　and　beautiful；　calm　as　the　dawn；　and　you　have　told　me　of　a　wood…cutter's　drudge；　blind　and　ugly。〃

And　now　Semimaru　did　not　answer；　but　the　tones　of　the　biwa　grew　louder　and　clearer；　and　they　rang　like　a　song　of　triumph；　and　the　Emperor　could　hear　these　words　in　the　voice　of　the　strings。

〃She　is　beautiful　as　the　night；　crowned　with　moon　and　stars　for　him　who　has　eyes　to　see。　Princess　Splendour　was　dim　beside　her；　Prince　Fireshine；　gloom！　Her　Shining　Majesty　was　but　a　darkened　glory　before　this　maid。　All　beauty　shines　within　her　hidden　eyes。〃

And　having　uttered　this　the　music　became　wordless　once　more；　but　it　still　flowed　on　more　and　more　softly　like　a　river　that　flows　into　the　far　distance。

The　Emperor　stared　at　the　mats；　musing　…　the　light　of　the　lamp　was　burning　low。　His　heart　said　within　him；

〃This　maiden；　cast　like　a　flower　from　the　hand　of　Kwannon　Sama；　will　I　see。〃

And　as　he　said　this　the　music　had　faded　away　into　a　thread…like　smallness；　and　when　after　long　thought　he　raised　his　august　head；　he　was　alone　save　for　the　Dainagon；　sleeping　on　the　mats　behind　him；　and　the　chamber　was　in　darkness。　Semimaru　had　departed　in　silence；　and　His　Majesty；　looking　forth　into　the　broad　moonlight；　could　see　the　track　of　his　feet　upon　the　shining　snow；　and　the　music　came　back　very　thinly　like　spring　rain　in　the　trees。　Once　more　he　looked　at　the　whiteness　of　the　night；　and　then；　stretching　his　august　person　on　the　mats；　he　slept　amid　dreams　of　sweet　sound。

The　next　day；　forbidding　any　to　follow　save　the　Dainagon；　His　Majesty　went　forth　upon　the　frozen　snow　where　the　sun　shone　in　a　blinding　whiteness。　They　followed　the　track　of　Semimaru's　feet　far　under　the　pine　trees　so　heavy　with　their　load　of　snow　that　they　were　bowed　as　if　with　fruit。　And　the　track　led　on　and　the　air　was　so　still　that　the　cracking　of　a　bough　was　like　the　blow　of　a　hammer；　and　the　sliding　of　a　load　of　snow　from　a　branch　like　the　fall　of　an　avalanche。　Nor　did　they　speak　as　they　went。　They　listened；　nor　could　they　say　for　what。

Then；　when　they　had　gone　a　very　great　way；　the　track　ceased　suddenly；　as　if　cut　off；　and　at　this　spot；　under　the　pines　furred　with　snow；　His　Majesty　became　aware　of　a　perfume　so　sweet　that　it　was　as　though　all　the　flowers　of　the　earth　haunted　the　place　with　their　presence；　and　a　music　like　the　biwa　of　Semimaru　was　heard　in　the　tree　tops。　This　sounded　far　off　like　the　whispering　of　rain　when　it　falls　in　very　small　leaves；　and　presently　it　died　away；　and　a　voice　followed　after；　singing；　alone　in　the　woods；　so　that　the　silence　appeared　to　have　been　created　that　such　a　music　might　possess　the　world。　So　the　Emperor　stopped　instantly；　and　the　Dainagon　behind　him　and　he　heard　these　words。

　　　〃In　me　the　Heavenly　Lotos　grew；　　　　　The　fibres　ran　from　head　to　feet；　　　　　And　my　heart　was　the　august　Blossom。　　　　　Therefore　the　sweetness　flowed　through　the　veins　of　my　flesh；　　　　　　And　I　breathed　peace　upon　all　the　world；　　　　　And　about　me　was　my　fragrance　shed　　　　　That　the　souls　of　men　should　desire　me。〃

Now；　as　he　listened；　there　came　through　the　wood　a　maiden；　bare　…　footed；　save　for　grass　sandals；　and　clad　in　coarse　clothing；　and　she　came　up　and　passed　them；　still　singing。

And　when　she　was　past；　His　Majesty　put　up　his　hand　to　his　eyes；　like　one　dreaming；　and　said；

〃What　have　you　seen？〃

And　the　Dainagon　answered；

〃Augustness；　a　country　wench；　flat　…　faced；　ugly　and　blind；　and　with　a　voice　like　a　crow。　Has　not　your　Majesty　seen　this？〃

The　Emperor；　still　shading　his　eyes；　replied；

〃I　saw　a　maiden　so　beautiful　that　her　Shining　Majesty　would　be　a　black　blot　beside　her。　As　she　went；　the　Spring　and　all　its　sweetness　blew　from　her　garments。　Her　robe　was　green　with　small　gold　flowers。　Her　eyes　were　closed；　but　she　resembled　a　cherry　tree；　snowy　with　bloom　and　dew。　Her　voice　was　like　the　singing　flowers　of　Paradise。〃

The　Dainagon　looked　at　him　with　fear　and　compassion；

〃Augustness；　how　should　such　a　lady　carry　in　her　arms　a　bundle　of　firewood？〃

〃She　bore　in　her　hands　three　lotos　flowers；　and　where　each　foot　fell　I　saw　a　lotos　bloom　and　vanish。〃

They　retraced　their　steps　through　the　wood；　His　Majesty　radiant　as　Prince　Fireshine　with　the　joy　that　filled　his　soul；　the　Dainagon　darkened　as　Prince　Firefade　with　fear；　believing　that　the　strange　music　of　Semimaru　had　bewitched　His　Majesty；　or　that　the　maiden　herself　might　possibly　have　the　power　of　the　fox　in　shape…changing　and　bewildering　the　senses。

Very　sorrowful　and　careful　was　his　heart　for　he　loved　his　Master。

That　night　His　Majesty　dreamed　that　he　stood　before　the　kakemono　of　the　Amida　Buddha；　and　that　as　he　raised　his　eyes　in　adoration　to　the　Blessed　Face；　he　beheld　the　images　of　Fugen　and　Fudo；　rise　up　and　bow　down　before　that　One　Who　Is。　Then；　gliding　in；　before　these　Holinesses　stood　a　figure；　and　it　was　the　wood…cutter's　daughter　homely　and　blinded。　She　stretched　her　hands　upward　as　though　invoking　the　supreme　Buddha；　and　then　turning　to　His　Majesty　she　smiled　upon　him；　her　eyes　closed　as　in　bliss　unutterable。　And　he　said　aloud。

〃Would　that　I　might　see　her　eyes！〃　and　so　saying　awoke　in　a　great　stillness　of　snow　and　moonlight。

Having　waked；　he　said　within　himself

〃This　marvel　will　I　wed　and　she　shall　be　my　Empress　were　she　lower　than　the　Eta；　and　whether　her　face　be　lovely　or　homely。　For　she　is　certainly　a　flower　dropped　from　the　hand　of　the　Divine。〃

So　when　the　sun　was　high　His　Majesty；　again　followed　by　the　Dainagon；　went　through　the　forest　swiftly；　and　like　a　man　that　sees　his　goal；　and　when　they　reached　the　place　where　the　maiden　went　by；　His　Majesty　straitly　commanded　the　Dainagon　that　he　should　draw　apart；　and　leave　him　to　speak　with　the　maiden；　yet　that　he　should　watch　what　befell。

So　the　Dainagon　watched；　and　again　he　saw　her　come；　very　poorly　clad；　and　with　bare　feet　that　shrank　from　the　snow　in　her　grass　sandals；　bowed　beneath　a　heavy　load　of　wood　upon　her　shoulders；　and　her　face　flat　and　homely　like　a　girl　of　the　people；　and　her　eyes　blind　and　shut。

And　as　she　came　she　sang　this。

　　　〃The　Eternal　way　lies　before　him；　　　　　The　way　that　is　made　manifest　in　the　Wise。　　　　　The　Heart　that　loves　reveals　itself　to　man。　　　　　For　now　he　draws　nigh　to　the　Source。　　　　　The　night　advances　fast；　　　　　And　lo！　the　moon　shines　bright。〃

And　to　the　Dainagon　it　seemed　a　harsh　crying　nor　could　he　distinguish　any　words　at　all。

But　what　His　Majesty　beheld　was　this。　The　evening　had　come　on　and　the　moon　was　rising。　The　snow　had　gone。　It　was　the　full