kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第24章
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you inspire shared only by insects and mankind： even things without soul
change their form into yours； witness the barley…grass； which turns into a
butterfly。 ＇13＇
〃And therefore you are lifted up with pride； and think to yourself： 'In
all this world there is nothing superior to me！' Ah！ I can very well guess
what is in your heart： you are too much satisfied with your own person。
That is why you let yourself be blown thus lightly about by every wind；
that is why you never remain still； always； always thinking； 'In the whole
world there is no one so fortunate as I。'
〃But now try to think a little about your own personal history。 It is
worth recalling； for there is a vulgar side to it。 How a vulgar side？ Well；
for a considerable time after you were born； you had no such reason for
rejoicing in your form。 You were then a mere cabbage…insect； a hairy
worm； and you were so poor that you could not afford even one robe to
cover your nakedness； and your appearance was altogether disgusting。
Everybody in those days hated the sight of you。 Indeed you had good
reason to be ashamed of yourself； and so ashamed you were that you
collected old twigs and rubbish to hide in； and you made a hiding…nest；
and hung it to a branch； and then everybody cried out to you； 'Raincoat
Insect！' （Mino…mushi。） ＇14＇ And during that period of your life； your sins
were grievous。 Among the tender green leaves of beautiful cherry…trees
you and your fellows assembled； and there made ugliness extraordinary；
and the expectant eyes of the people； who came from far away to admire
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the beauty of those cherry…trees； were hurt by the sight of you。 And of
things even more hateful than this you were guilty。 You knew that poor；
poor men and women had been cultivating daikon （2） in their fields；
toiling under the hot sun till their hearts were filled with bitterness by
reason of having to care for that daikon； and you persuaded your
companions to go with you； and to gather upon the leaves of that daikon；
and on the leaves of other vegetables planted by those poor people。 Out of
your greediness you ravaged those leaves； and gnawed them into all
shapes of ugliness； caring nothing for the trouble of those poor folk。。。
Yes； such a creature you were； and such were your doings。
〃And now that you have a comely form； you despise your old
comrades； the insects； and； whenever you happen to meet any of them；
you pretend not to know them ＇literally； 'You make an I…don't…know face'＇。
Now you want to have none but wealthy and exalted people for friends。。。
Ah！ You have forgotten the old times； have you？
〃It is true that many people have forgotten your past； and are charmed
by the sight of your present graceful shape and white wings； and write
Chinese verses and Japanese verses about you。 The high…born damsel； who
could not bear even to look at you in your former shape； now gazes at you
with delight； and wants you to perch upon her hairpin； and holds out her
dainty fan in the hope that you will light upon it。 But this reminds me that
there is an ancient Chinese story about you； which is not pretty。
〃In the time of the Emperor Genso； the Imperial Palace contained
hundreds and thousands of beautiful ladies； so many； indeed； that it
would have been difficult for any man to decide which among them was
the loveliest。 So all of those beautiful persons were assembled together in
one place； and you were set free to fly among them； and it was decreed
that the damsel upon whose hairpin you perched should be augustly
summoned to the Imperial Chamber。 In that time there could not be more
than one Empress which was a good law； but； because of you； the
Emperor Genso did great mischief in the land。 For your mind is light and
frivolous； and although among so many beautiful women there must have
been some persons of pure heart； you would look for nothing but beauty；
and so betook yourself to the person most beautiful in outward appearance。
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Therefore many of the female attendants ceased altogether to think about
the right way of women； and began to study how to make themselves
appear splendid in the eyes of men。 And the end of it was that the Emperor
Genso died a pitiful and painful death all because of your light and
trifling mind。 Indeed； your real character can easily be seen from your
conduct in other matters。 There are trees； for example； such as the
evergreen…oak and the pine； whose leaves do not fade and fall； but
remain always green； these are trees of firm heart； trees of solid
character。 But you say that they are stiff and formal； and you hate the sight
of them； and never pay them a visit。 Only to the cherry…tree； and the kaido
＇15＇； and the peony； and the yellow rose you go： those you like because
they have showy flowers； and you try only to please them。 Such conduct；
let me assure you； is very unbecoming。 Those trees certainly have
handsome flowers； but hunger…satisfying fruits they have not； and they are
grateful to those only who are fond of luxury and show。 And that is just the
reason why they are pleased by your fluttering wings and delicate shape；
that is why they are kind to you。
〃Now； in this spring season； while you sportively dance through the
gardens of the wealthy； or hover among the beautiful alleys of cherry…trees
in blossom； you say to yourself： 'Nobody in the world has such pleasure as
I； or such excellent friends。 And； in spite of all that people may say； I most
love the peony； and the golden yellow rose is my own darling； and I will
obey her every least behest； for that is my pride and my delight。'。。。 So you
say。 But the opulent and elegant season of flowers is very short： soon they
will fade and fall。 Then； in the time of summer heat； there will be green
leaves only； and presently the winds of autumn will blow； when even the
leaves themselves will shower down like rain； parari…parari。 And your fate
will then be as the fate of the unlucky in the proverb； Tanomi ki no shita ni
ame furu ＇Even through the tree upon which I relied for shelter the rain
leaks down＇。 For you will seek out your old friend； the root…cutting insect；
the grub； and beg him to let you return into your old…time hole； but now
having wings； you will not be able to enter the hole because of them； and
you will not be able to shelter your body anywhere between heaven and
earth； and all the moor…grass will then have withered； and you will not
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have even one drop of dew with which to moisten your tongue； and there
will be nothing left for you to do but to lie down and die。 all because of
your light and frivolous heart but； ah！ how lamentable an end！〃。。。
III
Most of the Japanese stories about butterflies appear； as I have said； to
be of Chinese origin。 But I have one
