按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
friend to help him。 The priest of the Amidaji was fond of poetry and music；
and he often invited Hoichi to the temple； to play and recite。 Afterwards；
being much impressed by the wonderful skill of the lad； the priest proposed
that Hoichi should make the temple his home； and this offer was gratefully
accepted。 Hoichi was given a room in the temple…building； and； in return
for food and lodging； he was required only to gratify the priest with a
musical performance on certain evenings； when otherwise disengaged。
One summer night the priest was called away； to perform a Buddhist service
at the house of a dead parishioner； and he went there with his acolyte；
leaving Hoichi alone in the temple。 It was a hot night； and the blind man
sought to cool himself on the verandah before his sleeping…room。 The
verandah overlooked a small garden in the rear of the Amidaji。 There
Hoichi waited for the priest's return； and tried to relieve his solitude by
practicing upon his biwa。 Midnight passed； and the priest did not appear。
But the atmosphere was still too warm for comfort within doors； and Hoichi
remained outside。 At last he heard steps approaching from the back gate。
Somebody crossed the garden； advanced to the verandah； and halted directly
in front of him but it was not the priest。 A deep voice called the blind
man's name abruptly and unceremoniously； in the manner of a samurai
summoning an inferior：
〃Hoichi！〃
〃Hai！〃 （1） answered the blind man； frightened by the menace in the
voice； 〃I am blind！ I cannot know who calls！〃
〃There is nothing to fear；〃 the stranger exclaimed； speaking more gently。
〃I am stopping near this temple； and have been sent to you with a message。
My present lord； a person of exceedingly high rank； is now staying in
Akamagaseki； with many noble attendants。 He wished to view the scene of the
battle of Dan…no…ura； and to…day he visited that place。 Having heard of
your skill in reciting the story of the battle； he now desires to hear your
performance： so you will take your biwa and come with me at once to the
house where the august assembly is waiting。〃
In those times； the order of a samurai was not to be lightly disobeyed。
Hoichi donned his sandals； took his biwa； and went away with the stranger；
who guided him deftly； but obliged him to walk very fast。 The hand that
guided was iron； and the clank of the warrior's stride proved him fully
armed； probably some palace…guard on duty。 Hoichi's first alarm was over：
he began to imagine himself in good luck； for； remembering the
retainer's assurance about a 〃person of exceedingly high rank；〃 he thought
that the lord who wished to hear the recitation could not be less than a
daimyo of the first class。 Presently the samurai halted； and Hoichi became
aware that they had arrived at a large gateway； and he wondered； for he
could not remember any large gate in that part of the town； except the main
gate of the Amidaji。 〃Kaimon！〃 ＇4＇ the samurai called； and there was a
sound of unbarring； and the twain passed on。 They traversed a space of
garden； and halted again before some entrance； and the retainer cried in a
loud voice； 〃Within there！ I have brought Hoichi。〃 Then came sounds of feet
hurrying； and screens sliding； and rain…doors opening； and voices of womeni
n converse。 By the language of the women Hoichi knew them to be domestics
in some noble household； but he could not imagine to what place he had been
conducted。 Little time was allowed him for conjecture。 After he had been
helped to mount several stone steps； upon the last of which he was told to
leave his sandals； a woman's hand guided him along interminable reaches of
polished planking； and round pillared angles too many to remember； and over
widths amazing of matted floor； into the middle of some vast apartment。
There he thought that many great people were assembled： the sound of the
rustling of silk was like the sound of leaves in a forest。 He heard also a
great humming of voices； talking in undertones； and the speech was the
speech of courts。
Hoichi was told to put himself at ease； and he found a kneeling…cushion
ready for him。 After having taken his place upon it； and tuned his
instrument； the voice of a woman whom he divined to be the Rojo； or
matron in charge of the female service addressed him； saying；
〃It is now required that the history of the Heike be recited； to the
accompaniment of the biwa。〃
Now the entire recital would have required a time of many nights：
therefore Hoichi ventured a question：
〃As the whole of the story is not soon told； what portion is it augustly
desired that I now recite？〃
The woman's voice made answer：
〃Recite the story of the battle at Dan…no…ura； for the pity of it is the
most deep。〃 ＇5＇
Then Hoichi lifted up his voice； and chanted the chant of the fight on the
bitter sea； wonderfully making his biwa to sound like the straining of
oars and the rushing of ships； the whirr and the hissing of arrows； the
shouting and trampling of men； the crashing of steel upon helmets； the
plunging of slain in the flood。 And to left and right of him； in the pauses
of his playing； he could hear voices murmuring praise： 〃How marvelous an
artist！〃 〃Never in our own province was playing heard like this！〃
〃Not in all the empire is there another singer like Hoichi！〃 Then fresh
courage came to him； and he played and sang yet better than before； and a
hush of wonder deepened about him。 But when at last he came to tell the
fate of the fair and helpless； the piteous perishing of the women and
children； and the death…leap of Nii…no…Ama； with the imperial infant in
her arms； then all the listeners uttered together one long； long
shuddering cry of anguish； and thereafter they wept and wailed so loudly
and so wildly that the blind man was frightened by the violence and grief
that he had made。 For much time the sobbing and the wailing continued。 But
gradually the sounds of lamentation died away； and again； in the great
stillness that followed； Hoichi heard the voice of the woman whom he
supposed to be the Rojo。
She said：
〃Although we had been assured that you were a very skillful player upon
the biwa； and without an equal in recitative； we did not know that any one
could be so skillful as you have proved yourself to…night。 Our lord has
been pleased to say that he intends to bestow upon you a fitting reward。
But he desires that you shall perform before him once every night for the
next six nights after which time he will probably make his august
return…journey。 To…morrow night； therefore； you are to come here at the
same hour。 The retainer who to…night conducted you will be sent for you。。。
There is another matter about which I have been ordered to inform you。 It
is required that you shall speak to no one of your visits here； during the
time of our lord's august sojourn at Akamagaseki。 As he is traveling
incognito； ＇6＇ he commands that no mention of these things be made。。。 You
are now free to go back to your temple。〃
After Hoichi had duly expressed his thanks； a woman's hand conducted him
to the entrance of the house； where the same retainer； who had before
guided him； was waiting to take him home。 The retainer led him to the
verandah at the rear of the temple； and there bade him farewell。
It was almost dawn when Hoichi returned； but his absence from the temple
had not been observed； as the priest； coming back at a very late hour；
had supposed him asleep。 During the day Hoichi was able to take some rest；
and he said nothing about his strange adventure。 In the middle of the
following night the samurai again came for him； and led him to the august
assembly； where he gave another recitation with the same success that had
attended his previous performance。 But during this second visit his absence
from the temple was accidentally discovered； and after his return in the
morning he was summoned to the presence of the priest； who said to him； in
a tone of kindly reproach：
〃We have been very anxious about you； friend Hoichi。 To go out； blind and
alone； at so late an hour； is dangerous。 Why did you go without telling us？
I could have ordered a servant to accompany you。 And where have you been？〃
Hoichi answered； evasively；
〃Pardon me kind friend！ I had to attend to some private business； and I
could not arrange the matter at any other hour。〃
The priest was surprised； rather than pained； by Hoichi's reticence： he
felt it to be unnatural； and suspected something wrong。 He feared that the
blind lad had been bewitched or deluded by some evil spirits。 He did not
ask any more questions； but he privately instructed the men…servants of the
temple to keep watch upon Hoichi's movements； and to follow him in case
that he should again leave the temple after dark。
On the very next night； Hoichi