the ninth vibration-第34部分

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〃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　glory　of　spring；　and　the　flowers　sprang　thick　as　stars　upon　the　grass；　and　among　them　lotos　flowers；　great　as　the　wheel　of　a　chariot；　white　and　shining　with　the　luminance　of　the　pearl；　and　upon　each　one　of　these　was　seated　an　incarnate　Holiness；　looking　upward　with　joined　hands。　In　the　trees　were　the　voices　of　the　mystic　Birds　that　are　the　utterance　of　the　Blessed　One；　proclaiming　in　harmony　the　Five　Virtues；　The　Five　Powers；　the　Seven　Steps　ascending　to　perfect　Illumination；　the　Noble　Eightfold　Path；　and　all　the　Law。　And；　bearing；　in　the　heart　of　the　Son　of　Heaven　awoke　the　Three　Remembrances　…　the　Remembrance　of　Him　who　is　Blessed；　Remembrance　of　the　Law；　and　Remembrance　of　the　Communion　of　the　Assembly。

So；　looking　upward　to　the　heavens；　he　beheld　the　Infinite　Buddha；　high　and　lifted　up　in　a　great　raying　glory。　About　Him　were　the　exalted　Bodhisattwas；　the　mighty　Disciples；　great　Arhats　all；　and　all　the　countless　Angelhood。　And　these　rose　high　into　the　infinite　until　they　could　be　seen　but　as　a　point　of　fire　against　the　moon。　With　this　golden　multitude　beyond　all　numbering　was　He。

Then；　as　His　Majesty　had　seen　in　the　dream　of　the　night；　the　wood…cutter's　daughter；　moving　through　the　flowers　like　one　blind　that　gropes　his　way；　advanced　before　the　Blessed　Feet；　and　uplifting　her　hands；　did　adoration；　and　her　face　he　could　not　see；　but　his　heart　went　with　her；　adoring　also　the　infinite　Buddha　seated　in　the　calms　of　boundless　Light。

Then　enlightenment　entered　at　his　eyes；　as　a　man　that　wakes　from　sleep；　and　suddenly　he　beheld　the　Maiden　crowned　and　robed　and　terrible　in　beauty；　and　her　feet　were　stayed　upon　an　open　lotos；　and　his　soul　knew　the　Senju　Kwannon　Herself；　myriad…armed　for　the　helping　of　mankind。

And　turning；　she　smiled　as　in　the　vision；　but　his　eyes　being　now　clear　her　blinded　eyes　were　opened；　and　that　glory　who　shall　tell　as　those　living　founts　of　Wisdom　rayed　upon　him　their　ineffable　light？　In　that　ocean　was　his　being　drowned；　and　so；　bowed　before　the　Infinite　Buddha；　he　received　the　Greater　Illumination。

How　great　is　the　Glory　of　Kwannon！

When　the　radiance　and　the　vision　were　withdrawn　and　only　the　moon　looked　over　the　trees；　His　Majesty　rose　upon　his　feet；　and　standing　on　the　snow；　surrounded　with　calm；　he　called　to　the　Dainagon；　and　asked　this；

〃What　have　you　seen？〃

〃Augustness；　nothing　but　the　country　wench　and　moon　and　snow。〃

〃And　heard？〃

〃Augustness；　nothing　but　the　harsh　voice　of　the　wood…cutter's　daughter。〃

〃And　felt？〃

〃Augustness；　nothing　but　the　bone…piercing　cold。〃　So　His　Majesty　adored　that　which　cannot　be　uttered；　saying；

〃So　Wisdom；　so　Glory　encompass　us　about；　and　we　see　them　not　for　we　are　blinded　with　illusion。　Yet　every　stone　is　a　jewel　and　every　clod　is　spirit　and　to　the　hems　of　the　Infinite　Buddha　all　cling。　Through　the　compassion　of　the　Supernal　Mercy　that　walks　the　earth　as　the　Bodhisattwa　Kwannon；　am　I　admitted　to　wisdom　and　given　sight　and　hearing。　And　what　is　all　the　world　to　that　happy　one　who　has　beheld　Her　eyes！〃

And　His　Majesty　returned　through　the　forest。

When；　the　next　day；　he　sent　for　the　venerable　Semimaru　that　holy　recluse　had　departed　and　none　knew　where。　But　still　when　the　moon　is　full　a　strange　music　moves　in　the　tree　tops　of　Shiobara。

Then　His　sacred　Majesty　returned　to　City…Royal；　having　determined　to　retire　into　the　quiet　life；　and　there；　abandoning　the　throne　to　a　kinsman　wise　in　greatness；　he　became　a　dweller　in　the　deserted　hut　of　Semimaru。

His　life；　like　a　descending　moon　approaching　the　hill　that　should　hide　it；　was　passed　in　meditation　on　that　Incarnate　Love　and　Compassion　whose　glory　had　augustly　been　made　known　to　him；　and　having　cast　aside　all　save　the　image　of　the　Divine　from　his　soul；　His　Majesty　became　even　as　that　man　who　desired　enlightenment　of　the　Blessed　One。

For　he；　desiring　instruction；　gathered　precious　flowers；　and　journeyed　to　present　them　as　an　offering　to　the　Guatama　Buddha。　Standing　before　Him；　he　stretched　forth　both　his　hands　holding　the　flowers。

Then　said　the　Holy　One；　l