kwaidan-第13部分
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moment his will seemed to melt away from him； so that he could only do as
the kerai bade him。 He entered the carriage； the kerai took a place beside
him； and made a signal； the drawers； seizing the silken ropes； turned the
great vehicle southward； and the journey began。
In a very short time； to Akinosuke's amazement； the carriage stopped in
front of a huge two…storied gateway （romon）； of a Chinese style； which he
had never before seen。 Here the kerai dismounted； saying； 〃I go to
announced the honorable arrival；〃 and he disappeared。 After some little
waiting； Akinosuke saw two noble…looking men； wearing robes of purple silk
and high caps of the form indicating lofty rank； come from the gateway。
These； after having respectfully saluted him； helped him to descend from
the carriage； and led him through the great gate and across a vast garden；
to the entrance of a palace whose front appeared to extend； west and east；
to a distance of miles。 Akinosuke was then shown into a reception…room of
wonderful size and splendor。 His guides conducted him to the place of
honor； and respectfully seated themselves apart； while serving…maids； in
costume of ceremony； brought refreshments。 When Akinosuke had partaken of
the refreshments； the two purple…robed attendants bowed low before him； and
addressed him in the following words； each speaking alternately；
according to the etiquette of courts：
〃It is now our honorable duty to inform you。。。 as to the reason of your
having been summoned hither。。。 Our master； the King； augustly desires that
you become his son…in…law；。。。 and it is his wish and command that you shall
wed this very day。。。 the August Princess； his maiden…daughter。。。 We shall
soon conduct you to the presence…chamber。。。 where His Augustness even now
is waiting to receive you。。。 But it will be necessary that we first invest
you。。。 with the appropriate garments of ceremony。〃 ＇2＇
Having thus spoken； the attendants rose together； and proceeded to an
alcove containing a great chest of gold lacquer。 They opened the chest； and
took from it various roes and girdles of rich material； and a kamuri； or
regal headdress。 With these they attired Akinosuke as befitted a princely
bridegroom； and he was then conducted to the presence…room； where he saw
the Kokuo of Tokoyo seated upon the daiza； ＇3＇ wearing a high black cap of
state； and robed in robes of yellow silk。 Before the daiza； to left and
right； a multitude of dignitaries sat in rank； motionless and splendid as
images in a temple； and Akinosuke； advancing into their midst； saluted the
king with the triple prostration of usage。 The king greeted him with
gracious words； and then said：
〃You have already been informed as to the reason of your having been
summoned to Our presence。 We have decided that you shall become the adopted
husband of Our only daughter； and the wedding ceremony shall now be
performed。〃
As the king finished speaking； a sound of joyful music was heard； and a
long train of beautiful court ladies advanced from behind a curtain to
conduct Akinosuke to the room in which he bride awaited him。
The room was immense； but it could scarcely contain the multitude of
guests assembled to witness the wedding ceremony。 All bowed down before
Akinosuke as he took his place； facing the King's daughter； on the
kneeling…cushion prepared for him。 As a maiden of heaven the bride appeared
to be； and her robes were beautiful as a summer sky。 And the marriage was
performed amid great rejoicing。
Afterwards the pair were conducted to a suite of apartments that had been
prepared for them in another portion of the palace； and there they received
the congratulations of many noble persons； and wedding gifts beyond
counting。
Some days later Akinosuke was again summoned to the throne…room。 On this
occasion he was received even more graciously than before； and the King
said to him：
In the southwestern part of Our dominion there is an island called Raishu。
We have now appointed you Governor of that island。 You will find the people
loyal and docile； but their laws have not yet been brought into proper
accord with the laws of Tokoyo； and their customs have not been properly
regulated。 We entrust you with the duty of improving their social condition
as far as may be possible； and We desire that you shall rule them with
kindness and wisdom。 All preparations necessary for your journey to Raishu
have already been made。〃
So Akinosuke and his bride departed from the palace of Tokoyo； accompanied
to the shore by a great escort of nobles and officials； and they embarked
upon a ship of state provided by the king。 And with favoring winds they
safety sailed to Raishu； and found the good people of that island assembled
upon the beach to welcome them。
Akinosuke entered at once upon his new duties； and they did not prove to
be hard。 During the first three years of his governorship he was occupied
chiefly with the framing and the enactment of laws； but he had wise
counselors to help him； and he never found the work unpleasant。 When it was
all finished； he had no active duties to perform； beyond attending the
rites and ceremonies ordained by ancient custom。 The country was so healthy
and so fertile that sickness and want were unknown； and the people were so
good that no laws were ever broken。 And Akinosuke dwelt and ruled in Raishu
for twenty years more； making in all twenty…three years of sojourn；
during which no shadow of sorrow traversed his life。
But in the twenty…fourth year of his governorship； a great misfortune came
upon him； for his wife； who had borne him seven children； five boys and
two girls； fell sick and died。 She was buried； with high pomp； on the
summit of a beautiful hill in the district of Hanryoko； and a monument；
exceedingly splendid； was placed upon her grave。 But Akinosuke felt such
grief at her death that he no longer cared to live。
Now when the legal period of mourning was over； there came to Raishu； from
the Tokoyo palace； a shisha； or royal messenger。 The shisha delivered to
Akinosuke a message of condolence； and then said to him：
〃These are the words which our august master； the King of Tokoyo； commands
that I repeat to you： 'We will now send you back to your own people and
country。 As for the seven children； they are the grandsons and
granddaughters of the King； and shall be fitly cared for。 Do not；
therefore； allow you mind to be troubled concerning them。'〃
On receiving this mandate； Akinosuke submissively prepared for his
departure。 When all his affairs had been settled； and the ceremony of
bidding farewell to his counselors and trusted officials had been
concluded； he was escorted with much honor to the port。 There he embarked
upon the ship sent for him； and the ship sailed out into the blue sea；
under the blue sky； and the shape of the island of Raishu itself turned
blue； and then turned grey； and then vanished forever。。。 And Akinosuke
suddenly awoke under the cedar…tree in his own garden！
For a moment he was stupefied and dazed。 But he perceived his two friends
still seated near him； drinking and chatting merrily。 He stared at them
in a bewildered way； and cried aloud；
〃How strange！〃
〃Akinosuke must have been dreaming；〃 one of them exclaimed； with a laugh。
〃What did you see； Akinosuke； that was strange？〃
Then Akinosuke told his dream； that dream of three…and…twenty years'
sojourn in the realm of Tokoyo； in the island of Raishu； and they were
astonished； because he had really slept for no more than a few minutes。
One goshi said：
〃Indeed； you saw strange things。 We also saw something strange while you
were napping。 A little yellow butterfly was fluttering over your face for a
moment or two； and we watched it。 Then it alighted on the ground beside
you； close to the tree； and almost as soon as it alighted there； a big； big
ant came out of a hole and seized it and pulling it down into the hole。
Just before you woke up； we saw that very butterfly come out of the hole
again； and flutter over your face as before。 And then it suddenly
disappeared： we do not know where it went。〃
〃Perhaps it was Akinosuke's soul；〃 the other goshi said； 〃certainly I
thought I saw it fly into his mouth。。。 But； even if that butterfly was
Akinosuke's soul； the fact would not explain his dream。〃
〃The ants might explain it；〃 returned the first speaker。 〃Ants are queer
beings possibly goblins。。。 Anyhow； there is a big ant's nest under that
cedar…tree。〃。。。
〃Let us look！〃 cried Akinosuke； greatly moved by this suggestion。 And he
went for a spade。
The ground about and beneath the cedar…tree proved to have been excavated；
in a most surprising way； by a prodigious colony of ants。 The ants had
furthermore built inside their excavations； and their tiny constructions of
straw； clay； and stems bore an odd resemblance to miniature towns。 In the
middle of a structure considerably larger than the rest there was a
marvelous swarming of small ants around the body of one very big ant； which
had yellowish wings and a long black head。
〃Why； there is the King of my dream！〃 cried Akinosuke； 〃and there is the
palace of Tokoyo！。。。 How extraordinary！。。。 Raishu ought to lie somewhere
southwest of it to the left of that big root。。。 Yes！ here it is！。。。
How very strange！ Now I am sure that I can find the mountain of Hanryoko；
and the grave of the princess。〃。。。
In the wreck of the nest he searched and searched； and at last discovered
a tiny mound； on the top of which was fixed a water…worn pebble； in shape
resembling a Buddhist monument。 Underneath it he found embedded in clay
the dead body of a female ant。
RIKI…BAKA
His name was Riki； signifying Strength； but the people c
