AW OLD WOMAN'S HERMITAGE A ews womans che ances ay an axe that cus off 2 man’s very life. The blooms seater the tees wither sway, and ‘when evening comes all are ehown into the Beach and burned, [Evenson with thefower ofthe human bear; for death sth te that no obec aap Ye not foo so abandon oneself 0 ‘worl Tat and cut shore ots Lf by cecklew dition, like 3 flower that fei petal to aden morning storm. Howbet, ck oon lacks no instance inthis word of on wate the Day of Man that et fr onan eran to Sag in the wetem ples ofthe capt. By the bas of Muména River be pam ues were Begining co dpla this lossoms, if tll se, "Spring shee!” As cowed the iver, met» dapper young ‘man, He wat of Gionable mie, yet 10 linge wan and gave ‘com lve tht his survival sermed pesearout and one could bxt Jdge that he woud soon departs word, young a he wt and ‘eaves pte this i "Now this young, urnngeohtcompasioe deredhingest ‘et wih a fll: "Hithro T have lacked for nothing in shi world. Yer, were now to expees a hope it would be eat che edging guid mig gush fxth woceangly Eke di sver tha flows beneath us” is companion wondered atthe wordeand sid "For my pest 1 should wish to find comnry widout women. Thee I should reir and lve in pcr pce of mind, long to enjoy my cherie as ered he world and ali iver changes” “Though thse two men difezed greatly in thee wie, ye seywere ake in poreing dreams tht never could be eal in hi ‘wot whee all sed. Thus they eumbled slong ce ver bak ine cdbeveled att, af ley and halfawake, mutering hee onze a hey wes, ndheedesty crashing underfoot the shrubs tnd hls dha posted on thei puch. At lenge they made cee tray ito the tecencs ofthe notte ill, fom any human Tian. My crosy was vagely awakened and fllowed he foutep ul they reached place dep in the hil, where the ed peter gow in cater ere tod = sparse hedge of withered ‘over; gate, Fshioned of bboo gas had len into rai, and 4 dog's tack led through the undergrowth. A lel beyond his Law a pescefl deling, whore rough sping rof was nohing bute upp pat ofasodky cae. The eaves were overgrown with ae'sfoo fem, andthe dred ivy sll emine from lst yen?’ surat. iy 4 willow te to one side I eold ear the cefching sound of wae ic pased through 3 bamboo condi Twat wondeting what pie might inka his hermitage, when 1 pezeivedo ay surprise ha che owner was an old lady of noble visage She was bee doable wih age—age tha bad fot hee Tair and made her eye di a the waning moon. The Indy’ y= ‘ae ak Kimono war of an ancient ye plated wih = depled ccc of double chrrachemars er ssh, noted in rat, a of rrediom width and decorated with an elegant wate-chesnut pattern, Bingo fly rye she seemed immune to the savages ther yes ‘A able, wrought ofa piece of Heached wood, hang fom the lintel fee chamber where she evidendy lege anh, nd ont sppstl dhe device, "The Cel of Love." A lngsing som hor= ced ithe aH jadged co be that incense led “Fst Masi" ‘of which [fad beard people peak oc sme ime I wood there, psig tha hermitage, and grew se curiou above ies esupan that lhe my very hear would dy in troogh the window. Then the evo men whom Thad fllowed ctr the hut. They were, it seemed, Ge with the plac, for they did no 0 mach 38 aanoance themes when dey stepped inside. The oil ad, scing them, smiled and sd, "So you have ‘come today t vist me once more Surely the word i fl of la Ing gis with whom: young gentlemen ike you might dilly! Wy, then, doer the fech wind blow on hit withered ue? have of te become hard of bearing noe eon Tay longer expres myzel edh ‘ne Seven yeas it since che would beeameieksome 1 me and retired et olive By the plam clendae. When the bosoms 99- pea, Tow tha spring at come: when the white sow hides the {een of he mountain, now that tir winter. Sac ever do Te shaman fie, Why, good sn, do you come o vise me?” Hearing her worls oe of the young min mide ely: "My ‘companion plagued by te tender pasion and I too have many -Mfctions. Weare both hard pt to undersand vein all it divers ‘spec Having heard, madam, of your gest epte, we have come ere to leu thse mpterie fom you. Pray tel us ales of your ‘own ich pst” So saying, the young man poured some kt into goblet and predic the ay. The ter drank, and son had beome quite ‘ery. Fora whi she srununed upon het fo and sang, lov songt thea, even int the mood ofthe moment, she arte, 2+ ‘hough she were lkng in a eam, recount ce ory of ex ie ‘wih all i wanton doing, 1 id noe begin in ny preset humble ate, My mothe, ci trv, was not of noble nese, bur my fader was the son of igearieman who ace ejoyed high rank nthe cour of he aisezed [Emperor Hanaono the Second. Ari the way in this changing ‘worl fou, ny fhe fel into decline—to sch poine that He no Tonge teem worth te living. By good free I ws well, oa” a oo favoured in my looks and wat able to take service a out in at tenance on 3 most exellent Indy. Ia duc coare I became aca tomed tothe elegance of palace, and had thing contined 5 ‘hey were Idols oe but het shold afer some yet ave ren in the woul, Bu fom the beginning of may tenth summer U fll ‘ey to want feng. No longer wa Icon to lave dhe srg of my Bai o others: tend I wae guided by my own fi lous tase. Having cxeflly examined the vaourfxbiony, 1 Moped «Shinada esfre, without «chignon and so sped tat {afl down atthe back; dis Lszeured with siden paper coed aes ‘he fashion of he time. During eis period I devoted mye a sidvouly coche proce of Covet Dyeing snd may say chat hi act. ‘weit ter poplar co muy ffs ta ine. [Now lif for thot at court, wheter dey be reading poems ot cageged ins gun of hema, iver avoato withthe spice of lve. Day zd night my eyes were inoxcted withthe vition of that ‘one thing alone and. my eats palpated withthe wound o eis ‘bor maura hat ll chs should ave eld forth my own amor incinaons and indeed that shoe have come t9 reac love the mos important thing in if. was bout dh ine that Ug ‘0 sezve tender minives fiom every quate, al sing ardently for my sectional equally disonsolte Inthe endl was acd put ‘find pleco wore them. Addresing myself then, to asoldie of| the Gusede—a man of few worde—I had him make thse levers ino ephemeral wigs of amoke; sange to elit, chose pat ia ‘ich he writes hal armed tec lve by invoking the mazes ofthe myriad Gods dd no burn, but wore ccd ay by he ‘wind and Mown tothe Yorks Shrine “Tce sang in his world so suange 2 love The sever men who hadsce her actions on me were both China endhand- some; yet mone of them arose any ender fing: in me. Now there was shusble wae in there of cetincourtir, The flow sas low in tank and ofa ype dat most women would segatd sane, Yet fom the fist Iter that he wrote ane his tentenots were charged with a pasion powecfl enough to day ‘ove ate fer ote he ot forth his ardent Etingy, ntl witht eaiing if mye bean tobe troubled in my her. wat hard focus co met, uc with some conning L managed tariage a ys and thus ic was that | gave my body 0 him. ‘Our smour was bound a become de gosip ofthe court and one dwn i “meged ino the Ligh" Ta panshment Iwas bansed to the neighbouthood of Uji Bridge, My lover, mos gorau to elt, ws pt to dex. Fo ome days therefer, aU toning ‘om nay bed al sleep al wake, is lene frm would appear tering befive men my agony I thooght chat I mur needs take miy own Hs yt, after some days had pase, completly Foxgotsbout him. From thi one may ral jodge eat noting this orld i at base and fickle 383 woman's eae ‘Because Twa only twelve years old a he time, people were lipoed eo pas over my faye hey could hae believe such an intrigue posible for ne of my ender yeas. mys could nothelp being amused ahi feng To bese, young gi have hanged greatly fn former ines, when gid was abou ost of Facer mariage she would weep bceely 2 the thought of levi he parent roof. But or present-day young dy is cevere by f ‘She fet snd caf wna the go-berwern appeasacthe doo, quie- ly sip incor finer clothes, wats imptienly for che tial of ‘he plain ad when i comes jumps ingo i haery-cury. Her {oy shows on her Fe up tothe very tp of her nos How diferent things wed to bel Uns some Fry yeas agoa gil woud play on Ihr bamboo hobbyhore by she gute of her howe wl she was seventeen or ighteen while boy would wait unt he was eweney- four to celebrate the coming-of ag ceremony. ‘But my embarked onde wry oflove when wat yt mare1 ower bad, and, having Gx mdied myelin the Rapids of he Yalow Res, ound run in dsipacon, lin he ead I cate to erify my by dueling ce 2 THE PLEASURES OF THE MAIDEN DANCE 243 khasbeesidty ome dicerig man the Uppe iad dhe ower Cry dif om each erin evry ree Come, for 16 ceil, the xeon when the Hoe “role af the Rowe” bs Tegun 0 ie fom che seer robe and when he gi wih sty Get ong barging deve and ht ha ed in he geal ye 1D dace othe nt fhe bo, A da the Furth Avene the ey it a sens evel the sagt i eng + {gest cpl Bat hw dient ils when eps blow the Foard Avenel Hee we fave aking be od vic od he clive of bry fe sty Now, pty he or wells no mean at. The ad haben the drum at nes hep peer tn, ad someone who excel 290 nay tye ld aman ong rela he Ma Pee se seal Kind mael by same Shr, Wo Bled fom the 291 cighoutned of Aka in he Poin o Surg Tan protein 0 Ed, whe be per forthe entersnmene of Thighs and he hoods, He woud ener Shind a paper wet 292 td three the Mas of che Bight Pars Lae e nde i ‘yop thecal ad faerie ‘hate dried necilly ean form of dance, whch he ght to:many pole Heng fh» gonpof mide tah ep std ha with wow to makings ving fom it 211 This new dice df fm Women's Kab fo wk the Jaen the ining of comely young gy who would 24 thes dsl hl ie the wie of he od, peer ing ce ng cn musio, the nex in ance. n gel hi fox of de was wel determined. Over aed unde-kimono tne ‘hall oft sme clou, ah gil wore a garment of white p> de sik with a pte emfosed in gold and se fei anda Blac. ‘kachabl collar, Thesach whch be edi the back, wae ofthee- tolouced cords lite ote left. By her side the gil would exry 2 shor it ord an he slo wore 2 medicine box anda money pouch. The git shaved heir nthe mids thatthe Forloc ‘wat rect ke nd’, 2nd chee coir tod ou in she ack ach ‘one indeed, asthe very mage of a andiome young msn. Ts ttited hey ang, duced snd de the honours of pouring sak ee the ook de habit ringing slong rot fo the eeshment of ‘When people in the capital invited ov ther guss—wartors from other province oe edeiygealemen—cey wuld ofen ake them to the Ester Hil and marmon iveoe x ofthese aides to add tothe evening's emerinmens. To watch te elegant a= tendnce of de gs wat amatchle pleasure indeed; but, being © ‘ery youg, they tended to make dal eompasions for geen intheiprine, Ate hey each received on ectangsar gol piece; so aliogether ane may sy that cis was an inexpensive diversion. ‘Aste posed thee gis beame thoroughly veredin thei elle ing srtomead tote society ofthe copia and adept humouring ‘Heircetomer whims Idee, though none ofthem was morethan twelve years oy hey were more afl by fr than the young 2p~ remics employed in dhe plane hows of Naniwa Nor did they lowe much tase i growing wp. By the cine tha he was thirteen ot fourteen, a gi ofthis company would exly cake Teave of er guest before he had acgitd himself fis wie dary. “Thi not to say that the would force her atetions on the man. Rather, she woud nee dae to her companion duing the eve- ing’ sentertsinmene nas lascivious mannerashe could wis. Then 2 the crucial moment she would urn away fom hin, and, whenhe wa qe bride him wih extent, would ste, “itm yor lng py come lor ain are ye oye’ hou, 0 dt we may beng ings ow geile cons Sion, Ween bok reed ht re ae uk kd sed ‘te kemnd Then, jefe wee dwn, you mi give cr Young msc asl gry wd hy wl uly boson home cy as, Unter cver ohiyou nd fem prot Ge ean we ‘Wiha ch t,o gious er companion to even sewer Andina ab ea yD asa ‘oesqorer genom foiey oot of ver om a por Snes. Tie who ae no of he pofxon ignore he ge berth ist ery on of ou dancing gt wl ec Sape evel wi nn Even igh speed mao ove he pe of th vos ec ne i of eco ‘in my young dy bal eso fering ois uh Howie, ook fac de mmc of he Jog ga sso pal hema rom Utsler oad tbc tind sx lrg, nde twa eng pat by nde hs made meyer more ner and Pi oo cd othe who fade me shinden the divin in Sec wa ied se Nbken Dace a wr uinoxeon Ss pa ol eran. Ye, wy ee sivas tended me on th eos nde Se oti She amon abi ofthe oer gis. Aong ny cutee ay ‘ee aly fie tse thy col ot hve et way wah te an might wel ae ded wh nied yen Ac shou ths ne ay sve nh pal fy che Wes Comey so eel sao the Kevan eke nigh scare. Thee she emsine’ fom hvac de day when te sow covet heme hi She ws noe css iad every day the wos oe fh aa in tee pln. rote it ie thay eid me neat Tike RiverBe locke on mewih iow, Utogen ero, theta me somone er howe and here Leme rie ‘rom morn lait sb ani bod wed meth be anv Kinde ining ong o epoch in ny mone they trend ht hy woe accel to neepene wwe eit {aly who ws hnlvigin dave ple Threwadeere ried at shod coef ot yong min snd 9 we fn spies fore , ‘ov ths aly wa of an isch one wou be wal to amex wiht es il cren es in heaped, Sh dt han, ws of ch noe nt wl ore ‘en hr to find his ach among the genmen of ie oe ‘Ths ond coupling tne see child whee pets as Jette mae hd me ch Bren hem whey lee Sly ahag a ines tamer intereare, [ar betby feng lig" ow de yes ice mpl wa ie inh oy ooh and ged yeh sec. ‘ne ih while ny nly wake he geen eg. touched my boy. Al te toh nowy ead Teed Sih phe eth and fh y's ore ong ae thn te leg purr bub eats nd et thou clei fi. Soon we we bth noted hoo Selenide Teva ttkng bere aon eae tight. The cope ws much aed ty precy “al inde” dy, "i cit i plc where one an ie merges Atm ne county, if er og ae il flying evil irhowes on banoohbbybora” So ying they hgh aly nd damised me om i vce Th Tee op set ce omy pn boacl j2, THE FAIR MISTRESS OF A PROVINCIAL LORD 314 ness dy fh Regn, wheneven he wink a low hough the pees donot he peo a hay of 115, aeerain ed who wsseving inthe Earn proving ded he cut king ie The cinanen sey gonedrelakatae, ‘ceed more han fry comely gia of fie nage sal, 2 ogh the conve ofthe hoses founds egies sie when tie mater a good ume, and kal de gu soph kim severly i his belcanber, whe eye sh comeing him i amcou dioane. Now ts sve mee fr sth newest cy bd nd woud ene open op 17a gry when onr hy were elewed wih for ald one ee tefoking wher Yer mac he den oe Howl nc om of te gsm vee wt ths ed In chee eit ee common bch pn he catcn prvi monly of sty ape fr oe, ‘hck-eded al toighahinned. They my be yidag pt ges tbeyhn alee former donothne dems ing of his end sow nove af the uy dat Lege inns hog hey be ein ean gidbnchn ema sneering oct he we oe ‘When corns 0 wore, sch you wi in every pone ofthe you wil sever any orl how of yes, Th later se nde wih den gas, One of he seca pone she charming wan which they peak bee wor Risa ob spr may a ot someting that en be pple Set ton hed down fo cnt the era Fac in pot wif we ay me th thogh mee and 218 women of ame mek in hie! tne the of he ney Okt an ate hogh they ay app can ost at fe capa Nevis peck onl ther degce pp ee ‘women of thee itandsenoy playing the harp and the game of, snd are alo adept ventiatin snd the arf incense, All ht may be seconted for by the fc ha he Baperor—he who wit the seeand 409 of an Emperor—iat baited to thee regions, and tha these noble coms ave lasted sine his doy. “Thinking hen, tha in Kyor they might Gnd sorseae tothe Tor’ tate, hisclanimen dpc hither an aged retiner, who fad for long year eld serie in die houshold. Thi man wat now past hi seventh yar He could see nothing without che sid of glaze; a mow of his ont tet were mining, be had ong sine forgoren the relish of ectopus snd eau now et nothing bot Sie rated pikes: his days were all eqaly Sarre of ples, So fara the waye of love were concerned, hit inapciy wat ven more hopeles, nd, shough be sported mans lonelth, he wa in fc ite Bee than woman, The mos that he cold manage was to engages lewd dnoor, which edit ir hears concen. Having teen born in Lnighly ert, He ould appee in ceremonial ees, yet afr wearing the double reverie bel ‘hac his cold be permed » mee carpet knight whowe tak it vastoexp th hosihold key. Toagn aman bike thst joomey ‘upto Kyo and ps jadgement omits women was to pice atone Duda befor a eat: forthe very pete woman might be por next 1 this greybeard widhot causing him dhe least ence. And be ieadded, the ware that he wat now to jadge were ich 2 ont ‘woeld noe have ented evento te Buda in hs younger ay Reaching the Heavenly Cy, the old man reaied to 3 crn elegant deape'shop, named the Satya in che Maromach quite, “come this time on busines." he id ate entered, “busines of 4 Kind dha Tea ens to none of your young leks Peay le me ‘dss myielf in private to the vetied maser aod mses of tht ows.” Hearing his, che old cople waited soy fr what he mightws ea ‘2 dem. With an ar of grea cecumspetion he Began" have comet fda concibine fr ny eed” "Well tobe sce” wid the old mater ofthe shop “iat no sack rae ang fr lord. And wae eye of gil may you be looking for?" "The old retsiner then pend srl lan of ssightgrind psslownia nd from itexzaced che pining of woman "shoul like yout nd someone,” bes, “who by an large reembls si” Hearing ths commision, they Fooled a the pice ad saw lel ome sinten years of age ith a fice walleoanded in the ‘modem syle, Her complexion had the dle tnt of single= pened chery Dlosom and bee four fetes were of fale beary Her eyes were of peter width and above ther the eb eyebrows were widely spice, giving her cea tanga sit. Her oce was high-bidged and finely tapered bee mows small, ee tech even and suckling whie. Her ea, which wee deicatly shaped and of jot height length, stood oa from her hexd and were of 5 fine erate that one ould ee troogh thems wp tothe ery 00, The line on be bow wat of pre mater besuy, ber neck wat lng and slender; no unialy wip of fae snared the perfect pce ofr back. [Newt ey Tooked st hee hands and observed the log, dite Singers with thei rclcent ual, Hee fet wee seaey eight inches in gts the ig toes were bent bak, che arches elegantly ‘ved. The tuk of le body was unsuly log. Her hipe were firm, an chough de gil was by no meas plump, he soft cave of er butocks could be en heough er othing. He portent snd he se af dees et aught wo be dase, and her etre frm reveled the neal of er bred Asdhoughallhiwerenotenough thcld man added chat the gil snus be of a gee daposson, mie excl in every womanly as ‘sd muse not have single male on her body. Hearing which, the maser of the exablshmene wid, “Thoogh the capt lage lice and shoud in women, to find one dat uis these exiting, tart eno mesn tk, Howbei, ince thi che demand of the reat lod you serv, and sine expen nerd not be eur cone, 1 2hllfind th gi for you, fly there be suck one in his woeld He then explined the cheumstanes to an agent ned abaya ‘Tasnoéaon of Takéyecho, who was well eed in mates of his kat [Now chore who filo the ling of agent Foe thei Iivelinood wills rol ak one hundred feon of olds an advance payment cat of this, they take exten Fl and, having exchanged (he ito ser co, gie ten and to their ezand Woman ‘sf the gil who aspire to the role of concubine, thos who donot have the proper ter can ret them feely- Fora daly reatl of twenty me of ver hey can have dhe flowing: 2 mono of white ilo gored Black sin, 2 wide rath of Nia broedein che Chinese ye, apettioa of ede sik crepe, acloak ‘ofthe fsion worm at cour the fe ren nchades a ql sped inside the pslangui. I the gil is accepted into sevice, dhe agent receives one pice of iver coi at payne. Ince the i to harble provenance may have ecous Co a rubtite-paent—sme townamnsn whoa et ha srl house to his ame, and who can pent he 3 his own daghcer. Tis san wil recive » gatity fom the gis employer and ler, if she shoal provide her maser with x on and bi, her sbsite- urea: will recive prc of er ice allowance ‘Nees o say, he gs ae eager to bean 2 goods potion a they cao, andthe sudence isa aying thing indeed, Somes 2 fd wir spend as mucha twenty nar on the hie ofr Kimo othe she my py hes x lf anit for hee of pala asin borne by wo men, cough, to be sre, fr sch fr she may » ae wae weaH Seconteed ane in thei lees nyse se Svea yng gil ands woman to ator te ome cing sn fost the leer i, ad bot eng pd for mars and ecg mak That ar he reps totic ums ot ies gil has lost no en fa ey fost nine Yo, 0b a efsonl comes fred hard way ako ing in he we "Nees nou ath pisean ve. On oxen, seh fim Oka or Sims bre cane Sima tr and jogo, be inp by tome new date fr fe They wl hen amon aff the ov gi nape ot se of onebie nd ete fc enrainmen, ange th le iat bal el dnt incopy en fr wey gene om te Wet Coury IFoo he git shuld ae tify, cy wil sek ely ote popcon anda o anagem orf psing howe. When the 4 docoven whit af, sh wil rotate te at nee heed fh thing ad mach ven he lsat ae