English translation by Eileen Kato, in Donald Keene, ed.,
20 Plays of the
Nô Theatre (Columbia UP, 1970)

itsumo kiritamau hito ka
usually come person?

kyô wa ko no mi no kazukazu
today..... fruit/nut ..........varieties

onmonogatari sorae
tell me please

Are you the same person who
always comes here? Tell me
what fruits you have brought today.

hirou ko no mi wa naninani zo
gathered fruits, .....what are they?
............(this self/body).............

What are all these fruits and nuts
I have gathered here?

inishie minareshi
in the past accustomed

kuruma ni nitaru wa
carriage resembles

arashi ni moroki ochiJII
storms easily fall acorns

kajin no ie no ko no mi wa
poet's house.... fruits/nuts
........................(this self/body)

HITOMARO no KAKIo no KAKI
Hitomaro......... hedge....... persimons

YAMA no BE no sasaguri
hillside............... chestnuts

Persimmons from the hedge
to recall [Kakinomoto] HITOMARO;

Chestnuts from the hillside
a momento of [Yamabe] AKAHITO;

mado no ume
window plums

hana no na ni aru sakura asa no
blossoms named for cherry flax

Ou no ura nashi nao mo ari
Ou no ura pears........ still are
...............(do not exist)

ichii kaSHII matebaSHII
oak beech burning oak

daishô kanji kinkan
large-small mandarin cumquat

aware mukashi no koishiki wa
alas long ago loves

hana tachibana no hitoeda
blossoms orange one spray

hana tachibana no hitoeda
blossoms orange one spray

Pears from O-no-ura
where cherry flax grows
named for cherry blossoms;
boughs of burning oak,
and twigs of fragrant beech,
kindlings of the broad-leafed oak,
oranges both large and small,
the mandarin and the cumquat,
and for sweet, sad remembrance
of long-ago loves,
a spray of orange blossoms.

pivot words (puns)

Stream of imagery section

pp. 58-59

hito no kokoro wa
his heart

shirakumo no
don't know
(white clouds)

ware wa kumoraji
mine unclouded

kokoro no tsuki
heart-like moon

idete osô ni
comes out priest

towaren to
to ask

susuki oshi wake
pampas push aside

idekereba
I came out

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I cannot speak for him,
But my heart is an unclouded moon;
I come before you, oh priest,
Pushing aside the pampas grass
To entreat that you pray for me.

(She moves to stage center, facing the priest)

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tsutsumedo ware mo
concealed... I too

ho ni idete
plume come out

obana manekaba
grasses beckon

tomarekashi
stop!

I was concealing myself,
But now I emerge from the grass:
(He removes the cloak from his head)
The plumes of grass are beckoning,
Now I have beckoned too-desist!
(He makes beckoning gestures to Komachi)

omoi wa yama no kasegi nite
intentions mountain...deer are

maneku to sara ni
beckon..... even if

tomarumaji
not come

My heart that seeks the light
Is like the mountain deer;
Even if you beckon
You cannot hold it back.

saraba bonnô no
then..... passion's

inu to natte
hound become

utaruru to hanareji
when beaten not let go

Then I'll become a hound of passion
(He starts toward the stage)
You can beat but never drive away.
(He comes on stage)

I'll take your sleeve and hold you back.
(Puts his hand on Komachi's shoulder)

My own that pulls on yours.
(He draws back a little)

waga tamoto mo
my sleeve too

tomo ni....namida no tsuyu
together....tears like dew

fukakusa no Shôshô
Fukakusa Captain
(deep grass)

Both are drenched
in a dew of tears.
Now you know me,
Fukakusa, the Captain!