The original story breaks off suddenly at this point, leaving several matters unexplained. The ending is rather unsatisfactory. One would like to know something about the mental experiences of the real maiden during the married life of her phantom. One would also like to know what became of the phantom,--whether it continued to lead an independent existence; whether it waited patiently for the return of its husband; whether it paid a visit to the real bride. And the book says nothing about these things. But a j.a.panese friend explains the miracle thus:--

"The spirit-bride was really formed out of the _tanzaku_. So it is possible that the real girl did not know anything about the meeting at the temple of Benten. When she wrote those beautiful characters upon the _tanzaku_, something of her spirit pa.s.sed into them. Therefore it was possible to evoke from the writing the double of the writer."

The Grat.i.tude of the Samebito[21]

[Decoration]

[21] The original of this story may be found in the book called _Kibun-Anbaiyoshi_

THERE was a man named Tawaraya Totaro, who lived in the Province of omi.

His house was situated on the sh.o.r.e of Lake Biwa, not far from the famous temple called Ishiyamadera. He had some property, and lived in comfort; but at the age of twenty-nine he was still unmarried. His greatest ambition was to marry a very beautiful woman; and he had not been able to find a girl to his liking.

One day, as he was pa.s.sing over the Long Bridge of Seta,[22] he saw a strange being crouching close to the parapet. The body of this being resembled the body of a man, but was black as ink; its face was like the face of a demon; its eyes were green as emeralds; and its beard was like the beard of a dragon. Totaro was at first very much startled. But the green eyes looked at him so gently that after a moment's hesitation he ventured to question the creature. Then it answered him, saying: "I am a _Samebito_,[23]--a Shark-Man of the sea; and until a short time ago I was in the service of the Eight Great Dragon-Kings [_Hachi-Dai-Ryu-o_]

as a subordinate officer in the Dragon-Palace [_Ryugu_].[24] But because of a small fault which I committed, I was dismissed from the Dragon-Palace, and also banished from the Sea. Since then I have been wandering about here,--unable to get any food, or even a place to lie down. If you can feel any pity for me, do, I beseech you, help me to find a shelter, and let me have something to eat!"

[22] The Long Bridge of Seta (_Seta-no-Naga-Hashi_), famous in j.a.panese legend, is nearly eight hundred feet in length, and commands a beautiful view. This bridge crosses the waters of the Setagawa near the junction of the stream with Lake Biwa. Ishiyamadera, one of the most picturesque Buddhist temples in j.a.pan, is situated within a short distance from the bridge.

[23] Literally, "a Shark-Person," but in this story the _Samebito_ is a male. The characters for _Samebito_ can also be read _Kojin_,--which is the usual reading. In dictionaries the word is loosely rendered by "merman" or "mermaid;" but as the above description shows, the _Samebito_ or _Kojin_ of the Far East is a conception having little in common with the Western idea of a merman or mermaid.

[24] _Ryugu_ is also the name given to the whole of that fairy-realm beneath the sea which figures in so many j.a.panese legends.

This pet.i.tion was uttered in so plaintive a tone, and in so humble a manner, that Totaro's heart was touched. "Come with me," he said. "There is in my garden a large and deep pond where you may live as long as you wish; and I will give you plenty to eat."

The _Samebito_ followed Totaro home, and appeared to be much pleased with the pond.

Thereafter, for nearly half a year, this strange guest dwelt in the pond, and was every day supplied by Totaro with such food as sea-creatures like.

[_From this point of the original narrative the Shark-Man is referred to, not as a monster, but as a sympathetic Person of the male s.e.x._]

Now, in the seventh month of the same year, there was a female pilgrimage (_nyonin-mode_) to the great Buddhist temple called Miidera, in the neighboring town of otsu; and Totaro went to otsu to attend the festival. Among the mult.i.tude of women and young girls there a.s.sembled, he observed a person of extraordinary beauty. She seemed about sixteen years old; her face was fair and pure as snow; and the loveliness of her lips a.s.sured the beholder that their every utterance would sound "as sweet as the voice of a nightingale singing upon a plum-tree." Totaro fell in love with her at sight. When she left the temple he followed her at a respectful distance, and discovered that she and her mother were staying for a few days at a certain house in the neighboring village of Seta. By questioning some of the village folk, he was able also to learn that her name was Tamana; that she was unmarried; and that her family appeared to be unwilling that she should marry a man of ordinary rank,--for they demanded as a betrothal-gift a casket containing ten thousand jewels.[25]

[25] _Tama_ in the original. This word _tama_ has a mult.i.tude of meanings; and as here used it is quite as indefinite as our own terms "jewel," "gem," or "precious stone." Indeed, it is more indefinite, for it signifies also a bead of coral, a ball of crystal, a polished stone attached to a hairpin, etc., etc. Later on, however, I venture to render it by "ruby,"--for reasons which need no explanation.

Totaro returned home very much dismayed by this information. The more that he thought about the strange betrothal-gift demanded by the girl's parents, the more he felt that he could never expect to obtain her for his wife. Even supposing that there were as many as ten thousand jewels in the whole country, only a great prince could hope to procure them.

But not even for a single hour could Totaro banish from his mind the memory of that beautiful being. It haunted him so that he could neither eat nor sleep; and it seemed to become more and more vivid as the days went by. And at last he became ill,--so ill that he could not lift his head from the pillow. Then he sent for a doctor.

The doctor, after having made a careful examination, uttered an exclamation of surprise. "Almost any kind of sickness," he said, "can be cured by proper medical treatment, except the sickness of love. Your ailment is evidently love-sickness. There is no cure for it. In ancient times Roya-o Hakuyo died of that sickness; and you must prepare yourself to die as he died." So saying, the doctor went away, without even giving any medicine to Totaro.

About this time the Shark-Man that was living in the garden-pond heard of his master's sickness, and came into the house to wait upon Totaro.

And he tended him with the utmost affection both by day and by night.

But he did not know either the cause or the serious nature of the sickness until nearly a week later, when Totaro, thinking himself about to die, uttered these words of farewell:--

"I suppose that I have had the pleasure of caring for you thus long, because of some relation that grew up between us in a former state of existence. But now I am very sick indeed, and every day my sickness becomes worse; and my life is like the morning dew which pa.s.ses away before the setting of the sun. For your sake, therefore, I am troubled in mind. Your existence has depended upon my care; and I fear that there will be no one to care for you and to feed you when I am dead.... My poor friend!... Alas! our hopes and our wishes are always disappointed in this unhappy world!"

No sooner had Totaro spoken these words than the Samebito uttered a strange wild cry of pain, and began to weep bitterly. And as he wept, great tears of blood streamed from his green eyes and rolled down his black cheeks and dripped upon the floor. And, falling, they were blood; but, having fallen, they became hard and bright and beautiful,--became jewels of inestimable price, rubies splendid as crimson fire. For when men of the sea weep, their tears become precious stones.

Then Totaro, beholding this marvel, was so amazed and overjoyed that his strength returned to him. He sprang from his bed, and began to pick up and to count the tears of the Shark-Man, crying out the while: "My sickness is cured! I shall live! I shall live!"

Therewith, the Shark-Man, greatly astonished, ceased to weep, and asked Totaro to explain this wonderful cure; and Totaro told him about the young person seen at Miidera, and about the extraordinary marriage-gift demanded by her family. "As I felt sure," added Totaro, "that I should never be able to get ten thousand jewels, I supposed that my suit would be hopeless. Then I became very unhappy, and at last fell sick. But now, because of your generous weeping, I have many precious stones; and I think that I shall be able to marry that girl. Only--there are not yet quite enough stones; and I beg that you will be good enough to weep a little more, so as to make up the full number required."

But at this request the Samebito shook his head, and answered in a tone of surprise and of reproach:--

"Do you think that I am like a harlot,--able to weep whenever I wish?

Oh, no! Harlots shed tears in order to deceive men; but creatures of the sea cannot weep without feeling real sorrow. I wept for you because of the true grief that I felt in my heart at the thought that you were going to die. But now I cannot weep for you, because you have told me that your sickness is cured."

"Then what am I to do?" plaintively asked Totaro. "Unless I can get ten thousand jewels, I cannot marry the girl!"

The Samebito remained for a little while silent, as if thinking. Then he said:--

"Listen! To-day I cannot possibly weep any more. But to-morrow let us go together to the Long Bridge of Seta, taking with us some wine and some fish. We can rest for a time on the bridge; and while we are drinking the wine and eating the fish, I shall gaze in the direction of the Dragon-Palace, and try, by thinking of the happy days that I spent there, to make myself feel homesick--so that I can weep."

Totaro joyfully a.s.sented.

Next morning the two, taking plenty of wine and fish with them, went to the Seta bridge, and rested there, and feasted. After having drunk a great deal of wine, the Samebito began to gaze in the direction of the Dragon-Kingdom, and to think about the past. And gradually, under the softening influence of the wine, the memory of happier days filled his heart with sorrow, and the pain of homesickness came upon him, so that he could weep profusely. And the great red tears that he shed fell upon the bridge in a shower of rubies; and Totaro gathered them as they fell, and put them into a casket, and counted them until he had counted the full number of ten thousand. Then he uttered a shout of joy.

Almost in the same moment, from far away over the lake, a delightful sound of music was heard; and there appeared in the offing, slowly rising from the waters, like some fabric of cloud, a palace of the color of the setting sun.

At once the Samebito sprang upon the parapet of the bridge, and looked, and laughed for joy. Then, turning to Totaro, he said:--

"There must have been a general amnesty proclaimed in the Dragon-Realm; the Kings are calling me. So now I must bid you farewell. I am happy to have had one chance of befriending you in return for your goodness to me."

With these words he leaped from the bridge; and no man ever saw him again. But Totaro presented the casket of red jewels to the parents of Tamana, and so obtained her in marriage.

j.a.pANESE STUDIES

[Decoration]

... Life ere long Came on me in the public ways, and bent Eyes deeper than of old: Death met I too, And saw the dawn glow through.

--GEORGE MEREDITH

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE I.

1-2, _Young Semi_.

3-4, _Haru-Zemi_, also called _Nawashiro-Zemi_.]