kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第5章
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he saw the female oshidori swimming alone。 In the same moment the bird
perceived Sonjo； but； instead of trying to escape； she swam straight
towards him； looking at him the while in a strange fixed way。 Then； with
her beak； she suddenly tore open her own body； and died before the
hunter's eyes。。。
Sonjo shaved his head； and became a priest。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
THE STORY OF O…TEI
A long time ago； in the town of Niigata； in the province of Echizen；
there lived a man called Nagao Chosei。
Nagao was the son of a physician； and was educated for his father's
profession。 At an early age he had been betrothed to a girl called O…Tei；
the daughter of one of his father's friends； and both families had agreed
that the wedding should take place as soon as Nagao had finished his
studies。 But the health of O…Tei proved to be weak； and in her fifteenth
year she was attacked by a fatal consumption。 When she became aware
that she must die； she sent for Nagao to bid him farewell。
As he knelt at her bedside； she said to him：
〃Nagao…Sama； （1） my betrothed； we were promised to each other
from the time of our childhood； and we were to have been married at the
end of this year。 But now I am goingto die； the gods know what is best
for us。 If I were able to live for some years longer； I could only continue to
be a cause of trouble and grief for others。 With this frail body； I could not
be a good wife； and therefore even to wish to live； for your sake； would be
a very selfish wish。 I am quite resigned to die； and I want you to promise
that you will not grieve。。。 Besides； I want to tell you that I think we shall
meet again。〃。。。
〃Indeed we shall meet again；〃 Nagao answered earnestly。 〃And in
that Pure Land （2） there will be no pain of separation。〃
〃Nay； nay！〃 she responded softly； 〃I meant not the Pure Land。 I
believe that we are destined to meet again in this world； although I shall
be buried to…morrow。〃
Nagao looked at her wonderingly； and saw her smile at his wonder。
She continued； in her gentle； dreamy voice；
〃Yes； I mean in this world； in your own present life； Nagao…Sama。。。
Providing； indeed； that you wish it。 Only； for this thing to happen； I must
again be born a girl； and grow up to womanhood。 So you would have to
wait。 Fifteen sixteen years： that is a long time。。。 But； my promised
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
husband； you are now only nineteen years old。〃。。。
Eager to soothe her dying moments； he answered tenderly：
〃To wait for you； my betrothed； were no less a joy than a duty。 We are
pledged to each other for the time of seven existences。〃
〃But you doubt？〃 she questioned； watching his face。
〃My dear one；〃 he answered； 〃I doubt whether I should be able to
know you in another body； under another name； unless you can tell me
of a sign or token。〃
〃That I cannot do；〃 she said。 〃Only the Gods and the Buddhas know
how and where we shall meet。 But I am sure very； very sure that； if
you be not unwilling to receive me； I shall be able to come back to you。。。
Remember these words of mine。〃。。。
She ceased to speak； and her eyes closed。 She was dead。
* * *
Nagao had been sincerely attached to O…Tei； and his grief was deep。
He had a mortuary tablet made； inscribed with her zokumyo； ＇1＇ and he
placed the tablet in his butsudan； ＇2＇ and every day set offerings before it。
He thought a great deal about the strange things that O…Tei had said to him
just before her death； and； in the hope of pleasing her spirit； he wrote a
solemn promise to wed her if she could ever return to him in another body。
This written promise he sealed with his seal； and placed in the butsudan
beside the mortuary tablet of O…Tei。
Nevertheless； as Nagao was an only son； it was necessary that he
should marry。 He soon found himself obliged to yield to the wishes of his
family； and to accept a wife of his father's choosing。 After his marriage he
continued to set offerings before the tablet of O…Tei； and he never failed to
remember her with affection。 But by degrees her image became dim in his
memory； like a dream that is hard to recall。 And the years went by。
During those years many misfortunes came upon him。 He lost his
parents by death； then his wife and his only child。 So that he found
himself alone in the world。 He abandoned his desolate home； and set out
upon a long journey in the hope of forgetting his sorrows。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
One day； in the course of his travels； he arrived at Ikao； a mountain…
village still famed for its thermal springs； and for the beautiful scenery of
its neighborhood。 In the village…inn at which he stopped； a young girl
came to wait upon him； and； at the first sight of her face； he felt his heart
leap as it had never leaped before。 So strangely did she resemble O…Tei
that he pinched himself to make sure that he was not dreaming。 As she
went and came； bringing fire and food； or arranging the chamber of the
guest； her every attitude and motion revived in him some gracious
memory of the girl to whom he had been pledged in his youth。 He spoke to
her； and she responded in a soft； clear voice of which the sweetness
saddened him with a sadness of other days。
Then； in great wonder； he questioned her； saying：
〃Elder Sister （3）； so much do you look like a person whom I knew
long ago； that I was startled when you first entered this room。 Pardon me；
therefore； for asking what is your native place； and what is your name？〃
Immediately； and in the unforgotten voice of the dead； she thus
made answer：
〃My name is O…Tei； and you are Nagao Chosei of Echigo； my
promised husband。 Seventeen years ago； I died in Niigata： then you made
in writing a promise to marry me if ever I could come back to this world in
the body of a woman； and you sealed that written promise with your
seal； and put it in the butsudan； beside the tablet inscribed with my name。
And therefore I came back。〃。。。
As she uttered these last words； she fell unconscious。
Nagao married her； and the marriage was a happy one。 But at no time
afterwards could she remember what she had told him in answer to his
question at Ikao： neither could she remember anything of her previous
existence。 The recollection of the former birth； mysteriously kindled in
the moment of that meeting； had again become obscured； and so
thereafter remained。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
UBAZAKURA
Three hundred years ago； in the village called Asamimura； in the
district called Onsengori； in the province of Iyo； there lived a good man
named Tokubei。 This Tokubei was the richest person in the district； and the
muraosa； or headman； of the village。 In most matters h
