Ten Kiogen in English/The Ink Woman

Daimyo.—I am a daimyo well-known throughout the country. I made a long long stay in the capital, but a law-suit having been decided in my favour, I was presented with much new land. There could be nothing more pleasing. Now I have to call Taro, and gladden him. Say, say! Is Taro there?

Taro.—Yes.

Daimyo.—You are there!

Taro.—I am right before you.

Daimyo.—My only reason for calling you out is to tell you that I have made a long long stay in the capital, and the law-suit has been decided favourably, and I was presented with a great amount of new land. ’Tis a happy thing.

Taro.—’Tis what you said, ’tis a happy thing.

Daimyo.—And I shall have to return to my native province presently. Then, I shall not know when I ​may see her again. Today, to bid farewell, I think I will go to her place. What do you think?

Taro.—Verily that will be good.

Daimyo.—Now, then, let us go! You follow me!

Taro.—I will obey.

Daimyo.—Now, then, come on!

Taro.—I am coming.

Daimyo.—By the way, if my folks hear of my good fortune, it will be hard for them to wait, not knowing whether I’ll return today or tomorrow.

Taro.—So it is. Here we are! Shall I say that you are here? Will you wait there?

Daimyo.—I understand.

Taro.—Are you in? Your lord is here.

Woman.—Now! I hear a familiar voice. Is it Taro? What, my lord did come?

Taro.—Yes, yes, it is so.

Woman.—Ah, how unusual! What wind brought you here? As I have not seen you for a long long time, I have been feeling uneasy.

Dainyo.—Indeed, it is a long time that I have not seen you. Now, I am satisfied in seeing you well, ​and—Taro, shall I speak of the thing I told you?

Taro.—You may speak it.

Woman.—What is it? I am uneasy.

Daimyo.—Well, ’tis nothing. I made a long stay in the capital, but the law-suit has been decided favourably, and in a few days I have to return home, but today I come to bid you farewell.

Woman.—What do you say? You will return home? Then, I do not know when I shall meet you again. Alas, alas! ’Tis a sad matter. (She cries putting water on her face from a water bowl beside her.)

Daimyo.—Your grief is proper. But when I return home, I will send a man after you soon. Will you wait? (He cries.)

Woman.—Though you say so, your heart will be changed when you return home, and I am sad thinking that you will forget me.

Taro.—What is that? I thought that she was crying truly, but she cries by putting water on her face. How detestable! Here, here, just you come!

Daimyo.—What?

Taro.—Do you think that she is crying truly? She is crying by putting water on her face.

​Daimyo.—It cannot be. She grieves like that over our parting, and she is crying so. You say an unreasonable thing.

Woman.—Here, here! Where are you? It will be but a short while that I can see you. You must come here.

Daimyo.—Well, Taro said he had something to tell me. I went to him, and he said an unreasonable thing.

Taro.—Why! She is crying like that by putting water on her eyes, and he does not notice it. I have an idea! I will see what I can do. I will exchange the water for the ink. (He place the ink bowl instead.)

Woman.—Alas, alas! How sad, how sad! I was thinking that I should never part from you for even a minute. I am sad, now having to separate.

Taro.—Well, well! How funny! She did not know that I changed it, and she puts the ink on. Look at her face! Well, well! How funny, how funny! I say, you come on!

Daimyo.—What?

Taro.—As you did not think what I said was true, I changed the water for ink. Just look at her face!

​Daimyo.—Indeed, it was as you said. Alas, alas, I was fooled. How detestable! What shall I do? I have an idea, I will give her this looking glass as my parting gift, and make her ashamed.

Taro.—Verily that will be good.

Daimyo.—Look here! When I return home, I will send a man after you soon, but till that time keep this looking glass as a remembrance. I give it to you.

Woman.—Alas, alas! How sad am I! I did not even dream of such a remembrance. Alas, alas! How awful! Who has done it? Who put the ink on me like this? How indignant! You did it s How indignant I am!

Daimyo.—No, no, I know nothing of it. ’Ti? Taro's work.

Woman.—I don’t forgive you though you say no I will not be satisfied until I have put the ink on you.

Daimyo.—What are you doing? You wish to put the ink on my face? There! Pardon me, pardon me! (He ran off.)

Woman.—Say, Taro, you there? I will see that you too have the ink.

Taro.—You put the ink on me like this. I cannot ​go out. Ah, pardon me, pardon me!

Woman.—Where are you going? I must put more ink on you. I will not let you go, I will not let you go.