CORRESPONDING LIBRETTO PASSAGES IN THE POUND/FENOLLOSA TRANSLATION

1b.

[Narration]

Windy road of the waves by Miwo,
Swift with ships, loud steersmen's voices.

Upon a thousand heights had gathered the inexplicable cloud. Swept by the rain, the moon is just come to light the high house.

A clean and pleasant time surely. There comes the breath-colour of spring; the waves rise in a line below the early mist; the moon is still delaying above, though we've no skill to grasp it. Here is a beauty to set the mind above itself.

I shall not be out of memory
Of the mountain road by Kiyomi,
Nor of the parted grass by that bay,
Nor of the far seen pine-waste
Of Miho of wheat stalks.

Let us go according to custom. Take hands against the wind here, for it presses the clouds and the sea. Those men who were going to fish are about to return launching. Wait a little, is it not spring? Will not the wind be quiet? This wind is only the voice of the lasting pine-trees, ready for stillness. See how the air is soundless or would be, were it not for the waves. There now, the fishermen are putting out with even the smallest boats.

2.

[Song] (fisherman)

Hakuryo, taker of fish, head of his house, dwells upon the barren pine-waste of Miwo.

I am come to shore at Miwo-no; I disembark in Matsubara; I see all that they speak of on the shore. An empty sky with music, a rain of flowers, strange fragrance on every side;

3.

[Narration] (fisherman)

An empty sky with music, a rain of flowers,
strange fragrance on every side;
all these are no common things,
nor is this cloak that hangs upon the pine-tree.

[Song] (fisherman)

all these are no common things, nor is this cloak that hangs upon the pine-tree. As I approach to inhale its colour, I am aware of mystery. Its colour-smell is mysterious. I see that it si surely no common dress. I will take it now and return and make it a treasure in my house, to show to the aged.

[Narration]

Upon a thousand heights
had gathered the inexplicable cloud.
Swept by the rain,
the moon is just come to light the high house.

A clean and pleasant time surely.
There comes the breath-colour of spring;
the waves rise in a line below the early mist;
the moon is still delaying above,
though we've no skill to grasp it.
Here is a beauty to set the mind above itself.

I shall not be out of memory
of the mountain road by Kiyomi,
nor of the parted grass by that bay,
nor of the far seen pine-waste
of Miho of wheat stalks.

Let us go according to custom.

[Song] (fisherman)

and make it a treasure in my house.

4.

[Narration] (Angel)

No (Stop!)
That cloak belongs to some one on this side.
What are you proposing to do with it?

[Song] (fisherman)

This? This is a cloak picked up. I am taking it home, I tell you.

Angel

That is a feather-mantle not fit for a mortal to bear.

[Narration] (Angel)

Not easily wrested from the sky-traversing spirit,
I ask you to leave it where you found it.

(fisherman)

How! Is the owner of this cloak a Tennin?
So be it.

[Song] (fisherman)

In this downcast age I should keep it, a rare thing, and make it a treasure in the country, a thing respected. Then I should not return it.

(Angel)

Pitiful, there is no flying without the cloak of feathers, no return through the ether.

[Narration] (Angel)

I look into the flat of heaven, peering; the cloud-road is all hidden and uncertain; we are lost in the rising mist; I have lost the knowledge of the road. Strange, a strange sorrow!

Enviable, colour of breath, wonder of clouds that fade along the sky that was our accustomed dwelling; hearing the sky-bird, accustomed, and well accustomed hearing the voices grow fewer, the wild geese fewer, along the highways of air, how deep her longing to return! Plover and seagull are on the waves in the offing. Do they go or do they return? She reaches out for the very blowing of the spring wind against heaven.

[Song] (fisherman)

What do you say? Now that I can see you in your sorrow, gracious, of heaven, I bend and would return you your mantle.

(Angel)

It grows clearer. No, give it this side.

(fisherman)

First tell me your nature, who are you, Tennin? Give payment with the dance of the Tennin, and I will return you your mantle.

(Angel)

Readily and gladly, and then I return into heaven. You shall have what pleasure you will, and I will leave a dance here, a joy to be new among men and to be memorial dancing.

[Narration] (Angel)

and I will leave a dance here, a joy to be new among men and to be memorial dancing. Learn then this dance that can turn the palace of the moon.

5.

[Narration]

The young sprite now is arrayed, she assumes the curious mantle;
watch how she moves in the donce of the rainbow-feathered garment.
The heavenly feather-robe moves in accord with the wind.
The sleeves of flowers are being wet with the rain.
All three are doing
one step.

[Song] (Angel)

The spring mist is widespread; so perhaps the wild olive's flower will blossom in the infinitely unreachable moon. Her flowery head-ornament is putting on colour; this truly is sign of the spring. Not sky is here, but the beauty; and even here comes the heavenly, wonderful wind. O blow, shut the accustomed path of the clouds. O, you in the form of a maid, grant us the favour of your delaying. The pine-waste of Miwo puts on the colour of spring. The bay of Kiyomi lies clear before the snow upon Fuji. Are not all these presages of the spring? There are but few ripples beneath the piny wind. It is quiet along the shore.

6.

[Narration]

The red sun blots on the sky the line of the colour-drenched mountains. The flower rain in a gust; it is no racking storm that comes over this green moor, which afloat, as it would seem, in these garment.
Wonderful is the sleeve of the white cloud, whirling snow here.

7.

[Chorus]

Namu, Kimyo Gattenshi. Honji Daiseishi. (Prayer to angels of the moon)

[Narration]

Many are the robes thou hast, now of the sky's colour itself, and now a green garment.
And now the robe of mist, presaging spring, a colour-smell as this wonderful maiden's skirt — left, right, left!
The rustling of flowers, the putting on of the feathery sleeve;
they bend in air with the dancing.

[Chorus]

a colour-smell as this wonderful maiden's skirt

[Narration]

Many are the joys in the east.
She who is the colour-person of the moon
takes her middle-night in the sky. She marks her three fives with this dancing,
as a shadow of all fulfillments.

[Chorus]

The circled vows are at full.

[Song] (fisherman)

Many are the joys in the east. She who is the colour-person of the moon takes her middle-night in the sky. She marks her three fives with this dancing, as a shadow of all fulfillments. Give the seven jewels of rain and all of the treasure, you who go from us.

7b.

[Narration]

After a little time,
can the mantle be upon the wind
that was spread over Matsubara
or over Ashitaka the mountain, though the clouds lie in its heaven like a plain awash with sea.
Fuji is gone; the great peak of Fuji is blotted out little by little.

8.

[Song] (fisherman)

the great peak of Fuji is blotted out little by little.

8b.

[Narration]

It melts into the upper mist. In this way she is lost to sight.

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