Standing gathering seaweed on the rocky shore of Koyorogi do not wet
those young women waves stay offshore waves stay offshore.
Kabu frolics, seems to be tangled up in Murasaki’s dance. Kagekiyo
comes into the garden.
KOSASA: Kagekiyo has arrived.
Kabu sees Kagekiyo and flees.
The dancers stand and begin to leave.
Kagekiyo prevents them from leaving, then sits down.
KAGEKIYO: I won’t let you go home until you sing a verse.
DANCERS: Yes. I yearn to see you my love. I yearn to see you. I’d be
thrilled if we could meet if only we could meet if I could see you if only we
could meet.
The dancers dance. Murasaki dances playfully in their midst.
KAGEKIYO: Your Murasaki’s dancing won’t embarrass you . . . she’s
become beautiful.
KURETAKE: Well, who can say... She’s past ten already—it seems there
are some boys who tease her. It’s quite pitiful, as it says in the poem.
KAGEKIYO: What? In this world, with the Heike so rich and powerful
—my own bravery more resplendent than ever...Well, Kuretake, Shall we
have a dance?
KURETAKE: Very Well.
Kagekiyo takes ụp a biwa and begins to play.
Kuretake dances in time to Kagekiyo’s biwa. Murasaki watches,
absorbed.
Oh how precious the preciousness of this day this life the life of a drop
of dew yet still I chance to meet the joy of this day.
