The people sit on the ground, spread with mats, in the open air, and eat and drink, while they watch the collision of the two mountains of flesh and its momentous22 issue. The exhibition cannot very well take place on rainy days. At the end of a day's performance, all the wrestlers in gorgeous aprons23 march to the arena as the umpire claps two blocks of hard wood, and go through a simple ceremony of stretching the arms in various directions formally. I never inquired what it was for, my childish fancy having been turned toward the aprons, which were oriental gold embroidery-work in relief on velvet24, plush and other kinds of cloth. On the way home the spectators notice on the fences the announcement of the matches for the morrow. At the close of a series of the contests, which continue about three days, the favorite wrestlers go the round of their patrons in tint25 silk garments.
We were fond of listening to story-tellers. The entertainment takes place at night in a public hall. A company of story-tellers travel together under the name of their leader. In the early part of the evening the unskillful members come out in turn, and serve to kill time and practice on the audience. On the platform there is nothing to be seen but a low table and a candle burning on each side of it. A narrator appears from behind the curtain on the back of the platform, and sits at the table on a cushion and makes a profound bow. Then he takes a sip26 of tea, stops the samisen playing by banging upon the table with two fans wrapped in leather; he murmurs27 a courteous28 welcome to the audience, bows repeatedly, and, after snuffing the candles, proceeds with a story. The stories are chiefly humorous or witty29 until toward the end of the evening, when the abler men make their appearance and the tenor30 of the narrative31 insensibly takes on a serious aspect and a tragic32 interest. The comic stories invariably terminate with sprightly33 puns, the tragic in a spectacular representation of ghosts and spirits. An awful tale of murder, let us suppose, has been told in an impressive manner; and while the imaginary murderer and the actual listeners are seeing strange sights in fancy, the narrator unobserved turns down the lights and tumbles off the platform. In the following darkness the ghosts stalk in a ray of pale light; they are the story-tellers themselves in masks, and they sometimes walk down the aisles35 to the terror of those that believe in them. I could not bear the roving apparitions,—I was small indeed,—and took refuge in the lap of my elder companion, much as certain birds hide their heads, and think themselves safe. No doubt such sights as these worked in my infant imagination, and roused in me that dread36 of darkness which is so common with the children of Japan.
On fine days in spring our neighborhood went out en masse on excursion parties. They roamed about the warm green fields at will and gathered in hand-baskets, half dallying37 with the sunbeams, various kinds of wild herbs which are tender and edible38, or they feasted in a charming nook underneath39 the canopy40 of cherry blossoms. The pink petals41 of the full blown flowers, fanned by a gentle breath of wind, visited the merry-makers like snow-flakes; a single flake42 occasionally happening to fall in the tiny earthen cup of saké, held up by one who stopped and talked or laughed just as he was putting it to his lips. The party was wonderfully pleased at that; if they were a poetical43 club or artistic44 coterie45 such little accidents perhaps elicited46 short rhythmical47 effusions from them, which they would pen on beautiful variegated48 cards expressly cut for the purpose. These would be tied to the drooping49 branches, that the next party might pause to share in the sentiment of the present instance. More frequently, however, this is done to leave some token of the culture and refinement50 of the clique51, or to show off the individual's finish of hand and elegance52 of expression. Vanity is at the bottom of it.
We sat on the scarlet53 Chinese blanket, spread on the greensward; wine made every heart buoyant; the happy crew, by and by, sang, played the samisen and tripped "the light fantastic toe." Indeed, nothing could call us home, after such enjoyment54 of a beautiful day, but the reddening western sky and the falling shades of night.
At Imabari we have an excellent public garden in the ruins of the old castle. In spring when all the cherry trees bloom in full force, the scene, surveyed at a distance, looks like the piles of white cloud in the blue summer sky. You must know the Japanese cultivate the cherry-tree not for its fruit, but for the beauty of its flowers. If the tree bears fruit, it is bitter to the taste, worse than your choke-cherries; nobody stops to pluck it. When past the height of blooming, the flowers begin to leave the boughs55 quietly; later they fall abundantly and quickly, and, alighting on the dirt below, cover it like a sheet of snow. Trite56 as this description may appear, it has yet a charm for me; for the happy time I spent under those blossoms, in that mellow57 sun and that soft open air, steals back imperceptibly in my memory.
In the centre of the garden stands a shrine58 of the Shinto gods. The entire ground is considerably59 elevated above the level of the surrounding regions, and stone walls hem34 it in. A belt of deep ditches, which, in the warlike days of old, stemmed the rush of an invading army, girdles the base of the steep walls. The neglect of years, passed in peace, has left it in disrepair. To some of the trenches60 the ebb61 and flow of sea-water have still access, and swarms62 of big fish and little fish thrive unmolested, for none but the people that pay for the privilege are permitted to angle in these fish-ponds. There are also fresh-water moats; the beds of green pond-weeds and duck's meat closely patch the sluggish63, dark-colored waters. Here grows the famous lotus plant of the East. It shoots up its broad umbrella-like leaves in summer, and on the stalks here and there among the leaves open the Buddhist's pure majestic64 flowers.
Having heard that the buds unlock in an instant at early dawn with the noise of percussion65, we, the curious, formed a little party for the purpose of investigating the truth of it. We arose a little after midnight, gathered together the pledged and groped our way in the dark; we could scarcely discern one another. By the time, however, we arrived at our destination, it was close upon daybreak; a party at the further end of the bank showed darkly against the aurora66 of the eastern sky, for the country round was open and nothing stood between us and the sea. We kept vigil intently; for my part I failed to observe any of the buds open; having watched a great many at the same time I really watched none. A clever person instructed me that my whole attention should be paid to a single bud; for which reason I the next time pitched upon one particular bud. I kept my eye on it all the morning, looking neither to the right nor to the left. I was once before provoked at a spiral bud of morning-glory in my garden, because it intentionally67 unfurled upon me when I was looking aside. Accordingly, I took especial care against such failure on my part; but it all proved vain—the lotus bud was too young to blossom!
The flowers are very large; white is the common color, but then there is a rare lovely pink shade. The plant bears edible fruit; the root, too, is counted a delicacy68. By reason of the unknown depth of the black mud, wherein the roots lie hidden, the plucking of them is very difficult; the men formerly69 held in contempt under the name of Etta dive in the mire70 and search for them. The prized article is seen, immersed in water, in grocery stores on sale; no feast of any pretension71 is complete without it. When sliced crosswise the renkon (lotus root) shows about half-a-dozen symmetrical holes; the slices are boiled with the katsuwo and shoyu and are valued highly for toothsomeness.
Some of the wide ditches were filled up from time to time; and in the places where fishes had frisked about or warriors72 tried to float a raft, farmers were now peacefully hoeing potatoes, or pumpkins73 basked74 their heads in the noontide sun. But the castle, being too colossal75 to be pulled down at once, remained entire for a long time, after the feudal76 system had been abolished and the Lord of Imabari summoned to Yedo. Unfortunately, however, the extensive underground powder magazine one morning caught a spark of fire, and all of a sudden the towers and palaces blew up with a tremendous explosion. At that period the Japanese apprehended77 the possible invasion of the "red-haired devils," the foreigners; for which reason it was not to be wondered at that the patriotic78 citizens of Imabari mistook the earth-rending roar and the heavy ascending79 columns of smoke in the direction of the old stronghold for a cannonade of enemies. The panic it produced in town struck terror into everybody's heart; the weak and nervous fell into fits. A drizzling80 rain since the previous eve rendered the streets excessively wet. Splashing in the mud and puddles81, the heroic of the townsmen, with the loose dangling82 skirt of the Japanese garment tucked up through the belt for action, hurried castleward with the utmost speed, with unsheathed spear and sword in hand, to the great consternation83 of the astounded84 populace. I was scarcely of an age to comprehend the dire19 calamity85, yet the scene impressed me indelibly. Soon the vision of foreign hairy invaders86 vanished; the people saw that it was a sheer accident, fearful as it was; but in that ancient lax administration behind the screen of cruel rigidity87, the real cause of it has never been thoroughly88 investigated. Lives were lost in the disaster, for a multitude of servants still lived in the castle. Mutilated limbs and bodies were subsequently picked up in abundance from the surrounding moats; the features of many were too badly marred89 for identification; and as to the severed90 limbs no one could tell which belonged to which of the shattered trunks.
The remaining half-burned buildings have since been destroyed piecemeal91; all that now remains92 of the proud castle is the innermost circle of masonry93, which cannot so easily be leveled to the ground. It is not provided with a railing, and in looking down the steep one feels his heart stand still. The vast prospect94 it commands, extending far beyond the town limits, is superb. A man taking the path directly below the wall appears no bigger than a dot.
Since I have begun a long story about this grand ruin, give me leave to recount a tradition in connection with it. Back in the dark ages the superstitious95 belief existed in Japan, that in building a castle, to secure the firmness of its foundation a human life should be sacrificed. Usually a person was buried alive beneath one of the walls; some declare the efficacy nullified unless the victim be taken in unawares. The chronicle says, that in conformity96 to the above belief when the Imabari castle, was being raised a horrible homicide had been committed. At first the authorities were much at a loss in the choice of a proper offering. One day a poor, decrepit97 old woman, either prompted by curiosity or to beg money of the men, approached the work; little did she dream her life was in peril98; in an instant a sagacious magistrate99 solved the problem. The signal nod from him, and the castle-builders fell upon the crone and, amid her screams, struggles, entreaties100, stoned her to the earth. Henceforward, it is said, in the dead silence of the castle at night a faint, pitiful cry, now drowned in the soughing storm outside, now audible in the dreadful pause, echoes from under the ground. I had the precise spot pointed101 out to me; it lies in the centre of all the outlying bulwarks102; in passing it I always felt a thrill steal through me, and turned that corner at a greater angle than I would an ordinary corner, with the intention of keeping my feet off the buried bones.
In those tyrannical days of feudalism the samurais presumed much upon the commoners of the town. They not only laid claim wrongly to their personal property, but also regarded their lives as of no importance. The samurai always carried two swords by his side, one long and one short, to arbitrate right and wrong in altercations103. Blades tempered by certain smiths were particularly esteemed104; and in order to test the cutting edge, he would lie in wait nightly at a street corner for a victim. An innocent passer-by was ferociously105 attacked and, unless he could defend himself, was wantonly slain106. Such outrages107 actually occurred in places; people, forthwith, seldom stirred abroad nights. Heaven be thanked, those savage108 times are gone forever; the street-lamps light every nook and corner, and the police guard the safety of the citizen.
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1
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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aprons
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| 围裙( apron的名词复数 )； 停机坪，台口（舞台幕前的部份） | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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dallying
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| v.随随便便地对待( dally的现在分词 )；不很认真地考虑；浪费时间；调情 | |
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edible
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| n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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flake
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| v.使成薄片；雪片般落下；n.薄片 | |
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43
poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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coterie
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| n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体，小圈子 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
rhythmical
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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48
variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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49
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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50
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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51
clique
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| n.朋党派系，小集团 | |
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52
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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53
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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54
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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55
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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56
trite
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| adj.陈腐的 | |
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57
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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58
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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59
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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60
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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61
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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64
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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65
percussion
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| n.打击乐器；冲突，撞击；震动，音响 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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68
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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70
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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71
pretension
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| n.要求；自命，自称；自负 | |
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72
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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74
basked
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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75
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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76
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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77
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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80
drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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81
puddles
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| n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 ) | |
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82
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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83
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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84
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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85
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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86
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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87
rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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88
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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89
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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90
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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91
piecemeal
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| adj.零碎的；n.片，块；adv.逐渐地；v.弄成碎块 | |
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92
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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93
masonry
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| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
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94
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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95
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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96
conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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97
decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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98
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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99
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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100
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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101
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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102
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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103
altercations
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| n.争辩，争吵( altercation的名词复数 ) | |
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104
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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105
ferociously
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| 野蛮地，残忍地 | |
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106
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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107
outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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108
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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