Talking About Stories. Theoretical Preliminaries. The Plan for Rendering the Story. Some Helpful Questions for Further Text Analysis, страница 20

As he sat on the brink of the well, Matsumura kept turning these strange happenings over and over in his mind and there seemed to be no solution for their tragic occurrences. All at once, he started, for something white appeared in the dark water below. It was a very beautiful woman. She smiled sadly at the priest. Matsumura felt his knees melt with fright. He had hardly strength to run from the well. When he had sufficiently recovered from the spell which she seemed to have cast over to him, he called some men to help him to cover the well. They weighed the lid down with great stones and logs, so that no one else might fall a victim to the enchantress beneath.

That night, there came a knock at Matsumura’s door. He opened it and saw the maid of the well standing in the moonlight. In spite of his terror, the priest cried, “Witch, what doyou want? Why have you drawn people to their death? Ishall call on the good spirit to drive you away”.

The maiden stopped him and, holding up her hands, said, “Kind sir, I am no witch. I desired not the death of those good men. I only wanted their help. The water is low. Search for my body and then at last I shall be at rest”.

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So saying, she walked across the courtyard and despite the heavy cover, she melted into the well like a wisp of smoke. Matsumura spent a troubled night thinking on the plight of the phantom maid and wondering what the outcome of it all would be. Early next morning he told his story to the neighbours, who, though they remained doubtful, were willing to help him explore the mysteries of the well. Then they had searched the well thoroughly, all that they found was a mirror covered with mud and slime.

Matsumura did not scoff at the discovery like the others. He carefully cleaned it and found it was made of silver. On the back, beneath an engraving of the sacred mountain, there were inscriptions which he could not read save for a few scattered dates and names. He wrapped the mirror in a cloth and put it away, waiting for the maiden, who, he felt sure, would return.

Sure enough, one evening he raised his eyes from his holy book to see her standing before him again. “Kind priest”, she said, “I thank you for your rescue and your care of me. I am the soul of the mirror. I belonged in ancient times to Lady Kamo of the Court and had been an heirloom in her family for many years. One day however, a jealous lady, in a fit of spite, threw me into that well. After reflecting so much beauty and gladness, sunshine and colour, I lay in the darkness far from human touch. I longed to escape. Oh priest, give me to Lord Yoshimasa, the descendant of my first mistress and I shall be happy again.” With these words, she vanished.

Lord Yoshimasa was the Regent of the province and he was the one with whom Matsumura had long sought an audience. The priest set out with the mirror next day and went up to the Regent’s palace, saying that he wished to restore an heirloom that belonged to the Regent. He was brought into his presence and Lord Yoshimasa was so pleased with the story that he accepted the mirror and readily agreed to the money to grant restore the temple.

Matsumura, his mission completed, returned to his village with the joyful news. The mirror spent the rest of its days happily, for it remained in the possession of Yoshimasa’s little daughter, who treated it with the loving care it deserved.

 

1. What strange belief do Japanese have about mirrors?

2. Why do they hold this belief?

3. What happens to mirrors in Japan?

4. Why was the house in Kyoto avoided?

5. Why was Matsumura able to rent the house so cheaply?

6. What was Matsumura’s purpose in coming to Kyoto?

7. What occurrence brought the people back to Matsumura’s house?

8. What happened after they came back?

9. What appeared to Matsumura at the well?