190 Shadowings 



Then how fearful a thing is the longing of a person 1 

 the grave of Seiza split asunder; and the form of Seiza 

 rose up therefrom and spoke. 



Yanrei ! 



" Ah ! is not this 0-Kichi that has come ? Kind indeed 

 it was to have come to me from so far away ! My 0-Kichi, 

 do not weep thus. Never again even though you weep 

 can we be united in this world. But as you love me 

 truly, I pray you to set some fragrant flowers before my 

 tomb, and to have a Buddhist service said for me upon the 

 anniversary of my death." 



Yanrei ! 



And with these words the form of Seiza vanished. " 

 wait, wait for me ! " cried 0-Kichi, " wait one little mo 

 ment ! 2 I cannot let you return alone ! I shall go with 



you in a little time ! " 



Yanrei ! 



1 In the original : Hito no omoi wa osoroshi mono yo ! (" how 

 fearful a thing is the thinking of a person ! "). The word omoi, used 

 here in the sense of " longing," refers to the weird power of Seiza's 

 dying wish to see his sweetheart. Even after his burial, this longing 

 has the strength to burst open the tomb. 



In the old English ballad of " William and Marjorie " (see Child : 

 vol. ii. p. 151) there is also a remarkable fancy about the opening and 

 closing of a grave : ^ 



She followed him high, she followed him low, 



Till she came to yon churchyard green ; 

 And there the deep grave opened up, 

 And young William he lay down. 



* With this episode compare the close of the English ballad " Sweet 

 William's Ghost " (Child : vol. ii., page 148) : 



" O stay, my only true love, stay !/' 



The constant Margaret cried : 

 Wan grew her cheeks ; she closed her een, 

 Stretched her soft limbs, and died. 



