Kano Yuku Wa

(Probably from the eleventh century)

Kano yuku wa, Kari ka?--kugui ka? Kari naraba,--

(Ref.) Hareya toto! Hareya toto!

Kari nara Nanori zo semashi;-- Nao kugui nari-ya!--

(Ref.) Toto!

That which yonder flies,-- Wild goose is it?--swan is it? Wild goose if it be,--

Hareya toto! Hareya toto!

Wild goose if it be, Its name I soon shall say: Wild swan if it be,--better still!

Toto!

There are many old lyrics in the above form. Here is another song, of different construction, also from the old drama: there is no refrain, but there is the same peculiar suspension of phrase; and the effect of the quadruple repetition is emotionally impressive:--

Isora ga saki ni Tai tsuru ama mo, Tai tsuru ama mo,--

Wagimoko ga tame to, Tai tsuru ama mo, Tai tsuru ama mo!

Off the Cape of Isora, Even the fisherman catching tai, Even the fisherman catching tai,--

[Works] for the sake of the woman beloved,-- Even the fisherman catching tai, Even the fisherman catching tai!

Chrysopbris cardinalis, a kind of sea-bream,--generally esteemed the best of Japanese fishes.

But a still more remarkable effect is obtained in the following ancient song by the extraordinary reiteration of an uncompleted phrase, and by a double suspension. I can imagine nothing more purely natural: indeed the realism of these simple utterances has almost the quality of pathos:--