New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-14
SIR EDWIN ARNOLDS NEW PLAY.
PRIVATE READING OF "ADzUMA; OR. THE
JAPANESE WIFE,

JAPANESE WIFE
An uncommon pleasure was enjoyed yesterday ai'e'.
noon by fourteen persons mostly newspaper men, ~
the Office OF Major J. p Bond, at the Everett Rouse
They heard sir Edwin Arnold read the greater part
Of his new tragedy Adzuma or, the japanese WE
The play is not yet published and 1t Is not yes
known when 1t will be published or acted
The tragedy Is founded on an old japanese legend
, creot archer WIS once sent to kill eagle which
vos committing depredaons on the country. I'D Ms
absence a serpent which sometimes TOOK on a hunan
form made love to his wife, and she babe 1t go and
help her husband kill the eagle Just as the snake
liIled the eagle the archer tnnsfxed both with an
arrow According to Buddhist mythology the eagle
and the serpent because OF this encounter must mee9
again In their later forms OF life, Dut II ther ives
are both blameless this second meeting neeo hot "
fatal The soul OF serpent enters into the daughter
NJ the archer and the soul Of the eagle into man.
her cousin.
The mother OF the girl knows the danger OF meet
ing between the cousins and long keeps them apart
refusing her nephew husband for her oaugn'eE
and marrying her to another man "hom sue io'e''
By the Vaccinations OF a william who hates the nus
band the wife and the cousin tue meeunR' "uScu
he also knows is full OF fate Is brought about ana
tho man who was the eagle is melted 10 franuo
love for the woman who was the serpent love
Letter from her is forged by the villain. and the vile
aces no way to save herself from calumny but ~
death She pretends to yield to her cousins suis,
but makes him promise to kill her husband. she
gives etn directions for finding him In bed and cue
ding On his head and she then puts herself IN the
position appointed and her lover kills her instead Of
her husband.
sir Edwin will at present allow only one passage
from his play TO be published this has already been
printed In Japanese paper and he will reserve The
rest TIL he gets q copyright. The passage begins
the story OF the eagle and Is as follows:
Two regns ago
The Emperor Toba rullng-a vast bird
Haunted Shikanokamis craggy head,
In Yamato. A monstrous. snow-whlte Drd;
II spread wings like mid sails Of a Junk: -
lis peak q blacksmith's shears, Its talons t~lnned
Hooks OF black bronze And, when the women lald
Their babes upon the rce-sheaves, ofentlmes
A whistle would be heard among the pines go
AS though a typhoon whlrled and then would laii
The roar OF those wide. terrible. white wings,
Casting their swift dark shadow, and the scream
OF the hungry eagle sw0oping on the babe
With eyes ablaze, and slendng the cry
save for the mothers ears-of that soft prey.
Whose tender limbs the savage talons seized
And bore aloft (; while some ran for their BOWS.
And some flung idle stones: and some made spees
To follow as they might the rav1sher;
mt ALWAYS TO the holows OF the hills
Safe made he fight.
Tho play was written at the suggestion OF Henry
Irving who had heard the story and thought that 1t
had dramatic possibilities. Sir Edwin Will make no
disposition OF II TIL he hears from Mr.. Irving 70
his Judgment OF its suitability for the stage He VIII
sail for England to-day on the City OF New-fork