Trading Monologues - Mishima

Two men may talk enthusiastically for an hour or so about shared experiences, and yet not have a true conversation. A lonely man who wants to indulge his nostalgic mood feels the need of someone with whom to share it. When he finds such a companion, he starts to pour out his monologue as though recounting a dream. And so the talk goes on between them, their monologues alternating, but after a time they suddenly become aware that they have nothing to say to each other. They are like two men standing at either side of a chasm, the bridge across which has been destroyed.

Then at last, since they cannot bear to remain silent, their conversation turns again to the past.

Runaway Horses, p.57 (Vintage, 2000 [1970])

Spring Snow - Yukio Mishima (Vintage 2000)

p. 18 'They reached the island at a spot where a single maple stood among the pines, and climbed the stone steps to the grassy clearing at the top with three iron cranes. The boys sat down at the feet of the pair that were stretching their necks upward in an eternal, mute cry, then lay back on the grass to stare up at the late autumn sky. The rough grass pricked through the backs of their kimonos, making Kiyoaki rather uncomfortable. It gave Honda, however, the sensation of having endure an exquisitely refreshing pain that was fragmented and spread out under his back. Out of the corners of their eyes, they could see the two cranes, weathered by wind and rain and soiled by chalky-white bird droppings. The birds' supple, curved necks, stretched against the sky, moved slowly by the rhythm of the shifting clouds.'

p. 30 "You remember that the story is set in Tang China. A man named Yuan Hsaio was on his way to the famous Mount Kaoyu to study the teachings of Buddha. When night fell, he happened to be beside a cemetery, so he lay down to sleep among the burial mounds. Then in the middle of the night he awoke with a terrible thirst. Stretching out his hand, he scooped some water from a hole by his side. As he dozed off again, he thought to himself that never had water tasted so pure, so fresh and cold. But when morning came, he saw what he had drunk from in the dark. Incredible though it seemed, what had tasted so delicious was water that had collected in a human skull. He retched and was sick. Yet this experience taught something to Yuan Hsaio. He realised that as long as conscious desire is at work, it will permit distinctions to exist. But if one can suppress it, these distinctions dissolve and one can be as content with a skull as with anything else." [later the conversation continues to what if the lover is the whore.]

p.33 - [About the Marquis 'dispensing useless knowledge' about what wine to go with what food, the different characteristics of wines in the cellar, what wine should be served on what occasion, the type of guest etc.

On Satoko's beauty - p.67 'And her face seemed to glow and fall into soft shadow; alternating with the quick, vivacious movement of her eyes. Alertness of eye is usually considered a vulgar trait in women, but Satoko had a way of delivering her sidelong glances that was irresistibly charming. He smile followed close upon her words, as her glance did upon her smile - graceful sequence heightening the bewitching elegance of her expression.

Satoko as a Gift p.153 ' - "Oh, a bit of dust...," the Countess exclaimed, gazing at Satoko's cheeks. But just as she reached out with her handkerchief to wipe it off, Satoko drew quickly away and the speck of dust vanished. It was then that her mother realised that the dust on her daughter's cheek ahd been noo more than a sahadow cast by a spot on the window. Satoko gave a wan smile; she didn;t find her mother's mistake particularly amusing. She disliked being given a special inspection today,as if she were a bolt of silk intended as a gift.

p.163 - 'He mad e it patently clear that in a situation as this, the emptiest words were those that aroused the strongest emotions.'

p.268 - washing sin with another sin to cancel each other out.

p. 302 - Abbot and young widow scroll

p.338 - The baldness of the nun, and the wig as the last secret weapon against Stoko's decision.

p .384 - Buddhist causality and the sects p.

350 - beautiful and ugly sons of Marquis