Tales of Old Japan - Maybe You Like It

At last she lifts her face, and her lover, seeing it all black and sooty, gives
a start. What can be the matter with the girl's face? Tarôkaja, in an aside,
explains what he has done. They determine to put her to shame. The lover,
producing from his bosom a box containing a mirror, gives it to the
girl, who, thinking that it is a parting gift, at first declines to receive it. It
is pressed upon her; she opens the box and sees the reflection of her dirty
face. Master and man burst out laughing. Furious, she smears Tarôkaja's
face with the ink; he protests that he is not the author of the trick, and the
girl flies at her lover and rubs his face too. Both master and servant run
off, pursued by the girl.
The second farce was shorter than the first, and was called The Theft
of the Sword. A certain gentleman calls his servant Tarôkaja, and tells
him that he is going out for a little diversion. Bidding Tarôkaja follow
him, he sets out. On their way they meet another gentleman, carrying a
handsome sword in his hand, and going to worship at the Kitano shrine
at Kiôto. Tarôkaja points out the beauty of the sword to his master, and
says what a fine thing it would be if they could manage to obtain possession
of it. Tarôkaja borrows his master's sword, and goes up to the
stranger, whose attention is taken up by looking at the wares set out for
sale in a shop. Tarôkaja lays his hand on the guard of the stranger's
sword; and the latter, drawing it, turns round, and tries to cut the thief
down. Tarôkaja takes to his heels, praying hard that his life may be
spared. The stranger takes away the sword which Tarôkaja has borrowed
from his master, and goes on his way to the shrine, carrying the
two swords. Tarôkaja draws a long breath of relief when he sees that his
life is not forfeited; but what account is he to give of his master's sword
which he has lost. There is no help for it, he must go back and make a
clean breast of it. His master is very angry; and the two, after consulting
together, await the stranger's return from the shrine. The latter makes his
appearance and announces that he is going home. Tarôkaja's master falls
upon the stranger from behind, and pinions him, ordering Tarôkaja to
fetch a rope and bind him. The knave brings the cord; but, while he is
getting it ready, the stranger knocks him over with his sword. His master
calls out to him to get up quickly and bind the gentleman from behind,
and not from before. Tarôkaja runs behind the struggling pair, but is so
clumsy that he slips the noose over his master's head by mistake, and
drags him down. The stranger, seeing this, runs away laughing with the
two swords. Tarôkaja, frightened at his blunder, runs off too, his master
pursuing him off the stage. A general run off, be it observed, something
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