year still after year flows down the seven rivers ; cloud passes , sunlight glows , reed and willow quivers at morn and eve , but never more westward ships have waded in mortal waters as before , act one few respectable trades prologue no room for hope the aeons ' gate sea of buradan , two weeks north and east of toha summer , late contrary to whatever stories and songs there may be about the subject , there are only a handful of respectable things a man can do after he picks up a sword .