The women quote a waka (Japanese traditional poem of thirty one syllables) by KAMO no Chomei in Shin Kokinshu (Japanese literary anthology) 'ishikawaya semi no ogawa no kiyokereba (if the stream in Semi is clear)' and then they start to dance.
女たちは「石川やせみの小川の清ければ」と、新古今集にある鴨長明の和歌をひき、やがて舞になる。