Illustration: Oishi holding a spear
Recitative.As his wife and daughter rush forward to stop the fight, he tells them to be out of the way and pushes them aside to the right and left. As Oishi bears upon him instantly with the spear, he catches hold of the spear socket and thrusts it away with a twist; and as she turns her body and springs upon him to pierce both his legs, he kicks the glittering blade and the spear falls from her hands. And as she runsforward to pick it up, he catches her by theobiand pushes her down on the mat. Honzo puts his knee upon her; and Oishi gnashes her teeth with mortification. As the mother and daughter look on with palpitating hearts, Oboshi Rikiya rushes out, and before any one is aware that he has taken up the fallen spear, he thrusts it in through Honzo’s left side until it is almost out upon his right. With a groan, Honzo falls on his face. The mother and daughter cling to Honzo with grief and horror; Rikiya takes no notice of them and draws out the spear to give the finishing stroke. But Yuranosuke comes out and catches hold of the spear.
Yuranosuke.Stop, Rikiya, do not be over-hasty. It is long since we last met, Master Honzo. The object you sought for is gained and you have fallen by your son-in-law’s hand; and you are, no doubt, satisfied.
Recitative.Seeing that Yuranosuke has guessed his intention, Honzo opens his eyes.
Honzo.Great has been your anxiety to avenge your lord’s death, and putting the enemy off the scent by frequenting pleasure-quarters,you have gathered together all your confederates. As I think of it, it reminds me that your position should have been mine. Last spring, when the Shrine at Tsurugaoka was completed, my master Wakasanosuke was enraged beyond measure at the insults heaped upon him by Kono Moronao. He called me to him privately and told me all and declared that he would kill him at a stroke in the Palace on the following day. I saw from his determined look that the hot blood of youth could not be curbed. And as I was sure that Kono had insulted him because, being a man of moderate means, he did not give sufficient bribes to him, I went without my master’s knowledge to Moronao with gold and cloths in quantity beyond his station, and fawned upon him against my will, because I had my lord’s interests at heart. When Moronao had received the bribe, he begged pardon of my master, who was, then, unable to slay him, and his grudge against him completely vanished. Moronao’s anger, then, turned upon Lord Enya. That day I caught him from behind because Ithought that if his enemy was not killed, he himself would escape the punishment of death; it was the greatest error of my life that I carried my thought too far. And finding that error would bring trouble upon my daughter, I desired to give this hoary head in atonement to my son-in-law. I sent my wife and daughter on before me, and I begged to be dismissed from my lord’s service on the ground of my flattery of Moronao, and taking a different route, I arrived in Kyoto two days before my wife and daughter. The flute-playing which I learnt in youth was useful to me, and in four days I saw clearly what were your intentions. If I fall by your hand, your grudge against me will be dispelled, and if you will, according to promise, let my daughter marry Rikiya, I will never, not through all our future lives, forget your goodness. See, I beg you with clasped hands. This life of mine that I thought not to give up except in my master’s cause I now yield for my daughter. Oh, have a feeling for the parent’s heart, Master Yura.
Recitative.He speaks, choking withtears; his wife and daughter are beside themselves with grief.
Konami.We thought not for a moment that things would come to this pass. It was only because we were too slow to die that you threw away your life. Hard is our destiny; and I tremble as I think what retribution will fall upon me. Oh, pardon me, father.
Recitative.She falls on the ground and cries bitterly; and in their sympathy for the feelings of the parents and daughter, Oboshi, his wife and son droop with sorrow.
Yuranosuke.Nay, nay, Master Honzo. The superior man, they say, hates the offence, but not the offender; and no doubt you feel resentment since we should have taken marriage and grudge separately and not confused them together. But we must shortly leave this world, and we will now show you our true motive.
Recitative.He flings wide open the sliding-doors which lead to the yard, and there stand two five-storied towers of snow which Yuranosuke has made in anticipation of coming events to foretell his final fate.
Tonase.That snow displays your intention, when you have avenged your lord’s death, to melt away without serving another master. Master Rikiya, too, with the same intention, divorced my daughter; and his apparent cruelty arose really from his pity. I grieve to think I bore you ill-will, Mistress Oishi.
Oishi.You speak truly, Mistress Tonase. To take a wife whom we cannot wish a long, happy wedded life since she must soon be a widow, never was such a matter for congratulation and sorrow together. It was because I did not wish for such a wedding that I spoke so cruelly and unfeelingly to you; how you must have hated me!
Tonase.No, no. In my anger I said that your son had become a merchant’s son-in-law and lost all sense of duty and justice. I am now both sorry and ashamed of it, and can hardly hold up my head before you. Mistress Oishi.
Oishi.Mistress Tonase.
Tonase.This child who is above the common in lineage and beauty, why is it that she is so unfortunate?
Recitative.Her voice is choked with tears. Honzo checks his tears.
Honzo.Ah, how I rejoice that my wish is fulfilled! No need to take account of the loyalty of Wu-tzu-hsiao,[5]who smiled at the insults heaped upon him when he was put to death for remonstrating with the King of Wu. The mirrors of loyalty are Hu-yang[6]in China and Oboshi in Japan; since antiquity up till now, there have only been these two men in China and Japan. To have become the wife of Rikiya who has one of these for his father, it is an achievement for the daughter of a samurai a hundred times greater than sharing the Imperial bed. To the husband of this high-achieving daughter I would make a wedding-present.
Recitative.With these words he takes it out of his bosom; and Rikiya receives it with a bow. He opens it, and what is this? It is not a list of presents, but a guide toMoronao’s house. The porch, outlying blocks, samurai’s room, water-gate, lumber-room, and fuel-shed, all are minutely marked in the plan. Yuranosuke takes it with obeisance.
Yuranosuke.I am deeply grateful. All our confederates are ready; but as we knew not yet the details of the enemy’s house, we postponed our journey. This map is truly as the secret books of Sun and Wu[7]and theRikuto Sanryaku[8]to us. As we have decided to make a night-attack, we will get over the wall with a rope-ladder; and to steal into the house, we will take out the rain-shutters of the verandah and then we shall be in the sitting-room. We will cut it off and attack in this way.
Recitative.While father and son rejoice, Honzo retains his wits in spite of his wounds.
Honzo.Nay, nay, that is an error. Kono Moronao keeps strict guard. All his sliding-doors are bolted and his shutters hasped end to end so that you cannot wrench them open. If you attempt to break them downwith hammers, the noise will put him on his guard. What will you do?
Yuranosuke.Oh, for that I have a good plan. If we are too absorbed, good ideas are apt to escape us; when I was returning from the pleasure-quarters, I suddenly thought of the snow-laden bamboo in my garden and with it the plan for taking out the shutters. I will now show you how I shall do it.
Recitative.In the garden stands a great, stout bamboo bending under the heavy weight of snow. Yuranosuke turns it round and puts the tip under the lintel; it is bent like a bow by the snow.
Yuranosuke.I shall make bows bent like this with strings and put the two ends between the lintel and the sill; and when the strings are cut all at once, the result will be as you will see.
Recitative.He shakes the snow off the branches; and as it falls, the bamboo straightens of itself and raises the lintel. The sliding-doors come off the groove and fall down one after another. In his admiration Honzo forgets his agony.
Honzo.Well done, well done. Ah, with a retainer possessed of such loyalty and military ability, Lord Enya should have been more discreet; and how deplorable was his inconsiderate conduct!
Recitative.As he hears Honzo’s regret, Yuranosuke is reminded of his lord’s hasty act; and when he reflects upon what he might have done if the loyalty he is now showing he could have displayed before his lord on the battle-field, his heart is filled to choking with mortification, and only tears escape him. Rikiya calmly stands up, and going up to his father, bows to him.
Rikiya.Now that, by Master Honzo’s kindness, we are informed of the arrangement of our enemy’s house, I will go down to Amakawaya Gihei’s house at Sakai in the province of Izumi and make arrangements for our equipment.
Yuranosuke.No, no. Everyone knows that I live in Yamashina, and if we muster our confederates here, they will attract attention. When we have arrived at Sakai, we will start thence together. You, with yourmother, bride, and Mistress Tonase, will remain behind and put everything in order, so that you may leave nothing to cause regret afterwards. Do you understand? And then come down by the night-boat to-morrow. I will put on the disguise which Master Honzo has happily brought here.
Recitative.He puts on the robe and the wicker-hat. In gratitude to Honzo and to dispel his anxiety in the other world, he allows in his sympathy this one night of love to the bride. As he goes out softly singing, Oishi, prepared as she has been, is plunged in sorrow; and though she only wishes him success in his undertaking, her heart aches with grief as she refrains from saying much that she would fain say at this final parting. The wounded man knows that his last moment has come, and in his dying agony he answers not the cries of his daughter. Now the link between them is snapped, and they are parted for ever in this world. Loud lament the mother and daughter; and they both throw themselves upon the body and pray for his soul’s rest, —oh, the impermanence of love. The out-goingfeet stop awhile and the prayer to the Amida Buddha is heard in the tunes of the flute.
Illustration: Pipe and wicker hat
[1]A parody on a famous couplet in a Chinese poem:“Snow is like goose-feather, and flying, is scattered;Man looks robed in the crane’s plumage, and rising, wanders about.”
“Snow is like goose-feather, and flying, is scattered;Man looks robed in the crane’s plumage, and rising, wanders about.”
“Snow is like goose-feather, and flying, is scattered;Man looks robed in the crane’s plumage, and rising, wanders about.”
“Snow is like goose-feather, and flying, is scattered;Man looks robed in the crane’s plumage, and rising, wanders about.”
“Snow is like goose-feather, and flying, is scattered;
Man looks robed in the crane’s plumage, and rising, wanders about.”
[2]Refers to the stories of two Chinese scholars, Ch’e-yin, who collected fireflies and put them in a bag to read by their light, and Sun-K’ang, who read by the snow-light, as they were too poor to buy a lamp and oil.
[3]A cord for tucking in the sleeves.
[4]An itinerant minstrel of theroninclass.
[5]A celebrated Chinese strategist of the fifth century before Christ.
[6]Noted for the great efforts he made to avenge the murder of his master Chih-pai.
[7]Famous Chinese writers on military art.
[8]Celebrated Chinese works on strategy.
RECITATIVE.
At Sakai, the largest port in the three provinces of Settsu, Izumi, and Kawachi, whence vessels sail to other provinces, lives Amakawaya Gihei, well thought-of by his townsmen and without a spot upon his reputation. He has amassed wealth; and though he looks a man of moderate means, he is in reality rich. He is tying heavy boxes in his shop, and the skipper of a large vessel addresses him.
Skipper.With this I have received just seven boxes.
Recitative.He shoulders the box and goes out in the twilight, and the master gives a sigh of relief.
Gihei.The weather is fine, and promises a fair voyage.
Recitative.And smoking a pipe, he goes within. His heir is four years old this year, and his nurse is a round-browed boyof nineteen, who plays with his charge for his own amusement.
Igo.Now, it is going to commence. Oh, what fun! “The Crying Benkei.”[1]Listen, gentles all! Here the one to be most pitied is this Yoshimatsu. For he has only a father, and his mother has been divorced and sent away; and that is why I call him the Crying Benkei.
Yoshimatsu.Oh, Igo, I don’t want any more puppet-show. Go and fetch mamma.
Igo.There, you are again unreasonable. I’ll tell master and make him turn you out, too. Since last month the whole house has been turned topsy-turvey. The clerk, why, he has been driven out because he doesn’t keep his eyes open as if he was a young rat or something. The cook was sent packing because she gave a great yawn. And now there are only you, me, and master. I suppose we shall all slip out of this house, for boxes are being sent to ship at times. If we must flit, we will take with us the box of puppets.
Yoshimatsu.No, I don’t want puppet-playing; I want to sleep.
Igo.There, you are going to entice me, too. Very well, I will sleep with you in my arms.
Yoshimatsu.No, I don’t want to.
Igo.Why not?
Yoshimatsu.You can’t give milk; I don’t want you.
Igo.There, you are unreasonable again.
Illustration: Kneeling man facing a standing man and woman
I can’t help it, as we are both boys. This is another cause for tears.
Recitative.Two samurai appear at the door.
Samurai.If you please, is Master Gihei at home?
Recitative.He asks in a low voice.
Igo.Master is in; we are busy puppet-playing. If you want to see him, come in, come in.
Samurai.No, that would be disrespectful unless we are shown in. Please, tell him that Hara Goemon and Oboshi Rikiya desire to see him privately.
Igo.Oh, master, great big men have come.
Recitative.With this cry he runs in with Yoshimatsu, and his master Gihei comes out.
Gihei.Fool, you are shouting again. Ah, Master Goemon and Master Rikiya, please, come this way.
Goemon and Rikiya.By your leave.
Recitative.They take their seats.
Goemon.By your kindness everything has now been arranged; and Yuranosuke should himself have come to thank you; butas he intends to start for Kamakura to-day or to-morrow, he is very busy and has sent in his stead his son Rikiya to apologise for his discourtesy.
Gihei.That is very good of you. If you are to start so suddenly, you must be very busy with one thing or another.
Rikiya.Yes, as Master Goemon has said, we shall start early to-morrow morning; and as my father is very busy, he has told me to take the liberty to thank you myself and to ask if the remaining boxes we asked you for have all been shipped to-night.
Gihei.Yes, the weapons you ordered have been sent one after another by sea; the gauntlets, leggings, and smaller weapons have been put in a long box; and seven boxes in all were delivered to a skipper who luckily sails this evening. There remain dark-lanterns and chain head-bands, and I intend to send them later by land.
Rikiya.Do you hear that, Master Goemon? We are greatly beholden to him.
Goemon.Yes, Master Yura saw that though there are many merchants who receivedfavours from our Lord Enya, Amakawaya Gihei is the only one who possesses a manly spirit which even samurai cannot surpass, and it was natural that he should have entrusted to him this great task. But, setting aside swords and spears, coats of mail and rope-ladders are unusual articles. Did you not arouse any suspicion when you bought them?
Gihei.No, when I ordered them, I gave the makers earnest-money without telling them my address; and when they were made, I paid the money down and took them, so that they do not know who their customer is.
Rikiya.Indeed, that is true. Now I should like, too, to ask you. When you brought home the weapons and packed them, how did you evade the notice of your servants?
Gihei.Oh, that, too, is a natural question. When this task was entrusted to me, I sent my wife back to her father, all my servants I discharged on one pretext or another, and now only remain a fool and my son who is four years old. There is no danger of the plot being discovered.
Rikiya.You really astonish me. I will tell my father and he will feel relieved. Master Goemon, shall we not take leave?
Goemon.Yes, we are impatient to start. Master Gihei, we take our leave.
Gihei.Then, please, present to Master Yuranosuke........
Goemon.Your compliments. With pleasure. Now, farewell.
Gihei.Farewell.
Recitative.They part, and the two men return to their inn. Just as Gihei is about to shut the front-door, his father-in-law, Ota Ryochiku, pushes himself in.
Ryochiku.No, you don’t shut it in my face. Are you in?
Recitative.He walks straight in and looks about him restlessly.
Gihei.You are welcome, father. I sent you the other day my wife for her health; and I am afraid she is a trouble to you. Does she take medicine?
Ryochiku.Yes, she takes medicine and she takes food, too.
Gihei.That is excellent.
Ryochiku.No, it is not excellent. When I was in my province, I received a stipend from Master Ono Kudayu and was fairly to do; but now I cannot even keep a servant. There must be some reason for your sending your wife who is not particularly ill to me for her health. But be that as it may, if the young woman should misconduct herself, you will be dishonoured and I shall have to cut this shrivelled belly of mine. And so I have a proposal to make. Suppose you pretend to the world that you have separated from her and send me a letter of divorce; why, when you want her, you can at any time take her back. Just write me the letter, please.
Recitative.Though he speaks lightly, Gihei sees that he has some plan in his heart; but if he refuses, she will be immediately sent back, and if she comes back, he will be breaking his word to those who entrusted him with the great task. He hesitates in his perplexity.
Ryochiku.Do you refuse? If you will not consent, I cannot keep her a momentlonger. If she returns, I shall squeeze myself in, too, and stick to you and be a burden upon you together with her. Answer me if you consent or refuse.
Recitative.Taken at a disadvantage, Gihei feels with mortification that he is caught in a trap; but he cannot run the risk of the great undertaking being detected. He takes down the ink-slab and quickly writes the letter.
Gihei.Since I give you this, Master Ryochiku, we are no longer father and son.
Illustration: Gihei grabbing Ryochiku with one hand and holding the letter with the other hand
Never again darken my doors. I am chagrined to think that I am knowingly fallinginto your trap in giving you this letter. Now, take it and go.
Recitative.He throws him the letter, and Ryochiku takes it hastily and puts it in his bosom.
Ryochiku.Yes, you have guessed right. I heard thatronincame here in secret, and I questioned Sono, but she says she knows nothing. It made me very uneasy to leave my daughter with a son-in-law who, for aught I know, may do something dreadful. Happily I have had a proposal of marriage from a great family, and we have agreed that she should marry as soon as we get your letter of divorce. And so you are entrapped, and that is excellent.
Gihei.Oh, even without my giving the letter of divorce, if she has the heart to desert a husband by whom she has a child and marry elsewhere, I have no longing for such a woman. Let her do as she pleases.
Ryochiku.To do as I please is the parent’s right. I shall marry her this evening.
Gihei.Now, don’t go on chattering, but leave this house at once.
Recitative.He takes him by the shoulder and kicks him out of the door and shuts it upon him. Ryochiku gets up.
Ryochiku.Here, Gihei. You may seize me and throw me out; but I have received money for preparation from the family she is going to marry into. As you have kicked me when I am flush, you have apparently cured my rheumatism.
Recitative.He is glib of tongue, and rubbing his legs and hips, he goes home murmuring.
It is past the hour of the boar[2]when all are asleep in the neighbouring houses, which are invisible in the gloom of the clouded moon. Several policemen make for Gihei’s house; they carry truncheons, cords, and dark lanterns. Hiding the light, they proceed warily; they summon a servant who appears to be their spy and whisper to him. He nods, and hurriedly raps at the door.
Gihei.Who is it? Who is it?
Spy.I am the skipper of the large ship who came in the evening. There is a mistake in thereckoning of the freight. Please, open the door.
Gihei.What a fuss you make! I suppose it is some trifling difference. Come to-morrow.
Spy.No, the ship is to leave to-night; but unless you settle the account, I cannot set sail.
Recitative.Gihei fears his loud voice will be heard in the neighbourhood, and he rises and without any suspicion, opens the door, when he is instantly surrounded.
Policemen.We have caught you. Don’t move, we command in the name of the Government.
Gihei.What is it?
Recitative.He looks around him.
Policemen.What, do you ask why, you rascal? As you have, at the request of Enya Hangwan’s retainer, Oboshi Yuranosuke, purchased weapons and equipages and sent them by sea to Kamakura, we have been ordered to seize you at once and torture you into confession. You cannot escape. Here, tie his arms behind.
Gihei.Such accusation is most unexpected.I have never done anything of the kind. You have probably mistaken your man.
Policemen.Hold your tongue. We have a proof which you cannot dispute. Here, servants, bring it in.
Recitative.The servants bring in the long box packed in straw matting which he shipped this evening. Upon seeing it, Gihei feels his heart palpitate with apprehension.
Policemen.There, don’t let him move.
Recitative.They cut the ropes and are about to open the box when Gidayu breaks
Illustration: Gihei sitting on a shipping box
loose and, kicking away the servants, he jumps and sits upon the lid.
Gihei.You are too heedless. In this box are various wares and private articles which were ordered by the consort of a certaindaimyo. As her name is marked on every one of them, the name of this great family will become known if you open the box; and if you see it, your own lives may be in danger.
Policeman.This grows more and more suspicious. He will not readily confess. Come, let us do as we agreed.
Second Policeman.Yes, we will.
Recitative.He runs into an inner room and brings out Gihei’s only son, Yoshimatsu.
Policeman.Now, Gihei, be the contents of the box what they may, you have joined the league of Enya’sroninand are, no doubt, fully acquainted with the secrets of their plot against Moronao’s life. Confess all you know; if you refuse, see, we will instantly do thus to your son.
Recitative.The bare blade is pointed at the child’s throat; but startled though he be, Gihei looks unmoved.
Gihei.Ha, ha! You think to question me by taking a hostage as you might awoman or a child. No, a man to the marrow is Amakawaya Gihei; he will not, even for the love of his child, confess what he does not know. I know nothing, nothing whatever. I say I know nothing, and no torture of earth or hell shall make me confess. If you think me hateful, kill my child before my own eyes, yes, kill him.
Policemen.What a stubborn fellow he is! You, who furnished the spears, guns, and coats of mail, forty-six in number all differently marked, can we let you say you know nothing? If you will not confess, we will cut you by inches or slice you still thinner. What do you say?
Gihei.Oh, that is fine. I will be sliced. It is the merchant’s business to stock and sell not only weapons, but everything else from the ceremonial hats of the huge and samurai to the straw shoes of waiting-women and other servants; and if you think it suspicious and make inquiry, there will be no one in Japan secure from inquisition. If I am cut by inches or bound with a three-inch rope, I shall lose my life for my trade and Ido not grudge it. Come, kill me. Stab my son before my eyes. Will you cut me by inches first from my arm or from my breast? Take your choice of my shoulder-blade and my spine.
Recitative.He thrusts his body and limbs before them.
Gihei.You shall see that my spirit is not to be changed by the love of my child.
Recitative.He seems from his look to be bent upon strangling his son; but a voice calls to him.
A Voice.Do not be over-hasty, Master Gihei. Wait, wait a moment.
Recitative.From out the long box comes Oboshi Yuranosuke Yoshikane; and upon seeing him, Gihei is amazed. The policemen all throw away their truncheons and cords and sit down far below him. Yuranosuke sits straight and puts his hands on the floor before Gihei.
Yuranosuke.Your spirit has struck us with astonishment. It is to you that we may fitly apply the phrases “the lotus rising out of the mud” and “the gold mingled inthe sand.” I was certain that such must be your spirit, and entrusted to you the great task. I, Yuranosuke, never had a shadow of a doubt; but among our forty and more confederates were some who were not well acquainted with you. They only knew you as a merchant by trade, and thought they, if you were seized and questioned, what would happen, what would you say? And especially as you had a dearly-loved son, it would be natural for a parent’s heart to be led astray by the love of his child. They discussed it often and grew restless with anxiety. I felt the only way to set my old comrades’ hearts at ease was to show them how determined was your will; and though I knew it was what we should not do, we did what we did to-night. I humbly crave your pardon for our rude conduct. ‘Among flowers the cherry-blossom and among men the samurai,’ they say; but no samurai can vie with you in resolution. Even though one hold one’s own against a million brave foes, such a spirit as yours is not to be acquired. If we make your determination our pattern and attack our enemyMoronao, we shall not fail in our object though he shut himself up in a rock or lay hidden in an iron cave. Among men there are no men, they say; but it is wonderful that there should be such a man in a merchant’s home. Unless we revere you as the tutelary deity, the protecting god of our confederates, we cannot sufficiently repay our obligations to you. In a time of tranquillity no wise man appears. Ah, how deplorable, how regrettable! If our late lord were still living, he might have fitly made you, with your great ability, the leader of an army, or entrusted to you the government of a province. To these here sitting before you, Owashi Bungo and Yazama Jutaro, and Odera, Takamatsu, Horio, Itakura, and Katayama, your action is a sovereign specific for opening their closed eyes, it is as a medicine upon which a great physician has exhausted his resources. We are thankful to you, most thankful.
Recitative.They shuffle back and bow to Gihei three times.
All.We crave pardon for our rude conduct.
Recitative.They press their heads on the mats.
Gihei.Now, you embarrass me. Pray, raise your hands and heads. As they say, try a horse by riding and a man by associating with him, it was natural that the gentlemen who did not know me should feel uneasy. I was formerly a poor man, but through your lord’s favour, I rose to my present fortune. I was mortified like yourselves upon hearing of the Lord Hangwan’s fate, I revolved in my mind various ways of wiping away this great shame; but my efforts were no more availing than those of a turtle trying to stamp on the ground. While I was thinking how powerless I was, came this request from Master Yuranosuke; instantly I complied, and without a thought of consequences to myself, I took courage like yourselves. Poor is the merchant’s lot; had I received but a handful of rice for a stipend, I would have clung to your sleeves and skirts and begged you to take me with you on this great expedition, if only to pour you tea or water to quench your thirst in the fight. Even thatmay not be, and how mean is the merchant’s position! How great are your lord’s favours and the power of the sword! I envy you for laying down your lives for them. And when you serve your lord in the other world, pray, make mention of the little service that Gihei has done.
Recitative.At these sincere words, his hearers’ eyes are filled with tears and they clench their teeth.
Yuranosuke.We leave to-night for Kamakura; and it will not be a hundred days hence before we accomplish our object. I hear you have sent away even your wife and thank you for your great sacrifice. We will enable you before long to call her home, and you will kindly put up for the present with the inconvenience. We now take our leave.
Gihei.Nay, you are going on what we may call an auspicious journey; and I would offer you wine.
Yuranosuke.Nay, but ............
Gihei.But I would celebrate the occasion with hand-cutsoba[3]
Yuranosuke.What, hand-cut! That is a good omen. Then, Owashi and Yazama will remain behind; but those of the advance party will call for Goemon and Rikiya and proceed to the Grove of Sada.
Gihei.Pray, come this way.
Yuranosuke.It would be rude now to stand upon ceremony.
Recitative.Yuranosuke enters within with the two men.
Buffeted between her father and husband, Osono’s heart is darkened by thoughts of her child; she comes with a little lantern and knocks at the door in the darkness.
Osono.Igo, Igo.
Recitative.The dunce awakes upon hearing her voice and comes running to the door.
Igo.Who was it called me just now? Was it a goblin or a wandering spirit?
Osono.No, it is I, Sono. Please, open.
Igo.Still you make me nervous. Be sure not to say “Bah,” like a ghost.
Recitative.With these words he opens the door.
Igo.What, is it you, mistress? You arewelcome. But if you walk alone, you will be bitten by a mad dog.
Osono.Oh, if I were bitten by a dog and killed, I should not suffer as I do now. I am divorced. What has become of you all? Is master in bed?
Igo.No.
Osono.Is he away?
Igo.No.
Osono.What is it?
Igo.I don’t know myself what it is; but early in the evening lots of people came and cried, “I have caught you, I have caught you,” as if a cat had caught a rat. I drew my quilt over my head and went to sleep. And now he is drinking with those men in the inner room, and they are having great fun.
Osono.Well, I cannot make it out. And the boy, is he asleep?
Igo.Yes, he is fast asleep.
Osono.Did he go to sleep with master?
Igo.No.
Osono.Did he sleep with you?
Igo.No; he went to sleep by himself.
Osono.Why did you not keep him company and send him to sleep?
Igo.I would have; but he kept on crying, for he could not, he said, get milk from either master or me.
Osono.Ah, poor fellow! I suppose so. That, of all things, must be true.
Recitative.She bursts into tears at the door; and no sleeve of hers is dry in the rain that falls not from the sky.
Gihei.(within) Hi, hi, Igo, where are you?
Recitative.Thus calling, out comes the master, Gihei.
Igo.Yes, I am here.
Recitative.He runs within, and Gihei looks aslant at his departing form.
Gihei.You fool, go in and wait upon the gentlemen.
Recitative.As he scolds him and then closes the door, Osono holds to it.
Osono.Wait, master. I have something to say. Please, open.
Gihei.No, I have nothing to hear or say. You inhuman woman, you pollute the place. Go away.
Osono.No, here is a proof that I am not in league with my father. Look at it and dispel your doubts.
Recitative.Through the crevice of the door she throws in a letter. As Gihei picks it up, his wife pushes herself in. He glances at the letter.
Gihei.Why, this is the letter of divorce I wrote a while ago. What do you mean to do by returning it?
Osono.It is too cruel of you to ask what I mean to do. You have always known the evil-mindedness of my father Ryochiku; and whatever may have happened, why did you give the letter of divorce? When he brought it home, he told me that he was making preparations to have me married. I put on a happy look to put him off his guard, and then stole the letter of divorce from his pocket-book and escaped here. Do you not love Yoshimatsu? Do you mean to divorce me and bring him under a stepmother? How cruel you are!
Recitative.She clings to him, weeping.
Gihei.Why, that complaint should bethe other way about. How did you take what I told you when I sent you home? I said that I was not divorcing you, but that you should return for a while to your father’s house. He was formerly Ono Kudayu’s stipendiary, I said; and as his heart is unaltered, I will not tell him the reason; pretend to be sick; do not freely get up or lie down, or comb your hair. Did I not say so? and have you forgotten it all? Nobody will propose a marriage to a woman whose hair is always dishevelled. You cannot possibly love Yoshimatsu. Though the fool coaxes him from morning till evening, he calls for mamma when night falls. I tell him mamma will be soon here and try to lay him to sleep; but he will not close his eyes, and if I scold him or look angry, he will not cry aloud but keeps on sobbing. When I see it, I feel as if my body were being torn to pieces. And it reminds me of the obligations I owe to my parents; these obligations, they say, we come to know only when we have children of our own. I look upon these sufferings for my child as a punishment for my undutifulness to myparents and weep with remorse until the day dawns. Last night, three times I took him in my arms and, thinking to carry him to you, went as far as the outside of the house. But, I reflected, it was not for one night only, it might take fifty days, or we might have to remain separated for a hundred days, and if he got again used to you, troubles would follow. And so for threecho[4]fivecho, I walked on, shaking and patting him, and when he fell asleep, I gently laid him down and pressed him to my breast, when in his sleep he groped for milk and tried to suck. Since he yearns for you even when separated for a while, I have no wish to keep you apart for life. But this letter of divorce which I was obliged to write and give to Ryochiku, to receive it back in secret would be an improper act done in defiance of your father; I cannot willingly take it back, and so go home with it. Think it is all over between us, it is our foreordained fate; there need be no more ado if you imagine me dead.
Recitative.Though he speaks resolutely, it is sad to those who know his ordinary life.
Osono.If I remain in this house, your honour will be in danger, and if I go home, I must marry. Upon me falls the whole burden of sorrow. This may be our final parting. Please, wake up Yoshimatsu and let me have just one look at him.
Gihei.No, I cannot do that. But you would have to go away as soon as you saw him, and I have too much pity for your sorrow after parting. This evening, besides, I have guests, and so, without more noise, go home at once.
Osono.But just one look at Yoshimatsu.......
Gihei.How weak-spirited! Think of your sorrow afterwards.
Recitative.He raises her by force and, giving her the letter of divorce, he hardens his heart and pushes her out of the house.
Gihei.If you love your child, make excuses to Ryochiku and get him to keep you till the spring, and then we will hitupon some plan. If you cannot do that, then this will be our last meeting.
Recitative.He shuts the door and goes within.
Osono.Oh, if that were possible, I should not be suffering now. Unfeeling are you, my husband. You not only divorce me, who am innocent, but refuse to let me see my child; it is too cruel, too inhuman. I will not move a step until I have seen my child; I will not.
Recitative.She knocks at the door.
Osono.For pity’s sake, for charity, open the door and let me see but his sleeping face. See, I clasp my hands in supplication. Oh, how cruel!
Recitative.She throws herself on the ground, and bursts into tears unconscious of all around.
Osono.No, I will not complain, I will not grieve. If I saw him for a moment and he recognised me and clung to me, he would not let me go nor could I leave him. If I go home to-night, to-night I must marry; not even till to-morrow is respite given me. Then, farewell, farewell.
Recitative.But still she stands with her ear close to the door, expecting to hear her child’s voice and to see his face. Yet, not a sound is to be heard.
Osono.Ah, there is no help. This is the end.
Recitative.As she gives up hope and runs out, a big man muffled with only his eyes exposed, stops her on the way and seizes her, and before she can cry out, he draws his sword and, alas, cuts off her hair at the