Chiushingura, or, The loyal league : a Japanese romance

Front matter

Robert G Sawers

&g

CHIUSHINGURA

Book the Eleventh

•Metrical Version of the Eighth Book, with Notes and Illustration . 180

Metrical Version of the Ballad of Takasago, with Notes and Illustration 188

t Specimen of Original Text — The Author's Preface . 203

The same transliterated into Roman character . . 205

V|l

ILLUSTRATIONS,

[The principal personages in each are named from left to right.]

TO FACE PAGE

Tsuruga-oka .... . . . . i

(Wakasanosuke, Yenya, Moronaho.)

The Audience of the Lady Kawoyo ...... 3

(Wakasanosuke, Nahoyoshi, Moronaho, Kawoyo, Yenya.)

The Meeting of the Affianced ....... 9

(Konami, Rikiya.)

The Brutality of Sagisaka Bannai ...... 23

(Karu, Sagisaka, Hayano Kampei.)

The Appeasement of Wakasanosuke ...... 25

The Quarrel between Yenya and Moronaho . . . ... 28

(Yenya, Moronaho.)

The Meanness of Kudaiu ....... 32

(Goyemon, Kudaiu, Kawoyo.)

The Message of Death ........ 36

(Ishido Umanojo, Yakushiji Jirozayemon, Yenya, Goyemon.)

The Agony of Yenya ........ 39

(Yuranosuke, Yenya.)

The Oath of Yuranosuke ....... 43

(Yazama Bungo, Katayama Gengo, Rikiya, Goyemon, Yuranosuke.)

The Rencontre of Kampei and Senzaki ..... 46

(Kampei, Senzaki.)

The Murder of Yoichibei ....... 52

(Yoichibei, Sadakuro )

The Departure of Karu ... ... 61

(Kampei, Ichimonjiya Saibei, Karu.)

Vlll

Illustrations.

TO FACE

The Distress of Kampei ........

(Kaya [Karu's mother], Kampei [with the deed of sale to Ichimonjiya before him], Karu.)

Satisfaction in Death ........

(Senzaki Yagoro, Kampei, Hara Goyemon.)

The Game of Blindman's Buff .......

(The central figure is Yuranosuke.)

The Dissipation of Yuranosuke ......

(Heiyemon, Takemori, Senzaki — this figure is mistakenly named Onodera by the artist.)

The Device of Kudaiu ........

(Kudaiu, Bannai, two Aa^o-bearers.)

Villainy Defeated .......

(Kudaiu, Heiyemon, Takemori, Onodera (Yagoro), Yuranosuke, Karu, Yazama.)

The Despair of Konami ......

(Honzo in disguise, Tonase, Konami.)

The Reward of Kakogawa Honzo ......

(Ishi, Kakogawa Honzo, Rikiya.) Repentance .........

(Rikiya, Honzo, Yuranosuke, Ishi.) The Proof of Gihei ........

The Adventure of Sono . . ....

The Conspirators' Farewell . .....

Retribution ....

Before the Tomb of Yenya— the last Homage of the Clansmen (The figure with an outspread roll is that of Yuranosuke.)

The Bridal Journey ......

(Tonase, Konami, Fujisan [Fusiyama] in the background.)

Takasago no ura ....

(The Spirit of Takasago, the Spirit of Sumiyoshi, a Crane, and a Hairy Tortoise, with the Pine Tree, emblems of longevity.)

>AGE

74 78

182 191

LIST OF PRINCIPAL PERSONAGES.

N.B. — Pronunciation. Vowels as in Italian, save " u " as in English " put, " full," " bull," &c. Consonants as in English, h being well aspirated.

Bannai (Sagisaka), retainer of Moronaho.

Gihei (Amagawa), agent of Yenya.

Goyemon (Hara), retainer of Yenya.

Heiyemon (Teraoka), a common soldier, retainer of Yenya.

Honzo (Kakogawa), chief councillor of Wakasanosuke.

Ishi (or O Ishi), wife of Yuranosuke.

Ishido (Umanojo), one of the commissioners present at the seppuku of Yenya.

Kampei (Hayano), a retainer of Yenya, husband of Karu.

Karu (or O Karu), wife of Kampei (Hayano), daughter of Yoichibei, sold on his account to the teahouse in the Gion Street.

Kawoyo, wife of Yenya, beloved by Moronaho.

Konami, daughter of Honzo, affianced to Rikiya.

Kitahachi (Takemori), a retainer of Yenya.

Kudaiu (Ono), a disloyal retainer of Yenya.

Moronaho (K6 no), Lord of Musashi, superior and enemy of Yenya.

Nahoyoshi, deputy of the Shogun.

Rikiya, son of Yuranosuke, affianced to Konami.

Sadakuro (Ono), disloyal retainer of Yenya, son of Kudaiu and murderer of Yoichibei.

Tonase, wife of Honzo.

List of Principal Personages.

Wakasanosuke Yasuchika, officer under Moronaho.

Yagoro (Senzaki), retainer of Yenya.

Yakushiji (Jirozayemon), one of the commissioners present at the seppuku Yenya.

Yazama Jiutaro, a retainer of Yenya.

Yenya Hanguwan Takasada, officer under Moronaho, husband of Kawayo. Yoichibei, a farmer, father of Karu, murdered by Sadakuro. Yuranosuke (Ohoboshi), hero of the tale, chief retainer of Yenya.

CHIUSHINGURA;

OR, t\

THE LOYAL LEAGUE

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.

HE " Chiushingura " is, or at least was, one of the most popular and best-known romances in Japan. It is easy to understand why such should be the case, the main object of the

~% tale being to glorify " chiushin " or loyal-heartedness, the supreme virtue of the Bushi class under the old order of things that passed away with the year 1868. The story is, as a mere story, not unskilfully constructed, and the variety of its incidents is sufficient to interest even the reader of the sensation novels of the period ; while to those who still preserve some lingering affection for the quaint and picturesque national life that ended with the last decade, to be replaced by the vulgar and commonplace existence of the day, the following pages, as descriptive of old-

Xll

Chiuskingura ; or, the Loyal League.

world manners and already obsolete sentiments, a portion of a curious mediaeval system that has lasted down to our own times, will not, it is hoped, be altogether unpleasing.

The title " Chiushingura " is hardly translatable, and is a notable example of the Japanese love of a play upon words. " Chiushin " may mean either " loyal-heartedness " or "loyal followers;" and "kura" (gura) signifies a treasury or storehouse, while it is also the first half of the name of the popular hero, Kuranosuke, of the historical episode of the " Forty-seven Ronin," upon which the romance is founded, and which has been so pleasantly told by Mr. Mitford in his admirable "Tales of Old Japan." The translator, therefore, without attempting to render the native title, has chosen that of the " Loyal League," as fairly indicating the nature of the story, and preserving as much of the spirit of the original title as could be preserved in a single expression.

The translation, it should be premised, was made long since, in Europe, without the possibility of assistance; and although it has been revised with as much care as the limited leisure and still more limited scholarship of its author have permitted, there are, doubtless, numerous inaccuracies to be detected in it by those better versed in the language and literature of Japan than himself; for vhich an indulgent consideration is claimed.

The translation is made partly from the text of the abbreviated form in which the story is more commonly met with, but mainly from that of the "joruri " (or musical romance) in which the tale is amplified and adapted for theatrical recitation.

Note to the Present Edition.

Xlll

A few explanatory additions, necessary to make the story plain to the English reader, have been incorporated with the translation, which is throughout, and purposely, a free one; and in sorr.e instances it has been found advisable to leave untranslated, or to translate shortly, portions of the original.

NOTE TO THE PRESENT EDITION.

The whole translation has been revised, and much of it rewritten. Errors in the earlier edition have been corrected, and the present version is, on the whole, a closer rendering of the text now followed than the former one. But it has not been the translator's aim to assist in any way the student of Japanese, and amplification, condensation, and, to some extent, combination and alteration have been practised where judged advisable to meet the exigencies of English readers.

It should be added that the revision has been made in England, without the advantage of the usual native assistance in its preparation.

The text employed differs to some extent from that which served for the previous edition. New notes have been added, and the former notes have been rectified and enlarged. The Appendix has been but little altered.

London, December, 1879.

PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR.*

F you don't eat of a dish, however savoury,

you can't enjoy its flavour, they say ; and Kb

so, in piping times of peace, the loyalty

and bravery of valiant samurahi remain un

noticed, like as the light of the stars, unseen in the day-time, becomes visible only in the darkness and confusion of night ; whereof an example will be found in the following syllabary written pages.

* In the text the whole of the First Book is dignified by the name of "daijo" or "preface"; but the introductory sentence here translated alone deserves that title, the rest of the book being, in reality, a portion of the narrative.

"V|JS»

*

E

Book The First. What Happened At Tsuruga-oka

iFTER the Shogun of the Ashikaga dynasty, Taka-uji ko, had overthrown Nitta Yoshisada, profound peace reigned throughout the land.

His Highness built a palace at Kiyoto, and the fame of his achievements penetrated into every corner of the empire.

All the people yielded to his authority, bowing down before him as the grass bends to the breeze, ^ and the imperial might spread its protecting wings over & the realm.

In commemoration of his success, the Shogun caused a shrine to be erected to the War-God Hachiman at Tsuruga-oka, and sent his younger brother, Ashikaga Sahiyoye no kami Nahoyoshi ko,* to act as his deputy at the inauguration of the newly completed building.

Towards the close of the second month of the first year of the nengo Riyakuo (A.D. 1338), Nahoyoshi accordingly arrived at Kamakura, and was received by the Lord Moronaho, Count of Musashi,

The Lord Nahoyoshi of the Ashikaga family, Commander of the left Imperial Guard.

Chiushingura ; or, the Loyal League.

and chief representative of the Shogun at the Eastern capital, a haughty nobleman, arrogant of carriage, and overweeningly proud of his position near the person of his august master; assisted by Wakasanosuke Yasuchika, younger brother of Momonoi, Lord of Harima, and Yenya Hanguwan Takasada, a baron of Hakushiu, charged by His Highness with the duty of receiving guests, and who were keeping strict ward within the curtain before the shrine. Nahoyoshi, taking his seat under the porch of the shrine, motioned Moronaho to a place on his left, while the two younger noblemen took up their position below the steps by the great maiden-hair tree there standing.* Pointing to a Chinese coffer, which the attendant had brought forward at his command, Nahoyoshi exclaimed : — " Among the helmets contained in this chest is one which belonged to Nitta Yoshisada, who was defeated by our brother Takauji, bestowed upon him by the Emperor Godaigo. Nitta, it is true, was our enemy ; but he was a descendant, in the elder line of the Seiwa family, a Genji house, and it is commanded that the helmet worn by him should not be thrown aside, but placed in the treasury of the shrine."f

" His Highness's command surprises me," cried the Count of Musashi; "Nitta, no doubt came of the Seiwa stock, but thus to honour a helmet worn by him, seeing that scores of feudatories of high and low degree claim like descent, is hardly, I submit, a prudent policy."

"Nay, my Lord, not so," said Wakasanosuke; "it seems to me that His Highness hopes in this way to obtain the submission of the disbanded partisans of Nitta without having recourse to force, trusting to the effect which his generosity in thus honouring their chief will have upon them. Your counsel is lacking both in wisdom and respect."

The words were hardly out of his mouth when Moronaho exclaimed, angrily : —

" Yah! you dare to interrupt me and twit me, Moronaho, with lack of wisdom. Round the spot where Nitta was slain, forty-seven

* Still to be seen.

f I.e., As an offering to the God.

I

M

SB

*

***

9§ g& ml k

A

What happened at Tsuruga-oka.

helmets that had fallen off the heads of their dead wearers were found; who shall tell which of them was Nitta's? and if the wrong one should be thus honoured, what ridicule would be incurred ! Away with you* for an overmeddlesome raw youngster."

The colour mounted to Wakasanosuke's face; but Yenya Hanguwan interposed.

^Kowa! your lordship is r.o doubt right. Still, what Wakasanosuke says is worth consideration. His Excellency, perhaps," he added, glad to avert a quarrel, " will assist us."

" Let the wife of Yenya be sent for," replied Nahoyoshi, in answer to the appeal made to him.

A messenger was accordingly dispatched in quest of her; and after a short interval the Lady Kawoyo, the beautiful wife of the Hakushiu baron, presented herself. Her face was powdered, and the brilliancy of her appearance rivalled the lustre of a gem, as, with bare feet and long sweeping train, she modestly prostrated herself at a respectful distance from His Excellency.

" Lady Kawoyo," said Moronaho, who was an admirer of the sex, "we are much obliged to you. His Excellency has commanded your attendance, pray come nearer," assuming a soft manner as he spoke the latter words.

Nahoyoshi, regarding her, added : — " It is true that we have sent for you. Some time since, during the rebellion in Genko (A.D. 1331), Godaigo Tenwo bestowed a helmet that His Majesty had himself worn;iipon Nitta Yoshisada at the capital, and the latter doubtless wore it upon the day of his death. It is supposed to be among the helmets I have caused to be placed in yonder coffer, but there is no one here who can pick it out. We have heard that the wife of Yenya was, at the time we refer to, one of the twelve Naishi, and if she can recognise the helmet in question we bid her to point it out."

The Lady Kawoyo listened modestly to His Excellency's command, and replied softly : —

Lit., "Draw in your head as a tortoise does."

B 2 u Your Excellency's command honours me beyond my merits. Every morning and evening His Majesty's helmet was in my hands, and I was present at the bestowal of it upon Nitta. Indeed, it was from my hands that the latter received it; accompanying his grateful acceptance with the following declaration : — ' Man lasts but one generation, but his name may endure for ever. When I go forth to battle I shall burn precious ranjatai perfume in the helmet thus graciously presented to me; and if I should die upon the battle-field, the foe to whom my head will fall a prize will know by the fragrance that he has taken the head of Nitta Yoshisada.' "

" Your answer, lady," exclaimed His Excellency, as the wife of Yenya ceased speaking, "is sufficiently clear. Ho! there; take out the forty-seven helmets in yonder coffer, and show them one by one to Lady Kawoyo."

The attendants hastened to obey ; and, opening the coffer, brought out the helmets one by one. After a number had been examined, they came upon a five-fold helmet with a dragon crest, which the Lady Kawoyo immediately recognised by the odour still clinging to it, as the one bestowed upon Nitta by the Emperor Godaigo. The helmet thus identified was delivered to Yenya and Wakasanosuke, who were commanded to take charge of it, and see that it was duly placed in the treasury of the shrine. Nawoyoshi then rose and withdrew, followed by the two noblemen.

The Lady Kawoyo, thus left alone with Mcrcnaho, addressed that nobleman with some embarrassment.

"My lord, pray excuse me. My duty being performed, and permission given me to retire, it would not be fitting that I should remain here longer. I beg, therefore, to take leave of your lordship."

Moronaho, however, coming close up to her, detained her.

" Met, an instant, pray. Your duties to-day are over, and I venture to ask you to look at something I have to show you. His Excellency's sending for you was a most fortunate thing for me, — just as if he were a god desirous of bringing us together. You know that I am fond of putting my thoughts into verse, and, day after day, I have iHMMM

What happened at Tsuruga-oka.

asked Yoshida Kenko to assist me in composing some lines to you, which were to have been sent to you. You will find them in this paper," slipping a folded letter into her sleeve-pocket. "I hope you will look upon them favourably. You might give me your answer now, by word of mouth."

The letter was addressed to the Lady Kawoyo — different enough in face and form from the Musashi stirrup,* from whom it purported to come. And the wife of Yenya, as she read the address, trembled with shame and confusion, yet feared to reproach Moronaho, lest disgrace should attach to her husband's name. At first she thought of shewing it to her husband; but recollecting that it would only make him angry and might cause trouble, she simply threw the letter back without a word.

Moronaho picked it up, quoting a line from the Senzai collection—

" What thou hast spurn'd, is prized by me, For hath it not been touch'd by thee!"

and continued to press his suit, hoping by importunity to compel a favourable answer — but in vain.

"Know you," he cried at last, "that I am Count of Musashi? that on my will depends the weal or woe of the Empire? that your husband's fate hangs upon your decision? — Do you hear me?"

Kawoyo could only answer with her tears, when Wakasanosuke opportunely returned, and, seeing that some insult had been offered to her, cleverly interposed.

" Lady Kawoyo, your duty is accomplished, and. permission has been accorded you to retire. Ought you not, out of respect to His Excellency, to avail yourself of it?" — motioning her to withdraw as he spoke.

Moronaho saw that Wakasanosuke suspected something; and, determined not to show any weakness, cried angrily,

* Moronaho, as Lord of Musashi, had designated himself upon the cover of the letter as a Musashi Stirrup, Musashi being famous for the manufacture of stirrups.

Chiushingura ; or, the Loyal League.

" Yah ! again you dare to thrust yourself in my way. If the lady Kavvoyo withdraws it is by my permission,, not by yours. Kawoyo desires me, according to her husband's secret wish, to instruct him how to discharge the duties of his office with perfect propriety, without which he would be helpless. And Yenya, though a Daimio, seeks my aid; while you, a petty fellow who got your rank through the favour of nobody knows who, take care, and remember that a word from me will suffice to bring you into the clutches of the executioner."

The colour mounted into Wakasanosuke's face at this insolent speech, and he grasped the handle of his sword with force enough to crush it. Remembering that he was within the grounds of the Wargod's shrine, and within the precincts of the palace, he had restrained himself when Moronaho had previously insulted him; but this last trial overcame his utmost patience, and he was on the point of making it a life and death quarrel, when His Excellency's fore-runners came rapidly up, clearing the way with loud shouts for their lord's passage.

In the confusion, Wakasanosuke was obliged to defer the hour, but still treasured the hope of vengeance. Thus, Moronaho, with a good fortune the reverse of merited, escaped destruction ; and the next morning Yenya, ignorant of the ill-turn which his superior had played him, followed in his suite.

Nahoyoshi, meanwhile, returned at a slow pace to the palace, and his authority was everywhere reverently acknowledged; while his servants held their heads proudly erect, and the war-helmets were laid by arranged in peace-betokening order, according to the letters of the I-ro-ha.

Thus a profound tranquillity reigned in the land ; throughout which, not to harm a head-piece became an universally observed rule.

END OF THE FIRST BOOK.

Book The Second The Rage Of Wakasanosuke

;N an evening in the Yayoi* month, Kakogaha Honzo, a man of some fifty years of age, and of matured intelligence, shikkenshoku f of Wakasanosuke almost ever since the tall pines had overshadowed the courtyard of his lord's castle, was pacing to and fro before the sho-in,\ while the servants, muttering together over their task, were sweeping up the dead leaves, and putting everything in due order.

"Yesterday, at Tsuruga-oka," said one of them, "our master was grievously insulted by the Lord Moronaho. They talk of nothing else in the servants' quarters. Indeed, it is said that violence was used towards him."

" Vat, yai!" cried Honzo, breaking in, "what is all this about — what have you to do with such matters ? If your work is finished, away with you, every one."

* " Development month," the 3rd of the late national calendar, answering to the middle of our April.

f Chief Councillor is a sufficiently near rendering of the word.

\ These appear to be anterooms on one or both sides of the Genka. porch, or entrance hall.

Chiushingura ; or, the Loyal League.

Honzo spoke goocl-humouredly enough ; and, just as he ended, the clatter of footsteps resounded in the verandah, and his only daughter, Konami, and her mother, Tonase, came together out of one of the apartments.

" How is this ?" he exclaimed, in a sharp tone, " both of you absent from attendance on your mistress, amusing yourselves instead of looking after your duties. Shame upon you — ten thousand times shame upon you."*

" Nay, father," said Konami, " our mistress is more than usually well to-day, she is now quietly asleep; is it not so, mother?"

" Yes," replied the latter. " But, Honzo, our mistress has just been telling me a report she heard from Konami that our lord Wakasanosukeand Moronaho had words together after the close of yesterday's ceremony at Tsuruga-oka.f Our mistress is very anxious about it."

" Now, now, TonaseV' cried her husband, " why do you listen to such stupid rumours? Have a care, have a care! So our daughter here got hold of this rumour yesterday, did she ? How people talk, to be sure — but the whole thing is ridiculous ; I must go and put your mistress's mind at ease about what you have told her."

Just as he was quitting the spot, however, a warder came up and announced "Rikiya Sama, the son of Ohoboshi Yuranosuke."

"Ha!" said Honzo, "he will have brought instructions about the reception of the guests at court to-morrow. Tonase', hear what he has to say, and inform our lord of his message. And stay, Rikiya and Konami are betrothed ; so treat him civilly. I must away to your mistress."

So saying, Honzo hurried off in the direction of the inner apartments.

" Ah," cried Tonase, approaching closer to her daughter, " your father was always a punctilious man, but in this matter I am not at all of his mind. 'Tis you ought to receive the message, not I. You and

* Lit., " A thousand times ten thousand times." f I.e., " The Cranes' Hill or Mound.''

'530 XXBk

turn wSk vm 55a

\ So

\ nn

)>iH«l«l)liiil>lil— tin -i «■» «•"

• pK

**

*

8:

The Rage of Wakasanosuke.

your affianced would, of course, like to see each other, and be with each other a little ; therefore, you take my place and receive Rikiya — what say you?"

But Konami only turned red, and, although her mother repeated the question, gave no answer. The latter divining, however, her daughter's real wishes, immediately feigned an' attack of hysterics.

"Ai, ta, ta, ta, — daughter, — rub my back, please; I have been fearing this ever since the morning. It is another attack of my usual spasms. Ah ! it will be impossible for me to receive the messenger. Ai, ta, ta, ta, — daughter, — I must get you to receive him instead of myself. Take care to treat him civilly, and offer refreshments. This fit quite prevents me. Mind you offer refreshments ; and, when Rikiya has partaken of them, take his message carefully and make my excuses to him."

With these words Tonase' hobbled off towards the inner apartments. Konami, bowing after her mother with an expression of entreaty, said to herself, " Of late Rikiya has become very dear to me, but what am I to say? How shall I act when I meet him?"

A timid blush dyed her soft cheek as she made these reflections, and her little heart went "pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat," like the tiny waves* breaking on the sea-shore.

Presently, Rikiya was announced, and immediately afterwards entered the apartment, saluting Konami courteously. He was a handsome youth ; and, as he and Konami shyly interchanged glances, they were mutually charmed with each other. Neither could find a word to say, modesty dyeing her cheek with the hue of the plumblossom, rivalled by the blush of the wild cherry that overspread the face of her betrothed; and, the pair being alone, there was no intermediary to bring them closer together, f

" Welcome, Sir," exclaimed Konami, with some embarrassment ; "we

* A pun upon her name, " Konami," i.e., " little wave."

f Lit., " There was no mahura-giydji present." A giydji is an umpire or director in a wrestling match — makura-giyoji, pillow-umpire, is a term for a nakodo, or matrimonial go-between, who is supposed to bring together the pillows of the affianced, as the wrestling umpire (sumo-giydji) gives the signal for the onset.

IO

Ckiushingura ; or, the Loyal League.

hardly know how to thank you for the trouble you are put to on our behalf. I am charged with the duty of receiving your communication. Pray let me know what it is" — approaching her betrothed as she uttered the last words.

Rikiya, however, drew back with an offended air. " Hold ! " he cried, " this is scarcely civil. All the world knows that when a message is to be received, the forms of politeness ought to be rigidly observed." " My lord Yenya," he continued, " informs Wakasanosuke that His Excellency's order is, that both my lord and yours be at their posts to-morrow morning at the seventh hour precisely (4 a.m.), and in everything submit themselves, without failing in any particular, to the directions of Moronaho."

As the words flowed softly like water from the youth's mouth, Konami was struck with admiration, and could not find a word to say in reply : so completely was she under the charm of his address. At this juncture a partition was pushed back, and Wakasanosuke, who had heard the whole conversation from an adjoining room, entered the apartment.

"Oh, I understand — many thanks, messenger. Yesterday, when I took leave of His Excellency, I somehow missed Hanguwan. To-morrow morning, is it ? At the seventh hour precisely ? Good, You may assure your master I shall not fail to be there. Commend me to your lord, and thank him for me; and I must thank you, too, messenger."

" Your lordship, then," said Rikiya, " will permit me to take leave. And to you, lady," addressing Konami, " I beg to express my thanks for having received my message."

So saying, Rikiya courteously withdrew. Tonase' who had all this time remained hidden behind a screen, where, after leaving her daughter upon a pretended plea of illness, she had concealed herself, also slipped away unperceived. Hardly had she disappeared when Honzo entered the apartment.

" Ah, your lordship is here ? I am very sorry to have to remind you that your lordship's presence at the palace is required so early as

The Rage of Wakasanosuke.

ii the seventh hour. It is already midnight. Will it not be well to take some rest?"

" Is it indeed so late ? But hark ye, Honzo, I must have some talk with you, in private. Send your daughter away."

" Do you hear ? " cried the Shikkenshoku, addressing his daughter ; " If we want you we will clap hands. Away with you."

" I was desirous," pursued Honzo, after she had withdrawn, approaching his lord, whose face had assumed an expression of the deepest concern, " I was desirous of being allowed to inquire what was troubling your lordship ? I pray you, tell me everything without any reserve."

" You must swear to me that you will attend to what I am about to say, whatever may be the results, without making a single objection." " Surely, my lord, that is a strange request to your servant ; whose duty it is to do whatever he may be directed."

" So, then, you will not give me your oath as a Bushi." * " Nay, not so, — but first I would ask to hear the whole matter from your lordship."

" Then you will give me your advice ! Nay, but perhaps you would oppose my wishes."

" Is not my lord assured of his servant's respectful attention and devotedness? I will not interrupt your lordship by a single word. I pray you, therefore, tell me all, now ; and be not angry with this fellow Honzo, who will treasure up in his inmost heart whatever you may deign to confide to him."

"Well, then, I will tell you everything. As you know, the Kuwanreit Nahoyoshi came down to Kamakura a short time since, to inaugurate the shrine that has just been completed at Tsuruga-oka. Yenya and I were charged with the duty of receiving guests, and were commanded by His Highness the Shogun to put ourselves under the

* The general name of the military or two - sworded class ; literally "warriors."

f Governor-General of the eight eastern provinces cf which Kamakura was formerly, and Yedo afterwards, the capital.

CJiiushingura ; or, the Loyal League.

orders of Moronaho, a nobleman of great experience in all ceremonial matters. Moronaho took to riding the high horse, and day by day grew harsher and stricter with me, who am one of the youngest and least experienced of all the samurahi in Kamakura. At last his insolence passed all bounds, and I would have ere now cut him in pieces, were it not that the respect due to His Highness has always forbidden me to give way to my passion, and wreak vengeance upon my enemy. But my patience is exhausted. To-morrow, come what may, I will throw back his insults in his face before the whole court. My honour as a samurahi is at stake. This hand shall strike the villain dead. And you, Honzo, beware of attempting to restrain me. My wife, and you too, have often remonstrated with me of late, because of my quick temper gaining more and more the mastery over me, and I know your counsel is good. But a samurahi, with the spirit of a samurahi, I can no longer brook these repeated insults. You will say, I am courting destruction, bringing grief upon my wife. Too true, perhaps ; but the sword I wear, and the dread archer-god to whom I pray, command me to wipe out the insults to my honour. Even though I die not upon the battle-field, if I slay this Moronaho, a service will be done to the Empire, and the name of my house will be saved from infamy. I have spoken thus freely with you that my motives may be known, and that it may not be said of me afterwards that I rushed upon my fate in a mere fit of passion, like a mad fool or a stupid wild-boar."