komuso who has been standing outside, takes off his hat and throws it down; and slowly he comes within.
Konami. What, you are my father?
Tonase. Master Honzo, how did you come here? And in this guise? I cannot understand. How is this?
Honzo. Come, it is unbecoming to be so noisy. I have heard it all. I will tell you later how I came here without letting you know. Be silent for the present. And you are Mistress Oishi, the wife of Master Yuranosuke? I thought it would turn out thus to-day and came without my wife and daughter’s knowledge to find out for myself. And, as I expected, you wish to have my head as my son-in-law’s wedding present! Ha, ha, ha! That is what a samurai should say. Yuranosuke, who has no intention of avenging his lord’s death, given to pleasures, a debauchee whose spirit is disordered with excessive drinking, the greatest mirror of folly in all Japan! A frog’s offspring can but become a frog; and Rikiya is a great idiot no less than his father, a cowardly, good-for-nothing samurai. Such a fellow cannot cut off this head of mine. No more of such foolishness!
Recitative. He tramples upon the stand and breaks it to pieces.
Honzo. It is I who will not have him for my son-in-law. You shallow-hearted woman!
Oishi. That is too much, Master Honzo. I will show you if this rusty sword of a ronin has an edge or not. Unworthy as I am, I am Yuranosuke’s wife; and you are such an enemy as I desire. Come, let us fight it out; let us appeal to arms.
Recitative. She tucks up her skirt, and taking down a spear from the wall, prepares to attack him.
Tonase and Konami. You are too hasty. Please, wait.