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 to Moronao’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 the Rikuto 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.