Mother. What, are you dead already, my son? Ah, is there in this world another as luckless as I? My husband is dead, my son-in-law to whom I turned for help, has gone before me, and my dearest daughter lives separated from me. This aged mother who is left alone behind, ah, how can she remain alive? O husband, Yoichibei, please, take me with you.
Recitative. She flings herself upon the body and cries. Again she stands up.
Mother. O my son, I will go with you.
Recitative. She clings to the body and sinks on the floor. She weeps there and here she weeps. With a loud cry she sinks and laments at the top of her voice. It is a sight pitiful to behold. Goemon stands up.
Goemon. Come, old mother, it is natural that you should cry; but Master Oboshi will be highly pleased when I tell him in detail how Kanpei died and hand the money he has offered. This money which I have here round my neck, a hundred ryo in all, I give you to offer prayers and hold services for the repose of the souls of your husband and son-in-law. Now, farewell, fare you well.
Recitative. Tears in the eyes that gaze on and tears in the eyes that look back, they part, alas, in a flood of tears.
[ [1]The God of Rice, whose messenger is the fox, to which popular superstition ascribes supernatural powers.
[ [2]About ten o’clock.