Heiyemon. The same, sir. When I heard in the North of our lord’s death, I was amazed and hurried home on wings; but on the way I was told that his domain had been confiscated and his retainers dispersed, and great was my indignation. Though I am but an ashigaru, I am bound no less than others in gratitude to our lord. I went to Kamakura to cut down at a stroke his enemy Moronao; for three months I disguised myself as an outcast and prowled after him; but he was so well guarded that I could not approach him. I felt I could only disembowel myself; but I thought of my parents in my country home and thither I trudged in deep dejection. And then—surely it was Heaven that told me—I heard that you gentlemen had signed a covenant for the league. How glad, how thankful I was! Leaving everything behind me, I ran to these gentlemen’s inn and begged them to intercede for me. They called me a brave fellow, a fine fellow, and promised to plead for me to the Chief. And relying upon their words, I have followed them to-day. Moronao’s mansion.......
Yuranosuke. Ah, wait, wait. Why, you are not light of foot, but very, very light of tongue. Why do you not become a jester? Well, I did feel indignant in a slight degree and form a league of forty or fifty men. But what of that? I pondered upon it. If we fail, off our heads will go; and if we succeed, we must cut our bellies. Either way there was but death for us; it was like taking a decoction and then hanging ourselves. As for you, you are an ashigaru with a salary of five ryo and three men’s rations. Now do not be angry. For you who received no more than a dole we might give to a begging priest, to throw away your life for vengeance upon our enemy, why, you might as well give a grand dancing performance in return for a present of a few seaweeds. My stipend was fifteen hundred koku; and compared with you, I might take the enemy’s heads by the bushel and yet not be on a level with you. And so we gave it up. Do you see? Such is the way of the world. And when I hear music going tsutsuten, tsutsuten, tsutsuten, I can hardly contain myself.
Heiyemon. I cannot imagine that these are Your Honour’s words. To me who received only three men’s rations and yourself with fifteen hundred koku, the life that keeps us in this world is the same, and there is no difference in our gratitude to our lord. But what we cannot disregard is the lineage. I know it is rude, it is impudent for a fellow of no worth like me to beg to be allowed to join gentlemen of rank who were qualified to act as our lord’s deputy. I should be like a monkey mimicking a man; but I will carry your sandals, your boxes, or anything, if only you will take me with you. I entreat you, sir; please, Your Honour, Your Honour. What, he appears to have fallen asleep.
Kitahachi. Come, Heiyemon, do not waste more words; for Yuranosuke is as good as dead. Master Yazama, Master Senzaki, we have now seen his true spirit, and let us act as we agreed.
Yagoro. Yes, as a warning to our confederates. Are you ready?
Recitative. As they close in, Heiyemon stays their hands and approaches them.
Heiyemon. Pray, stop a moment, sirs. As I turn it over and over in my mind, it seems to me that the many difficulties he has encountered in his wish to avenge his lord’s death after he parted from him and his indignation at people’s slanders when anxiety besets him on all sides, these he has borne in silence, and he could not under these burdens have lived on till now if he had not kept drinking. Take your measures when he has become sober again.
Recitative. He stops them against their will and accompanies them within. Their shadows disappear behind the well-lighted sliding-screens.
One ri and a half westward from Yamashina runs Yuranosuke’s son Rikiya, all breathless; and peeping within, he sees his father lying asleep unconscious of all around him. If he calls him, he will be heard by others; and so coming close to his pillow, he gently strikes his sword-guard against the hilt. Suddenly Yuranosuke rises.
Yuranosuke. Oh, is it you, Rikiya? Did you sound the sword-guard because you have urgent business? Quietly, speak quietly.