ACT III.

Magnificent is the Palace which Lord Ashikaga Sahyoe-no-Kami Tadayoshi has newly built upon becoming the Governor-General of the Eight Eastern Provinces; the daimyo and the shomyo in their fine court dresses are arrayed as brightly as the stars at night on the hills of Kamakura. For the entertainment the no-performers[1] enter by the back-gate and the guests by the front. The officers for serving the banquet come to the palace at the seventh hour. Dazzling is the glory of the military families.

Now towards the West Gate, preceded by servants lighting his way with a lantern, comes Musashi-no-Kami Kono Moronao with a dignified gait. His air is haughty and overbearing; dressed in a blue garment with large crests, he wears an eboshi[2] which stands up as proud as himself. He has left his attendants at the offices on the way; and only a few servants walk before him. Behind him, with perked-up shoulders, struts Sagisaka Bannai, aping his master’s haughty demeanour.

Bannai. Please your lordship. You are in high favour to-day. Men like Enya and Momonoi may be proud enough at other times; but when it comes to etiquette and ceremony, they look as foolish as a puppy thrown upon a roof. Why, it makes my sides ache with laughter to see them. By the bye, I hear that Enya’s wife, Lady Kaoyo, has not yet given an answer to my lord. Do not take it to heart. She is fair, but I do not fancy her. What, between a fellow like Enya and the most powerful Lord Moronao..........

Moronao. Hush, do not talk so loud. Kaoyo remains faithful, and although I have often, on the pretence of teaching her poetry, pressed my suit, she will not consent. I hear that among her serving-women is a new maid, Karu by name; and I mean to coax her into taking my part. Oh, there is still hope. If Kaoyo really dislikes me, she would tell everything to Enya. But she has not, and I do not despair.

Recitative. While the master and servant are nodding and talking to each other in the shadow of the four-legged gate, a samurai on guard at the gate rushes in.

Samurai. We were sitting on the bench at the gate when Kakogawa Honzo, a retainer of Momonoi Wakasanosuke, came and said that as he desired to see Lord Moronao personally, he had gone to his mansion on horseback; but he found my lord had already left for the Palace. He has come with many servants and desires most earnestly to see my lord. What answer shall I give?

Bannai. It is presumptuous of him to desire a personal interview with Lord Moronao who is so busy to-day. I will see him.

Moronao. Wait, wait, Bannai. I see it all. In revenge for what I did to him the day before yesterday at Tsurugaoka, Wakasanosuke has, while keeping himself in the background, sent this fellow Honzo to humiliate me. Ha, ha, ha. Take care, Bannai. It is still before the seventh hour. Call him here. I will settle him.

Bannai. Yes, I see. Now, servants, be prepared.

Recitative. Bannai and the servants wet the rivets of their swords to prepare for a fight. At a word from Moronao, Kakogawa Honzo quietly enters. He makes his servants lay before Moronao the presents which they have brought; and retiring afar, he crouches on the ground.

Honzo. I take the liberty to address Lord Moronao. My master Wakasanosuke counts it a knightly honour beyond his desert that he should be appointed to a great office by the Shogun Takauji. We are anxious as Wakasanosuke, being still young, knows nothing of etiquette; but since Lord Moronao has condescended to instruct and guide him in all things, he has been able to discharge his duties without mishap. This is due to no merit on the part of my master, but is entirely owing to Lord Moronao’s kindness; and it has given unspeakable joy to my master, his wife, and the whole house. If, therefore, my lord will, as a slight token of our gratitude, deign to accept a few presents from our house, we shall feel most highly honoured. Pray, present the list to my lord.

Recitative. As he hands the list, Bannai takes it shyly and opens it with a perplexed look.

Bannai. (reads). “List of presents. Thirty rolls of cloth and thirty pieces of gold, from the wife of Wakasanosuke; twenty pieces of gold, from Kakogawa Honzo; ten pieces of gold, from the samurai of the house.”

Recitative. When Bannai has read out the list, Moronao remains open-mouthed and entranced. The two exchange glances and stare blankly around them; they look as foolish and awkward as disappointed merrymakers when the summer festivals have been postponed. Suddenly, Moronao speaks out.

Moronao. This is really most kind of you. What had we better do, Bannai?

Bannai. Well, if we were to decline the presents, we should be acting against their wishes, and above all, it would be a great breach of manners.

Moronao. Ah, though I teach etiquette, I do not know what to do in a case like this. Oh, what was I going to say? Well, Master Honzo, there is nothing really to teach. Besides, Lord Wakasanosuke is so clever that I, his teacher, am left far behind. Hi, Bannai, put away the presents. It is impolite of me, but on the road I cannot even offer you a cup of tea.

Recitative. Seeing this sudden change of front, Honzo feels that his plan has succeeded; but still he keeps his hands on the ground.

Honzo. It is now the seventh hour, and I will take my leave. To-day, the most important ceremony takes place in the Palace; and I humbly entreat my lord to honour my master with his guidance.

Recitative. As he rises, Moronao holds him by the sleeve.

Moronao. Do not go. Would you not like to see the nobles sitting around in the hall to-day?

Honzo. But it would be most disrespectful to His Highness for one of my low rank to.......

Moronao. No matter, no matter. When I go with you, no one shall say a word against you. Besides, Lord Wakasanosuke may also have something or other for you to do. Come, come.

Honzo. I will follow you, for it would be rude to decline. Nay, after you, my lord.

Recitative. With gold he has bought his lord’s life, and a crafty servant is he whose calculation has hit the mark; but the path of loyalty and filial duty is straight and undeviating; and straight they all go in through the gate.

Soon after, enters Enya Hangwan Takasada. He, too, has left his attendants behind and keeps his palanquin standing on the road. His retainer, Hayano Kanpei, whose family has for many generations served his house, goes up to the gate rustling in his new hakama[3] figured with sere leaves. He calls out.

Kanpei. Enya Hangwan Takasada presents himself at the Palace.

Recitative. The gate-guard comes out.

Guard. A while ago, Lord Momonoi came to the Palace and asked for my lord; and just now Lord Moronao arrived and also asked for him. They have both gone in.

Enya. What, Kanpei, have they all gone in? I am grieved to find that I am late.

Recitative. With only Kanpei in his train, he hurries into the Palace. From within the Palace is heard the song for the entertainment; it runs, “They have arrived at the coast of Harima, at the beach of Takasago.” While the sound is wafted by the wind to the willow-tree outside the gate, even more shapely than the willow is the maiden of some eighteen summers, with arched eyebrows, her face covered with a hood and her obi tied behind, evidently serving in a strict family, who comes along attended by a servant with a lantern adorned with Enya’s family crest. She stops to rest before the gate.

Okaru. The day will soon break, and you are not allowed to enter the gate. You will now go home and rest yourself.

Recitative. The servant obeys and goes home. She peeps within.

Okaru. What is Kanpei doing? I want to see him as I have a message.

Recitative. As she looks around, Kanpei sees her from behind.

Kanpei. Are you not Okaru?

Okaru. Master Kanpei, I wanted to see you. I am glad that you have come.

Kanpei. H’m, I cannot understand why you are here, alone and unattended at this time of night.

Okaru. Why, I sent back the servant who came with me, and I remained here alone, because I came on an errand from my lady. I was to see you and tell you to hand this letter-case to our lord and beg him to give it direct to Lord Moronao. But, she added, as he must be very busy, it might not reach my lord’s hand, and she had better not send it to-night. But I wanted to see you, and so I said to her that however busy our lord might be, he would surely have time to hand an ode or two to Lord Moronao. And so I hurried here, and I am quite out of breath.

Kanpei. Then, all that is needed is that our lord should himself hand this letter-case to Lord Moronao. Well, I will go and give it to our lord, and so wait for me.

Recitative. Suddenly, a voice is heard calling out within the gate.

A Voice. Kanpei, Kanpei! Lord Hangwan is calling you. Kanpei, Kanpei!

Kanpei. Here, sir. I am coming. Oh, how impatient!

Recitative. As Kanpei parts from Okaru and goes in, out comes Sagisaka Bannai with stealthy steps.

Bannai. What do you say, Okaru? Deep is love’s stratagem. As I saw you whispering with Kanpei, I called him away by pretending that his lord wanted him; was not that finely done? Lord Moronao says he has something to ask of you; and as for me, I want......O darling, darling.

Recitative. As he tries to embrace her, she pushes him away.

Okaru. Come, don’t be so improper. You serve in a house noted for etiquette, and you can be so boorish. How vulgar, how unmannerly of you!

Bannai. That is too cruel.

Recitative. In the dark he makes several attempts to catch hold of her hand. Voices are heard.

Voices. Master Bannai, Master Bannai! Lord Moronao wants you this minute. Master Bannai, Master Bannai!

Recitative. Two servants come out and stare vacantly around.

Servants. Here you are, Master Bannai. Lord Moronao has long been asking for you. What, you, who serve in a house noted for etiquette, run after a woman! How vulgar, how unmannerly of you!

Bannai. Hang it, they say the same thing as she did.

Recitative. He accompanies the servants with a sulky face; and immediately after, Kanpei comes in.

Kanpei. Did you see what I did? That fellow Bannai hoaxed me just now; and if I came and told him that he was wanted, he would have said, “Shut up, it is an old trick”; and so I gave drink to the servants and played the trick that he could not see through. Ha, ha, I had him there beautifully. Now that I have got rid of him, come with me.

Recitative. And he takes her by the hand.

Okaru. Oh, how impatient you are! Please, wait a moment.

Kanpei. What do you say? There is no need to wait, and the day will break before long. Come at once.

Recitative. He presses her; and to love inclined, she is nothing loth.

Okaru. But here are people about.

Recitative. From within the palace is heard the song of Takasago :—“They sit on the root of the pine-tree.”

Kanpei. That song reminds me; let us sit on the bench.

Recitative. And they go out hand in hand.

Recitative. The prelude is sung, and in the orchestra are heard the sounds of the tsuzumi[4] and the drum. They celebrate the long-continued peace and prosperity of the land. Lord Tadayoshi is highly pleased with the entertainment.

Wakasanosuke is impatiently waiting for Moronao and glances into the interior of the Palace. He tightens the cords of his long hakama and grasps with all his strength the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it and cut down Moronao. Moronao and his servant Bannai, unaware that he is waiting, come out and see him from afar.

Moronao. Why, Lord Wakasanosuke, you are come betimes. Well, I am quite crest-fallen; you have beaten me. By the bye, there is something that I must explain to you, that I must apologise to you for.

Recitative. He throws down his sword and dirk before him.

Moronao. Lord Wakasanosuke, hear me while I explain it all. The violent language I used the other day at Tsurugaoka, how it

must have aroused your anger! And your anger was natural, and that is why I wish to apologise. What I said then from some misunderstanding I look upon as the greatest blunder of my life. See how a samurai bows to the floor and begs your pardon! I can do so now because you are a man of the world; but if it had been some excitable bungler, why, he would have cut me down on the spot. Oh, it gives me the shivers to think of it. Do you know, when I saw you turn away, I clasped my hands and bowed to you with gratitude for your magnanimity. Ha, ha, ha, when we age, we turn cowards. Think of my years and I am sure you are not a man to refuse when you see a samurai throw down his sword and beg your pardon with clasped hands. I entreat you again and again. Bannai, come and ask pardon with me.

Recitative. Wakasanosuke, who does not dream that his money was the cause of all this fawning, finds his energy gone and cannot now unsheathe his sword. With the weapon beside him that he was ready to draw, he hangs down his head in deep thought. From behind the low hedge, Honzo watches without once blinking.

Moronao. Ah, Bannai, why is Enya late? He is quite different to Lord Wakasanosuke. He is an unmannerly man. He does not yet show his face here. As such is the master, so there is not one among his councillors who gives careful attention to things. Come, Lord Wakasanosuke, let us go to His Highness. Now, rise; you have seen me apologise, and you surely are satisfied.

Wakasanosuke. No, I do not feel well. Pray, go before me.

Moronao. What is the matter? A stomach-ache? Quick, Bannai, rub down his back. Shall I give you some medicine?

Wakasanosuke. No, I am not so ill as that.

Moronao. Then, rest awhile. I will go and explain to His Highness. Show him into another room, Bannai.

Recitative. Both master and servant force their attentions upon him; and though he is annoyed, he submits and is taken into a room in the interior of the Palace.

Honzo. Ah, now a heavy load is off my mind.

Recitative. Honzo bows to Heaven and earth in gratitude, and then retires into a neighbouring room. Soon after, Enya Hangwan comes to the long passage which leads to His Highness’s presence. Moronao sees him and calls out.

Moronao. Late, late. What think you? Did I not tell you to be here by the seventh hour to-day?

Hangwan. Yes, I am to blame for my lateness; but I think there is still time ere we appear before His Highness.

Recitative. He takes a letter-case out of his sleeve.

Hangwan. A servant of mine has brought this to be handed to you; it is from my wife Kaoyo.

Recitative. He hands it to Moronao.

Moronao. Yes, yes. Your wife is a very accomplished lady. Hearing that I take to the composition of poetry, she has asked me to correct her odes. No doubt, she has written on the matter.

Recitative. He opens the letter-case and reads out.

Moronao

Why, this is an ode from the “New Collection of Odes, Ancient and Modern.” Does she wish me to correct an old ode? Humph.

Recitative. He is wrapped in thought. Then his love is rejected, and has she confessed to her husband? He conceals his chagrin as he turns to Enya.

Moronao. Lord Hangwan, did you see this ode?

Hangwan. I see it now for the first time.

Moronao. H’m, when I was reading it? Ah, your wife is a very chaste lady. Even an ode that she sends me is of this kind, “Let not thy heart go astray unlawful love to win.” Most chaste, most chaste. You are a lucky man. No wonder you come late to the Palace. As you are always sticking close to your wife, you give no thought to your duties here.

Recitative. Hangwan does not know that this insult is heaped upon him in return for Moronao’s having taken back his abuse from Wakasanosuke. He checks his rising passions.

Enya. Ha, ha. Are you merry with wine, my lord? You have been drinking, no doubt.

Moronao. When did you pour me wine? Nay, when did I drink? Even when I am given wine and drink, I do not fail in my duty. And you, why are you late? Have you been drinking? Or have you been keeping close at home? Lord Wakasanosuke, he is so different to you; he is most diligent. Oh, your wife is chaste, beautiful, and writes a fine hand. Be proud of her. Now keep your temper. I am telling the truth. To-day when His Highness is so busy and I too am no less, you can come and say to me with a proud look, “This is my wife’s ode!” If your wife is so precious, no need for you to come here. A fellow who always remains at home like you is often compared to a carp in a well. Now listen to me. This carp thinks that there is no place in heaven or on earth like the well of three or four feet width that he lives in, for he has no opportunity of seeing other places. Then when the well is cleaned, he comes up in a bucket and is thrown into the river. He who knew only his narrow home is delighted to find himself in the river; but he loses his way and knocks his nose against a bridge-pier, which sends his body a-trembling till he gives up the ghost. You are just such another carp. Ha, ha, ha!

Recitative. As he talks at random, Hangwan can endure it no longer.

Hangwan. Are you out of your senses that you talk in this way? Are you mad, Moronao?

Moronao. What, how dare you call a samurai a madman, ay, me, Kono Moronao, the first of all the nobles?

Hangwan. Then, you insult me deliberately?

Moronao. You are tiresome. What will you do if I say, yes?

Hangwan. Why, this.

Recitative. Quick as thought, he draws his sword and strikes him, inflicting a serious wound on his forehead. He strikes again;

but as Moronao lowers his body, only his eboshi is cut in two. Again, Enya rushes upon him, but Moronao dodges his blow; and as Moronao flees from him, Honzo rushes in from the adjoining room and catches Enya from behind.

Honzo. You are too rash, Lord Hangwan.

Recitative. And while Honzo holds Enya, Moronao escapes towards the banquet-hall, stumbling at every step.

Hangwan. I will cut you in two, Moronao. Let go, Honzo, let go.

Recitative. While he struggles to get free, the whole palace is in a commotion. The officers of the palace, the daimyo and shomyo, rush in; and some surround Enya and snatch away his sword, and others attend to Moronao. Great indeed is the uproar and confusion.

(Here the stage revolves)

Recitative. Great noises are heard in the Palace with both the front and back gates shut; and all is bustle with lanterns swinging in all directions. Kanpei, with a startled look, runs back and beats the back-gate almost enough to break it. He calls out in a loud voice.

Kanpei. Enya Hangwan’s servant, Hayano Kanpei, is uneasy on his master’s account. He begs the gate to be opened immediately.

Recitative. A loud voice is heard in reply from within the gate.

A Voice. If you have any business, go round to the front. This is the back gate.

Kanpei. I know this is the back gate; but the front gate is so crowded with retainers on horseback hurrying about that I cannot approach it. Tell me how the quarrel has ended.

A Voice. The quarrel has been settled. For his attack upon Lord Moronao, the first of the nobles, Enya Hangwan has been ordered

to be confined in his own house and has just been sent home in a wicker-palanquin.

Kanpei. Great Heavens!

Recitative. He starts to run to the mansion.

Kanpei. No, no. If my lord is to be confined in his own house, I can still less return to the mansion.

Recitative. As he walks to and fro in bewilderment, the waiting-woman Okaru, whom he lost on the way, appears.

Okaru. Oh, Master Kanpei, I have heard it all; and what must we do?

Recitative. As she rushes up to him, he pushes her away.

Kanpei. What are you crying for? Kanpei can no longer be a samurai. This shall be the end.

Recitative. And he puts his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Okaru. No, please, wait. Have you lost your senses, Kanpei?

Kanpei. Yes, I have lost them. And how can I help losing them? I was not with my master in his hour of sorest need. Besides, he has been sent home like a felon in a wicker-palanquin; and the gate of his mansion has closed upon him; and all this time his servant, lost in love, did not follow him. How can I go before men with my swords on? Let go your hand.

Okaru. Please, wait a moment. What you say is true and reasonable. And who made such a faithless samurai of you? Why, it was I, and I alone; and if one of us must die, it is I who should die before you. But if you die now, who will ever praise your samurai spirit? Now think well over this. First, come with me to my father’s home. Both my father and mother are country-people, but they are a worthy couple. Now that things have come to this pass, look upon it as your fate and please, listen to your wife’s advice, Master Kanpei.

Recitative. She bursts out crying and is soon sunk in tears.

Kanpei. You are right. Of course you are but newly come into service and probably do not know all about our lord’s house. The chief councillor of the house, Master Oboshi Yuranosuke, has not yet returned from the country; and when he comes back, I will ask pardon through him. Come, let us go as quickly as we can.

Recitative. As they prepare to go, Sagisaka Bannai rushes out with his servants.

Bannai. Ah, Kanpei. For attacking Lord Moronao and inflicting a slight wound upon him, your master Hangwan is confined in his house, and his head is sure to be chopped off before long. Now wrench his arms. We are going to take you home and torture you to death. So prepare yourself for your fate.

Kanpei. We are well met, Sagisaka Bannai. It will not be enough for me to kill a fellow like you; but you shall see how neatly this arm of mine can cut you up.

Bannai. Don’t let him speak, fellows.

Servants. Very well, sir.

Recitative. Two of them attack him from both sides; but he dodges them and wrenches their arms with his hands and kicks them down. In their place two more cut at him, but he receives their blows with his sword-scabbard; and as they turn round and come again, he strikes aside their swords with the hilt and scabbard-end of his own. And when the four men attack him together, he sends them flying at once to the right and left; they fall down and then rise and run away in all directions. In hot anger, Bannai strikes at him; but Kanpei dodges and catches him by the neck; he throws him down on the ground and sets his foot upon him.

Kanpei. Now I can do as I please with you. Shall I run you through, cut you in pieces, or kill you by inches?

Recitative. But Okaru clings to his uplifted sword.

Okaru. No, no, if you kill this fellow, it will spoil your chance of a pardon. That is enough; let him go.

Recitative. As she stops him, Sagisaka wriggles out from under his foot and runs away for very life.

Kanpei. Oh, what a pity I let him go! But if I killed him, it would have been a most disloyal deed. We will, we two, live in hiding for the present, and when the time comes, we will beg for pardon.

Recitative. It is already the sixth hour[6]; and across the streaks of cloud in the whitening east, the crows are flying from out their nests. The lovers hurry on their way; but their hearts are held back by their anxiety for their lord’s fate. Such, alas, is the way of the world.