ACT VII.

Would you amuse yourself with flowers, gather the fair ones of Gion. There, to the east, south, north, and west, it shines as brightly as if the Amida’s Paradise were gilded over and over again. The bright array of dancers and other women would deprive the genteelest of his senses and make him no better than a dunce.

(Enter Ono Kudayu and Sagisaka Bannai).

Kudayu. Please, show me in. Is not the host in? Host, host.

Host. How busy I am kept! What fellow is it? Who is the gentleman? Ah, Master Ono Kudayu! You asking to be shown in, why, you surprise me.

Kudayu. No, I have brought a gentleman who comes here for the first time. You appear to be in great bustle. Have you a room that I can take the gentleman into?

Host. Oh, yes, sir. The wealthy Mr. Yura has this evening had all the well-known women brought together so that the rooms on the ground floor are completely occupied; but the out-room is vacant.

Kudayu. That, I suppose, is full of cobwebs.

Host. There you are, sarcastic as usual.

Kudayu. No, I mean that at my age I must take care not to be caught in women’s toils.

Host. Now that is too much. I cannot leave you down here; and so up the stairs with you. Hi, waitresses, bring lights, wine-cups, and tobacco-trays.

Recitative. As he calls out in a loud voice, the sounds of drums and samisen[1] are heard within.

Kudayu. What do you think, Master Bannai? Do you see how Yuranosuke is carrying on?

Bannai. Master Kudayu, I think he must be mad. Though we received many private reports from you, even my master Moronao did not believe he was so far gone as that and told me to come up to the Capital and inquire, and to let him know at once if there was any cause for suspicion Well, well, I am now quite convinced that you were right. And his son Rikiya, what has become of him?

Kudayu. The fellow comes here sometimes and is as dissipated as his father. What puzzles me is that they feel no reserve before each other. I came here this evening determined to get to the very bottom of the affair. I will speak to you privately. Now, let us go upstairs.

Bannai. After you.

Kudayu. Then, come this way.

Recitative. A song is heard within.

(Enter Yazama Jutaro, Senzaki Yagoro, and Takemori Kitahachi).

Jutaro. Master Yagoro and Master Kitahachi, this is the tea-house Ichiriki, where Master Yuranosuke takes his pleasure. Oh, Heiyemon, we will call you when the time comes. Go and wait in the kitchen.

Heiyemon. Yes, sir. I beg you will speak for me.

Jutaro. Will some one please come to the door?

Waitress. Yes, sir; and who are you?

Jutaro. Oh, we have come on business to Master Yuranosuke. Go in and tell him that we are Yazama Jutaro, Senzaki Yagoro, and Takemori Kitahachi; that though we sent messengers several times asking him to come to us, he would not return home and so we have all three repaired hither and beg him to see us as we have something on which we must consult him. Please, do not forget to tell him.

Waitress. Then I am sorry for you, for he has kept drinking since the third of the moon and even if you saw him, you will find he is not in his senses. His usual spirit is gone.

Jutaro. Do you hear that, Master Yagoro?

Yagoro. Yes, I hear and am astonished. I thought at first that it was a scheme to put the enemy off the scent; but now he gives himself too much to pleasures and I cannot understand it.

Kitahachi. Is it not as I said? Has not his spirit changed completely? Let us break into his room and......

Yagoro. No, no, let us first speak to him.

Kitahachi. Very well; then we will wait here.

Jutaro. Well, but please say to him as I told you.

Waitress. Yes, sir.

Women. Come where I clap my hands; here I clap them.

Yuranosuke. I’ll catch you; I’ll catch you.

Women. Not yet, not yet, Blindman Yura.

Yuranosuke. I’ll catch you and make you drink. Here, I’ve caught you. Now for wine. Bring the wine-holder.

Jutaro. No, Master Yuranosuke, I am Yazama Jutaro. What are you going to do?

Yuranosuke. Great Heavens, I have made a mistake!

Woman. Oh, we are sorry. What fierce-looking samurai they are, Miss Sakae! Are they his friends?

Sakae. I suppose so. They all look very dreadful.

Jutaro. Ah, you women. We have come on business to Master Oboshi, and we should like you to leave us for a while.

Woman. I thought it would be so.

Sakae. Master Yura, we will go in, and you will come soon. We leave you, sirs.

Jutaro. Master Yuranosuke, I am Yazama Jutaro.

Kitahachi. And I, Takemori Kitahachi.

Yagoro. And I, Senzaki Yagoro, wait upon you. Are you now awake?

Yuranosuke. You are all welcome, gentlemen. And why........

Jutaro. When shall we start for Kamakura?

Yuranosuke. Well, then it is an important thing you come to ask me. Says the song in Tamba no Yosaku:[2] “When you go to the City of Yedo....” Ha, ha, ha! Pardon me; I am talking foolishly.

Jutaro. No, wine reveals a man’s true character. If you are not in your right senses, we three will make you sober.

Heiyemon. Oh, do not act rashly. As I should like, by your leave, to say a few words, pray, wait a while. Master Yuranosuke, I am Teraoka Heiyemon. It gives me great joy to see Your Honour in such excellent health.

Yuranosuke. Humph, Teraoka Heiyemon? Ah, yes. You are the light-footed ashigaru:[3], who was sent on an errand to the North?

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.

Rikiya. An express messenger has just brought a secret letter from Lady Kaoyo.

Yuranosuke. Was there no verbal message, besides?

Rikiya. Our enemy Kono Moronao’s application for permission to return to his province has been granted and he will shortly start for home. The message added that the particulars would be found in the letter.

Yuranosuke. Very well. You will go home and send a palanquin for me in the night. Now, go.

Recitative. Without a moment’s hesitation, he runs back towards Yamashina. Anxious to see what the letter might say, Yuranosuke is about to open it, when Kudayu calls to him.

Kudayu. Master Oboshi, Master Yura, it is Ono Kudayu. I wish to see you.

Yuranosuke. Ah, it is a long, long time; we have not met for a year, and have grown old, very old. Have you come here to stretch out those wrinkles on your forehead? Oh, you old reprobate!

Kudayu. Master Yura, in a great deed, they say, little defects are overlooked. Your dissipation here in defiance of evil tongues will be the foundation of your great deed. I think you a fine man of great promise.

Yuranosuke. Ha, ha, you drive me hard, hard as a catapult. But leave it alone.

Kudayu. No, Master Yuranosuke, don’t sham. Your dissipation really looks like a scheme to attack the enemy.

Yuranosuke. You surprise me. But thank you. I thought you would laugh at me as a fool and a madman for taking to pleasures when I am over forty years of age; but no, you look upon it as a scheme to attack the enemy. Master Kudayu, I am delighted.

Kudayu. Have you, then, no intention of avenging our lord’s death?

Yuranosuke. Not a jot, not a jot. When we handed over the mansion and the domain, I said I would die fighting in the castle; but that was only said to please Lady Kaoyo. You left the room at the time, saying that we were acting like rebels to the Shogun; and after that, we swaggered on, fools that we were; but we could not come to a decision. We said we would slay ourselves before our lord’s tomb, and we stole out by the back gate. It is entirely owing to you that I am now enjoying these gay pleasures. I do not forget our old friendship. Don’t be so formal, but be more at ease.

Kudayu. Yes, as I think of it, I, too, was a hypocrite in the old days. I will show my true nature and drink with you. Come, Master Yura, it is a long time since we drank together. Give me your cup; are you going to ask it back as they do at parties? Go on pouring and I’ll drink, and go on drinking and I’ll pour. Accept this fish that I am going to give you.

Recitative. He takes up a piece of octopus that he sees beside him and places it before Yuranosuke.

Yuranosuke. I put out my hand to receive the octopus’ foot. Thank you.

Recitative. As he raises it to his head and is about to eat it, Kudayu takes hold of his hand.

Kudayu. Hear me, Master Yuranosuke; to-morrow will be the anniversary of our Lord Enya Hangwan’s demise. They say that the eve of that day should be especially kept holy; and yet will you eat this fish without hesitation?

Yuranosuke. Yes, certainly. Or is it that you have had tidings that our Lord Enya has turned into an octopus? What a querulous man you are, to be sure! You and I are ronin now because of Lord Enya’s indiscretion. I may bear him grudge; but I have not the least wish to abstain from animal food on his account. I eat with great pleasure the fish you are good enough to give me.

Recitative. And he coolly eats it at a mouthful; and the crafty Kudayu is so astonished that he remains speechless.

Yuranosuke. With such poor fish we cannot drink. We will have a fowl killed and broiled. Come with me within and we will make the women sing.

Recitative. He goes staggering in exhilaration. Music is heard within.

Yuranosuke. You little vixens, see if I don’t make you drunk.

Recitative. Amid the noise he goes in. Sagisaka Bannai, who has been watching the whole time, comes downstairs.

Bannai. Master Kudayu, I have been carefully observing. From one who does not refrain from animal food on the anniversary of his master’s death, revenge is not to be dreamt of. I will report it to my master Moronao and make him open the gates that he keeps strictly guarded.

Kudayu. Yes, there is no longer need for guard. See, he has forgotten his sword.

Bannai. Indeed! it truly proves what a great fool he is. Let us look at this soul of a samurai. Why, it is rusted all over.

Kudayu. Ha, ha, ha! It shows his true nature more clearly still; and you may now rest at ease. Let Kudayu’s servants bring his palanquin.

Recitative. They bring the palanquin.

Kudayu. Now, Master Bannai, please, get in.

Bannai. You are old; please, get in.

Kudayu. Then, by your leave.

Recitative. He gets in.

Bannai. By the bye, Master Kudayu, I hear Kanpei’s wife is in service here. Do you not know her? Master Kudayu, Master Kudayu.

Recitative. He receives no answer.

Bannai. This is strange!

Recitative. He lifts the screen of the palanquin and sees inside a fair-sized stepping-stone.

Bannai. What is this? Has Kudayu turned into a Matsura[4] Sayo-hime?

Recitative. As he looks around, he hears a voice from under the verandah.

Kudayu. Here, Master Bannai. I have slipped out of the palanquin, because the letter that Rikiya brought a while ago makes me uneasy. I will watch and let you know afterwards. Do you walk by the palanquin as if I were still in it.

Bannai. Very well.

Recitative. He nods and slowly walks by the palanquin as if there were some one in it. On the upper floor appears Okaru, Kanpei’s wife, to cool her flushed face. She is already used to her new life, and she cheers her spirits in the breeze that blows towards her.

Yuranosuke. I shall come back directly. I, a samurai, have forgotten to bring my precious sword. While I am away, hang straight the kakemono and put some charcoal in the brazier.

Okaru. Oh, take care, you must not tread on that samisen there and break it.

Yuranosuke. Dear me, Kudayu appears to have gone.

Recitative. A song is heard within.

Recitative. Yuranosuke Illustration: Okaru sitting holding a mirror looks around and, by the light of the hanging lantern, he reads Lady Kaoyo’s letter which tells in detail the enemy’s condition. Being a woman’s Illustration: Yuranosuke reading a long letter; Kudayu reads it hidden below the deck letter with many redundant phrases he cannot read it quickly. Thinking with envy that it is a letter from some loved woman, Okaru looks down; but she cannot distinguish the characters in the dim light. She thinks of her metal mirror; and bringing it out, she reads the letter by its reflection. Little dreams Yuranosuke, being no god, that under the verandah Kudayu is reading the same letter by the moonlight as it unrolls and hangs down. Okaru’s hair-pin comes loose and falls on the ground. At the sound Yuranosuke looks up and hides the letter behind him; under the verandah Kudayu is still in smiles; and on the upper floor Okaru conceals her mirror.

Okaru. Is it you, Master Yura?

Yuranosuke. And you, Okaru? What are you doing there?

Okaru. You gave me so much to drink and I feel so dizzy that I came here to cool myself in the breeze and drive away the effects.

Yuranosuke. Oh, Okaru, I have something to say to you. With you over there, we are as if on the opposite sides of the Milky Way[5] and I cannot speak to you from here. Will you not come down for a moment?

Okaru. What you want to tell me, is it something you wish to ask?

Yuranosuke. Well, something of the sort.

Okaru. I will come round.

Yuranosuke. No, no. If you go round by the stairs, the waitresses will catch you and make you drink again.

Okaru. What shall I do?

Yuranosuke. Oh, see, happily here is a nine-runged ladder. Please, come down by it.

Recitative. He leans it against the eaves of the lower floor.

Okaru. This ladder is not of the ordinary make. Oh, I am afraid. Somehow it looks dangerous.

Yuranosuke. Never mind, never mind. In the old days you might have been afraid or shrunk away from a ladder. But now you are old enough to come down three steps at a time.

Okaru. Don’t talk foolishly. It feels like being in a boat; I am afraid. If you will not keep quiet, I will not come down.

Yuranosuke. If you will not, I will bring you down.

Okaru. Oh, there you are again at your tricks!

Yuranosuke. You are noisy as a little miss. I will catch you from behind.

Recitative. He catches her from behind and puts her on the ground.

Yuranosuke. Now, did you see anything?

Okaru. Oh, n-n-no.

Yuranosuke. I am sure you saw.

Okaru. Yes, something that looked like an interesting letter.

Yuranosuke. Did you read it all from over there?

Okaru. Oh, how tiresome!

Yuranosuke. Then your life is in danger.

Okaru. What are you talking of?

Yuranosuke. What I am talking of, Okaru? Though it is a stale thing to say, I am in love with you. Will you not be my wife?

Okaru. Oh, stop. That is not true.

Yuranosuke. Well, truth will not take root unless it comes out of falsehood. Say you will be my wife.

Okaru. No, I will not.

Yuranosuke. Why not?

Okaru. Because what you say is not truth that comes out of falsehood, but falsehood that is founded on truth.

Yuranosuke. Okaru, I will redeem you.

Okaru. What?

Yuranosuke. To prove that it is not a falsehood, I will buy you out this very night.

Okaru. But I have a ......

Yuranosuke. If you have a lover, I will let you marry him.

Okaru. But are you in earnest?

Yuranosuke. It is the samurai’s benevolence. After I have kept you by me for three days, you may do as you please.

Okaru. Ah, how glad I am! I believe when you have made me say that, you are going to laugh at me.

Yuranosuke. No, I will go and pay your master at once and settle the matter this moment. So do not be anxious, but wait here for me.

Okaru. Then, I will wait for you.

Yuranosuke. While I go and pay the money, be sure you do not move from this spot. You are now my wife.

Okaru. And that too, only for three days.

Yuranosuke. Yes, I know.

(Yuranosuke goes in).

Okaru. I am grateful to you.

Recitative. A song is heard within.

Okaru is sunk in thought as she feels how fitly the song describes her own position. Here Heiyemon comes in and meets her.

Heiyemon. Are you not my sister?

Okaru. Oh, is it you, brother? I am ashamed to be seen here.

Recitative. She hides her face.

Heiyemon. There is no cause for shame. When I came back from the Eastern Provinces, I saw our mother and heard it all. You bravely sold yourself for your husband and for our lord. Well done, sister.

Okaru. I am glad if you think so kindly of me. But rejoice with me. To-night, though I did not expect it, I am to be redeemed.

Heiyemon. That is excellent. And by whom?

Okaru. By one whom you know, Master Oboshi Yuranosuke.

Heiyemon. What, by Master Yuranosuke? You have long been intimate?

Okaru. No, not at all. I have lately waited on him twice or thrice when he drank, and that was all. He says, if I have a husband, he will let me join him, and if I want to leave him, he will let me go. It is almost too good to be true.

Heiyemon. Then, does he know that you are Kanpei’s wife?

Okaru. No, he does not know it. As it would be shame to my parents and husband, how could I tell him?

Heiyemon. Humph, then, he is a libertine from his heart. It is certain that he has no wish to revenge his lord.

Okaru. Oh, but he has, brother. I cannot say it aloud. I will whisper it to you.

Recitative. She whispers to him.

Heiyemon. Humph, you really read the letter?

Okaru. I read it to the end. Then we looked at each other, face to face, and he began to banter me, and at last he talked of redeeming me.

Heiyemon. After you had read the whole letter?

Okaru. Yes.

Heiyemon. I see now. Sister, your life is doomed; give it to me.

Recitative. And he draws his sword and strikes at her; but she springs aside.

Okaru. O brother, what have I done? As I have my husband Kanpei and my two parents, you cannot do as you will with me. All my pleasure now is to be redeemed and see once more my parents and husband. Whatever I may have done, I will ask your pardon. Forgive me, pardon me.

Recitative. As she clasps her hands to him, Heiyemon flings away his sword and, throwing himself down, sinks into tears of bitter sorrow.

Heiyemon. My poor, poor sister, then, you know nothing? Our father Yoichibei was struck down and murdered on the night of the twenty-ninth day of the sixth moon.

Okaru. Heavens, and how?

Heiyemon. There is something more to startle you. Kanpei, whom you think to join when you are redeemed, has disembowelled himself and died.

Okaru. What? Is it true? Is it, is it, tell me?

Recitative. She clings to him and with a loud cry, sinks into bitter tears.

Heiyemon. It is natural, very natural that you should cry. It will take too long to tell you in full. I feel most sorry for our mother. She speaks of it and cries, and then she thinks of it and cries again. She feared that if you heard of it, you would cry yourself to death, and told me not to say a word of it to you. I did not think to tell you; but now you cannot escape death. For Master Yuranosuke, who is the very embodiment of loyalty, has no cause to redeem you if he does not know that you are Kanpei’s wife; and he certainly is not infatuated with love. Of grave import was the letter you saw; and I am sure that he means to put you to death when he has redeemed you. Even though you should not tell of the letter, walls have ears, and if its contents came to light through others, it would be attributed to your blabbing. It was your fault to have peeped into the secret letter; and you must be killed. Rather than you should fall by another’s hand, I would put you to death myself. A woman who has knowledge of the great plot, you cannot be allowed to escape though you are my sister. On the strength of that deed, I will join the leaguers and accompany them on their journey. Ah, sad is the lot of a man of low estate; for he cannot, unless he shows a spirit superior to others, be counted among them. Hearken to me and give me your life; please, die, dear sister.

Recitative. Hearing these clear words of her brother, Okaru sobs again and again.

Okaru. I thought I had no tidings from Kanpei because he had started on his journey by making use of the money, the price of my service, and I have been angry because I thought he might have come to bid me farewell. Though I am wrong to say it, our father, sad as was his death, was still of ripe age; but Kanpei—to die when he was hardly thirty years old, how sad, how mortified he must have been and how must he have longed to see me! Why was I not allowed to see him? Not to abstain from animal food in memory of my father and husband, it was my evil fortune. Why should I wish to live? If I die by your hand, our mother will be offended with you. I will kill myself; and afterwards if my head or body be of service to you, make what use you please of it. Now farewell, dear brother.

Recitative. With these words she takes up the sword; but a voice cries out:

A Voice. Nay, wait a moment.

(Enter Yuranosuke).

Recitative. He who stops her is Yuranosuke. Heiyemon is startled. Okaru cries out as Yuranosuke holds her hand.

Okaru. Oh, let go. Let me die.

Recitative. He still holds her hands tightly.

Yuranosuke. You brother and sister, your conduct is admirable. My doubts are dispelled. The brother shall accompany me to the East, and the sister shall survive and offer prayers for his soul.

Okaru. No, I will say those prayers as I accompany him to the other world.

Recitative. As she tries to snatch away the sword, he holds it tightly over her hand.

Yuranosuke. Though your husband Kanpei has joined the league, he has not killed a single enemy and will have no plea to make when he meets his lord in the other world. That plea shall be found here.

Recitative. And he thrusts the sword which Okaru still holds between the mats through the floor, and Kudayu, whose shoulder is pierced as he hides under it, writhes with pain.

Yuranosuke. Drag him out.

Recitative. Instantly Heiyemon jumps off the verandah upon the ground and drags out by force the blood-stained Kudayu.

Heiyemon. What, Kudayu? Well, you are rightly served.

Recitative. He drags him forward and throws him down before Yuranosuke, who catches him by the hair ere he can rise and pulls him towards him.

Yuranosuke. The worm that feeds in the lion’s body is such as you. You received a high salary from our lord and great favours as well; and yet you became his enemy Moronao’s spy and reported to him everything, were it true or false. We, forty men and more, have left our parents, parted from our children, and sent our wives who should be our life-long companions to lead a life of shame, all, all to revenge our lord’s death; and awaking or asleep, we ponder ever upon the circumstances of his suicide and weep tears of despair in the anguish of our hearts. To-night, of all others, the eve of the anniversary of our lord’s death when we must abstain from all unclean food and I have endeavoured with the utmost effort not even to utter an impure word, you dared to thrust the flesh of fish to my face; how great was my agony when I durst not refuse and yet could not accept it! How do you imagine I felt when it went down my throat on this eve of the anniversary of my lord whose family mine has served for many generations? My whole body seemed all at once to go to pieces and my bones to break every one, You devil, you hound of hell!

Recitative. He presses and pushes his head on the ground and sinks into tears of despair.

Yuranosuke. Here, Heiyemon, my forgetting to take that rusty sword of mine

was a presage that I should torture this fellow to death with it. Torture him without killing him.

Heiyemon. Very well, sir.

Recitative. No sooner does he draw the sword than he jumps and flies at Kudayu and cuts him about; but the gashes are only a few inches long. He strikes him until no part of his body is left unwounded.

Kudayu. Heiyemon, Okaru, plead for me.

Recitative. He clasps his hands to them. How unsightly is it for him to bow and entreat Teraoka, whom formerly he despised as an ashigaru!

Yuranosuke. If we kill him here, it will be difficult to explain it away. Pretend he is drunk and take him home.

Recitative. His haori is thrown upon him to hide his wounds. Here Yazama, Senzaki, and Takemori, who have been listening in secret, suddenly open the sliding-door.

All Three. Master Yuranosuke, we humbly apologise for our conduct.

Yuranosuke. Here, Heiyemon, let this drunken guest take a bath in the River Kamo.

Heiyemon. Yes, sir.

Yuranosuke. Go.