SECOND SHITE Perhaps there will be moon-shine to-night, but the clouds veil the sky; the moon will not break up their shadow. 'Have at them!' 'Ho there!' 'Dash in!' That is the way I would shout, calling and ordering my men before and behind, my bowmen and horsemen. I plundered men of their treasure, that was my work in the world, and now I must go on; it is sorry work for a spirit. PRIEST Are you Kumasaka Chohan? Tell me the tale of your years. SECOND SHITE (now known as Kumasaka) There were great merchants in Sanjo, Yoshitsugu, and Nobutaka; they collected treasure each year; they sent rich goods up to Oku. It was then I assailed their trains. Would you know what men were with me? PRIEST Tell me the chief men, were they from many a province? KUMASAKA There was Kakusho of Kawachi, there were the two brothers Suriharitaro; they have no rivals in fencing. (omotenchi, face to face attack) PRIEST What chiefs came to you from the city? KUMASAKA Emoi of Sanjo, Kozari of Mibu. PRIEST In the fighting with torches and in mêlée-- KUMASAKA They had no equals. PRIEST In northern Hakoku? KUMASAKA Were Aso no Matsuwaka and Mikune no Kure. PRIEST In Kaga? KUMASAKA No, Chohan was the head there. There were seventy comrades who were very strong and skilful. CHORUS While Yoshitsugu was going along in the fields and on the mountains we set many spies to take him. KUMASAKA Let us say that he is come to the village of Ubasike. This is the best place to attack him. There are many ways to escape if we are defeated, and he has invited many guests and has had a great feast at the inn. PRIEST When the night was advanced the brothers Yoshitsugu and Nobutaka fell asleep. KUMASAKA But there was a small boy with keen eyes, about sixteen or seventeen years old, and he was looking through a little hole in the partition, alert to the slightest noise. PRIEST He did not sleep even a wink. KUMASAKA We did not know it was Ushiwaka. PRIEST It was fate. KUMASAKA The hour had come. PRIEST Be quick! KUMASAKA Have at them! CHORUS (describing the original combat, now symbolized in the dance) At this word they rushed in, one after another. They seized the torches; it seemed as if gods could not face them. Ushiwaka stood unafraid; he seized a small sword and fought like a lion in earnest, like a tiger rushing, like a bird swooping. He fought so cleverly that he felled the thirteen who opposed him; many were wounded besides. They fled without swords or arrows. Then Kumasaka said, 'Are you the devil? Is it a god who has struck down these men with such ease? Perhaps you are not a man. However, dead men take no plunder, and I'd rather leave this truck of Yoshitsugu's than my corpse.' So he took his long spear and was about to make off. KUMASAKA --But Kumasaka thought--