RECITATIVE. They attack him from the right and left; but Chikara parries their blows; and after fighting for a while, Chikara sees his chance and deals a fatal blow on Yakushiji’s shoulder and with the same stroke he cuts off Sagisaka’s legs, and Bannai falls down dead. Chikara is praised for his prowess; and the same praise is bestowed on the loyal retainers to the latest generations. And this we write to the everlasting glory of our Lord the Shogun and his House. 14th day of the 8th month in the First year of Kwan-en. TAKEDA IZUMO, MIYOSHI SHORAKU, NAMIKI SENRYU. [Illustration: Samurai hat] [1] A famous Chinese general, flourished in the third century before Christ. [2] The loyal retainers have each of them one of the forty-seven characters of the Japanese syllabary written on their haori. From the coincidence in the number of the retainers and that of these characters, the title Kanadehon Chushingura is given to this play, Kanadehon meaning the copy-book of the Japanese syllabary. [3] The Buddhistic name of Enya Hangwan, which was, according to custom, given him upon his death. 發行所 東京市神田區裏神保町二番地 電話本所長四一〇及二〇一九 振替貯金口座東京二八一六番 中西屋書店 明治四十三年十月十日第一版印刷 明治四十三年十月十五日第一版發行 明治四十四年五月廿五日訂正再版發行 大正六年十二月一日第三版發行 英文 忠臣藏 (亜製) 正價金貳圓貳拾五錢 著作權登錄 東京市 著作者 井上十吉 東京市神田區裏神保町二番地 發行者 山田九郎 東京市京橋區新榮町一丁目廿一番地 印刷者 佐藤保太郎 東京市京橋區新榮町 印刷所 文祥堂印刷所 Transcriber's Notes Typographical Errors: - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - Page xv: ‘avenger’s familiy’ amended to ‘avenger’s family’. - Page 22: ‘RECITATION’ probably should be ‘RECITATIVE’. - Page 60: ‘KAMPEI’ amended to ‘KANPEI’. - Page 132: ‘acompany’ amended to ‘accompany’. - Page 147: ‘HEIEMON’ amended to ‘HEIYEMON’ - Page 181: ‘go anywhhere else' amended to ‘go anywhere else' - Page 238: ‘OSNO’ amended to ‘OSONO’ End of Project Gutenberg's Chushingura, by Takeda, Miyoshi and Namiki