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. [Illustration: Takasada and Kanpei] 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!