RECITATIVE. Quick as thought, he draws his sword and strikes him, inflicting a serious wound on his forehead. He strikes again; [Illustration: Hangwan striking Moronao with a sword] 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 [Illustration: Wicker-palanquin is carried by workers] 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.