RECITATIVE. He glares all around the chamber and enters another room. Lady Kaoyo bursts out crying. KAOYO. Ah me, is there anything more sorrowful than the samurai’s life? There was many a thing I longed to say to my lord at his last moment; but I bore my grief in silence because I feared the envoys would despise me as a faint-hearted woman. Alas, my poor, poor lord! RECITATIVE. She throws herself upon the body and let loose her sorrows, regardless of all around her. YURANOSUKE. Come, Rikiya. Escort at once our lord’s remains together with our lady, to the family temple of Komyoji. I will overtake you and perform the funeral ceremony. Hori, Yazama, Odera, Hazama, and others, guard them on the way. RECITATIVE. Immediately, the palanquin is brought in and set on a stand. The door is opened; and they all come forward and, with tears, place the remains within and silently lift up the palanquin. They comfort their lady who is lamenting piteously. The retainers escort the palanquin and hurry to the family temple. A few see it to the door and, returning, resume their seats. Out speaks Ono Kudayu. KUDAYU. Master Oboshi, you succeeded your father, Master Yawata Rokuro, as Chief Councillor. Though I am next to you in rank, I and all of us are from to-day _ronin_. We have no means of supporting wife and children. Let us, then, divide among ourselves the money which our lord kept for military use, and deliver this mansion at once, or we shall be wanting in respect to Yakushiji. YAGORO. No; in my opinion, since it arouses our anger to see our enemy Kono Moronao still alive, we should prepare for the attack of our enemy and make our last stand in this mansion. SADAKURO. Ah, wait. It is a bad idea, that of dying in fight. The best plan is, as my father Kudayu says, to hand over the mansion and divide the money. RECITATIVE. During this discussion, Yuranosuke has remained silent; but now he speaks out. YURANOSUKE. The proposal that Yagoro has made in this council agrees with my plan. We should really die and follow our lord; but I have decided that, instead of our slaying ourselves to no purpose, we should wait for the troops of Ashikaga and die in battle. KUDAYU. Eh, what do you say? I thought you would give us good counsel; but no, with a _ronin_’s fatuous obstinacy, you would take up arms against Lord Ashikaga. That is recklessness. I cannot agree to it. SADAKURO. Yes, you are right, father. I will not agree, either. We would be left out of this consultation. It is useless to remain here any longer. Let us go home. KUDAYU. Yes, we will do so. I take my leave; but pray, do not go yet, gentlemen. RECITATIVE. And father and son, they go home together. YAGORO. Ha, the avaricious Ono and his son! What cowards, to be filled with fear when they hear that we are going to die fighting, and then to run away. Do not mind them, Master Oboshi, but let us prepare to meet the enemy.