RECITATIVE. Before he has done reading it, Kanpei calls out in his agony. KANPEI. What are their names? GOEMON. We are forty-five in all. Since we have seen your spirit, we will add your name and then we shall be forty-six. Take this as a souvenir to the other world. RECITATIVE. He takes out an ink-and-brush case from his bosom and writes down Kanpei’s name. GOEMON. Seal it with your blood, Kanpei. KANPEI. Right willingly. RECITATIVE. He cuts his belly in a cross and pulling out his entrails, presses them under his name. KANPEI. Now I have sealed it with my blood. Ah, how glad, how thankful I am! My desire is attained. Mother, do not lament, I pray you. Neither my father-in-law’s death nor my wife’s service has been in vain. Please, take this money for our confederates’ use. RECITATIVE. With tears the mother places before the two men the two packages of money and the pouch. MOTHER. This pouch into which Kanpei’s spirit has entered, please, look upon it as my son-in-law and let it accompany you when you go to attack the enemy. GOEMON. Yes, that is a natural request. RECITATIVE. Goemon takes the money. GOEMON. Now enter into Buddhist happiness. KANPEI. Buddhist happiness! Loathsome are the words. I will not die, no, I will not die. My spirit shall remain on earth and follow the attack upon our enemy. RECITATIVE. He speaks now with agony. The mother is bathed in tears. MOTHER. I wish I could, Kanpei, let my daughter know of this and see you once more before you die. KANPEI. No, mother. Her father’s death she may know of, but of mine never a word, I beg. The wife who was sold for her lord’s sake, if she should, on hearing of this, neglect her service, it would be the same as if she were disloyal to her lord. Only leave it as it is. I have now nothing I regret to leave behind. RECITATIVE. With the tip of his dirk he pierces his throat and, falling forward, he dies. MOTHER. What, are you dead already, my son? Ah, is there in this world another as luckless as I? My husband is dead, my son-in-law to whom I turned for help, has gone before me, and my dearest daughter lives separated from me. This aged mother who is left alone behind, ah, how can she remain alive? O husband, Yoichibei, please, take me with you. RECITATIVE. She flings herself upon the body and cries. Again she stands up. [Illustration: Crying elderly woman; two samurai walking away] MOTHER. O my son, I will go with you. RECITATIVE. She clings to the body and sinks on the floor. She weeps there and here she weeps. With a loud cry she sinks and laments at the top of her voice. It is a sight pitiful to behold. Goemon stands up.