YURANOSUKE. Ah, it is a long, long time; we have not met for a year, and have grown old, very old. Have you come here to stretch out those wrinkles on your forehead? Oh, you old reprobate! KUDAYU. Master Yura, in a great deed, they say, little defects are overlooked. Your dissipation here in defiance of evil tongues will be the foundation of your great deed. I think you a fine man of great promise. YURANOSUKE. Ha, ha, you drive me hard, hard as a catapult. But leave it alone. KUDAYU. No, Master Yuranosuke, don’t sham. Your dissipation really looks like a scheme to attack the enemy. YURANOSUKE. You surprise me. But thank you. I thought you would laugh at me as a fool and a madman for taking to pleasures when I am over forty years of age; but no, you look upon it as a scheme to attack the enemy. Master Kudayu, I am delighted. KUDAYU. Have you, then, no intention of avenging our lord’s death? YURANOSUKE. Not a jot, not a jot. When we handed over the mansion and the domain, I said I would die fighting in the castle; but that was only said to please Lady Kaoyo. You left the room at the time, saying that we were acting like rebels to the Shogun; and after that, we swaggered on, fools that we were; but we could not come to a decision. We said we would slay ourselves before our lord’s tomb, and we stole out by the back gate. It is entirely owing to you that I am now enjoying these gay pleasures. I do not forget our old friendship. Don’t be so formal, but be more at ease. KUDAYU. Yes, as I think of it, I, too, was a hypocrite in the old days. I will show my true nature and drink with you. Come, Master Yura, it is a long time since we drank together. Give me your cup; are you going to ask it back as they do at parties? Go on pouring and I’ll drink, and go on drinking and I’ll pour. Accept this fish that I am going to give you. RECITATIVE. He takes up a piece of octopus that he sees beside him and places it before Yuranosuke. YURANOSUKE. I put out my hand to receive the octopus’ foot. Thank you. RECITATIVE. As he raises it to his head and is about to eat it, Kudayu takes hold of his hand. KUDAYU. Hear me, Master Yuranosuke; to-morrow will be the anniversary of our Lord Enya Hangwan’s demise. They say that the eve of that day should be especially kept holy; and yet will you eat this fish without hesitation? YURANOSUKE. Yes, certainly. Or is it that you have had tidings that our Lord Enya has turned into an octopus? What a querulous man you are, to be sure! You and I are _ronin_ now because of Lord Enya’s indiscretion. I may bear him grudge; but I have not the least wish to abstain from animal food on his account. I eat with great pleasure the fish you are good enough to give me. RECITATIVE. And he coolly eats it at a mouthful; and the crafty Kudayu is so astonished that he remains speechless. YURANOSUKE. With such poor fish we cannot drink. We will have a fowl killed and broiled. Come with me within and we will make the women sing.