RECITATIVE. As he hears Honzo’s regret, Yuranosuke is reminded of his lord’s hasty act; and when he reflects upon what he might have done if the loyalty he is now showing he could have displayed before his lord on the battle-field, his heart is filled to choking with mortification, and only tears escape him. Rikiya calmly stands up, and going up to his father, bows to him. RIKIYA. Now that, by Master Honzo’s kindness, we are informed of the arrangement of our enemy’s house, I will go down to Amakawaya Gihei’s house at Sakai in the province of Izumi and make arrangements for our equipment. YURANOSUKE. No, no. Everyone knows that I live in Yamashina, and if we muster our confederates here, they will attract attention. When we have arrived at Sakai, we will start thence together. You, with your mother, bride, and Mistress Tonase, will remain behind and put everything in order, so that you may leave nothing to cause regret afterwards. Do you understand? And then come down by the night-boat to-morrow. I will put on the disguise which Master Honzo has happily brought here. RECITATIVE. He puts on the robe and the wicker-hat. In gratitude to Honzo and to dispel his anxiety in the other world, he allows in his sympathy this one night of love to the bride. As he goes out softly singing, Oishi, prepared as she has been, is plunged in sorrow; and though she only wishes him success in his undertaking, her heart aches with grief as she refrains from saying much that she would fain say at this final parting. The wounded man knows that his last moment has come, and in his dying agony he answers not the cries of his daughter. Now the link between them is snapped, and they are parted for ever in this world. Loud lament the mother and daughter; and they both throw themselves upon the body and pray for his soul’s rest, —oh, the impermanence of love. The out-going feet stop awhile and the prayer to the Amida Buddha is heard in the tunes of the flute. [Illustration: Pipe and wicker hat] [1] A parody on a famous couplet in a Chinese poem: “Snow is like goose-feather, and flying, is scattered; Man looks robed in the crane’s plumage, and rising, wanders about.” [2] Refers to the stories of two Chinese scholars, Ch’e-yin, who collected fireflies and put them in a bag to read by their light, and Sun-K’ang, who read by the snow-light, as they were too poor to buy a lamp and oil. [3] A cord for tucking in the sleeves. [4] An itinerant minstrel of the ronin class. [5] A celebrated Chinese strategist of the fifth century before Christ. [6] Noted for the great efforts he made to avenge the murder of his master Chih-pai. [7] Famous Chinese writers on military art. [8] Celebrated Chinese works on strategy. ACT X. ACT X. RECITATIVE.