NAKAMITSU.--'Tis that my lord, your father, hath sent me to bid your lordship follow me home without delay. BIJIYAU.--Shall I, then, go without saying anything to the priests, my preceptors? NAKAMITSU.--Yes; if the priests be told, they will surely wish to see your lordship on the way, whereas, my lord, your father's commands were, that I alone was to escort you. BIJIYAU.--Then we will away. NAKAMITSU.--Kauzhiyu! thou, too, shalt accompany thy master. KAUZHIYU.--Your commands shall be obeyed. [_They depart from the temple, and arrive at Mitsunaka's palace._ NAKAMITSU.--How shall I dare address my lord? I have brought hither his lordship Bijiyau. MITSUNAKA.--Well, Bijiyau! my only reason for sending thee up to the monastery was to help thy learning; and I would fain begin, by hearing thee read aloud from the Scriptures. And with these words, and bidding him read on, He lays on ebon desk before his son The sacred text, in golden letters writ. BIJIYAU.--But how may he who never bent his wit To make the pencil trace Asaka's[163] line Spell out one letter of the book divine? In vain, in vain his sire's behest he hears:-- Nought may he do but choke with idle tears. MITSUNAKA.--Ah! surely 'tis that, being my child, he respecteth the Scriptures too deeply, and chooseth not to read them except for purposes of devotion. What of verse-making, then? BIJIYAU.--I cannot make any. MITSUNAKA.--And music? [_Bijiyau makes no answer._ MITSUNAKA.--What! no reply? Hast lost thy tongue, young fool? CHORUS.--Whom, then, to profit wentest thou to school? And can it be that e'en a father's word, Like snow that falling melts, is scarcely heard, But 'tis unheeded? Ah! 'twill drive me wild To point thee out to strangers as my child! No sooner said, than out the scabbard flies His trusty sword, and with fierce flashing eyes Forward he darts; but rushing in between, Good Nakamitsu checks the bloody scene-- Firm, though respectful, stays his master's arm, And saves the lad from perilous alarm. NAKAMITSU.--Good my lord, deign to be merciful this once! MITSUNAKA.--Why stayed'st thou my hand? Haste thou now and slay Bijiyau with this my sword. NAKAMITSU.--Your commands shall be obeyed. [_He retires into another apartment._] What is this horror unutterable? 'Tis no mere passing fit of anger. What shall I do?--Ah! I have it! I have it! I will take upon myself to contrive some plan for his escape. Kauzhiyu, Kauzhiyu, art thou there? KAUZHIYU.--Behold me at thy service. NAKAMITSU.--Where is my lord Bijiyau? KAUZHIYU.--All my prayers have been unavailing to make him leave this spot. NAKAMITSU.--But why will he not seek refuge somewhere? Here am I come from my lord, his father, as a messenger of death! [_Bijiyau shows himself._