Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/307

Rh I was Kiyoyori, the famous bird-catcher.

Bird-catcher? Taking life from morning till night! Your sins are unfathomably great. I must send you to Hell at once.

Oh, no! I am not such a bad sinner as you make me out to be. Please let me go to Heaven.

No, that cannot be! But first I shall ask the King about your case.

Pardon, Sir!

Well, what is it?

The sinner who has just arrived says that he was a very famous bird-catcher on the terrestrial plane. So I told him that, having taken life day and night, he committed deep sin and certainly is doomed to Hell. But he protests and says that we misjudge him thoroughly. What shall we do about him?

Call the sinner to me.

Very well. Sir.

Come along this way. King Emma wishes to see you.

I am coming.

Here is that sinner you sent for.

Come, you sinner! You have been sinning all through your life snaring birds, and you are indeed a very wicked man. I am going to send you to Hell at once.

What you say about me is very true, but the birds I caught were used to feed the falcons. There was really no serious harm in that.

A falcon is another kind of bird, isn’t it?

Yes, indeed.

Well, then! That puts the case on a slightly different basis. I do not consider that a serious offense.

I am glad you don’t. It really was more the falcon’s fault than mine. That being the case, I hope you will send me straight to Heaven.

Since I, the mighty King of Hades, have not yet tasted a bird, catch one with your pole, and let me taste it. Then I will grant your wish without further ado.

Nothing could be simpler. I shall catch a few birds and present them to you.