Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/118

68 of his achievement. He never assumed the title of Shogun, but he practically ruled Japan in the name of the Emperor.

Notwithstanding his valour and sagacity, Nobunaga was hot-tempered, arrogant, and capricious, and often resorted to violence and despotism. Mitsuhidé deeply deplored this, and frequently remonstrated with his prince. But, as the proverb says, "Faithful advice sounds harsh to the ear," Nobunaga was offended at his loyal retainer's suggestions, and began to keep him at a distance. Another reason made the estrangement of lord and retainer even more pronounced. There was a handsome youth named Mori Rammaru, a favourite page of Nobunaga. He happened to harbour ill feelings towards Mitsuhidé in consequence of a dispute about their fiefs. This young man therefore lost no opportunity of slandering Mitsuhidé to Nobunaga, who gradually came to look upon Mitsuhidé with greater and greater hatred, until at last he thought of dismissing his loyal retainer. But Mitsuhidé served his master with such unswerving loyalty, and obeyed any of his commands, however unreasonable, without showing any signs of discontent, that Nobunaga