Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/122

72 general. I fed that it is my duty to tell you this frankly!"—he burst into tears—"It is my earnest hope and prayer, that your lordship should change your ways, and be generally esteemed as a benevolent ruler. If you do so, you should leave a lasting fame to posterity. Oh, do not ignore my words, my dear lord."

This speech only enraged Nobunaga the more.

"Stop!" he roared. "Your insolence is intolerable. Henceforth you will be refused audience. Leave me at once! Come, Rammaru, turn Mitsuhidé and his son out of the gate!"

"If you hesitate to go any longer," cried Rammaru, threateningly, "I will kick you out!"

Mitsuhidé made no reply. He pressed his hand to his wounded forehead and departed ruefully with his son, who was weeping bitterly.