Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/144

 V

A days after he had caused the murder of Nobunaga, Mitsuhidé took possession of Kyōto and the neighbouring provinces. The usurper induced the Emperor to bestow upon him the title of Shogun, and declared his authority throughout the land. He selected the Myōshinji Temple as his headquarters at the Capital, and made extensive arrangements to defend himself against Hidéyoshi's revengeful attack.

Mitsuhidé's old mother, Satsuki ("Azalea"), was filled with regret at his heinous crime of having slain his lord. An intense hatred of her son sprang up in her heart, and she declined to live under the same roof with him. At last, in spite of the earnest opposition of her family, she left the temple in the garb of a humble Buddhist pilgrim.

She went to the before-mentioned Amagasaki, and rented a small house. Here she led a solitary life, passing her days and nights in devotion and prayers and the perusal of the sutras. 94