Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/200

142 about to plunge it into her throat, when Hisamatsu caught her arm, and exclaimed in bewilderment: "If you long for me as intensely as that, you shall not die alone! I must confess the truth, that I also, long ago, made up my mind to destroy myself!"

In their excitement, they had so raised their voices that the sound penetrated into the inner apartment. Kyūsaku was immediately heard to cry: "Oh, that is a bad resolve!"

The surprised lovers started apart, and O-Somé was about to rush out. However, Kyūsaku at that moment appeared, and bade her stay. The old man greeted her politely, and then mildly but earnestly reproved their conduct. He said that it was an unpardonable crime for a servant to seduce his mistress' daughter. It was also a great disgrace for the daughter of a good family to form a liaison with a man in their service. Therefore the pair must give each other up, even if it broke their hearts.

"While the old woman still breathes," continued Kyūsaku with tears, "I want to marry Hisamatsu to O-Mitsu, that the poor old soul may go to the Meido with a peaceful mind. So it is my