Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/216

156 Yoritomo, the chieftain of the Minamoto clan, had a younger brother, named Yoshitsuné. This warrior was at the head of the Minamoto troops stationed at Kyōto. Yoritomo ordered him to proceed to Ichi-no-tani to give the Tairas the coup de grâce.

Yoshitsuné was not only a brave and sagacious general, but also a man of humane character. His father Yoshitomo had been put to death, and several of his brothers had been either killed or cruelly persecuted by the Tairas. Notwithstanding this, he entertained no little sympathy and compassion toward the hostile clan.

During that time, the celebrated poet-laureate, Lord Shunzei was living. One of his best pupils was a brave warrior named Taira-no-Tadanori, and many excellent poems were found among his compositions. He had fled from Kyōto with the rest of the Taira family and was now in the camp at Ichi-no-tani. He reflected, one day, that there was no possibility of his clan's winning a victory in the forthcoming battle. He was sure that they were doomed to destruction. If he could only be successful in gaining the honour of having one