Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/254

190 "Now, permit me," he said. There was a flash of steel, and the next moment Atsumori's head fell from his shoulders.

Naozané held up the bloody head in his arms. He then cried in tones broken with sobs, "I, Kumagai Naozané, have taken the head of Atsumori, a famous general of the Taira clan."

Then a faint voice was heard to say, "Who has killed Atsumori Sama? I can hardly believe such unhappy news. Let me see his face before I die."

It was Tamaori, who was lying on the beach, writhing in her death agonies. Naozané approached the dying girl. "Who is it that longs for Lord Atsumori?"

"I am Atsumori's wife Tamaori. Let me see his head, sir."

Taking compassion on her, the warrior handed her the head.

"Is this my Atsumori?" she said sobbing. "I long for a sight of his face, but I cannot see any longer." She closed her eyes, and pressed the head against her face, and embraced it. But her strength quickly failed her, until at last she expired.