Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/259

Rh walked farther and farther, until I found myself in the Capital. When I arrived there, I heard that the battle was at its height. My motherly affection at last induced me to turn my steps here."

"Pshaw!" interrupted Naozané angrily. "When a warrior goes to battle, he cannot expect to return alive. What would you have done if Kojirō had fallen on the field?"

"I should be filled with joy, if he, in his first battle, had fallen fighting with a distinguished warrior."

"Kojirō was spurred by the ambition of gaining the fame of being the first fighter. He therefore singly cut his way into the Taira camp. He was wounded, but"

"He was wounded? Was his wound trifling or severe? Was he mortally wounded?"

"Would you be grieved if you heard that he was mortally wounded?"

"No, if I thought that he had fought so hard as to be wounded, I could not fail to be joyful. I should not sorrow at all."

"I carried the wounded youth in my arms, and took him back to my camp. When I was again