Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/265

Rh "Will your lordship deign to inspect this head, which I have taken, so far as I can judge, in accordance with your instructions. Tell me, I beg, if I have hit the mark, or if I have erred, my lord."

Yoshitsuné made a careful examination of the head.

"Oh, well done, Naozané," he said, bursting into tears. "This is indeed Atsumori's head. You have rightly judged how much I love the cherry-blossoms. You have my heartiest sympathy and admiration. Now, the bereaved relatives may take a farewell look at the head."

"Come, wife," said Naozané, handing the head to Sagami.

"Let Madame Fuji-no-Kata see Lord Atsumori's head."

Sagami received the head. She gave one glance at it, and immediately became speechless with consternation. Fuji-no-Kata was also struck dumb with horror. Sagami's dismay was not to be wondered at. The head was not that of Atsumori, but of her own son Kojirō. Atsumori, who had been believed to have been killed, was alive, while Kojirō who had been supposed to be living was dead. But they were puzzled to know how