Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/279

Rh Miyagi Asojirō. He was a retainer of Ōuchi Yoshi-oki, the governor-general of Chinzei, whose feudal hold dominated the town of Yamaguchi, in Suwō, a province whose eastern shores are washed by the Inland Sea. Although a young man about twenty-five, Asojirō had already a great name in his clan for intelligence and for proficiency in military arts. He was now studying literature in Kyōto, at that time the capital both of the Emperor and of the Shogun. To-day he was here, on the bank of the Uji, with his bosom friend, Gessin, the priest, to enjoy a relaxation from his studies.

At the moment when Asojirō's tanzaku reached the boat in its zigzag flight there arose from the little craft the sound of a samisen or guitar, accompanied by a song in a voice of exquisite sweetness. Captivated by the strains the young soldier listened with attentive ear till some time had passed, and a sigh escaped him as he turned at last to his companion and said:

"Voice and music are alike charming, my friend, in the extreme. The possessor of such a voice must be a paragon of beauty. It's a great shame that we cannot sit by her side to listen."