Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/388

310 "Nonsense!" said Bear laughing heartily. "You are indeed ungrateful to grumble at such liberal charity. Your sullen looks and unreasonable complaints make me laugh. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Then Angler burst into tears, and said: "I am sorry about to-day's magnificent gifts. I have not offered any incense sticks or a single flower to the spirits of my parents, even on the anniversaries of their deaths. Why, therefore, should I have been treated to such good food and alms? My parents must be grieving at the Meido, to have had such an undutiful son as I! My heart is filled with grief, brothers."

"Stop talking nonsense, comrades," said Bear again laughing heartily. "How can you grumble and weep so, on such a lucky day! Cheer up!"

As they talked and wept, the beggars became so intoxicated that at last they lay down on the ground and fell asleep.

Presently Bear, who was none other than Fudesuké in disguise, softly rose from his feigned sleep, and approaching Katsugorō, whispered: "I have good news for you, my lord. I have just heard that Hōjō Ujimasa will pass Hakoné to-day, on his way to pay a visit of homage to His Highness