Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/486

396 the truth is, the King of Tartary summoned me to him yesterday, and gave me the following commands: 'News have reached me that a warrior named Kokusenya has come over from Japan with the intention of restoring the Ming dynasty. So I order you to gather together 100,000 cavalry, and to march against him in order to subjugate him.' I did not know that Kokusenya was my brother-in-law, so I vowed to kill him, and thus rid the King of his anxiety and trouble. But if I now suddenly join Kokusenya, and hoist a banner of revolt, everyone will say that my wife has influenced me, and I should go down to posterity as the laughing-stock of all the nation. Thus I should forfeit all my honour as a warrior. Therefore I have determined, even though it is a cruel deed, to kill my wife. Then all grounds for such censure will be removed. After I have done that, I shall espouse Kokusenya's cause. Dearest wife, it is my loyalty to the late Emperor that makes me wish to kill you, but it is your mother's kindness which dissuades me from doing so"—at this point he burst into hot and passionate tears.—"It cuts me to the heart to make such a terrible request, but, my dearest wife, are you willing to sacrifice