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JAPANESE PLAYS, 
 
 (VERSIFIED.) 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS R. H. MCCLATCHIE, 
 
 Interpreter, 
 H. B. M.'s Consular Service, Japan. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 DRAWN AND ENGRAVED BY JAPANESE ARTISTS. 
 
 YOKOHAMA : 
 
 1879. 
 
YOKOHAMA : 
 PAINTED AT THE " JAPAN DAILY HERALD " OFFICE. 
 
In compliance with current copyright 
 
 law, U. C. Library Bindery produced 
 
 this replacement volume on paper 
 
 that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48- 
 
 1 984 to replace the irreparably 
 
 deteriorated original 
 
 1996 
 

 PREFACE. 
 
 HE following rhymes must not be taken as translations 
 of the dramas to which they allude. They are merely 
 efforts to sketch, in a cursory manner, the general outline of 
 the plots of those dramas, for the especial benefit of Western 
 readers. The great improvements that have recently been 
 introduced on the Japanese stage have naturally given rise 
 to a desire on the part of many foreign residents here to make 
 some slight acquaintance with the general style and character 
 of the plays represented. A Japanese play, as a rule, lasts 
 for many hours, and it is questionable whether it would, if 
 literally and fully translated, possess any interest for the 
 foreign reader. The plan here followed has been to select one 
 personage as the hero or heroine, and to give an outline of 
 those scenes only in which that particular personage appears ; 
 for this reason several of these rhymes are termed ' Frag- 
 ments.'' A Japanese audience, though certainly sympathetic, 
 differs considerably from a foreign one : the spectators here 
 are by no means averse to showing their amusement when an 
 unfortunate woman is murdered by mistake, but are easily 
 moved to tears when the murderer finally commits suicide 
 after a long speech garnished with grandiloquent allusions to 
 the spirit of ' loyalty ' that caused him to perpetrate the 
 
 170 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 outrage in the first instance. Thus, in endeavoring to 
 versify these plays, no style has appeared so apt as that of the 
 " Ingoldsby Legends," that delightful mixture of pathos 
 and bathos, of true poetic expression and of jingling rhyme. 
 This idea has been kept in view throughout. 
 
 The illustrations are from the clever pencil of Mr. 
 Tachibana Unga, an official of the Imperial Japanese 
 Military Department, and have been cut on blocks by 
 Hisanaga Heizo, a wood-engraver of Tokio. 
 
 All these rhymes have already appeared in the columns 
 of the "Japan Daily Herald," at Yokohama, and it is to 
 the kind courtesy of the editor of that journal that the author 
 is indebted for permission to reprint them in separate form. 
 
 Yokohama, August, 1879. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE, 
 
 HAYANO KAMPEI 2 
 
 THE FATAL ERROR 20 
 
 LADY KOKONOYE 46 
 
 THE HAUNTED MANSION 67 
 
 THE ENCHANTED PALACE 93 
 
 THE FENCING MASTER ... 115 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 TO PACE 
 PAGE. 
 
 I. A JAPANESE THEATRE Frontispiece 
 
 2. DEATH OF YOICHIBEI 8 
 
 3. SUICIDE OF KAMPEI 15 
 
 4. THE COUNCILLOR AND KWANSUKE 29 
 
 5, THE ATTACK ON THE TRAIN 37 
 
 6. THE COUNCILLOR'S VISIT 42 
 
 7. LADY KOKONOYE 49 
 
 8. THE FALSE ENVOY 58 
 
 9. IN AMBUSH 63 
 
 IG. THE HAUNTED WELL 77 
 
 ii. THE CONSPIRATORS 79 
 
 12. EVIL TIDINGS 83 
 
 13. THE BISHOP AND HIS RETAINERS 98 
 
 14. THE MERRY-MAKERS 106 
 
 15. THE BISHOP IN DANGER no 
 
 16. JIUBEI'S MADNESS 123 
 
 17. THE FENCING BOUT 128 
 
 18. THE RIDDLE SOLVED 133 
 
HAYANO KAMPEI. 
 
 HIS is a fragment from the play of the " Chiushin- 
 gura," one of the most popular, and certainly the best 
 known of Japanese dramas. The tale of the ^Forty-seven 
 Ronin " who avenged the death of their feudal liege is, no 
 doubt, sufficiently well known to our readers through the 
 medium of Mr. A. B. Mitford's " Tales of Old Japan" 
 The drama itself is exceedingly long, but amongst all its 
 varied scenes there is scarcely one that so thoroughly engrosses 
 the attention of a Japanese audience as that on which is 
 founded the following rhyme. The name of Hayano Kampei 
 is inseparably associated with the deeds of the valiant forty- 
 seven ; and tradition has it that, as a reward for his loyalty 
 to the interests of his lord's house, the fatal purse that was 
 the indirect cause of his death was afterwards borne by one 
 of the Ronin in their midnight onslaught on the mansion 
 
 J o o 
 
 of their foe. But we will let the tale speak for itself. 
 
^m 
 
 A Fragment from the Japanese Play of the " Chiushin- 
 gura," (the " Forty-seven Ronin") as Performed at the 
 Shimabara Theatre, Tokio, 1875. 
 
 [OICHIBEI, leading a woodcutter's life, 
 
 Is bless' d with that treasure, a virtuous wife ; 
 And, as happens with most married folks who agree, 
 The pair are as happy as happy can be : 
 
 Though lowly their lot, 
 
 And humble their cot, 
 Though the winds may blow chill, or the sun beat 
 
 down hot, 
 
 Yet little they reck, in their mountain retreat, 
 Of the strife of the city that lies at their feet ; 
 Content with each other, they dwell in the hills, 
 Each halving the other's joys, labours, and ills ; 
 
 Their pleasures they share, 
 
 Their trials they bear, 
 
 And, in fact, all their neighbours are wont to declare, 
 That they never yet saw such a jolly old pair ! 
 
 Their marriage is blessed with one child, (who'd 
 
 have thought her 
 A woodcutter's offspring ?) a beautiful daughter ; 
 
HAYANO RAM PEL 
 
 So fair and so stately, for provinces round 
 
 No Japanese damsel her equal was found ; 
 
 So dutiful, charming, so gay and so free, 
 
 And possessed, above all, with such happy esprit ; 
 
 Her tasty attire ,might a Shoguness vex, 
 
 " Munditiis" Horace would tell us, " simplex ! " 
 
 What wonder that envious neighbours should sneer, 
 
 When her form they espy, or her praises they hear ! 
 
 What wonder the love-sick young men of the plain 
 
 Should vie with each other her favour to gain ! 
 
 With suitors enough and to spare was she blessed, 
 
 But wisely she chose, and her love she confessed 
 
 To him who of all the swains loved her the best ; 
 
 And she soon * named the day,' (tho' with tremulous 
 
 voice) 
 To Hayano Kampei, the youth of her choice ! 
 
 The knot is tied, 
 
 The blushing bride 
 
 Must quit her mountain home, 
 
 Must leave behind 
 
 Her parents kind, 
 
 In other lands to roam. 
 
 But Hayano whispers soft words in her ear, 
 Dispels all her fears, bids her be of good cheer, 
 And so whisks her off, and they both journey down 
 To Ako, in Banshiu, his lord's castle-town. 
 
 Now his chief, my lord Asano, none need be told, 
 Is of lineage ancient, a daimio l bold ; 
 But somehow or other he gets in a scrape, 
 
 i. Datmidi a territorial noble. 
 
HAYANO KAMPEL 
 
 In a " regular fix,'* there's no chance of escape, 
 
 So he puts a bold face on't, displays no surprise, 
 
 But commits hara-kiri* and quietly dies ! 
 
 Of course his retainers all growl like the deuce 
 
 At losing their incomes, but that's of no use ; 
 
 So to North, West, and East they all scatter away, 
 
 And the Hayanos go with their parents to stay. 
 
 What need to recall 
 All the ills that befall, 
 
 How poverty holds the poor folks in its thrall, 
 How times, when once bad, still go on growing worse, 
 (While the victims, despondent, now pray and now 
 
 curse) 
 
 Till at last they're as bad as they ever can be, 
 And the woodcutter's family's quite * up a tree ; ' 
 Well, to cut matters short, then, it happens one day 
 That our household is found in a very bad way ; 
 Not a cash, not a * red 
 Cent,' or morsel of bread, 
 And a wicked thought enters Yoichibei's head ! 
 He beckons his wife, and a confabulation 
 Ensues, in low tones, 'bout their sore tribulation. 
 " Our daughter," says he, " is a regular prize, 
 " A damsel so charming, so lovely, so wise, 
 " Is a rarity, and, wife, I'm sure you'll agree, 
 " As we've reared her since she was a child on your knee, 
 " That she now should help s, and though you 
 
 needn't tell her 
 " 'Twould be a good stroke could we manage to sell 
 
 her! 
 
 2, Jf a ra-7an, suicide bj dieenbowelment. 
 
HAYANO KAMPEI. 
 
 " Twould enable us now to get something to eat, 
 " And in time we perhaps might yet fall on our feet." 
 (Don't faint, gentle reader, nor call it a sin, 
 That a father should deal in his own kith and kin ; 
 You've been brought up, perhaps, in a different 
 
 school, 
 In Japan, though, I hear, it's according to rule !) 
 
 Now, Yoichibei's wife 
 
 Wished to save her own life, 
 But she stood in great dread of a family strife ; 
 To her husband's proposal, then, all she could say 
 Was, " To-morrow, when Hayano's out of the 
 way !" 
 
 Yoichibei rises next morn with the sun, 
 Sees Hayano off with his dog and his gun, 
 
 And bids him take heed 
 
 Of himself, then with speed 
 Dons cloak and hat, pauses awhile for reflection, 
 And bolts at top pace in the other direction ; 
 Goes down to the town, and soon finds he's in luck, 
 For a buyer turns up, and the bargain is struck. 
 Impatient, his ill-gotten gains he then * collars', 
 (I think the amount is about fifty dollars), 
 He ' shroffs ' the whole sum, 'tis all right, then he 
 
 borrows 
 
 A purse, puts it up, and next drowns all his sorrows 
 In a cup of good sake, 3 and starts home half ' tight/ 
 Having promised delivery that very night ; 
 And he quiets his scruples, that is, if he's any, 
 By the thought that he's turned a felicitous penny ! 
 
 3. Sofctf, a liquor brewed from rice, the national bererage of Japan. 
 
HAY A NO K AM PEL 
 
 Tis a lonely moor 
 At the ev'ning hour, 
 
 And the moon's behind a cloud, 
 And the shadows fall 
 Like a heavy pall', 
 
 And the earth with darkness shroud ; 
 Not a leaf is stirred, 
 Not a sound is heard 
 
 Save the howl of a distant dog, 
 Or the croak so harsh, 
 From the noisome marsh, 
 
 Of the ever wakeful frog ! 
 You can scarce distinguish the faint outline 
 
 Of yon rickety, ruin'd old Shinto shrine ! 
 
 Yoichibei's hastening back to his home, 
 And wishes he'd reached it, I'm sure, for to roam 
 In such darkness as this cannot be over nice, 
 Never mind, he'll be there, so he thinks, in a trice. 
 But the way it is long, and his legs they are old, 
 And the moor's heavy walking, the night it is cold ; 
 He's close by the shrine, and, quite pleased at the sight, 
 Says, " I'll rest for a moment, and just strike a light, 
 " And before going on to my supper of tripe 
 " Will solace my cares with a whiff of my pipe." 
 
 His pipe being finished, 
 
 His cares, too, diminished, 
 
 He thinks he'll proceed, but will first take a sight 
 Of his ill-gotten cash, to make sure it's all right ; 
 
 But while holding his prize 
 
 Close up to his eyes, 
 
HAYANO KAMPEL 
 
 The better to view it, there comes a surprise ! 
 
 From the shrine, which resembles an old rabbit hutch, 
 
 Forth darts a long arm, which the money does clutch ! 
 
 A noise, a crash, 
 
 A stunning smash, 
 
 A fearful form, and a sword-blade's flash, 
 And a robber has settled Yoichibei's ' hash ! * 
 As this "knight of the road" proves to be a hard 
 
 hitter, 
 And the blow's what the Japanese term a 'pear 
 
 splitter/ 
 
 (That's full on the crown), the old woodman goes down, 
 With a shriek that is probably heard in the town ! 
 
 The robber's a jovial man in his way, 
 He looks on such accidents merely as play ; 
 He counts up the money, a satisfied smile 
 Illumines his villanous features the while ; 
 
 When, just in front, 
 
 Is heard the grunt 
 
 Of a boar that is fleeing away from a hunt- 
 er, who follows with shouts, this the robber does scare, 
 The purse he lets fall, and runs off like a hare. 
 
 Just then the moonlight 
 
 Gives the hunter a sight 
 
 Of his prey (as he thinks) he's not up to it quite, 
 But he'll risk a long shot, so, with sportsmanly 
 
 vigour, 
 Claps his gun to his shoulder, and straight pulls the 
 
 trigger ; 
 
 The boar goes off scatheless, but oh ! and alack ! 
 The shot hits the highwayman plump in the back ! 
 
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HAY A NO KAMPEI. g 
 
 The hunter 'tis Hayano quickens his pace, 
 
 " I've got him, that's certain ; about here's the place," 
 
 So he gropes in the dark, like a man full of toddy, 
 
 And at last stumbles over Yoichibei's body. 
 
 " Hurrah ! here's the boar ! " and he draws, in a 
 
 crack, 
 From his belt a stout cudgel, with which he gives 
 
 whack 
 Upon whack 
 On the back 
 
 Of his parent defunct, on his sides, on his head, 
 Till he's certain the beast, as he thinks it, is dead ; 
 Never dreaming (how should he ? the corpse he 
 
 ne'er saw) 
 
 That he's only been thrashing his father-in-law ! 
 A rope he produces, intending to bind 
 His prey on his back, he stoops, what does he find ? 
 Oh, horror ! a moonbeam shines forth, pale and 
 
 wan 
 
 He beholds, staring upwards, the face of a man ! 
 Straightway all his joy 
 Turns to 'otototoi, 
 
 (That's a word, reader, known to the youngest school- 
 boy; 
 
 But if you by chance have forgotten your Greek, 
 To enlighten your ignorance here I will speak ; 
 Victor Hugo explains it, then, dearest lecteur, 
 As a term that p arfaitement exprime la douleur). 
 
 Over Hayano's face 
 Comes an awful grimace, 
 As he thinks of the deed he has done ; 
 
io HAYANO KAMPEI. 
 
 Though not truly to blame, 
 He's so covered with shame 
 
 That he once again charges his gun ; 
 Then the muzzle he points 
 To the place where the joints 
 
 Of his neck fasten on to his breast, 
 Puts it well in position, 
 With sighs of contrition, 
 
 And then, (though it must be confessed 
 With a hand somewhat shaky) he finally fires, 
 Tumbles flat on his back like a log, and expires ? 
 No such thing, reader, somehow the aim proves 
 
 untrue, 
 
 And our hero soon rises without more ado. 
 After all, it's sheer folly, he thinks, thus to die, it 
 's all madness, he will not a second time try it ! 
 After all, matters possibly might have been worse ; 
 And just here his hand happens to fall on the purse. 
 This settles the question, the money he takes, 
 And starts for his home * in a couple of shakes ! ' 
 Quite without an idea of the dreadful reality, 
 Knowing nought of the poor, old deceased's per- 
 sonality. 
 
 But as all this is passing, the night has grown late, 
 
 And the women at home in the cottage await, 
 
 With hearts somewhat anxious, their husbands 1 
 
 return ; 
 
 Their stomachs are empty, they're longing to learn 
 What the chances of food are, or how they shall 
 
 sup, 
 When a knock at the door quickly rouses them up ; 
 
HAYANO K AM PEL n 
 
 " Yoichibei ! " " Hayano ! " loud they exclaim, 
 The door they fling open, what's this ? by the flame 
 Of the fire on the hearth they see, leading the van, 
 Two ugly old hags and an ugly old man ; 
 In the rear are some coolies who carry a chair, 
 And who curse with loud voices the cold midnight air. 
 The ugly old trio advance, and they say 
 " We've come for the damsel we purchased to-day ! " 
 
 Just fancy the look Mrs. Hayano wears ! 
 
 She can't make it out, so she stands and she stares ; 
 
 While Yoichibei's wife, who of course "twigs" the 
 
 joke, 
 
 Invites them to enter, they laughingly poke 
 One another's lean ribs, and then sit down and smoke. 
 . Their errand's explained, 
 
 They can't be detained, 
 
 Their home in the town must at once be regained ; 
 " So give us the damsel, old lady, be quick ; 
 " The cash has been paid, look alive, there's a 
 
 brick ! " 
 Now Mrs. H. is in deadly fear, 
 
 And ghastly is her look, 
 As she views those hags with looks so drear, 
 As she watches that old man's ugly sneer, 
 As she marks her mother's cunning leer, 
 
 And the memorandum-book 
 In which is noted the price they've paid 
 For herself, poor timid, helpless maid ! 
 'Tis shikata ga nai t (that's the way that the Japs. 
 Say, "No help for it ") so she just packs up her 
 traps ; 
 
12 HAYANO RAM PEL 
 
 And gets into the chair, 
 
 Which the coolies then bear 
 Aloft on their shoulders, no prospect is there 
 Of escaping her fate, howsoe'er she may try, 
 So she sits herself down for a hearty good cry ! 
 
 The ugliest hag stays behind for awhile, 
 
 Now chatting, now smoking, now helping to pile 
 
 On the fire some fresh brushwood, when, sudden, a 
 
 knock 
 
 At the door gives the pair a perceptible shock ! 
 The hag she turns white, Mrs. Y. she turns blue, 
 As Hayano enters without more ado. 
 " Mrs. Y. ! I've been lucky ; some dollars I've got, 
 " That will help us to buy something nice for the pot ; 
 " Never mind how I earned them, they'll just save 
 
 our life 
 " But, hallo ! by the way, what's become of my wife ?" 
 
 You can fancy the tumult to which this gives rise, 
 The agonised look in the fond husband's eyes, 
 Mrs. Y.'s terror-stricken and cringing servility, 
 The beetle-browed hag's oaths and open scurrility ! 
 Till Hayano flings down the purse with a smack, 
 And roundly exclaims that he'll soon buy her back 
 " What's the ' damage,' you crone ? Fifty dollars ? 
 
 that's nice ; 
 " Here's th' identical sum ; fetch her back in a trice !" 
 
 With threats and with frown 
 
 He stalks up and down, 
 
 His mother-in-law hides her face in her gown ; 
 But the hag, on her knees at the side of the fire, 
 
HAYANO K AM PEL 13 
 
 Examines the purse, and then turns to inquire 
 As to where he obtained it, " it's very much like 
 " A purse of my own ;" here a thought seems to strike 
 Poor Hayano's mind, but again at the door 
 Comes a rap (that's the third one) ; he crosses the 
 
 floor, 
 
 And opens the portal, sees three of his neighbours, 
 Who tell that, whilst bound to their homes from their 
 
 labours, 
 
 They happened to pass o'er the moor, and there found 
 Yoichibei's corpse lying stiff on the ground. 
 
 Before their eyes 
 
 The body lies, 
 
 The widow howls, and moans, and cries ; 
 Not liking to witness such sad tribulation, 
 The neighbours troop off in some slight consternation. 
 
 With gleaming eyes 
 
 The hag does rise, 
 
 And produces a second purse, just the same size, 
 Shape, and hue as the one which our hero had brought, 
 That he starts at the sight like a person distraught. 
 
 " Look here, Mrs. Y. !" 
 
 She exclaims, with a cry 
 That makes Hayano jump, tho' he scarce can tell 
 
 why ; 
 
 " Look here ! these two purses belong both to me ; 
 " One I lent to your husband this morning, when he 
 " To sell yonder damsel to us did agree ! 
 
 " The murder, I say, 
 
 " Is plain as the day, 
 " This ruffian met vour old man on the wav 
 
14 HAYANO RAM PEL 
 
 " To your house, struck him down, and the money did 
 
 rob : 
 
 (" Poor dear ! what a terrible crack on his nob !) 
 " These purses, I swear, 
 " Well his treason declare ; 
 
 " The murdered lies here, and the murderer's there !" 
 And she points to our hero, who horror-struck stands, 
 As the hag grasps his arm with her long skinny 
 
 hands : 
 His face assumes an ashen hue, 
 
 His parched lips are dry ; 
 The women seize him at the view, 
 
 And raise a hue and cry ; 
 The hag has grabbed him from behind, 
 
 The widow from before, 
 They rate him first with words unkind, 
 
 Then hurl him to the floor, 
 
 And with some handy faggot-sticks belabour him full 
 sore ! 
 
 Against the pair he nought can do, save loudly curse 
 
 his fate, 
 While blows descend amain upon his back, and sides, 
 
 and pate ; 
 Till, almost dead, with aching head, he's in a corner 
 
 thrown ; 
 He opes his eyes, and strives to rise, and thus he 
 
 makes his moan ; 
 
 " Alas ! that I, a samurai 4 of noble house and fame, 
 11 Should thus so undeservedly have earned a felon's 
 
 name ! 
 
 4. Samurai, a man of the military class, entitled to carry two swords. 
 
HAYANO RAM PEL 15 
 
 " In very truth, 
 
 " No crime, in sooth, 
 
 " Can at my door be laid, 
 " Though facts may seem, 
 "You rightly deem, 
 
 " To prove my wicked trade. 
 " I never slew Yoichibei intentionally, though 
 " I own my bullet wrought his death, but then, I'd 
 
 have you know 
 " I aimed but at a flying boar ; alas ! what dire 
 
 mischance 
 " Could e'er have caused the ball from off some tree 
 
 aside to glance, 
 " And wound my dear old pere-in-law I Enough, no 
 
 more say I, 
 " Though Hayano dishonored live, he can with honor 
 
 die, 
 " I'll make my exit as becomes a gentle samurai ! " 
 
 His dirk he grips, 
 His mantle strips, 
 
 Then, with a fixed smile, 
 The blade he draws, 
 A moment's pause, 
 
 He looks at it awhile, 
 Examines it from end to end, makes up his mind, 
 
 and then, 
 
 He sheathes the steel, up to the hilt, in his own 
 abdomen ! 
 
 Most dramatists like, at the end of a play, 
 
 To bring on the stage the whole glitt'ring array 
 
16 HAY A NO K AM PEL 
 
 Of the actors ; this rule, 
 
 In the Japanese school, 
 
 Is the same, without doubt, 
 
 For it here comes about 
 
 Mrs. Hayano suddenly makes her appearance, 
 (Let's hope from her captors she's got .a full clear- 
 ance) ; 
 But alas ! what a sight for her conjugal eyes ! 
 
 On the floor, 
 
 In his gore, 
 
 With a wound deep and sore, 
 Her heart's-beloved Hayano weltering lies ! 
 Such a climax of evils would worry a saint, 
 So she sinks on the ground, and goes off in a faint ! 
 
 Next enter two gentlemen, bravely attired, 
 Tho' their garments are travel-stained, smirched, and 
 bemired ; 
 
 By the crest 
 
 On their breast 
 
 It may plainly be guessed 
 
 They're two of the vassals who had to disperse 
 When gallant lord Asano met his reverse. 
 Poor Hayano strives to sit upright, 
 And welcomes the pair with words polite : 
 They tell how their chieftain's untimely doom 
 Has cast on his vassals a moody gloom, 
 Any how they've resolved to have the head 
 Of the man by whose means their lord is dead ; 
 Though many have sworn to assist the feat, 
 The number, they say, is not yet complete, 
 " One name on the muster-roll yet we require, 
 
HAY A NO KAMPEI. 17 
 
 " And Hayano Kampei's the man we desire ! " 
 Poor Kampei groans, he's growing pale, 
 He feebly falters forth his tale ; 
 The guests perceive his altered glance, 
 They mourn his fate ; and then, by chance, 
 
 They both draw near 
 
 The dead man's bier ; 
 What's this ? how's that ? what have we here ? 
 
 They roll their eyes 
 
 In wild surprise, 
 
 Then point to the spot where the body lies ; 
 They seize on the shroud aside they pull it 
 The wound's from a sword-blade, not a bullet \ 
 'Tis proved that he's innocent ! oh what a * muff ' 
 To go and destroy himself while in-a huff, 
 When a casual glance would have proved the clear 
 
 fact 
 
 That Yoichibei's death was some other man's act ! 
 And, to clear up the myst'ry, there now rushes in 
 A messenger, breathless, and wet to the skin 
 (For it's raining in torrents), who shouts from the door 
 That the corpse of the highwayman's found on the 
 
 moor ; 
 He's a bandit who'd long robbed, remorseless and 
 
 cruel, 
 
 And the folks all rejoice he's at last " got his gruel ;" 
 The man himself dances, his joy knows no lack 
 Since a monster like this has been shot through the back ! 
 
 But Hayano's life flickers low in its socket, 
 
 When the gentlemen turn, and produce from a pocket 
 
 The roll of the names of those vassals so true, 
 
i8 HAYANO RAM PEL 
 
 And one says, with a smile, " Mr. Hayano, you 
 " By your soldier-like bearing have shown yourself fit 
 " To be classed with the rest of us, just wait a bit, 
 " Quick, a pen there ! I'll here add your name at the 
 
 heel 
 
 " Of the list, and will trouble you now for your seal ! " 
 See, the dying man drags himself over the floor, 
 And he puts for his seal some few drops of his gore, 
 Then suddenly sinks, and, with fast-closing eyes, 
 Falls forward* and so like a gentleman dies ! 
 
 What was done, what was said, 
 
 When poor Kampei was dead, 
 If the widow e'er got the facts right in her head, 
 Are matters not mentioned in subsequent hist'ry, 
 In fact, I believe that they still are a myst'ry ; 
 Such being ttie case, then, since nobody knows 'em, 
 I'll leave you, kind reader, yourself to suppose 'em ! 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 i. 
 
 If you're thinking of suicide, pray do not flurry; 
 For a thing is ne'er done well that's done in a hurry ! 
 
 n. 
 
 When out hunting, beware 
 Of your gun, and take care 
 That you don't yourself fall into some ugly snare ; 
 
 5. This was held to be the proper mode in which a person committing hara-kiri 
 should sink to the ground. To facilitate falling in this posture, the long sleeves of 
 the outer garment (the upper part of which was thrown off from the shoulders) 
 were usually tucked tightly under the knees, as the man knelt, or rather 
 squatted, in Japanese style. 
 
HAYANO K AM PEL 19 
 
 And mind you don't murder, where'er you may be, 
 A boar that's not spelt with an a but an e \ 
 
 in. 
 Last of all, should you find, when your pockets are 
 
 empty, 
 
 A slave-market close by, and handy, and tempty, 
 Remember Yoichibei's fate, what it tells is, 
 Don't sell your own daughter, sell somebody else's ! 
 
2O 
 
 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 -HE " Kaga-Sodo," the drama from which the follow- 
 ing fragment is taken, is, like the " Chimhin-gura" 
 founded on fact. The intrigues therein related arc supposed 
 to convey some idea of those that actually occurred in the 
 middle of the ijth century at the Castle-town of Kanazawa, 
 the seat of the Maeda family who were lords of the rich pro- 
 vince of Kaga in which that town is situated. The parti- 
 cular scenes described in the verses are no doubt highly 
 colored, and it is but fair to state that the tale of the " Kaga- 
 Sodo" as represented on the stage, differs considerably from 
 the real occurrences as recorded in Japanese historical annals. 
 Be that as it may, the drama is an exceedingly popular one ; 
 and although, as a whole, it is perhaps slightly tedious, those 
 particular scenes which relate to the exciting adventures of 
 one of the retainers of the lord of Kaga may possibly prove 
 of some interest. We leave our friends to judge for them- 
 selves. 
 
21 
 
 A Fragment from the Japanese Play of " Kaga Sodo " 
 ("The Disturbance in Kaga"), as Performed at the 
 Sarnu'aka-machi Theatre, Asakusa, Tokio. 
 
 |ITH a sorrowful face, and a mystified frown, 
 
 The Councillor wandereth up and adown ; 
 There's a glance in his eye 
 That is plainly shimpai, 1 
 
 And the badge on his mantle is pulled all awry ; 
 His chin is unshaven ; on top of his pate 
 His queue draggles down in a sad dirty state ; 
 In the broad girdle laced 
 Round his corpulent waist 
 
 Are his swords in a fashion most slovenly placed, 
 With the short one inside, which, a child could 
 
 descry, 
 
 Is a mode quite unworthy a true samurai ; 
 His mien is dejected ; o'ercome by his woe, 
 He looks more like a guy than a gallant karo !* 
 And, in view of these symptoms, to think you're 
 
 inclin'd 
 That a something doth trouble the Councillor's mind. 
 
 1. Shimpai, troubled, concerned. 
 
 2. Karo, literally "elder," a Councillor of a tlatmuJ. The office was hereditary, 
 and some nobles had several Councillors. 
 
22 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 Yes, you're right, gentle reader ; he cannot refuse 
 To admit that he's down with a fit of the blues ; 
 
 And just here, I would pray 
 
 You'll permit me to say 
 
 That the question of colour's quite strange in its way ; 
 Thus, a man owns he's blue, but I've never yet seen 
 Any person so bold as confess himself green ! 
 ' To return to our muttons ' from this slight digression, 
 I'll tell you the cause of our worthy's depression : 
 If a man e'er had ' blues,' 'tis the case with our friend, 
 And, of course, there's a lady to blame in the end ! 
 
 "Oh! alas for the day," 
 Doth the Councillor say, 
 
 " When our late Kashiu Sama the good passed away ! 
 " While he lived, peace and plenty prevailed in our 
 
 land, 
 
 " And the peasants all blessed his beneficent hand ; 
 " Then officials were honest, then taxes were light, 
 " Then our harvests were rich, and our prospects were 
 
 bright, 
 
 " And a tub of good sake was broached ev'ry night ! 
 " And we fancied poor fools ! 'twould be always the 
 
 same, 
 
 " As we bragged of our clan and our daimio's fame : 
 " But, alas and alack ! 
 " One fine day an attack 
 
 " Of sore sickness prostrated our lord on his back ; 
 "Some they swore it was kak'ke, 3 some vowed 'twas 
 from drink, 
 
 3. KaTt'Tcf, a disease common in Japan, marked by paralytic and dropsical 
 symptoms. 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 23 
 
 " They were all of them wrong, for my own part, 
 I think 
 
 " Any fool could have seen with but half of an eye, 
 
 " That the time had arrived for his lordship to die ; 
 
 " His last hour was at hand, he perceived without 
 telling, 
 
 " So at once set in order his household and dwelling; 
 
 " He looked out for his heir a most charming young 
 wife, 
 
 " And then, greatly lamented, departed this life ; 
 
 " Full of years and of honours, he died without pain, 
 
 " And was buried, and then, there commenced a new 
 reign ; 
 
 " For his son (would that sad date could pass by un- 
 heeded ! ) 
 
 " To his lands, titles, cash-box, and castle succeeded. 
 
 " Some few months passed away, 
 
 "And the Lady O Tei 
 " O'er our young chiefs affections retained her first 
 
 sway ; 
 
 "And so gentle, so kind, so devoted was she, 
 " That of all the retainers no man could foresee 
 " That the Lord and his Lady would e'er disagree. 
 " Yet, ere long, how it happened I'm sure I can't 
 
 tell, 
 
 " The gay youth 'gainst her counsels began to rebel, 
 " Paid attentions, in fact, to a frail singing girl, 
 " Who ensnared his weak heart, set his brain in a 
 
 whirl, 
 
 " And so stole his affections completely away 
 " From the wife of his bosom, poor Lady O Tei ! 
 
24 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 "Till at last the enchantress, without more ado, 
 " Made our lord bring her home as his wife Number 
 Two ! ! 
 
 " Oh ! ne'er can I forget that morn, 
 " The darkest day that e'er did dawn, 
 
 " That viewed our chieftain's fall ! 
 " When, faithless to his loving spouse, 
 " Forgetful of his plighted vows, 
 
 " He sank in folly's thrall ! 
 " Oh ! would he ne'er had known the wile 
 " Of wanton Hide's laughing smile, 
 
 " Or seen her witching eye ! 
 " Far better 'twere that, hushed his breath, 
 " And stilled his heart by friendly death, 
 
 " He in the grave should lie ! 
 " Yet the Lady O Hide, I'll frankly concede, 
 " Is a damsel of marvellous beauty, indeed, 
 " There's a weird, supernatural loveliness glows 
 " From the crown of her head to the tips of her toes ! 
 " E'en when I, an old man, first encountered her 
 
 glance, 
 
 " I could feel my poor heart give a palpable dance ; 
 " While the blood in my veins coursed with feverish 
 
 heat, 
 
 "Till I hardly could well 
 " Have attempted to tell 
 
 " If I stood, at the time, on my head or my feet ! 
 " Nay, I scarce think she's human : for ne'er have I 
 
 seen 
 
 " Any maiden of parentage mortal whose mien 
 " Was at once so majestic, enchanting, alluring ! 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 25 
 
 (" I'm convinced she's a demon ; the thing's past 
 
 enduring !) 
 
 " Then that smile so bewitching, those luminous eyes ! 
 (" Oh ! I'll swear she's a badger or fox 4 in disguise !) 
 " Yet, to think that that form, 
 " Which an iceberg might warm, 
 
 " Should be that of a devil ! My eyes ! what a storm 
 " Would have broke on my foolish, devoted old head, 
 "If so dire a suspicion in public I'd said ! 
 " Yet the thing's past a doubt, from that sad, fatal 
 
 day 
 
 " Our whole matsurigoto 5 has gone to decay; 
 " While our hapless young lord by th' enchantress 
 
 will linger ; 
 (" She can turn him with ease round her lily-white 
 
 finger !) 
 
 " And, in view of these facts, and of signs not a few 
 " That dire mischief is brewing, what am I to do ? 
 " For the peasants all say, 
 " In a gloomy, stern way, 
 
 " That they won't find the taxes they're ordered to pay; 
 " I'm afraid of some ikki, 6 I tremble with dread, 
 " And I curse the enchantress, / would she were 
 
 dead!" 
 
 Here the puzzled hard, 
 With a face full of woe, 
 
 Shakes his head, blows his nose, and declares it's 
 ' no go,' 
 
 4. Alluding to popular Japanese superstitions. Foxes and badgers are credited, 
 iu Japanese legends, with possessing the power of assuming at will the likeness of 
 human beings. 
 
 5. Jkfatsurtgoto, government administration. 
 
 6. Ifcfci', agrarian riot. 
 
26 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 Gives it up, and confesses, while heaving a sigh, 
 'Tis a regular case of shikata ga nai * / 
 From behind the low hedge in the Councillor's rear, 
 With a loud rustling noise, see ! a form doth appear ; 
 And this form, as you yet more attentively scan, 
 The proportions assumes of a handsome young man. 
 
 The karo, at the sound, 
 
 Gives a start, with a bound 
 The youth springs o'er the hedge, quickly glances 
 
 around 
 
 To the right and the left, not a soul's in the street 
 So he sinks on his knees at the Councillor's feet ! 
 
 " Hallo ! Kwansuke ! you rascal, how dare you come 
 
 here ? 
 " Why, I thought I dismissed you my service last 
 
 year!" 
 " Oh ! I pray, good my lord, you'll vouchsafe to give 
 
 ear, 
 
 " And to list to my tale, 
 " For I'm sure I shan't fail 
 " To explain my past conduct ;" his master turns 
 
 pale ; 
 
 " Only fancy," thinks he, " what a dreadful mishap 
 1 ' If my threats should have chanced to be heard by 
 
 this chap ! 
 
 " I'll just hark to his tale, without anger or scoff, 
 " And, that done, I've no doubt I can soon * bluff him 
 
 off.' " 
 
 So the Councillor here, as old Horace would tell us, 
 " Ut iniquce (that means ' stubborn ') mentis asellus, 
 
 7. "No help for it!" 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 27 
 
 " Demittit auriculas " (that phrase can't hurt you) 
 And, in fact, of ' necessity dire ' makes a virtue ; 
 His retainer looks up with an air of combined 
 Joy and fear, clears his throat, and thus eases his 
 mind : 
 
 " Words alone 
 
 " Can't atone, 
 
 " I most freely will own, 
 
 " For my past misdemeanors ; my faults I bemoan, 
 " And I would that whilst I in your household did stay 
 " More befitting behaviour I'd tried to display ; 
 
 " For I'm fully aware 
 
 " That my conduct while there 
 " Was by no means en regie, nor yet on the square. 
 " I disturbed the whole place with my riot and noise, 
 " For my fault was, in short, I was * one of the boys ;' 
 " And no matter what mischief the youngsters might 
 
 brew, 
 
 " I was safe to be found at the head of the crew ; 
 " There was no one so apt at concocting a hoax, 
 " Or at starting a ' sell,' or low practical jokes ; 
 
 " I'd dress up, for a lark, 
 
 " When it chanced to be dark, 
 " In a sheet, like a ghost, promenading the park, 
 " When I'd frighten the waiting maids out of their 
 
 wits, 
 
 " And once drove the fat cook pretty nigh into fits ; 
 " Till at last to yourself I once offered some ' slack/ 
 " For which you, most deservedly, gave me the sack ! 
 " Thus dismissed in disgrace, I continued to roam, 
 " Cut by all my old chums, without shelter or home ; 
 " Till at last I encountered a kindly old man 
 
28 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 11 Who had known me in youth, 
 " And who promised in truth 
 " To befriend me if I'd begin new ; I began ! 
 " I took service with him, and I've worked in his 
 
 store, 
 (" He's a dealer in dry goods) this twelvemonth and 
 
 more; 
 
 " But I burn 
 " To return 
 
 " From this peddling concern 
 " To the life of a gentleman, once more to learn 
 " How to wield with precision the lance and the 
 
 blade, 
 " In the stead of the cloth-yard that's used * in the 
 
 trade.' 
 
 " Oh ! forgive me, kind master, forgive and forget 
 <; All my former misdeeds, and I'll prove to you yet 
 " That your gracious beneficence largely can tend 
 " To assist me my reprobate ways to amend ! " 
 
 " Well, well," says his ci-devant master, " 'tis true 
 
 " That I always had, Kwansuke, a liking for you ; 
 
 " That your past life was wrong, there can be no 
 
 denial, 
 
 " Yet I'll not refuse once more to give you a trial ; 
 " As I don't like to jump on a man when he's down, 
 ' I'll assist you to try and achieve some renown. 
 ;i To ensure true success there is nought, I've oft felt, 
 " Like red gold in the purse, and sharp steel at the 
 
 belt; 
 " You've just spoken of wielding the blade and the 
 
 lance, 
 
CO 
 
 Q 
 
 x; 
 
 <^ 
 
 ^> 
 
 O 
 
 u 
 x; 
 
 LJ 
 
 O 
 
 u 
 
 H 
 
THE FATAL. ERROR. 29 
 
 " Take this dirk, then, and purse, these will give you 
 
 a chance 
 
 " To distinguish yourself by some valorous deed, 
 " By some gallant tegara,* and then, as the meed 
 
 " Of your vict'ry, I'd fain 
 
 " Treat the past with disdain, 
 " And install you, thus proved, in my service again." 
 
 " Thanks ! noble sir ! " doth Kwansuke cry, 
 
 ." For this thy kind goodwill ; 
 " I'll do some deed of merit high, 
 
 " To prove I'm worthy still ; 
 " For Kwansuke's breast is bold and leal, 
 
 " Of that be not afraid ; 
 " His heart is true as the burnished steel 
 
 " Of a Masamune blade !" ' 
 
 With a low genuflection, the gifts he doth seize, 
 Holds them up to his forehead, then sinks on his 
 
 knees, 
 
 And his face to the paving stones flatly doth squeeze, 
 With that sibilant noise which, as some writers men- 
 tion, 
 
 ' Doth an attitude show of respectful attention !' 
 The Councillor smiles, bids his servant be brave, 
 Turns away, and with features once more set and 
 
 grave, 
 Passes in through the gateway that stands on his 
 
 right, 
 And the large heavy doors shut him out from our sight. 
 
 8. Tegara, act of merit, doughty deed. 
 
 9. Masamnne', one of the most famous swordsmiths of Japan, lived from 1264 to 
 1343 A.D. It is, in Japanese literature, a common metaphor to compare a loyal 
 heart to a trusty 8wcud-bla.de. 
 
30 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 Kwansuke" lies for a moment, and then, with a bound 
 Like a harlequin, rises again from the ground. 
 First he pauses, and drops a salt tear at the view 
 Of the strong massive portal he dare not pass through ; 
 (Like the Peri who, Thomas Moore's tale doth relate, 
 Stood in sorrow and wept near the Paradise Gate ;) 
 Next, the purse he unties, 
 And evinces surprise 
 
 At the rich store of nibu I0 that greets his glad eyes, 
 Rolls it up as before, and conceals it beneath 
 The wide folds of his dress ; then he draws from its 
 
 sheath 
 
 The bright sword that's to carve him a fortune anew, 
 And stands almost entranced as the steel meets his 
 
 view: 
 
 " What a beautiful weapon ! how perfectly made ! 
 " And what exquisite fittings ! how trenchant a blade ! 
 " And see here, on the sheath, too, quite plain to 
 
 behold, 
 " The good Councillor's badge worked in lacquer and 
 
 gold! 
 " Good ! this sword shall remind me, where'er I may 
 
 go> 
 
 " Of the grand debt that I to my master now owe : 
 " If he'd only a foe ! then to prove my sincerity 
 " I'd be down on the chap with most killing asperity ! 
 " Yet, just hold for a moment, yes, didn't he say 
 " That the Lady O Hide had caused his dismay ? 
 
 " And he furthermore said 
 
 " That he * would she were dead/ 
 " And invoked sundry curses to fall on her head : 
 
 10. Gold pieces, worth about fifty cents each. 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 31 
 
 "She's 'ensnared our young Lord'? then my duty 
 
 is plain ; 
 
 " I'll take pretty good care she don't do so again, 
 " For in view of the fact that her conduct is sich" 
 (Rhyme demands that word, reader,) " /'// 'go for 9 
 
 the witch!" 
 
 Having made up his mind, and determined his victim, 
 He at once flies away as though Benkei " had kick'd 
 him ! 
 
 The scene is changed. A lordly hall 
 
 Before our eyes is laid ; 
 On post and ceiling, beam and wall, 
 
 Are paintings rare portrayed ; 
 Here vase of price, there silken shawl, 
 
 Is carelessly displayed ; 
 And gilded badges plain declare, 
 'Tis Kashiu Sama's castle fair. 
 
 Lovely ladies, gay and bright, 
 Pass in groups before our sight ; 
 Dainty maidens, tall and slim, 
 Fair of face, and lithe of limb ; 
 There, the fairest 'midst the throng, 
 Witching Hide moves along ; 
 Far outshines each rival, far 
 As the comet shames the star, 
 As the snow-white sagi " shows 
 'Midst a flock of sable crows ! 
 
 11. Benkei, the Hercules of Japan. He lived in the latter half of the nth 
 century. 
 
 12. Sagi, the white ' paddy -bird ' ; allusion is here made to a Japanese proverb. 
 
32 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 Blind to all, on her we gaze ; 
 
 Listen, while I sing her praise. 
 Imprimis, a nose, which (though perfect, /'d say), 
 Some might deem a trifle too much retrousse ; 
 Next, a sweet dimpled chin, and two cherry-red lips, 
 With a smile that e'en Venus's own might eclipse ; 
 
 But my Muse says, " Enough !" 
 
 And turns off in a huff; 
 Of description she thinks you have quite quantum stiff. ; 
 
 And, thus hearing her rail, 
 
 All my energies fail : 
 
 As to paint the fair damsel mere words can't avail, 
 I'll give up the hard task, and go on with my tale ; 
 Leaving each of my readers to fill in the rest 
 As to him (or to her) may appear to be best ! 
 
 Yet I own I'm inclin'd 
 
 First to speak out my mind, 
 
 Thus, I wouldn't give much for the man 
 
 Who can not in his heartstrings a tender spot find 
 For the daughters of lovely Japan ! 
 
 And this one fact I'll tell my Muse, 
 Nor heed her angry tone, 
 
 Stood / in Kashiu Sama's shoes, 
 I'd do as he has done ! 
 
 To resume then ; 'tis winter, the sky's dull and drear 
 As is mostly the case at this season of year ; 
 
 And foot-deep on the ground 
 
 Lies the snow all around 
 
 The proud castle, so thick that it deadens the sound 
 Of the peasant's slow footsteps, as plodding he goes 
 Down the road to the town, with his fingers and toes 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 33 
 
 Quite benumbed, while long icicles hang from his nose ! 
 
 (And just here I may say 
 
 It's quite strange, by the way, 
 How the Japanese love snowy scenes to portray 
 On those long kakemono I3 you notice each day ; 
 If you order " a winter scene," gladly I'll lay 
 Ten to one that's long odds, but there's ' nary ' 
 
 mistake in it 
 
 That they paint you a snow-storm, and mandarin- 
 drake in it !) 
 
 To-day fair Hide fain would go 
 
 To view the landscape o'er, 
 Clothed in its garb of spotless snow ; 
 
 Her train is at the door, 
 And Lady Hide's palanquin 
 
 Too long has " stopped the way," 
 And yet she lingers still within ; 
 
 What makes my lady stay ? 
 The reason, kind reader, I'll tell you full soon, 
 Her Ladyship's fainted, gone off in a swoon ! 
 What a shocking catastrophe ! in rush her maids, 
 Bearing hartshorn, burnt feathers, and sundry more 
 
 aids 
 
 To restore animation ; her system is strong, 
 And she ' comes to ' completely before very long. 
 Ah ! Lady O Hide ! was't purposely done ? 
 Was that sickness a feint in more senses than one ? 
 Were you warned to beware, by some merciful dream, 
 Of yon dark form awaiting you down by the stream ? 
 
 13. Kakemono, lonsr hanprinp scrolls, fitted with rollers at the top and foot, used 
 to decorate the walls of a room. 
 
34 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 True or false, I can't say, 
 
 Be that all as it may, 
 
 The fact stands, 'twas the death-knell of Lady O Tei ! 
 For, on hearing the tumult, that much-injured dame 
 Rushes forth, her eyes gleaming with jealousy's flame ; 
 "Ha! gone off in a faint?" mutters she, "let her 
 
 stay ! 
 
 " And, as she can't go out, I suppose that / may ; 
 " 'Tis a sin to keep coolies thus waiting all day." 
 With a glance at her rival stretch'd prone on the floor, 
 She steps into the litter, and starts from the door. 
 
 'Tis a wintry day, 
 And the sun's last ray 
 
 O'er the landscape pure and white 
 Is sinking slow, 
 And the sparkling snow 
 
 Is tinged with its golden light ; 
 And the piercing blast 
 Sends driving past 
 
 The snow in feath'ry flake, 
 Where the willows rear 
 Their forms so drear 
 
 Beside the frozen lake ; 
 And the trees' are bare, 
 Through the chill, bleak air 
 
 Is the curlew's whistle heard, 
 The curlew wild, 
 By Bret Harte styled 
 
 " That melancholy bird ! " 
 
 (But, indeed, the poor curlew has plenty of reason 
 To be rather down-hearted at such a bad season ; 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 35 
 
 For, in fact, 'tis enough to depress any man, 
 
 -To be snow-bound, by night, on a moor in Japan !) 
 
 Yet there's one man, at least, who cares nought for 
 
 the snow ; 
 
 On his hands and his knees he creeps * stealthily slow/ 
 As if dreading detection, to where on the bank 
 Of the stream stands a patch of reeds, slimy and dank ; 
 Soon their shelter he gains, and there crouches full 
 
 low, 
 
 While his foot-prints are hid by the thick-falling snow ; 
 There he silently lies, 
 Ever straining his eyes 
 Towards the height where the castle's tall battlements 
 
 rise 
 
 In a huge, looming mass 'fore the darkening skies. 
 Is he stalking a deer ? 
 Does he strive to get near 
 
 To the wary wild goose, in the hope of a shot ? 
 No ; I'm sure I can boldly affirm he does not ; 
 No ; he's bound, to my eyes, on no errand so tame, 
 For his look makes me fancy he seeks nobler game ; 
 And I think, with one stroke (if the truth must be 
 
 told) 
 He'll have killed rather more than a game-bag can 
 
 hold! 
 
 See him rise once again 
 For a moment remain 
 Fix'd and stern then prostrate himself flat on the 
 
 plain ! 
 
 He has sighted his prey ! hark ! a click then a 
 pause 
 
36 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 Then a dull, sliding sound we can feel that he draws 
 From its scabbard the hunting-knife, soon to be dyed 
 In the blood of his quarry ! he turns to one side, 
 With a back-handed twitch flings the sheath on the 
 
 snow, 
 
 But reveals, while so doing, a face that we know ! 
 It is Kwansuke ! depend on't, the deed will be done, 
 For he's plainly gone in for * the whole hog or none F 
 See ! from out the dark shadows obscuring the plain, 
 With a slow, steady tramp comes the nobleman's train ; 
 All so silent, so solemn, you'd think that you view 
 Not a body of men, but some weird spectral crew ! 
 Through their ranks not a sound, not a whisper is 
 
 breathed. 
 
 Each retainer's sword-handle's in oil-paper sheathed ; 
 As a fence 'gainst the storm, 
 And to keep himself warm, 
 
 In a rain-coat each man has envelop'd his form ; 
 On their feet thick straw sandals are carefully laced, 
 And their heads with large round hats of bamboo are 
 
 graced ; 
 
 Till, in fact, each stout vassal appears to our eyes 
 Like an overgrown mushroom of marvellous size ! 
 In the midst, on their shoulders, six coolies uphold 
 The gay litter, all deck'd with blue velvet and gold, 
 The gay litter, in short, of the Lady O Tei ; 
 And behind come more coolies to act as relay ; 
 While the lance and the halberd, the plume and the 
 
 spear, 
 
 All around their fair mistress her vassals uprear ; 
 Such the emblems of rank which you always might see 
 Round a Japanese noble of lofty degree. 
 

 
 
 
 H 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 37 
 
 Slowly marches the train, some fatality leads 
 
 It direct towards that ill-omen'd dark patch of reeds ; 
 
 In a moment so swift that it plainly appals 
 
 E'en the boldest among them the thunderbolt falls ! 
 
 Hark to the agonizing cries, 
 
 The shrieks of pain that loudly rise ! 
 
 The work of death young Kwansuke plies 
 Amidst his startled foes ! 
 
 These on their comrades wildly call, 
 
 Those turn to fight, 'tis useless all 
 
 Man after man they reel and fall 
 
 Beneath his deadly blows ! 
 
 At the onset the vassals are scared with dismay, 
 As with strength superhuman he forces his way 
 
 Towards the litter, but then 
 
 They all rally like men ; 
 
 And just here, reader kind, if I'd only the pen 
 Of the * Press Correspondents' who're granted facilities 
 For observing those sad Russo-Turkish hostilities, 
 (It would seem as the war had engross'd their whole 
 heart in it), 
 
 I'd describe to you now 
 
 Such a rattling good row 
 As would make you quite anxious yourself to take part 
 
 in it! 
 
 For at once I'd narrate, without pause or ahem, 
 How they lay on to him, and he ' lams ' into them 
 How their hats and their cloaks are flung quickly 
 
 aside, 
 
 How they tug at their sword-hilts, in oil-paper tied, 
 (Far too tightly, alas !) how they hack and they hew 
 
38 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 At th' assailant, who hacks, cuts, and thrusts at them 
 
 too, 
 
 Till the dead and the wounded lie scattered around, 
 While their life-blood empurples the snow on the 
 
 ground ! 
 
 At such writing, however, I'm not quite au fait, 
 So will merely describe the ' fag end ' of the fray : 
 See.! the last coolie drops, almost cleft to the chin, 
 And our hero's alongside the gay palanquin ; 
 See ! he tears down the blind, forces open the door 
 Then a long, wild shriek rises the tragedy's o'er ! 
 Here I think with Sir Walter " 'twere sorrow to tell" 
 The full tale of the sad " butcher- work that befel ;" 
 So suffice it to mention that Lady O Tei 
 Will not trouble her hair-dresser much from to-day ! 
 
 With a furious shout, 
 
 In a menacing rout, 
 
 (For, at last, ev'ry man has his katana ' 4 out) 
 Here the remnant of vassals come up at a run ; 
 But too slow to catch Kwansuke ! his foul errand's 
 
 done, 
 
 So he heads for the stream at the deuce of a pace, 
 Like an athlete who starts for a hundred yards' race ; 
 Soon he reaches its brink, having ' dodged ' all his foes, 
 Plunges in and the dark waters over him close ! 
 
 Here I'll leave you to guess 
 
 Both the shame and distress 
 
 Which the luckless retainers now plainly express, 
 As they gaze on their lady's corpse (wanting a head !) 
 And then reckon the list of their wounded and dead. 
 
 U. JCatana, the long Japanese sword, as opposed to the wakizashi or dirk. 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 39 
 
 They're o'ercome with emotion, fear-stricken and awed ; 
 What account can they render for this to their lord ? 
 They've abandoned their mistress, they've let her be 
 
 slain, 
 
 And they feel explanations will prove but in vain ; 
 Then, their foe was but one single swordsman, and he, 
 To their rage and chagrin, has retreated scot-free ! 
 Matters clearly have come to a desperate pass ; 
 So they raise up the litter (now lighter, alas ! 
 Than it was when they started at noontide to-day) 
 And, with sighs of dejection and looks of dismay, 
 To the dark-frowning castle they take their sad way ; 
 And I think, if I read their blank faces aright, 
 There'll be cases of seppuku I5 happen to-night ! 
 Once again the scene changes : we plainly descry 
 'Tis the opposite side of the river our eye 
 Merely rests on a bank built to keep off the flood, 
 While beneath it strong timbers project from the mud. 
 Ah, look there ! from the water, all dripping and dank, 
 There emerges a form, which crawls up the steep bank ! 
 'Tis the form of a man but so dreadful a sight 
 That you'd almost believe him some foul river sprite ! 
 In his mouth is a drawn sword, and see ! just beneath, 
 From its long raven tresses fast clutch'd 'twixt his 
 
 teeth, 
 
 With its features all writhed and distorted with dread 
 As when hewn from the. trunk, hangs a fresh-severed 
 
 head ! 
 
 Look ! he reels and he staggers, he hardly can stand, 
 'Tis a wonder he's ever got safely to land ; 
 
 15. Seppuku, tbe Japanese rendering of the sound of the two Chinese characters 
 used iu writing to denote the word hara-kiri, or suicide by disembowelment. 
 
40 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 For, between his long swim, and his recent hard bout, 
 Mr. Kwansuke's undoubtedly wholly ' played out ' ! 
 Down he sinks on the ground then he struggles to rise 
 On his knees with his hand wipes the spray from 
 
 his eyes 
 Lastly, sits himself down to examine his prize. 
 
 I don't know if your skill, reader, e'er you've essayed 
 At a game that's called * poker ' (extensively played 
 In the ' States ') if you have, you've most probably seen 
 And remarked the queer change that comes o'er a 
 
 man's mien, 
 When he's drawn a fifth card which is not worth a 
 
 rush, 
 And which leaves him with what's styled ' a darn'd 
 
 busted flush'! 
 
 Just conceive, now, the look that his face would display 
 If a pool of a million gold dollars then lay 
 On the table before him, next try, if you can, 
 To intensify ten times the look of that man ; 
 Well, you've now got an inkling, from all I have said, 
 Of the glance of wild agony, horror, and dread 
 That comes o'er Kwansuke's face as he stares at the 
 
 head ! 
 
 Now I trust, for humanity's sake, that just here 
 There are none too hard-hearted to squeeze out a tear, 
 Yes, a salt tear of sympathy pure and unfeign'd, 
 O'er the ' crushing bad luck ' that our hero's sustained ! 
 
 First, the poor fellow's lain 
 
 Half the day on the plain, 
 At the cost of much sorrow and anguish and pain, 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 41 
 
 Sadly tortured with frost-bitten hands, ears, and feet, 
 And with nothing to drink, nor a morsel to eat ; 
 He's imperilled his life, too, in battle's fierce shock, 
 And his head shows the traces of thump and of knock 
 Dealt by Kaga's retainers who, void of compassion, 
 Have abused their advantage in barbarous fashion ; 
 Then he's, thirdly, been duck'd in the river so cold ; 
 And to find after all that he's only been l sold' ! 
 That Dame Fortune, who loves such vagaries to play, 
 Having led him a dance, has then stoop'd to betray ; 
 For she's mockingly thrown to poor Kwansuke, instead 
 Of the prize that he's hoped for, a different head ! 
 'Tis enough to drive frantic the veriest saint ! 
 And I won't try the task of attempting to paint 
 
 His expression so black, 
 
 As he hurls the head back 
 In the dark swollen river that rushes beneath : 
 Next he wraps up his sword (being minus its sheath) 
 In a blue cotton kerchief he draws from his breast, 
 And so leaves the sad scene with a visage depress'd ; 
 While with deep lamentation he groans and he whines 
 O'er the thought of enduring such ' awful hard lines' ! 
 
 Chang'd again is the scene : Now before us there lies 
 A poor fisherman's hut of diminutive size 
 
 It is ev'ning, and there 
 
 Are a jovial pair 
 
 This a man, that a damsel remarkably fair 
 Who are just sitting down with a keen hungry air 
 
 To their frugal repast ; 
 
 (They don't know 'tis the last 
 That as brother and sister together they'll share !) 
 
42 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 Well, to cut matters short, I will here tell you plain 
 That this hut is the place where young Kwansuke has 
 
 lain 
 
 Safely hid, since his fruitless attack on the train ; 
 And his sister so keen 
 For his comfort has been, 
 
 As to share his long exile, and rule his cuisine ! 
 How they ply their long chopsticks ! How deftly the fish 
 And the daikon's l6 transferred to their mouths from 
 
 the dish ! 
 
 How they go for their sake ! but ah ! long before 
 They have ended their meal, comes a bang at the door, 
 And in walks an intruder, who startles them sore ; 
 (Like that Captain Miles Standish, unbidden who came 
 To the gay marriage-feast of his Puritan ' flame' !) 
 Down he flings his large hat, down his mantle does 
 
 throw 
 
 'Tis our hero's old master, the aged karo ! 
 With a kind salutation, he squats on the mat, 
 And, without more preamble, commences to chat. 
 
 " On a night cold and drear, 
 " In December last year, 
 " When returning from town, and when fast drawing 
 
 near 
 
 " To the castle, my foot, 'neath the snow on the ground, 
 " Struck an object I stooped, and this scabbard I 
 
 found :" 
 
 (He produces it) " Fancy, again, my surprise, 
 " When the badge of my household thereon met my 
 
 eyes ! 
 
 16. DaiTton, the long Japanese radish. 
 
H 
 
 
 
 co 
 > 
 
 CO 
 
 tf 
 
 O 
 
 D 
 O 
 O 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 43 
 
 " I remember'd well, Kwansuke, that lately to you 
 " I'd presented that scabbard, with sword in it too ; 
 " How it came to be lost, how it chanced that it lay 
 " In the snow, I knew not so continued my way. 
 
 " At the castle that night 
 
 " There was grief and affright ; 
 " And I learn'd, by degrees, the whole tale of the 
 
 fight 
 
 " Which resulted, alas ! in the terrible death 
 " Of her ladyship well, I of course held my breath 
 " As regards the sword-scabbard, nor stoop'd to betray 
 " My suspicions but, Kwansuke", be candid, and say 
 " Was it you took the head off poor Lady O Tei ?" 
 Thus adjur'd, our young hero does plainly declare 
 All the facts, gentle reader, of which you're aware ; 
 How, conceal'd 'neath the hedge, he had clearly o'er- 
 
 heard 
 
 Of the Councillor's tirade each separate word ; 
 How his blood it did boil, and his brain it did burn ; 
 How he thought to his patron he'd do a good turn, 
 By depriving the demon O Hide of life ; 
 How he only found out at the end of the strife 
 That he'd fail'd in his scheme (to his infinite woe) 
 And ' instead of the pigeon had slaughter'd the crow 1* 
 Here, in proof of his tale, he produces the blade, 
 Which the sheath fits exactly, as though for it made. 
 " I assure you, kind master, I frequently since 
 " Have endeavour'd to whisper the ear of our prince ; 
 " Being fully resolv'd, having made a ' clean breast/ 
 " And my fatal mistake having bravely confess'd, 
 " To commit hara-kiri, and die like a man, 
 " To proclaim my devotion to him and my clan ! 
 
44 THE FATAL ERROR. 
 
 " But no chance was forthcoming Fate would not 
 
 accord 
 " That poor Kwansuke should e'er meet with Kaga's 
 
 proud lord ; 
 
 " Yet that object's attained, now I've met, sir, with you ; 
 " And there rests only one thing for Kwansuke to do !" 
 Cries the Councillor, " Nay 1 
 " I beseech you to stay 
 
 " Your mad scheme, and just listen to what I shall say : 
 " You must know, then, our lord took it into his brain 
 " 'Twas through Hide's foul plots that his lady was slain ; 
 " All the love that, while living, to her he'd denied 
 " Seem'd again to revive when he learn'd how she died ; 
 " He's a man of strong impulse, as doubtless you know, 
 " Quick he flung off the glamour that blinded him so, 
 " Gave O Hide the sack, cast her off from his gate, 
 " And then turn'd his attention to matters of state ; 
 " What a weeding took place ! evil councillors went, 
 " Bad officials were all to the right-about sent 
 " Bag and baggage he clear'd 'em out, every one, 
 " And has proved himself truly his good father's son ! 
 " And this grand reformation, I take it, is due 
 " Indirectly, of course Mr. Kwansuke, to you I 
 " Pray don't think, then, of suicide you're not 
 
 betrayed 
 " But re-enter my service ; your fortune is made 1" 
 
 With a sorrowful sigh, 
 
 And a glance in his eye 
 
 That .bespeaks resolution, does Kwansuke reply, 
 " What ! you ask me to live me, a true samurai ! 
 " When the only resource that's yet left me's to die ! 
 
THE FATAL ERROR. 45 
 
 " You invite me to live you beseech me to stay 
 " When 'twas / struck the blow that slew Lady O Tei ! 
 " I rejoice at the indirect fruits of my work ; 
 " For myself, though stand by ! you shall yield me 
 that dirk !" 
 
 All is o'er ! with his life's blood the ill-fated man 
 Has now sealed his devotion to chief and to clan ! 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 i. 
 
 Married men ! I would first give a caution to you : 
 Pay your wives that devotion that's rightly their due ; 
 And don't wander o' nights, nor be tempted to roam, 
 But as soon as it's sunset go soberly home ! 
 
 II. 
 
 Married ladies ! if e'er you're inclined to be gay, 
 Think, oh ! think of the fate of poor Lady O Tei ! 
 
 in. 
 
 Lovely damsels ! be warned by this drama so tragic : 
 Learn that beauty ne'er needs the assistance of magic 
 To ensnare willing victims no more potent wile 
 Do I know, than the charm of a fair maiden's smile ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 Last of all, to young bachelors here I would speak : 
 Don't be too fond of * larking,' of joke, or of freak ; 
 Don't disturb honest folks when they're snugly abed, 
 And take care that you don't lose your heart or your 
 head ! 
 
4 6 
 
 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 "HETHER the fair damsel who is the heroine of 
 the following tale ever really existed is a question 
 open to considerable doubt. That there was, however, once 
 upon a time a nobleman named Amako, and that his 
 retainers earned for themselves a high reputation for their 
 devotion and fidelity to his service, is sufficiently proved by 
 Japanese historical annals. But it is with the play and 
 not with history that we have to deal ; and as to the former 
 a heroine is absolutely necessary, we can hardly do better 
 than refrain from too close enquiry, contenting ourselves 
 instead with what is told us about her in the drama alone. 
 
47 
 
 A Fragment from the Japanese play of " Amako Jiu-yu- 
 shi" ("The Ten Valiant Retainers of Amako") as 
 Performed at the Haruki-machi Theatre, Hongo, Tokio, 
 in January , 1878. 
 
 |N the province of Idzumo, west of Japan, 
 
 'Midst as lovely a landscape as e'er you might 
 
 scan, 
 
 Yoshihisa, the lord of an ample domain, 
 O'er the castle of Tomita blithely does reign ; 
 Of the proud house of Amako chieftain is he, 
 And his fathers were nobles of lofty degree. 
 
 Words would fail to narrate 
 
 All his pomp and his state, 
 Or his riches and splendour in full to relate ; 
 
 So the news must suffice, 
 
 That of everything nice 
 
 That this world can afford he has got a good slice ! 
 He's a wife, too, as fair as could possibly be, 
 Whom he loves as becomes a devoted mari ; 
 He's an aged mamma (a most sanctified nun), 
 And one daughter alas ! he's not blessed with a son ; 
 On behalf of that daughter I'd venture to claim 
 Your attention my title will give you her name ; 
 
48 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 Stay, I'll just introduce you, in drawing-room style 
 " Kokonoye my reader ! " (a curtsey, and smile). 
 
 Fair Tokiwa's undying name 
 
 Is writ on Hist'ry's page, 
 Her matchless charms have left their fame 
 
 To each succeeding age ; 
 She moved the Tyrant's heart of steel 
 
 By simple loveliness ; 
 E'en Kiyomori's breast could feel 
 
 For Beauty in distress : l 
 Yet, beside Kokonoye, it's nought of affront 
 To assert that e'en Tokiwa's * out of the hunt P 
 Yes, my heroine's charming ! her figure so trim 
 As the willow tree's bough is as graceful and slim ; 
 Her complexion's as white as is Fuji's hoar peak 
 'Neath the snows of midwinter like damask her 
 
 cheek 
 
 With a dear little nose, 
 And two eyes black as sloes, 
 
 And a pair of ripe lips which, when parted, disclose 
 Pearly teeth her fine eyebrows obliquely are set, 
 (In Japan that's a beauty) her hair's dark as jet, 
 And is coiled in thick masses on top of her pate, 
 In a wonderful chignon as big as a plate : 
 (There are eight styles of chignon, just here I may tell 
 My fair readers, as known to the Japanese belle). 
 Then, to heighten the beauty bestowed on the part 
 Of kind Nature, she's called in th' assistance of Art, 
 
 i . Alluding to an incident in Japanese history. Tokiwa, a young peasant-girl of 
 surpassing beauty, was the concubine of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and when the 
 latter's family was almost annihilated in 1159 by Kiyomori, chief of the rival clan, 
 of Taira, she, by her loveliness, so moved the heart of the conqueror that he 
 consented to spare the lives of her three sons. 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 49 
 
 For rice-powder to render more dazzlingly fair 
 
 Her face, hands, neck, and chin cherry oil for her 
 
 hair 
 
 Just a soupgon of rouge to embellish her lip 
 And a host of cosmetics my mem'ry that slip : 
 To complete the fair picture of bright loveliness, 
 Add to all this the charm of her elegant dress ; 
 
 Satin, crape, and brocade 
 
 Here contribute their aid 
 
 For the long flowing garments in which she's arrayed, 
 Which hang loose from her shoulders, in fanciful fold, 
 All embroidered with storks and plum-blossoms in 
 
 gold; 
 
 Next, a broad velvet girdle encircles her waist, 
 Tied behind in a huge bow her feet are encased 
 In small spotless white stockings, which timidly peep 
 From beneath her red jttpon's elaborate sweep ; 
 Add a hair-pin of tortoise-shell, dainty to see ; 
 On her brow place a circlet of gilt filigree ; 
 There, in all the warm glow of her beauty, see shine 
 Kokonoye, sole heiress of Amako's line ! 
 
 Now of course you'll agree, 
 
 I feel certain, with me, 
 When a damsel's as lovely as lovely can be, 
 When her face is as fair as a face e'er has been, 
 And her figure's as graceful as ever was seen, 
 Above all, when the damsel's but * sweet seventeen/ 
 And her young male acquaintances ardent and keen, 
 
 In no matter what land, 
 
 It to reason must stand 
 There'll be plenty of lovers to strive for her hand ; 
 
50 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 When it's known, furthermore, that her father's 
 
 possess'd 
 
 Of the wealth of this world, and has plainly express'd 
 His intention, whene'er his fair daughter shall wed, 
 To bestow more than blessings alone on her head, 
 It may fairly be deemed that in trying to win 
 Her affections, some swains have an eye to the * tin ' ! 
 Well, from both of the causes I've mentioned above, 
 Crowds of suitors contend for my heroine's love ; 
 Some are snared by her eyes some (more numerous 
 
 yet) 
 
 Font la cour aux beaux yeux de sa jolie cassette ! 
 Shikanosuke's her choice ; no proud daimio he, 
 Hatamoto, or kuge* of lofty degree 
 No, his mibun* is humble, this favored young man 
 Is a vassal, in fact, of the Tomita clan : 
 Yet he's gentle by birth by his lord trusted well 
 And his feats and accomplishments scarce can I tell ; 
 He can beat any man 
 Through the whole of Japan 
 At composing a verse to inscribe on a fan, 
 (That's a great test of scholarship, doubtless you 
 
 know) 
 
 Then at sword-play, spear-practice, or drawing the bow, 
 Or at backing a steed, I may truthfully state, 
 He can match any youth of his own size and weight ; 
 He has ne'er shunn'd a foe, nor sent friend to the 
 
 wall 
 He can drink like a shojo 4 at feast or in brawl 
 
 2. Hatamoto, petty nobles of the old Shognnate : kugt, Court nobles of Kioto 
 (the Mikado's Court) as opposed to the daimio or territorial nobles. 
 
 3. Mibun, status, position in life. 
 
 4. SMjo", fabulous creatures, of human hape, with long red hair ; said to b 
 exceedingly fond of liquor. 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 51 
 
 He is equally ready his fortune to try 
 And his comrades all vote him a true samurai ! 
 He's a ' rising young man,' no one dares to dispute, 
 And the fair Kokonoye has smiled on his suit ! 
 
 Full oft our lovers now explore 
 The castle's farthest bounds, 
 Together traverse o'er and o'er 
 Its wooded pleasure-grounds ; 
 Oft ling'ring where some friendly bough 
 
 Conceals from others' view, 
 They breathe once more the tender vow, 
 
 And plight their troth anew ; 
 And oft affect, while side by side 
 
 Along the moat they stray, 
 To watch the giant koi* glide 
 
 Right leisurely away : 
 
 Yes, it's all very fine for these two, I declare ; 
 But just think of the other swains, left in despair ! 
 You may guess that some suitors were madly 
 
 enraged 
 
 When they learned Kokonoye was really ' engaged ' ; 
 Some, they stormed and they raved, in a fume and a 
 
 fret; 
 
 Others dubbed her a 'jilt,' and a 'heartless coquette;* 
 And some gloomily swore they'd commit suicide 
 But 'tis needless to say that resource they ne'er tried, 
 For, ere long, Time had healed their sore-wounded 
 
 affection, 
 And they turn'd their amours in some other direction ! 
 
 5. Kbi, large fish, with which the ponds in Japanese pleasure-grouudi are 
 usually stocked. They olteu grow to an enormoua ni^e. 
 
52 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 Terutsura alone (our lord's Councillor he) 
 
 To accept his rebuff could not, would not agree ; 
 
 And he swore, which was coming it rather too 
 
 strong, 
 He'd ' get even ' with young Shikanosuke ere long. 
 
 As ' the course of true love never smoothly did" run,' 
 Here our fond couple's troubles have quickly begun, 
 And the.sitrgit amari, commencement of woe, 
 Is all caused by the schemes of the wicked karu ; 
 
 First he cunningly tries, 
 
 By a tissue of lies, 
 
 Shikanosuke to lower in Amako's eyes ; 
 And, that done, he contrives (this unprincipled man !) 
 That the youth shall be outlawed, and banished the 
 
 clan ; 
 
 He himself bears the sentence, and mockingly gloats 
 O'er his victim's hard fate Shikanosuke scarce notes 
 What he hears, but in voice unconcerned does say, 
 " I expected as much I will clear out to-day !" 
 It would seem that our hero's already aware 
 Of his foe, and has managed his own counter-snare ; 
 Has committed, in fact, an intentional slip 
 (Which the Councillor takes as a negligent trip) 
 To ensure his dismissal, and leave himself free 
 To encompass the fall of his foeman, while he 
 O'er his fancied success is exulting with glee. 
 Terutsura stalks out ; there's a bang at the door, 
 Then a shuffle of feet, some half-dozen or more 
 Of our hero's young chums rush excitedly in, 
 And pour forth their resentment with clamorous din 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 53 
 
 " Shikanosuke, old man ! we're in terrible grief: 
 " At the thought of your exile ; 'tis past all belief 
 " That that rascally Councillor e'er should have dared 
 " Thus to do you a wrong never mind, we're 
 
 prepared 
 " Here to take our own lives, and thus plainly to 
 
 show 
 " How indignant we feel 'gainst that scoundrel karo ! " 
 
 No further words they idly waste, 
 
 But range them in a row ; 
 Down goes each mantle, doffed in haste, 
 
 Their vests they open throw ; 
 Each steels his heart 
 To act his part, 
 
 Out comes each gleaming dirk ; 
 They only wait 
 The signal, straight 
 
 To start their awful work ; 
 One moment more, 
 'Twill all be o'er 
 
 With each young heart so bold, 
 When, loud and stern, behind the door, 
 
 A solemn voice cries " Hold ! " 
 With a start ev'ry man turns around, and descries 
 An old priest, with bald pate and benevolent eyes ! 
 (He's the priest of the temple, I here may explain, 
 'Neath whose roof Shikanosuk6 his lodging has ta'en.) 
 " Well, you are a nice lot," cries this worthy, " to try 
 " And defile my new mats in your hurry to die ! 
 " Don't you think 'twould be better by far to remain 
 " In the land of the living ? What have you to gain 
 
54 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 " By despatching yourselves ? Face your ills with a 
 
 smile, 
 " And don't flee from bad luck in such cowardly 
 
 style!" 
 
 " Kind comrades all ! " our hero cries, 
 
 " This monk the truth has said ; 
 " His counsel it is wondrous wise 
 " A thought comes in my head 
 " 'Twere fitter, surely, that our foe, 
 " Not we, our blows should feel ; 
 " Let's swear to teach yon proud karo 
 
 11 The temper of our steel ! " 
 Suiting action to word, he takes paper and pen, 
 Writes a long form of oath, cons it over, and then 
 Reads it out to the rest 
 There it's plainly express'd 
 
 That each man of the band will endeavour his best 
 To effect their false enemy's downfall and shame 
 To this scroll, one by one, each affixes his name, 
 And, that done, with his knife gives a resolute score 
 To his left hand's fourth finger, and seals with his 
 
 gore. 
 You may guess that their chieftain shows stern 
 
 discontent 
 
 When he gets nine petitions, each asking consent 
 For the writer, his vassal, his service to quit 
 On some pretext " so urgent it cannot admit 
 Of delay ; " though chagrined, he perforce must 
 
 agree ; 
 
 " Shikanosuke's to blame for this move," mutters he, 
 " If they wish it, however, I'll let them go free ;" 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 55 
 
 So he yields that same ev'ning, when night's growing 
 
 late, 
 
 Ten retainers file out through the ponderous gate, 
 And at daybreak ten ronin, 6 concealed on the hill 
 In the rear of the castle, lurk watchful and still ! 
 
 And how does Kokonoye take 
 Her lover's evil plight ? 
 
 Poor girl ! her heart is like to break, 
 She sobs from morn till night ; 
 
 With hair dishevelled swollen eyes 
 And cheeks with tear-drops wet 
 
 In truth, you'd hardly recognize 
 
 Our former bright coquette ! 
 While her lover's a ronin, her father, beguiled 
 By the wily karo, has now suddenly smiled 
 On the suit that that hypocrite dares to prefer 
 To herself, Shikanosuke's betrothed yes, to her ! 
 ' Out of sight, out of mind,' says the proverb, you know ; 
 Now his rival is absent, he thinks he's a ' show* 
 To go courting himself, for her favor to plead, 
 With her sire on his side, he's convinced he'll succeed ; 
 But there's yet one more proverb that's equally clear, 
 Which remarks ' Lost to sight, yet to memory dear ; ' 
 And the Councillor finds, to his rage and his shame, 
 That he can't shake her trust in her victimized ' flame' ! 
 
 Then, his temper to try, 
 
 And his threats to defy, 
 Kokonoye's backed up by a trusty ally 
 
 6. K<5nin, the name given to a man who, for some offence, had been dismissed 
 from the service of his feudal lord, or who, in some cases, had voluntarily gone 
 into exile. 
 
56 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 'Tis her grandma, the nun, who thus ' comes to the 
 
 fore,' 
 
 For she hates Terutsura like poison and more ! 
 On the night Shikanosuke went forth in disgrace, 
 This benevolent dame in his pocket did place 
 A full purse, and besides, as a sorrowful treat, 
 She contrived that the lovers a last time should meet ! 
 Shikanosuke was agonized, crazy with grief 
 Kokonoye in torrents of tears found relief 
 Scarce a word could they utter, yet amply expressed 
 Were the feelings that rilled each disconsolate breast ! 
 That last interview's memories fully avail 
 To ensure a deaf ear to the Councillor's tale ; 
 Kokonoye's relentless, with scorn in her eyes 
 She repels his advances, and angrily cries, 
 
 " She'd rather roam the mountains cold 
 " By Shikanosuke's side, 
 
 " Than share a throne of gems and gold 
 
 "As Terutsura's bride!" 
 
 Madam Seigan, the nun, as I've mentioned before, 
 Takes her grand-daughter's part, and then quickly 
 
 wins o'er 
 
 Lady Yaye, our heroine's mother, to sign 
 A defensive alliance ; the ladies combine, 
 
 All their influence use 
 
 The karo to abuse, 
 
 And ere long their tormentor quite shakes in his shoes ; 
 For if Tomita's lord should e'er chance to suspect 
 His retainer's vile schemes, or his motives detect, 
 Then ' adieu ' to ambition, wealth, rank he must say, 
 'Twill, in fact, be a case of the oni^ to pay ! 
 
 7. OTM', devil, or demon. 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 57 
 
 So he sits himself down 
 
 With a curse and a frown, 
 
 Puts his conjuring cap on, -and cudgels his brains 
 To devise some fresh plan and not long he remains ; 
 For there's some one we know is uncommonly quick 
 To assist those whose conscience at nothing will stick ! 
 
 Up he springs in delight 
 
 " That's the ticket ! all right ! 
 
 " I'll arrange the whole matter this very same night; 
 " Ay ! when he's safe removed, I'll soon manage the 
 
 crew 
 " Of old hags, and then, ho ! my proud beauty, for 
 
 you ! " 
 
 So he writes a long letter, and seals it with care, 
 Calls a page, gives him secret commands to beware 
 That no soul shall the errand or sender divine, 
 Packs him off, and then seats himself calmly to dine ; 
 And the strangest of all strange events, I'll allow, 
 Is the fact that this rascal's not choked by his ' chow ' ! 
 
 Throughout the spacious castle hall 
 
 Reign fear and consternation ; 
 The vassals whisper, beck, and call 
 
 In gloomy perturbation ; 
 And Yoshihisa ill conceals 
 
 His manifest vexation, 
 While Terutsura's face reveals 
 
 A smile of exultation ! 
 
 " Room ! Room ! for the Envoy ! " the vassals divide 
 In two ranks down the hall comes, with leisurely 
 
 stride, 
 
58 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 Ura Hiobu-no-jo, stately, tall and refined, 
 With his silk naga-bakama 8 trailing behind, 
 Squats in front of the dais with dignity proud, 
 Draws a scroll from his bosom, and reads it aloud : 
 " You, Yoshihisa, of the line 
 " Of Amako "('tis writ) 
 " Of Tomita, in Idzumo, 
 
 " The present lord, to wit ! 
 " WHEREAS, Our ears have lately heard 
 
 " Strange tales of grievance spoke, 
 " And high and low have plaints preferred 
 
 " Against your cruel yoke, 
 " NOW THEREFORE, it is Our command 
 
 " You presently be set 
 " Within a cage, bound foot and hand, 
 
 " And covered with a net, 
 " And to Our Capital be sent, 
 
 " Where We shall then decide 
 " For you a fitting punishment, 
 " All as the laws provide ! " 
 With a groan Yoshihisa falls forward, as flat 
 As a pancake, and presses his face to the mat ; 
 While his vassals dismayed, with alarm in their eyes, 
 Clearly show that the news takes them quite by 
 
 surprise. 
 
 What ! their lord, so benevolent, kindly, and just, 
 To be trussed like a fowl, and in prison be thrust ! 
 It's preposterous ! some one has slandered him ! here 
 The cry "Room for the Envoy!" again greets their 
 ear, 
 
 8. Nagn-bnknma. long nether garments, trailing bshind the feet for a yard or 
 more, worn with the old court costume. 
 
o 
 
 z 
 
 cu 
 
 Cu 
 
LADY KOKONQYE. 59 
 
 Down they bow to the floor they can't see, they don't 
 
 think 
 
 That that Envoy's left eye gives a sinister wink 
 (Which some secret arrangement right plainly reveals) 
 As he passes the spot where the Councillor kneels ! 
 
 Oh ! a dreary sight is seen next morn, 
 When before the Castle gate 
 
 The retainers sad, with looks forlorn, 
 
 For their lord's departure wait ! 
 Terutsura alone seems inclined to be gay, 
 He has just seen the Envoy again on his way, 
 And he now hastens on, with remarkable zeal, 
 Yoshihisa's departure not seeming to feel 
 
 Any sorrow or grief, 
 
 He just bundles his chief 
 
 (Who's half stupefied still with dismay and affright) 
 In the net-covered litter, 9 and shuts him in tight, 
 Quickly starts him away, and then, pausing awhile 
 As the captive's borne off, gives a chuckle and smile, 
 And so turns on his heel with a satisfied smirk, 
 Like a man who's accomplished some arduous work ; 
 " That was splendidly done," mutters he, " and this 
 
 hour 
 
 " Sees the proud Kokonoye* at last in my power ! 
 Were you ever " up country," kind reader ? While 
 
 there 
 
 You have probably noticed the kago a chair 
 Made of slender bamboos, which is slung from a strong 
 Wooden pole, and so borne by two coolies along 
 
 9. When a Japanese noble was to bo oouveyed to any place under guard, a net, 
 usually of daxk-greeu silk, was thrown over Ine noriinono or litter in winch lie wuj 
 boruo. 
 
60 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 'Tis a picturesque kind of conveyance but say, 
 Did you ever yet try one, and ride a short way ? 
 If you did, I've no doubt 
 That you quickly jumped out, 
 
 And with half-broken vertebrae, quite benumbed shin, 
 Roundly cursed your own folly that e'er you got in ! 
 And you felt, I'll be bound, in your tortured condition, 
 'Twas an engine quite worthy the old Inquisition ! 
 Torquemada, I'll swear, 
 Had it chanced that he e'er 
 Clapped his eyes on this most diabolical chair, 
 Would his pincers, racks, pulleys, and all have 
 
 displaced, 
 
 And to each of his victims have given a taste 
 Of the kago, instead ! 
 To begin with, your head 
 Is so bumped 'gainst the pole that you're stunned and 
 
 half-dead ; 
 
 Then your neck is all twisted awry, and your feet 
 Go to sleep, and your chin and your knees almost 
 
 meet ; 
 
 And you writhe and you turn, in your efforts to ease 
 Your poor bones, and so doing, your coolies 
 
 displease, 
 
 Till they audibly growl, and then angrily swear 
 At the ' squirms ' and the twists of their troublesome 
 
 1 fare ' ! 
 
 But conceive, now, what agony yet you'd endure 
 If your limbs were bound tightly ! that done, I am 
 
 sure 
 
 Yoshihisa's condition will wring from your breast 
 A deep sigh he's not happy, that must be confessed. 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 61 
 
 About a n' 10 
 
 They've gone, when he 
 
 Is suddenly aware 
 Of an angry shout, 
 And a noise and rout 
 
 Beside his prison chair ; 
 'Tis a beggar bold, 
 Who has plainly strolled 
 
 For miles the road along, 
 Now makes essay 
 To force his way 
 
 Right in amongst the throng, 
 
 And before the stern guards can arrest him, he's seen 
 At the side of the litter, and in through the screen 
 Quickly pops a short dirk ! then commences a fray, 
 " Cut him down !" " Knock him over!" they angrily 
 
 say, 
 As they rush on him fiercely what's this ! from 
 
 beneath 
 His straw coat a long sword flashes out from its 
 
 sheath ; 
 
 How he slashes and thrusts ! but a moment, no more, 
 And the guards take to flight, and the combat is o'er, 
 Sauve qui pent off they scamper behind, in full chase, 
 Runs the beggar, intent upon ' forcing the pace' ! 
 
 Yoshihisa, of course, now a weapon he's got, 
 Cuts asunder his bonds, and is out like a shot ; 
 
 While he stands, in surprise 
 
 At his freedom, his eyes 
 Note a strange-looking form from a thicket arise : 
 
 10. A Japanese measure of length, equal to about i\ English miles. 
 
62 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 Is't a robber ? yet, surely that visage we know, 
 'Tis the former Court Envoy, the Hiobu-no-jo ! 
 Down he drops on his knees at the daimio's feet, 
 And with tears in his eyes does for pardon entreat : 
 What ! for pardon ? yes, quickly the scheme he does 
 
 tell- 
 How the soi-disant Envoy was nought but a ' sell.' 
 How the wicked karo had induced him to play 
 The false role, with intent the poor lord to betray 
 How, the hoax at an end, to his horror and grief 
 He has learned Yoshihisa's his brother's old chief, 
 (For his brother, it seems, of the runin is one) 
 How he longs to amend all the mischief he's done ; 
 And, to prove his contrition, his crimes to repair, 
 He now offers to guide my lord Amako where 
 He may meet with safe shelter and suitable fare ; 
 Yoshihisa accepts, with delight in his heart, 
 So the robber and noble together depart. 
 
 But while all this is passing, our heroine bold 
 Has resolved to escape from the Councillor's hold ; 
 Her dislike's changed to horror, for rightly she deems 
 She herself is the object of all his vile schemes. 
 Oh ! for brave Shikanosuke to guard her from ills ! 
 Shikanosuke ? alas ! he's now roaming the hills 
 
 Ha ! a thought strikes her brain 
 
 Could she manage to gain 
 
 That same hill, she may hope safely hid to remain 
 Till he once more shall meet her he's not far 
 
 away : 
 
 (How she knows that, fair reader, 'tis not mine to 
 say; 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. 63 
 
 But this much I may hint, that some fond billet-doux 
 May perhaps have assured her her lover is true !) 
 
 Quickly thought, quickly done 
 
 To her mother she's run, 
 
 Has confided her hopes, and the morrow's bright sun 
 Sees her far from the castle, her journey begun : 
 Let us hope she'll succeed in her desperate plan, 
 Now, Diogenes-like, she's ' in search of a man I ' 
 
 On a lone, dark plain, 
 'Mid the sleet and rain, 
 
 Beneath yon sombre tree, 
 See ! sword in hand 
 The ronin stand 
 
 By one by two by three; 
 By four by five, 
 They still arrive, 
 
 And silently they wait, 
 Till soon they spy 
 Yet more draw nigh, 
 
 By six by seven by eight ; 
 Their number's told 
 We plain behold 
 
 Our half-score ' valiant men,' 
 Ay, there they stand, 
 That outlawed band, 
 
 By nine and eke by ten ! 
 'Tis a terrible sight, for we clearly can see 
 That there's murder, for certain, upon the tapis ! 
 Hark, a step ! quick they dodge 'neath the dark 
 
 leafy screen, 
 
64 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 Whence they get a good view, yet themselves are 
 
 unseen : 
 
 And two wayfarers, weary, and cold, and wet through, 
 All be-splashed and be-mired, slowly come into view ; 
 Why, who's this ? mark that face ! no, it never can 
 
 be- 
 Yet it is Kokonoye ! alas, it is she ! 
 Poor, forlorn little damsel ! is this, then, the end 
 Unto which all her fond dreams of happiness tend ? 
 Overcome by fatigue, with a gasp and a groan 
 Down she sinks in the mire, and lies still as a 
 
 stone ; 
 
 While her nurse (her companion) in grief and despair 
 Falls to wringing her hands, and to tearing her hair ! 
 Is there none to give aid ? through the fast-pouring 
 
 rain 
 
 She perceives in the distance a gentleman's train ; 
 Loud she calls for assistance they quickly arrive, 
 At the moment our heroine seems to revive ; 
 But alas ! a worse woe 
 Now awaits her for lo ! 
 In the litter there sits the inhuman karo ! 
 'Tis the Councillor's voice that in loud mocking strain 
 Cries, "Aha! my fair truant! I've caught you 
 
 again !" 
 
 And our heroine finds, to her grief and her ire, 
 She's but ' out of the frying pan into the fire ' ! 
 
 The nurse in abject fear does whine ; 
 
 Her charge erect remains 
 The proud old blood of all her line 
 
 Now boils within her veins 
 
LADY KOKONOYE. . 65 
 
 Her eyes fixed sternly on her foe's, 
 
 (Who half-abashed does pause) 
 With hand that now no falt'ring knows 
 
 Her dagger keen she draws 
 And she'll use it, be sure, in a way he can feel, 
 For the Amako race were aye prone to draw steel ! 
 Undecided he halts when a crash and a rout 
 Greet his ear, and a voice cries with menacing 
 
 shout, 
 " Thou traitor, stand ! thy flight is flown ! 
 
 " Release my lady dear ! 
 " Now, Terutsura, hold thine own, 
 
 " For Shikanosuke's here !" 
 Vain, vain his skill ! his weapon's aid 
 
 Can scarce avert his fate, 
 Ere the swing of our hero's practised blade 
 
 Descends upon his pate ! 
 
 Down he goes, dead as mutton ! while loudly around 
 Do the clashing and din of hot combat resound ; 
 For the ronin rush in like wild tigers, and then 
 They make mincemeat, in short, of the Councillor's 
 
 men ! 
 
 Shikanosuke alone takes no part in the fight 
 He has something far better to do, and he's right ; 
 Quick his left arm is placed 
 Round the slim willow-waist 
 
 Of his lady-love backward he draws her in haste ; 
 They regard with indifference foeman and friend, 
 And they don't seem to care how the battle may 
 
 end 
 
 What they say to each other, you e'en may suppose 
 For yourselves I can't tell you, for nobody knows : 
 
66 LADY KOKONOYE. 
 
 Yet they seem to be anything rather than ' blue ' 
 But the curtain here falls, and they're hid from our 
 view ! 
 
 L'ENVOYE TO THE READER. 
 
 " I do not rhyme to that dull elf" 
 
 (Sir Walter here I quote) 
 
 " Who cannot image to himself" 
 
 What I have failed to note ; 
 How, of course, Shikanosuke it was who had freed 
 Yoshihisa, in moment of danger and need ; 
 How the latter, in gratitude, kindly did smile 
 On our fond pair, and blessed them in ' stage father's * 
 style ; 
 
 How they all went their way ; 
 
 How, from that happy day, 
 Kokonoye was never again known to stray 
 From her home, but looked after her fits and mari 
 In a mode that was really quite touching to see ; 
 And how, jure uxoris, that gallant young man 
 In due space became chief of the Tomita clan ; 
 And how, e'en to this time, are their praises yet 
 
 told ; 
 Kokonoye the fair Shikanosuke the bold ! 
 
 
6 7 
 
 THE 
 
 HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 HE main facts of this terrible tragedy are, alas ! but 
 too true. It occurred during the spring of the year 
 1653, in the town mansion of one Awoyama Shuzen, an 
 official of the then-existing Police Bureau. This mansion 
 is still standing in Tokio, and the fatal well also exists 
 even at the present time ; the ghost, however, has fortunately 
 ceased to haunt the premises. 
 
68 
 
 From the Original Japanese Play of " Bancho Sara- 
 yashiki" as Performed at the Shimabara Theatre, Tukio, 
 in Ai^ist, 1878. 
 
 IILENT it stands. No sound of voice 
 
 Is heard within the door ; 
 No tramp of steed, or armed men, 
 
 As in the days of yore ; 
 The night-owl flaps his heavy wing 
 
 Beneath the sombre trees, 
 Unbarred the massive portals swing 
 Before the -ev'ning breeze. 
 
 No gallant throng of vassals bold 
 
 Is there, the eye to greet ; 
 Closed are the windows once that looked 
 
 Upon the busy street ; 
 No warder now his vigil keeps, 
 
 No watchman goes his round, 
 Still as the tomb the mansion sleeps, 
 
 Of life no sign, no sound ! 
 
 Would'st hear of those who erst did in it dwell ?- 
 Then list, kind Reader, while the tale I tell. 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 69 
 
 Years ago, in Japan, then, here let it be told, 
 There resided a nobleman, wealthy and bold ; 
 Otogawa his surname ; his Christian name well, 
 I'm ashamed to confess that I simply can't tell ; 
 But I hope the omission you'll pardon this time, 
 For these names do not always fit in with one's 
 
 rhyme. 
 
 I may mention, too, here 
 It's perhaps rather queer 
 
 To be talking of Christian names, seeing 'tis clear 
 That the style of religion then commonly known 
 Was decidedly Buddhist or Shinto in tone ; 
 (Though the Buddhists, to-day, are as poor as can 
 
 be 
 
 ' Disestablished,' you know, during '73 ) 
 Well, it chanced that this noble received one fine 
 
 day 
 
 From the Shogun some curio (what, I can't say), 
 And was ordered to hold it in keeping discreet, 
 Till his lord should reclaim it, and give a receipt. 
 Now, Japan is a land, I am forced to reveal, 
 Where the robber right often doth * break through and 
 
 steal ' ; 
 
 To our noble's dismay, 
 He discovered one day 
 That his charge had ta'en wings, and had flown right 
 
 away, 
 
 Nought remained save the casket that once it did fill, 
 'Twas a clear case of box, et prcetcrea nil ! 
 He fell into disgrace, 
 First at Court lost his place, 
 Then was turned out of doors with a very long face, 
 
70 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 And was fain, in the end, for safe shelter to fly 
 To the house of one Sampei, a young samurai ; 
 Here he lay in concealment, to cover his shame, 
 And was joined by his wife Hanazono her name, 
 While his vassals of course quickly melted away, 
 As the snow disappears 'neath the sun's scorching 
 
 ray. 
 
 There was one of his clients was mightily glad 
 At the thought that his chieftain had * gone to the 
 
 bad;' 
 
 For this rogue, Asayama, had long been in league 
 With confederates cunning and apt at intrigue, 
 With intent to secure what he swore was his due, 
 Viz. his lord's high position, and revenue too ; 
 Now, his rival remov'd, he thought soon to rise 
 
 straight 
 
 From a mere hatamoto to daimio's state. 
 At the time my tale opens, this villain decided 
 (Whom * for short ' we'll term Tessan) in Yedo 
 
 resided, 
 In the district called Bancho, which, ev'ry one 
 
 knows, 
 
 Is chock-full of small yashiki 1 in rows upon rows, 
 And there dwelt in his household a young serving- 
 maid 
 
 Called O Kiku, a beauty, yet modest and staid ; 
 She was bride to that Sampei I've mentioned above, 
 But by poverty forced from the side of her love. 
 All this ' yarn,' gentle Reader, 's no part of the 
 
 play, 
 But I've thought it as well just to put you au fait 
 
 i. Yushilii, the fortified towu-mansious of the Japanese feudal nobles. 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 71 
 
 With these facts, as the folks who've been introduced 
 
 here 
 
 In the subsequent drama may chance to appear ; 
 Still, it's time the performance were really begun 
 Hark ! the clapper sounds " Hats off !" 'tis said and 
 
 'tis done, 
 And the curtain now rises on Scene No, I. 
 
 A charming garden greets our eye ; 
 
 Green bushes, blossoms gay 
 Along a trellis, rear'd on high, 
 The slender creepers stray 
 A rustic well a garden stool 
 
 Old stones, with lichens gray 
 A tiny arbour, light and cool, 
 
 And screen'd from noontide ray 
 " The very spot," in glee you cry, 
 
 " To spend a summer's day !" 
 'Tis a * Garden of Eden/ you'd almost believe ; 
 But appearances oft times are apt to deceive, 
 And I'm certain you'd speedily alter your mind 
 Could you view the dark form in yon arbour reclined ! 
 
 Dimly, through the lattice screen, 
 Robes of rich brocade are seen ; 
 Faintly, too, the straining eye 
 Can a human shape descry ; 
 There, in worst of angry moods, 
 Haughty Tessan sits and broods 
 Broods o'er what ? o'er fancied wrong ; 
 Vowing vengeance, too, ere long ! 
 
72 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 You'll remember O Kiku, this mansion who graced ? 
 She was lovely as Venus, as Dian as chaste ; 
 But it seems, not to put too fine point on the matter, 
 That her lord for some time past had cast sheep's eyes 
 
 at her, 
 
 And it chanced, this same day, to her dire con- 
 sternation, 
 
 Of his love he had made a downright declaration ! 
 Now old Horace, we know, 
 Sang in years long ago 
 (When at school I'd have quoted the lines comme il 
 
 faut, 
 
 But th' identical verse from my mem'ry now fades) 
 Of the loves of great heroes for fair serving-maids ; 
 And, in fact, wrote a sonnet expressly to prove 
 How one ' serva Briseis ' so managed to * move 
 By her snow-white complexion ' her lord, as to catch 
 Young Achilles himself no indifferent match : 
 Whether Tessan read Latin or not's all the same, 
 But it's clear he'd attempted to play a like game, 
 And had * taken a leaf from the book/ so to speak, 
 Of his classical model, the ' swift-footed ' Greek ! 
 With the men, though, all slight similarity ended ; 
 For Briseis was willing, O Kiku, offended ! 
 (There, it's done ! I'm rejoiced to have 'scaped with 
 
 whole skin, 
 Having ventured on ice so unpleasantly thin !) 
 
 " When Poverty's gaunt form " so runs 
 
 The proverb " to our eyes 
 " Appears upon the threshold, Love 
 
 " From out the window flies ;" 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 73 
 
 But conceive, if you can, a more terrible state 
 Of affairs than when Love is succeeded by Hate ! 
 After deep cogitation, proud Tessan has laid 
 His vile schemes to chastise the poor innocent maid ; 
 Long ago, it would seem, so the story relates, 
 He had placed in her charge just a decade of plates 
 (He was great upon porcelain, this reprobate man) 
 Of the best willow-pattern that's known in Japan ; 
 (You right often, I ween 
 Gentle reader, have seen 
 
 Such a style, the two islands the waters between, 
 Straddled o'er by a bridge in the distance a boat 
 And the peach-tree and doves you've not failed, too, to 
 
 note) 
 
 Of the ten, he's contrived one to slily regain, 
 And has then, in a manner quite barefaced and plain, 
 Falsely taxed the poor girl, of her wits half-bereft, 
 With committing a downright and palpable theft ; 
 And he now sits in state, to determine the crime, 
 To accuse and condemn at the very same time ! 
 And just beneath accomplice meet ! 
 
 The vassal Chiuda stands ; 
 With loins girt up, and sandalled feet, 
 
 To bear his lord's commands : 
 Macaulay's words come apropos 
 
 Of two such evil men 
 Take down hie ' Lays of Ancient Rome,' 
 
 Con o'er the leaves, and then 
 In that sad tale * Virginia ' 
 
 'Tis writ, you'll plainly see, 
 That " wheresoe'er such lord is found, 
 "Such client still will be!" 
 
74 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 " Bring forth the culprit !" from afar 
 
 A gruff response one hears ; 
 In single file, a dismal train 
 
 Upon the stage appears : 
 
 Goodness me ! is that Kiku ? What awful hard lines 
 To be bound with that cord that her shoulders 
 
 entwines ! 
 
 And, oh, horror ! her six vile attendants ! just see 
 How they gloat o'er their prey with unprincipled glee ! 
 'Pon my word, it would cause any Christian to swear, 
 Just to note the stout cudgels the ruffians bear ! 
 Not regarding her woe, 
 On the ground just below 
 
 The small arbour, poor Kiku they cruelly throw ; 
 And then Chiuda commences, in manner irate, 
 To enquire " what the dickens she's done with that 
 
 plate?" 
 She don't know that it's lost ; she declares it's all 
 
 right- 
 That the number's complete that she's innocent 
 
 quite 
 
 Whereupon Mr. Chiuda, without more ado, 
 Tips the wink to the rest of the villanous crew, 
 When each brute (for I certainly cannot say man) 
 Falls upon her and ' lams ' her as hard as he can, 
 Showing no more compunction, nor heed to her pain, 
 Than as if he were thrashing a bushel of grain ! 
 Thus admonished, she's bidden anew to confess, 
 Not a bit of it, spite of her grief and distress, 
 She protests she's no thief, " if her lord be so kind 
 "As to count o'er the plates, the full number he'll 
 
 find." 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 75 
 
 Quickly Tessan hands over a box at his side, 
 
 (Made of rich gilded lacquer, with silken cord tied) 
 
 "There, then; count for yourself! Take them out 
 
 one by one, 
 " Chiuda, slowly 'tis time that this nonsense were 
 
 done ! " 
 
 (Here in rapt expectation the audience waits, 
 While O Kiku begins telling over the plates.) 
 
 * One ! ' from Chiuda ; from Kiku, ' One ! ' ' One I ' 
 
 Tessan cries ; 
 Down it goes on the ground 'fore the whole trio's 
 
 eyes : 
 Number two next succeeds, and then three, and then 
 
 four, 
 And so on till they've reckoned just five of them 
 
 more, 
 " That is nine ! where's the tenth one ? " with agonized 
 
 cry 
 
 The poor creature exclaims ; Chiuda raises on high 
 Th' empty casket, reversed, and shouts fiercely, " Mo 
 
 naif" 2 
 
 And there passes o'er Tessan's dark visage a smile, 
 As he hails the success of his infamous wile ! 
 Oh ! the scene that ensues ! 
 How the wretches abuse 
 
 Their unfortunate victim ! completely they lose 
 All humanity, pity, and mercy as well, 
 And are changed into demons, aye, demons of hell ! 
 I will spare you the details ; suffice it to say 
 She is slung in mid air, in a barbarous way, 
 
 2. "No more!" 
 
76 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 O'er the well, and the vassals, retiring, await 
 While their lord with his prey has a short tete-a-tete ; 
 Tis a last chance he gives her yet nought does he 
 
 gain; 
 
 She is true to her spouse, spite of torture and pain ; 
 "Well then, die!" yells the monster, " by Sandzu's 3 
 
 dark tide 
 
 " Master Sampei's arrival not long shall you bide ! " 
 A flash ! a shriek prolonged and shrill ! 
 
 Is no one nigh to aid ? 
 Half-crazed with rage, he madly waves 
 
 Aloft his trenchant blade 
 A thud an agonizing groan 
 
 (Thank Heav'n ! 'tis only one) 
 A rushing fall a heavy plunge 
 The dreadful deed is done ! 
 
 Mr. Chiuda commences with speed to efface 
 
 Of the horrible murder all record and trace ; 
 
 First he cleanses the sword-blade with dexterous hand, 
 
 Next he rinses the stones, and then splashes the sand, 
 
 Till there's no tell-tale stain on the ground to be seen, 
 
 And the whole of the garden looks tidy and clean : 
 
 Stay ! a spot yet remains how o'erlook'd I can't 
 
 tell 
 So his bucket once more clatters into the well. 
 
 (Hush ! what was that ? from 'neath the ground 
 
 Proceeds a stifled moan 
 Then, louder still, a dismal sound, 
 
 A weird, sepulchral tone ! 
 
 3. Tko Kivcr ^aud/u, the BuJ.-lhi^i dtyx. 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 77 
 
 Hark ! a horrible voice on our tympanum grates 
 'Tis the voice of a woman a-counting of plates !) 
 
 Haul, Chiuda, haul ! the bucket's raised ; 
 
 A yell of wild despair ! 
 What ails him ? is the fellow crazed ? 
 
 Slight wonder if he were ! 
 See, see ! yon fearsome, awful sight ! 
 
 A form, with bosom bare 
 With hands and face of ghastly white 
 
 With dank, dishevelled hair 
 With wide, deep gash to view displayed 
 
 Across her throat so fair 
 Oh, horror ! 'tis O Kiku's shade 
 That grins and gibbers there ! 
 
 With a shriek of affright, and a wild frantic bound, 
 Mr. Chiuda, half-swooning, falls flat on the ground ! 
 When the ghost, for awhile, 
 Looks around with a smile 
 Of revenge, then, in true pyrotechnical style, 
 Disappears down the well (which yawns open to greet 
 
 her) 
 With a fizz, and a bang, and a smell of salt-petre ! 
 
 " I beseech you, my lord, not a moment to waste ! 
 " Pray retire to your other large mansion in haste! 
 " This is haunted ! ah me ! oh, the ghost ! do 
 
 not wait'!" 
 Here a crowd of retainers file in through the 
 
 gate : 
 " Well, I'm off," cries his chieftain, " without more 
 
 delay ;" 
 
78 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 "And I'll go too," says Chiuda; "Excuse me, 
 
 you'll stay ! 
 " Keep your pecker up, man, and you can't come 
 
 to harm, 
 " For you'll find a stout stomach will act as a 
 
 charm." 
 
 Off he goes with his men ; 
 Chiuda rises, and then 
 
 Gives a startled glance upwards what is it he sees 
 That so soon brings him down again plump on his 
 
 knees ? 
 Look ! he's speechless with terror as white as a 
 
 post 
 What's that form floating o'er him ? " Help ! Murder ! 
 
 the GHOST!" 
 We can guess pretty well how the circumstance 
 
 ends, 
 For a loud scream is heard as the curtain descends. 
 
 Mr. Chiuda has seemingly managed to ' fix ' 
 His assailant, and now is again at his tricks, 
 
 For in Scene No. 2 
 
 He's revealed to our view, 
 
 Safe and sound and in precious bad company, too ; 
 For there stands at his side, in a narrow by-street, 
 Such a blackguardly ' rough ' as you'd rather not 
 
 meet 
 
 Of a dark wintry night, on a moorland remote, 
 That's to say, if you've any regard for your throat ! 
 At a glance it's apparent, and well understood 
 That the brace of sly rascals are up to no good ; 
 
H 
 
 ffi 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 2: 
 
 CO 
 
 O 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 79 
 
 From the words that we catch, 
 'Twould appear that they're hatch- 
 ing a plot that for cold-blooded slaughter might 
 
 match 
 
 With the massacre which, so historians say, 
 Was enacted in France one Bartholomew's day ! 
 First, a purse changes hands 
 Then come Chiuda's commands, 
 Fully detailed on paper, that nought go amiss 
 And the gist of the scheme, gentle Reader, is this ; 
 Mr. Takuro (so's named the rough whom we see, 
 And the uncle, moreover, of Sampei is he) 
 Is to wait an occasion, as best to his mind, 
 And then murder his nephew and all he may find 
 'Neath his roof-tree, in fact, he's to ' go for' the pack 
 
 of 'em, 
 And to * wipe out ' the household, aye, ev'ry man jack 
 
 of f em ! 
 
 Oh ! there never was heard such a bloodthirsty thing ! 
 And I'd venture to swear 
 That, though Tessan's not there, 
 He is still the prime mover who's pulling the string ! 
 
 Scene the Third. Sampei's parlour to view is 
 
 display'd, 
 
 Where his sister O Mine (a dear little maid) 
 With the wife of our friend Otogawa is talk- 
 ing at home, while the men folks are out for a walk. 
 
 Hark ! a bang at the gate ! 
 
 Hanazono is straight 
 Bundled into a cupboard, there hidden to wait 
 
80 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 Till the visitor's gone, then the door's opened wide ; 
 Enter Takuro, marching with swaggering stride. 
 He's a sly fellow, Takuro ; what do you think ? 
 He's perceived the whole scene through an opportune 
 
 chink ! 
 How he blusters, fumes, threatens, and swears in a 
 
 breath ! 
 
 Poor O Mine's on tenter-hooks, frightened to death : 
 " Ha ! ha ! what's in the cupboard ? here, quick ! let me 
 
 see, 
 
 " Stand aside, Miss, I tell you ! d'you think to ' bluff' 
 me ? 
 
 " Ho ! ho ! just as I thought, 
 " Now the pretty bird's caught, 
 " Come ! get out of your nest there, unless you'd be 
 brought ! " 
 
 Never heeding her squalls 
 Or her screams, as she bawls 
 For " Police ! " Hanazono he speedily hauls 
 From her hiding-place now there commences a 
 
 scene ! 
 
 Look ! her ladyship scutters beneath a tall screen, 
 Then behind the hibachi 4 a refuge does take ! 
 What a noise and a hubbub the three of them make ! 
 How they dodge their pursuer ! how angrily he 
 Gives them chase, in a mode quite exciting to see ! 
 As he's close on their track 
 There resounds a loud 'whack,' 
 
 And the villain goes down with a thump on his back ! 
 While a nicely dressed gentleman, bowing before 
 them, 
 
 4. If ilachi, brazier, or fire-box. 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. ' 81 
 
 Bids the ladies take courage, as he will watch o'er 
 
 them : 
 " Beg your pardon, My Lady : your lord is my 
 
 friend ; 
 
 " He has charged me in haste at this house to attend, 
 " And to offer my escort to point out the way 
 " To a fresh place of refuge he's chosen to-day ; 
 " You'll no doubt feel surprise 
 " At my words, but your eyes 
 " Will the token he's sent you at once recognise ; 
 '"Tis this charm-case, I'm ordered to show it to you, 
 " As a proof, if required, that my errand is true ; 
 " In the litter with which my retainers here wait 
 " You can ride in a manner beseeming your state. 
 11 By your leave, then allow me please follow, I 
 
 pray 
 
 " And you, villain, d'ye hear me ? get out of the way ! 
 " Ha ! you will have it then ! " and his sword in a 
 
 trice 
 
 Has half leapt from its scabbard too close to be nice, 
 As our friend Mr. Takuro cannot but feel, 
 (For the bully, 'twould seem, has a dread of cold 
 
 steel) 
 
 So he bounds to one side with uncommon dexterity, . 
 And then bolts for the kitchen with wondrous celerity ; 
 While his foe, with a face 
 Full of smiles, and a grace- 
 ful obeisance, escorts his fair charge to her place 
 In the gay gilded norimon pulls down the blind 
 Bids his vassals close up, both in front and behind 
 Gives the word and she's borne off as swift as the 
 
 wind ! 
 
82 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 And O Mine in Takuro's mercies so tender ? 
 
 Not at all ; here's her father come home to befriend 
 
 her. 
 
 He at first is opprest 
 With alarm for his guest, 
 
 But his daughter explains, and his mind's set at rest ; 
 They sit down to their tea ; 
 (My fair readers may see 
 
 What a time-honored treat must the ' kettledrum ' be !) 
 Sajidaiyu (the father) 's just put out of sight 
 His first cup, with a gulp, and a hiss of delight 
 A la mode japonaise (the true sound I can't give, 
 But I fancy it's known to most persons who live 
 In the isles of Japan) 
 When a queer little man 
 
 Clad in gray, with a staff, and a huge pedlar's pack 
 That is strapped by stout cords on his feeble old 
 
 back, 
 Puts his head through the door with a smirk and a 
 
 grin, 
 
 And proceeds to enquire ' if there's anyone in.' 
 " What ! old Rokubu ! welcome ! what fortune to 
 
 meet you ! 
 "Pray be seated we're always delighted to greet 
 
 you; 
 " You're a regular stranger you're up and you're 
 
 down, 
 
 " And you're ev'ry where, save in our part of the town ! 
 " Why, it seems quite an age since your face I last 
 
 saw ! 
 
 " And what news do you bring from my daughter-in- 
 law ?" 
 
CO 
 
 O 
 
 K 
 
 > < 
 
 Q 
 
 i < 
 
 H 
 
 w 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 83 
 
 Sighs with grief the aged one, 
 
 Vainly strives to speak 
 Briny tears in torrents run 
 
 Down his furrowed cheek 
 Scarce a word can he reply 
 To their greeting kind 
 Only broken sobs imply 
 Dire distress of mind : 
 From the bundle at his side, 
 
 With a look of pain, 
 Forth he draws a garment, dyed 
 
 Deep with crimson stain ; 
 " This is all my tidings sore, 
 
 " This the news I bear 
 " 'Tis your murder'd daughter's gore 
 
 " Dyes her mantle there !" 
 Here, I'll frankly confess, my Muse utterly fails 
 To describe with decorum the shrieks and the wails, 
 And the howls and the groans, 
 And the sobs and the moans, 
 And the curses, too, mutter'd in scarce smother'd 
 
 tones, ' 
 
 That are wrung from both father and daughter as well 
 As they list to the tale that their guest has to tell ! 
 So suffice it to mention that, could he behold 
 All the anguish he's wrought, even Tessan the bold 
 Some degree of remorse would most certainly feel 
 At the sight and you'll own that that means a good 
 deal! 
 
 Sajidaiyu first dries 
 His wet cheeks and his eyes, 
 Wipes his nose on his sleeve, and then hastily Mies 
 
84 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 Through the gate, down the roadway, in quest of his 
 
 son, 
 To acquaint him at once with the deed that's been 
 
 done ; 
 
 While O Mine, midst all 
 That has chanced to befall, 
 Still remembers (though late) hospitality's call, 
 And at last with a gulp having managed to sub- 
 due her grief, asks her guest * if he'd like a hot tub ; ' 
 He assents ; as they both through the door disappear, 
 Mr. Takuro, seeing the coast is all clear, 
 Re-emerges what's up ? why, I'm bound to confess 
 That his aim is to ' prig ' poor O Kiku's silk dress ! 
 " Here's the bundle I noted that old buffer drop 
 " If it only contain something handy to ' pop ' ! 
 " What ! a nasty wet dress ! and with stains on it 
 
 too 
 
 " Why, it's cover* d with blood ! what a regular ' do ' ! 
 " Chez mon oncle, I'll swear, 'twouldn't fetch half a 
 
 but* 
 " Ugh ! it's giv'n me the creeps ! " so his prize he lets 
 
 fall, 
 
 Then with patent disgust rolls it up in a ball, 
 And so hangs it, intact, from a peg on the wall. 
 
 By some lucky coincidence, here we discern 
 Otogawa and Sampei together return ; 
 And the former (there's mischief a-brewing, we see) 
 Loudly calls for his wife ! not a word answers she 
 ('Twould be strange if she did, for she's now a 
 good ri 
 
 5. i 6, about z< ceiits. 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 85 
 
 On her journey) "Hi! Min6! what means this 
 
 strange trick ? 
 "Where's her Ladyship ? " " Who?' 1 ' 1 Why, my 
 
 wife tell me quick ! " 
 
 " Then 'twas not your retainer who took her away ? " 
 " My retainer ? no ! nonsense ! why, what's that you 
 
 say 
 " 'Bout a charm-case ? 'tis mine ! one I lost t'other 
 
 day ! 
 
 " Oh, the villain ! he's used it no doubt to betray 
 " The poor girl to my foes ! here's the devil to pay ! 
 11 Oh, the rogue ! quick, my sword ! oh, the mon- 
 ster ! my dirk ! 
 
 " I'll get even, though, with him for this bit of 
 work!" 
 
 See ! he bounds from the floor 
 Rushes out at the door 
 
 Like a wild bull of Bashan, with shout and with roar 
 Of defiance ! O Min close after him follows, 
 To his bass adds her treble, and plaintively * holloas ' ! 
 (If she last at his pace, though, a marvel 't will be 
 'Tis a case of hand pa<>sibus cequis, you see !) 
 
 Here's the chance for which Takuro's waited so long ! 
 Hark ! he * goes for ' his nephew in language that's 
 
 strong, 
 Calls him * blackguardly rascal ' and * reprobate 
 
 vicious,' 
 
 And rebukes him for * harbouring persons suspicious ' ; 
 He may bawl till he's hoarse, 
 Sampei scorns him, of course, 
 So our bully next thinks of appealing to force ; 
 
86 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 See ! he clutches his throat, and endeavours to dash 
 Out his brains with a geta / 6 when, sudden, a flash 
 From behind and the villain goes down with a crash ! 
 And the pedlar stands o'er him with gibe and with 
 
 laugh, 
 And wipes down a long sword he's drawn out from 
 
 his staff; 
 
 While he shows to young Sampei a letter he's found, 
 (It is Chiuda's) which Takuro dropped on the ground, 
 So it seems, as he lately the bundle unwound ! 
 As the prospect of death his wild spirit depresses, 
 Mr. Takuro ' makes a clean breast,' and confesses 
 All the plot, without fail ; 
 He's scarce finished his tale 
 
 When he turns on his stomach as dead as a nail ! 
 Exit Rokubu, also to join in the chase 
 There reiriains only Sampei, with woebegone face. 
 
 By the queer code of honor that guides samurai 
 
 Mr. Sampei now deems it his duty to die ; 
 
 Here's his uncle been killed in his house ! plain as day 
 
 He's convinced that his life, too, the forfeit should pay ; 
 
 Never mind about Rokubu he's not detected, 
 
 'Tis improbable quite that he'll e'er be suspected : 
 
 So our hero commences, without loss of time, 
 
 To prepare straight to ' cut himself off in his prime'; 
 
 And, in fashion approved, he proceeds first to frame 
 
 A long document, taking the whole of the blame 
 
 On his own single shoulder ; this testament bold 
 
 He proposes to leave where his friends may behold 
 
 And peruse it, long after himself's dead and cold ! 
 
 6. Geta, a wooden clog. 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 87 
 
 Was that the wind ? no sound is heard 
 
 The night is sileixt all 
 What was't that yonder garment stirred 
 
 That's hanging from the wall ? 
 See ! from the bloodstained mantle float 
 
 A ghastly phantom slow ! 
 G Kiku's self! her face, we note, 
 
 Bears trace of grief and woe ; 
 With yearning gestures, longing eyes, 
 
 She flits behind her mate 
 Now waves, now beckons, vainly tries 
 
 To lure him from his fate ! 
 Fast speeds his pen across the sheet 
 
 He'll neither look nor hear 
 While lies that charm-case at his feet, 
 . She dare not venture near ! 
 Fast speeds the pen he's ceased to write 
 
 Once more his head is reared 
 The ghost has vanished from our sight, 
 
 The phantom's disappeared ! 
 
 All is ready the critical moment draws nigh ; 
 First he bows to the altar a pray'r and a sigh 
 Lets escape in a breath lays the scroll on the floor, 
 Chucks the charm-case aside at the back of the door, 
 Sits him down with a smile to his terrible work, 
 Doffs his mantle and vest, and unsheathes his sharp 
 
 dirk! 
 He lifts his hand a sudden grasp 
 
 Arrests the fatal blow ! 
 The dirk falls harmless from his clasp 
 
 Upon the mat below ! 
 
88 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 Who's this ? he stares in wild surprise 
 
 Howe'er did this betide ? 
 A well-known figure greets his eyes 
 
 O Kiku's at his side ! 
 E'en as she lived, in habit gay, 
 
 Returns she to our view 
 " My love ! my dearest husband ! say, 
 
 " What means this deed you'd do ?" 
 
 Can you fancy the stare of an amorous fop, 
 
 Who has screwed up his courage and ventured to 
 
 'pop,' 
 
 When he gets in reply not the word he's expected, 
 But a ' No ' 'stead of ' Yes,' and is flatly rejected ? 
 Or imagine the look on a keen jockey's face, 
 Who has thought himself certain of winning the 
 
 race, 
 
 But discovers, alas ! when the numbers are read, 
 He's been * done in the eye ' on the post by a head ? 
 
 You may picture all these, 
 
 And e'en more, if you please, 
 But you can't fancy Sampei's queer ' phiz ' when he 
 
 sees 
 
 He's detected attempting to take a French leave, 
 And to cause his poor wife as a widow to grieve ! 
 So he puts up his dirk, lays it back in its place, 
 And then hangs down his head like a boy in 
 
 disgrace ; 
 
 When he raises his eyes no O Kiku is there ! 
 She has seized the occasion to melt- into air ! 
 
 See ! he can't make it out 
 
 How he rushes about ! 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 89 
 
 Hear him call and entreat and then lustily shout ! 
 Not a word in reply to his clamor and rout. 
 Here his father comes back, and is startled to learn 
 The remarkable news of O Kiku's return ; 
 In a trice he narrates 
 All the tale of the plates, 
 
 And of Tessan and Chiuda " the vile reprobates," 
 Till, in fact, he convinces his listener keen 
 That 'tis only the ghost of poor Kiku he's seen ; 
 But as both are indulging in howls of despair, 
 See ! O Mine flies in with a terrified air, 
 Hotly chased by a grim-looking murderous elf 
 With a sword in his grasp why, 'tis Chiuda himself! 
 His accomplice not having fulfilled his command, 
 He has come with th' intention of lending a hand 
 To the foul work of slaughter so cunningly planned ! 
 Quickly Sampei springs forward to grapple his foe, 
 In a moment they've closed see ! they rock to and 
 
 fro, 
 
 And then down on the mats in fierce struggle they go ! 
 How they tug and they strain ! 
 We can see pretty plain, 
 That whoe'er may the victory finally gain, 
 Won't at all be disposed to his foe to give grace 
 Just observe the clench'd teeth, and each murderous 
 
 face ! 
 How they kick, punch, gouge, wrestle, belabour, and 
 
 bite! 
 
 Oh ! there never was seen such a rattling * free fight ' ! 
 But it's clear, all the same, 
 That though Sampei be ' game,' 
 He's no match for his rival's superior frame 
 
90 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 He's outweighted and oh ! that last knock on his 
 
 brow ! 
 
 If there's no one to aid, 'tis U P with him now ! 
 Hark, a voice ! at which Chiuda's wild frenzy 
 
 abates 
 'Tis the voice of a woman a-counting of plates ! 
 
 Some one's near, we plain can tell ! 
 
 Whence that smoke that sulph'rous smell ? 
 
 From the garment on the wall 
 
 Forth there floats a phantom tall 
 
 Stern and grim, a form of dread 
 
 Hovers o'er the villain's head ! 
 
 Angry features eyes of fire 
 
 Threat'ning glance of hatred dire 
 
 Needs not these to tell us clear 
 
 What's O Kiku's errand here ! 
 With the -swoop of a hawk on a dickey -bird small, 
 Down she darts upon Chiuda (just hark to his bawl 
 For assistance!) "You're wanted! there, make no 
 
 ado 
 
 " Having ' done for' proud Tessan, I've now come for 
 you r 
 
 How he raves in his terror how wildly does storm ! 
 How he slashes and hews at the shadowy form ! 
 How he yells as it seems his attack to deride, 
 Moving nearer and nearer with swift silent glide ! 
 What a shriek rends the air as it seizes him tight, 
 And he feels its cold clutch on his throttle alight ! 
 Fairly rnadden'd by terror, by fear almost crazed, 
 He yet makes one last effort his weapon is raised 
 
THE HAUNTED MANSION. 91 
 
 Down it comes with a frantic and desperate blow 
 But that shadowy form no resistance does show, 
 And the sharp steel is sheathed, fairly up to the hilt, 
 In the villain's own carcass fit meed for his guilt ! 
 There he lies, stiff and stark, right in front of our 
 
 friends 
 And away flits the ghost and the curtain descends ! 
 
 Now, of course, gentle reader, I hardly need tell 
 That our play, begun sadly, yet terminates well : 
 You no doubt can conceive for yourself by this time, 
 E'en without any aid from my cantering rhyme, 
 That our friend Otogawa from danger soon frees 
 His adored Hanazono, and sets her at ease- 
 That the make-believe friend who enticed her away 
 Is th' identical thief who (see prologue I pray), 
 Stole the curio left in the nobleman's hold 
 That it chances, of course, that this ruffian bold 
 Is attacked by young Sampei, and killed in the 
 
 fight- 
 That the treasure's returned to its owner of right 
 That my lord the Shogun, when the facts are made 
 
 plain, 
 
 Reinstates Otogawa in favor again 
 And that Sampei, when tired of a widowers life, 
 Soon replaces O Kiku, and takes a new wife ! 
 If you can't conceive this, then I've right to com- 
 plain, 
 For I fear that my tale has been told but in vain ! 
 
92 THE HAUNTED MANSION. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 I. 
 
 Many folks (so I've heard] are addicted at times 
 To an innocent pastime called * ringing the chimes * ; 
 Now, though that's quite en regie for once in a way, 
 For their warning and guidance a maxim I'd lay ; 
 It is this don't prolong either frolic or spree, 
 When the church clock strikes solemnly one, two, and 
 three ! 
 
 XI. 
 
 Just a word to ' old residents ' kindly enough ; 
 
 And that is should you chance to reside on the Bluff, 
 
 Keep your * weather eye peeled* when it gets to be 
 
 late, 
 See your watchman's on duty, and lock up your plate ! 
 
93 
 
 THE 
 
 ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 HIS Play is an adaptation of a portion of a popular 
 novel, or fairy-tale, by the celebrated modern Japanese 
 author Kiokutei Bakin. It affords an excellent idea of the 
 general style of light literature in this country. We regret 
 that we are unable to provide our readers with more detailed 
 information as to the fame and the deeds of the clerical hero 
 than is herein contained. 
 
94 
 
 ttttotttttd 
 
 Fragment from the Original Japanese Play of " Saiyuki" 
 (" A Trip in the West "), as Performed at the Sarnwaka- 
 machi Theatre, Asakusa, Tokio, in October, 1878. 
 
 IHERE'S the knight of heart so bold 
 
 Dares invade the wizard's hold ? 
 Who alone of mortal men 
 Dares approach the syren's den ? 
 Where's the spirit shall not quail, 
 Dares the " Black Cloud Mountain " scale ? 
 Where the hero ? quick, declare ! 
 Echo only answers, " Where ?" 
 
 " And where was this said mountain ?" I sternly 
 
 object 
 
 To commit myself, Reader, in any respect ; 
 For, in fact, its position to demonstrate right 
 Is a task for which I am incompetent quite ; 
 Yet this much will I say 
 Take your Atlas down, pray; 
 
 Now, just hit the west border of " spicy Cathay;" 
 (Have you got it ?) then, next, will you carefully 
 
 scan 
 All the district from thence down to fair Hindostan ; 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 95 
 
 Well, 'twas somewhere 'bout there beyond that, as 
 
 I live, 
 
 Not the least information I'm able to give ; 
 But this much I will swear not a word I'll retract 
 That there was such a mountain 's a positive fact ! 
 
 Huge, sombre, silent and sublime 
 
 The " Black Cloud Mountain" frowned, 
 A landmark till the end of time 
 For countless leagues around ; 
 With massive form upreared on high, 
 With crags that seemed to pierce the sky, 
 
 So tall, so sharp they rose, 
 Its tow'ring peak, with cloudy wreath, 
 Looked do\vn on other hills beneath 
 
 Its diadem of snows, 
 As some gigantic champion, born 
 Of godlike race, might glance with scorn 
 
 On Lilliputian foes ! 
 
 Yes, it looked very fine from a distance, I'll own, 
 As a king may look noble and grand on his throne ; 
 But suppose that the monarch should order his men 
 Quick to lead you away to the scaffold, how then ? 
 Would you still call him " gracious ?" Believe me, my 
 
 friends, 
 
 1 To the view it is distance enchantment that lends 1* 
 (Thus I freely translate the old proverb you know, 
 Running " omne ignotum pro magnified, 99 ) 
 And just so this same mountain, though grand to the 
 
 eye, 
 
 Was a different thing when one ventured too nigh ; 
 For each person who wasn't contented to view it, 
 
96 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 But endeavoured to climb it, had reason to rue it ! 
 Many dozens of ' globe-trotters,' eager and proud, 
 Thought to gain some slight kudos by * doing' " Black 
 
 Cloud ;" 
 
 Many dozens, I say, started off on the track, 
 (" They'd be up in a jiffey, and down in a crack !") 
 But alas ! for their boasting they never came back ! 
 Like the sick lion's den 
 Of which Horace makes men- 
 tion (Epistles, Lib. I, but the line's slipped my ken), 
 Some perhaps may have 'scaped, but no soul came 
 
 across 'em, 
 
 As a rule 'twas " vestigia nulla retrorsum!" 
 (That's the line, by the way, 
 So historians say, 
 
 Was inscribed on John Hampden's war-banner so gay, 
 As a kind of a hint that he never would yield, 
 When he rode to his death on the famed Chalgrove 
 
 Field. 
 What a strange thing a man of John Hampden's 
 
 fine stamp 
 Should have sided with Cromwell, that regicide 
 
 scamp !) 
 
 Oh ! many a band, 
 With " Murray" in hand, 
 Tried to scale those steep heights and that pinnacle 
 
 grand 
 
 Oh ! many a party, and many a crowd, 
 Started off on a pic-nic to famous " Black Cloud " 
 But they stayed there for ever, not merely pro tern. ; 
 'Stead of ' doing ' the mountain, the mountain ' did f 
 them ! 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 97 
 
 Now it chanced, at that time, that in fair Hindostan 
 There resided a truly remarkable man ; 
 This was Sanzo, a priest, for his wisdom renowned, 
 For his virtue, his tact, and his learning profound : 
 He'd devoted his lifetime to clerical work, 
 And in fact was a pretty " big wig" in the kirk, 
 But I can't hit his title off right to the letter, 
 So I'll dub him the " Bishop " for want of a better. 
 A gentle, kindly man was he, 
 
 Who strove to labour right ; 
 Indeed, he'd compass land and sea 
 
 To make a proselyte : 
 His high silk cap was fashioned well 
 
 By lovely devotees, 
 So also was the robe that fell 
 
 In folds unto his knees ; 
 The graceful apron, too, that hid 
 
 His somewhat sombre frock, 
 Was broidered by the fairest kid 
 
 In Bishop Sanzo's flock : 
 What wonder that, while such reward 
 
 His pious heart delighted, 
 The worthy priest should labour hard 
 
 T' enlighten souls benighted ! 
 
 Add to this that the Bishop was sturdy and strong, 
 That his frame was tough, muscular, wiry and long ; 
 That he stood on his ' pins' just as firm as a rock, 
 And could stick to a saddle as tight as a 'jock/ 
 And was always in training, throughout the whole year, 
 Had the wind of an ostrich, the pace of a deer ; 
 That he'd tramped it on foot through each neigh- 
 bouring clime, 
 
98 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 And subsisted on acorns for weeks at a time ; 
 
 That he shunned beer, tobacco, gin cock-tails, big 
 
 dinners, 
 
 Heavy tiffins, and all such delights of weak sinners ; 
 That his features were handsome, his manners were 
 
 mild, 
 
 That his voice was as soft as the lisp of a child, 
 (Here I mean a good child, for I hardly need say 
 When a brat squalls aloud there's the to pay !) 
 That his chest it was broad, and his limbs they were 
 
 straight, 
 
 That he stood in his sandals just five feet and eight, 
 There ! you know Bishop Sanzo, that eminent man, 
 The most popular preacher in all Hindostan ! 
 
 One morn, for reasons good no doubt, 
 
 This jolly priest so sage 
 Bestrode his steed, and sallied out 
 
 On pious pilgrimage ; 
 
 Not the first he had gone, by full many a day, 
 And this time his steps turned towards the land of 
 
 Cathay. 
 Three retainers, bold and true, 
 
 Followed in his rear ; 
 Quaint they were, and strange to view, 
 
 Yet to him most dear: 
 First, a Man of mortal mould, 
 Ne'er did puzzled eye behold 
 
 Flunkey half so queer ; 
 Foremost he of all the band, 
 Brandishing with ready hand 
 
 Crescent-headed spear : 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 99 
 
 Next, there stepped a wondrous shape ; 
 'Twas a most gigantic Ape, 
 
 Whom the Bishop's fame 
 Had, from out his forests wild, 
 Lured, and rendered meek and mild, 
 
 Tractable and tame ! 
 Last, there followed in the wake, 
 Shouldering a lengthy rake, 
 
 Vassal No. Three ; 
 'Twas a Dog of stature great, 
 Marching, with an air sedate, 
 On his hind legs, tall and straight 
 
 E'en as soldier free ! 
 Each in sombre garb was drest, 
 Sable jerkin, ditto vest 
 Edged with gold, black leather belt, 
 ' Butcher boots * of sable felt : 
 In the van the master rode, 
 Close behind the vassals trode, 
 Thus their journey they began, 
 Bishop, Monkey, Dog and Man. 
 
 Brightly opes the fair morning, up rises the sun ; 
 See ! his rays gild the hills as his race is begun ; 
 Even " Black Cloud" itself, 'neath that glorious light, 
 Loses half the weird aspect it wore over-night, 
 Till, in fact, you're inclined, as the landscape you 
 
 view, 
 
 Ev'ry ominous tale to regard as untrue. 
 So, no doubt, thinks our worthy old clerical friend, 
 As he slowly prepares yonder ridge to descend ; 
 
ioo THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 While his steed, and the Monkey, the Dog, and the Alan, 
 
 With an eye of approval the scenery scan ; 
 
 Wait a moment, good sirs, round the base of that 
 
 hill, 
 Straight before you's a sight that's more marvellous 
 
 still- 
 Hark I a yelp from the Dog, from the Bishop a cry, 
 As a Palace superb greets their wondering eye ! 
 Ne'er did human hands erect 
 
 Palace such as here, 
 Ne'er did mortal architect 
 
 Such a mansion rear ! 
 Stares the Bishop, struck with dread, 
 Dog and Man would fain have fled, 
 E'en the Monkey shakes his head, 
 
 Thinks it rather queer ! 
 
 'Tis a marvellous structure, indeed, to behold ; 
 Ev'ry timber is fastened with rivets of gold ; 
 From the roof to foundation with jewels 'tis deck'd, 
 Gleaming bright as the sunbeams whose rays they 
 
 reflect ; 
 
 All the tiles are of ivory, polished with care ; 
 All the beams, posts, and rafters of satin-wood rare ; 
 And, in fact, gentle Reader, I'll boldly declare 
 That, so far as my own slender knowledge goes, ne'er 
 Did a scared human eye 
 Such a Palace descry 
 
 As the Bishop and Co. now before them 'espy ! 
 But no noise of a footstep is heard in its halls, 
 Not a single face looks "frontats glittering walls, 
 All is silent and still as the. sepulchre, and a 
 Silken veil quite shuts in e'en the spacious verandah ! 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 101 
 
 Hark ! a weird, a solemn air, 
 
 Notes of music sweet ! 
 Fairy music, such as ne'er 
 1 Mortal ears did greet ! 
 Soft, celestial, dulcet strain, 
 
 Fascinating sound ! 
 Loud it swells, and peals amain, 
 
 Echoes far around ! 
 
 While the Bishop good soul ! all whose musical skill 
 Was confined to the banjo or tin-whistle shrill ; 
 Who delighted to list to the wild stirring tones 
 That a gamin's deft hand can evoke from the 
 
 " bones ;" 
 
 And who loved e'en the tom-tom or Indian drum 
 Stands as still as a post, as a statue as dumb ! 
 There he lingers, enraptured and awe-struck and 
 
 dazed : 
 
 Sudden sinks the weird tune, 'fore his vision amazed 
 Slowly, softly, the long silken curtain is raised 1 
 
 If the outside be gorgeous, what words can avail 
 To describe the yet further magnificent scale 
 Of th' apartment within ! here I frankly will own 
 That I can't do it justice ; I'll leave it alone, 
 And beseech you to picture the scene, Reader kind, 
 For yourself, as may best suit your fanciful mind ! 
 Yet this much will I tell- 
 As the dull oyster-shell 
 
 Is outshone by the pearls in its bosom that dwell, 
 As the rich fruity part 
 Of a raspberry tart 
 Is more dear than the crust to a juvenile heart, 
 
102 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 Even so with this Palace (no metaphor thin) 
 By so much is its outside surpassed by its in ! 
 
 " Lovely woman," we know, has from earliest times 
 Ever proved a stock theme for the troubadour's rhymes ; 
 Choose out any poems, pick out any name, 
 Love, Ladies, and Liquor 'tis always the same ! 
 
 And you'll speedily see 
 
 E'en my Pegasus free 
 
 Will ere long take a flight at each one of the three. 
 Place aux dames I (for to yield them the pas I am 
 
 bound) 
 
 As the Bishop stands staring, and glued to the ground, 
 Softly rings a sweet voice, (in a trice he's astir !) 
 " You are heartily welcome, right reverend sir ! 
 " Do repose for awhile, in yon arbour pray seat you ; 
 " Both myself and my ladies are happy to meet you !" 
 
 No doubt, you've heard the legend told 
 How once, in bygone days of old, 
 
 A Saint, by virtue fired, 
 Withstood temptation's subtle wile, 
 Though shown in most enticing style, 
 But scorn'd th' alluring maiden's smile, 
 
 And all unscathed retired : 
 Yet had that callous anchorite 
 But viewed what greets our Bishop's sight, 
 I'll wager even he 
 (Unless a very iceberg grown) 
 Had somewhat changed his steadfast tone, 
 Nor e'er to us the fame been known 
 Of "blest St. Anthony!" 
 
THE EXCHAXTED PALACE. 103 
 
 From the Palace emerges a beautiful tribe 
 Of fair damsels, whose charms I can scarcely describe ; 
 For such figures, such faces, such elegant mien, 
 I'll confess I have dreamt of, but never have seen ! 
 Their complexions are fair, 
 And their glossy black hair 
 
 Is adorned with long tortoise-shell hair pins, so rare 
 They would cause any jeweller blankly to stare. 
 Their bewitching, soft eyes are quite coal-black in hue, 
 (For myself, I must own, I prefer 'em of blue) 
 And their figures, slight, supple and not over big, 
 Are as lissome and lithe as a willow-tree's twig ! 
 Each is clothed in silk raiment of quality fine, 
 Where the fanciful hues of the rainbow combine 
 To produce such a glowing and charming effect 
 That 'twould seem but, kind Reader, you scarce can 
 
 expect 
 
 That a bachelor bard should be able as yet 
 To describe as is fitting a lady's toilette ! 
 So I " pass ;" ev'ry damsel's white finger-tips hold 
 A long spindle, whose staff is of burnished red gold, 
 With a top-knot of delicate fine cotton thread 
 Wound about a light framework that's fixed on the 
 
 head. 
 
 In advance, with a somewhat imperious mien, 
 Moves a lady whose age might perhaps be eighteen ; 
 By the deference shown her it well may be seen 
 That the others regard her as being their Queen : 
 She is ten times as charming, ten times better drest, 
 And a hundred-fold lovelier, too, than the rest ! 
 She it is whose sweet voice called the travellers nigh, 
 And she now stands awaiting the Bishop's reply, 
 
104 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 While her maidens, with mischievous mirth in each 
 
 eye, 
 Murmur softly, " Y6 koso / o hairi nasai /" l 
 
 In the good Bishop Sanzo's kind heart-strings one 
 
 spot 
 
 For les dames had been ever remarkably hot ; 
 He adored lovely eyes, almost worshipped swan- 
 necks 
 
 Was a slave, in a word, to the charms of " the sex !" 
 (And, indeed, scandal says 
 In the Bishop's young days 
 He was rather addicted to frolicking ways ; 
 And was more than once guilty of conduct quite shady 
 A propos of some simple, confiding young lady : 
 But we'll let the tale rest, ev'ryone's had his day 
 In the time of his " hot youth," when Plancus bore 
 sway !) 
 
 So, the spell being broke, 
 Th' invitation once spoke, 
 
 In a trice he accepts it, turns loose his white ' moke,' 
 Sits him down on a stool 'neath a sheltering tree, 
 Nothing loth, so 'twould seem, for a bit of a spree ; 
 Yet, with keen eye to business, his motive so staid is 
 " If I could but convert these benighted young 
 
 ladies !" 
 Fire away, my good Bishop ! but first let me 
 
 mention 
 
 That they're quite unaware of your pious intention j 
 And no matter, indeed, though they knew it I vow 
 You yourself have more need of conversion just now ! 
 
 i . " Welcome ! pray enter !' 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 105 
 
 Oh ! the feast that they tend 
 To our clerical friend ! 
 There are puddings, cakes, dumplings, and sweets 
 
 without end ! 
 Then, for fish, turbots, lobsters, stewed oysters, fried 
 
 soles ! 
 
 And delicious raw daikon, and delicate rolls ! 
 Incomparable sake, Itami's 3 best brew, 
 (On the barrel the kembishi* brand you may view !) 
 But what ails the good Bishop ? his manner so quaint 
 
 is 
 
 I'll be hanged if he tastes even one of the dainties ! 
 As regards liquor also he's just as refraining, 
 Puts aside proffered drinks with, " No, thanks; Pm in 
 
 training /" 
 
 Has he chanced to espy 
 Any circumstance sly 
 
 That has warned him against being ' done in the eye !' 
 Have those words of the Sage sounded fresh in his 
 
 ear, 
 Which remark that ' to danger the wise draw not 
 
 near?' 
 
 I can't guess, I can't say ; 
 Be that all as it may, 
 See ! he won't ' wet his whistle ' nor ' moisten his 
 
 clay !' 
 
 There he sits on his stool, solemn, silent, and glum, 
 Watchful, wary, alert, keen and cautious, and dumb : 
 In his hostess's face, too, 'tis plainly expressed 
 That she can't quite make out this abstemious guest ! 
 
 a A village in the province of Settsu, Japan, noted for the excellence of its sakt. 
 3. Kembishi, "the sword-blade and diamond," a favorite brand of Itami suW. 
 
io6 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 But though he may decline any share in their wassails, 
 It is tout au contraire with his jovial vassals ; 
 * Nary ' one of the three 
 Can resist a good spree, 
 
 (After living on acorns how thin they must be ! ) 
 So with all the rich viands they gladly make free. 
 How they swallow the sweetmeats demolish the 
 
 fish! 
 With what bumpers of liquor they wash down each 
 
 dish! 
 
 Soon the mirth grows uproarious loudly they call, 
 " Choose your partners ! a dance ! now to open the 
 
 ball!" 
 
 First the Dog takes the floor on his shaky hind-paws 
 He goes through a pas seul that elicits applause ; 
 Next the Man follows suit with a hornpipe or two ; 
 Then the Monkey and he rattle off a pas deux ; 
 And then, lastly, the ladies to join them are drawn, 
 And they all foot it merrily over the lawn ! 
 Oh, what ogling! what squeezing of fingers! what 
 
 bliss ! 
 
 What flirtation ! and (must I confess ?) what a kiss ! 
 Yes, the Dog misbehaves ; quite forgetting his place, 
 Tries to clasp the fair Queen in his drunken embrace, 
 And the Queen knocks him down with a slap on the 
 
 face! 
 
 Just conceive, if you can, the priest's sad consternation 
 That his trusty * bow-wow,* 
 So polite until now, 
 
 Should on such short acquaintance attempt osculation ! 
 So that kiss is the climax ! he springs to his feet, 
 Re-arranges his robes, strides away from his seat, 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 107 
 
 And without e'en so much as a word of adieu 
 Turns the corner, and rides away fast out of view, 
 While his vassals run after him now only two, 
 For the hound 
 On the ground 
 In a slumber profound 
 
 Lies at length, quite unconscious of sight or of sound ! 
 For veracity's sake (though the word's scarce polite) 
 I must own that the Dog's unmistakably ' tight' ! 
 
 While the Dog is wrapped in sleep, 
 
 See ! the ladies forward creep ; 
 
 Slow and stealthy is their pace, 
 
 Stern and cruel ev'ry face ! 
 
 Waving high their spindles long 
 
 Towards the sleeper close they throng 
 
 Waken, Dog ! nor tempt thy fate ! 
 
 Waken, ere it be too late ! 
 
 But the Dog doesn't stir, there he lies on the ground, 
 And his merciless foes gather silently round ! 
 
 See ! the Queen here gives a sign ! 
 
 Quick their threads they now entwine 
 
 Round their guest, who lies supine ! 
 
 Swift they ply their spindles bright, 
 
 Soon they've tied their captive tight ; 
 
 Faster still they spin and wind, 
 
 Faster still the victim bind ; 
 
 Like a fly he seems, and they 
 
 Spiders gloating o'er their prey ! 
 Yes, the secret is out ! you will scarce feel surprise 
 At the news that these damsels, so fair to our eyes, 
 Are tarantula spiders in human disguise ! 
 
io8 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 As the somnolent captive's dragged off to their prison, 
 See! the Man scampers back with lugubrious " phiz " 
 on, 
 
 Just to see what's become 
 Of his ci-devant chum 
 
 At the sight he stands horror-struck, nerveless and 
 dumb! 
 
 And alack ! 
 In a crack 
 
 He sustains the attack 
 
 And th' assault of the whole diabolical pack ! 
 How he shrieks ! how he struggles with might and 
 
 with main 
 
 To escape from the toils ! he may tug, he may strain, 
 But he can't slip the cords that encompass his 
 
 throttle- 
 In a moment he's trussed like a second blue-bottle ! 
 Hark ! with harsh, forbidding grate, 
 
 Stubborn locks give /way ; 
 Slowly opes the creaking gate, 
 
 Yawning for its prey ! 
 In his breast th' unhappy Man 
 
 Feels his heart's blood freeze ; 
 Fearsome scene his eyes do scan, 
 
 Awful sight he sees ! 
 Sight that all his senses dulls, 
 
 Wrings his breast with groans 
 Rows on rows of grinning skulls, 
 
 Piles of bleaching bones ! 
 
 Now, alas ! the whole horrible myst'ry's unravelled ! 
 All those skulls once belonged to * globe-trotters ' who 
 travelled 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 109 
 
 Over " Black Cloud," those bones at some previous 
 
 time, it 
 May be guessed, were the shins of the folks who would 
 
 climb it ! 
 And the Dog and the Man may right well feel 
 
 dejection 
 
 At the prospect of adding to such a collection ! 
 What is that ? what the sound that now strikes on 
 
 our ear ? 
 
 'Tis the tramp of a horse urg'd to headlong career ! 
 Near and nearer it comes ! ere a word can be spoke, 
 Down the glen gallops wildly the Bishop's white 
 
 'moke.' 
 
 How his rider is working, with whip and with rein ! 
 How he ' shoves in the Latchfords ' with might and 
 
 with main ! 
 
 Why, he seems in no whit less determined a state 
 Than a jock in the ruck turning into the straight ! 
 Close behind the Monkey springs, 
 Bounds as though possessed of wings ; 
 Wields aloft his iron crook, 
 (Something like a fireman's hook), 
 Shouts, and howls, and yells amain, 
 Strives his master to detain ! 
 Sanzo little recks or hears, 
 Nought regards his vassal's fears, 
 Scarcely heeds the frantic cry 
 " Bishop ! Bishop ! abunai!"* 
 
 Darkness closes around ! for an instant the hill 
 Is obscured from our sight all is silent and still : 
 
 4. " Beware ! " 
 
no THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 Then a crash as of thunder resounds through the air, 
 Bright and vivid there flashes the lightning's weird 
 
 glare ! 
 
 Peal on peal rolls above us while loudly around 
 Mingled shrieks, pray'rs and groans all our senses 
 
 confound, 
 
 Savage yells and wild war-whoops incessantly sound ! 
 (It reminds one, in fact, of those dreadful melees, 
 Which delighted us muchly in childhood's sweet 
 
 days 
 
 Such as Fenimore Cooper so aptly describes 
 As of common occurrence 'mongst Indian tribes !) 
 Now each flash of the light- 
 ning affords a brief sight 
 
 Of the ups and the downs of a desperate fight, 
 Where the Bishop and Monkey are fiercely beset 
 By a crew of grim demons, with faces of jet, 
 Gleaming tusks, and red eye-balls, and long hairy 
 
 paws 
 
 That are garnished with bunches of nasty black claws ! 
 The Bucephalus white, 
 Fairly maddened by fright, 
 Snorts and screams, bucks and plunges and jibs 
 
 but as tight 
 
 As a leech to his back the good clerico sticks, 
 Holding on by the mane and the pommel " like 
 
 bricks !" 
 
 While the Monkey, unscared by the vicious attacks, 
 Stands his ground, and his master most gallantly 
 
 backs ; 
 
 Come one, come all, 
 They can't appal ! 
 
bl 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ' 
 
 ^ 
 
 en 
 
 . 
 
 P 
 W 
 
 T 1 
 
 H 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. in 
 
 Quick as thought the smart strokes of his weapon 
 
 now fall ! 
 
 One he hits on the nose, trips a second one flat, 
 Punches this in the eye, * puts a head ' upon that, 
 Whacks a fifth on the ribs, brains a sixth at a 
 
 blow, 
 
 1 Taps their claret,' and * rattles their ivories/ so 
 That they sheer off awhile ; like a shaft from the bow 
 The good Bishop * makes tracks,' 
 And his foes being lax, 
 He has burst through their ranks * in a couple of 
 
 cracks,' 
 Spurs his charger, and flies " over bank, bush, and 
 
 scaur," 
 
 In a style unsurpassed e'en by " young Lochinvar ! " 
 (That's a rider who, if the tale's true that we're told, 
 Was a first-flight performer 'cross country of old, 
 And who "lifted" his bride like a lamb from the 
 
 fold !) 
 Sauve qui pent! he scarce thinks, as careering he 
 
 goes, 
 That he's left the poor Ape in the hands of his foes ! 
 
 Light dawns upon the mountain side ; 
 
 No Palace greets our eyes ! 
 Where once it stood in all its pride, 
 
 Now crags and boulders rise ! 
 Vanish'd the hall the ladies fled 
 
 A dismal pile of rocks 
 That rears aloft its rugged head 
 
 Alone our vision mocks ! 
 
H2 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 Yet o'er that huge dark mass is spread 
 
 A net, of texture fine, 
 E'en as the web the spider's thread 
 
 So cunningly doth twine. 
 To be brief, you the sombre exterior view 
 Of the larder (or gaol) of the devilish crew, 
 Where our friends lie confined, in as dismal a state 
 As is fitting in view of their probable fate ! 
 
 Hark ! from 'neath the granite thick 
 
 Muffled strokes resound ; 
 Strokes as of a miner's pick 
 
 Plying underground ! 
 Louder yet, and nearer still 
 
 Blow succeeding blow 
 Some one's working with a will 
 
 In the cave below ! 
 Harder yet we hear him hit ; 
 (Practised hand, and deft) 
 Crack ! the massive rock is split, 
 
 Right in sunder cleft ! 
 
 With a whoop of delight, and a wild somersault, 
 See ! the Monkey bounds forth from the grim charnel 
 
 vault, 
 Rends the web, and ne'er pausing the fragments to 
 
 scan, 
 
 ' Cuts his stick ' he is free ! they may catch him who 
 can! 
 
 With a leap that would make e'en an acrobat stare, 
 Up aloft springs the Monkey, and sails through the air ! 
 His gyrations are wonderful upward he flies, 
 Soaring high as a lark on its flight to the skies ! 
 
THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 113 
 
 (Yet it's not quite a flight in the true sense with him, 
 But a style that's a cross 'twixt a run and a swim, 
 With a sottp$on no more of the swing that's applied 
 By an athlete when taking his hurdles ' in stride !') 
 As he paddles through the air 
 From his chest he plucks the hair, 
 Sows it broadcast to the wind, 
 Right and left, in front, behind ; 
 And the wondrous results that succeed to this action 
 Cause us blankly to stare in profound stupefaction : 
 ('Tis the Grand Transformation Scene, here I may 
 
 say, 
 
 That is always considered the gem of this play). 
 Ev'ry hair that falls to earth 
 Gives an infant monkey birth ! 
 Legions of fantastic shapes, 
 Crowds of tiny baby apes,, 
 Sudden rise from none knows where, 
 Each the ditto of his pere f 
 Wielding each an iron prong 
 On in countless hordes they throng, 
 Jumping like so many shrimps 
 Mirth-provoking little imps ! 
 
 " Children ! listen to me !" here the Monkey does say, 
 " There is work to be done real labor, no play ! 
 " In the dungeon beneatrTyonder mountain of gran- 
 "ite there languish two pris'ners, the Dog and the 
 
 Man : 
 "Set them free! that's the task you are bound to 
 
 fulfil 
 
 " Close your ranks, then ! quick march ! fall to work 
 with a will !" 
 
n 4 THE ENCHANTED PALACE. 
 
 With a yell of defiance, a howl of delight, 
 
 See ! the juvenile army swarms on to the fight ! 
 
 So determined they seem, that we safely may guess 
 
 That their efforts ere long must be crown'd with 
 
 success : 
 
 But alas ! we're not favored with sight of the fun 
 For the curtain here falls and my fairy tale's done ! 
 
 I can hardly conceive that my Readers require 
 
 Any comments of mine on this tragedy dire. 
 
 You may guess for yourselves how the good Bishop 
 
 cried 
 With delight when his vassals returned to his side 
 
 How the Dog, from that day, 
 
 Never, even in play, 
 Tried to steal a sly kiss from a demoiselle gay 
 
 How the Man, after all 
 
 That had chanced to befall, 
 Never tasted malt liquors, nor went to a ball 
 How the Monkey, too, strove his misdeeds to atone, 
 Grew devout, and went in for tough reading alone 
 How they all sailed on smoothly o'er life's troublous 
 
 tide, 
 And at last in the odour of sanctity died ! 
 
 For the mem'ry's still cherished, throughout Hindos- 
 tan, 
 
 Of the Bishop, the Monkey, the Dog, and the Man ! 
 
THE 
 
 FENCING MASTER, 
 
 'HIS tale is NOT founded on fact, and is, indeed, 
 only remarkable in that it throws some light on the 
 Japanese law of succession. The general rule was, that 
 the son of the true wife should be the heir, even though he 
 might be younger than the offspring of the concubine ; but 
 it cannot be supposed that the latter always submitted tamely 
 to such a decision. It is said, and may well be believed, 
 that this rule gave rise to numberless intrigues in noble 
 families, particularly those of the HATAMOTO, and in many 
 cases the quarrel was only settled after blood had been shed. 
 We are, however, happy to observe that the difference of 
 opinion was arranged in a more amicable manner in this 
 present instance. 
 
n6 , 
 
 tittntij 
 
 From the Original Japanese Play of " Nikaigasa" ("A 
 Pair of Hats"), as Performed at the Saruwaka-machi 
 Theatre, Asakusa, Tokio, in October, 1878. 
 
 JAN Y long years ago, 
 
 Some two hundred or so, 
 The precise date, alas ! I don't happen to know, 
 Dwelt in Yedo a person whom ev'ry one knew 
 As the crack Fencing Master the aged Yagiu : 
 
 He was heir to a name 
 
 And a family fame 
 That unsullied through centuries down to him came ; 
 
 He was five-eight in height, 
 
 And stood straight and upright, 
 Though his face was all wrinkled from age, and as 
 
 white 
 
 As a snowflake his hair ; his complexion was light ; 
 He'd a merry dark eye, spite of tell-tale ' crow's feet* ; 
 And a smile and a manner remarkably sweet ; 
 And his face was so kindly, you never would dream 
 His profession was that of a maitre d* escrime ! 
 
 Yet could kindle that glance, and could sparkle that 
 eye, 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 117 
 
 At the ' clackety-clack ' of a trusty shinaye ; l 
 And, for all his white hairs and his wrinkled old face, 
 Re could deal the * pear-splitter ' 3 with infinite grace, 
 Wield the sharp naginata 3 with exquisite skill, 
 Fence with one sword, or two, or (more difficult still) 
 Use the * sickle and ball,' 4 or the spear, with a will 
 And in style that his pupils with envy would fill : 
 Through the whole of the realm of Japan there were 
 
 few 
 Who could e'er hope to rival the gallant Yagiu ! 
 
 Says a proverb that lately I chanced to discov- 
 er, " If lucky at cards, you're unlucky in love ;" 
 (I remember a friend of my own, who'd a knack 
 Of acquiring sans cesse the best cards in the pack ; 
 And whene'er I consented to have * a small game,' 
 H'd get ' full hands,' ' four aces,' or ' three of the same,' 
 
 Whilst the best fist that e'er 
 
 Fell to my humble share 
 
 Was no more and no less than a paltry ' two pair' ! 
 Well, that man's still unmarried I'll venture to say 
 That he's likely a Caelebs for ever to stay 1) 
 Mars and Venus, again, though they're closely allied, 
 Do not always jog peaceably on side by side ; 
 And 'twas thus with my hero though Fate might afford 
 Him renown apropos of his skill with the sword, 
 Yet at home the poor fellow was fearfully bored 
 
 i. Shinaye, the Japanese fencing stick, formed of slips of bamboo bound together 
 with catgut and leather, 
 a. Nashiwari, or ' pear-splitter,' a full hit on the crown of the head. 
 
 3. Naginata, a long halberd, formed of a broad sword-blade attached to a 
 spear-shaft. 
 
 4. Ku,*ari-gama, lit. 'chain-sickle,' formed of nn ordinary Japanese sickle fm 
 shape like a miniature scythe) with a heavy ball of metal attached thereto by a 
 slender iron chain : the chum and ball are whirled round so as to entangle the 
 adversary's weapon, and the sharp-pointed sickle is used at close quarters. 
 
n8 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 By a question that ever unsolved would remain ; 
 What the puzzle was here I'll proceed to explain. 
 
 In Japan 
 They've this plan 
 For a family man, 
 
 When his tribe don't increase as it ought, that he can, 
 If he wish it, bring home a fresh partner for life 
 As an ' Acting,' * Assistant,' or ' Number Two ' wife ! 
 Very nice, you'll agree, 
 For Monsieur le mari, 
 
 Thus avoiding the prospect of dying s. p., 
 (Sine prole, that means genealogists' word) 
 Though the honsai 5 at times doesn't like it, I've heard; 
 Then what dire complications may happen, you see, 
 If theirs* and the second spouse cannot agree! 
 (Ah ! there's nought like one sole placens uxor domi /) 
 Or, again, there are other small chances in sight 
 That may spoil one's domestic felicity quite ; 
 Such a one did arrive to our Mister Yagiu 
 That it put the old chap in a terrible stew. 
 'Twould appear that our hero, right early in life, 
 Had been pleased to bring home a most charming 
 
 young wife ; 
 'Twas a love-match, their tiffs and their quarrels 
 
 were few ; 
 But alas ! the weeks, months, and e'en years swiftly 
 
 flew, 
 
 And there still were no signs of a little Yagiu ! 
 Most annoying, 'tis true 
 Nought was left him to do 
 
 5. Horwai, real wife. 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 119 
 
 Save to follow the custom I've mentioned above, 
 And, in short, to seek out and secure a fresh love ; 
 So one day Mrs. Y., to her pain and disgust, 
 Found herself superseded aside she was thrust 
 By a smart little geisha, 6 bewitching and flashy, 
 From a tea-house alongside the Riogoku-bashi : 7 
 Time elapsed, and at length, to the Fencer's great joy, 
 He became the proud pere of a fine little boy ! 
 
 Whereupon ' Number One,' 
 
 Not to be thus outdone, 
 
 Did her best in her turn, ere a twelvemonth had run, 
 She had also presented her lord with a son ! 
 Now of course you'll perceive, from this ample 
 
 digression, 
 
 What it was that occasioned the father's depression, 
 'Twas, in fact, but the thoughts of the law of 
 succession ; 
 
 For, though equally dear, 
 
 It was none the less clear 
 
 That but one of the youngsters he'd got on his hands 
 Could inherit his title and mansion and lands ; 
 And so equal a love did he feel for the pair, 
 That he could'nt select either one as his heir : 
 Whereupon the mammas for a verdict did press, 
 Each, of course, with an eye to her baby's success, 
 And so loud waxed the strife that their lord, in a rage, 
 Vowed at last, with an oath, that he'd make no 
 
 engage- 
 ment at all in the matter, but quietly wait, 
 And commit the decision to time and to Fate ! 
 
 6. Geisha, a singing girl. 
 
 7. A famoui bridge in Tokio. 
 
120 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 Meanwhile, the sturdy bantlings twain, 
 
 The source of all this ill, 
 Wax'd fat and big, and throve amain, 
 
 As healthy babies will ; 
 They filled their father's heart with glee 
 
 (He loved domestic joys) 
 Upon my word, you'd seldom see 
 
 Such chubby little boys ! 
 
 (Master Jiubei the elder was named, I should state ; 
 Mataichiro he who'd arrived rather late.) 
 And when to childhood's morning-tide 
 
 Did boyhood's noon succeed, 
 They ne'er their parentage belied, 
 
 But proved their birth and breed ; 
 And though, perchance, they often strove, 
 
 And quarrel followed play, 
 When all was o'er, fraternal love 
 
 Again resumed her sway ! 
 
 Then, just fancy their gallant old guv'nor's delight 
 When they grew up to manhood, so clever and bright, 
 So accomplished, so handsome, so fair to the sight ! 
 Oh ! what pleasure, what pride, and what rapture he 
 
 felt 
 When they first swaggered forth with two swords at 
 
 their belt ! 
 How he taught them to fence ! and how apt they 
 
 became ! 
 
 How they studied each trick of the dangerous game ! 
 How they toiled ev'ry cut, thrust, and parry to learn, 
 Every feint, ev'ry guard, ev'ry counter in turn ! 
 Till, at last, as his precepts they'd strictly obey, 
 Not a man in the realm could fence better than they ; 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 121 
 
 They could ' see ' all their chums, ' nary ' one was their 
 
 match, 
 
 And in each gekikenkwai 8 they started at ' scratch ' ! 
 Then, of course, these young noblemen, more suorum, 
 Were at times not averse to a breach of decorum ; 
 Each could drink like a fish, when the liquor did flow, 
 And they never gave in under less than three sho 9 
 They could gamble and brawl, and could swagger and 
 
 fret 
 
 And could flirt with each pretty young damsel they met 
 And could turn a good verse, and could write it with 
 
 care, 
 
 And present it with grace to a singing-girl fair : 
 Not a soul with their dash, wit, or learning could vie ; 
 Though you searched Japan over, you never would spy 
 Such a brace of gay, reprobate young samurai ! 
 But, of course, this same gambling and flirting and 
 
 drinking 
 
 Made their yearly allowances vanish ' like winking' ; 
 So at last they resolved to lead steadier lives, 
 And, in proof of contrition, took unto them wives ; 
 This was all very nice, 
 'Twas arranged in a trice, 
 For their sire was quite willing his offspring should 
 
 ' splice ' ; 
 
 Yet, the nuptials well over, but little space was it 
 Ere the skeleton once more stepped out of its closet ! 
 For you'll readily see 
 And agree, too, with me, 
 
 8. Gekikenkwai, a fencing tournament, in which the competitors engage in pairs ; 
 the winners are then pitted against each other, until one only remains, who is 
 declared, the victor. 
 
 9. j 5Jto=about 3 Imperial pints. 
 
122 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 That in view of the probable chances that three 
 
 Generations might ere long be on the tapis, 
 
 Worthy Mr. Yagiu ought to set matters square 
 
 By selecting, for certain, one son as his heir ; 
 
 But he couldn't yet do it he shuffled and waited, 
 
 Put the evil day off, lingered, procrastinated, 
 
 Ever hoping, 'gainst hope, that some providence kind 
 
 Would enable him shortly to make up his mind ; 
 
 Like Micawber (or me, too, when hunting a rhyme) 
 
 He was " waiting for something to turn up " in time ! 
 
 And it did, with a vengeance ! ere married a year 
 Master Jiubei's behaviour became rather queer; 
 Hour on hour would he stare 
 With a strange, vacant air, 
 
 Quite regardless of aught that was said by his pere, 
 Then he next took to wearing long straws in his 
 
 hair, 
 Rolled his eyes till you'd see nothing else than the 
 
 white, 
 
 Put his wife, poor O Tei, in the deuce of a fright 
 By declaring hobgoblins attacked him each night, 
 Snatched his dirk from its sheath in a manner un- 
 pleasant, I0 
 
 And endangered the lives of the company present, 
 Till, to wind up the sum of each wonderful antic, 
 He one day drove his aged old father half frantic 
 By forgetting his sword I0 when he passed from the 
 
 room ! 
 How the Fencer did rave, weep with passion, and fume 
 
 10. Two of the grayest breche* of etiquette of which a Japanese gentleman 
 under the old regime, could possibly be guilty. 
 
CO 
 
 CO 
 
 en 
 S 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 123 
 
 At the thought that a son of the house of Yagiu 
 Such a simply preposterous action should do, 
 And should sully his name and his lineage high 
 By a crime so unworthy a true samurai ! 
 
 Clearly something was wrong 
 
 He had waited too long 
 
 As it was so he called in the doctor with speed, 
 And besought his assistance the riddle to read ; 
 But alas ! he too soon learned what ailed the poor 
 
 lad, 
 
 The physician confirmed his forebodings so sad 
 Master Jiubei, his first-born, was stark staring mad! 
 
 Fully three years have flown, swift and silent, away, 
 Yet no change has occurred in the plot of our play ! 
 And the Fencer at noon is reclining at ease, 
 With his family round him, enjoying the breeze 
 And the view of his garden's choice flowers and 
 
 trees, 
 
 When a servant flies in, calls his master by name, 
 And announces an Envoy of rank and of fame 
 From my lord the Shogun, with a message of state 
 " Show him in !" cries the Fencer a moment they 
 
 wait, 
 
 Then the door's opened wide, 
 And with solemn slow stride 
 
 Now the Envoy stalks in, and sits down at his side : 
 " You are welcome, my lord ! I would fain learn from 
 
 you 
 " What His Highness may need from the house of 
 
 Yagiu !" 
 
124 T HE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 Right quickly, with a gallant air, 
 
 The Envoy's mission's told ; 
 " His Highness sendeth greeting fair 
 
 " To you, his vassal bold ! 
 " Late yesternight, in Yedo's town 
 " Arrived from Kiushiu's strand 
 " A fencer one of wide renown 
 
 " Throughout that distant land ; 
 " He bore Us letters from the lord 
 
 " Of Kumamoto's " clan, 
 " And boasts himself the surest sword 
 
 " E'er known in all Japan ; 
 " If this be so We'd fain decide, 
 
 " And thus We seek to know 
 " If none be here to tame the pride 
 
 "Of haughty Unshiro ; 
 " And therefore it is Our command 
 
 " And Our decided will 
 " That bold Yagiu should try his hand 
 
 " With him to test his skill ! " 
 
 " Ah ! my lord," cries the Fencer, in accents of woe, 
 " Had I but had this chance twenty summers ago 
 " I'd have seized it with pleasure, and never said ' no ' ! 
 " But alas ! I'm now aged my locks they are white, 
 " And my legs they are shaky, and dim is my sight ; 
 " I can scarce walk abroad much less stand up to 
 
 fight! 
 " I would venture to beg, then, this boon at your 
 
 hands, 
 " Let my boy, in my stead, undertake the commands 
 
 ii. Kumainoto, the seat of the HoHokawa family, was the chief castle towi 
 of the province of Higo, in the Island of Kiushiu. 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 125 
 
 " Of His Highness! he's skilful of fence, is my son, 
 " And a right pretty blade " ; quoth the Envoy, 
 
 " 'Tis done ! 
 " For the youth may well claim to appear thus for 
 
 you, 
 " In that he also comes of the tribe of Yagiu !" 
 
 Time and place are arranged, 
 
 Bows and smiles interchanged, 
 And the Envoy takes leave, stalking off as before, 
 While the household attend him as far as the door, 
 All except Master Jiubei, who carelessly sprawls 
 On the mats, staring up at the flies on the walls ! 
 In this strange occupation he's presently found 
 When his kinsfolk re-enter and gather around. 
 
 "Look at him!" groans the Fencer, with sorrowful 
 
 wail; 
 
 " Oh ! to think that my son his old daddy should fail 
 " At a time when I most his assistance require ! 
 " Oh ! unfortunate youth ! thrice unfortunate sire !" 
 
 Here the wretched old man 
 
 Down his cheeks thin and wan 
 
 Pours a deluge of tears hides his face with his fan 
 And (as handkerchiefs then were unknown in Japan) 
 With his long hanging sleeve dries his eyes and his 
 
 nose ; 
 While the rest, in like fashion, give vent to their woes, 
 
 And so weep, wail, and shout, 
 
 Sob, and tumble about 
 
 In their grief, that they kick up the deuce of a rout ! 
 " Mataichiro !" here says the Fencer, " my lad, 
 " You're promoted to act vice Jiubei the mad ; 
 
126 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 " If my first-born, alas ! cannot come to the front, 
 
 " You, I know, of this combat can well bear the brunt, 
 
 "How d'ye feel?" " Well, I think I'm a match for 
 
 most men, 
 
 "And I'll bet I make fully nine hits out often !" 
 " Good ! " his father replies ; 
 " Guard against all surprise, 
 " Keep your sword-point well up in a line with your 
 
 eyes, 
 
 " Don't be rash, watch each trick Mister Unshiro tries, 
 "Just remember my precepts, hit hard, and wire in, 
 " And I'll lay fifty yen I3 to a tempo I3 you win ! " 
 Mataichiro bows at his old father's side, 
 Says adieu to O Misa (his lovely young bride), 
 Turns to Jiubei, and begs that he'll kindly excuse 
 Him for having thus coolly stepped into his shoes, 
 Takes his leave of the rest, and then, turning his 
 
 back, 
 
 Picks the shortest ' 4 of fencing-sticks out of the rack, 
 (That's the sign of true swordsmanship, ev'ry one 
 
 knows) 
 Calls his servant, and forth to the tournament goes. 
 
 'Tis a glorious sight, on the morrow's bright morn, 
 To behold the gay crowd on the Castle's wide lawn ; 
 There the lists they are pitched, and pavilions are 
 
 spread, 
 And the sawdust is strewn for the fencers to tread, 
 
 12. t ven=rather less than a Mexican dollar. 
 
 13. Nearly equal to i cent. 
 
 14. Alluding to the Japanese fencing proverb, " A quick return is better than a 
 long parry." 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 127 
 
 And my lord the Shogun in his dignity sits, 
 While the gentlemen, soldiers and poets and wits 
 Of his court throng about him in holiday clothes, 
 And the gay hatamoto are squatting in rows 
 Betting freely, and wagering jewels and gold 
 On the relative skill of the combatants bold ; 
 All restraint is abandoned they're out on the spree, 
 And appear just as jolly as jolly can be ! 
 Beneath, apart from all the rest, 
 
 The gaze of each beholder, 
 Stands forth a man, in silken vest 
 
 Looped up behind each shoulder, 
 And trousers hitched above the knee 
 
 As fencers' statutes show, 
 By mien and dress we well may see 
 'Tis Higo's noted swordsman, he, 
 
 The haughty Unshiro ! 
 His massive biceps is displayed, 
 And bared each brawny limb ; 
 He needs must be a skilful blade 
 
 Who dares encounter him ! 
 Nor waits he long his sturdy foe 
 
 Now marches into view ; 
 The heralds loud their conches blow, 
 Announcing " Mataichiro," 
 "The son of old Yagiu!" 
 
 Bowing low 'fore the throne, in an accent that's meek 
 Mataichiro here craves permission to speak : 
 "Be it known to your Highness, my father so dear 
 " By his age and infirmity cannot appear ; 
 " And although my big brother should come in his stead, 
 
128 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 " He, alas ! is prevented (he's wrong in the head) 
 " Thus on me it devolves, as the last of the name, 
 " To uphold your renown and our family fame : 
 " But alas ! I'm incompetent quite for the task 
 " Let our friend here ' walk over 'that's all that I 
 
 ask, 
 
 " For I'm simply convinced I could make no pretence 
 " Of a match 'gainst a foe with his cunning of fence 1 " 
 (Here a panic takes place 'midst the gay betting-men, 
 And our hero goes backward to fifty to ten !) 
 " Not at all !" roars his rival, with gross disrespect ; 
 " You'd defraud me of victory ? little I reck'd 
 " That amongst all the swordsmen throughout Yedo 
 
 town 
 " There should only be cravens !" " Shut up, and sit 
 
 down !" 
 
 Cries the herald ; " Yagiu, 
 " Such a course will not do, 
 
 " And His Highness commands you at once to set to !" 
 Mataichiro blushes with joy at this pledge 
 Of regard, and the ' bookmakers ' hasten to ' hedge ' ! 
 
 Foot to foot and hand to hand, i 
 Now the practised swordsmen stand ; 
 Cautious foes, with courage leal, 
 Eyes of fire, and wrists of steel ! 
 Soon in quick succession fly 
 Blow, and thrust, and feint so sly, 
 Parry, counter, now they close, 
 Part again, and backward goes 
 Either champion full a yard, 
 Standing warily on guard, 
 

THE FENCING MASTER. 129 
 
 Turn, and at it once again, 
 Ply their single-sticks amain, 
 Put forth all their skill in vain ! 
 Nought avails it, not a whit 
 Neither one can make a hit ! 
 
 Round the second ! as before, 
 
 Long they strive, though wearied sore ; 
 
 Then though fickle, sometimes true 
 
 Fortune seems to aid Yagiu ; 
 
 Fall his blows like wint'ry rain, 
 
 Backward now, and yet again, 
 
 He his foeman, pace by pace, 
 
 Drives across the listed space 
 
 'Gainst the palings 'neath the throne 
 
 Now, proud boaster ! hold thine own ! 
 
 Strive as best thou may'st ! but no, 
 
 Nought can check the final blow ! 
 
 Ha ! what's that ? th' uplifted brand 
 
 Flies from out the victor's hand 
 
 Falls before him on the sand ! 
 
 " Disarmed ! disarmed ! "the combat's done, 
 
 The winner's lost the loser's won ! 
 
 Mataichiro bows, and retires from the ground ; 
 Mr. Unshiro stares with surprise all around, 
 
 For he cannot make out 
 
 How a foeman so stout 
 Should have chucked up his chances of winning the 
 
 bout ; 
 
 And my lord the Shogun, too, seems mightily vexed 
 At the issue, and looks not a little perplexed 
 
130 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 " Ha ! I've got it ! " at length he cries : what is't 
 
 he's got ? 
 Your indulgence, kind reader ! this scene ' sayeth 
 
 not'! 
 
 On the spacious verandah, in view of his gate, 
 Sits the Fencer, whose mind's in a sad troubled state, 
 As he waits the return 
 Of his son, ere he learn 
 
 All the ups and the downs of the combat so stern. 
 There he comes! " Mataichiro ! how went the fight ?" 
 Not a word in response in a terrible fright 
 (Though he tries to conceal it) he cries, " Oh, my 
 
 son ! 
 " I'm on tenter-hooks, waiting the news that you've 
 
 won 
 " For you have won, I bet you would never be 
 
 tricked ! 
 
 " Answer ! " " Well, if I must, I'm disgracefully 
 licked ! " 
 
 With a stupified air 
 And incredulous stare, 
 Here the Fencer sinks down on the matting and 
 
 there 
 
 He reclines, looking truly more dead than alive, 
 And as white as I'm painfully conscious that I've 
 Look'd, whene'er I * fell flat ' while attempting a dive ! 
 " Now, father dear," the youth does cry, 
 
 " From this you well may see 
 " How all incompetent am I 
 " Your heir-at-law to be ! 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 131 
 
 " In Jiubei's name your will must run, 
 " I'll yield to him with joy ; 
 
 " Though I'm the son of ' Number One/ 
 
 " He's still your elder boy ! 
 
 " As for me thus disgraced, I'm unworthy to bear 
 " E'en the name that belongs to my brother and pere ; 
 " So I'll change it turn chonin 1 * and get me to work 
 " At the soroban, 16 'stead of the sword and the dirk !" 
 Up he springs, with an air of decision and gloom, 
 And, as stiff as a drill-sergeant, stalks from the room. 
 
 Once again the door opens, and Mister Yagiu 
 Sees the face of his first-born appear to his view : 
 Master Jiubei bears in two enormous round hats 
 Such as farmers wear these he lays down on the 
 
 mats 
 
 Just in such a position as plainly to show 
 That he's marked on this * Chiu,' and on t'other one 
 
 'Ko;' 
 
 (That is, ' Loyalty/ ' Filial Piety ' these 
 Are a precept familiar to all Japanese.) 
 
 " Oh, father dear," he murmurs, while 
 
 The Fencer starts in dread, 
 " You know how looss is ev'ry tile 
 
 " Upon my hare-brained head ! 
 " No swordsman I I scarce can be 
 
 " Your apt successor so 
 " Pray leave th' inheritance from me 
 " To Mataichiro ! 
 
 15. Chonin, lit. ' wardsman' ; one of the ordinary townspeople, as opposed to the 
 military class or gentry. 
 
 1 6. Soroban, the abacus, or counting board used by Japanese merchants in 
 making arithmetical calculations . 
 
132 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 " Tis but his right you can't but please 
 " That justice should be done 
 
 " Though I'm your elder boy, yet he's 
 
 " The child of ' Number One !' 
 " As for me I've resolved to turn farmer, my sire, 
 "And to toil all day long in the paddy-field mire, 
 " Rise at dawn, go to bed when the stars twinkle free ; 
 " And if e'er I'm inclined discontented to be, 
 " Just a glance at these hats, with their mottos so true^ 
 " Will recall what I owe to my brother and you !" 
 
 " Oh, you reprobate !" roars his old father, in ire ; 
 " Turn a coolie ! dig daikon ! till * paddy-field mire !' 
 " What the deuce do you mean ? do you fancy that / 
 " Could permit for a moment that e'er you should try 
 " To degrade thus the rank of the true samurai ? 
 " Turn a sword into ploughshare ! Turn farmer ! 
 
 But stay, 
 
 " You shall use that same sword in a different way ; 
 " So, my springal so gay, 
 " You will please to obey, 
 " And commit hara-kiri sans any delay ! 
 "What! you won't? then I'll pretty soon make 
 
 you !" and here, 
 With a snatch he takes down from the wall a long 
 
 spear, 
 
 Makes a couple of passes (just testing its weight), 
 Fiercely glares at his son, and then 'goes for him 
 straight !' 
 
 But although he may boast 
 That he's still match for most 
 Men, he finds that he's here reckoned minus his host ; 
 
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 O 
 
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THE FENCING MASTER. 133 
 
 Master Jiubei has caught up the hats in a crack, 
 Whirls them round as a shield 'gainst the Fencer's 
 
 attack, 
 
 Makes a dive at the spear-head, and then in a trice 
 Holds it tightly between them as though in a vice ! 
 How the father does stare, at this marvellous ruse 
 Of his lunatic son ! he consents to a truce 
 And in wonder ejaculates " Do-o-o-mo /" (that's 
 
 ' Zooks !') 
 " Why, I'm blessed if the fellow's so daft as he looks !" 
 
 " Daft ! I never was daft !" Jiubei says with a sob ; 
 " All my lunacy's nought but a long set-up job, 
 " In the hope that my father, reduced to despair 
 "By my illness, would choose for successor my frere ; 
 " I'm the elder but who was my mother ? I swear 
 " That no son of a gonsai '? should oust the true heir !" 
 
 E'er this speech is well o'er 
 
 Comes a knock at the door 
 Mataichiro enters, and bows to the floor : 
 
 " Dearest pater!" cries he, 
 
 " Don't be angry with me 
 
 " If I frankly confess what you've failed yet to see 
 " I will make a clean breast, and will candidly tell 
 " That my fencing this morning was nought but a * sell ' 
 " Done on purpose in order that Jiubei might win 
 " The inheritance, mansion, and title, and 'tin' ! 
 " I'm the child of your first wife but still I would 
 
 scorn, 
 " E'en in view of that fact, e'er to oust your first-born !" 
 
 17. Gonsar, concubine, as opposed to the flonsai, or true wife. Eather a slang 
 term. 
 
134 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 Here's a kettle of fish ! 
 Though the Fencer may wish 
 It, he cannot quite swallow this wonderful dish ! 
 But who comes ? that's a face we recall to our mind 
 'Tis the Envoy! he enters and slowly behind 
 Files a train of attendants who solemnly bear 
 Sundry packages, tied up and labelled with care : 
 " These are cumshaws," says he, " to the son of Yagiu 
 " From His Highness, who's pleased to approve of 
 
 the true 
 
 " Skill and free style of hitting you lately displayed " 
 " But I lost ! I was beaten ! " " Not much, my young 
 
 blade ; 
 
 " You were winning right easily when you elected 
 " To abandon the game why, your ruse was detected 
 " On the spot, though you strove your intentions to 
 
 smother 
 " All the town knows what's up betwixt you and your 
 
 brother ! 
 
 " And His Highness thus graciously marks his esteem, 
 " For he's not quite so verdant as p'raps you may 
 deem !" 
 
 " Thanks, noble sir ! " in grateful strain 
 
 Exclaims the old Yagiu ; 
 " Perhaps you'll also kindly deign 
 " To say what I should do, 
 " How I should solve this riddle ' mixed,' 
 
 And end this question vext 
 " I'm in a sad quandary fixed, 
 
 " And grievously perplexed ! " 
 
 " There's but one way," the Envoy replies, " to get out 
 " Of the matter ; they're equally skilful, no doubt, 
 
THE FENCING MASTER. 135 
 
 " With the sword let them fence for the title, and he 
 " Who the victor may prove your successor shall be !" 
 " Done ! " and " Done ! " cry the others ; both young- 
 sters with zest 
 
 Grab their single-sticks, quickly doff mantle and vest, 
 And, as neither his toilette unduly prolongs, 
 In a moment they're at it aye, * hammer and tongs' ! 
 
 Now I would that the Muse would inspire me aright 
 To describe in fit terms this most desperate fight, 
 
 That I truly might tell 
 
 Each event that befel, 
 
 The attacks, and the guards, and the counters as well, 
 As, in fine mimic warfare, each loving young brother 
 Most fraternally whacked and belaboured the other ! 
 But alas ! the fair lady, though willing to tell a 
 Peaceful story, don't love bella, horrida bella ! 
 So I'll cut matters short (as my paper's nigh done) 
 By announcing that neither the victory won 
 Not a hit was obtained and each gallant young man 
 Merely finished precisely as first he began ! 
 Here the Envoy speaks forth ; " This tough point, 
 
 I opine, 
 
 " Had as well be now settled by judgment of mine : 
 " I decide, then, for Jiubei indeed, to my sight, 
 " The succession is his (as the elder) of right ; 
 " So let him be the heir Mataichiro here 
 " Is a swordsman unequalled, with never a peer ; 
 " Let him start, like his dad, as a Master of Fence, 
 " Let him travel through ev'ry wide province, and thence 
 " Let the fame of his feats reach his own native town, 
 " Let him win for himself titles, honor, renown, 
 
136 THE FENCING MASTER. 
 
 Let him prove himself skilful, and gallant, and true, 
 And exalt to the heavens the name of Yagiu ! " 
 
 Curtain falls ! I trust, friends, that this may not be 
 
 quite 
 Such a tough job to read as I've found it to write ! 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 i. 
 
 I would warn ev'ry son who may feel the desire 
 Just to simulate madness to worry his sire, 
 
 To keep open his eyes 
 
 And beware how he tries 
 
 To display too much int'rest in bluebottle flies ; 
 For in such case, no matter how sober he be, 
 All his neighbours will swear that he's in for D. T. ! 
 
 n. 
 
 Worthy ' bruisers' ! to you I'd commend moderation ; 
 Pray do not use your ' mawleys ' on slight provo- 
 cation ! 
 
 If a fool should deride 
 * Slang ' him back on your side 
 
 For the tongue's a good weapon when properly plied ! 
 But if e'er you should find that mere words don't 
 
 retard, 
 And you must hit the fellow then, mind, hit him hard !