Chikamatsu Monzayemon

“ It will not only be my own shame, but also a disgrace to Japan. I can't bear the thought of it." She had scarcely uttered these words, when she snatched Kinshō's dagger, and plunged it into her own throat. Kanki and Kokusenya sprang up with horror. "Don't either of you be surprised!" said the old woman with dying gasps. "Don't grieve at our deaths! Regard the King of Tartary as the enemy of your mother and of your wife, and be sure to take revenge upon him. You will thus do your best for the restoration of the Ming dynasty. ”

“ She then told him how Princess Sendan had drifted over to Japan the previous winter, and how Kokusenya and Tei Shiryō had determined to strike for the restoration of the Ming dynasty. After her narration, she earnestly begged Kanki to espouse their cause.
"Then," said Kanki with surprise, "is Kokusenya of Japan my wife's brother? He is famous all over this country for his bravery. I was formerly in the service of the Ming Emperor; but after his death I became a retainer of the King of Tartary. I am now the lord of a province and a castle under his sovereignty. ”

“ What a pity it is that you were born in Japan, and have married a woman like myself. Ha! Ha!"
As they laughed and talked in this manner, the beautiful damsel came ashore, and stepping out of the boat, said something eagerly to them. But Komutsu did not understand her language which afterwards proved to be Chinese. Kokusenya, who had learned that language from his father, listened attentively to the maiden, and was astonished to hear that she was Princess Sendan, the younger sister of the Chinese Emperor, and that she had drifted over from China. ”

“ He sprang up, and cutting her free from the cords, presented himself before Kanki.
"You are General Kanki, I believe," he said in angry tones. "I sent my mother into the castle to ask for your assistance. When you bear in mind that your wife is my sister, you should willingly and gladly support me. Give me an immediate answer!"
"Humph!" replied Kanki, disdainfully. "If you appeal to me through my affection for my wife, I am still more determined to refuse your request. I am not so poor-spirited that I allow a woman to influence me! Leave me! ”

“ The mother, who was unable to use her hands owing to the cords, took Kinshō's sleeve between her teeth, and forced her away. Kanki then approached his wife with his naked sword; but the old lady, quick as thought, ran behind him and pulled him off with her teeth. Kinshō then again prepared to meet her fate, but the mother, almost choked with grief, cried out: "Stop! Stop! If I allow you to kill Kinshō, everyone will say that a Japanese stepmother has allowed a Chinese stepdaughter to be killed on account of her hatred of the latter! ”

“ I am very desirous of seeing you, so surely you can let me in, even if you refuse to admit the others."
"That is quite impossible," cried the sentinels. "Women are not excepted from the Imperial order. But if you will allow yourself to be bound with cords like a prisoner, our lord and master will not incur the wrath of the Majesty, should he hear of it. So if you insist on entering the castle you must be securely bound, old woman."
"Pshaw! What insolence!" cried Kokusenya, wrathfully. "You ask us to bind your lady's stepmother? It is unreasonable beyond belief! ”

“ One can easily conquer two heroes who are fighting each other. Well, I hear that in China, my father's country, the Ming dynasty and the King of Tartary are now at war with each other, and the Chinese Empire is in a state of great turmoil. I will take this opportunity to cross over to China and conquer the two powers that are fighting each other. It would be an easy task and I have made up my mind to try it."
Reflecting thus, Kokusenya continued to watch the fight between the clam and the snipe. His wife, Komutsu, was quite unaware of her husband's heroic determination. ”

“ If we wish to seek the assistance of another in a matter of great moment, we must put up with affronts and hardships. If our request is granted, I am willing to be bound with cords, nay, even to be fettered and handcuffed. Pray bind me securely, at once, my husband, without another moment's hesitation."
Tei Shiryō was moved by her words, and he bound her, very reluctantly, hand and foot. The sentinels then opened the gate, and permitted her to enter. Kinshō burst into tears again when she saw this.
"O dear father, and brother!" she cried. "Forgive the apparent unkindness of the soldiers. ”

“ Ri Tōten had done this painful deed by way of making a vow of allegiance to the King of Tartary. But the Emperor took it to be an act of noble self-sacrifice for his own sake, and bestowed greater favours than ever on this traitorous minister, until he thought he would give his younger sister, Princess Sendan, to him in marriage.
Princess Sendan was a beautiful and accomplished girl of sixteen summers, who was well versed in literature and intellectual in every way. The Emperor repeatedly urged her to accept Ri Tōten's suit, but she persistently refused. ”

“ But his troops numbered scarcely more than one hundred men. It was impossible to fight against such tremendous odds. He gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists in mortification.
His wife Ryūka now appeared, bearing their infant on one arm, and leading Madame Kwasei by the other hand.
"Alas! Madame," she said, bursting into tears. "The Court nobles and ministers of state, down to the officers and soldiers, have all taken the side of Ri Tōten, and only a few of us remain to support you!"
"It is useless to indulge in mere regrets," said Go Sankei, "now that matters have come to this pass. ”

“ Now Kinshō greatly wished to admit the three visitors immediately. But this was impossible, because, as the war was not yet quite over, General Kanki had been strictly ordered by the King of Tartary on no account to admit foreigners into the castle; even if they were his own kith and kin. She told them of the order, and added that she was at a loss what to do.
"It is impossible to disobey the King's order," said the old mother, "But I do not think you need fear an old woman like myself. ”

“ We have seen that Tei Shiryō, the loyal minister of the Ming dynasty, had been banished by the Emperor Shisō. Afterwards he went over to Japan, and settled in a fishing village at Hirado, Kyūshū. Whilst there, he married a Japanese woman who bore him a son called Seikō, which name was afterwards changed to Kokusenya.
Kokusenya was brought up among ignorant fishermen, and his occupation was also fishing. He was distinguished alike for sagacity and energy. From childhood he was always a voracious reader of biographies of heroes ”

“ Then he said to himself: "All is well." After that he went away with the baby Prince in his bosom, hot tears of grief fast rolling down his cheek. It was a tragedy so terrible as to be almost inconceivable.
In the meantime. Go Sankei's wife Ryūka and Princess Sendan had also come to a place of safety. But, as they were hotly pursued by the enemy's troops, they hid among a thicket of reeds by the sea-shore. A Tartar officer named Godatsu took a small boat and searched thoroughly all the creeks near them, until at last he discovered them. ”

“ As Madame will shortly become the mother of an Imperial heir, we must take special care of Her Highness. I will therefore protect her myself, and fight my way to find some place of safety for her. Give the baby to me, and I will take care of it myself. ”

“ Kokusenya, with the assistance of General Kanki, was able to organize a mighty army as powerful as "a tiger furnished with wings"—to quote a Chinese saying. He fought many battles against the Tartars, and captured over fifty of their castles. ”