Tales from Old Japanese Dramas/O-Somé and Hisamatsu
O-Somé and Hisamatsu
From
The Shimpan Uta Zaimon
By
Chikamatsu Hanji
O-Somé and Hisamatsu
I
HERE once lived a young man named Hisamatsu. He was in the service of the proprietress of a prosperous oil-shop close by the Kawaraya Bridge, in the city of Ōsaka. He was eighteen years of age and had an amiable disposition, an honest character, and a very handsome person.
His father, Sagara Jōdayū, who had formerly been a noble samurai of the Ishizu Clan, in the province of Izumi, had in his custody a Yoshimitsu blade, which was an ancestral treasure of his liege lord. This blade was stolen and, as a mark of apology, Jōdayū committed seppuku and his house was ruined.
Hisamatsu was then a mere baby, under the protection of his nurse O-Shō. Both nurse and child were taken to the house of the former's elder brother Kyūsaku, a farmer in the village of Nozaki several miles from Ōsaka. Kyūsaku brought the boy up among the children of the coarse peasants until he was ten years old, when he was sent to the shop before mentioned with a view to his learning good manners and refined ways.
The shop was kept by a middle-aged widow called O-Katsu, who had many clerks and servants besides Hisamatsu in her employment. Her only daughter and heiress, O-Somé, had been brought up tenderly, and in great luxury. She was, at that time, seventeen years old, and generally considered throughout the city to be peerlessly beautiful. A mutual attachment sprang up between her and Hisamatsu, and they secretly exchanged vows of eternal fidelity.
Unfortunately for the devoted lovers, an obstacle arose in their way. There was a young millionaire named Yamagaya Sashirō living in the same city, and he was passionately enamoured of O-Somé. One day he impetuously asked O-Somé's mother for her daughter's hand in marriage. The mother disliked him, and had a certain amount of sympathy for her daughter's affection for Hisamatsu. She therefore was unwilling to accept his proposal. But she owed Sashirō's father thousands of ryō, so she dared not give him a direct refusal. She was at last compelled to give a reluctant consent, but she added that the marriage would have to be postponed until she could fully persuade her daughter. This was, however, only a pretext, for she hoped that in the meantime circumstances would make it possible for her positively to refuse Sashirō's offer.
Sashirō was by no means reassured by O-Katsu's consent. He wanted so keenly to win the heart of O-Somé, that he prayed the gods and Buddha for the fulfilment of his desire. Every day he visited different temples and shrines to repeat his foolish prayer. One day he went to a great shrine called the Zama Myōjin in the city, not far from O-Somé's house, and was earnestly making hyakudo-mairi, or the "hundredfold penance," walking up and down on the long pavement between the sanctuary and the torii. Kosuké, the head clerk of the oil-shop, chanced to discover him wrapped in devotion. Kosuké was a crafty and covetous knave. He had at Sashirō's request, secretly delivered a love-letter to O-Somé, and moreover he had heard of her intrigue with Hisamatsu. He therefore evolved the dark scheme of having Hisamatsu dismissed on some false charge or other, in order to enable Sashirō to be successful in his love-affair, and also to receive a good sum from him in return. Now when he discovered Sashirō making hyakudo-mairi, his heart bounded with joy, for he thought the opportunity had come for him to satisfy his greed. He ran to the house of a fortune-teller who was living in front of the shrine. He whispered in the old diviner's ears all the details of Sashirō's affair, and suggested a plan by which they could extort money from the foolish suitor. The greedy old clairvoyant gave a ready consent, and Kosuké departed.
Kosuké then stealthily returned to the shrine, and watched Sashirō's doings. The young millionaire had by this time finished his hyakudo-mairi, and was now prostrated before the sanctuary and utterly ignorant of Kosuké's presence. He clapped his hands, and prayed with closed eyes:
"Namu Zama God! Grant that I may obtain O-Somé, daughter of the oil-shop keeper at Kawaraya-bashi, for my wife. Almighty God, cause her heart to be filled with love for me! Namu Shimmei God! Namu Inari God! Namu Hachiman God! Vouchsafe that my desire may be realized"
"Sashirō San, I believe!" cried Kosuké, suddenly laying a hand on his shotdder. "How diligent you are, as usual!"
"Is it you, Kosuké?" said he with a startled look. "When did you come here?"
"I came a little while ago, and heard all your fervent prayer."
"Did you?" said Sashirō, rubbing his head in perplexity. "I am ashamed to hear it!"
"Why should you be ashamed, sir? I have handed O-Somé the letter you gave me the other day, and I have brought her answer—"he smiled mischievously—"Perhaps you will be too ashamed to look at her letter in my presence."
"What! An answer from O-Somé?" cried Sashirō in pleased surprise. "That's good news indeed! Let me see it at once, Kosuké."
So saying, he held out his hand. But the cunning clerk pushed it off, and taking a letter from the bosom of his kimono said:
"You are very impatient, sir. Indeed I have the letter here, but I cannot so readily give it to you. I will read it to you, and you must give me a thank-offering for each encouraging sentence. I will not read it unless you do so. Do you agree to my conditions, sir?"
"Certainly."
Kosuké unfolded the letter, and began to read with an important air.
"'Dear Sashirō: Many thanks for your favour of the other day.' Observe that O-Somé says, 'Many thanks.' 'I am very pleased that you appreciate me so much—'mark her words—'very pleased,'"—he held out his hand—"Give me the first thank-offering, sir!"
Sashirō produced a gold coin, and handed it to Kosuké, saying:
"Come! Read on, sir."
"'But it grieves me to say that I am obliged to decline your kind proposal, as I have a mother and I cannot decide anything without consulting her!'"
"But," groaned Sashirō, "doesn't she say 'decline your proposal?'"
"Don't be disappointed! That sentence means that if her mother gives permission, she will consent to marry you. Now listen to some more: 'I asked my mother for her opinion and, to my joy and happiness, she said that I could have a free hand in matters relating to matrimony. 'What do you think of that, sir?"
"Here is another thank-offering," said Sashirō filled with an ecstasy of joy, and giving him double the previous amount. "Read the remainder quickly."
"'But frankly I must tell you that I have no regard for you.'"
"Oh! 'No regard for me'!"
"One minute, sir! I think that statement is the outcome of modesty. What follows proves my opinion. 'I suppose you are jesting with me,' and the next sentence is this: 'If you are in earnest, I hope that you will—' What follows is of the greatest importance, and merits a very large thank-offering, sir."
No sooner had he spoken, than Sashirō again doubled the reward, and urged him to proceed further.
Kosuké read on composedly: "'If you are in earnest, I hope that you will completely give me up. It would be impossible for me to bring myself to regard such a man as you with love and respect'"
"Oh horror! What follows?" exclaimed the disappointed suitor.
"Well, as to the rest—"—Kosuké rapidly ran his eye over the remaining part of the letter—"I think you had better not hear it. I won't read it. If I did you would not find it interesting. I am afraid you must consider your generous thank-offering as so much money lost. You might as well have dropped it in a well or a gutter."
Sashirō's face suddenly fell, as if he brooded over the fruitlessness of all his prayers, and the "hundredfold penance."
"To tell you the truth, sir," said Kosuké, "your love is thwarted by that stripling Hisamatsu. I have no doubt that O-Somé is bewitched by him. Therefore I think the best thing for you to do is to get a necromancer to offer prayers for severing their relations. What do you think of that, sir?"
"That is a capital idea," said Sashirō, recovering his spirits. "First of all I will ask a fortune-teller whether my love will be attained, and in case there is hope, I must make him offer prayers."
Thus the guileless Sashirō was entrapped, and they went together to consult the aforesaid diviner.
The old quack purposely assumed a serious countenance, and looked intently at Sashirō's face for a good while.
"Oh, you have a remarkable physiognomy," he exclaimed. "I judge from it that you are thirty-one years of age. Am I indeed correct? You seem to be a very rich man, and with such wealth at your disposal you can accomplish anything you desire."
At this keen insight, Sashirō was wonder-struck. The old man continued: "You have come to ask my help in a love affair, I dare say. Am I right, sir?" Sashirō nodded reverentially, filled both with astonishment and admiration. "Well," continued the clairvoyant, "there is an obstacle in the way of your love affair. You cannot hope to realize your desire, until you have disposed of a serious rival. If you like I will do away with him by virtue of prayers. If he is got out of the way, there is no doubt your purpose will be attained. sir."
These words inspired Sashirō with an absolute confidence in the powers of the fortune-teller, and he decided to invite him to his house, in order that he might offer prayers for seven days and seven nights for the death of Hisamatsu. In return he promised to pay a large quantity of silver and gold coins. These arrangements were concluded, and the three of them took leave of each other.
To return to Hisamatsu. On the afternoon of the same day, he went on an errand in order to collect a sum of 150 ryō from his mistress' customers. The villainous Kosuké determined to seize this opportunity to execute his evil design against Hisamatsu. With this intent he secretly shadowed him.
Hisamatsu was quite unaware of this, and after he had received the money, he hastened back in the direction of the shop.
Just in front of the fortune-teller's stand he fell in with his sweetheart O-Somé, who was strolling about the Zama Shrine, hoping to meet him.
The young lovers were rejoiced at meeting each other, and for a while they were engaged in happy conversation. They soon found it inconvenient to talk on the public street, so they entered the fortune-teller's house, from which the old man was fortunately away. There they were safe from observation so they were able to talk freely over the things they had for days been keeping in store.
Suddenly their blissful conversation was interrupted by a sound of loud wrangling and cries of a crowd, proceeding from outside the gate. They were filled with excitement and curiosity, and rushing out, they saw, in the midst of a throng of people, a samurai engaged in a fierce quarrel with a merchant. The samurai was about to draw his sword. Hisamatsu and O-Somé mingled with the crowd, and were surprised to see Kosuké there! They stole quietly away, to avoid being seen by him. While he was looking at the quarrel, Hisamatsu's pocket was picked of his mistress' purse of money. This had been carefully arranged by an artifice of Kosuké's. The samurai and the merchant were his accomplices, and their quarrel was a mere trick done to divert Hisamatsu's attention.
When he returned to the oil-shop, Hisamatsu was amazed to discover the loss of the purse, but his regrets were of no avail. All his associates suspected him of theft, and Kosuké in particular censured and abused him.
II
Hisamatsu's foster-father Kyūsaku was an honest old man. His family consisted of three members besides Hisamatsu: his wife, his stepdaughter, who was named O-Mitsu, and himself. The wife had been ailing a long time, and consequently O-Mitsu was so busy nursing her mother, cooking for the family, and with other matters, that she had little or no time for her own toilet, though she was now at the attractive age of sixteen. O-Mitsu was the daughter of Kyūsaku's wife by her former husband, but being of a sweet disposition, she regarded Kyūsaku with as much affection as was due to a real father. The old man in return loved her with a more than parental affection. He and his wife had early made up their minds to marry her to Hisamatsu. They had several times hinted as much to her evident joy.
Kyūsaku, therefore, was surprised and grieved to hear that Hisamatsu was paying attention to his mistress' daughter. The old man's sorrow and anxiety were intensified when he heard that Hisamatsu had lost the great sum of 150 ryō, belonging to his mistress. The honest and upright Kyūsaku thought that he himself was responsible for the missing money, and that he must by some means or other repay the full sum. With this firm resolution, he struggled with great difficulty to raise the amount required by selling his patch of land, and by raising a mortgage on O-Mitsu's garments, combs, and ornaments. His next intention was to hasten to Ōsaka, with the money, and to apologize for his foster-son's carelessness.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was already past noon, he made preparations for his journey. O-Mitsu begged him to postpone his journey until the following morning, saying that it was too late. But Kyūsaku obstinately refused to listen. He said that he was not too old to walk a dozen to fifteen miles or so, and he would be back before dusk. He then bade her take good care of the sick woman and started for the city.
Soon after his departing, Kosuké arrived, accompanied by Hisamatsu. He had come in obedience to his mistress' command to take the young man to his father's home for the time being, until the matter of the lost money should be cleared up. But the black-hearted Kosuké determined to seize this opportunity of abusing the innocent youth, and make him give up all idea of returing to the oil-shop.
Kosuké had scarcely entered the door, before he cried: "Is Kyūsaku in? Hisamatsu has committed a serious misdeed, so I have brought him back on purpose from Ōsaka."
When O-Mitsu heard Hisamatsu's name mentioned, she rushed out and joyfully exclaimed: "Oh, Hisamatsu San! How glad I am to see you back!"
"You should be sorrowful, not glad, that Hisamatsu has returied," broke in Kosuké. "He has appropriated the large sum of 150 ryō, and spent it on harlots! So I have come to demand from Kyūsaku immediate repayment of the money. If he refuse, I will deliver Hisamatsu to the authorities."
"Oh! Impossible!" exclaimed the girl. "Hisamatsu is incapable of such a thing! The charge must be false! Oh, Hisamatsu, plead your innocence!"
"If he could have explained away his charge, I would not have taken the trouble to bring him back," said Kosuké smiling bitterly. "Come. Is Kyūsaku in? If he is in, let him appear. He seems to be a poor peasant, living from hand to mouth. It is clear that he cannot pay such a large amount. But nevertheless I want to see him. Call him at once, girl!"
"Father is not at home, sir," answered O-Mitsu.
"He started for Ōsaka some time ago. Did you not meet him on the road?"
"Gone to Ōsaka?" said Kosuké, getting more irritated. "That is a lie! If it were true, I should have met him on the way here. He must be hiding somewhere. I'll search the house for him."
With these words Kosuké rose to his feet, and prepared to enter the inner apartment. O-Mitsu hurriedly stood in his way.
"My sick mother is lying in that room," she said. "Please speak a little more quietly, sir."
But Kosuké did not heed her, and pushing her aside, prepared to enter the room. The gentle Hisamatsu could remain passive no longer. He caught the ill-mannered clerk by the sleeve, and said:
"This violence is not necessary, Kosuké! Our mistress only ordered me to return home, and stay with my parents for the time being. She did not tell you to act in this summary manner!"
"I act in a summary manner?" roared Kosuké wrathfully. "You, a thief, dare to talk to me in that presumptuous manner?"
So crying he struck Hisamatsu a blow which felled him to the ground, and then kicked and trampled upon him.
The horror-struck girl could do nothing but look on trembling and wringing her hands. At this moment Kyūsaku suddenly returned. O-Mitsu rushed to him, crying with joy: "Oh father, help Hisamatsu." Scarcely had she spoken, when the old man seized the ruffian, and threw him with a thud on to the floor.
"You are Kyūsaku!" said Kosuké, rising to his feet. "How rude you are to throw me down, decrepit old man!"
"Ha! Ha!" said Kyūsaku laughing. "How could I, an old man, throw you down, even if I try my hardest? You fell down accidentally! Well, I started this afternoon for Ōsaka by a short route, intending to call at your shop. When I had reached the outskirts of my village, I heard that Hisamatsu and a gentleman had passed there a little while before. I therefore abandoned my journey, and have come back to meet you, sir, I beg to thank you for having come from such a distance. O-Mitsu, serve tea to our honourable guest and also prepare some food or other for him. Please make yourself at home, sir"
"Oh, don't trouble yourself," interrupted the arrogant clerk. "How could my digestion endure food prepared in such a dirty house? Cease talking nonsense, and come to the point quickly. Will you repay the 150 ryō that Hisamatsu has purloined, or must I sue him? Answer me quickly, Kyūsaku."
He then proceeded to give a garbled and false account of Hisamatsu's loss of the money.
"Of course I'll pay the money," said Kyūsaku calmly, throwing a packet of money on the floor, after which he continued: "Here is your money. See if the amount is all right."
Kosuké picked the packet up wonderingly, and opened it. Several gold coins rolled with a jingle on the floor. He counted them, and found that the sum was indeed 150 ryō.
"Now that I have repaid the money," said Kyūsaku somewhat angrily, "you have nothing more to grumble at, I suppose! Really, I intended to ask you one or two serious questions, Kosuké San, but for your own sake I will refrain from doing so. I do not require you any further, so I beg you to leave at once. Good afternoon."
Kosuké had not a word to say in reply, and so, placing the money in his bosom, he went away.
After the rascal had departed, Hisamatsu and O-Mitsu heaved sighs of relief.
"Thank you very much, dear father," said Hisamatsu wonderingly, "but how did you manage to raise so great a sum as 150 ryō?"
"Poor as I am, I don't find it difficult to raise such an amount, should an emergency occur! To tell the truth, I have always had the money ready in case of need. Don't let that matter trouble you, my son. I am very glad that you have come well and sound! Fortunately today is a lucky day, so I think it would be a suitable occasion on which to celebrate your nuptials with O-Mitsu, according to our arrangement. It will make your sick mother and myself happy. I am sure you will both agree."
Hisamatsu was greatly perplexed. He remained silent, thinking of his binding vows with 
Mr. Baikō as O-Mitsu
O-Somé. O-Mitsu on the other hand was speechless with joy.
"Aha, I see!" said Kyūsaku smilingly. "You are both too bashful to answer, I suppose. Of course you agree. I will at once tell the old woman of this, and make her happy. Come with me to her sick-room, Hisamatsu. Meanwhile O-Mitsu, you must dress your hair, and prepare a dish or two for the wedding feast."
Thereupon the old man and Hisamatsu went into the inner room.
When O-Mitsu was left alone, she immediately set about cooking. While her hand was busy with a kitchen knife, her heart was overflowing with thoughts of a happy married life. The spell of her blissful reverie was suddenly broken by a girl's voice sasring: "Is this Kyūsaku San's house? If so, has a young man named Hisamatsu called?"
O-Mitsu opened the door to see who it was. She was surprised to see that the visitor was a supremely beautiful girl, dressed in the latest fashion of Ōsaka. She was evidently the daughter of a good family. The truth flashed across O-Mitsu's mind. She concluded that the girl must be the much-talked-of O-Somé, the daughter of the proprietress of the oil-shop. Then the rumour she had heard, that Hisamatsu was unduly intimate with her, was an actual fact. Strong feelings of jealousy took possession of her mind
"Kyūsaku and Hisamatsu?" was her brusque reply. "I don't know the names. Go and enquire elsewhere."
Needless to say, the visitor was O-Somé. She had been overwhelmed with sorrow, when she had heard that her beloved had gone back to his parents' home. So, with the excuse that she was going to visit the temple of Kwannon at the village of Nozaki, she had called, accompanied by a maid.
She knew that this must be Hisamatsu's house, because she had been informed of the fact by a villager. She therefore refused to leave. Wishing to propitiate the offended girl, she offered her some coral beads, wrapt in a fukusa,[1] saying politely:
"I had forgotten all about this, my girl. Please accept a little present as a memento of my first visit to your house."
O-Mitsu mechanically held out her hand to receive the gift, but said angrily: "I may be only 
O-Somé and Hisamatsu produced at the Imperial Theatre
a country girl, but you cannot lure me into your snare! I don't want your paltry present! You may take it home!"
With these words she threw the gift on to the ground, and slammed the door in O-Somé's face. Soon afterwards Kyŭsaku and Hisamatsu came from the sick-room.
"How is the cooking getting on, O-Mitsu?" said the old man, seating himself on the mat. "My old age is beginning to tell on me. I have walked only a short distance, and yet my shoulders and feet ache sorely. Hisamatsu, come and massage my back. O-Mitsu, if you have time, will you cauterize my feet with moxa?"
"Certainly, father," she replied promptly. Hisamatsu at once began to massage Kjūsaku's shoulders, and O-Mitsu applied moxa to his feet. In the meantime O-Somé, who was still outside, caught a glimpse of Hisamatsu through a chink of the door. She was longing for him so ardently, that she could not resist giving a loud cough, to let him know that she was there. When he heard the cough, Hisamatsu glanced through the chink, and was taken aback when he saw his sweetheart. He feared that his father might discover the truth. So he gave a hint, by saying: "The occasion is bad! The place is wrong!"
Kyūsaku was astonished at his son's words. "The place is wrong?" he said, "what do you mean by that, Hisamatsu?"
Hisamatsu for a while was puzzled how to reply.
"Well," he said at last, "I mean O-Mitsu is applying the moxa in the wrong place."
"That's untrue," said O-Mitsu impatiently.
"A beautiful hussy from Ōsaka has come here inquiring for Hisamatsu. He shows, by saying such strange things, that he is possessed heart and soul with that she-devil."
"What do you say, O-Mitsu Don?" said Hisamatsu, looking at her fiercely. "A beautifull hussy! A devil! Never let me hear you repeat such things again, or you will repent it bitterly."
"Oh, I am not afraid. I shall repeat it if I wish. I am sure that you are infatuated with that wanton hussy! Is it not so?"
"Ha! Ha!" broke in Kyūsaku laughing. "It is early days for you to be jealous and squabble like that. Why, you are not married yet. Hark! The old woman is groaning again. This time you must nurse her with me, O-Mitsu."
So saying, the old man took the reluctant girl with him into the sick-room.
No sooner was Hisamatsu left alone, than he rushed down to the door and opened it. O-Somé ran in, and both embraced each other, speechless with emotion. After a brief silence, the girl said: "This morning I was astonished to read in your letter that you were going back to stay for the time being in your village. I was still more astonished, and overcome with sorrow, when at the foot of the letter I read your unkind words: 'Please give me up, and accept Sashirō's proposal.' I was so sorrowful and anxious, that I could no longer remain quiet at home. I keenly wanted to meet you, and sound your mind in order to make my decision. I therefore told them at home that I was going to visit the temple of Kwannon at Nozaki and left the house with a maid. I had great difficulty in finding my way here, but I arrived at last. Have you really made up your mind to give me up? If you have decided to do so, I shall take my life. In that case, I hope that after my death, you will wed that girl, and live thereafter a happy married life." Saying this, she produced a dagger from her kimono, and was about to plunge it into her throat, when Hisamatsu caught her arm, and exclaimed in bewilderment: "If you long for me as intensely as that, you shall not die alone! I must confess the truth, that I also, long ago, made up my mind to destroy myself!"
In their excitement, they had so raised their voices that the sound penetrated into the inner apartment. Kyūsaku was immediately heard to cry: "Oh, that is a bad resolve!"
The surprised lovers started apart, and O-Somé was about to rush out. However, Kyūsaku at that moment appeared, and bade her stay. The old man greeted her politely, and then mildly but earnestly reproved their conduct. He said that it was an unpardonable crime for a servant to seduce his mistress' daughter. It was also a great disgrace for the daughter of a good family to form a liaison with a man in their service. Therefore the pair must give each other up, even if it broke their hearts.
"While the old woman still breathes," continued Kyūsaku with tears, "I want to marry Hisamatsu to O-Mitsu, that the poor old soul may go to the Meido with a peaceful mind. So it is my ardent desire that you should both listen to my advice, and give each other up."
The young lovers shed bitter tears, and expressed sorrow for their misdeed, and promised to follow his admonition. But they made up their minds to commit suicide together, and communicated their melancholy decision to each other by means of secret signs. Kyūsaku was rejoiced to hear their promise, and highly admired their ready obedience. He then brought a bottle of saké and cups, with the intention of immediately making Hisamatsu and O-Mitsu exchange the nuptial cups.
"I say, O-Mitsu," he cried, "if you are ready, come here quickly!"
O-Mitsu slowly walked in with a watabōshi[2] covering her head and face, and sat down before Hisamatsu.
"Oh, you have decided to wear a veil, O-Mitsu!" said Kyūsaku laughingly. "You are quite right to observe an old usage. And yet that looks too formal. You had better take it off."
So saying the old man removed the veil, and was astonished to see that her jet-black hair, which had formerly been newly dressed in the beautiful Shimada style, was cut short. She also was holding a rosary in her hand, and was entirely dressed in the robes of a Buddhist nun! They were all three struck dumb with amazement. O-Mitsu's lips trembled, and she suddenly burst into floods of tears.
"I am sure," she said, "that you are all astonished at my appearance. I judged from Hisamatsu's and O-Somé's manner and looks that they would kill themselves if I did not become a nun. So in order to save their lives, I have abandoned my love, affection, and jealousy, and have resolved to pass the rest of my days in seclusion as a nun. I earnestly hope that you will both live for ever as man and wife, and allow me to be as a sister to you. I do not, believe me, feel any ill-will towards either of you. I beg that you will not let my sacrifice, prove useless."
The three listeners could do nothing but weep and lament at the girl's touching confession.
Whilst the above described scene had been taking place, a middle-aged woman had been watching the scene from outside the door. She was none other than O-Somé's mother, O-Katsu, who had been so anxious about her daughter that she had followed her. She had overheard O-Mitsu's words, and was moved to tears. She opened the door, and entered the room with the hot tears fast rolling down her cheeks. She apologized profusely for her daughter, and expressed her hearty sympathy and admiration for O-Mitsu. She then turned to Kyūsaku, and told him that she entirely believed in Hisamatsu's innocence in the matter of the lost 150 ryō. She had left the superintendence of her clerks and servants in the hands of the head clerk Kosuké, and so the business was now under his care. Now that Kyūsaku had so generously repaid the money, there was no need for Hisamatsu to stay any longer with his parents. She would take him back with her to Ōsaka, and he might continue in her service as before.
"I cannot find words in which to express my gratitude to O-Mitsu for her noble sacrifice!" concluded she. "Kyūsaku San, will you allow me to offer her this sum of money, as a token of my thankfulness?"
So saying, she handed the old man the 150 ryō which she had received from Kosuké.
At first he positively declined the gift, but, on her pressing him, he accepted it with hearty thanks.
Evening was now drawing in, and O-Katsu prepared to take her departure with Hisamatsu, O-Somé, and the maid. But she was afraid that if the young couple were to go back together at night, it might give a handle to gossip. It was therefore decided that Hisamatsu should return by land, and O-Somé by river.
The party all went together as far as the ferry, where Hisamatsu took a palanquin, and O-Katsu and the girls boarded a boat. Kyūsaku and O-Mitsu accompanied the party to the ferry. They stood on the bank and, as the boat and the palanquin receded from their sight, they called, "Farewell, Hisamatsu." "Farewell, O-Somé San!" and they were delighted to see handkerchiefs waved from the palanquin and the boat, in response.
The two wistfully remained there, until at last they lost sight of the palanquin and the boat.
Hisamatsu took a palanquin and the girls boarded a boat
III
The time passed on, and the love between Hisamatsu and O-Somé became more and more intense; and many weeks had not passed before O-Somé's health became delicate. The prospects of their future filled them with anxiety. When the widow perceived her daughter's condition, she was inclined to wed the young couple. But as her circumstances had not in any way improved, she dared not withdraw her promise to Sashirō on the ground of O-Somé's disinclination. Sashirō in the meantime was becoming impatient at the delay in his go-between's negotiations.
One day he called in person at the oil-shop, and urged the widow to make immediate arrangements for his marriage with O-Somé.
The widow was in a dilemma, but she hit upon a cunning idea. She summoned O-Somé to her room, and told her that as she owed Sashirō's father a large sum of money, it was impossible for her to withdraw her promise. So that if she wished to save her mother from embarrassment she must marry him, even if it were against her will. But it would not be necessary for her to stay long in the home of Sashirō, for whom she had no affection. She was at liberty to come back any time after a week or two. All she need do was to go once to Sashirō's house as his bride. The mother would then have kept her promise even though the daughter would soon forsake the bridegroom. The mother so earnestly, and with tears, begged her to yield, that O-Somé was obliged to give her consent. But it was impossible for so pure and innocent a maiden to do such a perfidious deed. She therefore made up her mind to give up her life for her love. When Hisamatsu heard of her determination he made up his mind to do the same.
At this juncture an unexpected event, which bid fair to revolutionize Hisamatsu's life, took place. It was as follows. Kyūsaku's sister O-Shō, who had been nurse to Hisamatsu had, after many long years' persistent search, succeeded in restoring the Yoshimitsu blade, the loss of which had caused the death of Hisamatsu's father and the ruin of his house. If the sword should be presented to the prince of the Ishizu Clan, Hisamatsu's house would be restored, and he himself would succeed to his father's estate and be made a samurai.
The loyal O-Shō called at the oil-shop and met Hisamatsu. She told him her glad news, and eagerly talked of the good future that lay in wait for him. He would rise with one bound from the lowly position of a mere clerk to that of a samurai. The old woman's son was at that time visiting the oil-shop, and was greatly delighted to hear the news. The mother and son urged Hisamatsu to leave that day with them for the Ishizu Clan, which he reluctantly did. He fully appreciated his old nurse's loyalty and kindness. He also knew that it was his bounden duty to succeed to his father's estate, and that it was an honour and glory for a man to serve a daimyo as a samurai. But he could not help thinking of his sweetheart, who had determined to kill herself. It would be faithless of him to desert her at such a time, and selfishly enjoy such an honour, immediately after her death. In his eye, titles and emoluments, honour and glory were now nothing to him. He must keep his promise to O-Somé to the end.
Whilst they were on their way to the Ishizu Clan, Hisamatsu forsook his fellow travellers unknown to them, and retraced his steps to the oil-shop. When he arrived, it was midnight, so he climbed over the wall into the courtyard. Suddenly he was startled to hear the sound of footsteps approaching, so he hastily hid himself in the warehouse close by. The black-hearted Kosuké had observed him; so creeping stealthily up, the ruffian rapidly shut and locked the door of the warehouse, and Hisamatsu was "caged like a bird" inside.
It seemed as if some divine intuition told O-Somé of this incident. She seized a lantern, and ran out into the courtyard. Hisamatsu saw her from the window of the warehouse.
"Is it you, dearest O-Somé?" he exclaimed involuntarily.
"Oh, Hisamatsu!" cried she looking up. "I cannot hope ever to become your wife in this world. I have made up my mind to kill myself, according to our promise. Do not fail, I implore you, to join me in my determination." With these words, she buried a dagger in her throat.
"My God!" exclaimed Hisamatsu, in amazement. He struggled with all his power to break the bars of the window, with the intention of leaping down to her rescue; but all his efforts were in vain. Mad with grief and despair, he unsheathed a sword which he was wearing, and thrust it into his side. In a few moments the devoted lovers had both breathed their last.