at may it be?

KAUZHIYU.--'Tis, father, that the words thou hast just spoken have
found a lodgment in mine ears. Thy charge, truly, is Mitsunaka; but
Mitsunaka's son is mine. This, if any, is a great occasion, and my
years point to me as of right the chief actor in it. Be quick! be
quick! strike off my head, and show it to Mitsunaka[165] as the head
of my lord Bijiyau!

NAKAMITSU.--Thou'st spoken truly, Nakamitsu cries,
And the long sword from out his scabbard flies,
What time he strides behind his boy.

BIJIYAU.--But no!
The youthful lord on such stupendous woe
May never gaze unmov'd; with bitter wail
The father's sleeve he clasps. Nought may 't avail,
He weeping cries, e'en should the deed be done,
For I will slay myself if falls thy son.

KAUZHIYU.--But 'tis the rule--a rule of good renown--
That for his lord a warrior must lay down
His lesser life.

BIJIYAU.-- But e'en if lesser, yet
He, too, is human; neither shouldst forget
What shame will e'er be mine if I survive

NAKAMITSU.--Alas! alas! and 'tis for death they strive!

KAUZHIYU.--Me deign to hear.

BIJIYAU.--No! mine the truer word!

NAKAMITSU.--Ah! this my child!

KAUZHIYU.--And there behold thy lord!

NAKAMITSU.--Betwixt the two see Nakamitsu stand:--

CHORUS.--His own brave life, an' 'twere his lord's command,
Were freely giv'n; but now, in sore dismay,
E'en his fierce courage fades and droops away.

BIJIYAU.--Why heed a life my sire himself holds cheap?
Nought may thy pity do but sink more deep
My soul in wretchedness.

KAUZHIYU.--Mistake me not!
Think not 'tis pity moves me; but a blot
The martial honor of our house will stain,
If, when I might have bled, my lord be slain.

CHORUS.--On either side 'tis infancy that pleads.

NAKAMITSU.--And yet how well they've learnt where duty leads!

CHORUS.--Dear is thy lord!

NAKAMITSU.--And mine own child how dear!

CHORUS.--But Nakamitsu knows full well that ne'er,
To save the child his craven heart ador'd,
Warrior yet dar'd lay hands upon his lord.
He to the left, the trembling father cries,
Was sure my boy, nor lifts his tear-stain'd eyes:--
A flash, a moment, the fell sabre gleams,
And sends his infant to the land of dreams.[166]

NAKAMITSU.--Oh, horror unutterable! to think that I should have slain
mine own innocent child! But I must go and inform my lord. [_He goes
to Mitsuna