滋賀大学学術情報リポジトリ

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104

丁且ETALE

OF T正{E SOGA

BROTHERS

(SOGA

MONOGATARI)

Eight

Chapters

Selected

from

Book

Three

Translated

by

Hiroshi

Kitagawa

1

¶

Translator・s Note

A'summary of Book Two from The Soga Brother∫is given below in

preparation for the reading of the present selection(eight chapters from

Book Three). For the introductory chapters of the tale, the reader should

consult the Cultural Science Edition No.33(November,1975) of the

Hikone Ronso.

Omi no Kotδda and Yawata no Saburδ, who had murdered Sukechika's

eldest son, Sukeshige, were soon killed in revenge by Sukeshige's younger

brother, Sukekiyo;whereas Suketsune, the plotter, remained unscathed.

From this point to the end of Book Two the tale relates Yoritomo's rise

to power, first his conquest of the eastern provinces and then of the entire

land.

The narration turns back to the time when he was sent into exile by

Kiyomori of the Heike to Izu Province and taken into the custody of

Sukechika. To comfort his wretched state of exile, Yoritomo visited Suke.

chika's・third daughter from time to time and secretly shared her bed. As

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THE TALE OF THE SOGA BROTHERS(SOGA MONOGATARI) 105

0ut of his home province in service to the emperor at the capital, When

Senzuru was three years old, Sukechika returned home and discovered his

daughter's affair with Yoritomo. Fearing the Heike's censure, Sukechika

kil!ed Senzuru and, separating his daughter from Yoritomo, sent his

second son, Sukekiyo, to Yoritomo to do away with him.

Yoritomo, however, had Sukekiyo's sympathy and fled with his aid to

Hδjδ.There, again, Yoritomo extended his amorous approach to Hojo no

Tokimasa's daughter, Masako, and succeeded in gaining her love. Toki。

masa, too, feared the Heike's censure and decided to marry his daughter

to the deputy governor of Izu Province, Kanetaka, On the very night of

her wedding, however, Masako fled from Kanetaka's mansion into the

forests of Mount Izu to join Yoritomo.

Just then, the power of the Heike was in decline and the Genji

warri-ors三n the eastern provinces sought an opportunity to raise the standard of

rebellion against the Heike..Supported by Tekimasa, Ycritomo attacked

Kanetaka and destroyed him.

Shortly afterward, the Heike warriors staged a丘ght against Yoritomo

at Ishibashiyama. Defeated, Yoritomo fled to Awa Province. There he

reorganized his force and reached Kamakura in Sagami Province. Where・

upon all the warriors of the eastern provinces went over to Yoritomo. All

the battles that ensued brought victories to him and enabled him to estab・

lish h五s political and m互litary headquarters at Kamakura.

As the reader will note, the narration 量n Book Two has no direct

connection with the Soga brothers. The'following circumstances, however,

should be remembered. The brother's grandfather, Sukechika, was hostile

and cruel toward Yoritomo only to earn h1s deep rooted enmity and even・

tual execution at his order. On. the other hand, Suketsune, who had

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106

Yoritomo and became prominent`among'his retainers.

Chapter

I

Ichiman

and Hakoo

Miss

their Father

Viewing

the Moon

9

When

Kawazu

no Saburo

Sukeshige

was

murdered

on the foothill of

Akazawa in Izu Province by Kotoda an'd Saburo at Suketsune's request,

Ichiman and Hakoo were伽e and three years of age. Having outliサed

their father, they went with thei止mother to Soga, where they became the

foster sons of Soga no Taro Sukenobu. As they grew, they missed their

true father. From time to time they heard others talk of him and sank

deeper and deeper into sorrow. Knowing right'from'wrong now, they

could not help longing for him. Dayユn and day out, they shed tears and

wished that the day would soon come whとn they were around twenty years

old, strong enough to kill Suketsune in revenge for their father's'death.

By so doing, they hoped, they would be able to comfort their mother in

this'world and their father in the world beyond.' ・

『 I

n this manner Ichiman and Hakoo turned nine and seven.'On the

moonlit night of the thirteenth day of the ninth month, the brothers came

out to play in the garden. Seeing wild geese flying toward the west in the

cloudless sky, Ichiman said:``Look at those geese, Hako6. I wonder

where they are bound for. I cannot but envy their unity. They are flying

.in a line and never go astray."Hakoo replied:``Why d。 you envy their

unity? Don't we play w三th our friends and return home together?"``I

don't think so."Ichiman said,``A flock of birds is composed all of one

kind, such・as geese with geese or ducks with ducks. Those five geese

must'be a father, a mother, and three children. You are my younger

o

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G

し

,

brother and I am your elder brother. Mother is our true・mother, but

Father is not. Ah, how I wish my true father could be with us!It is

none other than his enemy who has caused us this misery." ,

At this la卑ent Hakoo asked:``The head of our father's enemy-is it

as hard as a stone?"Ichiman pressed Hakoo's mouth with his sleeve and

replied:"Hush!What if someone else would hear you?We had best

keep our attempt to ourselves.,,

``To shoot him or to behead him,"sa…d Hakoδ,``How can we do it

w五thout letting it be known by others?"Ichiman replied:``What I mean

is we must keep it a secret until our enemy falls. All we must do now is

to pretend that we are training ourselves in military arts. Our father was

so skilled in archery that he could shoot a running deer and a flying bird.

Ah, if he were alive, he would provide us with horses and saddles so that

we could practice equestrian archery. I cannot bear to see a boy, younger

than we are, ride a horse or bend a bow.,,

Hakoo seconded his brother's lament and said:``The other day a

mouse bit my bowstring to tear it apart. If only our true father were al三ve

Iwould show him my skill by killing that hateful mouse with my arrow!"

Ichiman then said:``There is one more hateful than that・damnable

mouse!""Who?Is it the one who broke my stilts?"asked Hakoo."No.

It is he who laid the plot to kill our father!Oh, how slowly time passes!

replied Ichiman.

Hakoδsaid:"We are the sons of a warrior. Even though we are still

very young, we can bend bows, can't we?,, Laughing, Ichiman replied:

``Sounds great!But you can,t draw a bow without practice

, can.you?

Look!"With this Ichiman nocked a bamboo arrow at his bamboo bow

and shot at a paper screen. He then.continued:``When we turn丘fteen

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108 .一『'" ・" 1' "

shower of arrows・like this!"・``That's, it!"said Hakoδ,``But for・me, shoot。

ing in the distance'will not satisfy my丘ghting spirit against that damn・

able enemy. Let me cut off his head like this." Hakoo brandished a

wooden sword and struck a paper screen. Then, holding up a piece of

やaper, he cut it in two. H三s eyes shining mysteriously, he looked like one

possessed by an.evil spirit.

,

卿

Chapter

ll

Mother

Reprimands

her Sons

'The

brothers'wet

nuise

secretly

watched

the血

striking

the paper

'

screen and thought that something dreadful would happen to them. And

so, she hurried to their mother and told her of what she had seen. As・

tounded, the mother called them to her side.

Before he sat respectfully, Hakoo began:"We did not destroy the

' paper screen. The wet nurse saw some other boys break it and deceived

you三nto believing that we had done so." Shedding tears, the mother

士とplied:``I was not going to speak of the screen. Now listen to me. Your

grandfather, TO no Sukechika, killed the son of Lord Yoritomo and

con-spi,ed t。 d・aw・y with th・1・・d him・elf. F・・thi・, he「w・・'・xecut・d・Since

y』。'a・ehi・g・and・・n・,1・m・f・aid y…head・will be c・t・H・・y・u・arm・

and legs will be torn apart. I heard that the children of the Heike,

in-I

cluding those still in their mothers'wombs, have been routed out and put

亡odeath. Therefore, never think or speak of revenge. That is by far the

●

most dangerous thing to attempt. I think that you have thus far remained

'safe because Lord Yoritomo has not yet been infor血ed of your p士esence

:here. Keep this in mind and never go past the gate of this house.

・

・Iam happy

when

I see you in high spirits and sad when

I'see

you

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6

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in low spirits. Due to the absence of your true father, you have my deep、

sympathy. Remember that I am very much concerned about your future,

and I am fondly watching over you. Now come closer to me."

The mother pulled their sleeves toward her and, lowering her voice,

continued:``This is indeed a degenerate age. Is it true that you are

planning such a terrible thing?What if someone should overhear your

conversation?If it is reported to Lord'Yoritomo, you will be imprisoned

and put to death. Ah, how horrible!"

Ichiman blushed and listened to her attentively, but Hakoo smiled and

said:``The wet nurse五s to blame. Thoughts of revenge are far from our

minds."``Then, never bring it to mind hereafter, either. Be careful!"

With this the mother rose to her feet. Thereafter, they were so cautious

that their resolution for revenge remained unknown.

One day Ichiman stood alone by the gate. In the twilight he listened.

to the sound of the breeze coming through pines and wept. Hakoδcame

out and asked:``Brother, why are you weeping, gazing at the mountain

over there?"``That is a good question,"replied Ichiman.``I do not know

why I think of my true father so much."・"What a fool you are!"said

Hakoδ.``However fondly you may think.of him, he will never return.

Come along with me. Our friends will soon be here. Let us sing and

dance."

Again, one day, in the twilight, Hakoo stood alone by the gate and,

listening to the rain tapping on the roof, sobbed. Ichiman came out and:

asked:"Why are you weeping, gazing at those twigs of the trees there?",

Replied Hakoo,``I am terribly forlorn, thinking of my father, even though,

Icannot call to mind any image of him. How about you, Brother?"``Come

along with me."Ichiman said:"Let us go to Mother. She is always

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110

10nger draw a picture of him in your mind.,, I

Thus the brothers comforted each other. However, they were・still too

young to hide and suppress their sorrow at having no true father. People

could not overlook their sorrow and felt deep sympathy for them. They

were truly good boys as the proverb says:``Good bamboo grows

straight upward;Sandalwood is fragrant even in seed leaf."Thus it was

that they were able to increase their fame over the entire land by

aveng-ing their father,s death several years】cater.

●

ρ

Chapter

III

.

Kagesue

Goes

to Soga

Three

springs

and autumns

had come

and gone, and

Ichiman

turned

eleven

and Hakoo

nine. It was then that the unexpected

event happened

to the brothers.

One

day Lord Yoritomo

sat before

his retainers

and

said:``ln

the

Hogen

Insurrection

Tameyoshi

was killed by Yosh五tomo,

and in the Heiji

Insurrection

Yoshitomo

was put to death by Tadamune.

I then

destroyed

each and every one of the Heike.

This my great fortune

cannot

compare'

to that of any of my・ancestors."This

was

agreed

by

all the

retainers

except Kudo no Saemon Suketsune from Izu Province. Suketsune・stood

forth and said:``As my lord says, peace has been restored to the entire

land. However, very near you are two boys who will grow up to be your

enemies."All the others became tense with apprehension. Yoritomo turned

pale.

Upon Yoritomo's'inquiry as to・who the boys were, Suketsune replied:

``They are the grandsons of Ito no Sukechika who was executed in Izu a

few years ago. When their father, Sukeshige, died, they were丘ve and

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「

ing them and their mother when I heard that Ichiman and・Hakoδ had

outlived their father. Since their mother was related to me by blood and

the children were just as old as the ones I had, I decided to care for

them and their mother. In so doing, I hoped we could comfort one

another and forget our miserable fate. The children are now eleven and

nine, Boys of sweet nature, they make me feel that I.am taking・care of

three years of age. As soon as they reach adulthood, they will rise in

revolt against you, my lord, and seek a chance to kill me."

``How strange!"cried Yoritomo。``Sukenobu is one of my most

trust-worthy retainers.1.cannot understand why he cares for my future enemies.

Send someone for Kagesue at once!,'

Kagesue soon arrived in answer to this summons and received the

following command:``I have heard that Sukenobu is hiding the grandsons

of Ito no Sukechika. Hurry to Soga and bring them here!If Sukenobu

refuses to hand them over, cut off his head!,'

Kagesue immediately set out for Soga. Approaching Sukenobu's home,

Kagesue sent a messenger ahead, saying that he brought a command from

Lord Yoritomo. At this unexpected announcement, Sukenobu・was upset,

but came out to receive Kagesue. Though.he respectfully sat before

Sukenobu, Kagesue found it difficult to convey Yoritomo's command

straightway and remained silent for a while.``I have brought you a

com-mand from our lord which will sound very disagreeable to you."He丘nally

began,``Lord Yoritomo has learned that.you are taking care of the grand・

sons of.the late lord, Ito no Sukechika, and has ordered me to escort them

to Kamakura. This is why I have come."

Depressed, Sukenobu sat silent for a while, and at length replied:

``No one is more m五serable than I in this world

. I had two children of my

own, aged丘ve and three. I was still in mourning and deep sorrow outliv・

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112

my own sons. I never expected to receive an order to send them to Lord

Yoritomo. Ah,'as one denied the blessing of raising his own children,1

should not have taken them into my care!"So saying, Sukenobu pressed

his・sleeve to his'eyes. Kagesue sympathized with him.

1

Chapter

IV

Mother's

Lament

Sukenobu went in and told his wife:``Kagesue has brought a command

from Lord Yoritomo that I turn.over the two little ones to him, for they

are the grandsons of his enemy, the late lord, Ito no Sukechika." Before

he had丘nished speaking, she burst into tears and cried:``What a pity!

What a hateful world this is!Ido not know if I am in a dream or reality.

If I am dreaming, there will be a reality when I awake. Because of the

presence of my loved ones, I have been able to endure my m量serable fate.

Ihave been so eager to see them grow up that I have ignored the fact

that I too should get on in years. If they were killed, how could I go on

living? Let me go with them to Kamakura." Her wail could be heard

even.at the gate. Her sorrow seemed deeper than the red of the dyer's

saffrons growing along the hedge. She called her two sons to her side

and, smoothing the五r hair, said:``Your grandfather, the lord of Ito, was

hostile toward Lord Yoritomo. This is why you.have been summoned to

Kamakura for execution. Among many people living in this world,.why

has fate chosen you to be the enemies o任ord Yoritomo?What kind of

evil deed did you do in your former life? But remember this. Your

・ncest・rs w・・e'all・en・wned and matchless wa・riors in the eastern p・・5

vinces. When you.are brought before Lord Yoritorno, do not humble

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「

Remember that your grandfather was brave enough to make an enemy of

Lord Yoritomo. However small you are, never feel:humiliated! Ah, I

wish I could save your life at the sacri丘ce of my own.'"The brothers

could not understand the circumstances, but seeing their mother's wretch。

ed state, they could do nothing but weep. The servants and maids, too,

wept. Their cries reso岨ded with greater anguish than those of sinners

tortured in hell.

Notime could be wasted in this manner, and so Kagesue sent a

messenger to say:``I can sympathize with your feelings on parting from

your sons, but since there is no end to this regretting, hand them over to

me as fast as you can." Upon hearing this, Sukenobu began preparing

for a journey. His wife helped her sons to ready themselves for.their

departure, though her heart sank when she thought this would be her

last meeting with them. Ichiman wore a delicately woven silk robe and

hakama, and Hakoo a deep red silk robe and hakama. Walking around

them, their mother examined their clothing. Ichiman's robe had a morn.

ing glory design, which ominously reminded her of the short life of

dewdrops lingering on them. Hakoδ's robe was a deer design, which

also made her feel sad, for it was believed that a deer weeps in the

autumnal rain. In her eyes brimming with tears, even these designs were

compared to the sad fate of her sons. For a mother seeing off her sons

on a journey with their promised return, the parting would be a wrench.

How much more so must it have been for the mother who could not even

hope for the return of her sons. She felt as though her soul had departed

from her body。

・ Ichiman

, with a face a little』more matured than other boys of his age,

said to his mother:``I pray of you, weep no more. Your lament will

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114

been executed, please understand that I have accepted my predestined lot."

Hakoδ, too, assumed grown-up airs and comforted his mother, saying:``I

would like to join my brother and beg you not to weep. You know that

we have never offended Lord Yoritomo..Furthermore, we are barely more

than、children, so I believe we will be pardoned. Please pray to the

Buddha for our safety." .

For a moment the mother entertained a faint hope that her sons would

be pardoned. This hope, however, quickly vanished as she was awakened

to the fact that they were the descendants of Lord Yoritomo's enemy.

Unable to remain behind, she wished to go with them to Kamakura and

share their fate. But Sukenobu dissuaded her, saying:``I do・not think

that they will be put to death. Iam'sure that everyone will intercede

with Lord Yoritomo for them, and so, even at worst their punishment will

.be exile. We will see what we can do as long as they stay alive."

Sukenobu finally urged the boys'to go.

Aprudent woman at ordinery times, she now lost control of herself

and ran barefoot after her sons, crying:"lchiman!Hakoδ!Wait!Let.me

look at you once more!What will become層of me without you?"The

servants and maids followed her and clung to the boys'sleeves and the

bridles of their horses. Valiant warrior though he was, Kagesue shed

tears and said to himself:``I should not have accepted the lord's command

and seen such a sorrowful parting as this!"With this he pressed his

sleeve to his eyes and wept.

The mother stood at the gate and could do nothing but weep. The.

boys looked back many times, and so their horses were reluctant to run.

When they had past out of sight, she fell to the ground. Supported by

her maids, she went in'and, sitting before her house shrine, prayed:

「

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θ

の

1)``K

anzeon Boddhisattva!Ihear that you are so merciful that the withered

grasses and trees will be reborn with flowers and fruit, should our prayer

be heard. Could I not beseech you to spare the lives of my sons?Since

the time when they were little babies, I have never forgotten to chant the

2)

three volumes of Fumonbon every day in adm五ration of you. Now I pray

of you to spare their lives." Still writhing in anguish, she continued:

"When my husband

, Sukeshige, was killed, I wanted to drown myself in

the depths of an abyss, but I have managed to stay alive simply because

Ihoped to see my sons grow up and rise in the world. Thus it was that

Ihave endured this dreary life. If they are killed, I will be unable to

remain alive one more day or even one more moment. Then grant that

Ibe reborn on the same lotus leaf with my sons in your Pure Land.,,

With this she cried aloud. The gods and the Buddha were her last resort.

'

Chapter

V

Sukenobu

Accompanies

the Brothers

to Kamakura

,

The brothers traveled slowly, escorted by Kagesue and Sukenobu, and

arrived at Kamakura that night. It was so late that the brothers were

accommodated at Kagesue's home. Sukenobu was allowed to sleep with

his foster sons. When he thought that it would be his last night with

them, his heart sank..Day soon dawned. The wan morning moon seemed

to be smeared with tears. Hearing the crowing of a cock, he felt as if

he were crying himself.

1) Skt.∠4〃 αZo々髭 θξ〃ara, the bodhisattva of mercy.

2) Though usually regarded as an independent sutra, th五s work is actually the

twenty.fifth chapter of the Saddharma.pundarika.sutra and advocates that anyone

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116

Early in the morning Kagesue!eft his home to pay a visit to Lord

Yoritomo. Sukenobu came out to the gate and said to Kagesue:``I pray

of you‡o intercede with Lord Yoritomo so that my sons will be pardoned.

Please look upon them as your own retainers and save them from their

plight." Impressed by his earnest plea, Kagesue replied:``I can see why

you are so concerned about them, for children'are dear to anyone. Par.

ents・are mindful of their duties, but when it comes to the matter of

their children they are likely to forget their duties. Indeed,'this is true.

1,Kagesue, too, have many children, and so I can sympathize with you."

These words were nothing but encouragement for Sukenobu.

When Kagesue appeared before Lord Yoritomo, he was asked:"You

did not come back yesterday. Was it because Sukenobu refused to send

the children to me? ``How could'he refuse your command, my lord?"

Replied Kagesue,``Last night I returned with Sukenobu and his children,

but it was so late that I held them at my home in wait for the daybreak.

Yesterday I watched their pitiful parting from their mother. Sukenobu,

too, is very sad. Indeed, they have my sympathy. Had I been command・

ed to fight, I would not have taken it as hard as this."

Yoritomo then asked:``Did their mother regret parting from her

chil-dren?Criminals though they are, they are still very yo岨g. Did she

weep?" Kagesue took advantage of this inquiry to intercede for the chil。

dren, and so he respectfully replied:``Please forgive me if I speak frankly.

She was so sad at parting from her sons that I could not help feeling sym.

pathetic. They are still very young, so would you entrust them to me?"

Yoritomo, however, did not accept this petition and said:``What you say

sounds reasonable, but you must understand why I have.to execute them

if you remember Sukechika's cruelty to me. He killed my three・year-old

son and took my wife away from me. He then tried to do away with me

、

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THE TALE OF THE SOGA BROTHERS(SOGA MONOGATARI)・117

at Uhi no'Kotsubo. Thus did he drive me to'unbearable shame. I

wanted to be even a provincial lord of Izu…n the worst case, becuase I

sought vengeance upon him. Therefore, the descendants of that damnable

Sukechika, as lowly as beggars or whatever they may・be, must not go

unpunished. These children are the direct descendants of Sukechika, SO

Iwill execute them as offerings to my deceased son. Do not think that

this act of revenge is cruel and I am to blame. Cut off their heads on

Uhi Beach!"

In the face of this strong rejection, Kagesue could do nothing but

withdraw and return home. Sukenobu, who had been waiting for Kage・

sue, received him and asked:``What is to be their fate?"

``That is a torturous question,"replied Kagesue.``Again and again I

interceded for your sons, but Lord Yoritomo told me about each and .

every evil deed done to him by Sukechika and expressed his

determina-tion to offer your sons to the deceased spirit of his son. I was unable to

sway him." Sukenobu was obliged to give in, and so he called his sons

to his side and,丘xing their clothing and hair, tearfully said:"What a

hazardous karma it is that you outlived your father when you were barely

more than babies, lost the land that your ancestors had held for genera・

tions and are now to give grief to your mother by dying even before

reaching丘fteen and thirteen! After you are gone, how will I be able to

live? As soon as you die, I will take the tonsure and pray for your better

長)rfune in the world beyond. Your relation to me in this world was short,

but let me hope that we will be reborn on the same lotus leaf in the Pure

Land.,'

The br◎thers replied:``lnasmuch as we'are condemned because of our

grandfather, we must surrender to our fate. We are deeply grateful to

you, for you have done all you could. If you take the tonsure, our mother

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118

will.be doubly wretched.・So please do not do so, but comfort her. This

is our only hope and last request of you."lWith this they wept. '

Kagesue's wife, accompanied by her maids, stood at the inner gate

and overheard the brothers'words and uttered to herself:``Sons of a great

warrior as they are, they speak so wisely!Even to me, though not related

to them by blood, they are indeed pathetic. How much more so must it

be for their own mother and wet nurse!Parents are so concerned about

their child that they lament his sad fate when he is mentally or physically

handicaped. The self-possession shown by these boys reminds me of the

saying that the son of a warrior, when he reaches the age of seven

, can

avenge his father's death.. They are truly a warrior's sons!"

、

9

Chapter

VI

The

Brothers

Are Taken

to Uhi

Beach

Urged by Kagesue, Sukenobu accompanied his sons to Uhi Beach.

The people of Kamakura were marked by the量r curiosity

, and the beach

swarmed with the spectators. Kagesue's house was not very far from Uhi

Beach.

The

party soon arrived

there, though

they walked

as slowly

as

sheep being led to the slaughterhouse. With each step, death awaited the

brothers.

On the beach, a deerskin was spread and two executioners sat. Suke一

'

nobu had relied on Kagesue's intercession with Yoritomo, but now could

not but surrender to despair. Turning to Ichiman, he asked if he had

anything he wished to say to his mother.``Please tell her whatever you

ひ

would think best,"replied Ichiman,``and add that we faithfully followed

her advice up to our last moment and that we showed not a bit of coward・

ice in accepting our fate."Sukenobu then turned to Hakoo and asked

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if there was anything he had to say. ``I have nothing to add to what

Ichiman has said, but Oh-how I wish I could see my mother just once

more!" So saying, Hakoo was choked with tears. Ichiman saw a regret・

ful look in Hakoo's face and advised:``Have you forgotten`what our

mother said?Remember that we are the grandsons of the valiant warrior,

Ito no Sukechika, and give yourself up to your fate。 Cut off your

affec-tionate ties with your mother and wet nurse lest you be thwarted in your

desire for an honorable death. Do not forget Mother's advice. People

will notice your cowardice.,' Hakoo was ashamed to have shown his

weakness of heart, and pretended to laugh and never show his tears there・

after. All the spectators, high.and low, felt sympathy toward the brothers.

Relieved to see Hako'o calmly prepared for death, Sukenobu knelt on the

deerskin and smoothed his hair.``Listen to me."Said

Sukenobu,``Tradi-tionally, he who is born of a military family places「more importance on

honor than on survival. You must have heard of・Yuan Chen whose death

was admired by Po Lo-tien in his poem:`Even though your bones are

buried in Lung Men your name will be honored in heaven._'Ibelieve

you will accept your fate honorably. Let nothing stir your heart, but close

your eyes. Join your palms and chant:`Help us, Amida Buddha!"Ichi.

man replied:``No matter how eagerly we pray, our lives will never be

spared."

``That is not what I mean, said Sukenobu.``What I mean is that you

must ask Amida Buddha to・help you fulfill your wish for rebirth on the

same lotus with your father. Pray to Amida Buddha!,'Ichiman replied:

``Iknow that

. I have been resigned to die since I left Soga. I can think

of nothing else. I only wish to see my father!"

Ichiman and Hakoo sat facing the west and, joining their palms, hailed

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・120

it close to his body and took his.position behind the brothers. ``To

behead the older丘rst is proper三n order,"Kagemitsu thought,``but when

・・ the younger sees the'older's head fall, he will be shocked. It will be a

great pity! And yet, to behead the younger first is not the proper order.',

With this Kagemitsu stood helpless. Unable to bear Kagemitsu's hesi・

tancy, Sultenobu ran to Kagemitsu and said:"Will you hand your sword

over to me?Let me behead them and pray for their better fortune in the

world beyond." Kagemitsu accepted th:S O{fer and handed the sword to

Sukenobu.

Preparing to behead Ichiman, Sukenobu held the sword high, and its

shadow on the white nape of Ichiman's neck caught his eyes..He was

unable to丘nd the spot to strike. Valiant warrior though he was, he put

down the sword and said:``I should have stayed in Soga rather than feel

so miserable. Behead me丘rst and then the two brothers!',

All the spec㌻ators, high and low, saw Sukenobu's魑wr『tched state and

sympathized

with h三m, saying:``He

has raised them

since they were very

little. How

great must

his sorrow

be!"

'

_・

_Chapter

_VII

_・

Petitions

to Yoritomo

τ ・・馬 L

Kajiwara Heizo Kagetoki stood forth and said to Sukenobu:``You have

my sympathy. Wait a while. Let me go and plead with Lord.Yoritomo

for his pardon to spare the lives of these brothers." At this proposal,

even the executioner, Kagemitsu, was pleased and allowed.time to pass

for a while. The spectators felt sure that Kagetoki's special petition

would turn the decision in'favor of the brothers.

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` ・ ρ , 6 , ●

him, Yoritomo said:``I can see in your face there is something you must

urgently say to me." Kagetoki replied:``That is right, my lord. The

foster sons of Soga no・Taro Sukenobu are to・be executed on the・beach.

Would you entrust them to me?All the people expect that this my peti・

tion will be accepted by my lord."Yoritomo, however, said:``This morn・

ing.your son, Kagesue, made the same proposal to me, but I turned it

down.・Do・not take it・amiss." Kagetoki・￠ould plead no more, and

with-drew.

Then came Wada no Saemon Yoshimori. Sitting solemnly before

Yoritomo, Yoshimori said:``The father and son of the Kaj三wara have

already pleaded with my lord in vain. But let me do so.. again simply for

the sake of the brothers'lives, though I may be too frank. As a reward

for the loyal services I have rendered you at the risk of my life at

Kinu-gawa, please allow me to take care of・them. Iwould be very much

obliged if you would allow me to do so."

``No,"replied Yoritomo.``They must be executed no'matter what."

Yoshimori, however, rとmained where he was and spoke out again with

even'greater earnestness:``1.said I would be obliged to'you because they

are,not petty but serious criminals. Please do.me a favor just this once

in my life." This earnest petition drove Yoritomo to great embarrassment.

After a short meditation, however, he replied:``I wish I could accept

your proposal, but this is a special case and you must leave it to me. I

will execute them in revenge for their grandfather's cruelty done to. me."

Yoshimori was obliged to withdraw.

Utsunomiya'no YasaburδTomotsuna'saw Kagetoki and Yoshimori

plead with their master in vain, but'dared to come forward with the faint

hope that another petition could perhaps change his lord's mind, However,

Yoritomo sensed what Tomotsuna was going to say and cried:``No more

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122

petitions today!Ihave made up my mind." Seeing'the anger in his

master's'face, Tomotsuna withdrew.

・' Yet another of Yoritomo's retainers

, Chibanosuke Tsunetane, respect囎

fully sat before his master and sa量d:``You have turned down all petit三〇ns,

and I am afraid mine too will be a vain attempt. But when occasion

demands I must be courageous enough to bend the whiskers of a dragon

and step on the tail・of a tiger. Now allow・me to plead with you.、."

``To me your life is more precious than mine,', Yoritomo interrupted

Tsunetane's speech and continued:"When I was defeated in the battle

of Ishibashiyama, I fled from Sugiyama to Yuki'Beach, accompanied only

by six horsemen. I was about to kill myself when you came to my rescue

' with a few thousand horsemen. Indeed, I owe my success in conquering the

entire land to yo{1. Ican never forget your assistance. Even「SO, you

must

know

of my

deep

rooted

grudge

aga呈nst

Sukechika.',.Yor量tomo

paused for a moment and Tsunetane resumed his petition: ``lmn】odesty

bids me say that all who pleaded with you today, like myself, are second

to none in loyalty to you. In consideration of our loyalty to you, I beg

you to spare the lives of the Soga brothers." Still obdurate, Yoritomo

asked:``Their grandfather, was he not disloyal to me?"Tsunetane replied:

.``Yes, he was, but I am begging your mercy." Said Yoritomo:``I have

heard that even the Buddha does not aid a heinous criminal量n hell."

Replied Tsunetane:``But the丘rst vow Jizo Bodhisattva made, as I under・

stand, is that he succours all sentient.beings in the Buddhaless world.讐

Yoritomo protested:``lt is my understanding that Jizo Bodhisattva has

not yet attained enlightenment." Replied Tsunetane:``lt is said that he

wま11attain true Buddhahood after help王ng criminals. Is this not what we

.call mercy?"``Ask this sort of question when you meet Nyorai. The Soga

brothers must be punished by the law of this worldノ'.After this Yoritomo

∋ .1 , 鴨噸 b 覧噌

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﹁. 匡 . , ∂ , 晒﹁噂

THE

TALE

OF THE

SOGA

BROTHERS(SOGA

MONOGATARI)

123 would

speak

no more

and・wore

a sullen look.

All the retainers

in attend-ance on him

fell into despondency.

Chapter

VIII

Yor三tomo

Accepts

Shigetada's

Petition

At that time at.Sujikaibashi

in Kamakura

lived Hatakeyama

no Shige・

tada, a native of Musashi Province. Hearing that Yoritomo had turned

down all the petitions made by his retainers, Shigetada hurried to Yori・

tomo's mansion. His sudden visit surprised Yoritomo _{, but} _Shigetada

began=``I have heard that Sukechika's grandsons are going to be executed

on the beach・ Since they are still very young,

I beg of you

to entrust

them to me.', Yoritomo, however, replied:``As you know

, I cannot forget

anumber of cruel deeds Sukechika committed against me. Therefore

,

his descendants, however powerless, cannot go unpunished! As direct

descendants of Sukechika, these boys will grow up to be my enemies. I

w・uld・ath・・p・ni・h. th・m m・・e・ev・・ely th・n m・・ely b・h・ad th・血

, if

there were such a penalty. Do not take it that I am to blame _."

Self.possessed, Shigetada said:``Please forgive my imprudence in pur一 .

suing a petition against your wishes, but I swear that I will take full

responsibility for their future. I have never made any petition until now

simply in anticipation of such'an important matter as this. In all my life

this is my first petition and I beg you to'accept it, my lord _." _Yoritomo

then replied:``I cannot understand why you are so earnest in pleading

with me for the descendants of my old enemy. However, in exchange for

my・of・・al, l w・・ld lik・t・gi・・y・・tw・my fo。・c。。nti,、。f'M。、a,hi

' Province.,'

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124

tested:``I can see how kindly you think of me. But 1f those'boys were

beheaded in connection with the expansion of my land, people would

criti-cise me and I would get the blame. If you spare their lives in exchange

for my land, then people will recognize it as a reasonble deal. Unable to

reply, Yoritomo sat silent, and.so Shigetada straightened his backbone

and continued:"Pardon me if what I say hurts your feeling. When your

father, ILord Yoshitomo, was killed in the Heiji Insurrection and you were

imprisoned, your life was spared through Ike-dono's intercession w1th her

foster son, Kiyomori. I pray of you to remember the good fortune you

had. at that time and pardon the brothers from Soga."

At this point Yoritomo's face turned livid with rage, but he remained

gravely silent. Shigetada felt he had sa1d too much and was afraid to

continue. After a while, though no one knew what caused him to calm

down, Yoritomo opened his fan and exclaimed:``As Shigetada says, the

H・ik・・p・・ed my lif・, b・t th・i・c・mpassi。・・p・bl・d m・t・d・・t・・y th・m

all afterward. This is the same,.with those boys.耳f they are. pardoned

.today, they will kモ11 me in the days to come. Behead them and expose

their heads on Uhi Beach1"

、.Undaunted, Shigetada retorted:"What my lord says is reasonable. But

Iwould like you to remember the evil.de.eds of the Heike. They ignored

the Buddha's Law and the Imperial Law and forced a great number of

officials to abandon their titles and relinquish their positions. Heaven did

not forgive them;they ruined themselves. Had theirs been a lawful

. administration, they would have prospered from generation to generation.

. Only if you are faithful to the god's will, will you be able to hold sway

over the land successfully.,'

Yoritomo asked:``That I think highly of loyalty and pun…sh crime

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レ

雛

``That is not what I am asking you to consider

. I am simply begging

you to be merciful. Admittedly those boys are the descendants of your

enemy, but since they are still young, I pray of you to entrust them to

me until they become adults. I know that I am more prosperous than

others, thanks to your great favor. Therefore, people believe whatever

petition I make to you is accepted. If this my petition is turned down, I

will lose face and lead a meaningless life. Please behead me! If not, I

shall put an end to myself at once. May the god of the Asama Shrine

witness my death! However, worthless though I am,'my clansmen will

gather here and suspect that you have executed me. Then all those who

pleaded with you today will support my clansmen and bring about disturb。

ances in the provinces." Yoritomo uttered to himself:``I must not cause

disorder to break out in the land. May heaven make a decision!"

* * *

Acknowledgements:Iwould like to thank Mr. Harold Enユerson Melville, English

language instructor of Shiga University, for his generous assistance in editing this

version of Book Three of The Tale of the Soga Brothers.

.

脚

卜

﹂