Such  is  my  earnest  wish."

Misao,  on  hearing  these  words,  approached
Mitsuhide  and  remonstrated  with  tears :

"Oh,  do  not  listen  to  such  treasonable  words!


THE  TREASON  OF  MITSUHIDE         77

The  faithful  Shioden's  suggestion  seems  at  first  to
be  reasonable.  But  the  mere  mention  of  the  idea
of  killing  Lord  Nobunaga  and  usurping  the  Em-
pire, horrifies  and  disgusts  me!  My  dear  hus-
band, I  implore  you,  do  not  bring  disgrace  upon
our  aged  mother  and  beloved  children!  Do  not
entertain  such  a  horrible  design.  Take  some  other
safe  and  wise  course,  such  as  will  secure  the  good
reputation  of  our  house.  Never,  never  come  to
any  such  evil  resolution!"

Mitsuhide  remained  silent.  Soon  afterwards,
however,  he  recited  the  following  versicle  in  loud
tones,  with  an  expression  of  firm  determination
on  his  face.
"Blind  calumny  may  raise  a  cry

Of  witless  traitor — What  care  I  ?
I  little  reck  of  slander's  breath

When  my  own  will  foredooms  my  death."

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  by  this  time  Mitsu-
hide had  resolved  to  hoist  the  banner  of  treason.
His  wife  understood  the  full  significance  of  his
poem,  and  when  she  heard  it  she  burst  into  bitter
tears  and  was  stupefied  with  grief.  Shioden,  on
the  other  hand,  danced  for  joy  and  cried  out:
"Long  live  the  Ak6chi  family!"


Ill

NOBUNAGA  and  his  son  Nobutada  went  to  Kyoto
to  pay  homage  to  the  Emperor.  Nobutada  stayed
at  the  Nijo  Castle,  and  Nobunaga  put  up  at
the  Honnoji  Temple,  where  he  spent  some  days
in  enjoyment  with  his  beautiful  concubine  Ano-
no-Tsubone,  his  favourite  Rammaru,  and  the
latter 's  younger  brother  Rikimaru.
One  night  Ano-no-Tsubone  brought  Nobutada's
son  Samboshi  from  the  Nijo  Castle,  and  taking  the
baby  in  her  arms,  bore  it  into  Nobunaga's  presence.
