Up till now I hoped to hide, But now I am found out I am ashamed. To hide my fleeting[38] self there is no place.
If, in thy flowering form thou shouldst proclaim That we are child and parent, then thy name Thou wouldst announce,[39] and when I think on this I am resolved we part. Pray do not feel Thy father harsh and this mere heartlessness!
Ah, truly is it sad! In olden times I welcomed even strangers when they called, And was displeased if they should pass me by. And now its recompense! How sad it is! To think that I had hoped that my own child Should not have called on me. Alas, how sad! When in their warships were the Taira clan, When in their warships were the Taira clan, So many were there that their shoulders touched And in the crowded space the knees were crossed. There scarce was room to live[40] beneath the moon-- And Kagekiyo more than any else Was on the flagship indispensable. His fellow officers and all the rest Though rich in valour and in tactic powers He did o'ertop. And as the ship is steered By him who holds the rudder, so did he Lead in the army and no difference Ever occurred between him and his men. All envied him, but now he is most like A Unicorn, infirm with hoary age And rather worse than a mere useless horse.[41]
How now, Kagekiyo, I'd speak with thee! Thy daughter's wish is there, and she would hear Of thy heroic deeds at Yashima So tell her the brave story. Let her hear.
'Tis somewhat unbecoming, her request! Yet as she came from far and for my sake, I'll tell the story, but when it is done Pray send her home again immediately.
That shall be done. Thy story finished, I Will send her back at once.
Well then. The time Was drawing toward the end of the third month Of the third year of _Ju-ei_,[42] and our clan Were in their warships while upon the land The hordes of Minamoto gathered near. Two armies were opposed upon the coast And each one wished a contest to decide. Then Noritsune, Lord of Noto, spoke To all his people--"In our last year's fights From Muroyama down in Harima To Mizushima, Hiyodorigoe And all, we never had one victory. To Yoshitsune's[43] tactics this was due. "By some means or another we must slay This Kuro, and suggestions we desire Of some good plan;" he deigned to say to them. Then Kagekiyo in his mind resolved That Hangwan was no devil nor a god, So if I throw away my life for his, I thought, it will be easy, so that this To Noritsune was my last farewell. And as I landed the Gen warriors Did dash towards me to destroy my life.