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At last there came to him a happy thought： he remembered a way by which
the perishing tree might be saved。 （It was the sixteenth day of the first
month。） Along he went into his garden； and bowed down before the withered
tree； and spoke to it； saying： 〃Now deign； I beseech you； once more to
bloom； because I am going to die in your stead。〃 （For it is believed that
one can really give away one's life to another person； or to a creature or
even to a tree； by the favor of the gods； and thus to transfer one's life
is expressed by the term migawari ni tatsu； 〃to act as a substitute。〃） Then
under that tree he spread a white cloth； and divers coverings； and sat down
upon the coverings； and performed hara…kiri after the fashion of a samurai。
And the ghost of him went into the tree； and made it blossom in that same
hour。
And every year it still blooms on the sixteenth day of the first month； in
the season of snow。
THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKE
In the district called Toichi of Yamato Province； （1） there used to live a
goshi named Miyata Akinosuke。。。 ＇Here I must tell you that in Japanese
feudal times there was a privileged class of soldier…farmers；
free…holders； corresponding to the class of yeomen in England； and these
were called goshi。＇
In Akinosuke's garden there was a great and ancient cedar…tree； under
which he was wont to rest on sultry days。 One very warm afternoon he was
sitting under this tree with two of his friends； fellow…goshi； chatting and
drinking wine； when he felt all of a sudden very drowsy； so drowsy that
he begged his friends to excuse him for taking a nap in their presence。
Then he lay down at the foot of the tree； and dreamed this dream：
He thought that as he was lying there in his garden； he saw a procession；
like the train of some great daimyo descending a hill near by； and that he
got up to look at it。 A very grand procession it proved to be； more
imposing than anything of the kind which he had ever seen before； and it
was advancing toward his dwelling。 He observed in the van of it a number of
young men richly appareled； who were drawing a great lacquered
palace…carriage； or gosho…guruma； hung with bright blue silk。 When the
procession arrived within a short distance of the house it halted； and a
richly dressed man evidently a person of rank advanced from it；
approached Akinosuke； bowed to him profoundly； and then said：
〃Honored Sir； you see before you a kerai ＇vassal＇ of the Kokuo of Tokoyo。
＇1＇ My master； the King； commands me to greet you in his august name； and
to place myself wholly at your disposal。 He also bids me inform you that he
augustly desires your presence at the palace。 Be therefore pleased
immediately to enter this honorable carriage； which he has sent for your
conveyance。〃
Upon hearing these words Akinosuke wanted to make some fitting reply； but
he was too much astonished and embarrassed for speech； and in the same
moment his will seemed to melt away from him； so that he could only do as
the kerai bade him。 He entered the carriage； the kerai took a place beside
him； and made a signal； the drawers； seizing the silken ropes； turned the
great vehicle southward； and the journey began。
In a very short time； to Akinosuke's amazement； the carriage stopped in
front of a huge two…storied gateway （romon）； of a Chinese style； which he
had never before seen。 Here the kerai dismounted； saying； 〃I go to
announced the honorable arrival；〃 and he disappeared。 After some little
waiting； Akinosuke saw two noble…looking men； wearing robes of purple silk
and high caps of the form indicating lofty rank； come from the gateway。
These； after having respectfully saluted him； helped him to descend from
the carriage； and led him through the great gate and across a vast garden；
to the entrance of a palace whose front appeared to extend； west and east；
to a distance of miles。 Akinosuke was then shown into a reception…room of
wonderful size and splendor。 His guides conducted him to the place of
honor； and respectfully seated themselves apart； while serving…maids； in
costume of ceremony； brought refreshments。 When Akinosuke had partaken of
the refreshments； the two purple…robed attendants bowed low before him； and
addressed him in the following words； each speaking alternately；
according to the etiquette of courts：
〃It is now our honorable duty to inform you。。。 as to the reason of your
having been summoned hither。。。 Our master； the King； augustly desires that
you become his son…in…law；。。。 and it is his wish and command that you shall
wed this very day。。。 the August Princess； his maiden…daughter。。。 We shall
soon conduct you to the presence…chamber。。。 where His Augustness even now
is waiting to receive you。。。 But it will be necessary that we first invest
you。。。 with the appropriate garments of ceremony。〃 ＇2＇
Having thus spoken； the attendants rose together； and proceeded to an
alcove containing a great chest of gold lacquer。 They opened the chest； and
took from it various roes and girdles of rich material； and a kamuri； or
regal headdress。 With these they attired Akinosuke as befitted a princely
bridegroom； and he was then conducted to the presence…room； where he saw
the Kokuo of Tokoyo seated upon the daiza； ＇3＇ wearing a high black cap of
state； and robed in robes of yellow silk。 Before the daiza； to left and
right； a multitude of dignitaries sat in rank； motionless and splendid as
images in a temple； and Akinosuke； advancing into their midst； saluted the
king with the triple prostration of usage。 The king greeted him with
gracious words； and then said：
〃You have already been informed as to the reason of your having been
summoned to Our presence。 We have decided that you shall become the adopted
husband of Our only daughter； and the wedding ceremony shall now be
performed。〃
As the king finished speaking； a sound of joyful music was heard； and a
long train of beautiful court ladies advanced from behind a curtain to
conduct Akinosuke to the room in which he bride awaited him。
The room was immense； but it could scarcely contain the multitude of
guests assembled to witness the wedding ceremony。 All bowed down before
Akinosuke as he took his place； facing the King's daughter； on the
kneeling…cushion prepared for him。 As a maiden of heaven the bride appeared
to be； and her robes were beautiful as a summer sky。 And the marriage was
performed amid great rejoicing。
Afterwards the pair were conducted to a suite of apartments that had been
prepared for them in another portion of the palace； and there they received
the congratulations of many noble persons； and wedding gifts beyond
counting。
Some days later Akinosuke was again summoned to the throne…room。 On this
occasion he was received even more graciously than before； and the King
said to him：
In the southwestern part of Our dominion there is an island called Raishu。
We have now appointed you Governor of that island。 You will find the people
loyal and docile； but their laws have not yet been brought into proper
accord with the laws of Tokoyo； and their customs have not been properly
regulated。 We entrust you with the duty of improving their social condition
as far as may be possible； and We desire that you shall rule them with
kindness and wisdom。 All preparations necessary for your journey to Raishu
have already been made。〃
So Akinosuke and his bride departed from the palace of Tokoyo； accompanied
to the shore by a great escort of nobles and officials； and they embarked
upon a ship of state provided by the king。 And with favoring winds they
safety sailed to Raishu； and found the good people of that island assembled
upon the beach to welcome them。
Akinosuke entered at once upon his new duties； and they did not prove to
be hard。 During the first three years of his governorship he was occupied
chiefly with the framing and the enactment of laws； but he had wise
counselors to help him； and he never found the work unpleasant。 When it was
all finished； he had no active duties to perform； beyond attending the
rites and ceremonies ordained by ancient custom。 The country was so healthy
and so fertile that sickness and want were unknown； and the people were so
good that no laws were ever broken。 And Akinosuke dwelt and ruled in Raishu
for twenty years more； making in all twenty…three years of sojourn；
during which no shadow of sorrow traversed his life。
But in the twenty…fourth year of his governorship； a great misfortune came
upon him； for his wife； who had borne him seven children； five boys and
two girls； fell sick and died。 She was buried； with high pomp； on the
summit of a beautiful hill in the district of Hanryoko； and a monument；
exceedingly splendid； was placed upon her grave。 But Akinosuke felt such
grief at her death that he no longer ca