Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
that 1 obtained leave to have copies taken

that l obtained leave to have copies taken
of them.
The first is the receipt given by the re-
tanners of Kotsuke no Suke's son in re-
turn for the head of their lords father,
which the priests restored to the family,
and runs follows:
Memorandum:
Item. One head.
Item. One paper parcel.
The above articles are acknowledged to
have been received.
"SA ,sA MAGoBEI, doc. sigtll)
"SAITO KUNAI, doc. sigill)
ITO the priests deputed from the Temple
Sengakuj,
His Reverence SEKISHI.
His Reverence ICHIDON.'
The second paper is a document explana-
tory of their conduct, copy of which was
found on the person of each of the forty
seven men.
Last year, in the third month, Asano
Takumi no Kami, upon the occasion of the
entertainment of the imperial ambassador,
was driven, by the force of circumstances,
to attack and wound my Lord kotsuke no
Suke in the castle. in order to avenge an
insult offered to him. Having done this
without considering the dignity of the
place. and having thus disregarded all rules
of propriety, he was condemned to hara
kiri, and his property and castle of Ako
were forfeited to the state, and were de-
livered up by his retainers to the officers
deputed by the Shotgun to receive them.
"A
At the time of the quarrel the high Off
Gals present prevented Asano Takumi no
kami from carrying out his intention OF
killing his enemy, my Lord kotsuke no
Suke. So ASano Takumi no kani died
without having avenged himself, and this
was more than his retainers could endure.
1t is impossible to remain under the same
heaven with the enemy of lord or father;
for this reason We have dared to declare
enmity against a parsonage OF so exalted
rank.
This day we shall attack Kira Kotsuke
no Suke in order to finish the deed of
lord. If any honorable person should find
our bodies after death. he is respectfully
requested to open and read this document
18th year of Genroku. 10Th month.
"(Signed) OISHI KURANOSUKE,
Retainer of Asano Takumi no kami, and
forty-seven Others"
The third manuscript is a paper which
the forty-seven Ronins laid upon the tomb
of their master together with the head of
Kira Kotsuke no Suke:
THE 18th year of Genroku, the 18th
month. and 18th day. We have come this
day to do homage here, forty-seven men
in all, from Oishi Kuranosuke down to the
foot soldier, Terasaka Kichiyemon, all
cheerfully about to lay down our lives on
your behalf. We reverently announce this
to the honored spirit of our dead master.
On the 14th day of the third month of last
year our honored master was pleased to at
tack kira Kotsuke no Suke, for what rea-
son we know not. Our honored master put
an end to his own life, but Kira Kotsuke
no Suke lived.
Although we fear that after the decree
issued by the government this plot of ours
will be displeasing to our honored master,
still we, who have eaten of your food, could
not without blushing repeat the verse.
Thou shalt not live under the same
heaven nor tread the same earth with the
enemy of the father or lord nor could We
have dared to leave hell and present our
selves before you in paradise, unless We
had carried out the vengeance which you
began. Every day that We waited seemed
as three autumns to us. Verify, we have
trodden the snow for one day, nay, for two
days. and have tasted food but once. The
old and decrepit, the sick and ailing, have
come forth gladly to lay down their lives.
Men might laugh at us, as at grass