JAPANESE HOME LIFE. 9 



of the people that one can not well dissociate the one from the 

 other. The story of Kogo-no- Tsubone— properly an utai, or his- 

 torical poem — is a favorite on account of the sweet romance it 



contains. 



THE STORY OF KOGO-NO-TSUBONE\ 



Long, long years ago, before the Shoguns, that now sleep in 

 their ancient graves in Shiba, had gained power, and before the 

 advent of foreigners had been even dreamed of, the peace-loving 

 young Emperor Takakura, a monarch of the imperial line, graced 

 the sacred throne of his ancestors. 



But the imperial power of Takakura was but a nominal one, 

 for the prime minister — one Kiyomori, of Taira descent — virtually 

 ruled the land, and, to accomplish his ends more adroitly, had 

 even caused his daughter to be made empress. Thus the peace- 

 loving young monarch was a mere tool in the artful hands of Ki- 

 yomori. Indeed, his power was great, for the emperor could not 

 have declared war or made peace against Kiyomori's tyrant will. 



So, while the prime minister was scheming with his daughter 

 the empress, the young monarch was forced to seek consolation 

 in music and art, and found a willing and loving follower in one 

 of his retainers, Nakakuni, who himself was a most skilled per- 

 former on the flute. Now, it happened that among the royal mu- 

 sicians at the palace there was a lady in waiting to the royal 

 household who in music far outranked any other. Fair as a 

 dream, gifted with the sweetest of voices, Kogo — for this was her 

 name — was able to awaken music from her koto strings that 

 seemed to spring from the very soul of the instrument. None 

 but the tapering fingers of the fair Kogo could create such en- 

 trancing harmony, and it truly seemed as though the silken strings 

 would murmur a loving response to her gentle caress. 



Frequently the flutist Nakakuni would accompany Kogo's mu- 

 sic and song, while the young emperor would listen like one en- 

 tranced. These three passed many happy hours together ; but as 

 time wore on, the young monarch realized that sweet Kogo's mu- 

 sic and verse had awakened love. But, alas ! Kiyomori learned of 

 the emperor's infatuation, and poor Kogo was compelled to se- 

 cretly flee to the mountain forests of Saga in order to escape from 

 the relentless persecutions of Kiyomori and his daughter the em- 

 press. 



On learning of Kogo's flight from the palace, Takakura at once 

 ordered his faithful retainer Nakakuni to go in search of the miss- 

 ing maiden, and look far and wide, and not to return until he had 

 found her hiding place. The fleetest horse of the royal mews 

 was made ready, and Nakakuni, bearing with him a message from 

 the Emperor, was soon speeding toward the gloomy mountain of 

 Saga. 



