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a native of Echizen （2）； but at an early age he had been taken； as page；
into the palace of the daimyo of Noto； and had been educated； under the
supervision of that prince； for the profession of arms。 As he grew up； he
proved himself both a good scholar and a good soldier； and continued to
enjoy the favor of his prince。 Being gifted with an amiable character； a
winning address； and a very handsome person； he was admired and much liked
by his samurai…comrades。
When Tomotada was about twenty years old； he was sent upon a private
mission to Hosokawa Masamoto； the great daimyo of Kyoto； a kinsman of
Hatakeyama Yoshimune。 Having been ordered to journey through Echizen； the
youth requested and obtained permission to pay a visit； on the way； to his
widowed mother。
It was the coldest period of the year when he started； and； though mounted
upon a powerful horse； he found himself obliged to proceed slowly。 The road
which he followed passed through a mountain…district where the settlements
were few and far between； and on the second day of his journey； after a
weary ride of hours； he was dismayed to find that he could not reached his
intended halting…place until late in the night。 He had reason to be
anxious； for a heavy snowstorm came on； with an intensely cold wind； and
the horse showed signs of exhaustion。 But in that trying moment； Tomotada
unexpectedly perceived the thatched room of a cottage on the summit of a
near hill； where willow…trees were growing。 With difficulty he urged his
tired animal to the dwelling； and he loudly knocked upon the storm…doors；
which had been closed against the wind。 An old woman opened them； and cried
out compassionately at the sight of the handsome stranger： 〃Ah； how
pitiful！ a young gentleman traveling alone in such weather！。。。 Deign；
young master； to enter。〃
Tomotada dismounted； and after leading his horse to a shed in the rear；
entered the cottage； where he saw an old man and a girl warming themselves
by a fire of bamboo splints。 They respectfully invited him to approach the
fire； and the old folks then proceeded to warm some rice…wine； and to
prepare food for the traveler； whom they ventured to question in regard to
his journey。 Meanwhile the young girl disappeared behind a screen。 Tomotada
had observed； with astonishment； that she was extremely beautiful； though
her attire was of the most wretched kind； and her long； loose hair in
disorder。 He wondered that so handsome a girl should be living in such a
miserable and lonesome place。
The old man said to him：
〃Honored Sir； the next village is far； and the snow is falling thickly。
The wind is piercing； and the road is very bad。 Therefore； to proceed
further this night would probably be dangerous。 Although this hovel is
unworthy of your presence； and although we have not any comfort to offer；
perhaps it were safer to remain to…night under this miserable roof。。。 We
would take good care of your horse。〃
Tomotada accepted this humble proposal； secretly glad of the chance
thus afforded him to see more of the young girl。 Presently a coarse but
ample meal was set before him； and the girl came from behind the screen； to
serve the wine。 She was now reclad； in a rough but cleanly robe of
homespun； and her long； loose hair had been neatly combed and smoothed。 As
she bent forward to fill his cup； Tomotada was amazed to perceive that she
was incomparably more beautiful than any woman whom he had ever before
seen； and there was a grace about her every motion that astonished him。 But
the elders began to apologize for her； saying： 〃Sir； our daughter； Aoyagi；
＇1＇ has been brought up here in the mountains； almost alone； and she knows
nothing of gentle service。 We pray that you will pardon her stupidity and
her ignorance。〃 Tomotada protested that he deemed himself lucky to be
waited upon by so comely a maiden。 He could not turn his eyes away from her
though he saw that his admiring gaze made her blush； and he left the
wine and food untasted before him。 The mother said： 〃Kind Sir； we very much
hope that you will try to eat and to drink a little； though our
peasant…fare is of the worst； as you must have been chilled by that
piercing wind。〃 Then； to please the old folks； Tomotada ate and drank as he
could； but the charm of the blushing girl still grew upon him。 He talked
with her； and found that her speech was sweet as her face。 Brought up in
the mountains as she might have been； but； in that case； her parents must
at some time been persons of high degree； for she spoke and moved like a
damsel of rank。 Suddenly he addressed her with a poem which was also a
question inspired by the delight in his heart：
〃Tadzunetsuru；
Hana ka tote koso；
Hi wo kurase；
Akenu ni otoru
Akane sasuran？〃
＇〃Being on my way to pay a visit； I found that which I took to be a
flower： therefore here I spend the day。。。 Why； in the time before dawn； the
dawn…blush tint should glow that； indeed； I know not。〃＇ ＇2＇
Without a moment's hesitation； she answered him in these verses：
〃Izuru hi no
Honomeku iro wo
Waga sode ni
Tsutsumaba asu mo
Kimiya tomaran。〃
＇If with my sleeve I hid the faint fair color of the dawning sun； then；
perhaps； in the morning my lord will remain。〃＇ ＇3＇
Then Tomotada knew that she accepted his admiration； and he was scarcely
less surprised by the art with which she had uttered her feelings in verse；
than delighted by the assurance which the verses conveyed。 He was now
certain that in all this world he could not hope to meet； much less to win；
a girl more beautiful and witty than this rustic maid before him； and a
voice in his heart seemed to cry out urgently； 〃Take the luck that the gods
have put in your way！〃 In short he was bewitched bewitched to such a
degree that； without further preliminary； he asked the old people to give
him their daughter in marriage； telling them； at the same time； his name
and lineage； and his rank in the train of the Lord of Noto。
They bowed down before him； with many exclamations of grateful
astonishment。 But； after some moments of apparent hesitation； the father
replied：
〃Honored master； you are a person of high position； and likely to rise to
still higher things。 Too great is the favor that you deign to offer us；
indeed； the depth of our gratitude therefor is not to be spoken or
measured。 But this girl of ours； being a stupid country…girl of vulgar
birth； with no training or teaching of any sort； it would be improper to
let her become the wife of a noble samurai。 Even to speak of such a matter
is not right。。。 But； since you find the girl to your liking； and have
condescended to pardon her peasant…manners and to overlook her great
rudeness； we do gladly present her to you； for an humble handmaid。 Deign；
therefore； to act hereafter in her regard according to your august
pleasure。〃
Ere morning the storm had