Matsuo, The Pine Tree

The Portrait of a Lady

Matsuo, The Pine Tree written by Ernest Abell Dale

Golf Abounding

The Canadian Forum, January 1921, p. 114

'The plum-tree follows me through the air,

Withered and dried is the cherry-tree.

Should then the pine-tree so lofty and fair

Alone be heartless and faithless to me?'

When Sugawara, the great Chancellor, was overthrown, many men believed that his little son, Kwan Shusai, had died with the rest. But Matsuo knew and Ganzo. Matsuo served Tokihira that had overthrown his lord Sugawara, and Ganzo, a samurai, taught children their letters in a little village and reared Shusai as his own son. But tidings came to the court that the child was there, and Tokihira bade Matsuo go with Gembah, the Chamberlain, to bring Shusai's head as he knew well the face of the boy. Now Matsuo had not lived easily the life of dishonour, and begged for feigned

[p.115]

MATSUO AND CHIO
Drawing by Arthur Lismer,

[p.116] sickness to leave the court; but the tidings came of Shusai, and the command was upon him. This service, the last, he must do. To his own house he hurried before the day of departure, and in bitter agony wept that he had not died with his old lord, Sugawara; and Chio, his wife, was cut afresh to the heart at his dishonour. And Matsuo said: "It is too late to warn Ganzo; he is caught, and we are caught too; the young Shusai he loves as if he were indeed his own son, nay more, if his own son lived he would give him up for Shusai". Matsuo's son Kotaro cried aloud in his play, and Matsuo suddenly said: "Wife, we will give our son; Ganzo will look, I know it well, for some boy to put in Kwan Shusai's place. What peasant head will serve for Shusai?" And Matsuo and Chio gave up their son, and Kotaro, though he was but of eight years, went off with his mother on the morrow to die for his young lord.

For that day there was a feast at the house of the Headman of the village where Ganzo lived, and Ganzo was bidden. Matsuo came with Gembah from the Court. And when Ganzo greeted Gembah, the Chancellor's Chamberlain, with the due respect, Gembah cried scornfully: "Ah! Ganzo, we know thy secret; I shall come this day with a hundred men for the head of the boy thou sayest is thy son!" Ganzo smothered his rage and smiled as if Gembah had jested in ill humour, and careful not to seem anxious, after some time he said his farewells and went on his way. "Alas!" said he within himself, "all is lost; I cannot take him from the country now; there is no time". Then in his musing a thought came to him: "I will get another head and give it for Shusai's. Matsuo will not dare to refuse it; Sugawara is dead, but Matsuo dare not. And if he does, he shall die in my house".

Now, while Ganzo was on his way home, Tonarmi, his wife, awaited him, happily and anxiously — anxious, though she knew not what was to come, because she feared for Ganzo and for the young prince Shusai, and Ganzo led a quiet life now, never stirring from home; happy she was because a noble mother had brought her son to be a pupil in the school, a fine little samurai's son, and she thought how happy Ganzo would be to have a companion for the son of Sugawara. And Ganzo came with long sad steps near his home, so unlike himself that Tonarmi started. His gaze was fixed and he muttered. He cast his eyes on his pupils and groaned in despair as he thought, "Even if Matsuo sware to it, Gembah would not take one of these heads". Tonarmi's heart sank within her, but she sought for the while to engage her lord in talk, and she called Kotaro, the new pupil. And Kotaro bowed his obeisance to his master and vowed his fealty. Now did Ganzo's eye glisten and he smiled and said: "You are a fine noble boy, Kotaro", and to his pupils, "It is a hoHday this afternoon; play quietly in the inner room". And the children went thither happy, and among them was Shusai with his new companion.

Then did Ganzo make known to his wife what had passed, and how now he must kill the new pupil in Shusai's stead and seek to escape with his young lord. "Matsuo dare not betray us, and the boys are enough alike. And the boy's mother, if she comes too soon, we cannot help it — she must die too". Even as they were thus speaking they heard a hubbub of many voices coming nearer, for strange tales were abroad in the village, and when Gembah came with his men the folk thronged around him as near as they durst, crying for their sons. But Gembah made their cries mute when he entered into the house with Matsuo, and each peasant boy in his turn Matsuo looked at, yea and Gembah too, and sent them off with a cursing. Then Gembah bade Ganzo bring the head without delay, and Matsuo, looking earnestly at Ganzo as he would speak to his very heart, said: "Beware thou put not another head for the true one!" Thus was Matsuo faithful, but Ganzo understood not his secret intent, and in great wrath went into the inner room. And while the schoolmaster slew Kotaro his little pupil, the mother Chio came, for she could not stay longer away, and she clung to Matsuo her lord's arm. And Tonarmi looked at Chio but Gembah heeded not the women but looked only for the head. Then at length Ganzo brought in a basket and laid it at Matsuo's feet, and put his hand upon his sword hilt, but Matsuo, feigning that his sickness alone lay heavy on him, opened the basket and said: "I swear this is the head of Shusai". Nor did Chio betray that this was her son's head, and Gembah took it and gave the Chancellor's pardon to Ganzo, the caitiff slayer of his dead lord's son, for such did Gembah think Ganzo then, and bade Matsuo come to the court with his company. But Matsuo asked instead release from knightly service with Tokihira, "as now", said he, "my sickness is grown greater than I thought it had been".

Then did Gembah depart, and Ganzo learned whose son he had slain and mourned with Matsuo and Chio; he told how nobly the child died, and Tonarmi said: "Aye, in his oath to his master he sware to be faithful, true and obedient". Then Matsuo and his wife uncovered their white robes of sorrow, and did homage to the spirit of Kotaro, and Ganzo made speed to the frontier with Kwan Shusai, the son of Sugawara.

E. A. Dale.