Matsudaira Nobutsuna was one of the ministers of the Shogun Iyemitsu,
next to Iyeyasu, the ablest of all the Tokugawa Shoguns. A man of great
sagacity, he contributed not a little to Iyemitsu’s wise administration.
When Iyemitsu was a young boy named Takechiyo, Nobutsuna who was called
at that time Chōshirō served him as one of his attendants and playmates.
One morning when the young nobleman was passing along a corridor
accompanied by Chōshirō and two other boys, on the way to the private
apartments of his father, the Shogun Hidetada, his attention was caught
by some fledgling sparrows that were hopping about and chirping gaily
on the tiles of the roof. Takechiyo, then but ten years of age, was
seized with a fancy to have them; and turning to Chōshirō, three years
older than himself, he commanded:—
“Catch those little sparrows for me, Chōshirō.”
“With pleasure, your lordship; but should I be found catching sparrows
I should be reprimanded by his Highness and the officials. Fortunately
I shall be on duty to-night; so to-night I will climb out on to the
roof when there is no one to see me, and give you the little birds in
the morning. Will you please to wait till then, my master?”
“I suppose I must.” And the small company passed on.
* * * * *
That night when all was quiet, Chōshirō managed somehow or other to
get out on to the roof, and crawling carefully on all fours to the
spot where the parent birds had built their nest, reached out one hand
and seized one of the little sparrows. Poor little things! Surprised
in their sleep they were not able to escape. Transferring his captive
to the left hand Chōshirō again stretched out his right and caught
another. Whether the attainment of his purpose caused him to relax his
care or for some other reason, certain it is that at this moment his
foot slipped and with a heavy thud he fell down into the court-yard
below. As he fell he involuntarily clutched the birds more firmly so
that they were instantly squeezed to death. With the dead birds
in his hands, he fainted. But the roof was comparatively low, and he
also had the good fortune to fall on to some bushes so that he was not
killed as might have been the case.
The sound of the fall awoke the Shogun. He started up and followed by
his consort and some attendants went out on to the verandah and opening
a sliding shutter looked down. By the light of a lantern held by one
of the servants he perceived the boy lying on the ground just beneath.
Chōshirō had now recovered consciousness and was trying to rise though
the pain he felt all over his body rendered the operation one of
considerable difficulty. His consternation was great when the light of
the lantern revealed his person to those on the verandah.
“Chōshirō, is that you?” called his lord, recognizing the boy at once.
“It is strange that you should be on my roof at this time of night!
Come up instantly and explain your conduct. This must be inquired into.”
The boy, still holding the dead sparrows, obeyed. Prostrating himself
before the Shogun he waited for him to speak.
“What have you in your hands, Chōshirō?”
“Sparrows, my lord.”
“Sparrows? Do you then climb roofs at midnight to catch sparrows? A
strange fancy!”
“Yes, my lord. I will tell you the truth. When Takechiyo Sama and
I were passing along the corridor this morning his attention was
attracted by some little sparrows on the roof and we stopped to watch
them. Takechiyo Sama said ‘What dear little things they are!’ and the
desire then arose in my mind to get them for him that he might play
with them. So to-night when everyone was asleep I climbed out on to the
roof of your apartments in disregard to the respect I should have shown
to your august person, and caught two of the young sparrows. But how
quickly the punishment of Heaven followed my crime! I fell down as you
see and my wickedness was discovered. I am ready for any chastisement
your lordship sees fit to inflict.”
“My lord,” here broke in Lady Eyo, the Shogun’s consort. “Excuse my
interference, but I think Takechiyo must have ordered Chōshirō to catch
these sparrows. There is no doubt about it.”
It should be explained that Lady Eyo had two sons—Takechiyo and
Kunimatsu. Takechiyo, the elder, was sharp-witted and active though
rather rough in his manners; his brother, on the contrary, was
quiet and effeminate. For this and probably some other unknown reason
the younger son was his mother’s favourite, and it was her desire that
he should be appointed heir to the Shogunate in place of his elder
brother. She therefore lost no opportunity to disparage Takechiyo in
the estimation of his father, hoping thereby to attain her object in
due time.
“What a thoughtless boy Takechiyo is!” agreed the Shogun. “This was
undoubtedly done at his instigation. How cruel to command Chōshirō to
endanger his life by catching birds on a roof at night! Though he is
but a child there is no excuse for him. The proverb says ‘A snake bites
even when it is only an inch long.’ One who is so inconsiderate to his
attendants when young cannot be expected to govern wisely and well
when more power is invested in his hands. Now, Chōshirō,” turning to
the boy who still knelt at his feet, “Takechiyo ordered you to get the
sparrows; is it not so?”
Chōshirō had heard with surprise the unkind words of the Shogun and
his lady about his adored master. What did they mean by the words “A
snake bites even when it is only an inch long?” If their feelings
towards the boy were already so antagonistic what would they think and
do should the real facts of the case be disclosed? Chōshirō firmly
resolved to take all the blame even at the risk of his life.
“Oh, no, my lord,” said he earnestly. “Takechiyo Sama never gave me
such a command, never! I caught these sparrows quite of my own accord.
I meant one for Takechiyo Sama, and one for myself.”
[Illustration: “I caught these sparrows quite of my own accord”]
“Nonsense! Whatever you say I know Takechiyo is at the bottom of it.
You are a bold fellow to dare to tell me an untruth!... Let me see,
what shall I do to you?... Here, bring me one of those bags.”
The Shogun pointed to some large, strong leather bags, resembling
a money-pouch in shape, in which in the event of a fire or of an
earthquake his valuables would be incased before putting them into the
_dozō_ or fire-proof godown.