WILLOW
GREEN
I
clouds of the
shone very sky,so that the moon forth,and by the sudden lightTomodata brightly his righthand. a littlehill on saw Upon the hill was
small thatched cottage,and before the cottage
a
three green
grew
weeping-willowtrees. indeed, the gods be thanked
Now, Tomodata, "
and
three willow
over
woman,
"I
I
am
a
a
lonelymoor.
myselfand As
My
and
out
old
a
"
she
benighted
is Tomodata*
in the service of the Lord
Show
of Noto,
hospitality
me
food and shelter
crave
horse.*'
my
stood man young from his garments.
put
and
name
the
streamed
night?
a
lost traveller,
weary
samurai
such
upon
upon whose business I ride. for the love of the gods. I for
an
wills he here ? *'
and what
your
upon
opened by
was
poorlybut neatlyclad.
rides abroad
am
their green threw his horse*s
one
the cottage door
very
asked,"
a
of them, and called for the longed-for shelter.
to
Who
"
of the cottage door, hole in the roof. The
Tomodata
of
branch
once
time.
no
swayedand flungout
trees
a
admittance At
of
out
hill in
said
chinks
in the wind.
streamers
rein
the
curled
the
climbed
from
Light shone and smoke
he
!**
hand
to
hold
speakingthe He
on
reeled
a
water
little,
of by the side-post
the door. "
Come
full of
woman,
fire. You fare
in,come
to
in,young
sir ! "
pity. "Come
very welcome. but it shall be offer, are
great good-will. As
to
in We set
cried the old
have but before you
your horse,I 3
the
to
see
warm coarse
with
you have