3 182202465 1721 s$J%*mf- m^W Jfe*'^^*^ *'* WWW;: -'W - Library

190 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
ancient, undivided and supreme power. How the
gorgeous splendor of the family, which in his eyes
oppressed and impoverished the country and insulted
the emperor, impressed Honda may be
gathered from a letter which he wrote to a friend
in Fukui, who was an artist, and politically
of
like mind with himself. We shall read his missive,
remembering that a Japanese begins at the begining,
without preface, and puts all address, date, and
signature at the end.
The weather is becoming very hot, the frequent showers
and great heat are making the farmers' fields bright and
green, and already the new rice is transplanted and is about
six inches high.
I trust you will be careful during this season of the
"great heat" not to over-study or expose yourself to the
sun.
I left Fukui suddenly without being able to say good-by,
and set out over the Eastern Sea Road, hoping to accomplish
my purpose against the hairy barbarians and defilers
of our land of the holy ones ;
but heaven has spread the net
of destiny against me, and held me for the present as helpless
as a fly in a spider's web. I wait my further opportunity,
for I hear that the barbarians' black ships are to return
again next year.
I trust you are keeping up your studies in history as well
as in fencing and riding. I shall never forget my last visit
to you when I found you in tears over your book. You
were weeping over the loss of the imperial power at the
hands of the Ashikaga usurpersr Yet the Son of Heaven,
our Mikado, suffered not only during the middle ages, but
even now is insulted and degraded by the treachery of
wicked rulers in Yedo. I think Rai " Sanyo's External
History" is a wonderful book and is steadily educating
the samurai of Japan to their duty.