新渡戸稲造「武士道」 NITOBE INAZO'S "BUSHIDO"

新渡戸稲造「武士道」

 

涙なしに読めない３兄弟の切腹

 

今新渡戸稲造著『武士道』を読んでいるが、第１２章「自害と敵討ち」の中の切腹に関するページを読んで涙が出た。24歳、１７歳、8歳の三人兄弟が切腹する場面である。なんという兄弟愛、なんというあっぱれな切腹。なんという涙を誘う切腹であろうか。

『武士道』樋口謙一郎、国分舞訳より引用
「最期の時を迎え、三人が一列に着席したとき、左近は末なる弟に向かい「八麿よりまづ腹切られい。切り損じなきよう見届けてくれよう」といった。幼い弟は答えて、いまだ「切腹」を見たことがないので、兄たちの作法を見て、その後につづきたい、と申し述べた。二人の兄は涙ながらに微笑んで「よくぞ申した。それでこそ我らが父のこなるぞ」といった。そこで二人の間に末弟八麿を座らせ、左近は自分の腹の左側に短刀を突き刺していった。「見よや八麿、会得せしか。あまりに深く掻くべからず。仰向けにたおれるがゆえに。前に術伏せ、膝を崩すべからず」　内記も同様に腹に刃を突き刺しながら言った。「目を刮っと開けよや。さもなくば女の死顔に似たるそ。切尖が腸に触るとも、力たわむとも、勇を鼓して引きまわせ」と。八麿は二人の兄を交互に見た。二人が果てると、八麿は静かに上体を露わにして、両側から教えられた範に従って従容として死に就いた」

NITOBE INAZO'S  "BUSHIDO"

You Can't Read Three Brothers' Seppuku Scene without Tears
 

　　　The following passage is a quote form "Bushido" written by Nitobe Inazo. 

 

"When they were all seated in a row for final despatch, Sakon turned to the youngest and said--'Go thou first, for I wish to be sure that thou doest it aright.' Upon the little one's replying that, as he had never seen seppuku performed, he would like to see his brothers do it and then he could follow them, the older bothers smiled between their tears:--'Well said, little fellow! So canst thou well boast of being our father's child.' When they had placed him between them, Sakon thrust the daggar into the left side of his abdomen and said--'Look brother! Dost understand now? Only, don't push the daggar too far, lest thou fall back. Lean forward, rather, and keep thy knees well composed.' Naiki did likewise and said to the boy--'Keep thine eyes open or else thou mayst look like a dying woman. If thy daggar feels anything within and thy strength fails, take courage and double thy effort to cut across.' The chlid looked from one to the other, and, when both had expired, he calmly half denuded himself and followed the example set him on either hand."