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I bought a copy of the ballad, which was about a recent double suicide: "The sorrowful ditty of Tamayone and Takejiro, composed by Tabenaka Yone of Number Fourteen of the Fourth Ward of Nippon-bashi in the South District of the City of Osaka." It had evidently been printed from a wooden block; and there were two little pictures. One showed a girl and boy sorrowing together.
"In the First Ward of Nichi-Hommachi, in far-famed Osaka O the sorrow of this tale of shinju! "Tamayone, aged nineteen, to see her was to love her, for Takejiro, the young workman. "For the time of two lives they exchange mutual vows O the sorrow of loving a courtesan! "On their arms they tattoo a Raindragon, and the character 'Bamboo' thinking never of the troubles of life....
"But he cannot pay the fifty-five yen for her freedom O the anguish of Takejiro's heart! "Both then vow to pass away together, since never in this world can they become husband and wife.... "Trusting to her comrades for incense and for flowers O the pity of their passing like the dew! "Tamayone takes the wine-cup filled with water only, in which those about to die pledge each other....