human
Why do you wish to kill us? He who seemed to be the leader answered,
gpt
We do not wish to kill you; we want money only. But if we do not get it, then it will be this --striking his sword into the matting. The old mother said,
human
Be so kind as not to frighten my daughter-in-law, and I will give you whatever money there is in the house. But you ought to know there cannot be much, as my son has gone to Kyōto. She handed them the money-drawer and her own purse. There were, just twenty-seven yen and eighty-four sen. The head robber counted it, and said, quite gently,
gpt
We do not want to frighten you. We know you are a very devout believer in Buddhism, and we think you would not tell a lie. Is this all?
human
Yes, it is all, she answered.
gpt
I am, as you say, a believer in the teaching of the Buddha, and if you come to rob me now, I believe it is only because I myself, in some former life, once robbed you. This is my punishment for that fault, and so, instead of wishing to deceive you, I feel grateful at this opportunity to atone for the wrong which I did to you in my previous state of existence. The robber laughed, and said,
human
You are a good old woman, and we believe you. If you were poor, we would not rob you at all. Now we only want a couple of kimono and this, --laying his hand on a very fine silk overdress. The old woman replied,
gpt
All my son's kimono I can give you, but I beg you will not take that, for it does not belong to my son, and was confided to us only for dyeing. What is ours I can give, but I cannot give what belongs to another.
human
That is quite right, approved the robber,
gpt
You told us a lie,--so take that!