about the neighbourhood, waiting for the day of the rejoicing. Then when the day of the rejoicing came, having combed down after the manner of girls his august hair which was bound up,[1] and having put on his aunt’s august [upper] garment and august skirt, he looked quite like a young girl, and, standing amidst the women,[2] went inside the cave. Then the elder brother and the younger brother, the two Kumaso bravoes, delighted at the sight of the maiden, set her between them, and rejoiced exuberantly. So, when [the feast was] at its height, [His Augustness Wo-usu,] drawing the sabre from his bosom, and catching Kumaso[3] by the collar of his garment, thrust the sabre through his chest, whereupon, alarmed at the sight, the younger bravo ran out. But pursuing after and reaching him at the bottom of the steps[4] of the cave, and catching him by the back,[5] [Prince Wo-usu] thrust the sabre through his buttock. Then the Kumaso bravo spoke, saying: “Do not move the sword; I[6] have something to say.” Then [His Augustness Wo-usu], respited him for a moment, holding him down [as he lay] prostrate. Hereupon [the bravo] said: “Who is Thine Augustness?” Then he said: “I am the august child of Oho-tarashi-hiko-oshiro-wake, the Heavenly Sovereign who, dwelling in the palace of Hishiro at Makimuku, rules the Land of the Eight Great Islands; and my name is King Yamato-wo-guna. Hearing that you two [fellows[7]], the Kumaso bravoes, were unsubmissive and disrespectful, [the Heavenly Sovereign] sent me with the command to take and slay you.” Then the Kumaso bravo said: “That must be true. There are no persons
- ↑ The parallel passage of the “Chronicles” puts the same meaning into plainer words. It says: “He undid his hair, and made it appear like a girl’s.”
- ↑ Or, according to the old reading, “mixing with the concubines.”
- ↑ I.e., the elder bravo of Kumaso.
- ↑ The word rendered “steps” is of doubtful interpretation.
- ↑ Or perhaps “the skin of his back” or “the [beast’s?] skin on his back.” But Motowori is probably right in supposing the character 皮, “skin” to be an error for 以, “with,” to be construed with the word “sabre.” (In the English idiom this Particle falls away.)
- ↑ Written with the humble character 僕, “servant.”
- ↑ The contemptous Second Personal Pronoun ore is used here and in the next clause.
