[Sect. C.—Emperor Chiū-ai (Part VI.—The Empress Jin-gō Subdues Yamato).]
Hereupon, when Her Augustness Princess Okinaga-tarashi was returning up to Yamato, she, owing to doubts concerning the disposition[1] of the people, prepared a mourning-vessel,[2] set the august child in that mourning-vessel, and let a report ooze out that the august child was already dead. While she went up thus, King Kagosaka and King Oshikuma,[3] having heard [of the circumstance], thought to waylay[4] her, went forth to the moor of Toga,[5] and hunted for an omen. Then King Kagosaka climbed up an oak-tree,[6] and then[7] a large and angry boar came forth, dug up the oak-tree, and forthwith devoured King Kagosaka. His younger brother, King Oshikuma, undaunted by this circumstance, raised an army and lay in wait [for the Empress], to close with the mourning-vessel as being an empty[8] vessel. Then an army was landed from the mourning-vessel,[9] and joined in combat [with the opposing forces]. At this time King Oshikuma made the Noble Isahi,[10] ancestor of the Kishi Clan of Naniha,[11] his generalis-
- ↑ Literally, “the hearts.”
- ↑ I.e., a boat or junk containing a coffin. We might also (adopting the interpretation given by the older editors to the character in this passage) translate by “specially prepared a mourning-vessel.”
- ↑ These two princes, who are first mentioned at the end of Sect. XCII (Notes 40 and 41), were, according to the story, elder sons of the late monarch Chiū-ai, and therefore step-sons of the Empress Jin-gō and half-brothers to the young Emperor Ō-jin.
- ↑ Literally, “wait for and catch.” This “catch” is always taken by Motowori to mean “slay.”
- ↑ Toga-nu. It was in the province of Settsu. The etymology of the name is obscure.
- ↑ The species mentioned in the text in the Quercus serrata.
- ↑ Motowori’s conjecture that the character 是, “then,” is a copyist’s error for 見, “saw” or “looked,” seems hardly called for, and the translator has therefore not departed from the traditional reading.
- ↑ I.e., defenceless, not filled with troops.
- ↑ Which of course was in reality no mourning-vessel, but full of the soldiers who had just returned from conquering Korea.
- ↑ Isahi no Sukune. Isahi or Isachi is supposed to mean “leading elder.”
- ↑ Naniha no Kishi-be. Naniha is the old name of the sea and river-shore on
