(XIV. 10.) hand in hand with her, he entered the hinder palace, where he addressed the Empress Dowager, saying:—"In to-day's hunt we took many birds and beasts. We wished along with the Ministers to cut up the fresh meat and to have a banquet on the moor. But having proposed this to them, not one of them gave us an answer. Therefore did We get angry." The Empress Dowager, knowing the feeling which dictated these words of the Emperor, mollified him, saying:—"The Ministers did not understand that your Majesty, in connection with the sport on the hunting-field, was establishing a Fleshers' Be, and therefore did condescend to ask their opinion, so that their silence was reasonable, and it was hard for them to reply. But even now it is not too late to offer them.[1] I will make a beginning with myself. My steward Nagano is good at making mince meat.[2] I beg permission to present him to thee." The Emperor knelt down and accepted him, saying:—"It is good." This is what the rustic means when he says:—"The nobles understand each other's hearts." The Empress Dowager saw the Emperor's gratification, and pleasure filled her bosom. She further wished to offer men, and said:—"There are my two scullions, Masakida and Takame,[3] of the Mito Be of Uda. I beg leave to add these two men to the others to form a Fleshers' Be." From this time forward Akoko no Sukune, the Miyakko of the province of Yamato, sends some of the (XIV. 11.) Kotori Wake of Saho to form the Fleshers' Be. The Omi, the Muraji, the Tomo no Miyakko, and the Kuni no Miyakko also, following (the Empress's example), presented some, one after another.
In this month the Fumubito[4] Be, and the Toneri[5] Be of Kahakami, were instituted.
The Emperor, taking his heart for guide, wrongfully slew many men. The Empire censured him, and called him "The greatly wicked Emperor." The only persons who loved him
- ↑ Men to serve as fleshers.
- ↑ It must be remembered that the Japanese having no table-knives, all flesh is cut up small before it is served.
- ↑ A curious name! It means "High Heaven." Uda is the name of a Kōri of Yamato. There is a village there called Mitobe, which means Imperial House Be. It probably was an appanage of the Empress.
- ↑ Scribes.
- ↑ Palace attendants.
