25. Birth of Prince Homu-chi-wake and Death of the Conspirators

1At this time the Empress was pregnant. Thereupon the Heavenly Sovereign could not restrain [his pity for] the Empress, who was pregnant and whom he had loved for now three years. So he turned his army aside, and did not hasten the attack. During this delay, the august child that she had conceived was born. So having put out the august child and set it outside the rice-castle, she caused [these words] to be said to the Heavenly Sovereign: “If this august child be considered to be the Heavenly Sovereign’s august child, let him deign to undertake it.” Hereupon the Heavenly Sovereign said: “Although detesting the elder brother, I yet cannot repress my love for the Empress,” and forthwith planned to secure the Empress. Wherefore, choosing from among his warriors a band of the strongest and deftest, he charged [them, saying]: “When ye take the august child, likewise abduct the queen its mother. Whether by the hair or by the hands, or wherever ye may best lay hold of her, clutch her and drag her out.” Then the Empress, knowing his intention beforehand, shaved off all her hair and covered her head with the hair, and likewise made her jewel-string rotten and wound it thrice round her arm, and moreover made her august garments rotten by means of rice-liquor and put on the garments as if they were whole. Having made these preparations, she took the august child in her arms and pushed it outside the castle. Then the strong men, taking the august child, forthwith clutched at the august parent. Then, on their clutching her august hair, the august hair fell off of itself; on their clutching her august arms, the jewel-string likewise snapped; on their clutching her august garments, the august garments at once tore. Therefore they obtained the august child, but did not get the august parent. So the warriors came back [to the Sovereign], and reported, saying: “On account of her august hair falling off of itself, of her august garments easily tearing, and moreover of the jewel-string which was wound round her august hand at once snapping, we have not got the august parent; but we have obtained the august child.” Then the Heavenly Sovereign, sorry and angry, hated the people who made the jewels, and deprived them all of their lands. So the proverb says: “Landless jewel-makers.” Again did the the Heavenly Sovereign cause the Empress to be told, saying: “A child’s name must be given by the mother: by what august name shall this child be called?” Then she replied, saying: “As he was born now at the time of the castle being burnt with fire and in the midst of the fire, it were proper to call him by the august name of Prince Homu-chi-wake.” And again he caused her to be asked: “How shall he be reared?” She replied, saying. “He must be reared by taking an august mother and fixing on old bathing-women and young bathing-women.” So he was respectfully reared in accordance with the Empress’s instructions. Again he asked the Empress, saying: “Who shall loosen the fresh small pendant which thou didst make fast?” She replied, saying: “It were proper that Ye-hime and Oto-bime, daughters of King Tatasu-michi-no-ushi prince of Taniha, should serve thee, for these two queens are of unsullied parentage.” So at last [the Heavenly Sovereign] slew King Saho-biko, and his younger sister followed him.

2Wagimoko ga Yuhiteshi himo wo Tokame ya mo: Toyeba tayu to mo Tada ni afu made ni. Una-bara wo Tohoku watarite Toshi fu to mo: Ko-ra ga musuberu Himo toku na yume.

3Tanigaha Shisei also appropriately quotes the following:

4Futari shite Musubishi himo wo Hitori shite Ware ha toki-mizhi Tada ni afu made ha,

5A literal rendering of which would run thus: “I will not, till we meet face to face, loosen alone the girdle which we two tied together.”