36. Yamato-take is Sent to Subdue the East, and Visits His Aunt at Ise

1Then the Heavenly Sovereign again urged a command on His Augustness Yamato-take, saying: “Subdue and pacify the savage Deities and likewise the unsubmissive people of the twelve roads of the East;” and when he sent him off, joining to him Prince Mi-suki-tomo-mimi-take, ancestor of the Grandees of Kibi, he bestowed on him a holly-wood spear eight fathoms [long]. So when he had received the [Imperial] commands and started off, he went into the temple of the Great August Deity of Ise, and worshipped the Deity’s court, forthwith speaking to his aunt, Her Augustness Yamato-hime, saying: “It must surely be that the Heavenly Sovereign thinks I may die quickly; for after sending me to smite the wicked people of the West, I am no sooner come up again [to the capital] than, without bestowing on me an army, he now sends me off afresh to pacify the wicked people of the twelve circuits of the East. Consequently I think that he certainly thinks I shall die quickly.” When he departed with lamentations and tears, Her Augustness Yamato-hime bestowed on him the “Herb-Quelling-Sabre,” and likewise bestowed on him an august bag, and said: “If there should be an emergency, open the mouth of the bag.”