65. The Emperor Intoxicated

1Again there came over [to Japan] the ancestor of the Hada Rulers, the ancestor of the Aya Suzerains, and likewise a man who knew how to distill liquor, and whose name was Nim-pan, while another name for him was Susukori. So this [man] Susukori distilled some great august liquor, and presented it to the Heavenly Sovereign, who, excited with the great august liquor that had been presented to him, augustly sang, saying:

2“I have become intoxicated with the august liquor distilled by Susukori. I have become intoxicated with the soothing liquor, with the smiling liquor.”

3On his walking out singing thus, he hit with his august staff a large stone in the middle of the Ohosaka road, upon which the stone ran away. So the proverb says: “Hard stones get out of a drunkard’s way.”