24. War Between Prince Karu and Prince Anaho

1Therefore all the officials and likewise the people of the Empire turned against the Heir Apparent Kara, and towards the August Child Anaho. Then the Heir Apparent Karu, being alarmed, fled into the house of the Grandee the Noble Oho-mahe Wo-mahe, and made a provision of implements of war. (The arrows made at this time were provided with copper arrow-insides; so those arrows are called by the name of Kara arrows.) Prince Anaho likewise made implements of war. (The arrows made by this Prince were just the arrows of the present time: they are called Anaho arrows.) Thereupon Anaho raised an army, and beleaguered the house of the Noble Oho-mahe Wo-mahe. Then, when be reached the gate, heavy ice-rain was falling. So he sang, saying:

2“Come thus under cover of the metal gate of the Noble Oho-mahe Wo-mahe! We will stand till the rain stops.”

3Then the Noble Oho-mahe Wo-mahe came singing, lifting his hands, striking his knees, dancing, and waving his arms. The Song said:

4“The courtiers are tumultuous, [saying] that the small bell of the garter of the courtiers has fallen off. Country-people, too, beware!”

5This Song is of a Courtier’s Style. Singing thus, he came near and said: “August Child of our Heavenly Sovereign! Come not with arms against the King thine elder brother. If thou shouldst come against him with arms, people will surely laugh. I will secure him and present him to thee.” Then Prince Anaho disbanded his troops and went away. So the Noble Oho-mahe Wo-mahe secured Prince Karu, and led him forth, and presented him [to Prince Anaho]. The captive Prince sang, saying:

6“Maiden of heaven-soaring Karu! if thou cry violently, people will know. Cry quietly like the doves on Mount Hasa.”

7“Maiden of heaven-soaring Karu! Come and sleep, and [then] pass on, oh maiden of Karu!”

8“As, if the maiden of heaven-soaring Karu cried violently, people would know, she cries quietly like the doves on Mount Hasa.”

9According to this reading, the poet simply explains the reason of the undemonstrativeness of his mistress’s grief; according to that in the text, he implores her not to weep too passionately.—Amadamu or amatobu ya, “heaven-soaring,” is the Pillow-Word for Karu, applied to it punningly on account of its similarity in sound to the word kari, “a wild-goose,” which well deserves the epithet “heaven-soaring.” Of Mount Hasa nothing is known.