26. He Slays King Oho-kusaka

1The august child Anaho dwelt at the palace of Anaho at Isonokami, and ruled the Empire. The Heavenly Sovereign sent the Grandee of Ne, ancestor of the Grandees of Sakamoto, to the residence of King Oho-kusaka, on behalf of his younger brother Prince Oho-hatsuse to command thus: “I wish Thine Augustness’s younger sister Queen Waka-kusaka to wed Prince Oho-hatsuse. So do thou present her.” Then King Oho-kusaka did obeisance four times, and said: “Owing to a supposition that there might be some such Great Commands, I have kept her always indoors. With reverence will I respectfully offer her according to the Great Commands.” Nevertheless, thinking it disrespectful [merely] to send a message, he forthwith, as a ceremonial gift from his younger sister, made [the Grandee of Ne] take a push-wood jewel headdress to present [to the Heavenly Sovereign]. The Grandee of Ne forthwith stole the jewel headdress meant as a ceremonial gift, and slandered King Oho-kusaka, saying: “King Oho-kusaka would not receive the Imperial Commands, but said: ‘An soror mea fiet eædem stirpis [viri] inferior storea?’ and, grasping the hilt of his cross-sword, was angry.” So the Heavenly Sovereign, having in his great anger slain King Oho-kusaka, took that King’s chief wife Nagata-no-oho-iratsume, and made her Empress.