8. Death of King Hayabusa-wake and Queen Medori

1Again the Heavenly Sovereign begged for his younger half-sister Queen Medori, using as middle-man his younger brother King Hayabusa-wake. Then Queen Medori spoke to King Hayabusa-wake, saying: “Owing to the violence of the Empress, [the Heavenly Sovereign] has not deigned to take Yata-no-waki-iratsume [into the Palace]. So I will not respectfully serve him. I will become the wife of Thine Augustness.” Forthwith they wedded each other, wherefore King Hayabusa-wake made no report [to the Heavenly Sovereign]. Then the Heavenly Sovereign, going straight to the place where Queen Medori dwelt, stood on the door-sill of the palace. Hereupon, Queen Medori being at her loom, was weaving garments. Then the Heavenly Sovereign sang, saying:

2“Oh! for whom may be the garments that my Great Lady Medori weaves?”

3“For an august veil for the high-going Falcon-Lord.”

4So the Heavenly Sovereign, perceiving her feelings, returned into the palace. At this time when her husband King Hayabusa-wake came, his wife Queen Medori sang, saying:

5“The lark flies to heaven. Oh! high-going Falcon-Lord, catch the wren.”

6The Heavenly Sovereign, hearing this Song, forthwith raised an army, wishing to slay King Hayabusa and Queen Medori, who then fled away together, and ascended Mount Kurahashi. Thereupon King Hayabusa-wake sang, saying:

7“Owing to the steepness of ladder-like Mount Kurahashi, being unable to clamber [up] the rocks, oh! she takes my hand!”

8“Though ladder-like Mount Kurahashi be steep, it is not steep when I ascend it with my younger sister.”

9So when they fled thence, and reached Soni in Uda, the Imperial army pursued, overtook, and slew them.