128
“Ko-ji-ki,” or Records of Ancient Matters.
[Vol. XVII.
the august child,[1] a Song to be presented [to His Augustness Fire-Subside]. The Song said:
“As for red jewels, though even the string [they are strung on] shines, the aspect of [my] lord [who is] like unto white jewels is [more] illustrious.”[2]
Then her husband replied by a Song, which said:
“As for my younger sister, whom I took to sleep [with me] on the island where light the wild-duck, the birds of the offing, I shall not forget her till the end of my life.”[3]
So His Augustness-Prince-Great-Rice-ears-Lord-Ears[4] dwelt in the palace of Takachiho for five hundred and eighty years.[5] His august mausoleum[6] is likewise on the west of Mount Takachiho.
- ↑ I.e., of Jewel-Good-Princess nursing the child. The mother did not return to the upper world, and so sent this poetic message by her sister, who had consented to act as the child’s nurse.
- ↑ “The meaning of the Song,” says Motowori, “is this: ‘Although red jewels are so charming that the very string [whereon they are strung] doth shine, the august aspect of my lord, who is like unto white jewels, is still more lovely.’ Thus does she express her loving feelings.”—Moribe supposes the “red jewels” (or “jewel” in the Singular) to be meant for the child, than whom her husband is yet dearer to her heart. The word kimi, here etymologically rendered “[my] lord,” is commonly used in the sense of “thou,” especially in poetry.
- ↑ I.e., “I shall never forget thee who wast my wife in the realm of the Sea-God. The “birds of the offing” are a description of the wild duck, used as a Pillow-Word for their name. In the same manner the whole phrase, “where light the wild-duck, the birds of the offing,” may be taken simply as a “Preface” to the word “island.” The Sea-God’s dwelling is called an island, because it is beyond the sea. The words yo no koto-goto ni, here in deference to the views of the best commentators rendered by “till the end of my life,” will also bear the interpretation of “night by night.”
- ↑ The alternative name of the deity Fire-Subside.
- ↑ Probably the writer means us to understand that the total age reached by this deity was five hundred and eighty years. This is the first mention in these “Records” of anything approaching a date. The way in which it is recorded resembles that in which the chronicle of each Emperor’s reign is brought to a close in the later volumes of the work.
- ↑ The character 陵 might also be rendered by the simpler word “grave.” But
