I pray thee let us both cut our bow-strings, fling away our weapons, and be in harmony together. Then mayest thou, my Lord the Prince, mount to the Heavenly office, and sit at peace, making high thy pillow, and wielding at thy will the ten thousand appliances."[1]
So he openly gave orders to his army that they should all cut their bow-strings, and ungirding their swords, fling them into the river-water. Prince Oshikuma believed these deluding words, and ordered all his troops to ungird their weapons and fling them into the water of the river, and also to cut their bow-strings. Upon this, Takechi no Sukune commanded the three divisions of his army to produce their spare bow-strings, and to string their bows again, and, girt with their real swords, to advance across the river. Prince Oshikuma, seeing that he had been deceived, spake to Kurami-wake and Isachi no Sukune, saying:—"We have been deceived, and have now no spare weapons. How shall we be able to fight?" So he withdrew his forces and gradually retreated. Then Takechi no Sukune sent forth his choice troops and pursued him, and having come up to him just at Afusaka, put him to the rout. Therefore that place was called Afusaka.[2] The army took to flight, and ran as far as Kurusu in Sasanami. Many were slain. (IX. 21.) Hereupon the blood overflowed into Kurusu. Therefore in horror of this, until this day, the fruit of Kurusu[3] is not offered to the Imperial Palace. Prince Oshikuma, not knowing whither to betake himself in his flight, called to him Isachi no Sukune and made a song, saying:—
Come! my child,
Isachi Sukune!
Rather than receive a severe wound
From the mallet[4]
Of Uchi no Aso,
Like unto the grebe
Let us make a plunge!
