Page:Nihongi by Aston.djvu/315

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284
Nihongi.

said:—"Thy handmaiden will end her years husbandless. How can she become my Lord's wife?" Now the Emperor, when he heard this, wished to accomplish Hayamachi's desires, so he sent Kugahime along with Hayamachi to Kuhada. But Kugahime straightway became ill and died on the journey. Therefore there is to this day the tomb of Kugahime.

A.D. 329. 17th year. Silla did not attend the Court with tribute.

Autumn, 9th month. Toda no Sukune, ancestor of the Omi of Ikuba, and Sakashi-nokori no Omi, ancestor of the Miyakko of Ohase, were sent to inquire the reason of the failure to send tribute. Hereupon the Silla people were afraid, and (XI. 16.) presented 1460 pieces of tribute, fine silks, and miscellaneous objects of all kinds—in all eighty ship-loads.

A.D. 334. 22nd year, Spring, 1st month. The Emperor addressed the Empress, saying:—"I have taken to me the Imperial Princess Yata, and am about to make her my concubine." But the Empress would not allow it. Hereupon the Emperor made a song, in which he besought the Empress, saying:—

As a means of raising up
Dear ones:
As a spare bowstring
To supply a vacancy
I would place (her) along with (thee).

The Empress made a song in reply, saying:—

In the case of garments
To double them is well,
But my Lord who would set in a row
The couches of night—
I wonder if he is wise.

The Emperor again made a song, saying:—

Like the shore of Narabi[1]
Of Cape Naniha
That projects (into the sea)
It must have been solely to be thy comrade
That that child came into being.


  1. Narabi means to be associated with, to be a companion.