the Imperial Prince Tamura be watchful and observant, and not remiss.' She next sent for Prince Yamashiro no Ohoye, and said to him:—'Do thou avoid brawling speech of thine own, and fail not to follow the words of the many. Be self-restrained, and not contentious.' These were the dying injunctions of the Empress. Whom now shall we make Emperor?" The Ministers were silent, and made no answer. (XXIII. 2.) Again he asked them, but there was no reply. He persisted in questioning them, and thereupon Ohotomo no Kujira no Muraji advanced and said:—"Let us simply obey the Empress's dying injunctions. There is no need to go beyond them, and consult general opinion." Abe no Omi straightway inquired, saying:—"What does this mean? Explain thy opinion." He answered and said:—"What was the Empress's intention when she gave command to the Imperial Prince Tamura, saying:—'The Empire is a great charge; be not remiss'? Judging by this, the Imperial Dignity is already decided. And who shall gainsay this decision?" Then the four Ministers, Mareshi, Uneme no Omi, Uma, Taka-muku no Omi, Mike, Nakatomi no Omi, and Musashi, Naniha no Kishi, said:—"Let us comply with the advice of Ohotomo no Muraji; there is no more objection to be made." Ohomaro, Kose no Omi, Adzumōdo, Saheki no Muraji, and Shihote, Ki no Omi, these three, stood forward and said:—"It is Prince Yamashiro no Ohoye who should be made Emperor." But Soga no Kuramaro no Omi [also called Womasa] alone said:—"I am unable to say anything at this moment, but I will think further over the matter and declare myself later." Upon this the Oho-omi, seeing that the Ministers were inharmonious, and that the matter could not be accomplished, retired.
Before this, the Oho-omi had by himself inquired of Sakahibe no Marise no Omi, saying:—"The Empress has died, leaving no heir. Whom shall we make Emperor?" He answered and said:—"Let us raise up Yamashiro no Ohoye, and make him Emperor." At this time Yamashiro no Ohoye was living in the Palace of Ikaruga. This consultation having come to his ears, he sent Prince Mikuni and Wajiko, Sakurawi no Omi, these two, with a secret message to the Oho-omi, (XXIII. 3.) saying:—"It has come to my knowlege that (thou) my maternal uncle art desirous of making the Imperial Prince
