gustness Wo-usu was granted by his aunt Her Augustness Yamato-hime[1] her august upper garment and august skirt; and, with a saber hidden in his august bosom, he went forth.[2] So, on reaching the house of the Kumaso braves, he saw that near the house there was a threefold belt of warriors, who had made a cave to dwell in. Hereupon they, noisily discussing a rejoicing for the august cave,[3] were getting food ready. So Prince Wo-usu sauntered about the neighborhood, waiting for the day of the rejoicing. Then when the day of the rejoicing came, having combed down after the manner of girls his august hair which was bound up,[4] and having put on his aunt's august upper garment and august skirt, he looked quite like a young girl, and, standing amidst the women,[5] went inside the cave. Then the elder brother and the younger brother, the two Kumaso bravoes, delighted at the sight of the maiden, set her between them, and rejoiced exuberantly. So, when the feast was at its height, His Augustness Wo-usu, drawing the saber from his bosom, and catching Kumaso[6] by the collar of his garment, thrust the saber through his chest, whereupon, alarmed at the sight, the younger bravo ran out. But pursuing after and reaching him at the bottom of the steps of the cave, and catching him by the back, Prince Wo-usu thrust the saber through his buttock. Then the Kumaso brave spoke, saying: "Do not move the sword; I have something to say." Then His Augustness Wo-usu, respited him for a moment, holding him down as he lay prostrate. Hereupon the bravo said: "Who is Thine Augustness?" Then he said: "I am the august child of Oho-tarashi-hiko-oshiro-
- ↑ Who was high-priestess of the temple of the great deity of Ise.
- ↑ The characters used for these last two words are those properly restricted to the mention of an imperial progress, but Yamato-take is constantly spoken of as if he had actually sat on the throne.
- ↑ Motowori reads "New cave," but the word "August" is in the text. At the same time we see that this feast was intended as a housewarming.
- ↑ The parallel passage of the "Chronicles" puts the same meaning into plainer words. It says: "He undid his hair, and made it appear like a girl's."
- ↑ Or, according to the old reading, "mixing with the concubines."
- ↑ I.e., the elder bravo of Kumaso.
