the sky, my legs are now unable to walk. They have become rudder-shaped." So that place was called by the name of Tagi. Owing to his being very weary with progressing a little farther beyond that place, he leaned upon an august staff to walk a little. So that place is called by the name of the Tsuwetsuki pass. On arriving at the single pine-tree on Cape Wotsu, an august sword, which he had forgotten at that place before when augustly eating, was still there, not lost. Then he augustly sang, saying:
"O mine elder brother, the single pine-tree that art on Cape Wotsu which directly faces Wohari! If thou, single pine-tree! wert a person, I would gird my sword upon thee, I would clothe thee with my garments—O mine elder brother, the single pine-tree!"
When he departed thence and reached the village of Mihe, he again said: "My legs are like threefold crooks, and very weary." So that place was called by the name of Mihe. When he departed thence and reached the moor of Nobe, he regretting his native land, sang, saying:
"As for Yamato, the most secluded of land—Yamato, retired behind Mount Awogaki encompassing it with its folds, is delightful."[1]
- ↑ This song and the two following form but one in the pages of the "Chronicles," where they appear with several verbal differences, and are attributed, not to the Prince, but to his father the Emperor. Moribe decides that in the latter particular the text of these "Records" gives the preferable account, but that the "Chronicles" are right in making the three songs one continuous poem. The expression "this song is a land-regretting song" strongly supports this view; for, though we might also render in the plural "these songs are," etc., such a translation would be less natural, as in similar cases the numeral is used, thus "these two songs are," etc. The expression "this is an incomplete song" points as decidedly to some mutilation of the original document, from which the compiler of the "Records" copied this passage. Taking then the three songs as one, the entire drift is that of a paean on Yamato, the poet's native land, which he could not hope ever to see again: Commencing by praising its still seclusion as it lies there behind its barrier of protecting mountains, he goes on to mention the rural pleasures enjoyed by those who, wandering over the hill-sides, deck their hair with garlands of leaves and flowers. For himself indeed these delights are no more; "but," says he, "do you, ye children full of health and happiness, pursue your inocent enjoyment!" In conclusion he lovingly apostrophizes the clouds which, rising up from the southwest, are, as it were, messengers from home.
