Kojiki (Chamberlain, 1882)/Section 79

by Ō no Yasumaro

[Sect. LXXIX.—Emperor Kei-kō (Part IV.—Yamato-take Slays His Elder Brother).]

The Heavenly Sovereign said to His Augustness Wo-usu: “Why does not thine elder brother come forth to the morning and evening great august repasts?^[1] Be thou the one to take the trouble to teach him [his duty].” Thus he commanded; but for five days after, still [the prince] came not forth. Then the Heavenly Sovereign deigned to ask His Augustness Wo-usu [saying]: “Why is thine elder brother so long of coming? Hast thou perchance not yet taught him [his duty]?” He replied, saying: “I have been at that trouble.” Again [the Heavenly Sovereign] said: “How didst thou take the trouble?”^[2] He replied, saying: “In the early morning when he went into the privy, I grasped hold of him and crushed him, and, pulling off his limbs,^[3] wrapped them in matting and flung them away.”

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1. Viz., to attend on his Imperial father.
2. I.e., “How didst thou do it?”
3. Literally, “branches.”