Ohomahe no Sukune made a song in answer, saying:—
Garter-bell
Has fallen off,
The courtiers make a noise:
Ye country-folks also beware! (of making a noise)[1]
So he addressed the Imperial Prince, saying:—"I beseech thee, harm not the Heir Apparent. Thy servant will advise with him." Accordingly the Heir Apparent died by his own hand in the house of Ohomahe no Sukune.
One account says that he was banished to the Land of Iyo.[2]
12th month, 14th day. The Imperial Prince Anaho assumed the Imperial Dignity, and the Empress was honoured with the title of "Grand Empress." The capital was forthwith removed to Isonokami.[3] It was called the Palace of Anaho.
At this time the Imperial Prince Ohohatsuse wished to betroth to him the daughters of the Emperor Midzuha-wake.[4]
[The names of these daughters are not found in any of the records.]
Hereupon the Imperial Princesses answered and said:—"Thou, my Lord, art much given to violence, and to sudden fits of anger, so that he who sees thee in the morning is slain in the evening, and he who sees thee in the evening is slain in the morning. Now, thy handmaidens' countenances are not distinguished for beauty, nor their minds for cleverness. If in manners and speech we should be no whit agreeable to the princely expectation, how shouldst thou receive us to thy intimacy? For this reason we are unable to obey thy com-
- ↑ This is supposed to contain a remonstrance addressed to Prince Anaho's party for making a fuss about such a small matter as the escape of Prince Karu, which is compared to the loss of the grêlot of a courtier's garter.
- ↑ This is the "Kojiki" version.
- ↑ In Yamato.
- ↑ He died A.D. 411, at the age of 60, so these princesses were now (A.D. 453) not exactly young. They were his cousins by the father's side.
