one of a football[1] party in which Naka no Ohoye played at the (XXIV. 16.) foot of the keyaki tree of the Temple of Hōkōji, he observed the (Prince's) leathern shoe fall off with the ball. Placing it on the palm of his hand, he knelt before the Prince and humbly offered it to him. Naka no Ohoye in his turn knelt down and respectfully received it. From this time they became mutual friends, and told each other all their thoughts. There was no longer any concealment between them. They feared, however, that jealous suspicions might be caused by their frequent meetings, and they both took in their hands yellow rolls,[2] and studied personally the doctrines of Chow[3] and Confucius with the learned teacher of Minabuchi.[4] Thus they at length while on their way there and back, walking shoulder to shoulder, secretly prepared their plans. On all points they were agreed.
Now Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji counselled him, saying:—"For him who cherishes great projects, nothing is so essential as support. I pray thee, therefore, take to thee the eldest daughter of Soga no Kurayamada no Maro, and make her thy consort. When a friendly marriage relationship has been established, we can then unfold our desire to associate him with us in our plans. There is no shorter way to success than this. Now when Naka no Ohoye heard this, he was much pleased, and acted in accordance with his advice in every particular. Nakatomi no Kamako no Muraji accordingly went himself, and as go-between conducted the marriage negotiations (XXIV. 17.) to a successful result. On the night, however, fixed upon for (the consummation of the marriage with) the eldest daughter, she was stolen away by a relation [his name was Musa no Omi]. In consequence of this, Kurayamada no Omi was
- ↑ Dakiu, "strike-ball," the word here used, now means "polo," for an account of which see "Things Japanese," p. 350. But here some kind of football is evidently meant. What kind of football—like ours, or in Chinese fashion, knocking the ball from one to another like a shuttle-cock—does not appear.
- ↑ i.e. Chinese books.
- ↑ Chow, the supposed author of the Chow-li, a set of rules for the guidance of officials. Vide Mayers, p. 20.
- ↑ No doubt the Shōan above mentioned, XXII. 21. It is often far from clear, as here, whether a proper name is to be understood as a man's name or as the name of his place of residence. The latter meaning fades into the former.
