Winter, 10th month, 15th day. The Empress visited the hot baths of Ki. The Empress, remembering her Imperial (XXVI. 8.) grandson, Prince Takeru, grieved and lamented. She exclaimed, saying:—
Though I pass over the mountains
And cross the seas
Yet can I never forget
The pleasant
Region of Imaki.
The first.
With the harbour's
Ebbing tide,
As the sea goes down,
With the darkness behind me
Leaving him, I must go—
The dear one.
My young child!
Leaving him, I must go.[1]
The second.
She commanded Mari, Hada no Oho-kura no Miyakko, saying:—"Let these verses be handed down and let them not be forgotten by the world."
11th month, 3rd day. Soga no Akaye no Omi, the official who had charge during the Empress's absence, addressed the Imperial Prince Arima, saying:—"There are three faults in the Empress's administration of the affairs of Government. The first is that she builds treasuries on a great scale, wherein she collects the riches of the people. The second is that she wastes the public grain revenue in digging long canals. The third is that she loads barges with stones and transports them to be piled up into a hill."[2] The Imperial Prince Arima, recognizing Akaye's friendly disposition towards himself, was gratified, and replied, saying:—"I have only now come to an age when I am fit to bear arms."
5th day. The Imperial Prince Arima proceeded to the house of Akaye, where he went up into an upper storey, and conspired
