“ 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? ”

“ We, thy servants, fear that if thou, the Great Prince, dost delay the time, and in opposition to the general desire dost refuse to rectify the name and dignity, the nation's hopes will be disappointed. We pray therefore that the Great Prince, notwithstanding his sufferings, will yet assume the Imperial Dignity. ”

“ Before this time, when Sotohori Iratsume dwelt in the Palace of Fujihara, the Emperor commanded Ohotomo Muruya no Muraji, saying:—"Of late we have gotten a beautiful woman, the younger sister of the Empress by the same mother. [26] In Our heart we dearly love her, and it is Our desire that her name should be handed down to after ages. How can this be done?" In accordance with the Imperial command, Muruya no Muraji proposed a plan for the Emperor's approval. Consequently the Miyakko of the various provinces were charged to establish Fujihara Be on behalf of Sotohori hime. ”

“ Hereupon Otohime said:—"By reason of the Empress's jealousy, thy handmaiden has already disobeyed the Emperor's commands. To be the ruin of my Lord, who art his faithful servant, would be another crime on my part." Accordingly she came along with Ikatsu no Omi. When they reached Kasuga in Yamato they had food by the well of Ichihi. Otohime herself gave sake to the Omi, and soothed his spirit. The Omi that same day arrived at the capital, and having lodged Otohime at the house of Akoko, the Atahe of Yamato, made his report to the Emperor. ”

“ Do thou go thyself and bring Otohime here with thee, and I will surely reward thee liberally." Hereupon Ikatsu no Omi, having received the Imperial command, withdrew, and having concealed a stock of provisions in his clothing, went to Sakata, where he prostrated himself in Otohime's courtyard, and said:—"By command of the Emperor, I summon thee." Otohime answered and said:—"Far be it from me not to fear the Emperor's command. But I am unwilling to hurt the (XIII. 10.) Empress's feelings. Thy handmaiden will not come, though it should cost her her life to refuse." ”

“ Some by mischance lose their proper surnames; others purposely lay claim to high family. This is perhaps the reason why good government is not attained to. Deficient in wisdom although We are, how can We omit to rectify these irregularities? Let the Ministers take counsel, and inform me of their determination." All the Ministers said:—"If Your Majesty, restoring that which is lost and correcting that which is perverted, will thus determine Houses and surnames, your servants will stake their lives in recommending the adoption of such a measure." ”

“ For one thing (he says) , women have always been more lightly punished in Japan than men for the same offence, and the particular character of the fault in this case makes such a discrimination all the more reasonable. ”

“ It is true, however, that the Empress's full name was Osaka no Oho-nakatsu hime, Osaka being the name of her residence. ↑ The Chinese character translated "sir" means literally head or chief. The Japanese word intended is probably Obito or Obuto, which, I take it, is an abbreviation of Oho-bito, great man. In Chinese Tajen (in Corean Tain) , i.e. great man, is used as a personal pronoun in addressing men of rank. Our own word "master" (magister, magnus) has a somewhat similar history. ↑ Kowtow in Chinese. ↑ Inaki was a lower title than Miyakko. ↑ Literally surnames and personal names. ”

“ Be, who were in attendance on the men of Silla, heard these words, and conceived a suspicion that the Silla men had had intercourse with the Uneme. So they made them go back, and gave information to the Imperial Prince Ohohatsuse. The Imperial Prince straightway threw the Silla messengers every one into prison, and put them to an examination. Then the Silla messengers made a statement, saying:—"We have done the Uneme no harm. ”

“ From this time forward the Houses and surnames were spontaneously ordered, and there was no longer any one who falsified them. [16]
A.D. 416. 5th year, 7th month, 14th day. There was an earthquake. Before this time Tamada no Sukune, grandson [17] of Katsuraki no Sotsuhiko, had been commanded to superintend the temporary burial of the Emperor Midzu-ha-wake. On the evening after the earthquake, Aso, Ohari no Muraji, was sent to examine the condition of the shrine of temporary burial. Now all the men (XIII. 8.) assembled, and none were absent except Tamada no Sukune, who was not present. ”

“ The Emperor got ready soldiers and was about to kill Tamada no Sukune, when he secretly ran away and hid in his house. The Emperor again despatched soldiers, who surrounded Tamada's house, took him, and put him to death.
Winter, 11th month, 11th day. The Emperor Midzu-ha-wake was buried in the Mimihara Misasagi.
A.D. 418. (XIII. 9.) 7th year, Winter, 12th month, 1st day. There was a banquet in the new Palace. [18] The Emperor in person played on the lute, [19] and the Empress stood up and danced. ”

“ Before this time Nakashi hime no Mikoto bore Prince Mayuwa to the Imperial Prince Ohokusaka. On his mother's account he escaped punishment, and was always brought up within the Palace.
A.D. 456. 3rd year, Autumn, 8th month, 9th day. The Emperor was (XIII. 22.) assassinated by Prince Mayuwa [a detailed account is given in the history of the Emperor Ohohatsuse's reign] . After three years he was buried in the misasagi of Fushimi at Sugahara.
↑ Wo, male; Asa-tsuma (morning-wife) is the name of a place; wakugo, young child; Sukune, name of dignity. ”