Following Yachihoko’s successful wooing of Princess Nunakawa, his principal wife, Princess Suseri, became exceedingly jealous. On one occasion, when he was about to take his leave of her, he sang thus:
ぬばたまの 黑き御衣を まつぶさに 取り裝ひ 沖つ鳥 胸見る時 はたたぎも これは適はず 邊つ波 そに脱き棄て そに鳥の 靑き御衣を まつぶさに 取り裝ひ 沖つ鳥 胸見る時 はたたぎも 此も適はず 邊つ波 そに脱ぎ棄て 山縣に 蒔きし あたね舂き 染木が汁に 染め衣を まつぶさに 取り裝ひ 沖つ鳥 胸見る時 はたたぎも 此し宜し いとこやの 妹の命 群鳥の 我が群れ往なば 引け鳥の 我が引け往なば 泣かじとは 汝(な)は言ふとも 山處の 一本薄 項傾し 汝が泣かさまく 朝雨の 霧に立たむぞ 若草の 妻の命 事の 語言も 是をば
| nubatama nö kuroki mikesi wo matubusa ni töriyösöpi oki tu töri muna miru toki patatagi mö köre pa pusapazu pe tu nami sö ni nukiute sonidöri nö awoki mikesi wo matubusani töriyösöpi oki tu töri muna miru töki patatagi mö kö mö pusapazu pe tu nami sö ni nukiute yamagata ni makisi atane tuki sömëki ga siru ni somekoromo wo matubusani töriyösöpi oki tu töri muna miru töki patatagi mo kö si yörösi itoko ya nö imo nö mikötö muradöri nö wa ga mureinaba pikëtori no wa ga pikëinaba nakazi tö pa na pa ipu tömö yamatö nö pitö mötö susuki unagabusi na ga nakasamaku asa amë nö kiri ni tatamu zo wakakusa nö tuma no mikoto kötö nö katarigötö mo kö wo ba |
Lily seed Black, my garb: Completely Decked out in finery. A bird upon the shore, Preens the down upon its breast, And flaps its wings: That won’t do. As a wave from the shore, I pull them off and drop them. Kingfisher Blue, my garb: Completely Decked out in finery. A bird upon the shore, Preens the down upon its breast, And flaps its wings: That won’t do. As a wave from the shore, I pull them off and drop them. In the mountain fields, Scattered. Grinding madder: Liquid from the roots Dyed red my garb: Completely Decked out in finery. A bird upon the shore Preens the down upon its breast And flaps its wings. This is fabulous! My men, My lady, Are a flock of birds, We go all together; As a single bird I am dragged along. ‘I’ll not cry!’ Though you say so, In the mountains A single stalk of pampas grass Droops down. Your tears now, As morning rain Rise through the mists. Fresh as grass, My wife. The words, The spoken words, Are like this. |