A song the Kojiki attributes to Prince Kinashi no Karu, immediately before his joint suicide with his lover and sister, Princess Sotôshi. It seems more likely, however, that the song was originally a lament.
隱り國の 泊瀨の河の 上つ瀨に 齋杙を打ち 下つ瀨に 眞杙を打ち 齋杙には 鏡を懸け 眞杙には 眞玉を懸け 眞玉如す 吾が思ふ妹 鏡如す 吾が思ふ妻 ありと言はばこそに 家にも行かめ 國をも偲はめ
| kömöriku nö patuse nö kapa nö kami tu se ni ikupi wo uti simo tu se ni ma kupi wo uti i kupi ni pa kagami wo kakë makupi ni pa matama wo kakë matama nasu a ga möpu imo kagami nasu a ga möpu tuma ari tö ipaba kösö ni ipe ni mö yukamë kuni wo mö sinopamë |
In a hidden land Flows the River Hatsuse: In the upper shallows Was driven in a sacred stake; And in the lower shallows, Was driven in a true stake. On the sacred stake Hangs a mirror; And on the true stake Hangs a pure jewel. As a jewel Was my beloved; As a mirror Was my wife: Were she only there, I would return to my house, I would return to my home. |