Page:Nihongi by Aston volume 2.djvu/167

160 brawling words, and fail not to obey the voice of general opinion.' The princesses in immediate attendance on the Empress, and the ladies-in-waiting all know this. Moreover, it is within the direct knowledge of the great Prince." Hereupon Prince Ohoye caused further inquiry to be made, saying:—"Is there any special person who has heard these dying injunctions of the Empress?" The answer was, "We have no knowledge of any secret particulars." After this he sent a fresh message to the Daibu, saying:—"My beloved maternal uncle has been at the pains to send me not simply a single messenger, but a number of high officials for my instruction. For this I am deeply grateful. It appears, however, that the dying commands of the Empress which the Ministers now tell me of are somewhat different from what I heard. As soon as I learnt that the Empress had taken to her sick bed, I hastened to the palace and waited at the gate. Then Mike, Nakatomi no Muraji, came out from the forbidden precinct, and said:—'I summon thee by command of the Empress.' Accordingly I proceeded to the inner gate. Moreover Kurome, Kurikuma no Uneme, met me in the courtyard, and led me to the Great Hall. Now the Empress's personal attendants, with Princess Kurimoto at their head, and eight ladies-in-waiting, Shibime among the number, several tens of persons in all, were in attendance beside the Empress. The Imperial Prince Tamura was also present. Now the Empress was very ill, and could not see me. Accordingly Princess Kurimoto informed her that Prince Yamashiro no Ohoye, whom she had sent for, had arrived. Then the Empress raised herself up and gave command, saying:—'We, with our poor abilities, have long borne the burden of the great institution. But now our destined career is drawing to a close; and this disease admits of no avoidance. Therefore, thou hast always been dear to Our heart, and Our affection for thee has no parallel. Now the great foundation of the State is not a thing of Our reign (alone), but from all time has demanded diligence. Do thou, though thy heart is young, be watchful over thy words.' All those who were in immediate attendance on the Empress at that time know this. Therefore when this great favour was conferred on me, I was on the one hand full of awe, and on the other full of grief. I leaped for joy, and