Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/407

Rh event to be an omen of his defeat in the forthcoming battle. He therefore bade his brother remain in the Capital, and do his utmost to protect the Imperial Court, Yoshiminé begged to be allowed to participate in the battle, but his request was refused. Yoshi-oki then produced two beautiful arrows. These arrows were respectively called "Suiha" and "Hyōha," or "Water Destruction," and "War Destruction," and were famous treasures of the Nittas. Tradition says that a great master of archery in ancient China, named Yō-Yuki, had made his daughter Shokwa give them to Minamoto-no-Yorimitsu, an ancestor of the Nittas, in a dream. Then Yoshi-oki handed them to Yoshiminé, and said:

"Take special care of these arrows. I have heard that our enemy Taka-uji who is said to be a descendant of General Yorimitsu, wishes to possess them. If I should take them, and unfortunately fall on the battlefield, he may obtain them from me. So I order you to keep them with you, and once again I tell you to remain here, and do your utmost to guard the Imperial Court from danger."

This command was so peremptory, that Yoshiminé did not dare to repeat his entreaty.