Kojiki 153

Section CLIII. Emperor Yū-riyaku (Part IV.—He Wooes Princess Waka-kusaka-be)

Forthwith making a progress to the residence of Queen Waka-kusaka-be, the Heavenly Sovereign sent the dog as a present with a message, saying: “This thing is a strange thing which I got to day on the road. So it is a thing to woo with,”—and so saying, sent it in as a present. Thereupon Queen Waka-kusaka-be sent to say to the Heavenly Sovereign: “It is very alarming that thou shouldst make a progress with thy back to the sun. So I will come up straight [to the capital], and respectfully serve thee.” When therefore he returned up and dwelt in the palace, he went and stood on the ascent of that mountain, and sang, saying:

“In the hollow between the nearer and the further mountain, this Mount Kusaka-be and Mount Heguri, [is] growing the flourishing broad-leafed bear-oak; at the base grow intertwining bamboos; on the top grow luxuriant bamboos:—we sleep not [now] intertwined like the intertwining bamboos, we sleep not certainly like the luxuriant bamboos: [but] oh! my beloved spouse, with whom [I] shall afterwards sleep intertwined!”

And he forthwith sent back a messenger with this Song.