Winter, 10th month, 1st day.  The emperor tasted the food of the Idzube, and arraying his troops set forth upon his march.  He first of all attacked the eighty bandits at Mount Kunimi, routed and slew them.  It was in this campaign that the emperor, fully resolved on victory, made these verses, saying: 

    “Like the Shitadami
    Which creep round
    The great rock
    Of the Sea of Ise,
    Where blows the divine wind—­
    Like the Shitadami,
    My boys!  My boys! 
    We will creep around
    And smite them utterly,
    And smite them utterly.”

In this poem, by the “great rock” is intended the Hill of Kunimi.

After this the band which remained was still numerous, and their disposition could not be fathomed.  So the emperor privately commanded Michi no Omi no Mikoto, saying:  “Do thou take with thee the Oho Kume, and make a great muro at the village of Osaka.  Prepare a copious banquet, invite the enemy to it, and then capture them.”  Michi no Omi no Mikoto thereupon, in obedience to the emperor’s sacred behest, dug a muro at Osaka, and having selected his bravest soldiers, stayed therein mingled with the enemy.  He secretly arranged with them, saying:  “When they have got tipsy with sake, I will strike up a song.  Do you when you hear the sound of my song, all at the same time stab the enemy.”

Having made this arrangement they took their seats, and the drinking bout proceeded.  The enemy, unaware that there was any plot, abandoned themselves to their feelings, and promptly became intoxicated.  Then Michi no Omi no Mikoto struck up the following song: 

    “At Osaka
    In the great Muro-house,
    Though men in plenty
    Enter and stay,
    We the glorious
    Sons of warriors,
    Wielding our mallet-heads,
    Wielding our stone-mallets,
    Will smite them utterly.”

Now when our troops heard this song, they all drew at the same time their mallet-headed swords, and simultaneously slew the enemy, so that there were no eaters left.  The imperial army were greatly delighted; they looked up to heaven and laughed.  Therefore he made a song saying: 

    “Though folk say
    That one Yemishi
    Is a match for one hundred men,
    They do not so much as resist.”

The practice according to which, at the present time, the Kume sing this and then laugh loud, had this origin.  Again he sang, saying: 

    “Ho! now is the time! 
    Ho! now is the time! 
    Ha!  Ha!  Psha! 
    Even now
    My boys! 
    Even now,
    My boys!”

All these songs were sung in accordance with the secret behest of the emperor.  He had not presumed to compose them with his own motion.

Then the emperor said:  “It is the part of a good general when victorious to avoid arrogance.  The chief brigands have now been destroyed, but there are ten bands of villains of a similar stamp, who are disputatious.