The Warrior Leaders of the Warring States Era

鳴かぬなら nakanu nara—if (the bird) doesn't chirp [The ぬ is a negative ender (doesn't sing) and なら means "if."]
_{殺してしまえ koroshite shimae—(I) will kill 
ホトトギス hototogisu—a kind of cuckoo bird  [In English it is called the "lesser cuckoo" and is mostly found in Asia] Here is a picture of the bird:}

たくさんの takusan no—many

天下統一 tenka tōitsu—unification of whole country  [Prior to these three leaders, sections of Japan were ruled independently by daimyō. 天下 tenka means "the whole world" or "everything under heaven." And 統一 tōitsu means "unity" or "consolidation."]
_{まで made—until
あと一息 ato hitoiki—just a bit more [あと ato means "more" as in あと５分 ato gofun—five minutes more. 一息 hito iki literally means "one breath" and implies just a little more work (hard breathing) and the job will be complete.]
という to iu—such a
時 toki—time
京都で kyōto de—at Kyoto
自分の jibun no—one's own (Oda Nobunaga's own)
家臣 kashin—vassal; retainer
明智光秀 akechi mitsuhide—Akechi Mitsuhide (1528-1582) [Akechi Mitsuhide was a samurai and military leader during the Sengoku period (Warring States). Mitsuhide was a general under Oda Nobunaga, but he led a rebellion against Nobunaga in 1582, leading to his master's death.]}

_{に殺されます ni korosaremasu—was killed (by vassal) [This is the passive form: was killed by… 殺す korosu—to kill; 殺される korosareru—to be killed.]}

織田信長 oda nobunaga—Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
死後 shigo—after the death (of Oda)
明智光秀 akechi mitsuhide—Akechi Mitsuhide (1528-1582)
倒し taoshi—overthrew; depose
天下人 tenka bito—leader over all  
_{となりました to narimashita—became}

鳴かぬなら nakanunara—if (the bird) doesn't sing
鳴かせてみよう nakasete miyō—I'll make it sing
ホトトギス hototogisu—a kind of cuckoo bird

これは kore wa—as for this
表す句 arawasu ku—a revealing phrase

雑用 zatsuyō—various duties
など nado—et cetera; and the like
なんでも nandemo—whatever; anything
こなさなければいけない konasanakereba ikenai—must do (work)
ところから tokoro kara—from that position; from there…
_{始まりました hajimarimashita—began
が ga—but; however}

どうやったら dō yattara—how; by what means…
殿様 tonosama—feudal lord
気に入られる ki ni irareru—ingratiate; be liked by

工夫 kufuu—scheme; device
したり shitari—doing (things like scheming)
思いがけない omoigakenai—unexpected; contrary to expectations
作戦 sakusen—strategy; tactics
練ったりする nettari suru—doing (things like) polishing a (strategy)
ので node—therefore; because of that

織田信長 oda nobunaga—Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
気に入られ ki ni irare—was liked; came into favor
どんどん dondon—rapidly; steadily
出世していきました shusse shite ikimashita—rose in life

ある寒い朝 aru samui asa—one cold morning
信長 nobunaga—Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
出かけようと dekakeyō to—intended to go out
すると suru to—upon doing so

自分のはく jibun no haku—his own (shoes) that he wore
草履 zōri—zori; Japanese sandals  [Zōri are Japanese sandals traditionally made of rice straw or other plant fibers. Modern zōri also use plastic as the picture shows below. After WWII, the modern flip-flop appeared based on the Japanese zōri.]
_{ありません arimasen—didn't have; wasn't there}

揃えておく soroete oku—to gather together
秀吉 hideyoshi—Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598)
仕事 shigoto—job; work; task

おい oi—hey!
猿 saru—monkey (nickname for Hideyoshi)
_{わしの washi no—my 
草履 zōri—zori; Japanese sandals
ないぞ nai zo—aren't there
信長 nobunaga—Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582)
怒って言いました okotte iimashita—said angrily}

秀吉 hideyoshi—Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598)
すかさず sukasazu—without a moment's delay
自分の懐から jibun no futokoro kara—from his breast pocket
差し出し sashi dashi—presented; brought out

今朝 kesa—this morning
冷えました hiemashita—was chilly
ので node—therefore; because of that
殿の tono no—my lord's…
温めておきました atatamete okimashita—warmed up
と言った to itta—(he) said
言われています iwarete imasu—so they say; as it is recounted

こういう kō iu—in this way; such a (Hideyoshi)…
心遣い kokoro zukai—sympathy; regard for; consideration for…
気に入って ki ni itte—was pleased with
ますます masu masu—more and more; increasingly
登用した tōyō shita—appointed; promoted to
そうです sō desu—it seems; so it is said