Father fox and mother fox
Gazing after it:
"O, Kawwaiso! Caught when Spring was come!"
"Cruel, noisy boys!" she said,
"Loose the little fox!
See his honorable parents
Weeping, by the rocks!"—
"Iye! iye!" Each one shook his head.
"Foxes' skins fetch half a bu
In Komadzu town!
Foxes' livers—sliced and dried,
And well powdered down—
Sovereign physic for a fever brew!"
"Ah! but when all things rejoice
In this flower-time feast:"—
Spake the Princess—"will you kill
Such a small, soft beast?"
"Hime Sama!" cried the village boys:
"Your august excuse we crave—
