 | Potiphar's Wife and Other Poems |  |
37
THE GRATEFUL FOXES.
(A Japanese Story, in the Japanese Manner.)
PART I.
In the month when cherry-trees
Paint the spring-time pink,
Lady Haru, with her maids,
Sate at Kodzu's brink:
Good it is to live on days like these!
Paint the spring-time pink,
Lady Haru, with her maids,
Sate at Kodzu's brink:
Good it is to live on days like these!
Rosy as a Musmee's lips,
Red as blood on snow,
Bloomed the jewelled branches forth:
Rice-birds chirped below:
Over silver seas went white-sailed ships.
Red as blood on snow,
Bloomed the jewelled branches forth:
Rice-birds chirped below:
Over silver seas went white-sailed ships.
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All about the blossoming rape,—
Glad to own its gold—
Butterflies and dragon-flies
Flitted;—snakes were bold
To draw slow coils to sunlight. Every cape—
Glad to own its gold—
Butterflies and dragon-flies
Flitted;—snakes were bold
To draw slow coils to sunlight. Every cape—
From its sleeping shadow rose:
Fuji-San was seen
Piercing Heaven's blue above,
Glassed in Ocean's green;—
Doubled forests, doubled gleaming snows!
Fuji-San was seen
Piercing Heaven's blue above,
Glassed in Ocean's green;—
Doubled forests, doubled gleaming snows!
Beautiful O Haru San,
With her maids, at play,
Pulled the lilies; in the stream
Bathed, heart-whole and gay:
Spring-time ripples in her sweet veins ran!
With her maids, at play,
Pulled the lilies; in the stream
Bathed, heart-whole and gay:
Spring-time ripples in her sweet veins ran!
By and by, along the river,
Comes a troop of boys:
'Tis a fox-cub they have captured!
Laughter loud, and noise
Who shall have its skin, and who its liver.
Comes a troop of boys:
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Laughter loud, and noise
Who shall have its skin, and who its liver.
In the bamboo-thicket's gloom—
At safe distance—sit
Father fox and mother fox
Gazing after it:
“O, Kawwaiso! Caught when Spring was come!”
At safe distance—sit
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 honourable parents
Weeping, by the rocks!”—
“Iye! iye!” Each one shook his head.
“Loose the little fox!
See his honourable 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!”
In Komadzu town!
Foxes' livers—sliced and dried,
And well powdered down—
Sovereign physic for a fever brew!”
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“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:
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—
Yet—three hundred cash!
When would such a prize befall
If, with pity rash,
We this cub unto the old ones gave?”
Yet—three hundred cash!
When would such a prize befall
If, with pity rash,
We this cub unto the old ones gave?”
Thereupon O Haru San
From her girdle drew
Copper money, silver money
Till it made a bu.
“See! take twice the price!” she said. They ran
From her girdle drew
Copper money, silver money
Till it made a bu.
“See! take twice the price!” she said. They ran
Merry thence, to be so rich,
Leaving frightened, free,
In that lovely lady's lap
Poor Ko-Kitsune,
No more frightened, feeling her soft touch.
Leaving frightened, free,
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Poor Ko-Kitsune,
No more frightened, feeling her soft touch.
For she loosed, with tender hand,
Knot, and noose, and string:
Stroked the red fur smooth again
On the ruffled thing;
Rolled cool nakasè to make a band
Knot, and noose, and string:
Stroked the red fur smooth again
On the ruffled thing;
Rolled cool nakasè to make a band
Round the little bleeding leg:
Offered fish and rice.
Plain as speech the black eyes said:
“Oh, that's very nice!
Yet, go men nasaimashi, I beg
Offered fish and rice.
Plain as speech the black eyes said:
“Oh, that's very nice!
Yet, go men nasaimashi, I beg
Leave, kind Princess! now to go
Where my parents wait
Close by yonder bean-straw stacks:
Sad must be their state:
That is my Okkâsan, whining so!”
Where my parents wait
Close by yonder bean-straw stacks:
Sad must be their state:
That is my Okkâsan, whining so!”
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Therefore, while the old ones gaze,
Gently on the ground
Sets she down the wistful cub:
At one happy bound
Leaps it through the lilies, clears the belt of maize.
Gently on the ground
Sets she down the wistful cub:
At one happy bound
Leaps it through the lilies, clears the belt of maize.
Wounded foot forgetting
To its kind it sped;
Licked its loving dam all over,
Licked its father's head:
Gravely those old foxes, left and right,
To its kind it sped;
Licked its loving dam all over,
Licked its father's head:
Gravely those old foxes, left and right,
Looked it over, neck and breast,
Scanned it up and down,
Smelled it from the feathery brush
To the smooth brown crown.
Then, upon their haunches humbly dressed,
Scanned it up and down,
Smelled it from the feathery brush
To the smooth brown crown.
Then, upon their haunches humbly dressed,
Two sharp barks of gratitude
Honourably paid:
“Farewell! We, your servants three,
Send you thanks, sweet maid!
Sayonara!” So they sought the wood.
Honourably paid:
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Send you thanks, sweet maid!
Sayonara!” So they sought the wood.
She, with glad steps, homeward went
By the river banks,
Watching purple shadows climb
Fuji's wooded flanks,
Musing how fair Mercy brings Content.
By the river banks,
Watching purple shadows climb
Fuji's wooded flanks,
Musing how fair Mercy brings Content.
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PART II.
In the tenth Moon—none wist why—
Sick that Lady lay:
As from cherry boughs the bloom
Falls, so fell away
Cheeks' fresh tint, and ripe lips' rosy dye.
Sick that Lady lay:
As from cherry boughs the bloom
Falls, so fell away
Cheeks' fresh tint, and ripe lips' rosy dye.
More and more the gentle face
Weary grew and wan:
Those that saw her in the Spring-tide—
Sweet O Haru San—
Cried:“Oh, where is gone such youth and grace?”
Weary grew and wan:
Those that saw her in the Spring-tide—
Sweet O Haru San—
Cried:“Oh, where is gone such youth and grace?”
Grave physicians gathered nigh
Famed for healing lore;
Sovereign herbs they culled and boiled:
Not one whit the more
Gained she glow of cheek or light of eye.
Famed for healing lore;
Sovereign herbs they culled and boiled:
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Gained she glow of cheek or light of eye.
“Ever,” so she sadly said,
“In the dead of night,
Something wicked, dreamy, dim
Seemed to rise in sight,
Hovered—horrible—about her bed.”
“In the dead of night,
Something wicked, dreamy, dim
Seemed to rise in sight,
Hovered—horrible—about her bed.”
Therefore, on each side her pillow
Watched a grey-haired nurse.
In the morning, nothing witnessed!
Princess Haru worse!
Drooping like a root-cut river-willow.
Watched a grey-haired nurse.
In the morning, nothing witnessed!
Princess Haru worse!
Drooping like a root-cut river-willow.
Six new nurses sate about
All with lamps alight.
“Setsunai!” the Princess cries
At the dead of night.
All the nurses sleeping, all the lamps gone out!
All with lamps alight.
“Setsunai!” the Princess cries
At the dead of night.
All the nurses sleeping, all the lamps gone out!
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Thereupon, her maids fourscore
Kept full watch and ward.
At the “hour of the Rat”
Each maid sleeping hard!
The torches quenched! the Princess weeping sore!
Kept full watch and ward.
At the “hour of the Rat”
Each maid sleeping hard!
The torches quenched! the Princess weeping sore!
Next, five councillors of fame,
Wearing swords and frocks,
Watched, by royal ordinance;
Yet—at “hour of Ox”
All a-slumber! Haru plagued the same!
Wearing swords and frocks,
Watched, by royal ordinance;
Yet—at “hour of Ox”
All a-slumber! Haru plagued the same!
Isahaya Buzen spake:
“Maho-tsukai is here!
'Tis some hellish witchcraft works,
Else, with one so dear,
All our eyelids heavy what could make?”
“Maho-tsukai is here!
'Tis some hellish witchcraft works,
Else, with one so dear,
All our eyelids heavy what could make?”
“Is there none to break the spell?
Must our Princess die?
With my fingers and my thumbs
Held I wide each eye;
Suddenly, like one a-drunk, I fell!”
Must our Princess die?
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Held I wide each eye;
Suddenly, like one a-drunk, I fell!”
Spake the Chief Priest, Raitan:
“Nightly, while I pray,
Burning incense-sticks, and beating
Buddha's drum,—till day,
Standing near the shrine I see a man,
“Nightly, while I pray,
Burning incense-sticks, and beating
Buddha's drum,—till day,
Standing near the shrine I see a man,
Handsome, youthful, fixed of face,
He doth supplicate,
‘Set my Lady Haru free
From her evil state!
Hear the prayer of Itô, Lord of Grace!’
He doth supplicate,
‘Set my Lady Haru free
From her evil state!
Hear the prayer of Itô, Lord of Grace!’
‘Tak'st,’ I asked him, ‘no repose?’
‘Holy Sir!’ he said,
‘Prayer is all that I may offer.
Might I guard her bed
All Hell's fiends these eyes should never close!’
‘Holy Sir!’ he said,
‘Prayer is all that I may offer.
Might I guard her bed
All Hell's fiends these eyes should never close!’
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Being but your foot-soldier
Itô dares not speak!”
Quoth the Shogun, “Let him be
Taicho—Captain! Seek
Only how to save our daughter here!”
Itô dares not speak!”
Quoth the Shogun, “Let him be
Taicho—Captain! Seek
Only how to save our daughter here!”
Therefore, with those maids fourscore,
And those statesmen five,
Soldier Itô kept the watch.
Hardly half-alive
Lay the gentle Lady, moaning sore.
And those statesmen five,
Soldier Itô kept the watch.
Hardly half-alive
Lay the gentle Lady, moaning sore.
On the snow-white mats a cloth
Heedfully he spreads;
Stealthily his dirk he drew;
Then—when all their heads
Nodded, at the “hour of the Moth,”
Heedfully he spreads;
Stealthily his dirk he drew;
Then—when all their heads
Nodded, at the “hour of the Moth,”
Deep he drives it in his thigh.
From the smarting wound
Spirts the blood: when slumber tempts
Twists he that blade round.
Others doze, but Itô shuts no eye!
From the smarting wound
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Twists he that blade round.
Others doze, but Itô shuts no eye!
Soon he sees the Witch appear—
Oh, a dream of death!
Wolf-shaped! Wickedly its mouth
Sucks O Haru's breath.
Itô leaps upon it, free of fear,
Oh, a dream of death!
Wolf-shaped! Wickedly its mouth
Sucks O Haru's breath.
Itô leaps upon it, free of fear,
Grasps it: flings it: goes to kill!
Struggling shrieks that Shape:
“If you slay me she must die,
Grant me hence escape
And I tell what thing might make her well.”
Struggling shrieks that Shape:
“If you slay me she must die,
Grant me hence escape
And I tell what thing might make her well.”
“Tell it, Hag!” he cries, “and swear
Never more to prowl!”
Pants the Witch, “I swear! If you
Grate, in her rice-bowl,
Fox's liver, woes will disappear.”
Never more to prowl!”
Pants the Witch, “I swear! If you
Grate, in her rice-bowl,
Fox's liver, woes will disappear.”
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Itô from the Night-Wolf tore
One huge bristling ear.
In the morning all awakened,
Ah, the joy, the fear!
Haru smiling! Blood upon the floor!
One huge bristling ear.
In the morning all awakened,
Ah, the joy, the fear!
Haru smiling! Blood upon the floor!
Statesmen five, and waitresses,
Sore ashamed to drowse!
Gladness in the royal heart,
Joyaunce in the house!
Itô's hurt O Haru's own hand dresses!
Sore ashamed to drowse!
Gladness in the royal heart,
Joyaunce in the house!
Itô's hurt O Haru's own hand dresses!
Then he showed the ear, and told them
How the Witch's breath
Spread a spell of slumber round
Deep as sleep of death.
“I myself had nodded, but, behold them!
How the Witch's breath
Spread a spell of slumber round
Deep as sleep of death.
“I myself had nodded, but, behold them!
With these humble wounds to aid
I remained awake,
Twisting still the dagger slowly:
Princess! for thy sake
In my heart I would have turned that blade!”
I remained awake,
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Princess! for thy sake
In my heart I would have turned that blade!”
Near and far the King's word sped
Messengers to bring
Fox's liver. “If,” quoth he,
“'Tis this healing thing
Faithful Itô shall O Haru wed.”
Messengers to bring
Fox's liver. “If,” quoth he,
“'Tis this healing thing
Faithful Itô shall O Haru wed.”
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PART III.
Near and far the hunters sought,
Roaming every wood:
The court would pay the weight in gold
'Twas well understood:
Yet no fox's liver to be bought!
Roaming every wood:
The court would pay the weight in gold
'Twas well understood:
Yet no fox's liver to be bought!
To their mountain huts again
Sad those hunters came.
“All the foxes know!” said they:
“Far and wide the fame
Passeth of this Princess and her pain.”
Sad those hunters came.
“All the foxes know!” said they:
“Far and wide the fame
Passeth of this Princess and her pain.”
Wrathful waxed the Lord—spake he:
“Loth I were to slay
One fox even, yet my child
Pines: if not to-day
Comes this thing, then disembowelled be
“Loth I were to slay
One fox even, yet my child
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Comes this thing, then disembowelled be
Our physicians! Tell them so!
Shall a Princess sink
For this matter of one fox?”
Sadly sate, to think,
All the great court doctors, in a row.
Shall a Princess sink
For this matter of one fox?”
Sadly sate, to think,
All the great court doctors, in a row.
Then they humbly sent to say:
“One man might succeed!
Itô—please your Majesty—
Is the best at need:
Deign to grant for Itô one more day!”
“One man might succeed!
Itô—please your Majesty—
Is the best at need:
Deign to grant for Itô one more day!”
Itô reached his arrows down,
Strung his hunting-bow,
Took his knife, and rope, and nets,
In the woods to go:
Suddenly—at entrance of the town—
Strung his hunting-bow,
Took his knife, and rope, and nets,
In the woods to go:
Suddenly—at entrance of the town—
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Comes a woman, with a jar;
Very low she bows:
“Go men nasai! I was bringing
This to my Lord's house:
'Tis what you would seek, fetched from afar.”
Very low she bows:
“Go men nasai! I was bringing
This to my Lord's house:
'Tis what you would seek, fetched from afar.”
Joyously he prays the price:
“Nay!” says she,—and drew
Closer down upon her face
The country hood of blue,—
“Afterwards will very well suffice!”
“Nay!” says she,—and drew
Closer down upon her face
The country hood of blue,—
“Afterwards will very well suffice!”
Joyously he brings it home:
Glad those doctors grew!
In a bowl of beaten gold
The precious broth they brew:
The Princess drinks! the charm is overcome!
Glad those doctors grew!
In a bowl of beaten gold
The precious broth they brew:
The Princess drinks! the charm is overcome!
Bright as silver star, sprung newly
From the purple sea,
From her bath she trips, and fastens
Jiban, imoji,
All the glory of her garments, duly:
From the purple sea,
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Jiban, imoji,
All the glory of her garments, duly:
In the garden, with her maid,
Walks, a moving Flower,
Fairer than the Kiku bloom
After autumn shower.
Quoth the Court,“But, is the bringer paid?”
Walks, a moving Flower,
Fairer than the Kiku bloom
After autumn shower.
Quoth the Court,“But, is the bringer paid?”
“Tenshi Sama!” Itô said,
“Yonder she attends!”
Quoth he,“Take this gold, and pay
What may make amends!”
At the spot they find a dog-fox—dead!
“Yonder she attends!”
Quoth he,“Take this gold, and pay
What may make amends!”
At the spot they find a dog-fox—dead!
Round its neck cause thus reported:
“'Tis my husband here!
For his child he gives his liver
To the Princess dear:
I—his very lowly wife—have brought it.”
“'Tis my husband here!
For his child he gives his liver
To the Princess dear:
I—his very lowly wife—have brought it.”
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