Part 10 (1/2)

[Perched upon the temple-bell, the b.u.t.terfly sleeps:]

Neru-uchi mo Asobu-yume wo ya-- Kusa no cho!

[Even while sleeping, its dream is of play--ah, the b.u.t.terfly of the gra.s.s! [4]

Oki, oki yo!

Waga tomo ni sen, Neru-kocho!

[Wake up! wake up!--I will make thee my comrade, thou sleeping b.u.t.terfly. [5]]

Kago no tori Cho wo urayamu Metsuki kana!

[Ah, the sad expression in the eyes of that caged bird!--envying the b.u.t.terfly!]

Cho tonde-- Kaze naki hi to mo Miezari ki!

[Even though it did not appear to be a windy day, [6] the fluttering of the b.u.t.terflies--!]

Rakkwa eda ni Kaeru to mireba-- Kocho kana!

[When I saw the fallen flower return to the branch--lo! it was only a b.u.t.terfly! [7]]

Chiru-hana ni-- Karusa arasou Kocho kana!

[How the b.u.t.terfly strives to compete in lightness with the falling flowers! [8]]

Chocho ya!

Onna no michi no Ato ya saki!

[See that b.u.t.terfly on the woman's path,--now fluttering behind her, now before!]

Chocho ya!

Hana-nusubito wo Tsukete-yuku!

[Ha! the b.u.t.terfly!--it is following the person who stole the flowers!]

Aki no cho Tomo nakereba ya; Hito ni tsuku

[Poor autumn b.u.t.terfly!--when left without a comrade (of its own race), it follows after man (or ”a person”)!]