< Page:Insect Literature by Lafcadio Hearn.djvu
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— 170 —

Hotaru kōte
Shiba shi-go mai ni
Fuzei kana!

Having bought fireflies, respectfully accord them the favour of four or five tufts of lawn-grass!

Song of the Firefly-Seller

Futatsu mitsu
Hanashite miseru
Hotaru-uri.

Mitsu yotsu wa
Akari ni nokose
Hotaru-uri.

Onoga mi wa
Yami ni kaerti ya
Hotaru-uri.

He will not give you the chance to see two or three fireflies set free,—this firefly-seller.

He leaves in the cage three or four, just to make a light,—this firefly-seller.

For now he must take his own body back into the dark night,—this firefly-seller.

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