Classic Poem

Ho hu o ho the foxes,
O seldom are they to be found!
Ho hu ho the foxes.

The foxes have my benison
because of their sheep hunting.
Ho hu o ho the foxes, &c.

Are these the sheep of brindled face
that caused dispeace throughout the world;

the land to be laid waste to us,
and the rent to become dearer?

There is no place for a farmer,
his revenues have dwindled;

he is compelled to leave the place
where his forbears had resided.

The villages and shielings
where warmth and cheer were found,

have no houses save the ruins,
and no tillage in the fields.

Every practice that prevailed
in Gaeldom has been altered,

and become so unnatural
in the places that were hospitable.

There is no filly there, nor mare
that would have her foal beside her;

there are no mated heifers
that are nursing their own calves there.

There is no need for dairy-maids,
every herd has been dispersed;

no lad is earning wages
except the shepherd of the sheep.

the precious goats have disappeared,
'twas a king decreed they should be free.

The little doe that haunts the bush
will not be roused by fawn's bleat;

there is no deer beside a spring
since the gentlemen lost taste for them.

Every forester is disengaged,
without wage in return for his labour.

I have a grudge against the man
who defames the foxes,

who sends a dog to chase them,
or shoots fine-grained lead at them.

Healthy may the fox cubs be
that are a-dwelling in a den!

If they had my wish granted them,
they need not fear untimely end.

The youngsters would be thriving,
and survive till old age kills them.