The wolf and the bear and the little fox had made peace,
They were became like uncles and nephews
They have made the little fox a monk
False monk, false hermit, false!
The little fox went into the street and found an old rag,
He made a hole and put his head in it, he took a stick,
He put on an iron shoe, he made a hole in the stone.
False monk, false hermit, false!
The fox sent the wolf to fetch the bear,
I have accepted for thee this solitary life,
And thou dost not send me rations,
My ankles are sore, my knees are sore, my knees.
In the morning at day-light they go to the chase,
They caught a sheep, a lamb, and a ram,
They made the wolf the holy dispenser
Unjust judge, unjust dispenser, unjust!
The wolf had made a portion for the bear of the ewe
And ordered the lamb for the poor monk
The ram for me, says he, for I have walked much
Unjust judge, unjust dispenser, unjust!
The bear had raised his paw and struck the wolf,
So hard he struck that he took away both his eyes
I am the first among you and you have given me the ewe.
Unjust judge, unjust dispenser, unjust!
The fox who saw it was much afraid,
And seeing the cheese in the trap, said to the bear,
My grand uncle, I have built a fine convent,
The place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer.
The bear had extended his paw to take the cheese
The trap seized his neck on both sides,
" Little fox, my nephew, why do you not help me?
This is not a convent, not a place of prayer."
The little fox seeing it, was much pleased,
He made a funeral service and prayed for his soul
" The ill of the wolf, which thou hast occasioned, has seized thee
This place is a place retreat, a place of prayer."
O Justice, thou pleasest me much!
Whoever does harm to another soon perishes,
As the bear in the trap is obliged to fast,
That place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer!
They were became like uncles and nephews
They have made the little fox a monk
False monk, false hermit, false!
The little fox went into the street and found an old rag,
He made a hole and put his head in it, he took a stick,
He put on an iron shoe, he made a hole in the stone.
False monk, false hermit, false!
The fox sent the wolf to fetch the bear,
I have accepted for thee this solitary life,
And thou dost not send me rations,
My ankles are sore, my knees are sore, my knees.
In the morning at day-light they go to the chase,
They caught a sheep, a lamb, and a ram,
They made the wolf the holy dispenser
Unjust judge, unjust dispenser, unjust!
The wolf had made a portion for the bear of the ewe
And ordered the lamb for the poor monk
The ram for me, says he, for I have walked much
Unjust judge, unjust dispenser, unjust!
The bear had raised his paw and struck the wolf,
So hard he struck that he took away both his eyes
I am the first among you and you have given me the ewe.
Unjust judge, unjust dispenser, unjust!
The fox who saw it was much afraid,
And seeing the cheese in the trap, said to the bear,
My grand uncle, I have built a fine convent,
The place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer.
The bear had extended his paw to take the cheese
The trap seized his neck on both sides,
" Little fox, my nephew, why do you not help me?
This is not a convent, not a place of prayer."
The little fox seeing it, was much pleased,
He made a funeral service and prayed for his soul
" The ill of the wolf, which thou hast occasioned, has seized thee
This place is a place retreat, a place of prayer."
O Justice, thou pleasest me much!
Whoever does harm to another soon perishes,
As the bear in the trap is obliged to fast,
That place is a place of retreat, a place of prayer!