Pauk i muha

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY

“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to show when you are there.”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.”

“I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the Spider to the Fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, “Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome — will you please to take a slice?”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”

“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day.”

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple — there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue —
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour — but she ne'er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

Mary Howitt, 1829

PAUK I MUHA

“Biste li u moj dom ušli?”, upita pauk muhu,
“Nećete naći neki drugi uređen u ljepšem duhu,
Gore do mojega stana vijugave stube vode,
Ondje su razne čudesne stvari za divne razonode.

“Ah ne, ne”, reče mu muha, “uzalud zovete mene,
Od onog tko tamo se uspne ostaju samo sjene”.

“Od silnoga leta, draga, umor Vas jamačno hvata,
na krevetu mom odmorite bar jedan - ili dva sata.
Zavjese zastiru sunce, plahte su tanke i glatke,
a ja ću Vas ušuškati da sanjate snove slatke.”

“Ah ne, ne”, reče mu muha, “jer čula sam mnogo puta
da više se ne budi tko tu usne, čak i na par minuta.”

Lukavi pauk reče: “Drugarice mila, draga,
naklonost moja spram Vama ostavit želi traga.
U smočnici svojoj imam raznolikih finih jela,
Žarko Vas želim ugostit, ne bi li za stol moj sjela?

“Ah ne, ne”, reče mu muha, “gospodine preljubazni,
čuh čega ondje ima i ne bih ušla ni po kazni!”

“O slatkoga li bića, pronicavi i mudri Vi ste,
krasnih tananih krila, a tek Vaše oči čiste!
U salonu doma moga zrcalo na zidu vjesi
Ogledalo to nek' lik Vaš prisustvom svojim uresi.”

“Hvala Vam lijepa, gospodine”, odvrati muha njemu,
“spremno ću nastavit s Vama drugi dan ovu temu”.

Pauk se okrenu nazad bezbrižno domu svom poći,
znao je, blesava muha opet će doskora doći.
Pa isplete finu mrežu u jednome kuće kutu,
I spravi stol gdje slasno će jest muhu spomenutu.

A onda iziđe opet, zapjeva glasom žarkim,
“Približi se lijepa muho s ruhom zelenim jarkim,
Krila su Vaša srebrena, na glavi ponosna kresta,
Oči k’o dva dijamanta, u mojima sjaja nesta.”

Al’ jao, jao, luda muha odmah čim lasku začu
poleti, kao da ne ide pauku, nego udvaraču.
Zujeći podalje zasta, pa spušta se sve bliže,
o očima svojim snatreć, leti sve niže i niže.

Čini se da joj budalasta glava samo za krestu služi,
Napokon skoči lukavi pauk, klještima s njom se združi.
Snažno ju vuče vijugavim stubama gore u svoj stan,
Iz toga salona nikada jadnica neće izaći van.

A sada draga dječice, što čitali ovu ste priču,
Zapamtite dobro pouku, vas se te stvari tiču
Laskavim, hvalećim riječima zatvorite uši, srca,
Tko kao muha to ne čini, na koncu u suzama grca.