Чистый nonsense (сборник). Эдвард Лир

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      'O Mr. Daddy Long-legs,

      Said Mr. Floppy Fly,

      'It's true I never go to court,

      And I will tell you why.

      If I had six long legs like yours,

      At once I'd go to court!

      But oh! I can't, because my legs

      Are so extremely short.

      And I'm afraid the King and Queen

      (One in red, and one in green)

      Would say aloud, “You are not fit,

      You Fly, to come to court a bit!”

      'O Mr. Daddy Long-legs,

      Said Mr. Floppy Fly,

      'I wish you'd sing one little song!

      One mumbian melody!

      You used to sing so awful well

      In former days gone by,

      But now you never sing at all;

      I wish you'd tell me why:

      For if you would, the silvery sound

      Would please the shrimps and cockles round,

      And all the crabs would gladly come

      To hear you sing, “Ah, hum di Hum”!

      Said Mr. Daddy Long-legs,

      'I can never sing again!

      And if you wish, I'll tell you why,

      Although it gives me pain.

      For years I cannot hum a bit,

      Or sing the smallest song;

      And this the dreadful reason is,

      My legs are grown too long!

      My six long legs, all here and there,

      Oppress my bosom with despair;

      And if I stand, or lie, or sit,

      I cannot sing one little bit!

      So Mr. Daddy Long-legs

      And Mr. Floppy Fly

      Sat down in silence by the sea,

      And gazed upon the sky.

      They said, 'This is a dreadful thing!

      The world has all gone wrong,

      Since one has legs too short by half,

      The other much too long!

      One never more can go to court,

      Because his legs have grown too short;

      The other cannot sing a song,

      Because his legs have grown too long!

      Then Mr. Daddy Long-legs

      And Mr. Floppy Fly

      Rushed downward to the foamy sea

      With one sponge-taneous cry;

      And there they found a little boat,

      Whose sails were pink and gray;

      And off they sailed among the waves,

      Far, and far away.

      They sailed across the silent main,

      And reached the great Gromboolian plain;

      And there they play for evermore

      At battlecock and shuttledoor.