Prevod

(Those who corrupt their language have no other revenge than to call those who speak it properly purists, as though that were a fault.) A lady brought two Parrots home from Santo Domingo. The island is partly French and partly Spanish. And so each little creature 5 Spoke a different language. She put them on the balcony, And there was Babel for you. Of French and Castilian They made such a hodgepodge 10 That in the end they could no longer Speak either tongue aright. The French bird borrowed from the Spanish A few words, though not many; The Spanish bird borrowed from the French 15 Almost every word he knew. Their mistress had them separated; The French bird soon corrected The words he had picked up From a tongue not now in fashion. 20 The Spanish bird, by contrast, Would not forget the gibberish, And even fancied that with it He enriched his native tongue. He went so far as to ask in French 25 For chickpeas from the pot; And from the balcony opposite A learned Parakeet Burst into laughter, Making mock of the Parrot. 30 His only answer, As though it were a shameful fault, Was: You are nothing but a PURIST[1]; And she replied: Proud to be one. Why, parrots are 35 Just like people!

[Note 1: A term now used by those who corrupt our language when they seek to ridicule those who speak it with purity.]