Prevod

(There are always those who wish to pass for original authors when they do little more than repeat, with slight variations, what many others have already said.) Beyond the Philippine Islands Lies an island whose name I do not know, Nor care to learn, where, so the stories go, There never was a breed of hens, Until a traveler one day 5 Happened to bring a coop of them that way. In time they bred so well that soon The cheapest, most familiar dish Was fresh-laid eggs; but everyone Ate them boiled (for the traveler 10 Had taught no other way of cooking them). Then a native of that land Introduced the practice of frying eggs. Oh, how they vied in praising The rare abundance of his fancy! 15 Another thought to poach them... What a happy inspiration! Another stuffed them... Now these eggs were truly good! Someone next invented the omelet, And everyone cried out, “How marvelous!” 20 Scarcely a year had passed Before another said, “You blockheads! I shall scramble mine with tomatoes.” And that strange dish of eggs, Which set the whole island in a stir, 25 Would long have held its place, Had not a famous foreigner Soon prepared them Huguenot-style. Such were the feats of various cooks; But what exquisite refinements 30 The pastry cooks went on to add! Soft eggs, double eggs, spun eggs, In caramel, in milk, In sorbet, in compote, pickled. At last they all were inventors, 35 And the latest eggs were always best. But one day a wise old man Said to them, “You pride yourselves in vain On these outlandish preparations; Thank the man who brought us hens!” 40 Could not so many novel authors Go off to cook their eggs Beyond the Philippine Islands?