Prevod

(To avoid praising good work, some people pretend it is easy to do.) Some people have a curious way Of seeming to know all there is to say; For anything they happen to hear or see, However new or fine a thing it be, They call quite commonplace and easy too, 5 And so escape giving praise where praise is due. This breed of people Shall not escape me, on my life, Without a proper fable to their name, Though I spend all day contriving it. 10 The Ant was telling the Flea How hard she toiled, And by what clever means she earned her food, How she went about building the anthill, Which room was home, and which the granary, 15 How she carried in the grain, Dividing up the labour among them all; And many other curious little details That might have passed for fairy tales Had everyday experience 20 Not proved them plain and certain facts. To everything she said The Flea replied With nothing more than phrases such as these: Well, yes... of course... one assumes... good... I see... 25 Just as I always said... no doubt... quite clear... Obviously: is there anything so strange in that? The Ant, who lost her temper At these empty little answers, Said to the Flea: “My friend, I should like you 30 To come along with me to the anthill. Since, with that knowing air, You make it all sound easy, all but done, Just to show us how, Lend us a hand at something useful.” 35 The Flea, springing nimbly away, Replied with the greatest impudence: “Why, what a trifling task! Do you think it would cost me so much effort? One only has to set to work... 40 But... I have things to do... Another day.”