Prevod

(No individual should take offense at what is said of people in general.) Long ago, in days gone by, And in lands far away, When beasts still spoke Their own peculiar jargon, The wise Elephant observed 5 That it had become their custom To indulge in abuses Much in need of reform. He wished to rebuke them, And so called them together. 10 With his trunk he made A bow to one and all, And began to persuade them In a learned address Which, for this very purpose, 15 He had committed to memory. For more than a quarter of an hour He roundly condemned A thousand foolish failings, A thousand vicious habits: 20 Pernicious idleness, Affected pomp, Arrogant ignorance, Malicious envy. With the greatest delight, 25 Their mouths agape, Many in that company Listened to his counsel: The innocent Lamb, The ever-faithful Dove, 30 The loyal Pointer, The ingenious Bee, The obedient Horse, The industrious Ant, The skillful little Goldfinch, 35 The simple Butterfly. But no small portion Of his audience Took offense and could not Endure so much haranguing. 40 The Tiger and the ravenous Wolf Grew angry with their critic. What a torrent of abuse The venomous Serpent spewed! Muttering under their breath, 45 Buzzing in hoarse voices, Were the Drone, the Wasp, The Horsefly and the Fly. To avoid hearing their own praises, They left the gathering: 50 The destructive Grasshopper, The Caterpillar and the Locust. The Stone Marten cringed, The Fox concealed her feelings, And the insolent Monkey 55 Made a mockery of it all. The Elephant watched With unruffled calm, And brought his discourse To an end in these words: 60 "My warnings apply To everyone and no one: Whoever feels their sting admits his guilt; Whoever does not, let him listen." Let whoever reads my fables 65 Know, too, that all of them Speak to a thousand nations, Not merely to the Spanish. Nor do they speak of these times alone, For they point out faults 70 That have always been in the world, Just as they are now. And since they do not condemn Particular people, Whoever chooses to name names 75 Must swallow the consequences.