The Donkey was employed in a track farm
To supersede jackstraws
And save the crop from any harm
From sparrows and crows.
This Donkey was a honest guy,
And that is why
In August, June, or even in July
He was not ever caught at stealing
A single leaf, and there is no telling,
He never gave no quarter to a bird,
But chasing them like fun
He had so much to run,
And to all beds such damage has he done,
And so much hurt
That just to compensate his loss in a little part
The owner beat the guard severely.
Well, people say, he paid dearly,
But it did serve him right.
Indeed, how he might
Accept such job being such a blockhead.
And yet,
It also should be said,
That
It also was not smart
To hire such a guard.
Мужик на лето в огород
Наняв Осла, приставил
Ворон и воробьёв гонять нахальный род.
Осёл был самых честных правил:
Ни с хищностью, ни с кражей незнаком,
Не поживился он хозяйским ни листком
И птицам, грех сказать, чтобы давал потачку;
Но Мужику барыш был с огорода плох.
Осёл, гоняя птиц, со всех ослиных ног,
По всем грядам и вдоль и поперёк
Такую поднял скачку,
Что в огороде всё примял и притоптал.
Увидя тут, что труд его пропал,
Крестьянин на спине ослиной
Убыток выместил дубиной.
«И ништо! — все кричат, — скотине поделом!
С его ль умом
За это дело браться?»
____
А я скажу, не с тем, чтоб за Осла вступаться;
Он, точно, виноват (с ним сделан и расчет),
Но, кажется, не прав и тот,
Кто поручил Ослу стеречь свой огород.
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