| |
| “WILL you walk into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly; | |
| “’T is the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy. | |
| The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, | |
| And I have many curious things to show when you are there.” | |
| “Oh no, no,” said the little fly; “to ask me is in vain, | 5 |
| For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.” | |
| |
| “I ’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high. | |
| Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the spider to the fly. | |
| “There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin, | |
| And if you like to rest a while, I ’ll snugly tuck you in! | 10 |
| “Oh no, no,” said the little fly, “for I ’ve often heard it said, | |
| They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!” | |
| |
| Said the cunning spider to the fly: “Dear friend, what can I do | |
| To prove the warm affection I ’ve always felt for you? | |
| I have within my pantry good store of all that ’s nice; | 15 |
| I ’m sure you ’re very welcome—will you please to take a slice?” | |
| “Oh no, no,” said the little fly; “kind sir, that cannot be: | |
| I ’ve heard what ’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!” | |
| |
| “Sweet creature!” said the spider, “you ’re witty and you ’re wise; | |
| How handsome are your gauzy wings; how brilliant are your eyes! | 20 |
| I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf; | |
| If you ’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.” | |
| “I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, for what you ’re pleased to say, | |
| And, bidding you good-morning now, I ’ll call another day.” | |
| |
| The spider turned him round about, and went into his den, | 25 |
| For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again: | |
| So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly, | |
| And set his table ready to dine upon the fly; | |
| Then came out to his door again, and merrily did sing: | |
| “Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with pearl and silver wing; | 30 |
| Your robes are green and purple; there ’s a crest upon your head; | |
| Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!” | |
| |
| Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly, | |
| Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; | |
| With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, | 35 |
| Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and purple hue, | |
| Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing! at last | |
| Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast; | |
| He dragged her up his winding stair, into the dismal den— | |
| Within his little parlor—but she ne’er came out again! | 40 |
| |
| And now, dear little children, who may this story read, | |
| To idle, silly, flattering words I pray you ne’er give heed; | |
| Unto an evil counsellor close heart and ear and eye, | |
| And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly. | |
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