# The Crow and The Fox

Эмиль Шарафутдинов

Перевод басни И. А. Крылова "Ворона и Лисица" на английский


How many times it has been said

That flattery is vile, that flattery is bad,

But no good at all still comes from this,

And flatterers can always squeeze

Themselves into the hearts of men with ease.

____________________


Once to a Crow God sent a piece of cheese;

The godsend in the beak,

She, having perched upon a pine,

Almost was going to dine,

But for a moment stopped to think.

And so unluckily the thing turned out -

A Fox this very moment prowled about;

The scent of cheese went up the Fox"s nose,

The Fox beheld the cheese, the cheese seduced the Fox.

The rascal on tiptoe came to the pine,

Wagging the tail, bending the spine,

Spoke to the Crow sweetly, hardly breathing,

"My dear, how beautiful you are, how pleasing!

Ah, what a neck, what pretty eyes!

No way to tell - they simply mesmerize!

What feathers, what a beak - très chic!

And certainly like angels you must speak!

Sing, darling, don"t be shy! If, being

Such a majestic beauty, you masterfully sing

Then among birds you shall be queen!"

The praises made the Crow"s head light,

Her breath stuck in the throat from delight

In answer to the Fox"s pleasant talk

With all her crow"s might she gave a dreadful croak, -

The cheese fell to the Fox"s feet

And off the rascal went with it.