К жующей лошади проворно
Слетев, под торбою у ней
Клевал просыпанные зерна.
И лошадь, видимо, нимало
Его нахальство не смущало.
Она, размеренно жуя,
Косила благодушным взглядом
На пируэты воробья,
Пирующего с нею рядом,
И думала, вздыхая тяжко:
«Оголодал-то как, бедняжка!»
А через несколько минут
Возница, севший в колымагу,
Сказал: «Пошла!» - и, вынув кнут,
Cтал по спине хлестать беднягу.
А воробей покинул площадь
И даже не взглянул на лошадь…
The Horse
A sparrow hopped about the street,
And he was not a bit afraid;
He flew between a horse's feet,
And ate his supper undismayed:
I think myself the horse knew well
The bird came for the grains that fell.
For his eye was looking down,
And he danced the corn about
In his nose-bag, till the brown
Grains of corn were tumbled out;
And I fancy that he said,
"Eat it up, young Speckle-Head!"
The driver then came back again,
He climbed into the heavy dray;
And he tightened up the rein,
Cracked his whip and drove away.
But when the horse's ribs were hit,
The sparrow did not care a bit.