by neufer » Wed Sep 04, 2019 2:36 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spider_and_the_Fly_(poem) wrote:
<<The Spider and the Fly is a poem by Mary Howitt (1799–1888), published in 1828. The first line of the poem is "'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly." The story tells of a cunning spider who entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation. The poem is a cautionary tale against those who use flattery and charm to disguise their true intentions.
The poem was published with the subtitle “A Cute Version of a Scary Story” in The New Year’s Gift and Juvenile Souvenir, which has a publication year of 1829 on its title page but, as the title would suggest, was released before New Year’s Day and was reviewed in magazines as early as October 1828.
....................................................
The Spider and the Fly
“Will you walk into my parlour, said a Spider to a Fly;
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to shew when you get there.
Oh, no, no! said the little Fly; to ask me is in vain:
For who goes up that winding stair shall ne'er come down again.
Said the adorable Spider to the Fly, Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I have ever felt tor you?
I have within my parlour great store of all that's nice:
I'm sure you're very welcome; will you please to take a slice!
Oh, no, no! said the little Fly; kind miss, that cannot be;
For I know 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 gaudy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour-shelf;
If you'll step in one moment, sir, you shall behold yourself.
Oh, thank you, gentle miss, he said, for what you're pleased to say;
And wishing you good morning now, I'll call another day.
The Spider turn'd her round again, and went into her den,
For well she knew that cunning Fly would soon come back again.
And then she wore a tiny web, in a little corner sly,
And set her table ready for to dine upon the Fly;
And went out to her door again, and merrily did sing,
Come hither, pretty little Fly, with the gold and silver wing.
Alas, alas! how very soon this cunning little Fly,
Hearing her wily flattering words, came slowly fluttering by.
With humming wings he hung aloft, then nearer and nearer drew.
Thinking only of his crested head and gold and purple hue:
Thinking only of his brilliant wings, poor foolish thing! at last,
Up jump'd the hungry little Spider, and firmly held him fast!
She dragged him up her winding stair, into her dismal den,
Within her little parlour; but he ne'er came down again.
And now, my pretty maidens, who may this story hear,
To silly, idle, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give ear;
Unto a beatiful lady, close heart, and ear, and eye,
And learn a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
...........................................
When Lewis Carroll was readying Alice's Adventures Under Ground for publication he replaced a new version he had made of a negro minstrel song with a parody of Howitt's poem The Mock Turtle's Song in his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; it mimics the meter and rhyme scheme and parodies the first line, but not the subject matter, of the original.
...........................................
"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail,
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle – will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?
"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!"
But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look askance —
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.
"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied.
"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
The further off from England the nearer is to France —
Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?
[quote=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spider_and_the_Fly_(poem)]
<<The Spider and the Fly is a poem by Mary Howitt (1799–1888), published in 1828. The first line of the poem is "'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly." The story tells of a cunning spider who entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation. The poem is a cautionary tale against those who use flattery and charm to disguise their true intentions.
The poem was published with the subtitle “A Cute Version of a Scary Story” in The New Year’s Gift and Juvenile Souvenir, which has a publication year of 1829 on its title page but, as the title would suggest, was released before New Year’s Day and was reviewed in magazines as early as October 1828.
....................................................
[b][i][color=#0000FF]The Spider and the Fly
“Will you walk into my parlour, said a Spider to a Fly;
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to shew when you get there.
Oh, no, no! said the little Fly; to ask me is in vain:
For who goes up that winding stair shall ne'er come down again.
Said the adorable Spider to the Fly, Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I have ever felt tor you?
I have within my parlour great store of all that's nice:
I'm sure you're very welcome; will you please to take a slice!
Oh, no, no! said the little Fly; kind miss, that cannot be;
For I know 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 gaudy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour-shelf;
If you'll step in one moment, sir, you shall behold yourself.
Oh, thank you, gentle miss, he said, for what you're pleased to say;
And wishing you good morning now, I'll call another day.
The Spider turn'd her round again, and went into her den,
For well she knew that cunning Fly would soon come back again.
And then she wore a tiny web, in a little corner sly,
And set her table ready for to dine upon the Fly;
And went out to her door again, and merrily did sing,
Come hither, pretty little Fly, with the gold and silver wing.
Alas, alas! how very soon this cunning little Fly,
Hearing her wily flattering words, came slowly fluttering by.
With humming wings he hung aloft, then nearer and nearer drew.
Thinking only of his crested head and gold and purple hue:
Thinking only of his brilliant wings, poor foolish thing! at last,
Up jump'd the hungry little Spider, and firmly held him fast!
She dragged him up her winding stair, into her dismal den,
Within her little parlour; but he ne'er came down again.
And now, my pretty maidens, who may this story hear,
To silly, idle, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give ear;
Unto a beatiful lady, close heart, and ear, and eye,
And learn a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.[/color][/i][/b]
[float=right][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTJBHxufqic[/youtube][/float]
...........................................
When Lewis Carroll was readying Alice's Adventures Under Ground for publication he replaced a new version he had made of a negro minstrel song with a parody of Howitt's poem The Mock Turtle's Song in his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; it mimics the meter and rhyme scheme and parodies the first line, but not the subject matter, of the original.
...........................................
[b][i][color=#0000FF]"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail,
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle – will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?
"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!"
But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look askance —
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.
"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied.
"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
The further off from England the nearer is to France —
Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?[/color][/i][/b][/quote]