Полярному медведю не помеха
Мороз, меня пронзающий насквозь.
А почему? На нём пальто из меха.
Хочу я тоже шубу из волос!

=====

The Polar Bear

The Polar Bear is unaware
Of cold that cuts me through:
For why? He has a coat of hair.
I wish I had one too!

Как сажа, чёрен Скорпион,
И жалить любит очень.
Ужасно, если с вами он
В одной кровати ночью.

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The Scorpion

The Scorpion is as black as soot,
He dearly loves to bite;
He is a most unpleasant brute
To find in bed, at night.

Тартарцы живут средь тибетских равнин,
В безрадостном крае снегов.
У них Як, как няня, почти семьянин.
А лучше их нет знатоков!

Скажи папе, где можно Яка купить.
И если он очень богат,
Он купит тебе... или нет. Говорить
Могу я здесь лишь наугад.

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Title: The Yak
Author: Hilaire Belloc

As a friend to the children commend me the Yak.
You will find it exactly the thing:
It will carry and fetch, you can ride on its back,
Or lead it about with a string.

The Tartar who dwells on the plains of Thibet
(A desolate region of snow)
Has for centuries made it a nursery pet,
And surely the Tartar should know!

Then tell your papa where the Yak can be got,
And if he is awfully rich
He will buy you the creature--or else he will not.
(I cannot be positive which.)

=====

Lord Hippo suffered fearful loss
By putting money on a horse
Which he believed, if it were pressed,
Would run far faster than the rest:
For someone who was in the know
Had confidently told him so.
But on the morning of the race
It only took the _seventh_ place!
Picture the Viscount's great surprise!
He scarcely could believe his eyes!
He sought the Individual who
Had laid him odds at 9 to 2,
Suggesting as a useful tip
That they should enter Partnership
And put to joint account the debt
Arising from his foolish bet.
But when the Bookie--oh! my word,
I only wish you could have heard
The way he roared he did not think,
And hoped that they might strike him pink!
Lord Hippo simply turned and ran
From this infuriated man.
Despairing, maddened and distraught
He utterly collapsed and sought
His sire, the Earl of Potamus,
And brokenly addressed him thus:
"Dread Sire--to-day--at Ascot--I ..."
His genial parent made reply:
Come! Come! Come! Come! Don't look so glum!
Trust your Papa and name the sum....
WHAT? _Fifteen hundred thousand?_... Hum!
However ... stiffen up, you wreck;
Boys will be boys--so here's the cheque!
Lord Hippo, feeling deeply--well,
More grateful than he cared to tell--
Punted the lot on Little Nell:--
And got a telegram at dinner
To say that he had backed the Winner!