Читать книгу Fairy Realm: A Collection of the Favourite Old Tales Told in Verse - Tom Hood - Страница 8

Was ever there found

A sleeper so sound?

He thumps him and shakes him,

But that never wakes him;

Not kick, tweak, or pinch

Can stir him an inch.

I don't think he'd stir if you gave him a—pig—

An immoderate slice of the coldest "cold pig."

Cried the Prince, leaping o'er

The page, "Qu'il s'endort!" So he left that inveterate sleeper to snore While he ventured on farther the place to explore. "'T is a very fine place As one clearly may trace— Though, by Jove," said the Prince, and he made a wry face, "From the dirt that's about, it don't seem they can muster So much as a Turk's head, or dust-brush, or duster! It's quite an inch thick: Oh, wouldn't I lick The minions for playing this slovenly trick, If I were the owner, and had a big stick! Look! with curtains of velvet and carpets of plush, rooms— And yet the floor's covered with toadstools and mushrooms! It's well for the parlour-maid she'd not beside her This child, when she left that great cobweb and spider. It's evident cleanliness isn't their hobby!" With these words the Prince reached the end of the lobby. From the lobby he passed to the guard-room, and thence To the courtyard and gardens, which both were immense. The palace, he sees, Lies back beyond these, Apparently rather too darkened by trees— They're not trees though he finds, bringing closer his peepers, But ivy and woodbine and other quick creepers, Which with no interference of gardeners to "worret," Have climbed to the roof of the loftiest turret. How those creepers have turned and twirled, Twisted, wandered, rambled, and curled! Such a place, I ween, Had never been seen— From basement to roof in such greenery furled— Throughout the whole inhabited world. Not even that building, so widely known For its want of proportion— That vast abortion, The Exhibition of 'Sixty-two, Though quite a monstrosity to the view, Seemed half so "overgrown."