Генри Кинг,
Который любил жевать шнурки и в страшных мучениях рано ушел из жизни
К несчастью юный Кинг привык
Шнурки жевать, класть под язык:
Они в желудке очутились
И в страшные узлы скрутились.
Светила тут же подоспели,
Раздели Генри, осмотрели,
И, скорбно деньги получая,
Сказали, головой качая:
«Какой обидный прецедент -
От смерти панацеи нет!».
Родители давай стенать,
Шнурки и Генри проклинать;
А тот, собрав остаток сил,
Сказал: «Друзья, я вас любил,
Нельзя шнурки жевать помногу!»
Сказал и отдал душу богу.
Текст оригинала:
Hilaire Belloc
Henry King
Who chewed bits of String, and was early cut off in Dreadful Agonies
The Chief Defect of Henry King
Was chewing little bits of String.
At last he swallowed some which tied
Itself in ugly Knots inside.
Physicians of the Utmost Fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered, as they took their Fees,
"There is no Cure for this Disease.
Henry will very soon be dead."
His Parents stood about his Bed
Lamenting his Untimely Death,
When Henry, with his Latest Breath,
Cried--"Oh, my Friends, be warned by me,
That Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch and Tea
Are all the Human Frame requires ..."
With that the Wretched Child expires.