Сидели как-то мышки
И кофточки вязали,
И меж собой чуть слышно
Про кошку вспоминали.
А кошка, кошка тут как тут,
Косит в окно глазами:
"Давайте буду нитки вам
Я грызть зубами."
"Да нет, мы лучше сами,
Уж больно кошки прытки,
Да и грызут зубами
Они совсем не нитки."
Примечание переводчика: у этого стихотворения много вариаций. Я, собственно, переводил стих "Some mice went into a barn to spin" из сборника "World Famous Nursery Rhymes (Volume Two)".
SOME MICE WENT INTO A BAR TO SPIN
Some mice went into a barn to spin,
Puss came by and popped her head in,
"Shall I come and help you to cut off your threads?"
"Oh no, Miss Puss. You might snap off our heads."
SIX LITTLE MICE SAT DOWN TO SPIN
Six little mice sat down to spin,
Pussy passed by, and she peeped in.
"What are you at, my little men?"
"Making coats for gentlemen."
"Shall I come in and bite off your threads?"
"No, no, Miss Pussy, you'll bite off our heads."
"Oh, no, I'll not, I'll help you spin."
"That may be so, but you don't come in."
SIX LITTLE MICE SAT DOWN TO SPIN
Six little mice sat down to spin;
Pussy passed by and she peeped in.
What are you doing, my little men?
Weaving coats for gentlemen.
Shell I come in and cut off your thread?
No, no, Mistress Pussy, you'd bite off our heards.
Oh, no, I'll not: I'll help you to spin.
That may be so, but you don't come in.
FOUR LITTLE MICE SAT DOWN TO SPIN
Four little mice sat down to spin,
Pussy pass'd by and she peep'd in;
"What are you at, my fine little men?"
"Making coats for gentlemen."
"Shall I come in, and cut off your thread?"
"No! no! Miss Pussy, you'll bite off our head."
TEN LITTLE MICE SAT DOWN TO SPIN
Ten little mice sat down to spin,
Pussy looked down, and she looked in.
What are you doing, my little men?
We're making some clothes for gentlemen.
Shall I come in to cut your threads?
No, kind sir, you'll bite off our heads.