on pets and prisoners

PARLOUR

“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the 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 curious things to shew when you are there.”
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

And so begins that famous poem by Mary Howitt.

You really find yourself rooting for the fly.

“Be alert!” “Stick to your guns!”

Sadly, not to be.

“And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.”

Which just goes to show–flattery will get you nowhere. Well, nowhere that you want to be.

Have a great Monday. Be careful of spiders. And parlours!