Хилдебрандт, испугавшийся автомобиля

- Mon dieu, papa, какой кошмар!
- Не бойся! Это "Ягуар".
При чем тут святый Боже?
Ужель настолько страшен сей
Предмет ночных мечтаний всей
Британской молодежи?

Что дед сказал бы, как назло
Отдавший глаз при Ватерлоо,
Ступню и кисть под Фонтенбло
И жизнь при Трафальгаре?
Еще вчера была война -
И вот те здрасте - пацана
Пугает недоносок на
Паршивом "Ягуаре"!

Ну все, не корчи кислых рож.
Щас "Бентли" купим - все поймешь.

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HILDEBRAND, WHO WAS FRIGHTENED BY A PASSING MOTOR, AND WAS BROUGHT TO REASON (H.Belloc)

"Oh, Murder! What was that, Papa!"
"My child, it was a motor-Car,
A Most Ingenious Toy!

Designed to Captivate and Charm
Much rather to rouse Alarm
In any English Boy.

What would your Great Grandfather who
Was Aide-de-Camp to General Brue,
And lost a leg at Waterloo,
And Quatre-Bras and Ligney too!
And died at Trafalgar! -

What would he have remarked to hear
His Young Descendant shriek with fear,
Because he happened to be near
A Harmless Motor-Car!

But do not fret about it! Come!
We’ll off to Town and purchase some!"