The Hornet And The Bittle Poem by Sidi Mahtrow

The Hornet And The Bittle



A harnet set in a hollur tree –
a proper spiteful twoad was he:
And a merrily sung while he did set
His tinge as shearp as a bagganet:
Oh, whoso vine and bowid as i,
I vears not bee, nor wapse, nor vly:

A bittle up thuck tree did clim,
And scarnvully did look at him;
Zays he, 'Zur harnet, who give thee
A right to set in thuck there tree?
Vor ael you zengs zo nation vine,
I tell ‘e ‘tis a houlse o' mine.'

The hornet's conscience velt a twinge,
But grawin' bowld wi his long stinge,
Zays he, 'Possessins's the best laaw;
Zo here th' sha'sn't put a claaw!
Be off, and leave the tree to me,
The mixen's good enough for thee! '

Just then a yuckel passin' by,
Was axed by them the cause to try:
'Ha! Ha! I see how ‘tis! ' says he,
'They'll make a vamous munch vor me! '
His bill was shearp, his stomach lear,
Zo up a snapped the caddlin pair!

Moral

Ael you as be to laaw inclined,
This lettle stwory bear in mind;
vor if to laaw you aims to gwo,
You'll vind they-llallus zar ‘e zo:
You'll meet the vate o these here two,
They'll take your coat and carcass too!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Joel Turner 30 June 2015

I came across this site and entry while researching English Dialects. The Harnett and The Bittle is a well-known Wiltshire fable/ballad. It was included in Wiltshire Tales by J. Yonge Ackerman (1853) and has been cited in many other works on English dialects. The entry should be cited as such, not as an original poem.

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Dee Daffodil 17 July 2006

Sidi...Wonderful challenge to read...but I got through it...you never cease to amaze me with your interesting lessons scattered through your poetry! Quite awesome! Hugs, Dee

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