Vatican II's Twisted Tree and Rotten Fruit: The Spider to the Fly part six

VII Tricksters at Work: Caution

The Spider and the Fly

                                                   Mary Howitt

A Call to Arms Parody of Her Wise-Telling Poem

Will you walk into my [Vatican II] parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,

'Tis the prettiest [painless] little parlour that ever you did spy;

The way into my [Vatican II] parlour is up a [non straight] winding stair,

And I've a many [invalid] curious things to shew when you are there."

Oh no, no," said the [conservative] little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,

For who goes up your [non straight] winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be [time's on my side]weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will you rest upon my little [hell] bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.

"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the [ill-seen] sheets are fine and thin,

And if you like to rest awhile, I'll [lie 'n]snugly [chain] tuck you in!"

Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often [Council of Trent]heard it said,

They never, never wake again, who [trust 'n don't verify ] sleep upon your bed!"

Said the [devilish] cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,

To prove [with smok'n mirrors] the warm affection I 've always felt for you?

I have within my [bag-of-tricks] pantry, good store of all that's nice;

I'm sure you're very welcome ['til you think] -- will you please to take a slice?"

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir [blindsighted], that cannot be,

I've heard [losing certainty] what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're [dim]witty and you're wise,

How handsome [flattery] are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!

I've a little looking-glass upon my [VII] parlour shelf,

If you'll step in one moment, dear, you [blindly] shall [vainly] behold yourself."

"I thank you, gentle [HA!]sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,

And bidding you good morning now, I'll [fall'n] call another day."

The [VII] Spider turned him round about, and went into his [VII] den,

For well he knew the silly [conservative] Fly would soon come back again:

So he wove a [Motu Proprio] subtle web, in a little corner sly,

And set his [dinner] table ready, to [hellishly] dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did [novus ordo] sing,

"Come hither, [compromise] hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are [misguided]green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the [$]diamond bright, but mine [truthfully]are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,

Hearing his [trickster's] wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;

With buzzing [Fellay-like]wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,

Thinking only of her [wishful] brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --

Thinking only of her [dream of one]crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,

Up jumped the cunning [VII] Spider, and fiercely held her fast.

He dragged her up his [non straight] winding stair, into his dismal [VII]den,

Within his [death's door] little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!

And now dear little [conservative] children, who may this story read,

To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:

Unto an evil [VII] counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.