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Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so read more
Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum,
And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go
on,
While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so
on.
"I cannot raise my worth too high;
Of what vast consequence am I!"
"Not of the importance read more
"I cannot raise my worth too high;
Of what vast consequence am I!"
"Not of the importance you suppose,"
Replies a Flea upon his nose;
"Be humble, learn thyself to scan;
Know, pride was never made for man."
I do honour the very flea of his dog.
I do honour the very flea of his dog.
Then mimick'd my voice with satyrical sneer,
And sent me away with a Flea in my ear.
Then mimick'd my voice with satyrical sneer,
And sent me away with a Flea in my ear.
A blockhead, bit by fleas, put out the light,
And chuckling cried, "Now you can't see to bite."
A blockhead, bit by fleas, put out the light,
And chuckling cried, "Now you can't see to bite."
Panurge had a flea in his ear.
[Fr., Panurge auoyt la pulee en l' oreille.]
Panurge had a flea in his ear.
[Fr., Panurge auoyt la pulee en l' oreille.]
So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still read more
So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite 'em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.
Thus every poet in his kind
Is bit by him that comes behind.