Translation

To the Editors:

In a recent issue a correspondent alludes to the French rhyme:

Cet animal est très méchant:
Quand on l’attaque, il se défend.

For the benefit of my learned friends, I have devised 1. a paraphrase in English, 2. a fairly close English version, and 3. a very close Russian translation:

1.

This animal is very wicked:
Just see what happens if you kick it.

2.

This beast is very mean: in fact
It will fight back, when it’s attacked.

3.

Zhivótnoe sié=prezlòe suschestvo:
Oboronyáetsy, kol’ trógayutevo.

Vladimir Nabokov
Montreux