The Elephant and the Pug

(Fable)

One sunny day a circus came to town,
Parading manful acrobats, a mystical magician,
A silent mime, deft jugglers, deafening musicians,
And in addition
A motley clown
Rode an Elephant, adorned with a crown.

All townsmen along the street,
Sparing neither breath and feet,
Accompanied the jumbo down.

It is no wonder, since not one of them before
Had ever seen such a giant on display,
So they were cautious, careful and therefore
Kept prudently away.

All of a sudden a pitiable Pug
Fiercely pounced on the giant's feet,
Barking and yelping in a vicious attack,
Intrepid and majestic in the feat.

His neighbor Poodle exhorted, "O, my dear,
Stop being a laughingstock. It's very clear
While you've turned hoarse
And lost your muscles force,
The fellow calmly walks ahead
Paying no heed to the relentless threat
Of yours
And even worse:
In spite of your persistence
Ignores your very existence.”

“My foolish Poodle, this is my very goal:
With no fear of disgrace or fall
I sternly play this phony brawl.

Thus getting into a fight,
Where the risk is zero,
Without a single bite,
I will be reputed as an unrivaled hero.”

Although many beasts are in the fable,
Walk in, my reader, there is no ban,
And under every guise be able   And under every guise be able / To find a man.”
To find a man.

***

Variant - Вариант

(Fable)

One sunny day a circus came to town,
Parading manly acrobats, a mystical magician,
A silent mime, deft jugglers, deafening musicians,
And in addition,
A motley clown
Rode an Elephant, adorned with a crown.

All townsmen along the street,
Sparing neither breath nor feet,
Accompanied the jumbo down.

It is no wonder, since not one of them before
Had ever seen such a giant on display,
So they were cautious, careful and therefore
Kept prudently away.

All of a sudden a pitiable Pug
Fiercely pounced on the giant's feet,
Barking and yelping in a vicious attack,
Intrepid and majestic in the feat.

His neighbor Poodle exhorted, “O, my dear,
Stop being a laughingstock. It's very clear:
While you've turned hoarse
And lost your muscular force,
The fellow calmly walks ahead,
Paying no heed to the relentless threat
Of yours,
And, even worse,
In spite of your persistence,
Ignores your very existence.”

“My foolish Poodle, this is my very goal:
Without fear of disgrace or fall,
I boldly play this phony brawl.

Thus getting into a fight,
Where the risk is zero,
Without a single bite,
I will be reputed as an unrivaled hero.”

Although many beasts are in the fable,
Walk in, my reader, there is no ban,
And under every guise be able
To find a man.