The Spider and the Fly (poem)

The story tells of a cunning spider who entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation.

[citation needed] When Lewis Carroll was rewriting Alice's Adventures Under Ground for publication as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, he replaced a negro minstrel song[4] with "The Mock Turtle's Song" (also known as the "Lobster Quadrille"), a parody of Howitt's poem that mimics the meter and rhyme scheme and parodies the first line, but not the subject matter, of the original.

"There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin; And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in."

Said the cunning spider to the fly, "Dear friend, what shall I do, To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?

Then he went out to his door again, and merrily did sing, "Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing; Your robes are green and purple – there's a crest upon your head; Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead."

how very soon this silly little fly, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;– Thinking only of her crested head – poor foolish thing!

– And now, dear little children, who may this story read, To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: Unto an evil counsellor, close heart, and ear, and eye, And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.