New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ^ DiTerlizzi, based on the poem by Mary Howitt with illustrations by Tony (2002).^ 'The Fable of the Spider and the Fly'.^ 'The Spider and the Fly (1916) - Overview - TCM.com'.^ Carroll's parody of Howitt's poem accessed 3 October 2007.The annotated Alice : Alice's adventures in Wonderland & Through the looking glass (Definitive ed.). ^ Gardner, Martin The Annotated Alice, 1998 ( updated, Lewis Carroll with illustrations by John Tenniel introduction Gardner, notes by Martin (1999).^ For example, in The Gentleman‘s Magazine, Oct.London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green. The New Year's Gift and Juvenile Souvenir. Unto an evil counsellor, close heart, and ear, and eye,Īnd take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly. To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:

– And now, dear little children, who may this story read, Within his little parlour – but she ne'er came out again! He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast. Thinking only of her crested head, poor foolish thing! – At last Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue:– With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.'Īlas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly, Your robes are green and purple – there's a crest upon your head 'Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing Then he went out to his door again, and merrily did sing, So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner, sly,Īnd set his table ready, to dine upon the fly. The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,įor well he knew, the silly fly would soon come back again: 'I thank you, gentle sir,' she said, 'for what you're pleased to say,Īnd bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day.' If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.' I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf, How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! 'Sweet creature!' said the spider, 'you're witty and you're wise. I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.' 'Oh no, no!' said the little fly, 'kind sir, that cannot be,' I'm sure you're very welcome – will you please to take a slice?' I have, within my pantry, good store of all that's nice To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you? Said the cunning spider to the fly, 'Dear friend, what shall I do, They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!' 'Oh no, no!' said the little fly, 'for I've often heard it said, 'There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin Īnd if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in.' Will you rest upon my little bed?' said the spider to the fly. 'I'm sure you must be weary, with soaring up so high, 'Oh no, no!' said the little fly, 'to ask me is in vain,įor who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.' The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,Īnd I have many pretty things to shew when you are there.' ' 'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy. 'Will you walk into my parlour?' said a spider to a fly When Lewis Carroll was reading Alice's Adventures Under Ground for publication as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, he replaced a negro minstrel song 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. The line has been used and parodied numerous times in various works of fiction. Often misquoted as 'Step into my parlour' or 'Come into my parlour', it has become an aphorism, often used to indicate a false offer of help or friendship that is in fact a trap. The opening line is one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse. The poem was published with the subtitle 'A new Version of an old Story' in The New Year’s Gift and Juvenile Souvenir, which has a publication year of 1829 on its title page but, as the title would suggest, was released before New Year’s Day and was reviewed in magazines as early as October 1828. The poem is a cautionary tale against those who use flattery and charm to disguise their true intentions. The first line of the poem is ''Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly.' The story tells of a cunning spider who entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation. ' The Spider and the Fly' is a poem by Mary Howitt (1799–1888), published in 1829.

Tuck you in