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В морях ревущих ты простер
Обильные бока,
Для всех в твоих пределах жизнь
Приятна и легка.
В чужбине дорогой ценой
Дается людям снедь,
За счастье там считают все,
Что угодило в сеть,
В трудах мучительных живут
Сожженные края…
А нам среди родимых рек
Мила земля своя.
Ты, остров, Богом взыскан был,
Богатства полный край,
Здесь юность я свою провел…
Но нет, теперь прощай!
Велит мне прихоть посмотреть
Чужие небеса,
Постранствовать охота мне,
Увидеть чудеса,
Не жить в довольстве мне в дому —
Теперь я знаю сам,
За впечатленьями пора
Пуститься по морям.
Перевод А. Серебренникова
Thomas Deloney (ca. 1543–1600)
* * *
Crabbed age and youth ca
Youth is full of pleasance, age is full of care,
Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather,
Youth like summer brave, Age like winter bare.
Youth is full of sport, Ages breath is short,
Youth is nimble, Age is lame,
Youth is hot and bold, Age is weak and cold,
Youth is wild, and Age is tame.
Age I do abhor thee, Youth I do adore thee,
O my love, my love is young.
Age I do defie thee. Oh sweet Shepheard hie thee;
For methinks thou stays too long.
How Couentry Was Made Free by Godiva, Countesse Of Chester
Leofricus, that Noble Earle
Of Chester, as I reade,
Did for the City of Couentry,
Many a noble deed.
Great priuiledges for the towne
This Nobleman did get,
And of all things did make it so,
That they tole-free did sit:
Saue onley that for horses still,
They did some custome pay,
Which was great charges to the towne,
Full long and many a day.
Wherefore his wife, Godiva faire,
Did of the Earl request,
That therefore he would make it free,
As well as all the rest.
So when the Lady long had sued,
Her purpose to obtaine:
Her Noble Lord at length she tooke,
Within a pleasant vaine,
And vnto him with smiling cheare,
She did forthwith proceed,
Entreating greatly that he would
Performe that goodly deed.
You moue me much, faire Dame (quoth he)
Your suit I faine uould shu
But what would you performe and do,
To haue this matter done?
Why any thing, my Lord (quoth she)
You will with reason craue,
I will performe it with good will,
If I my wish may haue.
If thou wilt grant one thing (said he)
Which I shall now require,
So soone as it is finished,
Thou shalt haue thy desire.
Command what you thinke good, my Lord,
I will thereto agree:
On this condition that this Towne
For euer may be free.
If thou wilt thy cloaths strip off,
And here wilt lay them downe,
And at noone day on horsebacke ride
Starke naked thorow the Towne,
They shall be free for euermore:
If thou wilt not do so,
More liberty than now they haue,
I neuer will bestow.
The lady at this strange demand,
Was much abasht in mind:
And yet for to fulfil this thing,
She neuer a whit repinde.
Wherefore to all the Officers
Of all the Towne she sent:
That they perceiuing her good will,
Which for the weale was bent,
That on the day that she should ride,
All persons thorow the Towne,
Should keepe their houses and shut their doores,
And clap their windowes downe,
So that no creature, yong or old
Should in the street be seene:
Till she had ridden all about,
Throughout the City cleane.