Песня из трагедии «Элла» (Чаттертон/Смирнов)
Песня из трагедии «Элла» |
Перевод Дмитрия Н. Смирнова. |
Смирнов: |
Чаттертон: |
Примечание переводчика
- ↑ Песня менестреля из трагедии «Элла» (1769) написана в форме roundelay – короткой песенки с припевом (или рефреном). Трагедия включена в цикл произведений вымышленного священника-поэта XV века Томаса Роули (Rowley). В пьесе англосаксонский вождь Элла, чтобы отразить нападение датчан, покидает свою возлюбленную Берту в день свадьбы. Берту похищают в его отсутствие, и Элла, узнав об этом, кончает жизнь самоубийством. Песня во многом перекликается с Песней Дездемоны об иве из «Отелло» Шекспира. Чаттертон использут здесь старинное правописание: mie=my; brynie=briny; ne moe=no more; ate=at: hallie day=holiday; lycke=like; reynynge=running; cryne=hair; cale=cold; ynne=in; swote=sweet, и т. д.
В современной орфографии:
O, sing unto my roundelay!
O, drop the briny tear with me!
Dance no more at holiday;
Like a running river be.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree.
Black his hair as the winter night,
White his neck as the summer snow,
Ruddy his face as the morning light;
Cold he lies in the grave below.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree..
Sweet his tongue as the throstle's note;
Quick in dance as thought can be;
Deft his tabor, cudgel stout;
O, he lies by the willow tree!
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree..
Hark! the raven flaps his wing
In the briered dell below;
Hark! the death-owl loud doth sing
To the nightmares as they go.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree.
See! the white moon shines on high;
Whiter is my true-love's shroud,
Whiter than the morning sky,
Whiter than the evening cloud.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree.
Here, upon my true-love's grave
Shall the barren flowers be laid,
Nor one holy saint to save
All the coldness of a maid.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree.
With my hands I'll bind the briers
Round his holy corse to gre;
Ouphant fairy, light your fires;
Here my body still shall be.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree..
Come, with acorn-cup and thorn,
Drain my heart's blood away;
Life and all tis good I scorn,
Dance by night, or feast by day.
My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow-tree.
Water-witches crowned with reytes,
Bear me to your lethal tide.
I die! I come! my true-love waits.
Thus the damsel spake, and died.