Английская поэзия XIV–XX веков в современных русских переводах

There was a battle fought of late,

Yet was the slaughter small;

The strife was, whether I should write,

Or send nothing at all.

Of one side were the captains’ names

Short Time and Little Skill;

One fought alone against them both,

Whose name was Great Good-will.

Short Time enforced me in a strait,

And bade me hold my hand;

Small Skill also withstood desire

My writing to withstand.

But Great Good-will, in show though small,

To write encouraged me,

And to the battle held on still,

No common thing to see.

Thus gan these busy warriors three

Between themselves to fight

As valiantly as though they had

Been of much greater might.

Till Fortune, that unconstant dame,

Which rules such things alway,

Did cause the weaker part in fight

To bear the greater sway.

And then the victor caused me,

However was my skill,

To write these verses unto you

To show my great good-will.