Английская поэзия XIV–XX веков в современных русских переводах

Green groweth the holly,

So doth the ivy.

Though winter blasts blow never so high,

Green groweth the holly.

As the holly groweth green

And never changeth hue,

So I am, ever hath been,

Unto my lady true.

As the holly groweth green

With ivy all alone

When flowers cannot be seen

And greenwood leaves be gone,

Now unto my lady

Promise to her I make,

From all other only

To her I me betake.

Adieu, mine own lady,

Adieu, my special

Who hath my heart truly

Be sure, and ever shall.

Pastime with good company

I love and shall unto I die.

Grudge whoso will, but none deny,

So God be pleased, this live will I.

For my pastance

Hunt, sing, and dance.

My heart is set

All godely sport

To my comfort.

Who shall me let?

Youth will have needs daliance,

Of good or ill some pastance.

Company me thinketh then best

All thoftes and fantasies to digest.

For idleness

Is chief mistress

Of vices all.

Than who can say

But “pass the day”

Is best of all?

Company with honesty

Is virtue, and vice to flee.

Company is good or ill

But every man hath his free will.

The best ensue,

The worst eschew,

My mind shall be.

Virtue to use,

Vice to refuse,

I shall use me.

Though some saith that youth ruleth me,

I trust in age to tarry.

God and my right and my duty,

From them I shall never vary,

Though some say that youth ruleth me.

I pray you all that aged be,

How well did ye your youth carry?

I think some worse, of each degree:

Therein a wager lay dare I,

Though some saith that youth ruleth me.

Pastimes of youth sometime among,

None can say but necessary.

I hurt no man, I do no wrong,

I love true where I did marry,

Though some saith that youth ruleth me.

Then soon discuss that hence we must.

Pray we to God and Saint Mary

That all amend, and here an end,

Thus saith the king, the eighth Harry,

Though some saith that youth ruleth me.