Английская поэзия XIV–XX веков в современных русских переводах

“Good men and true in this house who dwell

To a stranger buachaill I pray you tell

Is the Priest at home or may he be seen

I would speak a word with Father Green”.

“The Priest’s at home, boy, and may be seen;

’Tis easy speaking with Father Green;

But you must wait till I go and see

If the holy father alone may be”.

The youth has entered an empty hall

Where a lonely sound has his light footfall

And the gloomy chamber’s cold and bare

With a vested Priest in a lonely chair.

The youth has knelt to tell his sins

“Nomine Dei”, the youth begins

At “mea culpa”, he beats his breast

Then in broken murmurs he speaks the rest.

“At the siege of Ross did my father fall

And at Gorey my loving brothers all

I alone am left to my name and race

I will go to Wexford to take their place”.

“I cursed three times since last Easter day

And at Mass-time once I went to play

I passed the churchyard one day in haste

And forgot to pray for my Mother’s rest”.

“I bear no hate against living thing

But I love my country above my King

Now Father, bless me and let me go

To die, if God has ordained it so”.

The Priest said naught, but a rustling noise

Made the youth look up in a wild surprise

The robes were off, and in scarlet there

Sat a yeoman captain with fiery glare,

With fiery glare and with fury hoarse

Instead of a blessing he breathed a curse

“‘Twas a good thought, boy, to come here and shrive

For one short hour is your time to live.

Upon yon river three tenders float

The Priest’s on one, if he isn’t shot

We hold this house for our Lord and King

And amen, I say, may all traitors swing”.

At Geneva Barracks that young man died

And at Passage they have his body laid.

Good people who live in peace and joy,

Breathe a prayer, shed a tear for the Croppy Boy.