Английская поэзия XIV–XX веков в современных русских переводах

E’en like two little bank-dividing brooks,

That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams,

And having ranged and search’d a thousand nooks,

Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames,

Where in a greater current they conjoin:

So I my Best-belovèd’s am; so He is mine.

E’en so we met; and after long pursuit,

E’en so we joined; we both became entire;

No need for either to renew a suit,

For I was flax, and He was flames of fire:

Our firm-united souls did more than twine;

So I my Best-belovèd’s am; so He is mine.

If all those glittering Monarchs, that command

The servile quarters of this earthly ball,

Should tender in exchange their shares of land,

I would not change my fortunes for them all:

Their wealth is but a counter to my coin:

The world’s but theirs; but my Belovèd’s mine.

Like to the damaske rose you see,

Or like the blossome on the tree,

Or like the daintie flower of May,

Or like the Morning to the day,

Or like the Sunne, or like the shade,

Or like the Gourd which Jonas had;

Even such is man whose thred is spun,

Drawn out and cut, and so is done.

The Rose withers, the blossome blasteth,

The flowre fades, the morning hasteth:

The Sunne sets, the shadow flies,

The Gourd consumes, and man he dies.

Like to the blaze of fond delight;

Or like a morning cleare and bright;

Or like a frost, or like a showre;

Or like the pride of Babel’s Tower;

Or like the houre that guides the time;

Or like to beauty in her prime;

Even such is man, whose glory lends

His life a blaze or two, and ends.

Delights vanish; the morne o’ercasteth,

The frost breaks, the shower hasteth;

The Tower falls, the hower spends;

The beauty fades, and man’s life ends.