Стихотворения - [13]

                                   For I lay in my urine

                                   While ladies so pure in

          White petticoats ravished my gaze.

(June 1904)

САТИРА НА БРАТЬЕВ ФЭЙ

Братья Фэй всем известны, не так ли?

Они ставили чудо-спектакли,

Голося во всю мочь:

«Все условности — прочь!»

Зритель ахал, и критики мякли.

     Мне же братья сказали: «Свинья!»,

          Чуть нарушил условности я:

                              Ползал пьяный в кулисах

                              И в невинных актрисах

          Сеял трепет, бездарно блюя.

(Июнь 1904)

* * *

The flower I gave rejected lies.

Sad is my lot for all to see.

Humiliation burns my eyes.

The Grace of God abandons me.

As Alberic sweet love forswore

The power of cursed gold to wield

So you, who lusts for metal ore,

Forswear me for a copperfield.

Rejoice not yet in false bravado

The pimpernel you flung away

Shall torchlike burn your El Dorado.

Vengeance is mine. I will repay.

(1902–1904?)

* * *

Цветок, что я тебе принес,

Печаль, что каждому видна,

И крупные улики слез —

Весь этот стыд я пью до дна.

Как Альберик любовь отдал,

Страсть к золоту сильней ценя,

Так ты за низменный металл,

Не дрогнув, предала меня.

Смотри же! Рдяный мой цветок,

Отброшенный, как сор, как хлам, —

Спалит ваш золотой чертог!

Отмщенье мне — и аз воздам.

(1902–1904?)

DOOLEYSPRUDENCE (Air: 'Mr Dooley')

Who is the man when all the gallant nations run to war

Goes home to have his dinner by the very first cablecar

And as he eats his cantaloups contorts himself in mirth

To read the blatant bulletins of the rulers of the earth?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The coolest chap our country ever knew

                'They are out to collar

                The dime and dollar'

                 Says Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

Who is the funny fellow who declines to go to church

Since pope and priest and parson left the poor man in the lurch

And taught their flocks the only way to save all human souls

Was piercing human bodies through with dumdum bulletholes?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The mildest man our country ever knew

                'Who will release us

                From Jingo Jesus?'

                 Prays Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

Who is the meek philosopher who doesn't care a damn

About the yellow peril or problem of Siam

And disbelieves that British Tar is water from life's fount

And will not gulp the gospel of the German on the Mount?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The broadest brain our countiy ever knew

                'The curse of Moses

                On both your houses'

                Cries Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

Who is the cheerful imbecile who lights his long chibouk

With pages of the pandect, penal code and Doomsday Book

And wonders why bald justices are bound by law to wear

A toga and a wig made out of someone else's hair?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The finest fool our country ever knew

                'They took that toilette

                From Pontius Pilate'

                Thinks Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

Who is the man who says he'll go the whole and perfect hog

Before he pays an income tax or licence for a dog

And when he licks a postagestamp regards with smiling scorn

The face of king or emperor or snout of unicorn?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The wildest wag our country ever knew

                'O my poor tummy

                His backside gummy!'

                Moans Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

Who is the tranquil gentleman who won't salute the State

Or serve Nabuchodonosor or proletariat

But thinks that every son of man has quite enough to do

To paddle down the stream of life his personal canoe?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The wisest lad our country ever knew

                'Poor Europe ambles

                Like sheep to shambles!'

                Sighs Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

Who is the sunny sceptic who fights shy of Noah's arks

When they are made in Germany by Engels and by Marx

But when the social deluge comes and rain begins to pour

Takes off his coat and trousers and prepares to swim ashore?

                It's Mr Dooley,

                Mr Dooley,

                The bravest boy our country ever knew

                With arms akimbo

                'I'll find that rainbow!'

                Shouts Mr Dooley-ooley-ooley-oo.

ДУЛИСПРУДЕНЦИЯ (на мотив песенки «Мистер Дули»)

Кто этот странный господин? Воюет целый свет,

А он трамвая мирно ждет и едет на обед,

А там, прочтя очередной монарший манифест,

Смеясь, качает головой и дыню долго ест.

                То мистер Дули,

                Мистер Дули,

                Во всей стране он первый вольнодум.

                «Похоже, братцы,

                Что нас надули», —

                Промолвил Дули-дули-дули-дум.

Кто этот непонятный тип, что в церковь ни ногой

С тех пор, как папа и попы зовут народы в бой

И уверяют, что нашли к спасенью верный путь: