There's little to relate (рассказывать немного).
I saw an aged aged man (я видел старого старичка),
A-sitting on a gate (сидевшего на воротах).
thee [Di:], attentively [q'tentIvlI], relate [rI'leIt]
`But the tune ISN'T his own invention,' she said to herself: `it's "I GIVE THEE ALL, I CAN NO MORE."' She stood and listened very attentively, but no tears came into her eyes.
`I'll tell thee everything I can;
There's little to relate.
I saw an aged aged man,
A-sitting on a gate.
"Who are you, aged man (кто ты, старик)?"
I said (спросил я), "and how is it you live (и как ты живешь)?"
And his answer trickled through my head (и его ответ потек через =
Like water through a sieve (как вода через сито).
who [hu:], how [haV], sieve [sIv]
"Who are you, aged man?" I said,
"and how is it you live?"
And his answer trickled through my head
Like water through a sieve.
He said "I look for butterflies (он сказал: "Я выискиваю бабочек")
That sleep among the wheat (которые спят в пшенице;
I make them into mutton-pies (я делаю из них пироги с бараниной),
And sell them in the street (и продаю их на улице).
I sell them unto men (и продаю их людям)," he said,
"Who sail on stormy seas (которые плавают по бурным морям);
And that's the way I get my bread (вот и способ, которым я зарабатываю себе на хлеб)—
A trifle, if you please (мелочь, если позволите;
butterflies ['bAtqflaIz], wheat [wi:t], mutton-pie ["mAtn'paI], stormy ['stO:mI]
He said "I look for butterflies
That sleep among the wheat:
I make them into mutton-pies,
And sell them in the street.
I sell them unto men," he said,
"Who sail on stormy seas;
And that's the way I get my bread—
A trifle, if you please."
But I was thinking of a plan (но я подумывал о плане)
To dye one's whiskers green (чтобы выкрасить бакенбарды в зеленый цвет),
And always use so large a fan (и всегда пользоваться таким большим веером)
That they could not be seen (чтобы их не было видно).
So, having no reply to give (поэтому, не имея ответа, /который я мог бы/ дать)
To what the old man said (на то, что сказал старик),
I cried (я вскричал), "Come, tell me how you live (ну, расскажи мне, как ты живешь)!"
And thumped him on the head (и стукнул его по голове).
dye [daI], whisker ['wIskq], reply [rI'plaI]
But I was thinking of a plan
To dye one's whiskers green,
And always use so large a fan
That they could not be seen.
So, having no reply to give
To what the old man said, I cried,
"Come, tell me how you live!"
And thumped him on the head.
His accents mild took up the tale (его тихие слова продолжили рассказ;
He said "I go my ways (я хожу своими тропами),
And when I find a mountain-rill (и когда я обнаруживаю горный ручей),
I set it in a blaze (я поджигаю его;
And thence they make a stuff they call (и из этого они изготавливают эликсир, который называют;
Rolands' Macassar Oil (макассаровым маслом для /волос/ Роланда)—
Yet twopence-halfpenny is all (всего два пенса с половиной — вот и все;
They give me for my toil (что мне дают за мой тяжелый труд)."
accent ['xks(q)nt], macassar oil [mq'kxsq(r)"OIl], halfpenny ['heIpnI]
His accents mild took up the tale:
He said "I go my ways,
And when I find a mountain-rill,
I set it in a blaze;
And thence they make a stuff they call
Rolands' Macassar Oil—
Yet twopence-halfpenny is all
They give me for my toil."
But I was thinking of a way (но я думал о способе)
To feed oneself on batter (чтобы кормить себя бездрожжевым тестом),
And so go on from day to day (и таким образом продолжать день ото дня)
Getting a little fatter (становиться немного жирнее).
I shook him well from side to side (я хорошенько тряхнул его из стороны в сторону),
Until his face was blue (пока его лицо не посинело):
"Come, tell me how you live (ну же, скажи мне, как ты живешь),"
I cried (вскричал я), "And what it is you do (и что же именно ты делаешь)!"
batter ['bxtq], fatter [fxtq], blue [blu:]
But I was thinking of a way
To feed oneself on batter,
And so go on from day to day
Getting a little fatter.
I shook him well from side to side,
Until his face was blue:
"Come, tell me how you live," I cried,
"And what it is you do!"
He said "I hunt for haddocks' eyes (я охочусь за глазами пикши;
Among the heather bright (среди яркого вереска),