Книга бессмыслицы

There was Old Man in a pew (в отгороженном месте в церкви, в кафедре),

Whose waistcoat was spotted with blue (жилетка «запятнана синим» = в синюю точку);

But he tore it in pieces (но он разорвал ее на куски)

To give to his nieces (чтобы отдать его племянницам),

That cheerful Old Man in a pew (неунывающий).

There was Old Man in a pew,

Whose waistcoat was spotted with blue;

But he tore it in pieces

To give to his nieces,

That cheerful Old Man in a pew.

72

There was an Old Man who said, 'How (как)

Shall I flee from that horrible cow (как мне убежать от этой ужасной коровы)?

I will sit on this stile (на этой приступке),

And continue to smile (продолжать улыбаться),

Which may soften the heart (что может смягчить сердце) of that cow.

There was an Old Man who said, 'How

Shall I flee from that horrible cow?

I will sit on this stile,

And continue to smile,

Which may soften the heart of that cow.

73

There was a Young Lady of Hull,

Who was chased by a virulent bull (которая была преследуема очень злобным, опасным быком);

But she seized on a spade (схватила лопату),

And called out (выкрикнула, закричала), 'Who's afraid (кто испуган, боится)?

Which distracted (отвлекло, сбило с толку) that virulent bull.

There was a Young Lady of Hull,

Who was chased by a virulent bull;

But she seized on a spade,

And called out, 'Who's afraid?

Which distracted that virulent bull.

74

There was an Old Man of Whitehaven,

Who danced a quadrille with a raven (танцевал кадриль с вороном);

But they said, 'It's absurd (это абсурд)

To encourage this bird (потакать этой птице)!

So they smashed (потому они прибили) that Old Man of Whitehaven.

There was an Old Man of Whitehaven,

Who danced a quadrille with a raven;

But they said, 'It's absurd

To encourage this bird!

So they smashed that Old Man of Whitehaven.

75

There was an Old Man of Leghorn,

The smallest that ever was born (самый маленький, что когда-либо был рожден);

But quickly snapped up he (/был/ схвачен; snapup— подхватывать, накидываться)

Was once by a puppy (однажды щенком),

Who devoured (поглотил) that Old Man of Leghorn.

There was an Old Man of Leghorn,

The smallest that ever was born;

But quickly snapped up he

Was once by a puppy,

Who devoured that Old Man of Leghorn.

76

There was an Old Man of the Hague (Гаага [город в Голландии]),

Whose ideas were excessively vague (чьи идеи были крайне неопределенны, расплывчаты);

He built a balloon (построил шар; build — строить)

To examine the moon (чтобы изучать луну),

That deluded (ввела в заблуждение) Old Man of the Hague.

There was an Old Man of the Hague,

Whose ideas were excessively vague;

He built a balloon

To examine the moon,

That deluded Old Man of the Hague.

77

There was an Old Man of Jamaica (с Ямайки),

Who suddenly married a Quaker (неожиданно женился на Квакерше);

But she cried out, 'Alack (увы)!

I have married a black! (вышла замуж за черного)

Which distressed (что причинило горе, страдания) that Old Man of Jamaica.

There was an Old Man of Jamaica,

Who suddenly married a Quaker;

But she cried out, 'Alack!

I have married a black!

Which distressed that Old Man of Jamaica.

78

There was an Old Person of Dutton,

Whose head was as small as a button (голова была так мала, как пуговица),

So, to make it look big (чтобы заставить её смотреться большой),

He purchased a wig (приобрел парик),

And rapidly rushed about (быстро носился по) Dutton.

There was an Old Person of Dutton,

Whose head was as small as a button,

So, to make it look big,

He purchased a wig,

And rapidly rushed about Dutton.

79

There was a Young Lady of Tyre,

Who swept the loud chords of a lyre (подметала громкие струны лиры; sweep — сметать, подметать);

At the sound of each sweep (при звуке каждого взмаха /метлы/)