| A great lord came walking through the forest | Ранней порою тропою лесною |
| One morning with a weapon in his hand; | Лорд шагал, и лук в руках. |
| Rich was his castle, he lacked for nothing, | Нужды он не знал — для забавы стрелял |
| But killing was his plan; | Лесных зверей и птах. |
| When a white bird flew by she fell from the sky, | Вот белая птица упала с небес, |
| Nothing was found, only blood on the ground, she was gone; | В высокой траве пропал ее след, нашли лишь кровь на земле. |
| - | - |
| Cursing his fortune, | Проклиная судьбу, |
| He turned to the forest to kill once again, | Вновь он лук натянул, |
| And standing before him was a lovely young woman | Но предстала перед ним, выйдя из леса, юная дева, |
| With her hand hung in pain, | И рука ее в крови. |
| When he saw her his eyes were filled with desire, | Увидев ее, сказал он себе: |
| He said "I must have her, she must be mine, | "Она прекрасна, она должна быть моей... |
| She will be mine..." | Она будет моей!" |
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| He offered her silver, he offered her gold, | То злато, что он ей предлагал |
| But she threw it on the ground, | Бросила к его ногам, |
| He fell to his knees and he begged her, | На колени упал он и умолял: |
| "oh please come with me, | "Будь моей, |
| What you wish will be found;" | Все тебе я отдам." |
| She said, "sire, I'll go if you'll put up your bow, | "Сэр, я пойду, коль оставишь ты лук. |
| And spare these creatures, leave them in peace, | Сии — Божьи создания, оставь их, |
| You have no need..." | Сохрани им жизнь..." |
| - | - |
| But her words were lost in the wind | Но с ветром слова унеслись.... |
| His eyes were fixed on a queen | На нее он глядел, поражен. |
| And all he saw was a woman | Он видел прекрасную деву, |
| And all she was, was a dream... | А она была — только сон. |
| Oh oh...and all he saw was a woman, and all she was, was a dream... | Она была только сон... |
| - | - |
| He took her and bound her with ropes tied around her | Он ее силой взял и крепко связал |
| To his castle he did ride; | И на плечо себе взвалил. |
| In the wood was a bower where stood an an old tower | У его замка в чаще стояла старая башня, |
| And he threw her deep inside; | В ней он деву заточил. |
| Then the birds left the sky and a terrible cry, | И горестный стон сотряс небосклон, |
| Brought thunder and lightning, rain falling down, | Блеснула молния и грянул гром. |
| Tears on the ground... | Был дождь, как слезы, солен. |
| - | - |
| All through the days on her face he would gaze, | Не сводил он очей с девы своей — |
| For she was lovely as the spring; | Она прекрасна была, как весна. |
| No words would she speaketh but "leave them in peace", | Она все молчала, лишь "оставь" повторяла, |
| And some sad lament she would sing, | И песнь печальную пела она. |
| Oh one day by the door, through the window he saw | Как-то раз поутру он к ней заглянул: |
| A single white feather lying on the floor. | Перо белей снега внес ветер в окно — |
| She was there no more... | И нет никого.... |
| - | - |
| Now that great lord is dying, | И вот лорд умирает, его сердце рыдает |
| His cold heart is crying for the love of a girl; | И мучится тоской. |
| For many an hour he has wept on the tower | На башне часами под небесами |
| For she meant more than the world; | Он грустил о деве той. |
| And once in the sky, a white bird flew by, | Взглнул — в вышине птица, как снег, |
| He lifted his hands, he cried out in pain | Кружит над ним. Он воззвал к ней в высь: |
| "come back again..." | "Прошу, вернись!.." |
| - | - |
| But his words were lost in the wind, | Но с ветром слова унеслись... |
| His castle was built upon sand, | Его замок стоял на песке. |
| All he saw was her memory, | Лишь ее хранит в своем сердце, |
| And all he yearns is her hand... | Лишь ее вспоминает в тоске. |
| Ah ah..all he has, is the memory, | Лишь ее хранит в своем сердце, |
| And all he yearns is her hand. | Лишь ее вспоминает в тоске. |
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