Английская народная баллада XVII века “Джон Райли” ("John Riley", известная также под названиями "Johnny Riley", "The Broken Token", "A Fair Young Maid All in Her Garden") даёт пример традиционной балладной темы: это потрясающая история о любви. Давайте познакомимся с одним из вариантов её текста и обратим внимание на оборот “что, если кто-либо сделал что-либо” = “what if somebody has done something”.
John Riley
A fair young maid all in her garden, A strange young man comes passing by Saying: “Fair maid, will you marry me?” And this answer was her reply:
“No kind sir, I cannot marry thee, For I've a love who sails all on the sea. He's been gone for seven years, But still no man shall marry me”.
“Well, what if he's died all in some battle slain, Or drowned in the deep salt sea, Or
what if he's found another love And he and his love both married be?”
“If he's died in some battle slain I will die, when the moon doth wane. And if he's drowned in the deep salt sea I'll be true to his memory.
And if he's found another love And he and his love both married be, Then I wish them health and happiness, Where they now dwell across the sea”.
He picked her up all in his arms And kisses gave her one, two and
three, Saying: “Weep no more, my own true love, I am your long lost John Riley”.
