Альфред Теннисон (1809 - 1892) - выдающийся английский поэт. “Королевские идиллии”, - поэтический пересказ легенд о короле Артуре и рыцарях Круглого Стола, - создавались им в течение почти сорока лет. Успешная попытка расшифровки образов, встречающихся в этом произведении, была бы новой поэмой или предельно коротким “правилом жизни”, воспринять существо которого помешала бы его банальность. Так, пожалуй,
стала слишком привычной фраза “Бороться и искать, найти и не сдаваться” - последняя строка из стихотворения Теннисона “Улисс”.
(...) And Gareth likewise on them fixt his eyes So long, that even to him they seemed to move.
Out of the city a blast of music pealed. Back from the gate started the three, to whom
From out thereunder came an ancient man, Long-bearded, saying, 'Who be ye, my sons?'
Then Gareth,
'We be tillers of the soil, Who leaving share in furrow come to see
The glories of our King: but these, my men, (Your city moved so weirdly in the mist)
Doubt if the King be King at all, or come From Fairyland; and whether this be built
By magic, and by fairy Kings and Queens; Or whether there be any city at all,
Or all a vision: and this music now Hath scared them both, but tell thou these the truth.'
Then
that old Seer made answer playing on him And saying, 'Son, I have seen the good ship sail
Keel upward, and mast downward, in the heavens, And solid turrets topsy-turvy in air:
And here is truth; but an it please thee not, Take thou the truth as thou hast told it me.
For truly as thou sayest, a Fairy King And Fairy Queens have built the city, son;
They came from out a sacred mountain-cleft Toward the sunrise, each with harp in hand,
And built it to the music of their harps. And, as thou sayest, it is enchanted, son,
For there is nothing in it as it seems Saving the King; though some there be that hold
The King a shadow, and the city real: Yet take thou heed of him, for, so thou pass
Beneath this archway, then wilt thou become A thrall to his enchantments, for the King
Will bind thee by such vows, as is a shame A man should not be bound by, yet
the which
No man can keep; but, so thou dread to swear, Pass not beneath this gateway, but abide
Without, among the cattle of the field. For an ye heard a music, like enow
They are building still, seeing the city is built To music, therefore never built at all, And therefore built for ever.' (...)
-------------------------------------------------- a blast of music pealed: [bla:st] [pi:ld] - раздавались громкие звуки музыки
to enchant: [in'шa:nt], [en'шa:nt] - очаровывать,
приводить в восторг; восхищать; заколдовывать, опутывать чарами; наделять магическими силами или свойствами
for there is nothing in it as it seems saving the King: - ибо в нём всё не так, как кажется, кроме Короля
though some there be that hold the King a shadow, and the city real: - хотя иные считают, что (наоборот) это Король - призрак, а город настоящий
will bind thee by such vows, as is a shame a man should not be bound by, yet the which no man can keep: bind - bound
- bound [baind - baund - baund] [vauz] - свяжет вас клятвами, которые позорно не дать, но невозможно сдержать
the city is built to music: - этот город возводится
под музыку -------------------------------------------------- (Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson. “Idylls of the King”)
До новых встреч!
(Полный текст “Королевских идиллий” на английском языке можно найти по ссылке:
