The rich man loved a poor woman,
The scientist loved a dumb woman,
The ruddy man loved a pale woman,
The kind man loved a bad woman,
And the gold a copper coin.
«Where, merchant, is your wealth all?»
«In a wallet that's full of holes!»
«Where, proud one, is what you know?»
«Under a girl's pillow.»
«Where are your red cheeks, gorgeous sight?»
«Whitened down in the black night.»
«Where is the cross with silver chain?»
«Under the girl's boots again.»
Rich man don't love a poor woman,
Scientist don't love a dumb woman,
Ruddy man don't love a pale woman,
Kind man don't love a bad woman,
And the gold a copper coin.
Полюбил богатый — бедную,
Полюбил учёный — глупую,
Полюбил румяный — бледную,
Полюбил хороший — вредную:
Золотой — полушку медную.
— Где, купец, твоё роскошество?
«Во дырявом во лукошечке!»
— Где, гордец, твои учёности?
«Под подушкой у девчоночки!»
— Где, красавец, щёки алые?
«За́ ночь чёрную — растаяли».
— Крест серебряный с цепочкою?
«У девчонки под сапожками!»
Не люби, богатый, — бедную,
Не люби, учёный, — глупую,
Не люби, румяный, — бледную,
Не люби, хороший, — вредную:
Золотой — полушку медную!
«He did not lie — the ghost, so sad and thoughtful, / That from a star took his name by a chance, / When he had said, “Don’t fear the Lord”, to us, / “Just try the fruit and be like Him immortal”. All routs for youths were opened in glow, / And all forbidden works – for older ...»
«That sad-strict spirit then did not dissemble – / The one who called himself the morning star – / When uttered he: “Fear not the highest’s bar, / Just eat the fruit, and you’ll the gods resemble.” To young men then all highways stretched before them, / And old men were relieved ...»
«He didn’t deceive us, that sad, somber spirit / Who wears the morning star as pseudonym / And said: “Shun not the highest gain, nor fear it: / Taste of the fruit and you will equal Him.” Instantly, for the youth, all roads lay open, / And for old men, all mysteries to know, / And to...»
«He told us no lies, that harsh spirit with sad / eyes and the morning star's name: / he said, "Don't worry about Heaven's vengeance; / eat of the fruit and be like gods." Young men can go anywhere, now, / old men can do anything, / and girls have / amber fruit and unicorns white as snow...»