Уильям Генри Дэйвис. Нелли Барнс

УИЛЬЯМ ГЕНРИ ДЕЙВИС  (1871—1940)


Не жили вместе года три
Билл Барнс и Нелл — жена.
Когда кутил он до зари,
Страдала Нелл одна.

А после, где их магазин,
Чтоб Биллу досадить,
Она под ручку шла с другим,
Сплетая мести нить.

И вот однажды, сквозь стекло
Не видит мужа Нелл,
Пред нею магазин пустой,
А Билл уйти посмел.

Лишилась чувств она узнав, —
За сотни миль, супруг!
Не увидать его лица —
И жизнь померкла вдруг

Судьбы свершился поворот!
Как Билла не зови...
Уже не ест Нелл, не встаёт...
Угасла от любви.


**

William Henry Davies. "Nell Barnes"

They lived apart for three long years,
Bill Barnes and Nell his wife;
He took his joy from other girls,
She led a wicked life.

Yet ofttimes she would pass his shop,
With some strange man awhile;
And, looking, meet her husband;s frown
With her malicious smile.

Until one day, when passing there,
She saw her man had gone;
And when she saw the empty shop,
She fell down with a moan.

And when she heard that he had gone
Five thousand miles away;
And that she;s see his face no more,
She sickened from that day.

To see his face was health and life,
And when it was denied,
She could not eat, and broke her heart --
It was for love she died.
.