Дороти Паркер. Dilemma

    Третьего не дано

Будь я мягка, да будь мила,
Кабы к ногам душой легла,
Тебе её поверив суть,
Как правде, лжи отдав салют;
Шепни я "да", с пророном слов
"Я верю, свет мой", дакни вновь,
Да скромно долу взор сдержи,
А бровь нахмуришь, задрожи,
Смолчи, вопросов не задав,-
Милок, сбежал бы ты стремглав!

Не сдайся я, с ума сойдя,
Да сердцем по рукам пойдя,
А бейся лбом за все разы,
Где мимо окон ты сквозил;
Не усомнись, смешком смутив,
Не взвой "Прощай!", не рвясь уйти,
Твой кайф сломав, мосты спалив,-
Не видеть бы как упылил!






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Dilemma by Dorothy Parker

If I were mild, and I were sweet,
And laid my heart before your feet,
And took my dearest thoughts to you,
And hailed your easy lies as true;
Were I to murmur "Yes," and then
"How true, my dear," and "Yes," again,
And wear my eyes discreetly down,
And tremble whitely at your frown,
And keep my words unquestioning
My love, you'd run like anything!

Should I be frail, and I be mad,
And share my heart with every lad,
But beat my head against the floor
What times you wandered past my door;
Were I to doubt, and I to sneer,
And shriek "Farewell!" and still be here,
And break your joy, and quench your trust-
I should not see you for the dust!