Нелл Барнс Уильям Генри Дэвис

Три долгих года врозь они,
Билл Барнс и Нелл – жена;
Он проводил с другими дни,
Блудила и она.

А мимо лавки проходя
С дружком очередным,
Встречая мужа хмурый взгляд,
Зло скалилась пред ним.

Но как-то лавку он закрыл,
И мир осиротел;
Увидев дом пустой, без сил,               
На пол осела Нелл.

Узнав, что он за семь морей
В далёкий край уплыл,
И не вернётся больше, ей
Стал белый свет не мил.

Она же встречами жила,
Но жизни лишена,
Не стала есть, и умерла
Из-за любви она.

***

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.

William Henry Davies