Читать книгу Songs from Books - Rudyard Kipling - Страница 12

I followed my Duke ere I was a lover,

  To take from England fief and fee;

But now this game is the other way over —

  But now England hath taken me!

I had my horse, my shield and banner,

  And a boy's heart, so whole and free;

But now I sing in another manner —

  But now England hath taken me!

As for my Father in his tower,

  Asking news of my ship at sea;

He will remember his own hour —

  Tell him England hath taken me!

As for my Mother in her bower,

  That rules my Father so cunningly,

She will remember a maiden's power —

  Tell her England hath taken me!

As for my Brother in Rouen City,

  A nimble and naughty page is he,

But he will come to suffer and pity —

  Tell him England hath taken me!

As for my little Sister waiting

  In the pleasant orchards of Normandie,

Tell her youth is the time for mating —

  Tell her England hath taken me!

As for my Comrades in camp and highway,

  That lift their eyebrows scornfully,

Tell them their way is not my way —

  Tell them England hath taken me!

Kings and Princes and Barons famèd,

  Knights and Captains in your degree;

Hear me a little before I am blamèd —

  Seeing England hath taken me!

Howso great man's strength be reckoned,

  There are two things he cannot flee;

Love is the first, and Death is the second —

  And Love in England hath taken me!