Льюис Кэрролл: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Аня в стране чудес

Alice! A childish story take,
And, with a gentle hand,
Lay it where Childhood’s dreams are twined In
Memory’s dreams mystic band,
Like pilgrims wither’d wreath of flowers
Pluck’d in a far-off land.

All in the golden afternoon
Full leisurely we glide;
For both our oars, with little skill,
By little arms are plied,
While little hands make vain pretence
Our wanderings to guide.

Ah, cruel Three! In such an hour,
Beneath such dreamy weather,
To beg a tale of breath too weak
To stir the tiniest feather!
Yet what can one poor voice avail
Against three tongues together?

Imperious Prima flashes forth
Her edict 'to begin it':
In gentler tones Secunda hopes
«There will be nonsense in it!»
While Tertia interrupts the tale
Not more than once a minute.

Anon, to sudden silence won,
In fancy they pursue
The dream-child moving through a land
Of wonders wild and new,
In friendly chat with bird or beast —
And half believe it true.

And ever, as the story drained
The wells of fancy dry,
And faintly strove that weary one
To put the subject by,
«The rest next time» — «It is next time!»
The happy voices cry.

Thus grew the tale of Wonderland:
Thus slowly, one by one,
Its quaint events were hammered out —
And now the tale is done,
And home we steer, a merry crew,
Beneath the setting sun.

Alice! A childish story take,
And, with a gentle hand,
Lay it where Childhood’s dreams are twined
In Memory’s mystic band,
Like pilgrim’s wither’d wreath of flowers [25] Like pilgrim’s wither’d wreath of flowers — в старину странники, возвращаясь из святых мест, украшали головы венками цветов.
Pluck’d in a far-off land. [26] В стихотворном вступлении к сказке Кэрролл вспоминает лодочную прогулку 4 июля 1864 г., когда он отправился вместе с тремя дочерьми ректора Лидделла вверх по речушке Айсис (приток Темзы). Ah, cruel Three — три сестры Лидделл. Prima (лат.) — «Первая», старшая из сестер Лорина Шарлотта, которой в то время было тринадцать лет. Secunda (лат.) — «Вторая», десятилетняя, Алиса Плэзнс. Tertia (лат.) — «Третья», восьмилетняя Эдит.

Lady dear, if Fairies may
Far a moment lay aside
Cunning tricks and elfish play,
Tis at happy Christmas-tide.

We have heard the children say —
Gentle children, whom we love —
Long ago, on Christmas-Day,
Came a message from above.

Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,
They remember it again —
Echo still the joyful sound
«Peace on earth, good-will to men!»

Yet the hearts must child-like be
Where such heavenly guests abide;
Unto children, in their glee,
All the year is Christmas-tide.