«То, что люблю, придет воздушным гостем…» 100 английских стихотворений (1837–1918) для начального чтения = 100 English Poems (1837–1918)

He falls as dead (он падает замертво: «как мертвый»; dead [ded] – мертвый; дохлый) and kicked by boys and men (и его пинают мальчики и мужчины: «и пинаем мальчиками и мужчинами»; to kick – ударять ногой или копытом; пинать; лягать),

Then starts and grins (затем вскакивает и скалит зубы; to start – бросаться, кидаться; вскакивать) and drives the crowd again (и снова гонит = отгоняет толпу);

Till kicked (пока, забитый ногами) and torn (и разорванный/растерзанный; to tear [te?] – рвать, разрывать) and beaten out (и побитый до конца/побежденный) he lies (он не лежит)

And leaves his hold (и отпускает свою хватку) and cackles (гогочет/издает резкие, хриплые звуки; to cackle – кудахтать; гоготать), groans and dies (стонет и умирает = простонав, умирает; to groan [?r??n] – стонать; охать).

When midnight comes a host of dogs and men

Go out and track the badger to his den,

And put a sack within the hole and lie

Till the old grunting badger passes by.

He comes and hears – they let the strongest loose.

The old fox hears the noise and drops the goose.

The poacher shoots and hurries from the cry,

And the old hare half wounded buzzes by.

They get a fork?d stick to bear him down

And clap the dogs and take him to the town,

And bait him all the day with many dogs,

And laugh and shout and fright the scampering hogs.

He runs along and bites at all he meets:

They shout and hollo down the noisy streets.

He turns about to face the loud uproar

And drives the rebels to their very door.

The frequent stone is hurled wher’er they go;

When badgers fight, then everyone’s a foe.

The dogs are clapped and urged to join the fray;

The badger turns and drives them all away.

Though scarcely half as big, demure and small,

He fights with dogs for hours and beats them all.

The heavy mastiff, savage in the fray,

Lies down and licks his feet and turns away.

The bulldog knows his match and waxes cold

The badger grins and never leaves his hold.

He drives the crowd and follows at their heels

And bites them through – the drunkard swears and reels.

The frighted women take the boys away,

The blackguard laughs and hurries on the fray.

He tries to reach the woods, an awkward race,

But sticks and cudgels quickly stop the chase.

He turns again and drives the noisy crowd

And beats the many dogs in noises loud.