01 apr.
„The Crafty Farmer”
| The song that I ‘m going to sing, I hope it will give you content, Concerning a silly old nian, That was going to pay his rent. |
Poate v-o place-această-a mea Poveste bătrânească Despre-un moşneag ce se ducea Arenda să plătească. |
| As he was riding along, Along all on tine highway, A gentleman-thief overtook him, And thus to him did say. |
Cum călărea pe drumul mare Moşneagul cătinel, L-ajunse-un domn tâlhar din urmă Şi îi grăi astfel: |
| ‘Well overtaken!’ said the thief, ‘Well overtaken!’ said he; And ‘Well overtaken!’ said the old man, ‘If thou be good company.’ |
– „Cu bun ajunsul! Zise lotrul, Cu bun ajunsul, bade.” – „Cu bun sositul, spuse moşul, De eşti om cumsecade.” |
| ‘How far are you going this way?’ Which made the old nnan for to smile; By my faith,’ said the old man, ‘I’m just going two mile. |
– „Ia spune, mergi până departe?” Iar moşul, mucalit: – „De unde! Preţ de două zile, Şi poate nici atât. |
| ‘I am a poor farmer,’ he said, And I farm a piece of ground, And my half-year’s rent, kind sir, Just comes to forty pound. |
Sunt arendaş sărac; lucrez O palmă de pământ; Şi banii pentru şase luni Cincizeci de lire sunt. |
| ‘And my landlord has not been at home, I’ve not seen lnim this twelvemonth or more. Which makes my rent be large; I’ve to pay him just fourscore.’ |
Pe moşier mai mult de-un an Nu l-am văzut măcar Şi-arenda a crescut mereu – Acu-i duc un sutar.” |
| ‘Thou shouldst not have told any body, For thieves there’s ganging many; If any should light on thee, They’11 rob thee of thy money.’ |
– „Nu trăncăni. Sunt hoţi pe-aci! Asupra-ţi de-or cădea – Pe legea mea dacă te mint – Rămâi făr-o para.” |
| ‘0 never mind,’ said the old man, ‘Thieves I fear on no side, For the money is safe in my bags, On the saddle on which I ride.’ |
– „Să-ncerce, n-au decât! Eu banii I-am pus la loc adânc. Cin’ să-i găsească în desaga Ce-am prins-o de oblânc?” |
| As they were riding along, The old man was thinking no ill, The thief he pulled out a pistol And bid the old man stand still. |
Şi cum mergeau şi nu gândea Moşneagul la restrişte, Tâlharul scoase un pistol Şi-i spuse să nu mişte. |
| But the old man provd crafty, As in the world there’s many; He threw his saddle oer the hedge, Saying, Fetch it, if thou ‘it have any. |
Bâtrânul, om isteţ de fel (Şi-n lume sunt destui), Zvârli desaga peste-un gard: – „Mai pune-ţi pofta-n cui!” |
| The thief got off his horse, With courage stout and bold, To search for the old man’s bag, And gave him his horse to hold. |
Înnebunit, după desagă Sări din şea tâlharul Şi-i dete moşului să ţină, ’Ntre-acestea, armăsarul. |
| The old man put ‘s foot i the stirrup And he got on astride; To its side he clapt his spur up, You need not bid the old man ride. |
Cât ai clipi din ochi, moşneagul Sări, pe cal oricum, Lovi din pinteni cu nădejde, Şi se-aşternu la drum. |
| ‘0 stay! ‘ said the thief, ‘0 stay! And half the share thou shalt have;’ ‘Nay, by my faith,’ said the old man, ‘For once I have bitten a knave.’ |
– „Stai! Să-mpărţim frăţeşte! Stai!” Răspune moşul: – „Aş! De când tot vreau să păcălesc O dată un pungaş!” |
| The thief he was not content, But he thought there must be bags; He out with his rusty old sword And chopt the old saddle in rags. |
Dar lotrul să se dea bătut? Cu gândul la arginţi, Împunse şaua peste tot C-o spadă numai zimţi. |
| When he came to the landlord’s house, This 01d man he was almost spent; Saying, Come, show me a private room And I ’11 pay you a whole year’s rent. |
Mai mult mort decât viu ajunse Moşneagul la conac. – „Plătesc pe-un an, grăi el, dacă Mă-ncu într-un iatac. |
| ‘I’ve met a fond fool by the way, I swapt horses and gave him no boot; But never mind,’ said the old man, ‘For I got the fond fool by the foot.’ |
Pe drum făcut-am schimb de cal C-un hoţ şi un mişel – Dar pân’ la urmă-am dovedit Că sunt mai hoţ ca el.” |
| He opend this rogue’s portmantle, It was glorious to behold; There were three hundred pounds in silver, And three hundred pounds in gold. |
În punga hoţului, moşneagul Află adăpostite, Trei sute lire în argint Şi-n aur tot atâtea. |
| And as be was riding home, And down a narrow lane, He espied his mare tied to a hedge. Saying, Prithee, Tib, wilt tinou gang hame? |
La-ntoarcere, văzându-şi iapa Legată de o leasă, Îi spuse: – „Ce zici, Tib, drăguţo, Nu-ţi este dor de casă?” |
| When he got honne to his wife And told her what he had done, Up she rose and put one her clothes, And about the house did run. |
Când baba auzi isprava Sări din pat degrabă, Se îmbrăcă şi se-nvârti Suveică prin cocioabă, |
| She sung, and she sung, and she sung, She sung with a merry devotion, Saying, If ever our dauginter gets wed, It will help to enlarge her portion. |
Apoi îi trase o cântare Şi zise: – „Dacă fata S-o mărita şi ea cândva, Are şi zestrea gata.” |
| Baladă populară | traducere de Leon Leviţchi |