Из Джонатана Свифта.
Дома и вне его
Том как-то однажды, побитый женой,
Успел убежать, в синяках, но живой.
Три друга в несчастье ему помогли:
От ярой супруги беднягу спасли;
Советовать стали, как действовать впредь, -
Мол, как же ты можешь такое терпеть?
Заносчив был Том – мне никто не указ! -
И вызвал друзей на дуэли тотчас.
Убив всех троих, Том вернулся домой,
И снова был встречен сварливой женой…
Jonathan Swift.
Abroad and at Home
As Thomas was cudgel’d one day by his wife,
He took to the street, and fled for his life;
Tom’s three dearest friends came by in the squabble,
And sav’d him at once from the shrew and the rabble;
Then ventur’d to give him some sober advice;
But Tom is a person of honour so nice,
Too wise to take counsel, too proud to take warning,
That he sent to all three a challenge next morning:
Three duels he fought, thrice ventur’d his life;
Went home, and was cudgel’d again by his wife.