English Poetry. Kate Greenaway. The Cats Have Come to Tea. Кейт Гринуэй. Котята спешат к чаю

Kate Greenaway (Кейт Гринуэй)

The Cats Have Come to Tea

What did she see – oh, what did she see,
As she stood against the tree?
Why all the cats had come to tea.

What a fine turn out – from round about,
All the houses had let them out,
And here they were with scamper and shout.
	“Mew-mew-mew!” was all they could say,
	And, “We hope we find you well to-day.”

Oh, what she should do – oh, what should she do?
What a lot of milk they would get through;
For here they were with “Mew-mew-mew!”

She didn’t know – oh, she didn’t know,
If bread and butter they’d like or no;
They might want little mice, oh, oh, oh!
	Dear me – oh, dear me,
	All the cats had come to tea.

Перевод на русский язык

Котята спешат к чаю

Столпотворение котят!
Чего же все они хотят?
На чай идут, бегут, летят.

Вот удивительный народ!
Собрался целый хоровод. 
Галдят, не закрывая рот:
	«Мур! Мяу-мяу! Тинь-динь-трень!
	Чудесный нынче будет день!»

Где взять нам столько молока?
Задача ох как не легка!
Бегут котята как река.

Порадовать чем малышей?
Дать бутербродов, овощей?
А может, маленьких мышей?
	Хозяюшка, гостей встречай!
	Они пришли к тебе на чай.

Перевод Леонида Зимана
Все переводы Леонида Зимана

Kate Greenaway’s other poems:

1. Вожу я в коляске • In Go-Cart So Tiny
2. Воланы • Up You Go, Shuttlecocks, Ever So High!
3. Томми • It Was Tommy Who Said
4. Добрых снов! • Now, All of You, Give Heed unto
5. Мяч • Ball

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