There's Richard Bateman, thought she to herself, He was a parish-boy - at the church-door They made a gathering for him, shillings, pence And halfpennies, wherewith the neighbours bought A basket, which they filled with pedlar's wares; And, with this basket on his arm, the lad Went up to London, found a master there, Who, out of many, chose the trusty boy To go and overlook his merchandise Beyond the seas: where he grew wondrous rich, And left estates and monies to the poor, And, at his birth-place, built a chapel, floored With marble which he sent from foreign lands. These thoughts, and many others of like sort, Passed quickly through the mind of Isabel, And her face brightened. The old Man was glad, And thus resumed: - "Well, Isabel! this scheme These two days, has been meat and drink to me. Far more than we have lost is left us yet. - We have enough - I wish indeed that I Were younger; - but this hope is a good hope. - Make ready Luke's best garments, of the best Buy for him more, and let us send him forth To-morrow, or the next day, or to-night: - If he _could_ go, the Boy should go to-night." Here Michael ceased, and to the fields went forth With a light heart. The Housewife for five days Was restless morn and night, and all day long Wrought on with her best fingers to prepare Things needful for the journey of her son. But Isabel was glad when Sunday came To stop her in her work: for, when she lay By Michael's side, she through the last two nights Heard him, how he was troubled in his sleep: And when they rose at morning she could see That all his hopes were gone. That day at noon She said to Luke, while they two by themselves Were sitting at the door, "Thou must not go: We have no other Child but thee to lose None to remember - do not go away, For if thou leave thy Father he will die." The Youth made answer with a jocund voice; And Isabel, when she had told her fears, Recovered heart. That evening her best fare Did she bring forth, and all together sat Like happy people round a Christmas fire. With daylight Isabel, resumed her work; And all the ensuing week the house appeared As cheerful as a grove in Spring: at length The expected letter from their kinsman came, With kind assurances that he would do His utmost for the welfare of the Boy; To which, requests were added, that forthwith He might be sent to him. Ten times or more The letter was read over; Isabel Went forth to show it to the neighbours round; Nor was there at that time on English land A prouder heart than Luke's. When Isabel Had to her house returned, the old Man said, "He shall depart to-morrow." To this word The Housewife answered, talking much of things Which, if at such short notice he should go, Would surely be forgotten. But at length She gave consent, and Michael was at ease. Near the tumultuous brook of Greenhead Ghyll, In that deep valley, Michael had designed To build a Sheepfold; and, before he heard The tidings of his melancholy loss, For this same purpose he had gathered up A heap of stones, which by the streamlet's edge Lay thrown together, ready for the work. With Luke that evening thitherward he walked: And soon as they had reached the place he stopped, And thus the old Man spake to him: - "My Son, To-morrow thou wilt leave me: with full heart I look upon thee, for thou art the same That wert a promise to me ere thy birth, And all thy life hast been my daily joy. I will relate to thee some little part Of our two histories; 'twill do thee good When thou art from me, even if I should touch On things thou canst not know of. - After thou First cam'st into the world-as oft befalls To new-born infants - thou didst sleep away Two days, and blessings from thy Father's tongue Then fell upon thee. Day by day passed on, And still I loved thee with increasing love. Never to living ear came sweeter sounds Than when I heard thee by our own fireside First uttering, without words, a natural tune; While thou, a feeding babe, didst in thy joy Sing at thy Mother's breast. Month followed month, And in the open fields my life was passed And on the mountains; else I think that thou Hadst been brought up upon thy Father's knees. But we were playmates, Luke: among these hills, As well thou knowest, in us the old and young Have played together, nor with me didst thou Lack any pleasure which a boy can know." Luke had a manly heart; but at these words He sobbed aloud. The old Man grasped his hand, And said, "Nay, do not take it so - I see That these are things of which I need not speak. - Even to the utmost I have been to thee A kind and a good Father: and herein I but repay a gift which I myself Received at others' hands; for, though now old Beyond the common life of man, I still Remember them who loved me in my youth. Both of them sleep together: here they lived, As all their Forefathers had done; and when At length their time was come, they were not loth To give their bodies to the family mould. I wished that thou should'st live the life they lived: But, 'tis a long time to look back, my Son, And see so little gain from threescore years. These fields were burthened when they came to me; Till I was forty years of age, not more Than half of my inheritance was mine. I toiled and toiled; God blessed me in my work, And till these three weeks past the land was free. - It looks as if it never could endure Another Master. Heaven forgive me, Luke, If I judge ill for thee, but it seems good That thou should'st go." At this the old Man paused; Then, pointing to the stones near which they stood, Thus, after a short silence, he resumed: "This was a work for us; and now, my Son, It is a work for me. But, lay one stone- Here, lay it for me, Luke, with thine own hands. Nay, Boy, be of good hope; - we both may live To see a better day. At eighty-four I still am strong and hale; - do thou thy part; I will do mine. - I will begin again With many tasks that were resigned to thee: Up to the heights, and in among the storms, Will I without thee go again, and do All works which I was wont to do alone, Before I knew thy face. - Heaven bless thee, Boy! Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast With many hopes it should be so-yes-yes- I knew that thou could'st never have a wish To leave me, Luke: thou hast been bound to me Only by links of love: when thou art gone, What will be left to us! - But, I forget My purposes. Lay now the corner-stone, As I requested; and hereafter, Luke, When thou art gone away, should evil men Be thy companions, think of me, my Son, And of this moment; hither turn thy thoughts, And God will strengthen thee: amid all fear And all temptation, Luke, I pray that thou May'st bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived, Who, being innocent, did for that cause Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee well - When thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see A work which is not here: a covenant Twill be between us; but, whatever fate Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last, And bear thy memory with me to the grave." The Shepherd ended here; and Luke stooped down, And, as his Father had requested, laid The first stone of the Sheepfold. At the sight The old Man's grief broke from him; to his heart He pressed his Son, he kissed him and wept; And to the house together they returned. - Hushed was that House in peace, or seeming peace, Ere the night fell: - with morrow's dawn, the Boy Began his journey, and when he had reached The public way, he put on a bold face; And all the neighbours, as he passed their doors, Came forth with wishes and with farewell prayers, That followed him till he was out of sight. A good report did from their Kinsman come, Of Luke and his well-doing: and the Boy Wrote loving letters, full of wondrous news, Which, as the Housewife phrased it, were throughout "The prettiest letters that were ever seen." Both parents read them with rejoicing hearts. So, many months passed on: and once again The Shepherd went about his daily work With confident and cheerful thoughts; and now Sometimes when he could find a leisure hour He to that valley took his way, and there Wrought at the Sheepfold. Meantime Luke began To slacken in his duty; and, at length, He in the dissolute city gave himself To evil courses: ignominy and shame Fell on him, so that he was driven at last To seek a hiding-place beyond the seas. There is a comfort in the strength of love; 'Twill make a thing endurable, which else Would overset the brain, or break the heart: I have conversed with more than one who well Remember the old Man, and what he was Years after he had heard this heavy news. His bodily frame had been from youth to age Of an unusual strength. Among the rocks He went, and still looked up to sun and cloud, And listened to the wind; and, as before, Performed all kinds of labour for his sheep, And for the land, his small inheritance. And to that hollow dell from time to time Did he repair, to build the Fold of which His flock had need. Tis not forgotten yet The pity which was then in every heart For the old Man - and 'tis believed by all That many and many a day he thither went, And never lifted up a single stone. There, by the Sheepfold, sometimes was he seen Sitting alone, or with his faithful Dog, Then old, beside him, lying at his feet. The length of full seven years, from time to time, He at the building of this Sheepfold wrought, And left the work unfinished when he died. Three years, or little more, did Isabel Survive her Husband: at her death the estate Was sold, and went into a stranger's hand. The Cottage which was named the Evening Star Is gone - the ploughshare has been through the ground On which it stood; great changes have been wrought In all the neighbourhood: - yet the oak is left That grew beside their door; and the remains Of the unfinished Sheepfold may be seen Beside the boisterous brook of Greenhead Ghyll. Œ€‰Š‹ àñòóøåñêàß ïîýìà Šîãäà, ñâåðíóâ ñ íàåçæåííîãî òðàêòà ‚ óùåëüå ƒðèíõåä, âû ñòóïèòü ðåøèòåñü —óòü äàëüøå â ãëóáü åãî, ãäå ñâîåíðàâíûé óðëèò ïîòîê, äîðîãè êðóòèçíà ‚àñ îòïóãíåò ñïåðâà: ãðîìàäû ñêàë ‚îçäâèãíóòñß òàêîé ñòåíîé íàäìåííîé! î - â ïóòü ñìåëåé! àä áóðíûì òåì ðó÷üåì Žíè ïîòîì ðàññòóïßòñß è âçîðó Žòêðîþò ïîòàåííûé òèõèé äîë. †èëèù ëþäñêèõ òàì íå âèäàòü; ëèøü îâöû àñóòñß ðåäêèå íà ãîðíûõ ñêëîíàõ „à â ïîäíåáåñüå êîðøóíû ïëûâóò - ‚îèñòèíó ãëóáîêîå áåçëþäüå. ˆ ß á íå ñòàë âàì äîêó÷àòü ðàññêàçîì Ž òîé äîëèíå - íî îäíî â íåé ìåñòî ‹åãêî á ìîãëè òîãäà âû ìèíîâàòü ˆ íå çàìåòèòü: ãðóáûõ êàìíåé ãðóäó, —òî âûñèòñß íà áåðåãó ðó÷üß. ‘âîß ó íèõ èñòîðèß; ÷óäåñ ˆ òàéí â íåé íåò - îäíàêî æ ìîæíî, ïðàâî, ‘ íåé íå áåç ïîëüçû âðåìß ñêîðîòàòü “ î÷àãà èëè â òåíè ïëàòàíà. Žíà îäíà èç ïåðâûõ òåõ ëåãåíä, Šàêèõ ñëûõàë ß îòðîêîì íåìàëî, Ž ïàñòóõàõ. “æå òîãäà ëþáèë ß ‘èõ ñòðàííèêîâ íàãîðèé - íî, óâû, ‹þáèë íå ðàäè íèõ ñàìèõ, à ðàäè „îëèí è êðó÷, ñëóæèâøèõ èì ïðèþòîì. ˆ âîò þíöà, ÷òî óáåãàë îò êíèæåê, î ê êðîòêîìó è âëàñòíîìó âíóøåíüþ ðèðîäû íå áûë ãëóõ, ïðîñòàß ïîâåñòü ‚ïåðâûå íàó÷èëà ñîñòðàäàòü åñ÷àñòèþ íå ñâîåìó - ÷óæîìó ˆ ðàçìûøëßòü, ïóñêàé åùå íåâíßòíî, Ž òåõ ñòðàñòßõ, ÷òî ïðàâßò ÷åëîâåêîì, Ž ñåðäöå è î æðåáèè åãî. Ÿ ýòó ïîâåñòü âàì ïåðåñêàæó - Žíà, íàäåþñü, ïî ñåðäöó ïðèäåòñß åìíîãèì òåì, êòî ñåðäöåì ÷èñò è ïðßì, - ˆ òåì åùå, äðóãèì, - ñ êàêèì âîëíåíüåì Ÿ äóìàþ î íèõ! - ïîýòàì þíûì, —òî, â ñâîé ÷åðåä ïîäíßâøèñü ê ýòèì äîëàì, Œåíß çàìåíßò â íèõ, êîãäà óéäó. ‚ äîëèíå ƒðàñìèð æèë âî âðåìß îíî àñòóõ; îí çâàëñß Œàéêëîì. ’âåðä äóøîé, åñóåòåí, â êîñòè øèðîê è ïðî÷åí, Ží äî ñåäûõ âîëîñ ñóìåë ñáåðå÷ü åäþæèííóþ ñèëó, ßñíûé óì, ‘íîðîâêó; áûë íà òðóä ëþáîé ãîðàçä, € óæ â ñâîåì-òî ðåìåñëå ïàñòóøüåì ‡íàë òîëê, êàê íè îäèí îâ÷àð âîêðóã: ‡íàë, ÷òî íåñåò ñ ñîáîþ êàæäûé âåòåð, ‹þáîé åãî ïîðûâ; äðóãèì, áûâàëî, …ùå è íåâäîìåê, à îí óæ ñëûøàë îäúßòûé þæíûì âåòðîì ãóë ïîäçåìíûé, Šàê ïëà÷ âîëûíêè äàëüíåé çà õîëìîì. ˆ âñïîìèíàë îí ïðî ñâîè îòàðû, ˆ ïðèãîâàðèâàë, ñáèðàßñü â ïóòü: "‚îò âåòåð ìíå è çàäàåò ðàáîòó!" „îñóæèõ ñòðàííèêîâ òîðîïèò áóðß ˆñêàòü óêðûòüß - à åãî îíà ‡âàëà íà ñêëîíû ãîð, è ñêîëüêî ðàç îí Žäèí áûâàë òàì â ñàìîì ñåðäöå ìãëû, ˆ ÷åðåäîé íåñëèñü íàä íèì òóìàíû. ’àê æèë îí äîáðûõ âîñåìüäåñßò ëåò. ˆ æàëü òîãî ìíå, êòî ðåøèò ïîñïåøíî, —òî îí íà ýòè ñêàëû è ðó÷üè ‚çèðàë ëèøü ñ áåçó÷àñòèåì ïðèâû÷êè: ‡åëåíûé äîë, ãäå òàê ëåãêî è âîëüíî „ûøàëîñü ïàñòóõó; êðóòûå ñêëîíû, ˆñõîæåííûå âäîëü è ïîïåðåê îãîþ òâåðäîé, - ñêîëüêî â ýòèõ êíèãàõ •ðàíèëîñü ïàìßòè î äíßõ íóæäû ˆ äíßõ çàáîò, î ðàäîñòßõ è áåäàõ, Ž òâàðßõ áåññëîâåñíûõ, êîèõ îí ‘ïàñàë, êîðìèë, ñãîíßë ïîä êðîâ íàäåæíûé, - ˆ òðóäíûé, ÷åñòíûé ñâîé ñ÷èòàë áàðûø. ’àê äèâî ëè, ÷òî ãîðû, äîëû ýòè ‘âîé âå÷íûé çíàê íà íåì íàïå÷àòëåëè, —òî îí èõ áåçîò÷åòíîþ ëþáîâüþ ‹þáèë, êàê æèçíü ñâîþ, - êàê æèçíü ñàìó? å îäèíîêî äíè åãî òåêëè. ˆõ ñ íèì äåëèëà âåðíàß ïîäðóãà, †åíà äîñòîéíàß, â ãîäàõ ïî÷òåííûõ, •îòü Œàéêëà è íà äâàäöàòü ìëàäøå ëåò. îäðà, æèâà, âñåãäà â òðóäàõ ïî äîìó - ‚îèñòèíó äóøà åãî; äâå ïðßëêè åçüáû ñòàðèííîé áûëè ó íåå: „ëß øåðñòè - ïîãðóáåé, äëß ëüíà - ïîòîíüøå; Šîëè îäíà ñìîëêàëà, òî çàòåì ëèøü, —òî íàñòàâàë ÷åðåä æóææàòü äðóãîé. ˆ áûë åùå â ñåìüå, íà ðàäîñòü èì, ‘ûíîê åäèíñòâåííûé; ñóäüáà åãî îñëàëà èì, êîãäà âñå ÷àùå Œàéêë ‘òàë íàìåêàòü, ÷òî ñòàðååòñß îí, - “æ, ìîë, ñòîèò îäíîé íîãîé â ìîãèëå. ‚îò ýòîò ñûí äà äâå îâ÷àðêè âåðíûõ (Žäíîé òàê âîâñå íå áûëî öåíû) ˆ ñîñòàâëßëè âåñü èõ êðóã äîìàøíèé. € ÷òî äî òðóäîëþáèß, ñåìåéñòâî „àâíî â ïîñëîâèöó âîøëî îêðåñò. Šîãäà ñ çàêàòîì äíß îòåö è ñûí îä êðîâ ðîäíîé ñ íàãîðèé âîçâðàùàëèñü, Žíè è òóò íå ñêëàäûâàëè ðóê. ’àê âïëîòü äî óæèíà; òîãäà îíè ‡à ÷èñòûé ñòîë ñàäèëèñü, ãäå èõ æäàëè ˆ ñûòíûé ñóï, è ñâåæèé ñûð äîìàøíèé, ˆ ñ ìîëîêîì îâñßíûå ëåïåøêè. Šîí÷àëñß óæèí - ‹þê (òàê çâàëñß ñûí) ‘î ñòàðèêîì îòöîì ñåáå èñêàëè ‡àíßòüå, ÷òîáû íå ñèäåòü áåç äåëà “ î÷àãà: ðàñ÷åñûâàëè øåðñòü „ëß ìàòóøêèíûõ ïðßëîê, ïîïðàâëßëè Šîñó, èëü ñåðï, èëü öåï, èëü ÷òî ïðèäåòñß. ‹èøü çà îêíîì ñìåðêàòüñß íà÷èíàëî - îä ïîòîëêîì, ó êðîìêè äûìîõîäà, —òî ñëîæåí áûë íà ãðóáûé ìåñòíûé ëàä ˆ çàòåíßë îãðîìíûì ÷åðíûì êëèíîì îëêîìíàòû, ìàòü çàæèãàëà ëàìïó. åëåãêóþ ñâåòèëüíèê äðåâíèé ñåé åñ ñëóæáó, íå â ïðèìåð èíûì ñîáðàòüßì. Žò ñóìåðåê äî íî÷è îí ãîðåë, åññìåííûé ñïóòíèê âñåõ ÷àñîâ íåñ÷åòíûõ, —òî çäåñü òåêëè è ñêëàäûâàëèñü â ãîäû, à ëèöàõ ýòèõ òðóæåíèêîâ ÷åñòíûõ ‚ñòðå÷àß è ñ óõîäîì îñòàâëßß Šîëü è íå ðàäîñòè áåñïå÷íîé áëåñê, ’î ðîâíûé ñâåò íàäåæäû òåðïåëèâîé. ’àê ‹þêó ìèíóëî îñüìíàäöàòü ëåò, ˆ òàê îíè ñèäåëè êàæäûé âå÷åð, Žòåö è ñûí, ïîä ñòàðîé âåðíîé ëàìïîé, € ìàòü âñå çíàé ñâîþ êðóòèëà ïðßëêó, ˆ ïîëíèëñß âåñü äîì â òèøè âå÷åðíåé Šàê áû æóææàíüåì ëåòíåé ìîøêàðû. ‘âåò ýòîé ëàìïû ñëàâåí áûë îêðåñò Šàê ñèìâîë æèçíè ÷åñòíîãî ñåìåéñòâà. Š òîìó æå äîì èõ, íàäîáíî ñêàçàòü, ‘òîßë îòäåëüíî íà õîëìå îòëîãîì, Žòêóäà âçãëßä ñâîáîäíî ïðîñòèðàëñß ‚î âñå ïðåäåëû: â ãëóáü óùåëüß ˆñäåéë, Š íàãîðüßì „àíìåéë-åéçà, ê äåðåâóøêå, žòèâøåéñß áëèç îçåðà. ˆ âñå, Šòî æèë â äîëèíå òîé, è ñòàð è ìëàä, î ýòîìó íåìåðêíóùåìó ñâåòó ðîçâàëè äîì ‚å÷åðíåþ ‡âåçäîé. ‚îò òàê ïðîæèâøè ìíîãèå ãîäà, àñòóõ, êîíå÷íî æå, ëþáèë ñóïðóãó, Šàê ñàìîãî ñåáß; íî ñåðäöó Œàéêëà …ùå äîðîæå áûë èõ ñûí æåëàííûé, ˆõ ïîçäíûøîê. ’óò íå èíñòèíêò îäèí ûë âëàñòåí, íå ñëåïàß íåæíîñòü êðîâè: åñöåííåå âñåõ ïðî÷èõ áëàã çåìíûõ „èòß, ÷òî íàì íà ñêëîíå íàøèõ äíåé „àðîâàíî; îíî ñ ñîáîé íåñåò àäåæäó ñåðäöà è âîëíåíüå ìûñëè, åæäàííûé ñèë ïðèëèâ, - âñå òî, íà ÷òî ‘êóïåé ñòàíîâèòñß ïðèðîäà íàøà. å îïèñàòü, êàê îí ëþáèë åãî, „óøè ñâîåé îòðàäó! Šàê óìåëî Œàëþòêó íßí÷èë îí, ñïðàâëßß ñ íèì ‡àáîòû ÷èñòî æåíñêèå, - íå òîëüêî îòåõè ðàäè, êàê ìóæüß èíûå, € òåðïåëèâî, ñ ëàñêîâîé îõîòîé; ˆ êîëûáåëü åãî êà÷àë òàê íåæíî, Šàê ëèøü ñïîñîáíà æåíñêàß ðóêà. € â ïîðó ÷óòü ïîçäíåé, êîãäà ìàëûø ‹èøü òîëüêî-òîëüêî âûëåç èç ïåëåíîê, ‹þáèë ñóðîâûé, íåëþäèìûé Œàéêë, —òîá áûë ïîñòðåë âñåãäà ïåðåä ãëàçàìè, - ’ðóäèëñß ëü ñàì îí â ïîëå èëü ñêëîíßëñß àä ñâßçàííîé îâöîé, ïðåä íèì ïðîñòåðòîé, îä äðåâíèì äóáîì, ðîñøèì îäèíîêî “ õèæèíû, - ãóñòàß òåíü åãî Žò ñîëíöà óêðûâàëà ñòðèãàëß, ‡à ÷òî îí è çîâåòñß ïî ñþ ïîðó ‚î âñåé äîëèíå ‘ãðèãàëåâûì „óáîì. ˆ òàì, â òåíè ïðîõëàäíîé, â îêðóæåíüå ‘åðüåçíûõ è æèâûõ ðåáß÷üèõ ëèö, Œàéêë òîëüêî ÷òî è ìîã øóòëèâî-ñòðîãî, ‘ óêîðîì íåæíûì âçãëßäûâàòü íà ñûíà, Šîëü çà íîãó îâöó õâàòàë øàëóí ˆëè åå, ëåæàâøóþ ïîêîðíî îä íîæíèöàìè, âîçãëàñîì ïóãàë. Šîãäà æå ñ îæüåé ïîìîùüþ ìàëåö ‘òàë ïßòèëåòíèì êðåïûøîì è ùåêè, Šàê ßáëî÷êî, ðóìßíöåì íàëèëèñü, Œàéêë ñðåçàë êðåïêèé ïðóò â ïîäëåñêå çèìíåì, †åëåçîì ðóêîßòêó îêîâàë - î âñåì ñòàòüßì ïàñòóøèé ïîñîõ âûøåë. ‘ îðóäüåì ýòèì ó âîðîò îâ÷àðíè ˆëü íà ïóòè ê ðàñùåëèíå íàø ñòðàæ ’åïåðü âñòàâàë, ÷òîá ïðèäåðæàòü îâåö ˆëü çàâåðíóòü èõ. ‚àì, êîíå÷íî, ßñíî, —òî äåëó ñåé ïîäïàñîê, ñàì ñ âåðøîê, ’î ëè ïîäìîãîé áûë, òî ëè ïîìåõîé. ˆ îòòîãî åìó íå òàê óæ ÷àñòî Žòöîâà äîñòàâàëàñü ïîõâàëà - •îòü è ñòàðàëñß îí, ÷òî áûëî ñèë, óñêàß â äåëî, êàê îâ÷àð çàïðàâñêèé, ˆ ïîñîõ ñâîé, è âëàñòíûé âçãëßä, è ãîëîñ. î âîò ñðàâíßëîñü ‹þêó äåñßòü ëåò, ˆ îí òåïåðü óæ ãðóäüþ ìîã âñòðå÷àòü àïîðû ãîðíûõ âåòðîâ; åæåäíåâíî ‘ îòöîì íà ðàâíûõ îòïðàâëßëñß îí à ïàñòáèùà, íå æàëóßñü, ÷òî ïóòü ’ßæåë è êðóò. ˆ íàäî ëü ãîâîðèòü, —òî Œàéêëó óïîâàíüß ëåò áûëûõ …ùå äîðîæå ñòàëè? —òî îò ñûíà ˜ëè òîêè ÷óâñòâ è áóäòî ïðèáàâëßëè ‘èßíüß ñîëíöó è ìóçûêè âåòðó? —òî îæèë ñåðäöåì âíîâü ñåäîé îâ÷àð? ’àê ïîä îòöîâñêèì îêîì ìàëü÷èê ðîñ - ˆ ê âîñåìíàäöàòîìó ãîäó ñòàë îäèòåëþ íàäåæäîé è îïîðîé. î âîò îäíàæäû â òèõèé ìèð ñåìåéñòâà ðèøëà áåäà. ‡àäîëãî äî òåõ äíåé, Ž êîèõ ðå÷ü òåïåðü âåäó ß, Œàéêë „àë ïîðó÷èòåëüñòâî ñâîå çà ôåðìó ëåìßííèêà; õîçßèí ðàáîòßùèé ëåìßííèê áûë, â äîñòàòêå æèë íàäåæíîì. î ãðßíóëà íåæäàííàß ãðîçà: Ží ðàçîðèëñß; ïðåäïèñàíüå âûøëî, —òîá ïîðó÷èòåëþ ïîêðûòü óáûòêè. ’î òßæêèé áûë óäàð äëß ïàñòóõà: „îõîä åãî è òàê-òî íåâåëèê, € òóò îòäàé åäâà ëü íå ïîëîâèíó. ˆ ïîêàçàëîñü â ïåðâûé ìèã åìó, —òî ãîðøå íå áûâàåò èñïûòàíüß, •îòü äóìàë ïðåæäå: óæ â åãî-òî ãîäû ðèâû÷åí ê èñïûòàíüßì ÷åëîâåê. î ðàçìûøëåíüè æå, ñîáðàâ âñå ñèëû „óøè, ÷òîá çàãëßíóòü áåäå â ãëàçà, åøèë îí áûëî, ÷òî ïðîäàòü ïðèäåòñß àäåëîâ îò÷èõ ÷àñòü, íî ñåðäöå â íåì ‚íîâü äðîãíóëî, è îí íà òðåòüå óòðî ‘êàçàë æåíå: "îñëóøàé, ˆñàáåë. ‚åñü âåê íà ýòèõ çåìëßõ ãíóë ß ñïèíó, ˆ íå ñêàçàòü, ÷òîá ìèëîñòüþ ƒîñïîäü àñ îáäåëèë íà íèõ; à ïîïàäè Žíè â ÷óæèå ðóêè, - âèäèò îã, Ÿ íå íàéäó ïîêîß è â ìîãèëå. ’ßæåë íàø êðåñò. “æ ß ëü íå áûë â òðóäå —óòü ëè íå ñîëíöà íà íåáå ïðèëåæíåé? € âîò, âûõîäèò, ïðîæèë ëèøü â ðàçîð ‘åìüå ñâîåé, ñåäîé ãëóïåö. ëîõîé ûë ðîäñòâåííè÷åê òîò - è âûáîð ñäåëàë ëîõîé, êîëü íàñ îáìàíûâàë; äà õîòü áû ˆ íå îáìàíûâàë: óæåëè ìàëî „ðóãèõ, êîìó íàìíîãî áûë áû ëåã÷å ’àêîé óðîí! ðîñòèì åìó. î ëó÷øå á Ÿçûê îòñîõ ìîé, ÷åì òàêîå ìîëâèòü. î íå ê òîìó ß íà÷àë ðå÷ü âåñòè. àäåæäà åñòü åùå. ðèäåòñß ‹þêó îêèíóòü íàñ ñ òîáîþ, ˆñàáåë. å áûòü çåìëå â ÷óæèõ ðóêàõ. ‘âîáîäíîé Žñòàíåòñß îíà è âïðåäü; ñâîáîäíî ‚ëàäåòü îí áóäåò ýòîþ çåìëåé - Šàê âîëüíûé âåòåð, ÷òî øóìèò íàä íåþ. “ íàñ, òû çíàåøü, åñòü ñâîßê-êóïåö. Ží ïîñîáèò íàì - ïðè åãî äîñòàòêàõ. ‚îò ‹þêà ìû è ñíàðßäèì ê íåìó; ‘ åãî ïîäìîãîé è ñâîåé ñíîðîâêîé Ží çàðàáîòêîì ñêîðûì âîçìåñòèò “áûòîê íàø è ñíîâà ê íàì âåðíåòñß. € çäåñü åìó ÷òî òîëêó îñòàâàòüñß, Šîãäà êðóãîì, êóäà íè îáåðíèñü, ‹èøü áåäíîòà îäíà?" ‘òàðèê óìîëê, ˆ ìîë÷à ðßäîì ˆñàáåë ñèäåëà, € ìûñëüþ óíåñëàñü â ãîäà áûëûå. ‚îò è÷àðä åéòìàí, äóìàëîñß åé: ûë ïðèõîäñêèì ñèðîòêîé; äëß íåãî à ïàïåðòè ñîñåäè ñîáèðàëè Œîíåòêè, à ïîòîì êóïèëè êîðîá ˆ ìåëî÷ü âñßêóþ ê íåìó - âðàçíîñ. ’îò ñ êîðîáîì äî ‹îíäîíà äîáðåë, € òàì êóïåö ñûñêàëñß ñåðäîáîëüíûé, ‘ìûøëåíîãî ïðèìåòèë ïàðåíüêà, à ñëóæáó âçßë è çà ìîðå ïîñëàë ðèêàç÷èêîì â äåëàõ ñâîèõ òîðãîâûõ. ’îò íàæèë òàì íåñìåòíûå áîãàòñòâà ˆ áåäíûì ùåäðî æåðòâîâàë èç íèõ, ‚ ïðèõîäå æå ñâîåì ðîäíîì ÷àñîâíþ îñòðîèë, ïîë â íåé ìðàìîðîì óñòëàë, —òî òîæå ïðèñëàí áûë èç ñòðàí çàìîðñêèõ. ðèêèíóëà âñå ýòî ˆñàáåë, ˆ ïðîñâåòëåëî äîáðîå ëèöî. € Œàéêë, äîâîëüíûé, òàê çàêîí÷èë ðå÷ü: "—òî æ, ˆñàáåë! ’ðè äíß ìíå ýòè äóìû ‡àìåñòî õëåáà áûëè è âîäû. å âñå ïðîïàëî; âåäü îñòàëîñü íàì àìíîãî áîëüøå. õ, âîò ñòàòü áû òîëüêî —óòü ïîìîëîæå! î íàäåæäîé îã å îáîøåë íàñ. ‘îáèðàé-êà ‹þêó Žäåæó ëó÷øóþ; êóïè, ÷òî íàäî, ˆ íå ñåãîäíß-çàâòðà â äîáðûé ïóòü! “æ êîëü èäòè, òàê ÷åì ñêîðåé, òåì ëó÷øå". ’àê Œàéêë çàêîí÷èë ðå÷ü è ñ ëåãêèì ñåðäöåì îøåë íà ïîëå. ðèíßëàñü õîçßéêà ‘áèðàòü ñûíî÷êà â äàëüíþþ äîðîãó - è äíåì íè íî÷üþ íå ñìûêàëà ãëàç. î âñå æ áûëà âîñêðåñíîé ïåðåäûøêå ˆ ðàäà: âåäü ïîäðßä äâå íî÷è Œàéêë “æ áîëüíî áåñïîêîéíî, òßæêî ñïàë. € óòðîì âñòàëè - ñåðäöå åé øåïíóëî: ƒðûçåò åãî òîñêà. ˆ ââå÷åðó, Žñòàâøèñü ñ ñûíîì, ìàòü ê íåìó ïðèñåëà ˆ ìîëâèëà: "å óõîäè, ñûíîê. ‚åäü òû îäèí è åñòü ó íàñ. ‘ëó÷èñü ‘ òîáîþ ÷òî - êîãî íàì áóäåò æäàòü, Šîãî æàëåòü? å óõîäè, ðîäèìûé. Šîëü òû îòöà ïîêèíåøü, îí óìðåò". …å óòåøèë þíîøà. Žíà æå, Šàê ïîäåëèëàñü ñòðàõàìè ñâîèìè, ’àê ðîâíî ïîëåã÷àëî íà äóøå. ˆ ñëàâíûé óæèí ñîáðàëà ïîä âå÷åð, ˆ âñå âòðîåì îíè çà ñòîë óñåëèñü, Šàê äðóæíàß ñåìüß ïîä îæäåñòâî. ‘ óòðà æå ñíîâà çàêèïåëè ñáîðû, ˆ âñþ íåäåëþ ðàäîñòüþ ñâåòèëñß ˆõ äîì, êàê ðîùà â ìàéñêèé äåíü, - à òóò ˆ âåñòü îò ñâîßêà ê íèì ïîäîñïåëà. ‘åé äîáðûé ÷åëîâåê èì îáåùàë, Šàê î ðîäíîì, çàáîòèòüñß î ‹þêå, - óñêàé-äå áåç îïàñêè ïîñûëàþò. àç äåñßòü áûëî ÷èòàíî ïèñüìî, Œàòü ïîíåñëà åãî ïðî÷åñòü ñîñåäßì, ˆ íå áûëî âî âñåé çåìëå àíãëèéñêîé ‘÷àñòëèâåé þíîøè, ÷åì ãîðäûé ‹þê. ‚åðíóëàñü ˆñàáåë, è Œàéêë ñêàçàë: "—òî æ, çàâòðà è â äîðîãó". ’óò õîçßéêà ‡àïðè÷èòàëà, ÷òî â òàêîé-òî ñïåøêå Žíè, óæ âåðíî, ÷òî-íèáóäü çàáóäóò, î, ïîâîð÷àâ, ñìèðèëàñü ïîä êîíåö, „à è ó Œàéêëà îòëåãëî îò ñåðäöà. à áåðåãó øóìëèâîãî ðó÷üß ‚ óùåëüå ƒðèíõåä Œàéêë óæå äàâíî ‡àäóìàë äëß îâåö çàãîí ïîñòàâèòü. …ùå äî âåñòè î ñâîåé ïîòåðå Ží íàòàñêàë òóäà êàìíåé; îíè ‘åé÷àñ ëåæàëè òàì íåñòðîéíîé ãðóäîé. ˆ ‹þêà îí â òîò âå÷åð ê íèì ïðèâåë ˆ òàê ñêàçàë: "‘ûíîê, ìåíß òû çàâòðà îêèíåøü. ‘ ïåðåïîëíåííîé äóøîþ Ÿ íà òåáß ãëßæó; òû äëß ìåíß àäåæäîé áûë ñ ðîæäåíüß òâîåãî, ˆ êàæäûé íîâûé äåíü òâîé áûë ìíå â ðàäîñòü. •î÷ó ñåé÷àñ ß êîå-÷òî ñêàçàòü ’åáå î íàñ äâîèõ, î íàøèõ æèçíßõ; € òû îá ýòîì âñïîìíè íà ÷óæáèíå - •îòü, ìîæåò, ðå÷ü ïîéäåò è î âåùàõ, ’åáå íåâåäîìûõ. ‹èøü òû ðîäèëñß, ’àê äâîå ñóòîê êðßäó è ïðîñïàë, - ‘ ìëàäåíöàìè ÷àñòåíüêî òàê áûâàåò, - ˆ òâîåãî îòöà áëàãîñëîâåíüß ‚èòàëè íåîòñòóïíî íàä òîáîé. „åíü ïðîõîäèë çà äíåì, à âñå ñèëüíåå ’åáß ëþáèë ß. ‚ñåõ ãàðìîíèé ñëàùå Œíå áûë òâîé ïåðâûé áåññëîâåñíûé ëåïåò, àïåâ äðåìîòíûé òâîé ó ìàòåðèíñêîé ƒðóäè. ˜ëè ìåñßöû; ìíå ïðèõîäèëîñü ˆõ ïðîâîäèòü íà ïàñòáèùàõ, â äîëèíàõ - å äîìà; à èíà÷å á ß, íàâåðíî, ’åáß ñ êîëåíåé íå ñïóñêàë ñâîèõ. î ìû âåäü è èãðàëè âìåñòå, ‹þê. à ñêëîíàõ ýòèõ ðàçâå íå èãðàëè ˆ ìîëîäîñòü è ñòàðîñòü â íàñ ñ òîáîé? ˆ îòêàçàë ëè ß òåáå êîãäà •îòü â ìàëîì óäîâîëüñòâèè ðåáß÷üåì?" ûë ‹þê äóøîþ ìóæåñòâåí è òâåðä, î òóò îí ðàçðûäàëñß. € ñòàðèê ‚çßë çà ðóêó åãî è ìßãêî ìîëâèë: "å ïëà÷ü, ñûíîê. å íàäî. Ÿ óæ âèæó: å ñòîèò ìíå îá ýòîì òîëêîâàòü... Šîëè è âïðßìü âî âñåì ß áûë õîðîøèì ’åáå îòöîì, òî òàê âåëåë ìíå äîëã - Œîé íåîïëàòíûé äîëã ïåðåä äðóãèìè. Ÿ ñòàð è ñåä - íî âñå æ î òåõ ß ïîìíþ, Šòî â þíîñòè ìîåé ìåíß ëþáèë. ˆõ íåò óæ, òåõ äâîèõ. î÷èþò ðßäîì Žíè â çåìëå âîò ýòîé, ãäå äî íèõ î÷èëè ïðåäêè èõ - îòöû è äåäû. îòåë áû ß, ÷òîá æèçíü òâîß òàêîé æå ûëà, êàêóþ ïðîæèëè îíè. î ÷òî ãëßäåòü íàçàä íàì, ñûí ìîé? „îëîã ûë ïóòü, àí âîò íåâåëèêà óäà÷à... Šàê ýòè ïåðåøëè êî ìíå ïîëß, ûë ÷óòü íå êàæäûé ñàæåíü â íèõ çàëîæåí. Ÿ ñîðîê äîëãèõ ëåò êðîïèë èõ ïîòîì, ˆ îã âîçäàë ìíå: äî áåäû ïîñëåäíåé ’û íà çåìëå ñâîáîäíîé æèë, ìîé ‹þê. ‘äàåòñß ìíå - åé íå ñòåðïåòü äðóãîãî •îçßèíà. ðîñòè ìåíß, ƒîñïîäü, Šîëü ß íåñïðàâåäëèâ ê òåáå, íî, âèäíî, ‘óäüáà òåáå èäòè". “ìîëê ñòàðèê; îòîì, íà ãðóäó êàìíåé óêàçàâøè, ðîäîëæèë: "‚îò äëß íàñ áûëà ðàáîòà; ’åïåðü ëèøü äëß ìåíß îíà, ñûíîê. î ïåðâûé êàìåíü ïîëîæè òû ñàì, ‚îò ýòîò - çà ìåíß - ñâîåé ðóêîþ... ó, ìàëü÷èê ìîé, - õðàíè òåáß ƒîñïîäü! „à íèñïîøëåò îí íàì ñâåòëåå äíè, —åì ýòè! •îòü äåâßòûé óæ äåñßòîê îøåë ìíå, ß ïîêà åùå çäîðîâ ˆ êðåïîê. ’û ñâîþ èñïîëíè äîëþ, € ß - ñâîþ. Ÿ çàâòðà âíîâü ïðèìóñü ‡à òå çàíßòüß, ÷òî òâîèìè áûëè; ‚ñõîäèòü íà ñàìûå êðóòûå ñêëîíû, ‚ ãðîçó èëè â òóìàí, òåïåðü ß áóäó Žäèí. î ìíå è íå âïåðâîé òàêèå ’ðóäû: ß áûë çàäîëãî äî òîãî, Šàê îã òåáß ïîñëàë ìíå, ê íèì ïðèâû÷åí. •ðàíè òåáß ƒîñïîäü, ñûíîê! ‘åé÷àñ àäåæà òû ïîëîí. ’àê è áûòü äîëæíî. „à, äà... Ÿ çíàþ, ñàì-òî ïî ñåáå ’û á íèêîãäà íå ïîæåëàë óéòè Žò ñòàðîãî îòöà: åãî òû ëþáèøü... ˆ òî ñêàçàòü: êîëü òû ïîêèíåøü íàñ, —òî íàì îñòàíåòñß? î ß îïßòü å÷ü íå î òîì ïîâåë. ‚îò ýòîò êàìåíü - ’û ïîëîæè åãî; à êàê óéäåøü, - Šîëü âñòðåòßòñß òåáå äóðíûå ëþäè, ’û âñïîìíè îáî ìíå, ê ðîäíîìó äîìó „óøîþ îáðàòèñü, è óêðåïèò ’åáß ƒîñïîäü; ñðåäü òßãîò è ñîáëàçíîâ ‚ñåãäà òû ïîìíè, êàê îòöû è äåäû ‚ íåâåäåíüå, ïî ïðîñòîòå îäíîé ‚åðøèëè äîáðûå äåëà. ó ÷òî æ - ðîùàé, ìîé ñûí. Šîãäà íàçàä âåðíåøüñß - ’û íîâîå ñòðîåíüå çäåñü óâèäèøü. ’î óãîâîð íàø. î êàêîé áû æðåáèé ’åáå íè âûïàë - çíàé, ÷òî òâîé îòåö „î ãðîáîâîé äîñêè òåáß ëþáèë ˆ ñ ìûñëüþ î òåáå ñîøåë â ìîãèëó". àñòóõ óìîëê; è íàêëîíèëñß ‹þê, ˆ çàëîæèë çàãîíà ïåðâûé êàìåíü, - ˆ òóò íå âûäåðæàë ñòàðèê: îí ñûíà Š ãðóäè ïðèæàë, è öåëîâàë, è ïëàêàë. ˆ âìåñòå òàê äîìîé ïðèøëè îíè. - ‘ íî÷íîþ òèøèíîé íà ýòîò äîì ‘îøåë ïîêîé - èëü âèäèìûé ïîêîé. € óòðîì ‹þê îòïðàâèëñß â äîðîãó, ˆ, âûéäß íà ïðîñåëîê, ãîðäåëèâî ‡àêèíóë ãîëîâó, è âñå ñîñåäè …ìó ñ÷àñòëèâîãî ïóòè æåëàëè, ˆ òàê, ïîêà íå ñêðûëñß îí èç âèäó, Œîëèòâû èõ åìó ëåòåëè âñëåä. Žò ðîäñòâåííèêà ñòàëè ïðèõîäèòü ˆçâåñòüß äîáðûå; è ïàðåíü ñëàë î÷òèòåëüíûå, ëàñêîâûå ïèñüìà. ‚ñå áûëî â íèõ äëß ñòàðèêîâ â íîâèíêó, ‚ñå ðàäîñòüþ èõ äóøè íàïîëíßëî, ˆ ìàòü ñîñåäßì ÷àñòî ãîâîðèëà: "“æ òàê äóøåâíî ïèøåò íàø ñûíîê!" ’àê ìåñßö øåë çà ìåñßöåì; ïàñòóõ „íè ïðîâîäèë â ñâîèõ òðóäàõ ïðèâû÷íûõ, ˆ áûëî íà äóøå åãî ëåãêî. € âûäàñòñß ñâîáîäíàß ìèíóòêà - Ží øåë ê ðó÷üþ è ñòðîèë ïîìàëåíüêó ‡àãîí. î âîò âñå ðåæå ñòàëè ïèñüìà; ‹þê çàëåíèëñß; â ãîðîäå áåñïóòíîì ˆ ñàì îí ñáèëñß ñ ÷åñòíîãî ïóòè, àâëåê ïîçîð íà ãîëîâó ñâîþ; ˆ ïîä êîíåö ïðèøëîñü åìó èñêàòü ‘åáå óêðûòüß çà ñåìüþ ìîðßìè. …ñòü óòåøåíüå â ñòîéêîñòè ëþáâè. ‚ûíîñèì ñ íåþ ëåã÷å ìû íåñ÷àñòüß, —òî íàì èíà÷å áû çàòìèëè ðàçóì ˆëè ðàçáèëè ñåðäöå íà êóñêè. Œíå ìíîãèõ äîâåëîñü âñòðå÷àòü èç òåõ, Šòî ïîìíèë ñòàðèêà è çíàë, êàê æèë îí …ùå è ãîäû ïîñëå òîé áåäû. Ží äî ïîñëåäíèõ äíåé ñáåðåã ñâîþ åäþæèííóþ ñèëó - è, êàê ïðåæäå, ˜àãàë ïî êðó÷àì, çîðêî ïðèìå÷àë, —òî ñîëíöå, âåòð è îáëàêà ñóëèëè, - ‚ñå òå æå ïîâñåäíåâíûå çàáîòû Žá îâöàõ, î ñâîåì êëî÷êå çåìëè. € òî, áûâàëî, ïîáðåäåò â óùåëüå, Š ðó÷üþ - çàãîí ñâîé ñòðîèòü. ˆ òîãäà Žò æàëîñòè ó âñåõ ùåìèëî ñåðäöå - ˆ äî ñèõ ïîð ìîëâà òâåðäèò, ÷òî ÷àñòî Ží ïðèõîäèë ê ðó÷üþ, ñàäèëñß òàì ˆ êàìíåé äàæå ïàëüöåì íå êàñàëñß. ‘èäåë îí òàì íà áåðåãó ïîòîêà Žäèí êàê ïåðñò èëè ñ ñîáàêîé âåðíîé, —òî ñìèðíî ó åãî ëåæàëà íîã. ‘åìü äîëãèõ ëåò çàãîí îí ñòðîèë ñâîé ˆ óìåð, òàê åãî è íå äîñòðîèâ. ‹èøü íà òðè ãîäà ñ íåáîëüøèì æåíà …ãî ïåðåæèëà; ïîòîì íàäåë ûë ïðîäàí - ïåðåøåë â ÷óæèå ðóêè. „îì, ÷òî ‚å÷åðíåþ ‡âåçäîþ çâàëè, ˆñ÷åç ñ ëèöà çåìëè, è ïëóã ïðîøåëñß î ìåñòó, íà êîòîðîì îí ñòîßë. ˆ ìíîãîå êðóãîì ïåðåìåíèëîñü. î äóá, ÷òî ðîñ ïðåä äîìîì èõ, è íûíå ˜óìèò, è ãðîìîçäèòñß êàìíåé ãðóäà - àçâàëèíû îâå÷üåãî çàãîíà - ‚ óùåëüå ƒðèíõåä, ãäå áóðëèò ïîòîê. TO JOANNA Amid the smoke of cities did you pass The time of early youth; and there you learned, From years of quiet industry, to love The living Beings by your own fireside, With such a strong devotion, that your heart Is slow to meet the sympathies of them Who look upon the hills with tenderness, And make dear friendships with the streams and groves. Yet we, who are transgressors in this kind, Dwelling retired in