You are old, Father William

"You are old, Father William," (ты стар, папа Вильям) the young man said (молодой человек сказал),

"And your hair (и твои волосы) has become very white (стали очень седы; white – белый);

And yet (и всё же) you incessantly (непрерывно) stand on your head (стоишь на [твоей-своей] голове) –

Do you think (ты думаешь), at your age (в твоем возрасте), it is right? (это нормально; right – правильный, верный)

"In my youth," (в (моей) молодости) Father William replied to his son (папа Вильям ответил [его-своему] сыну),

"I feared (я боялся [, что]) it might (это может / могло) injure my brain (повредить [мой] мозг);

But, now (но сейчас [, когда]) I am perfectly sure (я совершенно уверен [, что]) I have none (у меня нет [его]),

Why*, I do it again and again." (ну так я и делаю это снова и снова).

* * *

"You are old," said the youth (юноша), "as I mentioned before (как я упомянул ранее; before – до, раньше, перед),

And have grown (и стал / вырос) most uncommonly (необычайно; «чрезвычайно удивительно») fat (толст / упитан / тучен);

Yet you (и тем не менее ты) turned a back-somersault (сделал сальто назад; turn – переворачивать(ся)) in (внутрь [дома]) at the door (на пороге – «в дверях») –

Pray (прошу [, скажи]), what is the reason of that?" (почему? – «что есть причина этого»)

"In my youth," said the sage (мудрец), as he shook (встряхнув – «как он встряхнул») his grey locks ([его-своими] серыми локонами),

"I kept (я поддерживал; keep – держать) all my limbs (все мои части тела) very supple (очень гибкими / эластичными)

By the use (путем использования) of this ointment (этой мази) – one shilling the box (один шиллинг коробочка) –

Allow me (позволь мне) to sell you (продать тебе) a couple (парочку)? "

* * *

"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws (и твои челюсти) are too weak (слишком слабы)

For anything (для чего-либо) tougher (более жесткого) than suet (чем сало);

Yet you finished a goose (прикончил гуся), with the bones and the beak (с костями и клювом) –

Pray, how did you manage (как ты умудрился; manage – справиться, смочь) to do it (сделать это)?"

"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law (пристрастился к правоведению)

And argued each case (и спорил [по поводу] каждого разбирательства) with my wife (с моей женой);

And the muscular strength (мускульная сила), which it gave (которую это придало) to my jaw (моим челюстям),

Has lasted (сохранилась) the rest of my life." (на всю оставшуются жизнь)

* * *

"You are old" said the youth, "one would (кто-либо мог бы) hardly (едва ли) suppose (предположить)

That your eye (что твой глаз) was as steady as ever (столь же надежен как всегда);

Yet you balanced an eel (удерживал угря) on the end of your nose (на кончике [своего] носа)

What made you (что сделало тебя) so awfully clever**?” (таким чрезвычайно ловким; so – так)

"I have answered (я ответил [уже к этому времени]) three questions, and that is enough," (на три вопроса, и этого достаточно)

Said his father, "Don't give yourself airs!*** (не задавайся; «не давай себе манерничать»)

Do you think I can listen (я могу слушать) all day to such stuff? (весь день такую ерунду)

Be off (исчезни), or I'll kick you down stairs!" (или я спущу тебя с лестницы; kick – ударять ногой, пинать)

*why:

почему

выражает самые разнообразные эмоции в зависимости от контекста: удивление, согласие или несогласие, нетерпение и т.п.

Why, what is the problem? — Ну и что!?

Why, it's easy! — Да ведь это просто!

Why, of course I do! — Ну конечно, да!

**clever: сообразительный, хитрый; проворный, ловкий; искусный, умелый; способный, талантливый; остроумный

*** air:

воздух, атмосфера

внешний вид; airs – манерничание

"You are old, Father William," the young man said,

"And your hair has become very white;

And yet you incessantly stand on your head –

Do you think, at your age, it is right?"

"In my youth," Father William replied to his son,

"I feared it might injure the brain;

But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,

Why, I do it again and again."

"You are old," said the youth, "as I mentioned before,

And have grown most uncommonly fat;

Yet you turned a back somersault in at the door –

Pray, what is the reason of that?"

"In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his gray locks,

"I kept all my limbs very supple

By the use of this ointment – one shilling the box –

Allow me to sell you a couple."

"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak

For anything tougher than suet;

Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak –

Pray, how did you manage to do it?"

"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,

And argued each case with my wife;

And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw

Has lasted the rest of my life."

"You are old," said the youth; "one would hardly suppose

That your eye was as steady as ever;

Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose –

What made you so awfully clever?"

"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"

Said his father; "don't give yourself airs!

Do you think I can listen all day to this stuff?

Be off, or I'll kick you downsta