Из Мэтью Прайора.
Лекарство хуже болезни
Ждал Рэтклифа – недуг силён,
Но врач-то знает, в чём спасенье!
Пришёл, таблетки дал мне он
И пожелал выздоровленья.
Но разум угасал во мне,
Вина хлебнул я – чуть взбодрило;
Заснул, и умер я во сне:
Леченье неудачным было.
Matthew Prior.
The Remedy Worse Than The Disease
I sent for Ratcliffe, was so ill,
That other doctors gave me over,
He felt my pulse, prescribed his pill,
And I was likely to recover.
But when the wit began to wheeze,
And wine had warm 'd the politician,
Cured yesterday of my disease,
I died last night of my physician.