Английские легенды / The English Legends. Группа авторовЧитать онлайн книгу.

      repentance – покаяние

      shutters – ставни

      sure – уверенный

      Clearly Leofric meant it as a joke for he considered his wife to be a religious woman. The very idea that Godiva would agree to his challenge took him completely by surprise. He was quite sure that his demure, modest wife would never do such a thing.

      But Godiva thought that her nudity would be interpreted as a sign of her humility and repentance before God. She was not ashamed of her nudity. On Leofric's words Godiva replied:

      “But will you give me permission, if I am willing to do it?”

      “I will,” said he.

      So great was Godiva's compassion for the people of Coventry that she overcame her horror of doing this. The countess sent a message through town that told everyone to close their shutters and stay indoors.

      Затем она loosed her hair, которые покрыли все её body, словно вуалью и, сев на лошадь, проехала через рыночную площадь в сопровождении двух knights, without being seen, видны были лишь её прекрасные ноги. И вот, Годива проехала по городу, облачённая только в свои hair. Она ехала по silent streets, невидимая для людей, которые из respect к ней подчинились её приказу.

      Окончив свое путешествие, она с радостью вернулась к своему изумленному husband и получила от него то, о чём asked. Граф сдался и lowered налоги в городе: он освободил город Ковентри и его жителей от service и подтвердил сделанное by a charter.

      Then she loosed her hair and let down her tresses, which covered the whole of her body like a veil, and then mounting her horse and attended by two knights, she rode through the market-place, without being seen, except her fair legs. So Godiva rode through town only clothed by her hair. She rode through the silent streets unseen by the people, who had obeyed her command because of their respect for her.

      When she had completed the journey, she returned with gladness to her astonished husband, and obtained of him what she had asked. The Earl gave in and lowered the taxes of the town: he freed the town of Coventry and its inhabitants from the service, and confirmed what he had done by a charter.

      Однако один человек не смог устоять перед temptation подглядеть за Countess. Это был tailor по имени Том, который просверлил в своих shutters дыру, so that he might see Godiva pass. Он лишь мельком увидел леди Годиву и, прежде чем успел насладиться зрелищем, he was struck blind. Он был ослеплён wrath Небес. Вот откуда взялось выражение «Peeping Tom», обозначающее voyeur. Прозвище Тома has become synonymous with pervert. Леофрик был вынужден признать, что всё это было ничто иное, как miracle, что в некотором смысле так и было, поскольку почти никто не видел её nudity. Но хуже всего было то, что ему пришлось предоставить tax break. Леди Годива, как графиня Мерсии, лично отвечала за good жителей Ковентри. Её имя Годива – это латинская форма Saxon имени Годгифу, или Годгуфу, что означает God's gift. Было проведено множество celebrations в память о мужестве леди Годивы. Ежегодно в Ковентри проводится pageant, дабы воспроизвести original маршрут леди Годивы по городу.

      However, only one man was unable to resist the temptation to peep at the Countess. It was a tailor named Tom who drilled a hole through his shutters, so that he might see Godiva pass. He caught a glimpse of Lady Godiva, and before he could satisfy his gaze he was struck blind. He was blinded by the wrath of Heaven. This is where the phrase “Peeping Tom” for a voyeur comes from. Tom's nickname has become synonymous with pervert.

      Leofric