Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           "Iamnotashamedofmyname,"saidtheman,afaintsmileappearingonhisnarrowlips."IamcalledRience.Youdonotknowme,MasterDandilion,andthatisnosurprise.Youaretoofamousandwellknowntoknowallofyouradmirers.Yeteveryonewhoadmiresyourtalentsfeelsheknowsyou,knowsyousowellthatacertaindegreeoffamiliarityispermissible.Thisappliestome,too.Iknowitisamisconception,sopleasegraciouslyforgiveme."

           "Igraciouslyforgiveyou."

           "ThenIcancountonyouagreeingtoanswerafewquestions—"

           "No!Noyoucannot,"interruptedthepoet,puttingonairs."Now,ifyouwillgraciouslyforgiveme,Iamnotwillingtodiscussthesubjectsofmywork,itsinspirationoritscharacters,fictitiousorotherwise.Todosowoulddeprivepoetryofitspoeticveneerandleadtotriteness."

           "Isthatso?"

           "Itcertainlyis.Forexample,if,havingsungtheballadaboutthemiller’smerrywife,Iweretoannounceit’sreallyaboutZvirka,MillerLoach’swife,andIincludedanannouncementthatZvirkacanmosteasilybebeddedeveryThursdaybecauseonThursdaysthemillergoestomarket,itwouldnolongerbepoetry.Itwouldbeeitherrhymingcouplets,orfoulslander."

           "Iunderstand,Iunderstand,"Riencesaidquickly."Butperhapsthatisabadexample.Iamnot,afterall,interestedinanyone’speccadilloesorsins.Youwillnotslanderanyonebyansweringmyquestions.