While that futile old gentleman dozed.

 

There was an Old Man of the West (с Запада),

Who wore a pale plum-coloured vest (носил бледную сливового цвета нижнюю рубашку; wear – носить);

When they said (когда сказали = спросили), 'Does it fit (она /рубашка/ впору)?'

He replied (он отвечал), 'Not a bit (ничуть)!'

That uneasy (беспокойный: «нелегкий») Old Man of the West.

 

There was an Old Man of the West,

Who wore a pale plum-coloured vest;

When they said, 'Does it fit?'

He replied, 'Not a bit!'

That uneasy Old Man of the West.

 

There was an Old Man of the Wrekin

Whose shoes made a horrible creaking (чьи ботинки издавали ужасный скрип)

But they said (но [ему] сказали = его спросили), 'Tell us whether,

Your shoes are of leather (скажи нам, твои ботинки из кожи ли; whether – ли),

Or of what (или из чего), you Old Man of the Wrekin?'

 

There was an Old Man of the Wrekin

Whose shoes made a horrible creaking

But they said, 'Tell us whether,

Your shoes are of leather,

Or of what, you Old Man of the Wrekin?'

 

There was a Young Lady whose eyes (чьи глаза),

Were unique as to colour and size (были уникальны, что до цвета и размера = что касается…, в отношении…);

When she opened them wide (когда она открывала их широко),

People all turned aside (люди все отворачивались),

And started away in surprise (и бросались прочь в изумлении, удивившись).

 

There was a Young Lady whose eyes,