Английские волшебные сказки 10 страница

‘I can do nothing,’ he said, ‘as I don’t know the right words to utter, and they are locked up in yon book.’ He looked round, and, see! the book was unfastened; the master had forgotten to lock it before he went out. The boy rushed to it and unclosed the volume. It was written with red and black ink, and much of it he could not understand; but he put his finger on a line and spelled it through.

 

At once the room was darkened (немедленно комната потемнела), and the house trembled (и дом задрожал); a clap of thunder rolled through the passage (удар грома прокатился через коридор) and the old room (и старую комнату), and there stood before him a horrible (и там = и вот стояла перед ним ужасная), horrible form (ужасная фигура), breathing fire (дышащая огнем), and with eyes like burning lamps (и с глазами, как зажженные лампы). It was the demon Beelzebub (это был демон Вельзевул), whom he had called up to serve him (которого он призвал служить себе).

‘Set me a task (дай мне приказ: «поставь мне задачу»),’ said he with a voice like the roaring of an iron furnace (сказал тот голосом, как рев железной печи).

The boy only trembled and his hair stood up (мальчик только дрожал, и его волосы стояли вверх = встали дыбом).

‘Set me a task, or I shall strangle thee (дай мне задание или я задушу тебя)!’

But the lad could not speak (но парень не мог говорить). Then the evil spirit stepped towards him (тогда злой дух подступил к нему), and putting forth his hands (и, выставив вперед свои руки) touched his throat (коснулся его горла). The fingers burned his flesh (пальцы жгли его плоть). ‘Set me a task (дай мне задание).’

‘Water yon flower (полей вон тот цветок),’ cried the boy in despair (воскликнул мальчик в отчаянии), pointing to a geranium (указывая на герань) which stood in a pot on the floor (которая стояла в горшке на полу).

Instantly the spirit left the room (мгновенно дух покинул комнату), but in another instant (но в другое мгновение) he returned with a barrel on his back (он вернулся с бочонком на своей спине), and poured the contents over the flower (и вылил содержимое на цветок); and again and again he went and came (и снова и снова он уходил и приходил), and poured more and more water (и лил больше и больше воды), till the floor of the room was ankle-deep (пока пол в комнате не стал залит водой по щиколотку: «по щиколотку глубокий»).

‘Enough, enough (довольно, довольно)!’ gasped the lad (задыхаясь, произнес парень); but the demon heeded him not (но демон не послушался его); the lad didn’t know the words by which to send him away (парень не знал слов, какими отослать его прочь), and still he fetched water (и тот все еще приносил воду).

 

Beelzebub [bi:`elzıbAb], furnace [`fə:nıs], despair [dıs`peə]

 

At once the room was darkened, and the house trembled; a clap of thunder rolled through the passage and the old room, and there stood before him a horrible, horrible form, breathing fire, and with eyes like burning lamps. It was the demon Beelzebub, whom he had called up to serve him.

‘Set me a task,’ said he with a voice like the roaring of an iron furnace.

The boy only trembled and his hair stood up.

‘Set me a task, or I shall strangle thee!’

But the lad could not speak. Then the evil spirit stepped towards him, and putting forth his hands touched his throat. The fingers burned his flesh. ‘Set me a task.’

‘Water yon flower,’ cried the boy in despair, pointing to a geranium which stood in a pot on the floor.

Instantly the spirit left the room, but in another instant he returned with a barrel on his back, and poured the contents over the flower; and again and again he went and came, and poured more and more water, till the floor of the room was ankle-deep.

‘Enough, enough!’ gasped the lad; but the demon heeded him not; the lad didn’t know the words by which to send him away, and still he fetched water.

 

It rose to the boy’s knees (она поднималась к коленям мальчика) and still more water was poured (и еще больше воды было наливаемо). It mounted to his waist (она поднялась к его поясу), and Beelzebub still kept on bringing barrels full (а Вельзевул все еще продолжал приносить полные бочонки). It rose to his armpits (она поднялась к его подмышкам), and he scrambled to the table-top (и он вскарабкался на стол: «на верх стола»). And now the water in the room stood up to the window (и теперь вода в комнате стояла до окна) and washed against the glass (и плескалась о стекло) and swirled around his feet (и кружилась вокруг его ног) on the table (на столе). It still rose (она все еще поднималась); it reached his breast (она достигла его груди). In vain he cried (напрасно он кричал); the evil spirit would not be dismissed (от злого духа было не отделаться; to dismiss — отпускать, позволять уйти; отправлять), and to this day he would have been pouring water (и до этого дня он бы лил воду), and would have drowned all Yorkshire (и затопил бы весь Йоркшир). But the master remembered on his journey (но мастер вспомнил в своем путешествии) that he had not locked the book (что он не запер книгу), and therefore returned (и поэтому вернулся), and at the moment when the water was bubbling (и в момент, когда вода булькала) about the pupil’s chin (около подбородка ученика), rushed into the room (вбежал в комнату) and spoke the words (и сказал слова) which cast Beelzebub back (которые зашвырнули Вельзевула назад) into his fiery home (в его огненный дом).

 

drown [draun], Yorkshire [`jo:kSıə], therefore [`ðeəfo:]

 

It rose to the boy’s knees and still more water was poured. It mounted to his waist, and Beelzebub still kept on bringing barrels full. It rose to his armpits, and he scrambled to the table-top. And now the water in the room stood up to the window and washed against the glass and swirled around his feet on the table. It still rose; it reached his breast. In vain he cried; the evil spirit would not be dismissed, and to this day he would have been pouring water, and would have drowned all Yorkshire. But the master remembered on his journey that he had not locked the book, and therefore returned, and at the moment when the water was bubbling about the pupil’s chin, rushed into the room and spoke the words which cast Beelzebub back into his fiery home.

 

Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse

(мышь Титти и мышь Тэтти)

 

TITTY MOUSE and Tatty Mouse both lived in a house (мышь Титти и мышь Тэтти обе жили в доме), Titty Mouse went a leasing (мышь Титти пошла собирать колосья) and Tatty Mouse went a leasing.

So they both went a leasing (так что они обе пошли собирать колосья).

Titty Mouse leased an ear of corn (мышь Титти подобрала початок кукурузы), and Tatty Mouse leased an ear of corn.

So they both leased an ear of corn (так что они обе подобрали початок кукурузы).

Titty Mouse made a pudding (мышь Титти сделала пудинг) and Tatty Mouse made a pudding.

So they both made a pudding (так что они обе сделали по пудингу).

And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil (и мышь Тэтти положила свой пудинг в горшок вариться).

But when Titty went to put hers in (но когда Титти пошла положить свой в горшок), the pot tumbled over (горшок опрокинулся), and scalded her to death (и ошпарил ее до смерти).

Then Tatty sat down and wept (тогда Тэтти села и заплакала); then a three-legged stool said (тогда трехногий табурет сказал): ‘Tatty, why do you weep (Тэтти, почему ты плачешь)?’

‘Titty’s dead (Титти мертва),’ said Tatty, ‘and so I weep (и поэтому я плачу).’

‘Then (тогда),’ said the stool, ‘I’ll hop (я буду прыгать),’ so the stool hopped (так что табурет запрыгал).

Then a broom in the corner of the room said (тогда метла в углу комнаты сказала): ‘Stool, why do you hop (табурет, почему ты прыгаешь)?’

‘Oh!’ said the stool, ‘Titty’s dead (Титти мертва), and Tatty weeps, and so I hop (и Тэтти плачет, и поэтому я прыгаю).’

‘Then,’ said the broom, ‘I’ll sweep (тогда, сказала метла, я буду мести),’ so the broom began to sweep (и так метла начала мести).

Then said the door (тогда сказала дверь), ‘Broom, why do you sweep (метла, почему ты метешь)?’

‘Oh!’ said the broom, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops (Титти мертва, а Тэтти плачет, а табурет прыгает), and so I sweep (и поэтому я мету).’

‘Then,’ said the door (тогда, сказала дверь), ‘I’ll jar (я буду дрожать),’ so the door jarred (так что дверь задрожала).

 

lease [li:s], scald [sko:ld]

 

TITTY MOUSE and Tatty Mouse both lived in a house, Titty Mouse went a leasing and Tatty Mouse went a leasing.

So they both went a leasing.

Titty Mouse leased an ear of corn, and Tatty Mouse leased an ear of corn.

So they both leased an ear of corn.

Titty Mouse made a pudding and Tatty Mouse made a pudding.

So they both made a pudding.

And Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil.

But when Titty went to put hers in, the pot tumbled over, and scalded her to death.

Then Tatty sat down and wept; then a three-legged stool said: ‘Tatty, why do you weep?’

‘Titty’s dead,’ said Tatty, ‘and so I weep.’

‘Then,’ said the stool, ‘I’ll hop,’ so the stool hopped.

Then a broom in the corner of the room said: ‘Stool, why do you hop?’

‘Oh!’ said the stool, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and so I hop.’

‘Then,’ said the broom, ‘I’ll sweep,’ so the broom began to sweep.

Then said the door, ‘Broom, why do you sweep?’

‘Oh!’ said the broom, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and so I sweep.’

‘Then,’ said the door, ‘I’ll jar,’ so the door jarred.

 

Then said the window (тогда сказало окно), ‘Door, why do you jar (дверь, почему ты дрожишь)?’

‘Oh!’ said the door, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps (Титти мертва, а Тэтти плачет), and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps (а табурет прыгает, а метла метет), and so I jar (и поэтому я дрожу).’

Then said the window (тогда сказало окно), ‘I’ll creak (я буду скрипеть),’ so the window creaked (так что окно заскрипело).

Now there was an old form outside the house (там была старая скамья снаружи дома), and when the window creaked (и когда окно заскрипело), the form said (скамья сказала): ‘Window, why do you creak (окно, почему ты скрипишь)?’

‘Oh!’ said the window, ‘Titty’s dead (Титти мертва), and Tatty weeps (а Тэтти плачет), and the stool hops (а табурет прыгает), and the broom sweeps (а метла метет), the door jars (дверь дрожит), and so I creak (и поэтому я скриплю).’

‘Then (тогда),’ said the old form (сказала старая скамья), ‘I’ll run round the house (я буду бегать вокруг дома),’ then the old form ran round the house (тогда старая скамья побежала вокруг дома). Now there was a fine large walnut-tree (там было прекрасное большое ореховое дерево) growing by the cottage (растущее у домика), and the tree said to the form (и дерево сказало скамье): ‘Form, why do you run round the house (скамейка, почему ты бегаешь вокруг дома)?’

‘Oh!’ said the form, ‘Titty’s dead (Титти мертва), and Tatty weeps (а Тэтти плачет), and the stool hops (а табурет прыгает), and the broom sweeps (а метла метет), the door jars (дверь дрожит), and the window creaks (а окно скрипит), and so I run round the house (и поэтому я бегаю вокруг дома).’

‘Then,’ said the walnut-tree, ‘I’ll shed my leaves (я буду сбрасывать мои листья)’, so the walnut-tree shed all its beautiful green leaves (так что ореховое дерево сбросило все свои прекрасные зеленые листья). Now there was a little bird (там была маленькая птичка) perched on one of the boughs of the tree (сидящая на одной из веток этого дерева; bough — сук; ветка), and when all the leaves fell (и когда все листья опали), it said: ‘Walnut-tree, why do you shed your leaves (ореховое дерево, почему ты сбрасываешь твои листья)?’

‘Oh!’ said the tree, ‘Titty’s dead (Титти мертва), and Tatty weeps (а Тэтти плачет), the stool hops (табурет прыгает), and the broom sweeps (а метла метет), the door jars (дверь дрожит), and the window creaks (а окно скрипит), the old form runs round the house (старая скамья бегает вокруг дома), and so I shed my leaves (и поэтому я сбрасываю мои листья).’

 

walnut [`wo:lnAt], bough [bau]

 

Then said the window, ‘Door, why do you jar?’

‘Oh!’ said the door, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, and so I jar.’

Then said the window, ‘I’ll creak,’ so the window creaked.

Now there was an old form outside the house, and when the window creaked, the form said: ‘Window, why do you creak?’

‘Oh!’ said the window, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and so I creak.’

‘Then,’ said the old form, ‘I’ll run round the house,’ then the old form ran round the house. Now there was a fine large walnut-tree growing by the cottage, and the tree said to the form: ‘Form, why do you run round the house?’

‘Oh!’ said the form, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, and the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, and so I run round the house.’

‘Then,’ said the walnut-tree, ‘I’ll shed my leaves’, so the walnut-tree shed all its beautiful green leaves. Now there was a little bird perched on one of the boughs of the tree, and when all the leaves fell, it said: ‘Walnut-tree, why do you shed your leaves?’

‘Oh!’ said the tree, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, and so I shed my leaves.’

 

‘Then,’ said the little bird, ‘I’ll moult all my feathers (я сброшу все мои перья),’ so he moulted all his pretty feathers (и она сбросила: «он сбросил» все свои красивые перья). Now there was a little girl walking below (там была маленькая девочка, идущая внизу), carrying a jug of milk (несущая кувшин молока) for her brothers’ and sisters’ supper (для ужина ее братьев и сестер = на ужин своим братьям и сестрам), and when she saw the poor little bird moult all its feathers (и когда она увидела, что бедная маленькая птичка сбросила все свои перья: «увидела птичку сбросить…»), she said: ‘Little bird, why do you moult all your feathers?’

‘Oh!’ said the little bird, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut-tree sheds its leaves, and so I moult all my feathers.’

‘Then,’ said the little girl, ‘I’ll spill the milk (я пролью молоко),’ so she dropped the pitcher (она уронила кувшин) and spilt the milk (и пролила молоко). Now there was an old man (там был старый человек) just by (неподалеку: «прямо рядом») on the top of a ladder (на верху лестницы) thatching a rick (кроя соломой скирду = поправляя стог; rick — стог, скирда), and when he saw the little girl spill the milk (и когда он увидел, что маленькая девочка пролила молоко), he said (он сказал): ‘Little girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk (маленькая девочка, что ты имеешь в виду под проливанием молока = зачем ты…)? — your little brothers and sisters must go without their supper (твои маленькие братья и сестры должны пойти без своего ужина = им придется теперь обойтись без ужина).’ Then said the little girl (тогда сказала маленькая девочка): ‘Titty’s dead, Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut-tree sheds all its leaves, the little bird moults all its feathers, and so I spill the milk (и поэтому я пролила молоко).’

‘Oh!’ said the old man (о, сказал старик), ‘then I’ll tumble off the ladder (тогда я свалюсь с лестницы) and break my neck (и сломаю себе шею),’ so he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck (так что он свалился с лестницы и сломал свою шею); and when the old man broke his neck (а когда старик сломал свою шею), the great walnut-tree fell down with a crash (большое ореховое дерево упало вниз с грохотом), and upset the old form and house (и опрокинуло старую скамью и дом), and the house falling knocked the window out (и дом, падая, выбил окно наружу), and the window knocked the door down (и окно сломало дверь; to knock down — сбить, сломать), and the door upset the broom (а дверь опрокинула метлу), and the broom upset the stool (а метла опрокинула табурет), and poor little Tatty Mouse (и бедная маленькая мышь Тэтти) was buried beneath the ruins (была погребена под руинами).

 

moult [məult], upset [Ap`set], bury [`berı]

 

‘Then,’ said the little bird, ‘I’ll moult all my feathers,’ so he moulted all his pretty feathers. Now there was a little girl walking below, carrying a jug of milk for her brothers’ and sisters’ supper, and when she saw the poor little bird moult all its feathers, she said: ‘Little bird, why do you moult all your feathers?’

‘Oh!’ said the little bird, ‘Titty’s dead, and Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut-tree sheds its leaves, and so I moult all my feathers.’

‘Then,’ said the little girl, ‘I’ll spill the milk,’ so she dropped the pitcher and spilt the milk. Now there was an old man just by on the top of a ladder thatching a rick, and when he saw the little girl spill the milk, he said: ‘Little girl, what do you mean by spilling the milk? — your little brothers and sisters must go without their supper.’ Then said the little girl: ‘Titty’s dead, Tatty weeps, the stool hops, and the broom sweeps, the door jars, and the window creaks, the old form runs round the house, the walnut-tree sheds all its leaves, the little bird moults all its feathers, and so I spill the milk.’

‘Oh!’ said the old man, ‘then I’ll tumble off the ladder and break my neck,’ so he tumbled off the ladder and broke his neck; and when the old man broke his neck, the great walnut-tree fell down with a crash, and upset the old form and house, and the house falling knocked the window out, and the window knocked the door down, and the door upset the broom, and the broom upset the stool, and poor little Tatty Mouse was buried beneath the ruins.

 

Jack and his Golden Snuff-box (Джек и его золотая табакерка)

 

ONCE upon a time (давным-давно: «однажды в одно время»), and a very good time it was (и очень хорошее время это было), though it was neither in my time nor in your time (хотя это было ни в мое время, ни в ваше время), nor in anyone else’s time (ни в чье-либо еще время), there was an old man and an old woman (жили-были: «там был» старик и старуха: «старый мужчина и старая женщина»), and they had one son (и у них был один сын), and they lived in a great forest (и они жили в большом лесу). And their son never saw any other people in his life (и их сын никогда не видел каких-либо других людей в своей жизни), but he knew (но он знал; to know — знать) that there were some more in the world (что было еще сколько-то в мире = что кто-то еще был в мире) besides his own father and mother (кроме его собственных отца и матери), because he had lots of books (потому что он имел множество: «кучи» книг), and he used to read every day about them (и постоянно читал каждый день о них). And when he read about charming princesses (а когда он читал об очаровательных принцессах), he would go wild to see some of them (он безумно хотел увидеть: «подчас шел = становился диким, чтобы увидеть» одну из них); till one day (до одного дня), when his father was out cutting wood (когда его отец был в лесу: «снаружи», рубя дрова), he told his mother (он сказал своей матери) that he wished to go away (что он хотел уйти прочь) to look for his living (искать свою жизнь/проживание = заработок) in some other country (в какой-нибудь другой стране), and to see some other people beside them two (и увидеть каких-нибудь других людей, кроме них двоих = кроме своих родителей). And he said (и он сказал): ‘I see nothing at all here (я не вижу совсем ничего здесь) but great trees around me (кроме больших деревьев вокруг меня); and if I stay here (и если я останусь: «остаюсь» здесь), maybe I shall go mad (может быть, я сойду с ума) before I see anything (прежде чем я увижу что-то).’ The young man’s father (отец молодого человека) was out all the time (был снаружи = в лесу все время) when this talk was going on (когда этот разговор происходил: «был идущим дальше») between him and his poor old mother (между ним и его бедной старой матерью).

The old woman began by saying to her son before leaving (старуха начала с того, что сказала своему сыну до ухода): ‘Well, well (ну, ну), my poor boy (мой бедный мальчик), if you want to go (если ты хочешь пойти), it’s better for you to go (/то/ лучше для тебя пойти), and God be with you (и Господь да пребудет с тобой).’ — (The old woman thought for the best (старуха думала как лучше: «для лучшего») when she said that (когда она сказала это).) — ‘But stop for a bit (но остановись ненадолго: «на кусочек» = повремени немного) before you go (прежде чем ты пойдешь). Which would you like best (что бы тебе понравилось больше) for me to make you (чтобы я сделала тебе), a little cake and bless you (маленькую лепешку и благословить тебя), or a big cake and curse you (или большую лепешку и проклясть тебя)?’

‘Dear, dear (Боже, Боже: «дорогой, дорогой»)!’ said he (сказал он), ‘make me a big cake (сделай мне большую лепешку). Maybe I shall be hungry (может быть, я буду голоден) on the road (по дороге).’ The old woman made the big cake (старуха сделала большую лепешку), and she went to the top of the house (и она пошла на верх дома), and she cursed him (и она прокляла его) as far as she could see him (так далеко, как она могла видеть его).

 

neither [`naıðə], besides [bı`saıdz], curse [kə:s]

 

ONCE upon a time, and a very good time it was, though it was neither in my time nor in your time, nor in anyone else’s time, there was an old man and an old woman, and they had one son, and they lived in a great forest. And their son never saw any other people in his life, but he knew that there were some more in the world besides his own father and mother, because he had lots of books, and he used to read every day about them. And when he read about charming princesses, he would go wild to see some of them; till one day, when his father was out cutting wood, he told his mother that he wished to go away to look for his living in some other country, and to see some other people beside them two. And he said: ‘I see nothing at all here but great trees around me; and if I stay here, maybe I shall go mad before I see anything.’ The young man’s father was out all the time when this talk was going on between him and his poor old mother.

The old woman began by saying to her son before leaving: ‘Well, well, my poor boy, if you want to go, it’s better for you to go, and God be with you.’ — (The old woman thought for the best when she said that.) — ‘But stop for a bit before you go. Which would you like best for me to make you, a little cake and bless you, or a big cake and curse you?’

‘Dear, dear!’ said he, ‘make me a big cake. Maybe I shall be hungry on the road.’ The old woman made the big cake, and she went to the top of the house, and she cursed him as far as she could see him.

 

He presently met with his father (он вскоре встретился со своим отцом), and the old man said to him (и старик сказал ему): ‘Where are you going (куда ты направляешься), my poor boy (мой бедный мальчик)?’ when the son told the father (когда сын рассказал отцу) the same tale as he told his mother (ту же историю, как он рассказал своей матери). ‘Well (ну),’ said his father (сказал его отец), ‘I’m sorry to see you going away (мне жаль видеть тебя, идущего прочь), but if you’ve made up your mind to go (но если ты решил: «уладил свои мысли» пойти), it’s better for you to go (то лучше для тебя пойти).’

The poor lad had not gone far (бедный парень не ушел далеко), when his father called him back (как его отец позвал его назад); then the old man drew out of his pocket a golden snuff-box (затем старик вытащил из своего кармана золотую табакерку; to draw — тащить, тянуть), and said to him (и сказал ему): ‘Here (вот), take this little box (возьми эту маленькую шкатулку), and put it in your pocket (и положи ее в твой карман), and be sure not to open it (и смотри не открывай ее: «будь уверен не открывать ее») till you are near your death (пока ты не окажешься близ твоей смерти).’ And away went poor Jack upon his road (и прочь пошел бедный Джек по своей дороге), and walked till he was tired and hungry (и шагал, пока он не стал усталым и голодным), for he had eaten all his cake upon the road (ибо он съел всю свою лепешку по дороге); and by this time (и к этому времени) night was upon him (ночь опустилась: «была на нем»), so he could hardly see his way before him (так что он мог едва видеть свою дорогу перед собой). He could see some light (он мог видеть какой-то свет) a long way before him (далеко: «длинный путь» перед собой), and he made up to it (и он добрался до него; to make up — приблизиться), and found the back door (и нашел черный ход: «заднюю дверь») and knocked at it (и постучал в него) till one of the maid-servants came (пока одна из горничных: «девушек-служанок» не пришла), and asked him what he wanted (и не спросила его, что он хотел = что он хочет). He said that night was on him (он сказал, что ночь была на нем = что его застигла /в дороге/ ночь), and he wanted to get some place to sleep (и он хотел найти какое-нибудь место, чтобы поспать = переночевать). The maid-servant called him in to the fire (горничная позвала его внутрь к очагу: «огню»), and gave him plenty to eat (и дала ему много: «обилие» поесть), good meat, and bread, and beer (хорошее мясо, и хлеб, и пиво); and as he was eating his food by the fire (и пока он ел свою еду у очага), there came the young lady to look at him (туда пришла молодая барышня, чтобы посмотреть на него), and she loved him well (и он ей сильно понравился) and he loved her (и он полюбил ее). And the young lady ran to tell her father (и молодая барышня побежала, чтобы рассказать своему отцу), and said there was a pretty young man (и сказала, что там был красивый молодой человек) in the back kitchen (в задней кухне); and immediately the gentleman came to him (и немедленно джентльмен пришел к нему), and questioned him (и спрашивал его), and asked what work he could do (и спросил, какую работу он мог делать). Jack said, the silly fellow (Джек сказал, глупый парень), that he could do anything (что он мог делать что угодно). (He meant (он имел в виду) that he could do any foolish bit of work (что он мог сделать любой дурацкий кусочек работы), that would be wanted about the house (которая была бы желаема по дому).)

 

snuff-box [`snAfboks], pretty [`prıtı], question [`kwestSən]

 

He presently met with his father, and the old man said to him: ‘Where are you going, my poor boy?’ when the son told the father the same tale as he told his mother. ‘Well,’ said his father, ‘I’m sorry to see you going away, but if you’ve made up your mind to go, it’s better for you to go.’

The poor lad had not gone far, when his father called him back; then the old man drew out of his pocket a golden snuff-box, and said to him: ‘Here, take this little box, and put it in your pocket, and be sure not to open it till you are near your death.’ And away went poor Jack upon his road, and walked till he was tired and hungry, for he had eaten all his cake upon the road; and by this time night was upon him, so he could hardly see his way before him. He could see some light a long way before him, and he made up to it, and found the back door and knocked at it till one of the maid-servants came, and asked him what he wanted. He said that night was on him, and he wanted to get some place to sleep. The maid-servant called him in to the fire, and gave him plenty to eat, good meat, and bread, and beer; and as he was eating his food by the fire, there came the young lady to look at him, and she loved him well and he loved her. And the young lady ran to tell her father, and said there was a pretty young man in the back kitchen; and immediately the gentleman came to him, and questioned him, and asked what work he could do. Jack said, the silly fellow, that he could do anything. (He meant that he could do any foolish bit of work, that would be wanted about the house.)

 

‘Well (ну),’ says the gentleman to him (говорит джентльмен ему), ‘if you can do anything (если ты можешь делать что угодно), at eight o’clock in the morning (в восемь часов утра) I must have a great lake (у меня должно быть огромное озеро) and some of the largest man-of-war vessels (и несколько из самых больших военных судов) sailing before my mansion (плавающих перед моим домом; sail — парус; to sail — ходить под парусом), and one of the largest vessels (и один из самых больших судов) must fire a royal salute (должен произвести: «выпалить» королевский салют), and the last round must break the leg of the bed (и последний выстрел должен сломать ножку кровати) where my young daughter is sleeping (где спит моя младшая дочь). And if you don’t do that (а если ты не сделаешь это), you will have to forfeit your life (тебе придется поплатиться твоей жизнью).’