The Woman was very angry, and shut her lips tight and took up her spinning-wheel and began to spin.

But the Baby cried because the Cat had gone away, and the Woman could not hush it, for it struggled and kicked and grew black in the face.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘take a strand of the wire (возьми прядь нити) that you are spinning and tie it to your spinning-whorl (которую ты прядешь и привяжи ее к веретену) and drag it along the floor (и потяни ее по полу), and I will show you a magic (и я покажу тебе волшебство) that shall make your Baby laugh as loudly as he is now crying (которое заставит твоего Малыша смеяться = от которого твой Малыш засмеется так громко, как он сейчас плачет).’

‘I will do so (я сделаю так),’ said the Woman (сказала Женщина), ‘because I am at my wits’ end (потому что я не знаю, что делать; to be at one’s wits’ end — стать в тупик; не знать, что делать; wit(s) — разум, ум); but I will not thank you for it (но я не поблагодарю тебя за это).’

whorl [wWl], loudly ['laudlI], thank [TxNk]

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy,’ said the Cat, ‘take a strand of the wire that you are spinning and tie it to your spinning-whorl and drag it along the floor, and I will show you a magic that shall make your Baby laugh as loudly as he is now crying.’

‘I will do so,’ said the Woman, ‘because I am at my wits’ end; but I will not thank you for it.’

She tied the thread to the little clay spindle-whorl and drew it across the floor (она привязала нить к маленькому глиняному веретену и потянула его по полу), and the Cat ran after it and patted it with his paws and rolled head over heels (а Кот побежал за ним и похлопал по нему своими лапками и перекатился кубарем; to roll head over heels — кувыркаться в воздухе, делать сальто, лететь кубарем), and tossed it backward over his shoulder (и подбросил его назад через плечо) and chased it between his hind-legs (и загнал = пропустил его между задних ног) and pretended to lose it (и притворился, что потерял его), and pounced down upon it again (и снова набросился на него), till the Baby laughed as loudly as it had been crying (пока Малыш /не/ засмеялся так громко, как он /до этого/ плакал), and scrambled after the Cat (и /не/ пополз за Котом) and frolicked all over the Cave (и не резвился по всей Пещере) till itgrew tired and settled down to sleep with the Cat in its arms (пока /он/ /не/ устал и /не/ устроился спать с Котом в объятиях; to settle down — успокаиваться, угомониться).

thread [Tred], shoulder ['Squldq], pounce [pauns]

She tied the thread to the little clay spindle-whorl and drew it across the floor, and the Cat ran after it and patted it with his paws and rolled head over heels, and tossed it backward over his shoulder and chased it between his hind-legs and pretended to lose it, and pounced down upon it again, till the Baby laughed as loudly as it had been crying, and scrambled after the Cat and frolicked all over the Cave till it grew tired and settled down to sleep with the Cat in its arms.

‘Now,’ said the Cat (теперь, — сказал Кот), ‘I will sing the Baby a song that shall keep him asleep for an hour (я спою Малышу песню, которая усыпит: «сохранит его спящим» на час).’ And he began to purr (и он начал мурлыкать), loud and low, low and loud (громко и тихо = то громко, то тихо, то громко, то тихо), till the Baby fell fast asleep (пока Малыш /не/ заснул крепко; to fall fast asleep — крепко заснуть). The Woman smiled as she looked down upon the two of them and said (Женщина улыбнулась, глядя сверху вниз на них обоих, и сказала), ‘That was wonderfully done (это было сделано замечательно). No question but you are very clever, O Cat (несомненно /но/ ты очень умен = одно только можно сказать — ты очень умен, О Кот; no question — без сомнения, несомненно).’

That very minute and second, Best Beloved (в ту же самую минуту и секунду, Самые Любименькие), the smoke of the fire at the back of the Cave came down in clouds from the roof (дым от огня в задней части Пещеры спустился клубами с потолка; roof — крыша, кровля, потолок) — puff! — because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat (/с шипением/ пуф-ф-ф! — потому что он вспомнил сделку, которую она заключила с Котом; puff — звук, издаваемый при выдохе или выпуске воздуха, пара и т. п.; пыхтение, шипение и т. п.), and when it had cleared away (и когда он = дым рассеялся) — lo and behold (смотрите и слушайте)! — the Cat was sitting quite comfy close to the fire (Кот сидел очень уютно возле очага).

hour [auq], purr [pW], clear [klIq]

‘Now,’ said the Cat, ‘I will sing the Baby a song that shall keep him asleep for an hour.’ And he began to purr, loud and low, low and loud, till the Baby fell fast asleep. The Woman smiled as she looked down upon the two of them and said, ‘That was wonderfully done. No question but you are very clever, O Cat.’

That very minute and second, Best Beloved, the smoke of the fire at the back of the Cave came down in clouds from the roof — puff! — because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat, and when it had cleared away — lo and behold! — the Cat was sitting quite comfy close to the fire.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘it is I, for you have spoken a second word in my praise (это я — ибо ты сказала второе слово похвалы в мой адрес), and now I can sit by the warm fire at the back of the Cave for always and always and always (и я теперь могу сидеть у теплого огня в задней части Пещеры всегда и во веки веков). But still I am the Cat who walks by himself (но, тем не менее, я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места одинаковы для меня).’

mother ['mADq], fire ['faIq], himself [hIm'self]

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy,’ said the Cat, ‘it is I, for you have spoken a second word in my praise, and now I can sit by the warm fire at the back of the Cave for always and always and always. But still I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.’

Then the Woman was very very angry (тогда Женщина очень-очень рассердилась), and let down her hair and put more wood on the fire (и распустила свои волосы, и добавила дров в огонь) and brought out the broad blade-bone of the shoulder of mutton and began to make a Magic (и вытащила широкую лопатку = лопаточную кость из плеча барана, и начала творить Волшебство; to bring out — вытащить) that should prevent her from saying a third word in praise of the Cat (которое должно было не дать ей сказать третье слово похвалы в адрес Кота). It was not a Singing Magic, Best Beloved (это было не Волшебство с Пением, Самые Любименькие), it was a Still Magic (это было Безмолвное Волшебство); and by and by the Cave grew so still (и вскоре в Пещере стало так тихо) that a little wee-wee mouse crept out of a corner and ran across the floor (что малюсенькая-малюсенькая мышка выползла из одного угла и побежала по полу; to creep out — выползать).

prevent [prI'vent], third [TWd], corner ['kLnq]

Then the Woman was very very angry, and let down her hair and put more wood on the fire and brought out the broad blade-bone of the shoulder of mutton and began to make a Magic that should prevent her from saying a third word in praise of the Cat. It was not a Singing Magic, Best Beloved, it was a Still Magic; and by and by the Cave grew so still that a little wee-wee mouse crept out of a corner and ran across the floor.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘is that little mouse part of your magic (эта маленькая мышка — часть твоего волшебства)?’

‘Ouh! Chee! No indeed (ай! ой! нет, в самом деле)!’ said the Woman (сказала Женщина), and she dropped the blade-bone and jumped upon the footstool in front of the fire (и она уронила лопатку и запрыгнула на скамеечку для ног[147] перед очагом) and braided up her hair very quick for fear that the mouse should run up it (и очень быстро подобрала свои волосы из опасения, что мышка заберется вверх по ним).

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, watching (а, — сказал Кот, наблюдая /за этим/), ‘then the mouse will do me no harm if I eat it (тогда мышка не принесет мне вреда, если я ее съем)?’

‘No,’ said the Woman (нет, — сказала Женщина), braiding up her hair (заплетая волосы), ‘eat it quickly and I will ever be grateful to you (съешь ее быстро, и я буду очень благодарна тебе).

mouse [maus], fear [fIq], grateful ['greItful]

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy,’ said the Cat, ‘is that little mouse part of your magic?’

‘Ouh! Chee! No indeed!’ said the Woman, and she dropped the blade-bone and jumped upon the footstool in front of the fire and braided up her hair very quick for fear that the mouse should run up it.

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, watching, ‘then the mouse will do me no harm if I eat it?’

‘No,’ said the Woman, braiding up her hair, ‘eat it quickly and I will ever be grateful to you.

Cat made one jump and caught the little mouse (Кот сделал один прыжок и поймал маленькую мышку), and the Woman said (а Женщина сказала), ‘A hundred thanks (сто = тысяча благодарностей). Even the First Friend is not quick enough to catch little mice (даже Первый Друг недостаточно скор, чтобы ловить маленьких мышей) as you have done (как сделал ты). You must be very wise (ты, наверное, очень мудрый).’

That very moment and second (в ту же самую минуту и секунду), O Best Beloved (О Самые Любименькие), the Milk-pot that stood by the fire cracked in two pieces (Молочный горшок, который стоял у огня, раскололся на два куска = надвое) — ffft! — because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat (хрусь! — потому что он вспомнил сделку, которую она заключила с Котом), and when the Woman jumped down from the footstool (и когда Женщина спрыгнула со скамеечки для ног) — lo and behold (смотрите и слушайте)! — the Cat was lapping up the warm white milk (Кот лакал теплое белое молоко) that lay in one of the broken pieces (которое лежало = было в одном из расколовшихся кусков; to lie — лежать).

hundred ['hAndrqd], piece [pJs], broken [brqukqn]

Cat made one jump and caught the little mouse, and the Woman said, ‘A hundred thanks. Even the First Friend is not quick enough to catch little mice as you have done. You must be very wise.’

That very moment and second, O Best Beloved, the Milk-pot that stood by the fire cracked in two pieces — ffft! — because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat, and when the Woman jumped down from the footstool — lo and behold! — the Cat was lapping up the warm white milk that lay in one of the broken pieces.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘it is I; for you have spoken three words in my praise (это я — ибо ты сказала три слова похвалы в мой адрес), and now I can drink the warm white milk three times a day for always and always and always (и теперь я могу пить теплое белое молоко три раза в день всегда и во веки веков). But still I am the Cat who walks by himself (но, тем не менее, я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места одинаковы для меня).’

Then the Woman laughed and set the Cat a bowl of the warm white milk and said (тогда Женщина засмеялась, и поставила Коту миску теплого белого молока, и сказала), ‘O Cat, you are as clever as a man (О Кот, ты умный, как человек), but remember that your bargain was not made with the Man or the Dog (но помни, что твоя сделка не была заключена с Человеком и Псом), and I do not know what they will do when they come home (а я не знаю, что они сделают, когда они придут домой).’

bowl [bqul], remember [rI'membq], know [nqu]

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy,’ said the Cat, ‘it is I; for you have spoken three words in my praise, and now I can drink the warm white milk three times a day for always and always and always. But still I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.’

Then the Woman laughed and set the Cat a bowl of the warm white milk and said, ‘O Cat, you are as clever as a man, but remember that your bargain was not made with the Man or the Dog, and I do not know what they will do when they come home.’

‘What is that to me (что мне до того)?’ said the Cat (сказал Кот). ‘If I have my place in the Cave by the fire and my warm white milk three times a day (если у меня будет мое место в Пещере у огня и мое теплое белое молоко три раза в день) I do not care what the Man or the Dog can do (мне все равно, что могут сделать = сделают Человек или Пес).’

place [pleIs], cave [keIv], day [deI]

‘What is that to me?’ said the Cat. ‘If I have my place in the Cave by the fire and my warm white milk three times a day I do not care what the Man or the Dog can do.’

That evening when the Man and the Dog came into the Cave (в тот вечер, когда Человек и Пес вошли в Пещеру), the Woman told them all the story of the bargain (Женщина рассказал им всю историю о сделке) while the Cat sat by the fire and smiled (в то время как Кот сидел у огня и улыбался). Then the Man said (тогда Человек сказал), ‘Yes, but he has not made a bargain with me or with all proper Men after me (да, но он не заключил сделку со мной и со всеми настоящими Мужчинами /которые будут/ после меня).’ Then he took off his two leather boots and he took up his little stone axe (затем он снял два кожаных сапога и /он/ подхватил свой маленький каменный топорик) (that makes three (это получается три)) and he fetched a piece of wood and a hatchet (и он принес палку и большой нож) (that is five altogether (/это/ всего получается пять)), and he set them out in a row and he said (и выставил их в ряд и /он/ сказал), ‘Now we will make our bargain (теперь мы заключим наше соглашение). If you do not catch mice (если ты не будешь ловить мышей) when you are in the Cave for always and always and always (когда ты будешь в Пещере всегда и во веки веков), I will throw these five things at you (я буду бросать эти пять предметов в тебя) whenever I see you (когда бы я тебя ни увидел), and so shall all proper Men do after me (и так будут делать все настоящие Мужчины после меня).’

care [kFq], axe [xks], hatchet ['hxCIt]

That evening when the Man and the Dog came into the Cave, the Woman told them all the story of the bargain while the Cat sat by the fire and smiled. Then the Man said, ‘Yes, but he has not made a bargain with me or with all proper Men after me.’ Then he took off his two leather boots and he took up his little stone axe (that makes three) and he fetched a piece of wood and a hatchet (that is five altogether), and he set them out in a row and he said, ‘Now we will make our bargain. If you do not catch mice when you are in the Cave for always and always and always, I will throw these five things at you whenever I see you, and so shall all proper Men do after me.’

‘Ah,’ said the Woman, listening (ах, — сказала Женщина, слушая), ‘this is a very clever Cat (это очень умный Кот), but he is not so clever as my Man (но он не такой умный, как мой Муж).’

The Cat counted the five things (Кот посчитал пять предметов) (and they looked very knobby (а они казались очень шишковатыми[148] = угрожающими) and he said (и он сказал), ‘I will catch mice (я буду ловить мышей) when I am in the Cave for always and always and always (когда я буду в Пещере всегда и во веки веков); but still I am the Cat who walks by himself (но тем не менее я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места одинаковы для меня).’

count [kaunt], knobby ['nObI], catch [kxC]

‘Ah,’ said the Woman, listening, ‘this is a very clever Cat, but he is not so clever as my Man.’

The Cat counted the five things (and they looked very knobby) and he said, ‘I will catch mice when I am in the Cave for always and always and always; but still I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.’

‘Not when I am near (не /тогда/, когда я рядом),’ said the Man (сказал Человек). ‘If you had not said that last (если бы ты не сказал это в конце) I would have put all these things away for always and always and always (я бы убрал все эти предметы навсегда и во веки веков); but I am now going to throw my two boots and my little stone axe (но теперь я буду бросать мои два сапога и мой маленький каменный топорик) (that makes three (это получается три)) at you whenever I meet you (по тебе, когда бы я ни встретил тебя). And so shall all proper Men do after me (и так будут поступать все настоящие Мужчины после меня)!’

near [nIq], throw [Trqu], boot [bHt]

‘Not when I am near,’ said the Man. ‘If you had not said that last I would have put all these things away for always and always and always; but I am now going to throw my two boots and my little stone axe (that makes three) at you whenever I meet you. And so shall all proper Men do after me!’

Then the Dog said (затем Пес сказал), ‘Wait a minute (подождите минутку). He has not made a bargain with me or with all proper Dogs after me (он не заключил сделку со мной и всеми настоящими Псами после меня).’ And he showed his teeth and said (и он показал свои зубы и сказал), ‘If you are not kind to the Baby (если ты не будешь добр по отношению к Малышу) while I am in the Cave for always and always and always (пока я в Пещере, всегда и во веки веков), I will hunt you till I catch you (я буду гоняться за тобой, пока не поймаю), and when I catch you I will bite you (а когда я поймаю тебя, я буду тебя кусать). And so shall all proper Dogs do after me (и так будут поступать все настоящие Псы после меня).’

‘Ah,’ said the Woman, listening (ах, — сказала Женщина, слушая), ‘this is a very clever Cat (это очень умный Кот), but he is not so clever as the Dog (но он не такой умный, как Пес).’

teeth [tJT], kind [kaInd], bite [baIt]

Then the Dog said, ‘Wait a minute. He has not made a bargain with me or with all proper Dogs after me.’ And he showed his teeth and said, ‘If you are not kind to the Baby while I am in the Cave for always and always and always, I will hunt you till I catch you, and when I catch you I will bite you. And so shall all proper Dogs do after me.’

‘Ah,’ said the Woman, listening, ‘this is a very clever Cat, but he is not so clever as the Dog.’

Cat counted the Dog’s teeth (Кот посчитал зуба Пса) (and they looked very pointed (а они выглядели очень острыми)) and he said (и /он/ сказал), ‘I will be kind to the Baby (я буду добр с Малышом) while I am in the Cave (пока я в Пещере), as long as he does not pull my tail too hard (покуда он не будет дергать меня слишком сильно за хвост), for always and always and always (всегда и во веки веков). But still I am the Cat, that walks by himself (но тем не менее я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места одинаковы для меня).’

‘Not when I am near (не /тогда/, когда я рядом),’ said the Dog (сказал Пес). ‘If you had not said that last (если бы ты не сказал этого в конце) I would have shut my mouth for always and always and always (я бы закрыл мою пасть навсегда и во веки веков); but now I am going to hunt you up a tree whenever I meet you (но теперь я буду загонять тебя на дерево, когда бы я ни встретил тебя). And so shall all proper Dogs do after me (и так будут поступать все настоящие Псы после меня).’

tree [trJ], meet [mJt], after ['Rftq]

Cat counted the Dog’s teeth (and they looked very pointed) and he said, ‘I will be kind to the Baby while I am in the Cave, as long as he does not pull my tail too hard, for always and always and always. But still I am the Cat, that walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.’

‘Not when I am near,’ said the Dog. ‘If you had not said that last I would have shut my mouth for always and always and always; but now I am going to hunt you up a tree whenever I meet you. And so shall all proper Dogs do after me.’

Then the Man threw his two boots and his little stone axe (тогда Человек бросил свои два сапога и свой маленький каменный топорик) (that makes three (это получается три)) at the Cat (в Кота), and the Cat ran out of the Cave (а Кот выбежал из Пещеры) and the Dog chased him up a tree (и Пес загнал его на дерево); and from that day to this (и с того дня и поныне), Best Beloved (Самые Любименькие), three proper Men out of five will always throw things at a Cat whenever they meet him (трое настоящих Мужчин из пяти всегда бросают предметы в Кота, когда бы они его не встретили), and all proper Dogs will chase him up a tree (а все настоящие Псы загоняют его на дерево). But the Cat keeps his side of the bargain too (но Кот тоже выполняет свою часть сделки). He will kill mice (он убивает мышей) and he will be kind to Babies when he is in the house (и он добр к Детям, когда он в доме), just as long as they do not pull his tail too hard (покуда они не дергают его слишком сильно за хвост). But when he has done that (но когда он сделает это), and between times (и в промежутках), and when the moon gets up and night comes (и когда восходит луна, и наступает ночь), he is the Cat that walks by himself (он Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to him (и все места одинаковы для него). Then he goes out to the Wet Wild Woods (тогда он выходит = уходит из дома в Дикие Дремучие Дебри) or up the Wet Wild Trees or on the Wet Wild Roofs (или влезает на Дикие Дремучие Деревья или на Дикие Дремучие Крыши), waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone (помахивая хвостом и гуляя в своем диком одиночестве).

chase [CeIs], moon [mHn], pull [pul]

Then the Man threw his two boots and his little stone axe (that makes three) at the Cat, and the Cat ran out of the Cave and the Dog chased him up a tree; and from that day to this, Best Beloved, three proper Men out of five will always throw things at a Cat whenever they meet him, and all proper Dogs will chase him up a tree. But the Cat keeps his side of the bargain too. He will kill mice and he will be kind to Babies when he is in the house, just as long as they do not pull his tail too hard. But when he has done that, and between times, and when the moon gets up and night comes, he is the Cat that walks by himself, and all places are alike to him. Then he goes out to the Wet Wild Woods or up the Wet Wild Trees or on the Wet Wild Roofs, waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone.

Pussy can sit by the fire and sing (Киска может сидеть у огня и петь),
Pussy can climb a tree (Киска может взобраться на дерево),
Or play with a silly old cork and string (или играть с никчемной старой пробкой и бечевкой)
To ‘muse herself, not me (чтобы развлечь себя, /но/ не меня; to amuse).
But I like Binkie my dog, because (но я люблю Бинки, моего пса, потому что)
He knows how to behave (он умеет себя хорошо вести: «он знает, как хорошо себя вести»);
So, Binkie’s the same as the First friend was (поэтому Бинки — такой же, каким был Первый друг)
And I am the Man in the Cave (а я Человек / Мужчина в Пещере).

climb [klaIm], amuse [q'mjHz], behave [bI'heIv]

Pussy can sit by the fire and sing,
Pussy can climb a tree,
Or play with a silly old cork and string
To ‘muse herself, not me.
But I like Binkie my dog, because
He knows how to behave;
So, Binkie’s the same as the First friend was
And I am the Man in the Cave.

Pussy will play man-Friday till (Киска будет играть Пятницу[149], пока)
It’s time to wet her paw (/не/ наступит пора, намочить /ее/ лапу)
And make her walk on the window-sill (и пройтись: «сделать прогулку» по подоконнику
(For the footprint Crusoe saw (ради следа, /который/ увидел Крузо);
Then she fluffles her tail and mews (тогда она распушит свой хвост и мяучит[150]),
And scratches and won’t attend (и царапается и /ничего/ не хочет слушать).
But Binkie will play whatever I choose (а Бинки будет играть в то, что бы я ни выбрал),
And he is my true First Friend (и он мой настоящий Первый Друг).

pussy ['pusI], mew [mjH], choose [CHz]

Pussy will play man-Friday till
It’s time to wet her paw
And make her walk on the window-sill
(For the footprint Crusoe saw);
Then she fluffles her tail and mews,
And scratches and won’t attend.
But Binkie will play whatever I choose,
And he is my true First Friend.

Pussy will rub my knees with her head (Киска трется о мои колени своей головой)
Pretending she loves me hard (делая вид, /что/ она очень любит меня);
But the very minute I go to my bed (но в ту же минуту, /как/ я иду спать)
Pussy runs out in the yard (Киска выбегает во двор),
And there she stays till the morning-light (и там она остается до утреннего света);
So I know it is only pretend (поэтому я знаю, /что/ это лишь притворство);
But Binkie, he snores at my feet all night (а Бинки /он/ спит у моих ног всю ночь; to snore — спать, храпеть),
And he is my Firstest Friend (и он мой Первейший Друг)!

yard [jRd], snore [snL], feet [fJt]

Pussy will rub my knees with her head
Pretending she loves me hard;
But the very minute I go to my bed
Pussy runs out in the yard,
And there she stays till the morning-light;
So I know it is only pretend;
But Binkie, he snores at my feet all night,
And he is my Firstest Friend!

Киска может на дерево влезть

Иль у камина прилечь.

Может резвиться с катушкой полдня,

Чтобы себя лишь развлечь.

А мне из всех псов дороже Мальбрук —

Умеет себя он вести.

Могу я сказать, что он Первый Друг,

Но вовсе не ты, Кот, прости.

Пятницу Киска будет играть,

Вживаясь в свою роль вполне,

Пока не придется ей лапы мочить

И оставить свой след на окне.

Тогда распушит Кот хвост свой трубой,

Мяучит, скребется, ревет.

Мальбрук играет, во что хочешь, с тобой —

Не зря Первым Другом слывет.

Трется о ноги Киска урча,

Свою выражая любовь,

Но только я лягу в кровать, в тот же час

За дверь гонит дикая кровь.

На улице Киска торчит до утра,

Притворство не скрыть, а Мальбрук

Храпит у изножья кровати всю ночь.

Вот он-то Первейший Мой Друг.

THIS is the picture of the Cave (это изображение Пещеры) where the Man and the Woman lived first of all (где = в которой жили Человек и Женщина раньше всего = в самом начале; first of all — прежде всего). It was really a very nice Cave (это была в самом деле очень милая Пещерка), and much warmer than it looks (и гораздо теплее, чем она выглядит). The Man had a canoe (у Мужчины была лодка-каноэ). It is on the edge of the river (она у берега реки), being soaked in the water to make it swell up (намокает в воде, чтобы разбухла). The tattery-looking thing across the river (штуковина, похожая на тряпку, через реку) is the Man’s salmon-net to catch salmon with (это сеть Человека для ловли лосося). There are nice clean stones leading up from the river to the mouth of the Cave (от реки ко входу в Пещеру ведут симпатичные чистые камешки), so that the Man and the Woman could go down for water without getting sand between their toes (так чтобы Человек и Женщина могли спуститься за водой без получения песка = и не набрать песка между пальцами ног).

soak [squk], salmon ['sxmqn], toe [tqu]

THIS is the picture of the Cave where the Man and the Woman lived first of all. It was really a very nice Cave, and much warmer than it looks. The Man had a canoe. It is on the edge of the river, being soaked in the water to make it swell up. The tattery-looking thing across the river is the Man’s salmon-net to catch salmon with. There are nice clean stones leading up from the river to the mouth of the Cave, so that the Man and the Woman could go down for water without getting sand between their toes.

The things like black-beetles far down the beach are really trunks of dead trees (штуковины, похожие на черных жуков, далеко внизу на берегу, — это на самом деле стволы мертвых деревьев) that floated down the river from the Wet Wild Woods on the other bank (которые приплыли вниз по реке из Диких Дремучих Дебрей на другом берегу). The Man and the Woman used to drag them out and dry them and cut them up for firewood (Человек и Женщина вытаскивали их /из воды/ и высушивали их, и рубили их на дрова). I haven’t drawn the horsehide curtain at the mouth of the Cave (я не нарисовал занавес из лошадиной шкуры = лошадиную шкуру у входа в Пещеру), because the Woman has just taken it down to be cleaned (потому что Женщина только что сняла ее, чтобы почистить). All those little smudges on the sand between the Cave and the river are the marks of the Woman’s feet and the Man’s feet (все те маленькие пятна на песке между Пещерой и рекой — следы ног Женщины и Человека).

beetle [bJtl], float [flqut], smudge [smAG]

The things like black-beetles far down the beach are really trunks of dead trees that floated down the river from the Wet Wild Woods on the other bank. The Man and the Woman used to drag them out and dry them and cut them up for firewood. I haven’t drawn the horsehide curtain at the mouth of the Cave, because the Woman has just taken it down to be cleaned. All those little smudges on the sand between the Cave and the river are the marks of the Woman’s feet and the Man’s feet.

The Man and the Woman are both inside the Cave eating their dinner (Человек и Женщина оба ужинают внутри Пещеры). They went to another cosier Cave when the Baby came (они перешли в другую более уютную Пещеру, когда появился Малыш), because the Baby used to crawl down to the river and fall in (потому что Малыш сползал к реке и падал в воду), and the Dog had to pull him out (а Псу приходилось вытаскивать его).

another [q'nADq], cosy [kquzI], crawl [krLl]

The Man and the Woman are both inside the Cave eating their dinner. They went to another cosier Cave when the Baby came, because the Baby used to crawl down to the river and fall in, and the Dog had to pull him out.

THIS is the picture of the Cat that Walked by Himself (это изображение Кота, который гулял сам по себе), walking by his wild lone through the Wet Wild Woods and waving his wild tail (гуляя в своем диком одиночестве по Диким Дремучим Дебрям и помахивая своим диким хвостом). There is nothing else in the picture except some toadstools (на картинке больше ничего нет кроме нескольких поганок). They had to grow there because the woods were so wet (им пришлось вырасти там, потому что леса = дебри были такие сырые). The lumpy thing on the low branch isn’t a bird (бугорчатая штуковина = штуковина в виде бугра на нижней ветви — не птица). It is moss that grew there (это мох, который там вырос) because the Wild Woods were so wet (потому что Дикие Дремучие Дебри были такие влажные).

toadstool ['tqudstHl], lumpy ['lAmpI], moss [mOs]

THIS is the picture of the Cat that Walked by Himself, walking by his wild lone through the Wet Wild Woods and waving his wild tail. There is nothing else in the picture except some toadstools. They had to grow there because the woods were so wet. The lumpy thing on the low branch isn’t a bird. It is moss that grew there because the Wild Woods were so wet.

Underneath the truly picture is a picture of the cosy Cave (под настоящей = основной картинкой изображение = изображена уютная Пещера) that the Man and the Woman went to after the Baby came (в которую перешли Человек и Женщина после того, как появился Малыш = после рождения Малыша). It was their summer Cave (это была их летняя Пещера), and they planted wheat in front of it (и они садили перед ней пшеницу). The Man is riding on the Horse to find the Cow (Человек скачет на Лошади, чтобы найти Корову = в поисках Коровы) and bring her back to the Cave to be milked (/и/ чтобы пригнать ее обратно к Пещере и подоить). He is holding up his hand to call the Dog (он поднимает = поднял руку, чтобы подозвать Пса), who has swum across to the other side of the river (который переплыл на другую сторону реки; to swim), looking for rabbits (в поисках кроликов).

summer ['sAmq], plant [plRnt], wheat [wJt]

Underneath the truly picture is a picture of the cosy Cave that the Man and the Woman went to after the Baby came. It was their summer Cave, and they planted wheat in front of it. The Man is riding on the Horse to find the Cow and bring her back to the Cave to be milked. He is holding up his hand to call the Dog, who has swum across to the other side of the river, looking for rabbits.