Presently two Butterflies flew under the tree, quarrelling.

Suleiman-bin-Daoud heard one say to the other (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд слышал, как одна говорила другой), ‘I wonder at your presumption in talking like this to me (я удивляюсь твоей самонадеянности разговаривать так со мной). Don’t you know that if I stamped with my foot (разве ты не знаешь, что если бы я топнул моей ногой) all Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Palace and his garden here would immediately vanish in a clap of thunder (весь Дворец Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда и этот его сад тотчас бы исчезли с ударом грома).’

Then Suleiman-bin-Daoud forgot his nine hundred and ninety-nine bothersome wives (тогда Сулейман-ибн-Дауд забыл о своих 999 неугомонных женах), and laughed, till the camphor-tree shook, at the Butterfly’s boast (и засмеялся /и смеялся/, пока /не/ затряслось камфорное дерево, над похвальбой Мотылька). And he held out his finger and said (и он выставил /свой/ палец и сказал), ‘Little man, come here (маленький мужчина = мужчинка / мужичок, иди сюда).’

wonder ['wAndq], presumption [prI'zAmpSqn], immediately [I'mJdIqtlI]

Suleiman-bin-Daoud heard one say to the other, ‘I wonder at your presumption in talking like this to me. Don’t you know that if I stamped with my foot all Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Palace and his garden here would immediately vanish in a clap of thunder.’

Then Suleiman-bin-Daoud forgot his nine hundred and ninety-nine bothersome wives, and laughed, till the camphor-tree shook, at the Butterfly’s boast. And he held out his finger and said, ‘Little man, come here.’

The Butterfly was dreadfully frightened (Мотылек страшно испугался), but he managed to fly up to the hand of Suleiman-bin-Daoud (но он смог вспорхнуть на руку Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда), and clung there, fanning himself (и прицепился там, обмахиваясь; to cling — прицепиться, крепко держаться). Suleiman-bin-Daoud bent his head and whispered very softly (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд склонил /свою/ голову и прошептал очень тихо), ‘Little man, you know that all your stamping wouldn’t bend one blade of grass (мужичок, ты знаешь, что все твои топанья не склонили бы /и/ травинку; blade of grass — травинка: «клинок травы»). What made you tell that awful fib to your wife (что заставило тебя сказать такую чудовищную ложь твоей жене; fib — выдумка, домысел, неправда)? — for doubtless she is your wife (ибо несомненно, она твоя жена; doubt — сомнение).’

manage ['mxnIG], whisper ['wIspq], doubtless ['dautlIs]

The Butterfly was dreadfully frightened, but he managed to fly up to the hand of Suleiman-bin-Daoud, and clung there, fanning himself. Suleiman-bin-Daoud bent his head and whispered very softly, ‘Little man, you know that all your stamping wouldn’t bend one blade of grass. What made you tell that awful fib to your wife? — for doubtless she is your wife.’

The Butterfly looked at Suleiman-bin-Daoud (Мотылек посмотрел на Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда) and saw the most wise King’s eyes twinkle like stars on a frosty night (и увидел, что глаза самого мудрого Царя сверкают, как звезды в морозном небе), and he picked up his courage with both wings (и он собрал /все/ свое мужество обоими крылышками), and he put his head on one side and said (и он склонил свою голову набок и сказал), ‘O King, live for ever (О Царь, живи вечно). She is my wife (она моя жена); and you know what wives are like (а ты знаешь, каковы жены).’

Suleiman-bin-Daoud smiled in his beard and said (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд улыбнулся в /свою/ бороду и сказал), ‘Yes, Iknow, little brother (да, /уж/ я/-то/ знаю, маленький братец).’

‘One must keep them in order somehow (их нужно каким-то образом держать в порядке = в повиновении),’ said the Butterfly (сказал Мотылек), ‘and she has been quarrelling with me all the morning (а она ругается со мной все утро). I said that to quiet her (я сказал это, чтобы угомонить ее).’

courage ['kArIG], beard [bIqd], brother ['brADq]

The Butterfly looked at Suleiman-bin-Daoud and saw the most wise King’s eyes twinkle like stars on a frosty night, and he picked up his courage with both wings, and he put his head on one side and said, ‘O King, live for ever. She is my wife; and you know what wives are like.’

Suleiman-bin-Daoud smiled in his beard and said, ‘Yes, I know, little brother.’

‘One must keep them in order somehow,’ said the Butterfly, ‘and she has been quarrelling with me all the morning. I said that to quiet her.’

And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said (и Сулейман-ибн-Дауд сказал), ‘May it quiet her (пусть это угомонит ее). Go back to your wife, little brother (возвращайся к своей жене, маленький братец), and let me hear what you say (и позволь мне услышать, что ты скажешь).’

Back flew the Butterfly to his wife (Мотылек полетел обратно к своей жене), who was all of a twitter behind a leaf, and she said (которая вся трепетала за листом, и она сказала), ‘He heard you (он услышал тебя)! Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself heard you (сам Сулейман-ибн-Дауд услышал тебя)!’

‘Heard me (услышал меня)!’ said the Butterfly (сказал Мотылек). ‘Of course he did (конечно, он услышал). I meant him to hear me (я и предполагал, что он услышит меня).’

‘And what did he say (и что он сказал)? Oh, what did he say (ах, что он сказал)?’

twitter ['twItq], leaf [lJf], meant [ment]

And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said, ‘May it quiet her. Go back to your wife, little brother, and let me hear what you say.’

Back flew the Butterfly to his wife, who was all of a twitter behind a leaf, and she said, ‘He heard you! Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself heard you!’

‘Heard me!’ said the Butterfly. ‘Of course he did. I meant him to hear me.’

‘And what did he say? Oh, what did he say?’

‘Well,’ said the Butterfly (ну, — сказал Мотылек), fanning himself most importantly (обмахиваясь очень важно = с очень важным видом), ‘between you and me, my dear (между нами говоря, моя дорогая) — of course I don’t blame him (конечно, я не виню его), because his Palace must have cost a great deal and the oranges are just ripening (потому что его Дворец, наверное, обошелся в круглую сумму: «очень много», и апельсины как раз созревают), — he asked me not to stamp (он попросил меня не топать), and I promised I wouldn’t (и я пообещал, что не буду).’

Gracious (Батюшки)!’ said his wife, and sat quite quiet (сказала его жена и сидела очень тихо; to sit — сидеть); but Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed till the tears ran down his face at the impudence of the bad little Butterfly (а Сулейман-ибн-Дауд засмеялся /и смеялся/, пока слезы не побежали по его лицу, над наглостью жалкого маленького Мотылька).

deal [dJl], orange ['OrInG], impudence ['Impjudqns]

‘Well,’ said the Butterfly, fanning himself most importantly, ‘between you and me, my dear — of course I don’t blame him, because his Palace must have cost a great deal and the oranges are just ripening, — he asked me not to stamp, and I promised I wouldn’t.’

Gracious!’ said his wife, and sat quite quiet; but Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed till the tears ran down his face at the impudence of the bad little Butterfly.

Balkis the Most Beautiful stood up behind the tree among the red lilies and smiled to herself (Прекраснейшая Балкис встала за деревом среди красных лилий и улыбнулась про себя), for she had heard all this talk (ибо она слышала всю эту беседу). She thought (она подумала), ‘If I am wise I can yet save my Lord from the persecutions of these quarrelsome Queens (если я мудра, я еще смогу спасти моего Повелителя от приставаний этих сварливых Цариц),’ and she held out her finger and whispered softly to the Butterfly’s Wife (и она выставила /свой/ палец и прошептала тихо Жене Мотылька), ‘Little woman, come here (маленькая женщина, иди сюда).’ Up flew the Butterfly’s Wife, very frightened (Жена Мотылька, очень испуганная, взлетела), and clung to Balkis’s white hand (и прицепилась к белой кисти Балкис).

lord [lLd], persecution ["pWsI'kjHSn], butterfly ['bAtqflaI]

Balkis the Most Beautiful stood up behind the tree among the red lilies and smiled to herself, for she had heard all this talk. She thought, ‘If I am wise I can yet save my Lord from the persecutions of these quarrelsome Queens,’ and she held out her finger and whispered softly to the Butterfly’s Wife, ‘Little woman, come here.’ Up flew the Butterfly’s Wife, very frightened, and clung to Balkis’s white hand.

Balkis bent her beautiful head down and whispered (Балкис склонила свою прекрасную голову и прошептала), ‘Little woman, do you believe what your husband has just said (маленькая женщина, ты веришь тому, что только что сказал твой муж)?’

The Butterfly’s Wife looked at Balkis (Жена Мотылька посмотрела на Балкис), and saw the most beautiful Queen’s eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them (и увидела, как глаза прекраснейшей Царицы сияют, словно глубокие пруды /сияют/ от звездного света на них), and she picked up her courage with both wings and said (и она собрала /всю/ свою храбрость обоими крылышками и сказала), ‘O Queen, be lovely for ever (О Царица, будь прекрасна вечно). You know what men-folk are like (ты/-то/ знаешь, какие мужчины).’

And the Queen Balkis, the Wise Balkis of Sheba (и Царица Балкис, Мудрая Балкис из Шебы = Шебская / Савская), put her hand to her lips to hide a smile and said (приложила /свою/ руку к /своим/ губам, чтобы скрыть улыбку, и сказала), ‘Little sister, Iknow (маленькая сестра, /уж/ я/-то/ знаю).’

believe [bI'lJv], eye [aI], men-folk ['menfquk]

Balkis bent her beautiful head down and whispered, ‘Little woman, do you believe what your husband has just said?’

The Butterfly’s Wife looked at Balkis, and saw the most beautiful Queen’s eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them, and she picked up her courage with both wings and said, ‘O Queen, be lovely for ever. You know what men-folk are like.’

And the Queen Balkis, the Wise Balkis of Sheba, put her hand to her lips to hide a smile and said, ‘Little sister, I know.’

‘They get angry (они сердятся),’ said the Butterfly’s Wife (сказала Жена Мотылька), fanning herself quickly (быстро обмахиваясь), ‘over nothing at all (совершенно не из-за чего = из-за совершеннейших пустяков), but we must humour them, O Queen (но мы должны потакать им, О Царица). They never mean half they say (они никогда /по-настоящему/ не имеют в виду и половины из того, что /они/ говорят). If it pleases my husband to believe (если моему муженьку доставляет радость верить) that I believe he can make Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Palace disappear by stamping his foot (что я верю тому, что он может заставить исчезнуть Дворец Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда, топнув /своей/ ногой; to make — заставлять), I’m sure Idon’t care (я уверена, что мне все равно = уверяю, что мне нет дела до того). He’ll forget all about it to-morrow (он совершенно забудет об этом завтра).’

humour ['hjHmq], believe [bI'lJv], disappear ["dIsq'pIq]

‘They get angry,’ said the Butterfly’s Wife, fanning herself quickly, ‘over nothing at all, but we must humour them, O Queen. They never mean half they say. If it pleases my husband to believe that I believe he can make Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Palace disappear by stamping his foot, I’m sure I don’t care. He’ll forget all about it to-morrow.’

‘Little sister,’ said Balkis (сестренка, — сказала Балкис), ‘you are quite right (ты совершенно права); but next time he begins to boast (но в следующий раз, когда он начнет хвалиться), take him at his word (поймай его на слове). Ask him to stamp, and see what will happen (попроси его топнуть и посмотри, что случится = получится). We know what men-folk are like, don’t we (мы-то знаем, какие мужчины, не так ли)? He’ll be very much ashamed (он будет очень пристыжен).’

Away flew the Butterfly’s Wife to her husband (Жена Мотылька улетела к своему мужу), and in five minutes they were quarrelling worse than ever (и через пять минут они ссорились еще хуже чем прежде = еще пуще прежнего).

‘Remember!’ said the Butterfly (помни! — сказал Мотылек). ‘Remember what I can do if I stamp my foot (помни /о том/, что я могу сделать, если /я/ топну моей ногой).’

boast [bqust], worse [wWs], remember [rI'membq]

‘Little sister,’ said Balkis, ‘you are quite right; but next time he begins to boast, take him at his word. Ask him to stamp, and see what will happen. We know what men-folk are like, don’t we? He’ll be very much ashamed.’

Away flew the Butterfly’s Wife to her husband, and in five minutes they were quarrelling worse than ever.

‘Remember!’ said the Butterfly. ‘Remember what I can do if I stamp my foot.’

‘I don’t believe you one little bit (я не верю тебе ни капельки),’ said the Butterfly’s Wife (сказала Жена Мотылька). ‘I should very much like to see it done (я очень бы хотела увидеть, как это случится). Suppose you stamp now (допустим ты топнешь сейчас = ну, топни сейчас).’

‘I promised Suleiman-bin-Daoud that I wouldn’t (я пообещал Сулейману-ибн-Дауду, что я не буду),’ said the Butterfly (сказал Мотылек), ‘and I don’t want to break my promise (и я не хочу нарушать мое обещание).’

‘It wouldn’t matter if you did (/это/ не имело бы /особого/ значения, если бы ты /его/ нарушил),’ said his wife (сказала его жена). You couldn’t bend a blade of grass with your stamping (своим топаньем ты не смог бы пригнуть и травинку). I dare you to do it (спорим, что ты не сделаешь этого; to dare — подзадоривать, бросать вызов),’ she said (сказала она). ‘Stamp! Stamp! Stamp (топни! топни! топни!)!’

done [dAn], promise ['prOmIs], break [breIk]

‘I don’t believe you one little bit,’ said the Butterfly’s Wife. ‘I should very much like to see it done. Suppose you stamp now.’

‘I promised Suleiman-bin-Daoud that I wouldn’t,’ said the Butterfly, ‘and I don’t want to break my promise.’

‘It wouldn’t matter if you did,’ said his wife. You couldn’t bend a blade of grass with your stamping. I dare you to do it,’ she said. ‘Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!’

Suleiman-bin-Daoud, sitting under the camphor-tree (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд, сидя под камфорным деревом), heard every word of this (слышал каждое слово из этого), and he laughed as he had never laughed in his life before (и он засмеялся, как не смеялся никогда прежде в своей жизни). He forgot all about his Queens (он совершенно забыл о своих Царицах); he forgot all about the Animal that came out of the sea (он совершенно забыл о Животном, которое вышло из моря); he forgot about showing off (он забыл о хвастовстве). He just laughed with joy (он просто смеялся от радости), and Balkis, on the other side of the tree (а Балкис, по другую сторону дерева), smiled because her own true love was so joyful (улыбалась, потому что ее /собственная/ истинная любовь была так счастлива; joy — радость).

Presently the Butterfly, very hot and puffy, came whirling back under the shadow of the camphor-tree and said to Suleiman (через некоторое время Мотылек, очень разгоряченный и запыхавшийся, примчался назад в тень камфорного дерева и сказал Сулейману-ибн-Дауду), ‘She wants me to stamp (она хочет, чтобы я топнул)! She wants to see what will happen, OSuleiman-bin-Daoud (она хочет увидеть, что произойдет, О Сулейман-ибн-Дауд)! You know I can’t do it (ты знаешь, я не могу этого), and now she’ll never believe a word I say (и теперь она никогда /не/ поверит и слову из того, что я скажу). She’ll laugh at me to the end of my days (она будет смеяться надо мной до конца моих дней)!’

joyful ['GOIful], presently ['prezntlI], puffy ['pAfI]

Suleiman-bin-Daoud, sitting under the camphor-tree, heard every word of this, and he laughed as he had never laughed in his life before. He forgot all about his Queens; he forgot all about the Animal that came out of the sea; he forgot about showing off. He just laughed with joy, and Balkis, on the other side of the tree, smiled because her own true love was so joyful.

Presently the Butterfly, very hot and puffy, came whirling back under the shadow of the camphor-tree and said to Suleiman, ‘She wants me to stamp! She wants to see what will happen, O Suleiman-bin-Daoud! You know I can’t do it, and now she’ll never believe a word I say. She’ll laugh at me to the end of my days!’

‘No, little brother (нет, маленький братец),’ said Suleiman-bin-Daoud (сказал Сулейман-ибн-Дауд), ‘she will never laugh at you again (она никогда больше не будет смеяться над тобой),’ and he turned the ring on his finger (и он повернул кольцо на своем пальце) — just for the little Butterfly’s sake (лишь ради маленького Мотылька), not for the sake of showing off (а не ради бахвальства), — and, lo and behold (и смотрите и внимайте), four huge Djinns came out of the earth (четыре огромных Джинна вышли из земли)!

‘Slaves,’ said Suleiman-bin-Daoud (рабы, — сказал Сулейман-ибн-Дауд), ‘when this gentleman on my finger (когда этот господин на моем пальце)’ (that was where the impudent Butterfly was sitting (именно там сидел наглый Мотылек)) ‘stamps his left front forefoot (топнет своей левой передней ножкой) you will make my Palace and these gardens disappear in a clap of thunder (вы заставите исчезнуть мой Дворец и эти сады в грохоте грома). When he stamps again you will bring them back carefully (когда он топнет опять, вы аккуратно вернете их назад = на место).’

huge [hjHG], slave [sleIv], carefully ['kFqfulI]

‘No, little brother,’ said Suleiman-bin-Daoud, ‘she will never laugh at you again,’ and he turned the ring on his finger — just for the little Butterfly’s sake, not for the sake of showing off, — and, lo and behold, four huge Djinns came out of the earth!

‘Slaves,’ said Suleiman-bin-Daoud, ‘when this gentleman on my finger’ (that was where the impudent Butterfly was sitting) ‘stamps his left front forefoot you will make my Palace and these gardens disappear in a clap of thunder. When he stamps again you will bring them back carefully.’

‘Now, little brother (теперь, маленький братец),’ he said (сказал он), ‘go back to your wife and stamp all you’ve a mind to (вернись к своей жене и топни в точности, как ты и намерен; mind — намерение, склонность /сделать что-л./).’

Away flew the Butterfly to his wife, who was crying (Мотылек улетел к своей жене, которая кричала), ‘I dare you to do it (а ну попробуй)! I dare you to do it (а ну попробуй)! Stamp! Stamp now! Stamp (топни! топни! топни!)!’ Balkis saw the four vast Djinns stoop down to the four corners of the gardens with the Palace in the middle (Балкис увидела, как четыре громадных Джинна наклонились к четырем углам садов с Дворцом в центре), and she clapped her hands softly and said (и она тихонько захлопала в ладоши и сказала), ‘At last Suleiman-bin-Daoud will do for the sake of a Butterfly (наконец Сулейман-ибн-Дауд сделает ради Мотылька /то/) what he ought to have done long ago for his own sake (что ему следовало сделать давно ради самого себя), and the quarrelsome Queens will be frightened (и склочные Царицы испугаются)!’

mind [maInd], dare [dFq], vast [vRst]

‘Now, little brother,’ he said, ‘go back to your wife and stamp all you’ve a mind to.’

Away flew the Butterfly to his wife, who was crying, ‘I dare you to do it! I dare you to do it! Stamp! Stamp now! Stamp!’ Balkis saw the four vast Djinns stoop down to the four corners of the gardens with the Palace in the middle, and she clapped her hands softly and said, ‘At last Suleiman-bin-Daoud will do for the sake of a Butterfly what he ought to have done long ago for his own sake, and the quarrelsome Queens will be frightened!’

Then the Butterfly stamped (/и/ тогда Мотылек топнул). The Djinns jerked the Palace and the gardens a thousand miles into the air (Джинны швырнули Дворец и сады на тысячу миль в воздух): there was a most awful thunder-clap (раздался преужаснейший удар грома), and everything grew inky-black (и все стало чернильно-черным). The Butterfly’s Wife fluttered about in the dark, crying (Жена Мотылька запорхала во тьме, стеная), ‘Oh, I’ll be good (ах, я буду послушной)! I’m so sorry I spoke (я так сожалею, что я говорила = о моих словах). Only bring the gardens back (только верни сады), my dear darling husband (мой дорогой-дорогой муж; dear, darling — дорогой), and I’ll never contradict again (я никогда /не/ буду больше перечить; to contradict — противоречить).’

jerk [GWk], thunder ['TAndq], flutter ['flAtq]

Then the Butterfly stamped. The Djinns jerked the Palace and the gardens a thousand miles into the air: there was a most awful thunder-clap, and everything grew inky-black. The Butterfly’s Wife fluttered about in the dark, crying, ‘Oh, I’ll be good! I’m so sorry I spoke. Only bring the gardens back, my dear darling husband, and I’ll never contradict again.’

The Butterfly was nearly as frightened as his wife (Мотылек испугался почти так же, как его жена), and Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed so much that it was several minutes (а Сулейман-ибн-Дауд засмеялся так, что прошло несколько минут) before he found breath enough to whisper to the Butterfly (прежде чем он отдышался достаточно, чтобы шепнуть Мотыльку), ‘Stamp again, little brother (топни опять, маленький братец). Give me back my Palace, most great magician (верни мне мой Дворец, величайший волшебник).’

‘Yes, give him back his Palace (да, верни ему его Дворец),’ said the Butterfly’s Wife (сказала Жена Мотылька), still flying about in the dark like a moth (все еще порхая во тьме, как моль). ‘Give him back his Palace (верни ему его Дворец), and don’t let’s have any more horrid magic (и давай больше не будем так страшно колдовать).’

frighten ['fraItqn], several ['sevrql], magician [mq'GISqn]

The Butterfly was nearly as frightened as his wife, and Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed so much that it was several minutes before he found breath enough to whisper to the Butterfly, ‘Stamp again, little brother. Give me back my Palace, most great magician.’

‘Yes, give him back his Palace,’ said the Butterfly’s Wife, still flying about in the dark like a moth. ‘Give him back his Palace, and don’t let’s have any more horrid magic.’

‘Well, my dear (ну, моя дорогая),’ said the Butterfly as bravely as he could (сказал Мотылек, как можно храбрее: «так храбро, как он мог»), ‘you see what your nagging has led to (/ты/ видишь, к чему привела твоя сварливость; to lead — вести, приводить; to nag — придираться; привязываться, изводить; ворчать). Of course it doesn’t make any difference to me (конечно, для меня это не имеет значения) — I’m used to this kind of thing (я привык к такого рода делам) — but as a favour to you and to Suleiman-bin-Daoud I don’t mind putting things right (но в виде одолжения тебе и Сулейману-ибн-Дауду я не против того, чтобы все исправить: «поместить вещи правильно»).’

bravely ['breIvlI], nagging ['nxgIN], favour ['feIvq]

‘Well, my dear,’ said the Butterfly as bravely he could, ‘you see what your nagging has led to. Of course it doesn’t make any difference to me — I’m used to this kind of thing — but as a favour to you and to Suleiman-bin-Daoud I don’t mind putting things right.’

So he stamped once more (и он топнул еще раз), and that instant the Djinns let down the Palace and the gardens, without even a bump (и в то /же/ мгновение Джинны опустили Дворец и сады даже без стука). The sun shone on the dark-green orange leaves (солнце засияло на темно-зеленых листьях апельсина); the fountains played among the pink Egyptian lilies (фонтаны забили среди розовых египетских лилий); the birds went on singing (птицы продолжили петь), and the Butterfly’s Wife lay on her side under the camphor-tree waggling her wings and panting (а Жена Мотылька лежала на боку под камфорным деревом, помахивая /своими/ крылышками и говоря на одном дыхании; to pant — говорить на одном дыхании; выпаливать), ‘Oh, I’ll be good (ах, я буду послушной)! I’ll be good (я буду послушной)!’

Suleiman-bin-Daoud could hardly speak for laughing (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд едва мог говорить от смеха). He leaned back all weak and hiccoughy (он откинулся назад совершенно ослабевший = без сил и икающий; to hiccough — икать), and shook his finger at the Butterfly and said (и погрозил /своим/ пальцем Мотыльку и сказал), ‘O great wizard (О великий чародей), what is the sense of returning to me my Palace (какой смысл возвращать мне мой Дворец) if at the same time you slay me with mirth (если в то же самое время ты убиваешь меня весельем = смехом)!’

instant ['Instqnt], bump [bAmp], mirth [mWT]

So he stamped once more, and that instant the Djinns let down the Palace and the gardens, without even a bump. The sun shone on the dark-green orange leaves; the fountains played among the pink Egyptian lilies; the birds went on singing, and the Butterfly’s Wife lay on her side under the camphor-tree waggling her wings and panting, ‘Oh, I’ll be good! I’ll be good!’

Suleiman-bin-Daoud could hardly speak for laughing. He leaned back all weak and hiccoughy, and shook his finger at the Butterfly and said, ‘O great wizard, what is the sense of returning to me my Palace if at the same time you slay me with mirth!’

Then came a terrible noise (затем раздался страшный шум), for all the nine hundred and ninety-nine Queens ran out of the Palace shrieking and shouting and calling for their babies (ибо все 999 Цариц выбежали из Дворца с воплями и криками и созывая своих детей). They hurried down the great marble steps below the fountain, one hundred abreast (они поспешили вниз по огромным мраморным ступеням ниже фонтана по сотне в ряд), and the Most Wise Balkis went statelily[157] forward to meet them and said (и Мудрейшая Балкис величаво выступила вперед навстречу им и сказала; stately — величавый), ‘What is your trouble, O Queens (в чем дело, О Царицы[158])?’

shriek [SrJk], marble [mRbl], abreast [q'brest]

Then came a terrible noise, for all the nine hundred and ninety-nine Queens ran out of the Palace shrieking and shouting and calling for their babies. They hurried down the great marble steps below the fountain, one hundred abreast, and the Most Wise Balkis went statelily forward to meet them and said, ‘What is your trouble, O Queens?’

They stood on the marble steps one hundred abreast and shouted (они стояли на мраморных ступенях по сотне в ряд и кричали), ‘What is our trouble (в чем дело[159])? We were living peacefully in our golden palace, as is our custom (мы жили мирно в нашем золотом дворец, как /велит/ наш обычай), when upon a sudden the Palace disappeared (как вдруг Дворец исчез), and we were left sitting in a thick and noisome darkness (и мы остались сидеть в густой и мерзкой тьме); and it thundered, and Djinns and Afrits moved about in the darkness (и загремел гром, и во тьме носились Джинны и Африты)! That is our trouble (вот в чем дело[160]), O Head Queen (О Старшая Царица), and we are most extremely troubled on account of that trouble (и мы чрезвычайнейше обеспокоены по причине этого беспокойства), for it was a troublesome trouble (ибо это было беспокойное беспокойство), unlike any trouble we have known (непохожее на любое беспокойство, которое мы знавали = которое с нами случалось).’

trouble [trAbl], noisome ['nOIsqm], account [q'kaunt]

They stood on the marble steps one hundred abreast and shouted, ‘What is our trouble? We were living peacefully in our golden palace, as is our custom, when upon a sudden the Palace disappeared, and we were left sitting in a thick and noisome darkness; and it thundered, and Djinns and Afrits moved about in the darkness! That is our trouble, O Head Queen, and we are most extremely troubled on account of that trouble, for it was a troublesome trouble, unlike any trouble we have known.’

Then Balkis the Most Beautiful Queen (тогда Балкис, Прекраснейшая Царица) — Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Very Best Beloved (Самая Любимая Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда) — Queen that was of Sheba and Sabie and the Rivers of the Gold of the South (Царица /которая была/ Шебы, и Савии, и Золотоносных Рек Юга) — from the Desert of Zinn to the Towers of Zimbabwe (от Пустыни Зинн до Башен Зимбабве) — Balkis, almost as wise as the Most Wise Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself, said (Балкис, почти такая же мудрая, как сам Наимудрейший Сулейман-ибн-Дауд, сказала), ‘It is nothing, O Queens (это ничто = пустяк, О Царицы)! A Butterfly has made complaint against his wife (один Мотылек пожаловался на свою жену) because she quarrelled with him (потому что она ругалась с ним), and it has pleased our Lord Suleiman-bin-Daoud to teach her a lesson in low-speaking and humbleness (и нашему Владыке Сулейману-ибн-Дауду доставило удовольствие преподать ей урок тихой речи и покорности), for that is counted a virtue among the wives of the butterflies (ибо это считается добродетелью среди жен мотыльков).’

tower ['tauq], complaint [kqm'pleInt], virtue ['vWtjH]

Then Balkis the Most Beautiful Queen — Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Very Best Beloved — Queen that was of Sheba and Sabie and the Rivers of the Gold of the South — from the Desert of Zinn to the Towers of Zimbabwe — Balkis, almost as wise as the Most Wise Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself, said, ‘It is nothing, O Queens! A Butterfly has made complaint against his wife because she quarrelled with him, and it has pleased our Lord Suleiman-bin-Daoud to teach her a lesson in low-speaking and humbleness, for that is counted a virtue among the wives of the butterflies.’

Then up and spoke an Egyptian Queen (тогда высказалась = заговорила одна Египетская Царица) — the daughter of a Pharaoh (дочь фараона) — and she said (и сказала), ‘Our Palace cannot be plucked up by the roots like a leek for the sake of a little insect (наш Дворец нельзя вырвать с корнями, как лук-порей, ради маленького насекомого). No! Suleiman-bin-Daoud must be dead (нет! наверное, Сулейман-ибн-Дауд мертв), and what we heard and saw was the earth thundering and darkening at the news (и то, что мы услышали и увидели, это была земля, которая загрохотала и омрачилась при этой новости).’

Then Balkis beckoned that bold Queen without looking at her, and said to her and to the others (тогда Балкис сделала знак /рукой/ этой самоуверенной Царице, не глядя на нее, и сказала ей и остальным; to beckon — манить, кивать; делать знак /рукой, пальцем/), ‘Come and see (идите и смотрите).’

Egyptian [I'GIpSqn], dead [ded], beckon ['bekqn]

Then up and spoke an Egyptian Queen — the daughter of a Pharaoh — and she said, ‘Our Palace cannot be plucked up by the roots like a leek for the sake of a little insect. No! Suleiman-bin-Daoud must be dead, and what we heard and saw was the earth thundering and darkening at the news.’

Then Balkis beckoned that bold Queen without looking at her, and said to her and to the others, ‘Come and see.’

They came down the marble steps (они спустились по мраморным ступеням), one hundred abreast (по сотне в ряд), and beneath his camphor-tree (и под /его/ камфорным деревом), still weak with laughing (все еще бессильного от смеха), they saw the Most Wise King Suleiman-bin-Daoud (они увидели Мудрейшего Царя Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда) rocking back and forth with a Butterfly on either hand (который сотрясался /от смеха/ взад и вперед с Бабочкой на каждой руке; either — и тот и другой, оба, каждый), and they heard him say (и они услышали, как он сказал), ‘O wife of my brother in the air (О жена моего брата в воздухе = летучего братца), remember after this, to please your husband in all things (помни = не забывай после этого, угождать своему мужу во всем), lest he be provoked to stamp his foot yet again (чтобы не спровоцировать его снова на топанье ногой); for he has said that he is used to this magic (ибо он сказал, что он привык к этому волшебству = что это волшебство привычно для него), and he is most eminently a great magician (а он в высшей степени великий волшебник) — one who steals away the very Palace of Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself (тот, который крадет = украл этот самый Дворец самого Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда). Go in peace, little folk (идите с миром, маленький народец = малыши)!’ And he kissed them on the wings, and they flew away (и он поцеловал им крылышки, и они улетели).

forth [fLT], eminently ['emInqntlI], folk [fquk]

They came down the marble steps, one hundred abreast, and beneath his camphor-tree, still weak with laughing, they saw the Most Wise King Suleiman-bin-Daoud rocking back and forth with a Butterfly on either hand, and they heard him say, ‘O wife of my brother in the air, remember after this, to please your husband in all things, lest he be provoked to stamp his foot yet again; for he has said that he is used to this magic, and he is most eminently a great magician — one who steals away the very Palace of Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself. Go in peace, little!’ And he kissed them on the wings, and they flew away.

Then all the Queens except Balkis (тогда все Царицы, кроме Балкис) — the Most Beautiful and Splendid Balkis (Прекраснейшей и Величественной Балкис), who stood apart smiling (которая стояла в стороне, улыбаясь) — fell flat on their faces (упали ниц: «упали плашмя на своих лица»), for they said (ибо они сказали /себе/), ‘If these things are done when a Butterfly is displeased with his wife (если эти вещи = такое сделано, когда раздосадован своей женой какой-то Мотылек), what shall be done to us (что же будет сделано с нами) who have vexed our King with our loud-speaking and open-quarrelling through many days (которые досаждали нашему Царю нашими громкими разговорами и открытыми ссорами на протяжении многих дней)?’

Then they put their veils over their heads (затем они накинули на головы покрывала; veil — покрывало, вуаль, чадра, паранджа), and they put their hands over their mouths (и они прикрыли свои рты /своими/ руками), and they tiptoed back to the Palace most mousy-quiet (и /они/ вернулись на цыпочках очень тихо как мышки во Дворец).

splendid ['splendId], veil [veIl], tiptoe ['tIptqu]

Then all the Queens except Balkis — the Most Beautiful and Splendid Balkis, who stood apart smiling — fell flat on their faces, for they said, ‘If these things are done when a Butterfly is displeased with his wife, what shall be done to us who have vexed our King with our loud-speaking and open-quarrelling through many days?’