Английские волшебные сказки 4 страница

And then they went in (и тогда они вошли внутрь) and took possession of the house (и захватили дом: «взяли обладание домом»). Jack was afraid (Джек опасался: «был испуган») the robbers would come back in the night (что разбойники придут назад ночью), and so when it came time (и вот, когда пришло время) to go to bed (идти в кровать) he put the cat in the rocking-chair (он усадил: «поместил» кота в кресло-качалку; rocking-chair — кресло-качалка: «качающийся стул»), and he put the dog under the table (и посадил пса под стол), and he put the goat upstairs (и поставил козла на втором этаже: «вверху лестницы»; upstairs — вверх /по лестнице/, наверх; наверху, в верхнем этаже; верхняя часть здания, верхний этаж), and he put the bull in the cellar (и поставил быка в подвал), and the rooster flew up on to the roof (а петух взлетел на крышу), and Jack went to bed (а Джек пошел в кровать).

sight [saIt], mew [mju:], upstairs [Ap`steqz]

Well, they went on till it was about dark, and they began to think of some place where they could spend the night. About this time they came in sight of a house, and Jack told them to keep still while he went up and looked in through the window. And there were some robbers counting over their money. Then Jack went back and told them to wait till he gave the word, and then to make all the noise they could. So when they were all ready Jack gave the word, and the cat mewed, and the dog barked, and the goat bleated, and the bull bellowed, and the rooster crowed, and altogether they made such a dreadful noise that it frightened the robbers all away.

And then they went in and took possession of the house. Jack was afraid the robbers would come back in the night, and so when it came time to go to bed he put the cat in the rocking-chair, and he put the dog under the table, and he put the goat upstairs, and he put the bull in the cellar, and the rooster flew up on to the roof, and Jack went to bed.

By and by (тем временем; by and by — вскоре) the robbers saw (разбойники увидели) it was all dark (что совсем стемнело: «было совсем темно») and they sent one man back to the house (и они послали одного человека назад к дому; to send) to look after their money (посмотреть за их деньгами = попробовать раздобыть их деньги). Before long (скоро: «раньше долгого») he came back (он пришел назад) in a great fright (в большом ужасе) and told them his story (и рассказал им свою историю; to tell).

‘I went back to the house (я пошел назад к дому),’ said he, ‘and went in (и вошел внутрь) and tried to sit down in the rocking-chair (и попытался сесть в кресло-качалку), and there was an old woman knitting (а там была старая женщина, вяжущая = которая вязала; to knit — вязать), and she stuck her knitting-needles into me (и она вонзила свои вязальные спицы в меня; to stick — вонзить).’ That was the cat (это был кот), you know (/как/ вы знаете).

‘I went to the table to look after the money (я пошел к столу, чтобы поискать деньги), and there was a shoemaker under the table (а под столом был сапожник), and he stuck his awl into me (и он вонзил свое шило в меня).’ That was the dog, you know (это был пес, /как/ вы знаете).

‘I started to go upstairs (я начал идти = пошел вверх по лестнице), and there was a man up there threshing (а там наверху был человек, молотящий), and he knocked me down with his flail (и он сбил меня вниз своим цепом).’ That was the goat, you know (это был козел, /как/ вы знаете).

‘I started to go down into the cellar (я пошел вниз в погреб), and there was a man down there chopping wood (а там внизу был человек, колющий дрова), and he knocked me up (и он подбросил: «ударил» меня вверх) with his axe (своим топором).’ That was the bull, you know (это был бык, /как/ вы знаете).

‘But I shouldn’t have minded all that (но я не стал бы обращать внимание на все это) if it hadn’t been for that little fellow on top of the house (если бы не тот маленький парень на верху дома), who kept a-hollering (который все время вопил; to keep — держать, не отдавать; продолжать делать /что-либо/), "Chuck him up to me-e (подбросьте его наверх ко мне; to chuck — бросить; кинуть; швырнуть)! Chuck him up to me-e!" Of course, that was the cock-a-doodle-do (конечно, это было кукареканье).

awl [o:l], axe [æks], cock-a-doodle-do [kokədu:dl`du:]

By and by the robbers saw it was all dark and they sent one man back to the house to look after their money. Before long he came back in a great fright and told them his story.

‘I went back to the house,’ said he, ‘and went in and tried to sit down in the rocking-chair, and there was an old woman knitting, and she stuck her knitting-needles into me.’ That was the cat, you know.

‘I went to the table to look after the money, and there was a shoemaker under the table, and he stuck his awl into me.’ That was the dog, you know.

‘I started to go upstairs, and there was a man up there threshing, and he knocked me down with his flail.’ That was the goat, you know.

‘I started to go down into the cellar, and there was a man down there chopping wood, and he knocked me up with his axe.’ That was the bull, you know.

‘But I shouldn’t have minded all that if it hadn’t been for that little fellow on top of the house, who kept a-hollering, "Chuck him up to me-e! Chuck him up to me-e!" Of course, that was the cock-a-doodle-do.

Mr Vinegar (Господин Уксус)

MR and Mrs Vinegar (господин и госпожа Уксус) lived in a vinegar bottle (жили в уксусной бутылке). Now (ну: «сейчас»), one day (однажды), when Mr Vinegar was from home (когда господина Уксуса не было дома: «был из дома»), Mrs Vinegar, who was a very good housewife (госпожа Уксус, которая была очень хорошей хозяйкой), was busily sweeping her house (энергично подметала свой дом), when an unlucky thump of the broom (когда несчастный удар метлы) brought the whole house cutter-clatter, cutter-clatter (разрушил дом: «привел целый дом /в состояние/ трах-тарарах»), about her ears (вокруг ее ушей = вокруг нее). In an agony of grief (в агонии скорби) she rushed forth (она бросилась наружу) to meet her husband (чтобы встретить своего мужа). On seeing him she exclaimed (увидев его, она воскликнула), ‘O Mr Vinegar (о, господин Уксус), Mr Vinegar, we are ruined (мы разорены), we are ruined: I have knocked the house down (я разрушила дом; to knock — бить; to knock down — сбивать, опрокидывать), and it is all to pieces (и он весь разлетелся на кусочки)!’ Mr Vinegar then said (господин Уксус тогда сказал): ‘My dear (моя дорогая), let us see (давай посмотрим) what can be done (что может быть сделано). Here is the door (вот дверь); I will take it on my back (я возьму ее на мою спину), and we will go forth (и мы пойдем вперед; forth — вперед; наружу) to seek our fortune (искать наше счастье).’ They walked all that day (они шли весь этот день), and at nightfall (и при наступлении ночи) entered a thick forest (вошли в частый лес). They were both very, very tired (они были оба очень, очень усталые), and Mr Vinegar said (и господин Уксус сказал): ‘My love (любовь моя), I will climb up into a tree (я взберусь на дерево), drag up the door (втяну наверх дверь), and you shall follow (а ты последуешь /за мной/).’ He accordingly did so (он соответственно сделал так), and they both stretched their weary limbs on the door (и они оба протянули свои усталые члены на двери), and fell asleep (и заснули: «упали спящие»; to fall asleep — засыпать).

vinegar [`vınıgə], exclaim [ıks`kleım], weary [`wıərı]

MR and Mrs Vinegar lived in a vinegar bottle. Now, one day, when Mr Vinegar was from home, Mrs Vinegar, who was a very good housewife, was busily sweeping her house, when an unlucky thump of the broom brought the whole house cutter-clatter, cutter-clatter, about her ears. In an agony of grief she rushed forth to meet her husband. On seeing him she exclaimed, ‘O Mr Vinegar, Mr Vinegar, we are ruined, we are ruined: I have knocked the house down, and it is all to pieces!’ Mr Vinegar then said: ‘My dear, let us see what can be done. Here is the door; I will take it on my back, and we will go forth to seek our fortune.’ They walked all that day, and at nightfall entered a thick forest. They were both very, very tired, and Mr Vinegar said: ‘My love, I will climb up into a tree, drag up the door, and you shall follow.’ He accordingly did so, and they both stretched their weary limbs on the door, and fell asleep.

In the middle of the night (в середине ночи), Mr Vinegar was disturbed (господин Уксус был побеспокоен) by the sound of voices underneath (звуком голосов внизу) and to his horror and dismay (и к своему ужасу и смятению) found that it was a band of thieves (обнаружил, что это была банда воров; to find — находить) met to divide their booty (/которая/ встретилась, чтобы разделить добычу). ‘Here, Jack (вот, Джек),’ said one (сказал один), ‘there’s five pounds for you (пять фунтов тебе); here, Bill, here’s ten pounds for you (вот, Билл, десять фунтов тебе); here, Bob, there’s three pounds for you (вот, Боб, три фунта тебе).’ Mr Vinegar could listen no longer (господин Уксус не мог больше: «дольше» слушать); his terror was so great (его ужас был столь велик) that he trembled and trembled (что он дрожал и дрожал), and shook down the door on their heads (и стряхнул вниз дверь на их головы; to shake —трясти). Away scampered the thieves (прочь смылись воры; to scamper — носиться, резво скакать), but Mr Vinegar dared not quit his retreat (но господин Уксус не осмеливался покинуть свое укрытие) till broad daylight (до полного: «широкого» дневного света). He then scrambled out of the tree (он тогда выкарабкался наружу из дерева), and went to lift up the door (и пошел поднять вверх дверь). What did he see but a number of golden guineas (что он увидел, как не некоторое количество золотых гиней; number — число). ‘Come down, Mrs Vinegar (иди вниз = спускайся, госпожа Уксус),’ he cried (крикнул он); ‘come down, I say (спускайся, я говорю); our fortune’s made (наша фортуна сделана/наше состояние сделано = мы теперь обеспечены/разбогатели; fortune — счастье; фортуна, счастливая судьба; богатство, состояние; to make a fortune — разбогатеть), our fortune’s made! Come down, I say.’ Mrs Vinegar got down as fast as she could (госпожа Уксус слезла вниз так быстро, как она могла), and when she saw the money (и когда она увидела деньги), she jumped for joy (она подпрыгнула от радости). ‘Now, my dear (теперь, мой дорогой),’ said she, ‘I’ll tell you what you shall do (я скажу тебе, что ты сделаешь). There is a fair at the neighbouring town (в соседнем городе есть ярмарка); you shall take these forty guineas and buy a cow (ты возьмешь эти сорок гиней и купишь корову). I can make butter and cheese (я могу делать масло и сыр), which you shall sell at market (которые ты будешь продавать на рынке), and we shall then be able to live very comfortably (и мы тогда будем способны жить очень вольготно; comfortable — достаточный, удовлетворительный /о заработке/: a comfortable income — достаточный доход; уютный, удобный: a comfortable sofa — удобный диван).’

underneath [Andə`ni:T], guinea [`gını], neighbouring [`neıbərıŋ]

In the middle of the night, Mr Vinegar was disturbed by the sound of voices underneath and to his horror and dismay found that it was a band of thieves met to divide their booty. ‘Here, Jack,’ said one, ‘there’s five pounds for you; here, Bill, here’s ten pounds for you; here, Bob, there’s three pounds for you.’ Mr Vinegar could listen no longer; his terror was so great that he trembled and trembled, and shook down the door on their heads. Away scampered the thieves, but Mr Vinegar dared not quit his retreat till broad daylight. He then scrambled out of the tree, and went to lift up the door. What did he see but a number of golden guineas. ‘Come down, Mrs Vinegar,’ he cried; ‘come down, I say; our fortune’s made, our fortune’s made! Come down, I say.’ Mrs Vinegar got down as fast as she could, and when she saw the money, she jumped for joy. ‘Now, my dear,’ said she, ‘I’ll tell you what you shall do. There is a fair at the neighbouring town; you shall take these forty guineas and buy a cow. I can make butter and cheese, which you shall sell at market, and we shall then be able to live very comfortably.’

Mr Vinegar joyfully agrees (господин Уксус радостно соглашается), takes the money (берет деньги), and off he goes to the fair (и прочь он идет = отправляется на ярмарку). When he arrived (когда он прибыл), he walked up and down (он ходил туда-сюда: «вверх и вниз»), and at length (и наконец) saw a beautiful red cow (увидел красивую рыжую корову). It was an excellent milker (это была отличная молочная корова), and perfect in every way (и совершенная во всех отношениях: «в каждом отношении»). ‘Oh!’ thought Mr Vinegar (о! — подумал господин Уксус; to think — думать), ‘if I had but that cow (если бы я имел только эту корову), I should be the happiest man alive (я был бы счастливейшим человеком на свете; alive — живой, в живых).’ So he offered the forty guineas for the cow (так что он предложил эти сорок гиней за корову), and the owner said that (и владелец сказал, что), as he was a friend (так как он — друг: «был другом»), he’d oblige him (он сделает ему одолжение; to oblige — обязывать; связывать /обязательством, клятвой/; делать одолжение, угождать). So the bargain was made (так сделка была сделана), and he got the cow (и он получил корову) and he drove it (и он водил ее; to drive — гнать; водить) backwards and forwards to show it (назад и вперед, чтобы показать ее). By and by (тем временем; by and by — вскоре) he saw a man playing the bagpipes (он увидел человека, играющего на волынке) — Tweedle-dum, tweedle-dee. The children followed him about (дети следовали за ним повсюду: «вокруг»), and he appeared to be pocketing money (и он казался быть кладущим в карман деньги = казалось, что он получает деньги) on all sides (со всех сторон). ‘Well,’ thought Mr Vinegar, ‘if I had but that beautiful instrument I should be the happiest man alive (если бы я имел только этот прекрасный инструмент, я был бы счастливейшим человеком на свете), my fortune would be made (моя фортуна была бы сделана = я бы разбогател).’ So he went up to the man (и он подошел к тому человеку).

excellent [`eksələnt], oblige [əb`laıG], bargain [`ba:gın]

Mr Vinegar joyfully agrees, takes the money, and off he goes to the fair. When he arrived, he walked up and down, and at length saw a beautiful red cow. It was an excellent milker, and perfect in every way. ‘Oh!’ thought Mr Vinegar, ‘if I had but that cow, I should be the happiest man alive.’ So he offered the forty guineas for the cow, and the owner said that, as he was a friend, he’d oblige him. So the bargain was made, and he got the cow and he drove it backwards and forwards to show it. By and by he saw a man playing the bagpipes — Tweedle-dum, tweedle-dee. The children followed him about, and he appeared to be pocketing money on all sides. ‘Well,’ thought Mr Vinegar, ‘if I had but that beautiful instrument I should be the happiest man alive, my fortune would be made.’ So he went up to the man.

‘Friend (друг),’ says he, ‘what a beautiful instrument that is (какой это прекрасный инструмент), and what a deal of money you must make (и какое количество денег ты должен делать = должно быть, зарабатываешь).’

‘Why, yes (ну да),’ said the man, ‘I make a great deal of money (я делаю большую сумму: «долю» денег), to be sure (конечно), and it is a wonderful instrument (и это чудесный инструмент).’

‘Oh!’ cried Mr Vinegar, ‘how I should like to possess it (как я хотел бы обладать им)!’

‘Well,’ said the man, ‘as you are a friend (так как ты друг), I don’t much mind parting with it (я не очень возражаю /против/ расставания с ним = мне не жаль с ним расстаться): you shall have it (ты получишь его) for that red cow (за эту рыжую корову).’

‘Done (сделано = по рукам)!’ said the delighted Mr Vinegar (сказал обрадованный господин Уксус). So the beautiful red cow was given for the bagpipes (так прекрасная рыжая корова была отдана за волынку). He walked up and down with his purchase (он ходил туда-сюда со своей покупкой); but it was in vain he tried to play a tune (но напрасно он старался сыграть мелодию), and instead of pocketing pence (и вместо получения: «положения в карман» пенсов), the boys followed him hooting, laughing, and pelting (мальчишки преследовали его, улюлюкая, смеясь и бросаясь камнями/грязью; to pelt — бросать /в кого-либо/, забрасывать /камнями, грязью/).

sure [Suə], delighted [dı`laıtəd], purchase [`pə:tSəs]

‘Friend,’ says he, ‘what a beautiful instrument that is, and what a deal of money you must make.’

‘Why, yes,’ said the man, ‘I make a great deal of money, to be sure, and it is a wonderful instrument.’

‘Oh!’ cried Mr Vinegar, ‘how I should like to possess it!’

‘Well,’ said the man, ‘as you are a friend, I don’t much mind parting with it: you shall have it for that red cow.’

‘Done!’ said the delighted Mr Vinegar. So the beautiful red cow was given for the bagpipes. He walked up and down with his purchase; but it was in vain he tried to play a tune, and instead of pocketing pence, the boys followed him hooting, laughing, and pelting.

Poor Mr Vinegar (бедный господин Уксус), his fingers grew very cold (его пальцы стали очень холодными = замерзли; to grow — расти, становиться), and, just as he was leaving the town (и как раз когда он был покидающим город), he met a man with a fine thick pair of gloves (он встретил человека с превосходной толстой парой перчаток). ‘Oh, my fingers are so very cold (о, мои пальцы так очень холодны = так сильно замерзли),’ said Mr Vinegar to himself (сказал господин Уксус себе = подумал про себя). ‘Now if I had but those beautiful gloves I should be the happiest man alive (вот если бы я имел только эти прекрасные перчатки, я был бы счастливейшим человеком на свете).’ He went up to the man, and said to him (он подошел к тому человеку и сказал ему): ‘Friend (друг), you seem to have (кажется, у тебя есть) a capital pair of gloves there (первоклассная пара перчаток).’

‘Yes, truly (да, точно),’ cried the man (воскликнул человек); ‘and my hands are as warm as possible (и мои руки так теплы, как возможно) on this cold November day (в этот холодный ноябрьский день).’

‘Well,’ said Mr Vinegar, ‘I should like to have them (я хотел бы иметь = получить их).’

‘What will you give (что ты дашь)?’ said the man; ‘as you are a friend (так как ты друг), I don’t much mind (я не очень возражаю) letting you have them (позволить тебе получить их) for those bagpipes (за эту волынку).’

‘Done (сделано = по рукам)!’ cried Mr Vinegar. He put on the gloves (он надел перчатки), and felt perfectly happy (и почувствовал /себя/ совершенно счастливым) as he trudged homewards (пока он тащился в сторону дома/домой; homewards — домой, к дому).

At last he grew very tired (наконец он очень устал: «стал очень усталым»), when he saw a man coming towards him (когда = и тут он увидел человека, подходящего к нему) with a good stout stick in his hand (с хорошей толстой палкой в руке).

glove [glAv], capital [`kæpıtəl], homewards [`həumwədz]

Poor Mr Vinegar, his fingers grew very cold, and, just as he was leaving the town, he met a man with a fine thick pair of gloves. ‘Oh, my fingers are so very cold,’ said Mr Vinegar to himself. ‘Now if I had but those beautiful gloves I should be the happiest man alive.’ He went up to the man, and said to him: ‘Friend, you seem to have a capital pair of gloves there.’

‘Yes, truly,’ cried the man; ‘and my hands are as warm as possible this cold November day.’

‘Well,’ said Mr Vinegar, ‘I should like to have them.’

‘What will you give?’ said the man; ‘as you are a friend, I don’t much mind letting you have them for those bagpipes.’

‘Done!’ cried Mr Vinegar. He put on the gloves, and felt perfectly happy as he trudged homewards.

At last he grew very tired, when he saw a man coming towards him with a good stout stick in his hand.

‘Oh,’ said Mr Vinegar, ‘that I had but that stick (чтобы я имел только эту палку = была бы у меня…)! I should then be the happiest man alive (я бы тогда был счастливейшим человеком на свете).’ He said to the man (он сказал человеку): ‘Friend, what a rare good stick you have got (друг, какую редкую = чудную хорошую палку ты имеешь)!’

‘Yes,’ said the man; ‘I have used it for many a long mile (я использовал ее на протяжении: «для» многих миль), and a good friend it has been (и хорошим другом она была); but if you have a fancy for it (но если она тебе нравится; fancy — склонность, вкус к чему-либо, пристрастие), as you are a friend (так как ты друг), I don’t mind giving it to you (я не возражаю дать ее тебе) for that pair of gloves (за эту пару перчаток).’ Mr Vinegar’s hands were so warm (господина Уксуса руки были так теплы), and his legs so tired (а его ноги так усталы), that he gladly made the exchange (что он радостно совершил обмен). As he drew (когда он подходил; to draw — тянуть, тащить; подходить) near to the wood (близко к лесу) where he had left his wife (где он оставил свою жену; to leave), he heard a parrot on a tree (он услышал попугая на дереве) calling out his name (выкликающего его имя): ‘Mr Vinegar, you foolish man (ты, глупый человек), you blockhead (ты, тупица), you simpleton (ты, простак); you went to the fair (ты пошел на ярмарку), and laid out all your money in buying a cow (и выложил = потратил все свои деньги для покупки коровы; to lay — класть). Not content with that (не довольный этим = не удовлетворившись этим), you changed it for bagpipes (ты обменял ее на волынку), on which you could not play (на которой ты не мог играть), and which were not worth one-tenth of the money (и которая не была достойна одной десятой тех денег). You fool (ты, дурак), you — you had no sooner got the bagpipes than you changed them (как только ты получил волынку: «ты не скорее получил волынку, чем» ты обменял ее) for the gloves (на перчатки), which were not worth one-quarter of the money (которые не стоили одной четверти денег); and when you had got the gloves (и когда ты получил перчатки), you changed them for a poor miserable stick (ты обменял их на дурацкую: «бедную» жалкую палку); and now for your forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves (и теперь за твои сорок гиней, корову, волынку и перчатки), you have nothing to show (ты не имеешь ничего, чтобы показать) but that poor miserable stick (кроме этой дурацкой жалкой палки), which you might have cut (которую ты мог срезать) in any hedge (из любой /живой/ изгороди; hedge — живая изгородь).’ On this (на этом) the bird laughed and laughed (птица смеялась и смеялась = принялась смеяться), and Mr Vinegar (а господин Уксус), falling into a violent rage (впадая в жестокую ярость), threw the stick at its head (бросил палку в ее голову; to throw). The stick lodged in the tree (палка застряла/повисла на дереве; to lodge — поселить; засесть, застрять), and he returned to his wife without money, cow, bagpipes, gloves, or stick (и он вернулся к своей жене без денег, коровы, волынки, перчаток или палки), and she instantly gave him such a sound cudgelling (и она немедленно задала ему такую крепкую трепку; sound — здоровый, крепкий; cudgel — дубина, толстая деревянная палка) that she almost broke every bone in his skin (что почти сломала каждую кость в его коже).

exchange [iks`tSeınG], parrot [`pærət], miserable [`mızərəbl]

‘Oh,’ said Mr Vinegar, ‘that I had but that stick! I should then be the happiest man alive.’ He said to the man: ‘Friend, what a rare good stick you have got!’

‘Yes,’ said the man; ‘I have used it for many a long mile, and a good friend it has been; but if you have a fancy for it, as you are a friend, I don’t mind giving it to you for that pair of gloves.’ Mr Vinegar’s hands were so warm, and his legs so tired, that he gladly made the exchange. As he drew near to the wood where he had left his wife, he heard a parrot on a tree calling out his name: ‘Mr Vinegar, you foolish man, you blockhead, you simpleton; you went to the fair, and laid out all your money in buying a cow. Not content with that, you changed it for bagpipes, on which you could not play, and which were not worth one-tenth of the money. You fool, you — you had no sooner got the bagpipes than you changed them for the gloves, which were not worth one-quarter of the money; and when you had got the gloves, you changed them for a poor miserable stick; and now for your forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves, you have nothing to show but that poor miserable stick, which you might have cut in any hedge.’ On this the bird laughed and laughed, and Mr Vinegar, falling into a violent rage, threw the stick at its head. The stick lodged in the tree, and he returned to his wife without money, cow, bagpipes, gloves, or stick, and she instantly gave him such a sound cudgelling that she almost broke every bone in his skin.

Nix Nought Nothing (Ничего-Ничего-Ничего)

THERE once lived a king and a queen (жили однажды король и королева) as many a one has been (каких много было). They were long married (они были долго женаты) and had no children (и не имели детей); but at last a baby boy (но наконец ребенок-мальчик) came to the queen (родился у королевы: «пришел к королеве») when the king was away in the far countries (когда король был в далеких странах; away — далеко; прочь). The queen would not christen the boy till the king came back (королева не хотела крестить ребенка, пока король не вернулся назад), and she said (и она сказала): ‘We will just call him Nix Nought Nothing until his father comes home (мы будем просто звать его Ничего-Ничего-Ничего, пока его отец не придет домой).’ But it was long before he came home (но прошло много времени: «это было долго», прежде чем он пришел домой), and the boy had grown a fine, bonny laddie (и мальчик вырос прекрасным крепким пареньком; bonny — здоровый, цветущий, пышущий здоровьем, крепкий). At length the king was on his way back (наконец король был на своем пути назад = на пути домой); but he had a big river to cross (но он должен был пересечь большую реку), and there was a whirlpool (а там был водоворот), and he could not get over the water (и он не мог переправиться через воду). But a giant came up to him (но великан подошел к нему), and said (и сказал): ‘I’ll carry you over (я перенесу тебя).’ But the king said: ‘What’s your pay (какова твоя цена: «плата»)?’

‘Oh, give me Nix, Nought, Nothing (дай мне Ничего-Ничего-Ничего), and I will carry you over the water on my back (и я понесу тебя через воду на моей спине).’ The king had never heard that his son was called Nix Nought Nothing (король никогда/вовсе не слышал, что его сын был назван Ничего-Ничего-Ничего), and so he said (и потому он сказал): ‘Oh, I’ll give you that (я дам тебе это) and my thanks into the bargain (и мою благодарность в придачу: «в сделку»).’ When the king got home again (когда король снова добрался домой), he was very happy to see his wife again (он был очень счастлив увидеть снова свою жену), and his young son (и своего юного сына). She told him that she had not given the child any name (она сказала ему, что не дала ребенку никакого имени), but just Nix Nought Nothing (но просто /назвала/ Ничего-Ничего-Ничего), until he should come home again himself (пока он сам не вернется домой).

nought [no:t], whirlpool [`wə:lpu:l], giant [`Gaıənt]

THERE once lived a king and a queen as many a one has been. They were long married and had no children; but at last a baby boy came to the queen when the king was away in the far countries. The queen would not christen the boy till the king came back, and she said: ‘We will just call him Nix Nought Nothing until his father comes home.’ But it was long before he came home, and the boy had grown a fine, bonny laddie. At length the king was on his way back; but he had a big river to cross, and there was a whirlpool, and he could not get over the water. But a giant came up to him, and said: ‘I’ll carry you over.’ But the king said: ‘What’s your pay?’

‘Oh, give me Nix, Nought, Nothing, and I will carry you over the water on my back.’ The king had never heard that his son was called Nix Nought Nothing, and so he said: ‘Oh, I’ll give you that and my thanks into the bargain.’ When the king got home again, he was very happy to see his wife again, and his young son. She told him that she had not given the child any name, but just Nix Nought Nothing, until he should come home again himself.

The poor king was in a terrible case (бедный король был в ужасном положении). He said (он сказал): ‘What have I done (что я наделал)? I promised to give the giant (я обещал отдать великану) who carried me over the river on his back (который перенес меня через реку на своей спине) Nix Nought Nothing.’ The king and the queen were sad and sorry (король и королева были грустны и огорчены), but they said (но они сказали): ‘When the giant comes (когда великан придет) we will give him the hen-wife’s boy (мы дадим ему мальчика птичницы; hen — курица); he will never know the difference (он никогда не узнает разницы).’ The next day the giant came to claim the king’s promise (на следующий день великан пришел, чтобы потребовать обещанное королем: «обещание короля»), and he sent for the hen-wife’s boy (и он послал за мальчиком птичницы; to send); and the giant went away with the boy on his back (и великан ушел прочь с мальчиком на своей спине). He travelled till he came to a big stone (он шел: «путешествовал», пока он не пришел к большому камню), and there he sat down to rest (и там присел, чтобы отдохнуть). He said: ‘Hidge, Hodge, on my back (на моей спине), what time of day is that (какое время дня /сейчас/ = который сейчас час)?’