Английские волшебные сказки 6 страница

‘Deary me (Боже мой)!’ exclaimed the old woman (воскликнула старая женщина). ‘Didn’t he send a message to me (не послал он весточки ко мне)?’

‘Yes, he did (да, послал),’ replied Jack Hannaford (ответил Джек Хэннафорд). ‘He said that he was out of leather (он сказал, что ему не хватает кожи/у него закончилась кожа), and his pockets were empty (и его карманы были пусты), so you were to send him (так что вы должны послать ему) a few shillings to buy a fresh stock of leather (несколько шиллингов, чтобы купить свежую порцию кожи; stock — запас; сырье).’

‘He shall have them (он получит их), bless his poor soul (благослови /Бог/ его бедную душу)!’ And away went the wife to the parlour chimney (и прочь пошла жена к дымоходу в комнате), and she pulled the rag with the ten pounds in it (и она вытащила тряпку с десятью фунтами в ней) from the parlour chimney (из дымохода в кухне), and she gave the whole sum to the soldier (и она дала целую =всю сумму солдату), telling him that her old man (говоря ему, что ее старик) was to use as much as he wanted (мог использовать так много, как ему нужно; to want — хотеть; нуждаться), and to send back the rest (и отправить назад остаток).

moor [muə], decide [dı`saıd], paradise [`pærədaız]

THERE was an old soldier who had been long in the wars — so long, that he was quite out-at-elbows, and did not know where to go to find a living. So he walked up moors, down glens, till at last he came to a farm, from which the good man had gone away to market. The wife of the farmer was a very foolish woman, who had been a widow when he married her; the farmer was foolish enough, too, and it is hard to say which of the two was the most foolish. When you’ve heard my tale you may decide.

Now before the farmer goes to market says he to his wife: ‘Here is ten pounds all in gold, take care of it till I come home.’ If the man had not been a fool he would never have given the money to his wife to keep. Well, off he went in his cart to market, and the wife said to herself: ‘I will keep the ten pounds quite safe from thieves’; so she tied it up in a rag, and she put the rag up the parlour chimney.

‘There,’ she said, ‘no thieves will ever find it now, that is quite sure.’

Jack Hannaford, the old soldier, came and rapped at the door.

‘Who is there?’ asked the wife.

‘Jack Hannaford.’

‘Where do you come from?’

‘Paradise.’

‘Lord a’ mercy! and maybe you’ve seen my old man there,’ alluding to her former husband.

‘Yes, I have.’

‘And how was he a-doing?’ asked the goody.

‘But middling; he cobbles old shoes, and he has nothing but cabbage for victuals.’

‘Deary me!’ exclaimed the old woman. ‘Didn’t he send a message to me?’

‘Yes, he did,’ replied Jack Hannaford. ‘He said that he was out of leather, and his pockets were empty, so you were to send him a few shillings to buy a fresh stock of leather.’

‘He shall have them, bless his poor soul!’ And away went the wife to the parlour chimney, and she pulled the rag with the ten pounds in it from the parlour chimney, and she gave the whole sum to the soldier, telling him that her old man was to use as much as he wanted, and to send back the rest.

It was not long that Jack waited (Джек недолго ждал) after receiving the money (после получения денег); he went off as fast as he could walk (он пошел прочь так быстро, как мог ходить).

Presently the farmer came home (вскоре крестьянин пришел домой) and asked for his money (и попросил свои деньги). The wife told him that she had sent it (жена сказала ему, что она послала их) by a soldier (через солдата) to her former husband in Paradise (своему старому мужу в рай), to buy him leather (чтобы купить ему кожи) for cobbling the shoes of the saints and angels of heaven (для починки башмаков святых и ангелов небесных). The farmer was very angry (крестьянин был очень сердит), and he swore that he had never met with such a fool (и он поклялся, что он никогда не встречался с такой дурой; to swear — клясться; браниться) as his wife (как его жена). But the wife said (но жена сказала) that her husband was a greater fool (что ее муж был бóльшим дураком) for letting her have the money (за позволение ей хранить: «иметь» деньги = поскольку дал ей деньги).

There was no time to waste words (не было времени тратить попусту слова); so the farmer mounted his horse (так что крестьянин взобрался на свою лошадь) and rode off after Jack Hannaford (и поскакал прочь за Джеком Хэннафордом; to ride — ездить верхом). The old soldier heard (старый солдат услышал) the horse’s hoofs clattering on the road behind him (лошадиные копыта, стучащие по дороге сзади него), so he knew (так что он знал = понял) it must be the farmer pursuing him (что это должен быть крестьянин, преследующий его). He lay down on the ground (он лег вниз на землю), shading his eyes with one hand (заслоняя свои глаза одной рукой), looked up into the sky (посмотрел наверх в небо), and pointed heavenwards with the other hand (и указал на небо другой рукой).

‘What are you about there (чем ты тут занят)?’ asked the farmer, pulling up (спросил крестьянин, останавливаясь).

‘Lord save you (Господи спаси тебя)!’ exclaimed Jack (воскликнул Джек); ‘I’ve seen a rare sight (я увидел редкое зрелище).’

‘What was that (что было это)?’

‘A man going straight up into the sky (человек, идущий прямо вверх в небо), as if he were walking on a road (как если бы он был идущий по дороге).’

‘Can you see him still (можешь ты видеть его еще = ты все еще его видишь)?’

‘Yes, I can (да, я могу).’

‘Where (где)?’

‘Get off your horse and lie down (слезай с твоей лошади и ложись вниз).’

‘If you will hold the horse (если ты захочешь подержать лошадь = тогда подержи, пожалуйста, лошадь).’

Jack did so readily (Джек поступил так охотно; readily — охотно, быстро, с готовностью).

‘I cannot see him (я не могу увидеть его),’ said the farmer (сказал крестьянин).

‘Shade your eyes with your hand (заслони свои глаза своей рукой), and you’ll see a man flying away from you (и ты увидишь человека, летящего прочь от тебя).’

Sure enough he did so (он, конечно, так и сделал), for Jack leaped on the horse (ибо Джек прыгнул на лошадь), and rode away with it (и ускакал на ней прочь). The farmer walked home without his horse (крестьянин пошел домой без своей лошади).

‘You are a bigger fool than I am (ты есть больший дурак, чем я),’ said the wife (сказала жена), ‘for I did only one foolish thing (ибо я сделала только одну глупую вещь), and you have done two (а ты сделал две).’

receive [rı`si:v], pursue [pə`sju:], readily [`redılı]

It was not long that Jack waited after receiving the money; he went off as fast as he could walk.

Presently the farmer came home and asked for his money. The wife told him that she had sent it by a soldier to her former husband in Paradise, to buy him leather for cobbling the shoes of the saints and angels of heaven. The farmer was very angry, and he swore that he had never met with such a fool as his wife. But the wife said that her husband was a greater fool for letting her have the money.

There was no time to waste words; so the farmer mounted his horse and rode off after Jack Hannaford. The old soldier heard the horse’s hoofs clattering on the road behind him, so he knew it must be the farmer pursuing him. He lay down on the ground, shading his eyes with one hand, looked up into the sky, and pointed heavenwards with the other hand.

‘What are you about there?’ asked the farmer, pulling up.

‘Lord save you!’ exclaimed Jack; ‘I’ve seen a rare sight.’

‘What was that?’

‘A man going straight up into the sky, as if he were walking on a road.’

‘Can you see him still ?’

‘Yes, I can.’

‘Where?’

‘Get off your horse and lie down.’

‘If you will hold the horse.’

Jack did so readily.

‘I cannot see him,’ said the farmer.

‘Shade your eyes with your hand, and you’ll see a man flying away from you.’

Sure enough he did so, for Jack leaped on the horse, and rode away with it. The farmer walked home without his horse.

‘You are a bigger fool than I am,’ said the wife, ‘for I did only one foolish thing, and you have done two.’

Binnorie (Биннори)

ONCE upon a time (однажды) there were two king’s daughters (жили-были две дочери короля) who lived in a bower (которые жили в загородном доме) near the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie (рядом с прекрасными мельничными запрудами Биннори). And Sir William came wooing the elder (и сэр Уильям пришел, добиваясь старшей; to woo — ухаживать; свататься) and won her love (и завоевал ее любовь; to win — победить, выиграть; добиться, получить), and plighted troth with glove and with ring (и дал обещание жениться «с» перчаткой и «с» кольцом; troth — обещание, честное слово; to plight one's troth — дать слово /особ. при обручении/). But after a time (но спустя некоторое время) he looked upon the younger sister (он посмотрел на младшую сестру), with her cherry cheeks (с ее свежими, румяными: «вишневыми» щеками) and golden hair (и золотыми = золотистыми волосами), and his love went out to her (и его любовь перешла на нее) till he cared no longer for the elder one (так что он больше не любил старшую сестру; to care for — заботиться; испытывать приязнь, любить). So she hated her sister (так что она возненавидела свою сестру) for taking away Sir William’s love (за отбирание прочь любви сэра Уильяма = за то, что та отняла у нее любовь…), and day by day (и день ото дня) her hate grew and grew (ее ненависть /все/ росла и росла; to grow) and she plotted (и она плела интриги) and she planned (и она планировала) how to get rid of her (как избавиться от нее).

So one fine morning (так одним прекрасным утром), fair and clear (чистым и ясным), she said to her sister (она сказала своей сестре), ‘Let us go and see our father’s boats come in (пойдем посмотрим, как корабли нашего отца заходят) at the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie (у прекрасного потока, вращающего мельницу: «мельничный поток» Биннори).’ So they went there (так что они пошли туда) hand in hand (рука в руке = взявшись за руки). And when they came to the river’s bank (и когда они пришли к берегу реки), the younger one got upon a stone (младшая одна забралась на камень; to get — забираться) to watch for the beaching of the boats (чтобы смотреть за швартовкой кораблей). And her sister, coming behind her (а ее сестра, подойдя сзади нее), caught her round the waist (поймала = обхватила ее вокруг талии; to catch — ловить) and dashed her into the rushing mill-stream of Binnorie (и швырнула ее в стремительный мельничный поток Биннори).

bower [`bauə], troth [trəuT], watch [wotS]

ONCE upon a time there were two king’s daughters who lived in a bower near the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie. And Sir William came wooing the elder and won her love, and plighted troth with glove and with ring. But after a time he looked upon the younger sister, with her cherry cheeks and golden hair, and his love went out to her till he cared no longer for the elder one. So she hated her sister for taking away Sir William’s love, and day by day her hate grew and grew and she plotted and she planned how to get rid of her.

So one fine morning, fair and clear, she said to her sister, ‘Let us go and see our father’s boats come in at the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie.’ So they went there hand in hand. And when they came to the river’s bank, the younger one got upon a stone to watch for the beaching of the boats. And her sister, coming behind her, caught her round the waist and dashed her into the rushing mill-stream of Binnorie.

‘O sister, sister, reach me your hand (о сестра, сестра, протяни мне твою руку)!’ she cried (кричала она), as she floated away (пока она уплывала прочь = уплывая прочь), ‘and you shall have half of all I’ve got or shall get (и ты получишь половину всего, что я имею или буду иметь = что у меня есть или будет).’

‘No, sister, I’ll reach you no hand of mine (нет, сестра, я не протяну тебе своей руки: «никакой руки моей»), for I am the heir to all your land (ибо я наследница всей твоей земли). Shame on me if I touch her hand (позор мне: «стыд на меня», если я коснусь руки той: «ее руки») that has come (которая встала: «пришла») ‘twixt me and my own heart’s love (между мной и любовью моего собственного сердца; ‘twixt — архаич. вместо совр. between).’

‘O sister, O sister, then reach me your glove (о сестра, о сестра, тогда протяни мне твою перчатку)!’ she cried, as she floated further away (прокричала она, уплывая дальше прочь), ‘and you shall have your William again (и ты получишь твоего Уильяма снова = обратно).’

‘Sink on (тони дальше),’ cried the cruel princess (воскликнула жестокая принцесса), ‘no hand or glove of mine you’ll touch (ни руки, ни перчатки моей ты не коснешься). Sweet William will be all mine (милый Уильям будет весь мой) when you are sunk (когда ты утонешь) beneath the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie (в прекрасном мельничном потоке Биннори; beneath — под).’ And she turned (и она повернулась) and went home to the king’s castle (и пошла домой к замку короля).

And the princess floated down the mill-stream (а принцесса плыла вниз по мельничному потоку), sometimes swimming and sometimes sinking (иногда плывя, а иногда погружаясь), till she came near the mill (пока она не приблизилась к мельнице). Now, the miller’s daughter was cooking that day (дочь мельника в тот день готовила; to cook — готовить, стряпать), and needed water for her cooking (и нуждалась в воде для своей готовки). And as she went to draw it from the stream (и когда она пошла, чтобы набрать ее из потока; to draw — тянуть, тащить), she saw something floating towards the mill-dam (она увидела что-то, плывущее к мельничной запруде; to float — плавать; всплывать; держаться на поверхности воды), and she called out (и она позвала), ‘Father (отец)! father! draw your dam (заслони твою запруду). There’s something white (там что-то белое) — a merrymaid or a milk-white swan (русалка или молочно-белый лебедь) — coming down the stream (плывущее: «идущее» вниз по потоку).’ So the miller hastened to the dam (и мельник поспешил к запруде) and stopped the heavy, cruel mill-wheels (и остановил тяжелые, жестокие мельничные колеса). And then they took out the princess (и тогда они вытащили: «взяли наружу» принцессу) and laid her on the bank (и положили ее на берег; to lay — класть).

swan [swon], hasten [`heısən], cruel [kruəl]

‘O sister, sister, reach me your hand!’ she cried, as she floated away, ‘and you shall have half of all I’ve got or shall get.’

‘No, sister, I’ll reach you no hand of mine, for I am the heir to all your land. Shame on me if I touch her hand that has come ‘twixt me and my own heart’s love.’

‘O sister, O sister, then reach me your glove !’ she cried, as she floated further away, ‘and you shall have your William again.’

‘Sink on,’ cried the cruel princess, ‘no hand or glove of mine you’ll touch. Sweet William will be all mine when you are sunk beneath the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie.’ And she turned and went home to the king’s castle.

And the princess floated down the mill-stream, sometimes swimming and sometimes sinking, till she came near the mill. Now, the miller’s daughter was cooking that day, and needed water for her cooking. And as she went to draw it from the stream, she saw something floating towards the mill-dam, and she called out, ‘Father! father! draw your dam. There’s something white — a merrymaid or a milk-white swan — coming down the stream.’ So the miller hastened to the dam and stopped the heavy, cruel mill-wheels. And then they took out the princess and laid her on the bank.

Fair and beautiful (светлой и прекрасной; fair — красивый, прекрасный /обычно о женщинах/; светлый, белокурый) she looked as she lay there (она выглядела, пока она лежала = лежа там; to lie — лежать). In her golden hair were pearls and precious stones (в ее золотых волосах были жемчуга и драгоценные камни); you could not see her waist for her golden girdle (ты не мог = невозможно было видеть ее талию за ее золотым поясом), and the golden fringe of her white dress (и золотая кайма ее белого платья) came down over her lily feet (спускалась над ее лилейными ножками; foot — нога /ступня/). But she was drowned, drowned (но она была утонувшая, утонувшая)!

And as she lay there in her beauty (и когда она лежала там в своей красоте) a famous harper passed by the mill-dam of Binnorie (знаменитый арфист проходил мимо мельничной запруды Биннори), and saw her sweet pale face (и увидел ее нежное, бледное лицо). And though he travelled on far away (и хотя он продолжал путешествовать очень далеко: «далеко прочь»), he never forgot that face (он никогда/вовсе не забыл это лицо), and after many days he came back to the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie (и после многих дней = много дней спустя он вернулся к прекрасному мельничному потоку Биннори). But then all he could find of her (но тогда все, что он мог найти от нее) where they had put her to rest (где они положили ее на покой) were her bones and her golden hair (были ее кости и ее золотые волосы). So he made a harp out of her breast-bone and her hair (так что он сделал арфу из ее грудной кости и ее волос), and travelled on (и отправился дальше) up the hill from the mill-dam of Binnorie (вверх по холму от мельничной запруды Биннори) till he came to the castle of the king her father (пока он не пришел к замку короля, ее отца).

That night they were all gathered (той ночью они все собрались: «были все собраны») in the castle hall (в замковом зале) to hear the great harper (чтобы услышать великого арфиста) — king and queen, their daughter and son, Sir William, and all their Court (король и королева, их дочь и сын, сэр Уильям и весь их двор). And first the harper sang to his old harp (и сперва арфист пел под свою старую арфу), making them joy and be glad (заставляя их радоваться и быть довольными), or sorrow and weep (или печалиться и рыдать), just as he liked (прямо как он хотел = по своей воле). But while he sang (но пока он пел), he put the harp he had made that day (он поставил арфу, которую он сделал в тот день) on a stone in the hall (на камень в зале). And presently it began to sing by itself (и некоторое время спустя она начала петь сама собой), low and clear (тихо и ясно), and the harper stopped and all were hushed (и арфист остановился, и все замолкли: «были заставлены замолчать»).

precious [`preSəs], fringe [frınG], breast [brest]

Fair and beautiful she looked as she lay there. In her golden hair were pearls and precious stones; you could not see her waist for her golden girdle, and the golden fringe of her white dress came down over her lily feet. But she was drowned, drowned!

And as she lay there in her beauty a famous harper passed by the mill-dam of Binnorie, and saw her sweet pale face. And though he travelled on far away, he never forgot that face, and after many days he came back to the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie. But then all he could find of her where they had put her to rest were her bones and her golden hair. So he made a harp out of her breast-bone and her hair, and travelled on up the hill from the mill-dam of Binnorie till he came to the castle of the king her father.

That night they were all gathered in the castle hall to hear the great harper — king and queen, their daughter and son, Sir William, and all their Court. And first the harper sang to his old harp, making them joy and be glad, or sorrow and weep, just as he liked. But while he sang, he put the harp he had made that day on a stone in the hall. And presently it began to sing by itself, low and clear, and the harper stopped and all were hushed.

And this is what the harp sung (и вот что пела арфа):

‘O yonder sits my father, the king (о, там сидит мой отец, король),
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And yonder sits my mother, the queen (а там сидит моя мать, королева);
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie (у прекрасных мельничных запруд Биннори).

‘And yonder stands my brother Hugh (а там стоит мой брат Хью),
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And by him my William, false and true (и подле него мой Уильям, неверный и верный);
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie.’

Then they all wondered (тогда они все удивились), and the harper told them how he had seen (и арфист сказал им, как он раньше видел; Past Perfect) the princess lying drowned on the bank (принцессу лежащую утонувшей на берегу) near the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie (близ прекрасных мельничных запруд Биннори), and how he had afterwards made his harp out of her hair and breast-bone (и как он впоследствии сделал свою арфу из ее волос и грудной кости). Just then the harp began singing again (прямо тогда арфа начала петь снова), and this is what it sang out loud and clear (и вот что она пропела громко и ясно):

‘And there sits my sister who drowned me (а там сидит моя сестра, которая утопила меня)
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie.’

And the harp snapped and broke, and never sang more (и /тут/ арфа треснула и разбилась, и никогда/вовсе не пела больше; to break — разбиться).

Hugh [hju:], false [fo:ls], broke [brəuk] от break [breık]

And this is what the harp sung:

‘O yonder sits my father, the king,
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And yonder sits my mother, the queen;
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie.

‘And yonder stands my brother Hugh,
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And by him my William, false and true;
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie.’

Then they all wondered, and the harper told them how he had seen the princess lying drowned on the bank near the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie, and how he had afterwards made his harp out of her hair and breast-bone. Just then the harp began singing again, and this is what it sang out loud and clear:

‘And there sits my sister who drowned me
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie.’

And the harp snapped and broke, and never sang more.

Mouse and Mouser (Мышь и мышелов)

THE Mouse went to visit the Cat (мышь пошла навестить кошку), and found her sitting behind the hall door (и нашла ее сидящей за дверью в сени; hall — приемная, передняя), spinning (вяжущей: «прядущей»).

MOUSE (мышь)
What are you doing, my lady, my lady,
What are you doing, my lady (что ты делаешь, моя госпожа)?

CAT (sharply) (кошка, резко)
I’m spinning old breeches, good body, good body,
I’m spinning old breeches, good body (я вяжу старые штаны, дружище: «доброе тело»).

MOUSE
Long may you wear them, my lady, my lady,
Long may you wear them, my lady (долго можешь ты носить их = пусть же они долго носятся).

CAT (gruffly) (угрюмо)
I’ll wear ‘em and tear ‘em, good body, good body,
I’ll wear ‘em and tear ‘em, good body (я буду носить их и порву их; ‘em — разг. вместо them)

MOUSE
I was sweeping my room, my lady, my lady,
I was sweeping my room, my lady (я убиралась: «подметала» в комнате).

CAT
The cleaner you’d be, good body, good body,
The cleaner you’d be, good body (тем чище ты будешь; ‘d be = would be).

MOUSE
I found a silver sixpence, my lady, my lady,
I found a silver sixpence, my lady (я нашла серебряный грош: «шестипенсовик»).

CAT
The richer you were, good body, good body,
The richer you were, good body (тем богаче ты стала).

MOUSE
I went to the market, my lady, my lady,
I went to the market, my lady (я пошла на рынок).

CAT
The further you went, good body, good body,
The further you went, good body (тем дальше ты пошла).

MOUSE
I bought me a pudding, my lady, my lady,
I bought me a pudding, my lady (я купила себе: «мне пудинг»; to buy).

CAT (snarling) (ворча/рыча)
The more meat you had, good body, good body,
The more meat you had, good body (тем больше мяса на тебе будет).

MOUSE
I put it in the window to cool, my lady,
I put it in the window to cool (я поставила его на окно, чтобы остудить).

CAT (sharply)
The faster you’d eat it, good body, good body,
The faster you’d eat it, good body (тем быстрее ты его съешь).

MOUSE (timidly) (робко)
The cat came and ate it, my lady, my lady,
The cat came and ate it, my lady (кошка пришла и съела его; to eat — есть).

CAT (pouncingly) (хватательно = набрасываясь; to pounce — хватать в когти, нападать)
And I’ll eat you, good body, good body,
And I’ll eat you, good body (и я съем тебя).

(Springs upon the mouse and kills it.) (прыгает на мышь и убивает ее)

pudding [`pudiŋ], ate [et], pounce [pauns]

THE Mouse went to visit the Cat, and found her sitting behind the hall door, spinning.

MOUSE
What are you doing, my lady, my lady,
What are you doing, my lady?

CAT (sharply)
I’m spinning old breeches, good body, good body,
I’m spinning old breeches, good body.

MOUSE
Long may you wear them, my lady, my lady,
Long may you wear them, my lady.

CAT (gruffly)
I’ll wear ‘em and tear ‘em, good body, good body,
I’ll wear ‘em and tear ‘em, good body.

MOUSE
I was sweeping my room, my lady, my lady,
I was sweeping my room, my lady.

CAT
The cleaner you’d be, good body, good body,
The cleaner you’d be, good body.

MOUSE
I found a silver sixpence, my lady, my lady,
I found a silver sixpence, my lady.

CAT
The richer you were, good body, good body,
The richer you were, good body.

MOUSE
I went to the market, my lady, my lady,
I went to the market, my lady.

CAT
The further you went, good body, good body,
The further you went, good body.

MOUSE
I bought me a pudding, my lady, my lady,
I bought me a pudding, my lady.

CAT (snarling)
The more meat you had, good body, good body,
The more meat you had, good body.

MOUSE
I put it in the window to cool, my lady,
I put it in the window to cool.

CAT (sharply)
The faster you’d eat it, good body, good body,
The faster you’d eat it, good body.

MOUSE (timidly)
The cat came and ate it, my lady, my lady,
The cat came and ate it, my lady.

CAT (pouncingly)
And I’ll eat you, good body, good body,
And I’ll eat you, good body.

(Springs upon the mouse and kills it.)

Cap o' Rushes (Чепец из камышей)

WELL, there was once a very rich gentleman (жил-был однажды очень богатый джентльмен), and he had three daughters (и у него были три дочери), and he thought he’d see (и он решил увидеть: «он подумал, он бы увидел»; ‘d see = would see) how fond they were of him (как любили они его). So he says to the first (так что он говорит первой), ‘How much do you love me, my dear (насколько ты любишь меня, моя дорогая)?’

‘Why (как же: «почему»),’ says she, ‘as I love my life (как я люблю мою жизнь).’

‘That’s good (это хорошо),’ says he.

So he says to the second (так что он говорит второй), ‘How much do you love me, my dear (насколько ты любишь меня, моя дорогая)?’

‘Why,’ says she, ‘better nor all the world (больше: «лучше», чем весь мир; nor «чем» — редк. вместо than).’

‘That’s good (это хорошо),’ says he.

So he says to the third (так что он говорит третьей), ‘How much do you love me, my dear (насколько ты любишь меня, моя дорогая)?’

‘Why, I love you as fresh meat loves salt (я люблю тебя, как свежее мясо любит соль),’ says she.

Well, but he was angry (ну, но он был сердит = как же он рассердился). ‘You don’t love me at all (ты не любишь меня совсем),’ says he, ‘and in my house you stay no more (и в моем доме ты не остаешься более).’ So he drove her out there and then (так что он изгнал ее сразу же: «там и тогда»; to drive out — изгонять), and shut the door in her face (и захлопнул дверь перед ее лицом).

Well, she went away on and on (она пошла прочь дальше и дальше) till she came to a fen (пока она не пришла к болоту), and there she gathered a lot of rushes (и там она собрала много: «кучу» камышей) and made them into a kind of a sort of a cloak with a hood (и сделала из них что-то вроде плаща с капюшоном), to cover her from head to foot (чтобы покрыть ее с головы до ног: «до ступни»), and to hide her fine clothes (и чтобы спрятать хорошую одежду). And then she went on and on (и тогда она пошла дальше и дальше) till she came to a great house (пока не пришла к большому дому).

‘Do you want a maid (вам нужна служанка)?’ says she.