Английские волшебные сказки 9 страница

Then Jack lifted up the copper-lid very quietly (тогда Джек приподнял вверх крышку котла очень тихо) and got down like a mouse (и спустился вниз, как мышь) and crept on hands and knees (и полз на четвереньках: «на руках и коленях») till he came to the table (пока он не добрался до стола), when up he crawled (когда = и тут вверх он вполз), caught hold of the golden harp (схватил золотую арфу) and dashed with it towards the door (и бросился с ней к двери). But the harp called out quite loud (но арфа позвала совсем громко): ‘Master (хозяин)! Master!’ and the ogre woke up (и людоед проснулся) just in time to see Jack (как раз вовремя, чтобы увидеть Джека) running off with his harp (убегающего прочь с его арфой).

 

rogue [rəug], careless [`keələs], commence [kə`mens]

 

‘Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman,’ cried out the ogre. ‘I smell him, wife, I smell him.’

‘Do you, my dearie?’ says the ogre’s wife. ‘Then, if it’s that little rogue that stole your gold and the hen that laid the golden eggs he’s sure to have got into the oven.’ And they both rushed to the oven. But Jack wasn’t there, luckily, and the ogre’ s wife said: ‘There you are again with your fee-fi-fo-fum. Why, of course, it’s the boy you caught last night that I’ve just broiled for your breakfast. How forgetful I am, and how careless you are not to know the difference between live and dead after all these years.’

So the ogre sat down to the breakfast and ate it, but every now and then he would mutter: ‘Well, I could have sworn —‘ and he’d get up and search the larder and the cupboards and everything, only, luckily, he didn’t think of the copper.

After breakfast was over, the ogre called out: ‘Wife, wife, bring me my golden harp.’ So she brought it and put it on the table before him. Then he said: ‘Sing!’ and the golden harp sang most beautifully. And it went on singing till the ogre fell asleep, and commenced to snore like thunder.

Then Jack lifted up the copper-lid very quietly and got down like a mouse and crept on hands and knees till he came to the table, when up he crawled, caught hold of the golden harp and dashed with it towards the door. But the harp called out quite loud: ‘Master! Master!’ and the ogre woke up just in time to see Jack running off with his harp.

 

Jack ran as fast as he could (Джек бежал так быстро, как он мог), and the ogre came rushing after (и людоед бежал за ним), and would soon have caught him (и скоро бы поймал его), only Jack had a start (только Джек имел преимущество) and dodged him a bit (и увиливал от него немного) and knew where he was going (и знал, куда он направлялся). When he got to the beanstalk (когда он добрался до бобового стебля) the ogre was not more than twenty yards away (людоед был не больше, чем в двадцати ярдах прочь) when suddenly he saw Jack disappear like (когда внезапно он увидел, как Джек исчезает), and when he came to the end of the road (и когда он добрался до конца дороги) he saw Jack underneath (он увидел Джека внизу) climbing down for dear life (слезающего вниз изо всех сил: «ради дорогой жизни»). Well, the ogre didn’t like trusting himself to such a ladder (людоеду не понравилось доверять себя такой лестнице = людоед не рискнул лезть по такой лестнице), and he stood and waited (и он стоял и ждал), so Jack got another start (так что Джек получил еще одно преимущество). But just then the harp cried out (но прямо тогда арфа воскликнула): ‘Master (хозяин)! Master!’ and the ogre swung himself down (и людоед повис: «подвесил себя вниз»; to swing — качаться, повиснуть) on to the beanstalk (на бобовом стебле), which shook with his weight (который раскачивался от его веса). Down climbs Jack (вниз лезет Джек), and after him climbed the ogre (а за ним лез людоед). By this time (к этому времени) Jack had climbed down and climbed down and climbed down (Джек лез вниз…) till he was very nearly home (пока он не был очень близко к дому). So he called out (так что он позвал): ‘Mother (мать)! Mother! bring me an axe (принеси мне топор), bring me an axe.’ And his mother came rushing out (и его мать прибежала: «пришла несясь» наружу) with the axe in her hand (с топором в своей руке), but when she came to the beanstalk (но когда она добралась до бобового стебля) she stood stock still with fright (она остановилась как вкопанная от страха), for there she saw the ogre (ибо там она увидела людоеда) with his legs just through the clouds (с его ногами прямо через облака = ноги которого высовывались через облака).

But Jack jumped down (но Джек прыгнул вниз) and got hold of the axe (и взял топор) and gave a chop at the beanstalk (и нанес: «дал» удар по бобовому стеблю) which cut it half in two (который /удар/ почти разрубил его пополам: «разрубил на половину на две части»). The ogre felt the beanstalk shake and quiver (людоед почувствовал, что бобовый стебель трясется и дрожит), so he stopped to see what was the matter (так что он остановился посмотреть в чем: «что» было дело). Then Jack gave another chop with the axe (тогда Джек нанес еще один удар топором), and the beanstalk was cut in two (и бобовый стебель был разрублен надвое) and began to topple over (и начал опрокидываться). Then the ogre fell down (тогда людоед упал вниз) and broke his crown (и разбил свою голову: «свой венец»), and the beanstalk came toppling after (и бобовый стебель свалился вслед за ним).

Then Jack showed his mother his golden harp (затем Джек показал своей матери свою золотую арфу), and what with showing that and selling the golden eggs (и из-за показывания этого и продавания = продажи золотых яиц), Jack and his mother became very rich (Джек и его мать стали очень богатыми), and he married a great princess (и он женился на великой принцессе), and they lived happy ever after (и они жили счастливые всю жизнь: «всегда потом»).

 

suddenly [`sAdənlı], quiver [`kwıvə], crown [kraun]

 

Jack ran as fast as he could, and the ogre came rushing after, and would soon have caught him, only Jack had a start and dodged him a bit and knew where he was going. When he got to the beanstalk the ogre was not more than twenty yards away when suddenly he saw Jack disappear, and when he came to the end of the road he saw Jack underneath climbing down for dear life. Well, the ogre didn’t like trusting himself to such a ladder, and he stood and waited, so Jack got another start. But just then the harp cried out: ‘Master! Master!’ and the ogre swung himself down on to the beanstalk, which shook with his weight. Down climbs Jack, and after him climbed the ogre. By this time Jack had climbed down and climbed down and climbed down till he was very nearly home. So he called out: ‘Mother! Mother! bring me an axe, bring me an axe.’ And his mother came rushing out with the axe in her hand, but when she came to the beanstalk she stood stock still with fright, for there she saw the ogre with his legs just through the clouds.

But Jack jumped down and got hold of the axe and gave a chop at the beanstalk which cut it half in two. The ogre felt the beanstalk shake and quiver, so he stopped to see what was the matter. Then Jack gave another chop with the axe, and the beanstalk was cut in two and began to topple over. Then the ogre fell down and broke his crown, and the beanstalk came toppling after.

Then Jack showed his mother his golden harp, and what with showing that and selling the golden eggs, Jack and his mother became very rich, and he married a great princess, and they lived happy ever after.

 

The Story of the Three Little Pigs (История о трех маленьких поросятах)

 

Once upon a time when pigs spoke rhyme (давным-давно когда свиньи говорили в рифму),
And monkeys chewed tobacco (а мартышки жевали табак),
And hens took snuff to make them tough (и курицы брали понюшки, чтобы сделать их = себя жесткими),
And ducks went quack, quack, quack, O! (а утки говорили: «шли» кря-кря-кря…)

THERE was an old sow with three little pigs (жила-была старая свинья с тремя маленькими поросятами), and as she had not enough to keep them (и так как она не имела достаточно, чтобы содержать их), she sent them out to seek their fortune (она выставила их: «послала их наружу», чтобы искать их счастье = чтобы они искали свое счастье). The first that went off (первый, который ушел прочь) met a man with a bundle of straw (встретил человека с пучком соломы), and said to him (и сказал ему):

‘Please, man, give me that straw to build a house (пожалуйста, человек, дай мне эту солому, чтобы построить дом).’

Which the man did (что человек и сделал), and the little pig built a house with it (и маленький поросенок построил дом из нее: «с ней»). Presently came along a wolf (вскоре пришел волк), and knocked at the door (и постучал в дверь), and said (и сказал):

‘Little pig (маленький поросенок), little pig, let me come in (позволь мне войти внутрь).’ To which the pig answered (на что поросенок ответил):

‘No (нет), no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin (/клянусь/ щетиной моего подбородка).’ The wolf then answered to that (волк тогда ответил на это):

‘Then I’ll huff (тогда я дохну), and I’ll puff (и дуну), and I’ll blow your house in (и сломаю твой дом; to blow in — вдуть: «дуть в»).’

So he huffed, and he puffed (так что он дохнул и дунул), and he blew his house in (и он сломал его дом), and ate up the little pig (и съел маленького поросенка).

The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze and said (второй маленький поросенок встретил человека с пучком дрока и сказал):

‘Please, man, give me that furze to build a house (пожалуйста, человек, дай мне этот дрок, чтобы построить дом).’

Which the man did (что человек и сделал), and the pig built his house (и поросенок построил свой дом). Then along came the wolf (затем пришел волк), and said (и сказал):

‘Little pig, little pig, let me come in.’

‘No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.’

 

straw [stro:], knock [nok], furze [fə:z]

 

Once upon a time when pigs spoke rhyme,
And monkeys chewed tobacco,
And hens took snuff to make them tough,
And ducks went quack, quack, quack, O!

THERE was an old sow with three little pigs, and as she had not enough to keep them, she sent them out to seek their fortune. The first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him:

‘Please, man, give me that straw to build a house.’

Which the man did, and the little pig built a house with it. Presently came along a wolf, and knocked at the door, and said:

‘Little pig, little pig, let me come in.’ To which the pig answered:

‘No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.’ The wolf then answered to that:

‘Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.’

So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew his house in, and ate up the little pig.

The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze and said:

‘Please, man, give me that furze to build a house.’

Which the man did, and the pig built his house. Then along came the wolf, and said:

‘Little pig, little pig, let me come in.’

‘No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.’

 

"Then I’ll huff (тогда я дохну), and I’ll puff (и я дуну), and I’ll blow your house in (и сломаю твой дом).’

So he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed, and he huffed (так что он дохнул, и он дунул, и он дунул, и он дохнул), and at last he blew the house down (и наконец разрушил дом), and he ate up the little pig (и съел маленького поросенка).

The third little pig met a man with a load of bricks, and said (третий поросенок встретил человека с грузом кирпичей и сказал):

‘Please, man, give me those bricks to build a house with (пожалуйста, человек, дай мне эти кирпичи, чтобы построить дом из них).’

So the man gave him the bricks, and he built his house with them (так что человек дал ему кирпичи, и он построил свой дом из них). So the wolf came (так что пришел волк), as he did to the other little pigs, and said (как он сделал = как это произошло с другими маленькими поросятами, и сказал):

‘Little pig, little pig, let me come in.’

‘No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.’

‘Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.’

 

"Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.’

So he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed, and he huffed, and at last he blew the house down, and he ate up the little pig.

The third little pig met a man with a load of bricks, and said:

‘Please, man, give me those bricks to build a house with.’

So the man gave him the bricks, and he built his house with them. So the wolf came, as he did to the other little pigs, and said:

‘Little pig, little pig, let me come in.’

‘No, no, by the hair of my chiny chin chin.’

‘Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.’

 

Well, he huffed, and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, and he puffed and huffed (он дохнул и дунул…); but he could not get the house down (но он не мог разрушить дом). When he found that he could not (когда он обнаружил: «нашел», что он не мог; to find — находить), with all his huffing and puffing (со всем своим дыханием и дутьем), blow the house down, he said (разрушить дом, он сказал):

‘Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips (маленький поросенок, я знаю, где есть миленькое поле репы).’

‘Where (где)?’ said the little pig.

‘Oh, in Mr Smith’s Home-field (о, в поле у дома мистера Смита), and if you will be ready tomorrow morning (и если ты будешь готов завтра утром) I will call for you (я зайду за тобой), and we will go together (и мы пойдем вместе), and get some for dinner (и раздобудем немного на обед).’

‘Very well (очень хорошо),’ said the little pig, ‘I will be ready (я буду готов). What time do you mean to go (в котором часу ты намереваешься идти)?’

‘Oh, at six o’clock (в шесть часов).’

Well, the little pig got up at five (маленький поросенок встал в пять), and got the turnips (и раздобыл репу) before the wolf came (прежде чем волк пришел) (which he did about six (чтó он сделал около шести)), who said (который сказал):

‘Little pig, are you ready (маленький поросенок, ты готов)?’

The little pig said: ‘Ready (готов)! I have been and come back again (я был там и вернулся назад снова), and got a nice potful for dinner (и раздобыл симпатичный горшочек /репы/ на обед).’

 

field [fi:ld], turnip [`tə:nıp], potful [`potful]

 

Well, he huffed, and he puffed, and he huffed and he puffed, and he puffed and huffed; but he could not get the house down. When he found that he could not, with all his huffing and puffing, blow the house down, he said:

‘Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips.’

‘Where?’ said the little pig.

‘Oh, in Mr Smith’s Home-field, and if you will be ready tomorrow morning I will call for you, and we will go together, and get some for dinner.’

‘Very well,’ said the little pig, ‘I will be ready. What time do you mean to go?’

‘Oh, at six o’clock.’

Well, the little pig got up at five, and got the turnips before the wolf came (which he did about six), who said:

‘Little pig, are you ready?’

The little pig said: ‘Ready! I have been and come back again, and got a nice potful for dinner.’

 

The wolf felt very angry at this (волк почувствовал себя очень сердитым при этом; to feel — чувствовать), but thought that he would be up to the little pig (но подумал, что он бы добрался до маленького поросенка) somehow or other (так или иначе), so he said (так что он сказал):

‘Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple tree (маленький поросенок, я знаю, где есть симпатичное яблоневое дерево).’

‘Where?’ said the pig.

‘Down at Merry-garden (в Мерри-гарден = в Веселом саду),’ replied the wolf (ответил волк), ‘and if you will not deceive me (и если ты не обманешь меня) I will come for you at five o’clock tomorrow (я зайду за тобой в пять часов завтра) and get some apples (и раздобудем немного яблок).’

Well, the little pig bustled up the next morning at four o’clock (маленький поросенок вскочил на следующее утро в четыре часа; to bustle — торопиться, спешить; суетиться), and went off for the apples (и пошел на улицу: «наружу» за яблоками), hoping to get back before the wolf came (надеясь вернуться до того, как волк придет); but he had further to go (но ему надо было идти дальше), and had to climb the tree (и надо было лезть на дерево), so that just as he was coming down from it (так что как раз, когда он спускался с него), he saw the wolf coming (он увидел волка приходящего = как подходит волк), which (чтó), as you may suppose (как вы можете предположить), frightened him very much (испугало его очень сильно). When the wolf came up he said (когда волк подошел, он сказал):

‘Little pig, what (что)! are you here before me (ты здесь прежде меня)? Are they nice apples (они вкусные: «приятные» яблоки)?’

‘Yes, very (да, очень),’ said the little pig. ‘I will throw you down one (я сброшу тебе вниз одно).’

And he threw it so far (и он бросил его так далеко), that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up (что, пока волк ушел поднять его), the little pig jumped down and ran home (маленький поросенок прыгнул вниз и побежал домой). The next day the wolf came again (на следующий день волк пришел снова), and said to the little pig (и сказал маленькому поросенку):

‘Little pig, there is a fair at Shanklin this afternoon (в Шэнклине ярмарка сегодня днем), will you go (хочешь пойти)?’

‘Oh yes (о да),’ said the pig, ‘I will go (я пойду); what time shall you be ready (в котором часу ты будешь готов)?’

 

somehow [`sAmhau], suppose [sə`pəuz]

 

The wolf felt very angry at this, but thought that he would be up to the little pig somehow or other, so he said:

‘Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple tree.’

‘Where?’ said the pig.

‘Down at Merry-garden,’ replied the wolf, ‘and if you will not deceive me I will come for you at five o’clock tomorrow and get some apples.’

Well, the little pig bustled up the next morning at four o’clock, and went off for the apples, hoping to get back before the wolf came; but he had further to go, and had to climb the tree, so that just as he was coming down from it, he saw the wolf coming, which, as you may suppose, frightened him very much. When the wolf came up he said:

‘Little pig, what! are you here before me? Are they nice apples?’

‘Yes, very,’ said the little pig. ‘I will throw you down one.’

And he threw it so far, that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up, the little pig jumped down and ran home. The next day the wolf came again, and said to the little pig:

‘Little pig, there is a fair at Shanklin this afternoon, will you go?’

‘Oh yes,’ said the pig, ‘I will go; what time shall you be ready?’

 

‘At three (в три),’ said the wolf. So the little pig went off before the time as usual (так что маленький поросенок пошел раньше времени, как обычно), and got to the fair (и пришел на ярмарку), and bought a butter-churn (и купил маслобойку), which he was going home with (с которой он шел домой), when he saw the wolf coming (когда он увидел волка приходящего = что идет волк). Then he could not tell what to do (тогда он не мог сказать, что делать). So he got into the churn to hide (так что он забрался в маслобойку, чтобы спрятаться), and by so doing turned it round (и делая так, перевернул ее: «повернул ее вокруг»), and it rolled down the hill (и она скатилась вниз по холму) with the pig in it (с поросенком в ней), which frightened the wolf so much (что испугало волка так сильно: «много»), that he ran home without going to the fair (что он побежал домой, без того чтобы идти на ярмарку = и не пошел на ярмарку). He went to the little pig’s house (он пошел к дому маленького поросенка), and told him how frightened he had been (и рассказал ему, как он был напуган) by a great round thing (большой круглой штукой) which came down the hill past him (которая скатилась: «пришла» вниз по холму за ним). Then the little pig said (тогда маленький поросенок сказал):

‘Hah, I frightened you, then (я напугал тебя тогда = значит). I had been to the fair (я был на ярмарке) and bought a butter-churn (и купил маслобойку), and when I saw you (и когда я увидел тебя), I got into it (я забрался в нее), and rolled down the hill (и скатился вниз с холма).’

Then the wolf was very angry indeed (тогда волк был очень рассержен действительно = не на шутку), and declared (и объявил) he would eat up the little pig (что он точно съест маленького поросенка), and that he would get down the chimney after him (и что он спустится вниз по трубе за ним). When the little pig saw what he was about (когда маленький поросенок увидел, что он собирается делать: «чего он был около»), he hung on the pot full of water (он повесил котелок, полный воды), and made up a blazing fire (и сделал = развел полыхающий огонь), and, just as the wolf was coming down (и прямо когда волк спускался: «был идущий» вниз), took off the cover (снял прочь крышку), and in fell the wolf (и внутрь упал волк); so the little pig put on the cover again in an instant (и маленький поросенок положил крышку снова в мгновение), boiled him up (сварил его), and ate him for supper (и съел его на ужин), and lived happy ever afterwards (и жил счастливо всегда впоследствии).

 

butter-churn [`bAtətSə:n], blazing [`bleızıŋ], declare [dık`leə]

 

‘At three,’ said the wolf. So the little pig went off before the time as usual, and got to the fair, and bought a butter-churn, which he was going home with, when he saw the wolf coming. Then he could not tell what to do. So he got into the churn to hide, and by so doing turned it round, and it rolled down the hill with the pig in it, which frightened the wolf so much, that he ran home without going to the fair. He went to the little pig’s house, and told him how frightened he had been by a great round thing which came down the hill past him. Then the little pig said:

‘Hah, I frightened you, then. I had been to the fair and bought a butter-churn, and when I saw you, I got into it, and rolled down the hill.’

Then the wolf was very angry indeed, and declared he would eat up the little pig, and that he would get down the chimney after him. When the little pig saw what he was about, he hung on the pot full of water, and made up a blazing fire, and, just as the wolf was coming down, took off the cover, and in fell the wolf; so the little pig put on the cover again in an instant, boiled him up, and ate him for supper, and lived happy ever afterwards.

 

The Master And His Pupil (Мастер и его ученик)

 

THERE was once a very learned man (там был = жил-был однажды очень ученый человек) in the north country (в северной стране) who knew all the languages under the sun (который знал все языки под солнцем), and who was acquainted with all the mysteries of creation (и который был знаком со всеми тайнами творения). He had one big book (у него была одна большая книга) bound in black calf (переплетенная черным пергаментом) and clasped with iron (и застегнутая железом), and with iron corners (и с железными углами), and chained to a table (и прикрепленная цепью: «прицепленная» к столу) which was made fast to the floor (который был приделан прочно к полу); and when he read out of this book (и когда он читал из этой книги), he unlocked it with an iron key (он отпирал ее железным ключом), and none but he read from it (и никто, кроме него, не читал из нее), for it contained all the secrets of the spiritual world (ибо она содержала все тайны духовного мира). It told how many angels there were in heaven (она рассказывала, сколько ангелов было в небесах): and how they marched in their ranks (и как они маршировали в своих рядах), and sang in their quires (и пели в своих хорах), and what were their several functions (и какой у них был ряд обязанностей; several — несколько, ряд), and what was the name of each great angel of might (и каково было имя каждого великого ангела силы). And it told of the demons (и она рассказывала о демонах), how many of them there were (сколько их там было), and what were their several powers (и какими силами/возможностями они обладали), and their labours (и их труды = занятия), and their names (и их имена), and how they might be summoned (и как они могли быть призваны), and how tasks might be imposed on them (и как задания могли быть возложены на них), and how they might be chained to be as slaves to man (и как они могли быть скованы, чтобы быть как рабы для человека).

Now the master had a pupil (и вот, у мастера был ученик) who was but a foolish lad (который был всего лишь глупый парень), and he acted as servant to the great master (и он действовал как слуга = был слугой великому мастеру), but never was he suffered (но никогда не был он допущен) to look into the black book (заглянуть в черную книгу), hardly to enter the private room (и даже зайти в тайную комнату).

 

acquainted [ə`kweıntıd], quire [kwaıə], private [`praıvıt]

 

THERE was once a very learned man in the north country who knew all the languages under the sun, and who was acquainted with all the mysteries of creation. He had one big book bound in black calf and clasped with iron, and with iron corners, and chained to a table which was made fast to the floor; and when he read out of this book, he unlocked it with an iron key, and none but he read from it, for it contained all the secrets of the spiritual world. It told how many angels there were in heaven: and how they marched in their ranks, and sang in their quires, and what were their several functions, and what was the name of each great angel of might. And it told of the demons, how many of them there were, and what were their several powers, and their labours, and their names, and how they might be summoned, and how tasks might be imposed on them, and how they might be chained to be as slaves to man.

Now the master had a pupil who was but a foolish lad, and he acted as servant to the great master, but never was he suffered to look into the black book, hardly to enter the private room.

 

One day the master was out (однажды: «один день» мастер был не дома: «был снаружи»), and then the lad (и тогда парень), as curious as could be (такой любопытный, как мог быть = будучи весьма любопытным), hurried to the chamber (поспешил в комнату) where his master kept his wondrous apparatus (где его хозяин хранил свой чудесный аппарат) for changing copper into silver (для превращения меди в серебро), and where was his mirror (и где было его зеркало) in which he could see (в котором он мог видеть) all that was passing in the world (все, что происходило в мире), and where was the shell (и где была раковина) which when held to his ear (которая, когда держится к уху = если поднести ее к уху) whispered all the words (шептала все слова) that were being spoken (которые произносились) by any one (любым одним = кем бы то ни было) the master desired to know about (о ком мастер желал знать). The lad tried in vain with the crucibles (парень попытался напрасно тиглем) to turn copper and lead into gold and silver (превратить медь и свинец в золото и серебро) — he looked long and vainly (он смотрел долго и тщетно) into the mirror (в зеркало); smoke and clouds passed over it (дым и облака прошли над ним /над зеркалом/), but he saw nothing plain (но он не видел ничего ясного), and the shell to his ear (и раковина /поднесенная/ к его уху) produced only indistinct murmurings (производила только неразборчивые бормотания), like the breaking of distant seas (как дробление дальних волн = шум прибоя) on an unknown shore (о неизвестный берег).

‘I can do nothing (я не могу ничего сделать),’ he said, ‘as I don’t know the right words to utter (так как я не знаю правильные слова, чтобы произнести), and they are locked up in yon book (и они заперты в той книге).’ He looked round, and, see (он посмотрел вокруг = осмотрелся — и глядь)! the book was unfastened (книга была расстегнута); the master had forgotten to lock it before he went out (мастер забыл запереть ее, прежде чем ушел). The boy rushed to it (мальчик кинулся к ней) and unclosed the volume (и раскрыл том). It was written with red and black ink (он был написан красными и черными чернилами), and much of it he could not understand (и многое из него он не мог понять); but he put his finger on a line (но он положил палец на строчку) and spelled it through (и прочел ее по складам целиком).

 

wondrous [`wAndrəs], desire [dı`zaıə], unfastened [An`fa:sənd]

 

One day the master was out, and then the lad, as curious as could be, hurried to the chamber where his master kept his wondrous apparatus for changing copper into silver, and where was his mirror in which he could see all that was passing in the world, and where was the shell which when held to his ear whispered all the words that were being spoken by any one the master desired to know about. The lad tried in vain with the crucibles to turn copper and lead into gold and silver — he looked long and vainly into the mirror; smoke and clouds passed over it, but he saw nothing plain, and the shell to his ear produced only indistinct murmurings, like the breaking of distant seas on an unknown shore.