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English Fairy Tales / Английские сказки. Elementary
Сергей Александрович Матвеев
Карманное чтение на английском языке
Книга включает самые известные волшебные и бытовые английские сказки, среди которых «Том Тит Тот», «Джек и бобовый стебель» и др. Их героями становятся великаны, короли и простые люди, хитрецы и глупцы, эльфы и даже животные.
Сказки предназначены для начинающих изучать английский язык (уровень Elementary). В конце книги дается англо-русский словарь.

English Fairy Tales / Английские сказки. Elementary


Иллюстрации М.М. Салтыкова

© Матвеев С.А., Лебедева Е.А., Дмитриева К.Г., адаптация текста
© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2019

Tom Tit Tot


Once upon a time, there was a woman[1 - Once upon a time, there was a woman – Жила-была женщина], and she baked five pies. And when they came out of the oven, they were very hard to eat. So she says to her daughter:
“Daughter, put the pies on the shelf and leave them there a little, and they will come again[2 - they will come again – они подойдут снова].” That is[3 - that is – то есть], the crust will become softer.
But the girl says to herself, “Well, if they come again, I will eat them now.” And she ate them all.
Well, when supper-time came, the woman said, “Go and get one of the pies. I think they came again now.”
The girl went and looked, and there were only dishes. So she comes back and says, “No, they did not come again.”
“No?” says the mother.
“No,” says the daughter.
“Well,” said the woman, “I’ll[4 - I’ll = I shall, I will] eat one for supper.”
“But you can’t[5 - can’t = cannot] if they didn’t[6 - didn’t = did not] come,” said the girl.
“But I can,” says she. “Go you and bring the best pie.”
“Best or worst,” says the girl, “I ate them all, and you can’t eat the pie till it comes again.”
Well, the woman was very angry, and she took her spinning to the door, and she began to sing:
“My daughter ate five, five pies today.
My daughter ate five, five pies today.”
The king was coming down the street, and he heard her song. So he stopped and said:
“What were you singing, my good woman?”
The woman told him these other words instead of that[7 - instead of that – вместо того]:
“My daughter span five, five skeins today.
My daughter span five, five skeins today.”
“Oh!” said the king, “I never heard of anyone who could do that.” Then he said, “Listen, I want a wife, and I’ll marry your daughter. During eleven months of the year, she will have everything that she wants; but the last month of the year she will spin five skeins every day, and if she can’t, I shall kill her.”
“All right,” says the woman; she thought only about a grand marriage. Her daughter was very happy. “I’ll marry a king!” she thought. “And in eleven months the king will forget about skeins.”
Well, so they were married. And for eleven months the girl had all she liked to eat, all the dresses she liked to wear, and all the friends she liked.
When the time came, she began to think about the skeins. But the king did not say any word about them, and she decided that he forgot them.
However, the last day of the last month he takes her to a new room. There was nothing in it but a spinning-wheel and a stool. And he says, “Now, my dear, I’ll shut you here tomorrow with some food and some flax, and if you do not spin five skeins by the night, your head will be cut[8 - your head will be cut – тебе отрубят голову].” And he went away.
The girl was very frightened; she didn’t know how to spin, and what will she show the king tomorrow? Nobody will come to help her. She sat down on a stool in the kitchen and began to cry.
Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. She stood up and opened it, and she saw a small black impet with a long tail. He looked at her and asked:
“Why are you crying?”
“Why do you ask?” says she.
“Tell me,” said he, “why are you crying.”
And he turned his tail around.
So the poor girl told him about the pies and the skeins and everything.
“I’ll help you,” says the little black impet, “I’ll come to your window every morning and take the flax and bring it ready at night.”
“What do you want for that?” says she.
He said, “I’ll give you three guesses every night to guess my name, and if you don’t guess it before the end of the month, you will be mine[9 - you will be mine – ты будешь моею].”
“Well,” she thought, “I’ll guess his name for sure[10 - for sure – наверняка]”. “All right,” says she, “I agree.”
The next day, her husband took her into the room, and there was the flax and her food.
“This is the flax,” says he, “and if you don’t spin it this night, you’ll lose your head.” And then he went out and locked the door.
So the girl heard a knock near the window. She stood up and opened it, and there was the little old impet.
“Where’s the flax?” says he.
“Here it is,” says she. And she gave it to him.
When the evening came, the knock came again to the window. The girl stood up and opened it, and there was the little old impet with five skeins of flax on his arm.
“Here it is,” says he, and he gave it to her.
“Now, what’s my name?” says he.
“Is that Bill?” says she.
“No, it isn’t!” says he, and he twirled his tail.
“Is that Ned?” says she.
“No, it isn’t!” says he, and he twirled his tail.
“Well, is that Mark?” says she.
“No, it isn’t!” says he, and he twirled his tail harder and flew away.
When her husband came in, there were the five skeins ready for him. “Well, I shan’t[11 - shan’t = shall not] kill you tonight, my dear,” says he; “you’ll have your food and your flax in the morning,” says he and goes away.
Every day he brought the flax and the food, and every day that little black impet came mornings and evenings. And all the day the girl was trying to guess his name in order to[12 - in order to – чтобы] say it when the impet came at night. But she did not say the right name. By the end of the month, the impet began to look very angrily, and twirled his tail faster and faster.
Finally, the last day came. The impet came at night with the five skeins and said:
“Do you know my name?”
“Is that Nicodemus[13 - Nicodemus – Никодим]?” says she.
“No, it isn’t,” he says.
“Is that Sammle[14 - Sammle – Сэммл]?” says she.
“No, it isn’t,” he says.
“Is that Methusalem[15 - Methusalem – Мафусаил]?” says she.
“No, no, no!” he says.
Then he looks at her and says: “Woman, there’s only tomorrow night, and then you’ll be mine!” And he flew away.
She was very afraid. But the king came. When he sees the five skeins, he says:
“Well, my dear, if I see the skeins ready tomorrow night, I shan’t kill you. And I’ll have supper here.” So he brought supper and another stool for him, and they sat down.
Suddenly, he stops and begins to laugh.
“What’s up?[16 - What’s up? – В чём дело?]“ says she.
“Oh,” says he, “I was hunting today, and I went very far in the wood. And I heard a song. So I got off[17 - I got off – я слез] my horse, and I went forward. I saw a funny little black man. He had a little spinning-wheel, and he was spinning wonderfully fast, and he was twirling his tail. And he was singing:
“Nimmy nimmy not,
My name’s Tom Tit Tot.”
When the girl heard this, she became very happy, but she didn’t say a word.
Next day, that little impet looked very maliceful when he came for the flax. And when the night came, she heard the knock. She opened the window, and the impet came into the room. He was grinning, and his tail was twirling very fast.
“What’s my name?” he asked when he was giving her the skeins.
“Is that Solomon[18 - Solomon – Соломон]?” she says.
“No, it isn’t,” he said and came further into the room.
“Well, is that Zebedee[19 - Zebedee – Зеведей]?” says she again.
“No, it isn’t,” says the impet. And then he laughed and twirled his tail like a wheel.
“Take time[20 - Take time – Не торопись], woman,” he says, “next guess, and you’re mine.” And he lifted his black hands.
The girl smiled and said:
“NIMMY NIMMY NOT,
YOUR NAME’S TOM TIT TOT!”
When the impet heard her, he cried awfully and flew away into the dark, and she never saw him any more.

How Jack Went to Seek His Fortune[21 - How Jack Went to Seek His Fortune – Как Джек счастья искал]
Once on a time, there was a boy named Jack[22 - named Jack – по имени Джек], and one morning he decided to go and seek his fortune.
He did not go very far, and he met a cat.
“Where are you going, Jack?” said the cat.
“I am going to seek my fortune.”
“May I go with you?”
“Yes,” said Jack, “the more the merrier[23 - the more the merrier – чем больше, тем веселее].”
So on they went.[24 - So on they went. – И они пошли дальше.]
They went a little further, and they met a dog.
“Where are you going, Jack?” said the dog.
“I am going to seek my fortune.”
“May I go with you?”
“Yes,” said Jack, “the more the merrier.”
So on they went.
They went a little further, and they met a goat.
“Where are you going, Jack?” said the goat.
“I am going to seek my fortune.”
“May I go with you?”
“Yes,” said Jack, “the more the merrier.”
So on they went.
They went a little further, and they met a bull.
“Where are you going, Jack?” said the bull.
“I am going to seek my fortune.”
“May I go with you?”
“Yes,” said Jack, “the more the merrier.”
So on they went.
They went a little further, and they met a rooster.
“Where are you going, Jack?” said the rooster.
“I am going to seek my fortune.”
“May I go with you?”
“Yes,” said Jack, “the more the merrier.”
So on they went.
The day was over, and they began to think of some place where they could spend the night. They found a house, and Jack told his friends to keep still[25 - told his friends to keep still – сказал своим друзьям, чтобы они не шумели] while he went up and looked in through the window[26 - looked in through the window – заглянул в окно]. There were some robbers; they were counting their money. Then Jack went back and told his friends to wait till he gave the word[27 - to wait till he gave the word – ждать, пока он не даст сигнал] 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 all together they made such a dreadful noise that it frightened the robbers, and they ran away.
And then our friends came in. Jack was afraid that the robbers could come back in the night. So when it came time to go to bed, he put the cat in the chair, and he put the dog under the table, and he put the goat upstairs, and he put the bull down cellar, and the rooster flew up on to the roof[28 - flew up on to the roof – взлетел на крышу], and Jack went to bed.
The robbers saw that it was all dark, and they sent one man back to the house to look after[29 - look after – присмотреть] the money. But 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 chair, and there was an old woman; she was knitting, and she stuck her knitting-needles into me.” That was the cat, you know.
“Then 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.
“Then I started to go upstairs, and there was a man up there; he was threshing, and he knocked me down with his flail.” That was the goat, you know.
“Then I started to go down cellar, and there was a man down there; he was chopping wood, and he knocked me up with his axe.” That was the bull, you know.
“But the most dreadful thing was that little boy on top of the house. He was crying, ‘Chuck him up[30 - Chuck him up! – Бросайте его вверх!] to me-e! Chuck him up to me-e!’” Of course[31 - of course – конечно] that was the cock-a-doodle-do[32 - cock-a-doodle-do – ку-ка-ре-ку].

Johnny-Cake
Once upon a time, there was an old man. He lived with an old woman and a little boy. One morning, the old woman made a Johnny-cake and put it in the oven to bake.
“Watch the Johnny-cake, and I will go to work in the garden,” she said to the little boy. Then the old man and the old woman went out.
But the little boy didn’t watch the Johnny-cake, and suddenly, he heard a noise. He looked up and saw how the oven door opened. Out of the oven[33 - Out of the oven – Из печи] jumped Johnny-cake and went towards the door of the house.
“Stop, stop!” cried the little boy, but Johnny-cake was very quick and ran away. The boy called his parents for help, but they could not catch Johnny-cake. Soon, he was out of sight[34 - he was out of sight – он скрылся из виду].
Johnny-cake was going along the road, and soon he came to two well-diggers who were digging a well. They saw him and asked, “Where are you going, Johnny-cake?”
He said, “I outran an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”
“Really? You can, can you? We’ll see!” they said and threw down their picks and ran after him[35 - ran after him – погнались за ним]. But they could not catch him, and soon they sat down by the road to rest.
Johnny-cake was going along the road, and soon he came to two ditchdiggers who were digging a ditch.
“Where are you going, Johnny-cake?” said they.
He said, “I outran an old man, and an old woman, and a little boy, and two well-diggers, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”
“You can, can you? We’ll see!” they said, and threw down their spades and ran after him. But Johnny-cake soon was very quick, and when they saw that they could never catch him, they sat down to rest.
Johnny-cake was going along the road, and soon he came to a bear. The bear said, “Where are you going, Johnny-cake?”
He said, “I outran an old man, and an old woman and a little boy, two well-diggers and two ditch-diggers, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”
“You can, can you?” growled the bear, “We’ll see!” and tried to catch Johnnycake. But Johnny-cake did not stop and ran away. The bear was very tired and lay down to rest.
Johnny-cake was going along the road, and he came to a wolf. The wolf said, “Where are you going, Johnny-cake?”
He said, “I outran an old man, an old woman, a little boy, two well-diggers, two ditch-diggers, and a bear, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”
“You can, can you?” snarled the wolf. “We’ll see!” And he began to run after Johnny-cake, but Johnny-cake was so quick that the wolf saw that there was no hope to catch him, and he lay down to rest.
Johnny-cake was going along the road, and soon he came to a fox that was lying quietly near the fence. The fox asked him gently, “Where are you going, Johnny-cake?”
He said, “I outran an old man, an old woman, a little boy, two well-diggers, two ditch-diggers, a bear, and a wolf, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”
The fox said, “I can’t hear you, Johnny-cake, please come a little closer.”
Johnny-cake stopped and went a little closer and said in a very loud voice, ”I outran an old man, an old woman, a little boy, two well-diggers, two ditchdiggers, a bear, and a wolf, and I can outrun you too-o-o!”
“Oh, I can’t hear you; can you come a little closer?” said the fox in a weak voice.
Johnny-cake came closer and screamed, “I OUTRAN AN OLD MAN, AN OLD WOMAN, A LITTLE BOY, TWO WELLDIGGERS, TWO DITCH-DIGGERS, A BEAR, AND A WOLF, AND I CAN OUTRUN YOU TOO-O-O!!!!”
“You can, can you?” yelped the fox and caught Johnny-cake with his paw and threw him in his sharp teeth.

The Mouse and the Cat
The Mouse went to visit the Cat. The Cat was sitting behind the hall door and spinning.
MOUSE. What are you doing, my lady, my lady,
What are you doing, my lady?
CAT. I’m spinning old breeches, my dear, my dear,
I’m spinning old breeches, my dear.
MOUSE. I was sweeping my room, my lady, my lady,
I was sweeping my room, my lady.
CAT. It will be cleaner, my dear, my dear,
It will be cleaner, my dear.
MOUSE. I found a silver sixpence, my lady, my lady,
I found a silver sixpence, my lady.
CAT. You’ll be richer, my dear, my dear,
You’ll be richer, my dear.
MOUSE. I went to the market, my lady, my lady,
I went to the market, my lady.
CAT. You went so far, my dear, my dear,
You went so far, my dear.
MOUSE. I bought me a pudding, my lady, my lady,
I bought me a pudding, my lady.
CAT. You’ll have more food, my dear, my dear,
You’ll have more food, my dear.
MOUSE. I put it in the window to cool, my lady,
I put it in the window to cool.
CAT. You’ll eat it faster, my dear, my dear,
You’ll eat it faster, my dear.
MOUSE. The cat came and ate it, my lady, my lady,
The cat came and ate it, my lady.
CAT. And I’ll eat you too, my dear, my dear,
And I’ll eat you too, my dear.

Jack the Buttermilk
Jack was a boy who sold buttermilk. One day he met a witch. She asked him to give her some of his buttermilk for free[36 - for free – бесплатно]. “If you don’t give me some buttermilk,” said the witch, “I’ll put you into my bag and carry away[37 - carry away – уносить]”. Jack refused to give the witch any of his buttermilk, so the witch put him into a bag that she carried over her shoulders.
She walked home with him. But on her way she suddenly remembered that she forgot a pot of fat that she bought in the town. Jack was very heavy, and the witch did not want to carry him back to the town, so she asked some men who were brushing the hedge by the road to take care[38 - take care – позаботиться, присмотреть] of her bag till she came back.
When the witch went away, Jack cried to the men, “If you take me out[39 - If you take me out – Если вы вытащите] of this bag and fill it full of thorns[40 - fill it full of thorns – наполните её колючками], I will give you some of my buttermilk.”
So the men took Jack out of the bag and filled it with thorns, and then Jack gave them some buttermilk and ran home.
When the witch came back from town, she picked up her bag and walked home. But the thorns began to prick her back. When she came home, she emptied the bag on a clean white table. But when she found that there was nothing in the bag but thorns, she was very angry and said, “I’ll catch you tomorrow, Jack, and I’ll boil you.”
Next day she met Jack again and asked him for some buttermilk and told him, “If you do not give me some buttermilk, I’ll put you into the bag again.” But Jack said, “I’ll give you no buttermilk.” So the witch put him into her bag, and again she remembered that she forgot something in the town.
This time she left the bag with some men who were mending the road.
When the witch went away, Jack cried to the men, “If you will take me out and fill this bag full of stones, I will give you some of my buttermilk.”
Then the men took Jack out of the bag, and he gave them the buttermilk.
When the witch came back from town, she picked up her bag and walked home. But the bag was very heavy. So she chuckled and said, “Indeed, Jack, you must eat less.”
When she came home, she emptied the bag on the white table again. But when she saw the stones, she was very angry and cried, “I swear, Jack, that I’ll boil you when I catch you!”
Next day she met Jack again and asked for some buttermilk. But Jack said, “No,” again, so she put him into her bag and went straight home with him and threw him out on the white table.
When she did this, she saw she did not have enough water to boil the boy. So she put Jack back in the bag and went away. But she forgot to tie the bag. So while she was away, Jack crept out of it, opened all the cupboards in the house, and filled the bag with all the pots that he could find. After that he went away, and soon he was safely home.
When the witch came back, she emptied the bag on the table again and broke all the pots that she had. After this she never caught Jack any more.

Teeny-Tiny
Once upon a time, there was a teeny-tiny woman. She lived in a teeny-tiny house in a teeny-tiny village. Now, one day this teeny-tiny woman put on her teeny-tiny bonnet and went out of her teeny-tiny house to take a teeny-tiny walk. And when this teeny-tiny woman went a teeny-tiny way, she came to a teeny-tiny gate. So the teeny-tiny woman opened the teeny-tiny gate and went into a teeny-tiny churchyard. And when this teeny-tiny woman got into the teeny-tiny churchyard, she saw a teeny-tiny bone on a teeny-tiny grave, and the teeny-tiny woman said to her teeny-tiny self, “This teeny-tiny bone will make me some teeny-tiny soup for my teeny-tiny supper.” So the teeny-tiny woman put the teeny-tiny bone into her teeny-tiny pocket and went home to her teeny-tiny house.
Now, when the teeny-tiny woman got home to her teeny-tiny house, she was a teeny-tiny bit tired. So she went up her teeny-tiny stairs to her teeny-tiny bed and put the teeny-tiny bone into a teeny-tiny cupboard. And when this teeny-tiny woman was teeny-tiny sleeping, she was awakened[41 - she was awakened – она была разбужена] by a teeny-tiny voice from the teeny-tiny cupboard which said, “Give me my bone!”
And this teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny frightened, so she hid her teeny-tiny head under the teeny-tiny clothes and went to sleep again. And when she was again teeny-tiny sleeping, the teeny-tiny voice again cried out from the teeny-tiny cupboard a teeny-tiny louder, “Give me my bone!”
The teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny bit more frightened, so she hid her teeny-tiny head a teeny-tiny further under the teeny-tiny clothes. And when she was again teeny-tiny sleeping, the teeny-tiny voice from the teeny-tiny cupboard said again a teeny-tiny louder, “Give me my bone!”
And this teeny-tiny woman was a teeny-tiny bit more frightened, but she put her teeny-tiny head out[42 - she put her head out – она высунула голову] of the teeny-tiny clothes and said in her loudest teeny-tiny voice, “TAKE IT!”

The Glass Ball
There was once a woman who had two daughters. She gave each of them a beautiful glass ball, and they liked them very much.
One day, they were playing together, and one of the girls tossed her ball over the wall into the next garden. The house in that garden belonged to a fox who never talked to his neighbours.
The girl that tossed her ball over the wall was afraid of this fox, but she liked the glass ball very much, so she said to herself, “I must not lose my ball and I’ll get it back.[43 - I’ll get it back. – Я верну его.]”
So she bravely walked to the fox’s house, but she knocked at the door very timidly. The fox opened the door, and the girl told him how she lost her glass ball in his garden.
“You can have your ball,” said the fox, “if you become my housekeeper for a year.”
The girl agreed to live in the fox’s house for a year. She did not see the fox very often because he went out early every morning and came back late at night.
Now, before the fox went out as usual[44 - as usual – как обычно] one morning, he called the girl to him and said to her, “I am going away for a little time[45 - for a little time – ненадолго]. While I am away,[46 - While I am away – Пока меня не будет] there are five things you must not do: you must not wash up the dishes or sweep the floor or dust the chairs or look into the cupboard, and you must not look under my bed.”
And the fox went away. But the girl decided to disobey him, and she said to herself, “I will see what happens if I don’t do as he tells me.”
So first of all, she washed up the dishes. Suddenly, a great bag full of copper fell down before her.
“Very good,” said the girl.
Next, she swept the floor. This time[47 - This time – На этот раз], a great bag full of silver fell down before her.
“Better still[48 - Better still – Ещё лучше],” said the girl.
Next, she dusted the chairs when a great bag full of gold fell down before her.
“That’s just what I want,” said the girl.
Next, she looked into the cupboard, and there was her glass ball!
“Oh, you don’t know how glad I am,” she said and clapped her hands.
Finally, she went upstairs and looked under the bed, and there was the fox! She was awfully frightened and ran downstairs, through the garden and up the town street. She came to a lane, and at the top of the lane she met a horse and said to the horse:
“Horse of mine, horse of thine[49 - thine = yours],
If you meet a fox today,
Do not tell I passed this way.”
And the horse neighed and said, “I will not.”
A little further she met a cow and said:
“Cow of mine, cow of thine,
If you meet a fox today,
Do not tell I passed this way.”
And the cow mooed and said, “I will not.”
A little further she met a mule and said:
“Mule of mine, mule of thine,
If you meet a fox today,
Do not tell I passed this way.”
And the mule brayed and said, “I will not.”
A little further she met a dog and said:
“Dog of mine, dog of thine,
If you meet a fox today,
Do not tell I passed this way.”
And the dog barked and said, “I will not.”
A little further on she met a cat and said:
“Cat of mine, cat of thine,
If you meet a fox today,
Do not tell I passed this way.”
And the cat mewed and said, “I will not.”
Finally, she met an owl and said:
“Owl of mine, owl of thine,
If you meet a fox today,
Do not tell I passed this way.”
And the owl hooted and said, “I will not.”
The fox followed the girl, and now he came to the same lane where he met the horse and sang to him with such a lovely voice:
“Horse of mine, horse of thine,
Did you meet a maid of mine?”
And the horse said, “She passed me by.[50 - She passed me by. – Она прошла мимо меня.]”
Next he met the same cow and sang to her:
“Cow of mine, cow of thine,
Did you meet a maid of mine?”
And the cow said, “She passed me by.”
A little further on he met the same mule and sang:
“Mule of mine, mule of thine,
Did you meet a maid of mine?”
And the mule said, “She passed me by.”
A little further he met the same dog and sang:
“Dog of mine, dog of thine,
Did you meet a maid of mine?”
And the dog said, “She passed me by.”
A little further he met the same cat and sang:
“Cat of mine, cat of thine,
Did you meet a maid of mine?”
And the cat said, “She passed me by.”
Finally, he met the owl and sang:
“Owl of mine, owl of thine,
Did you meet a maid of mine?”
And the owl said, “She passed me by.”
“Which way did she go?” said the fox.
The owl answered, “You must go over that gate[51 - go over that gate – пройти через эти ворота] and across that field, and you will find her behind the wood.”
The fox ran away, over the gate and across the field and into the wood, but he did not find neither the girl nor the glass ball.

The Three Sillies
Once upon a time, there was a farmer and his wife who had one daughter. And a gentleman courted this girl. He came every evening to see her and stopped to supper at the farmhouse, and the daughter went down into the cellar to bring the beer for supper. So one evening she went down to bring the beer, and she saw a mallet that was hanging on the ceiling. She did not notice it before. She thought it was very dangerous to have that mallet there, and she said to herself, “If we marry, and we have a son, and he grows up and comes down into the cellar to bring the beer, the mallet will fall on his head and kill him. How awful!” And she sat down and began to cry.
Her father and the gentleman were wondering upstairs where the girl disappeared, and her mother went down to look for[52 - look for – искать] her. She saw that the girl was sitting and crying, and the beer was running all over the floor[53 - was running all over the floor – растекалось по полу].
“What’s the matter?” said her mother.
“Oh, mother!” says she. “Look at that horrid mallet! If we marry, and we have a son, and he grows up and comes down into the cellar to bring the beer, the mallet will fall on his head and kill him. How awful! How awful!”
“Dear, dear! That’s really terrible!” said the mother, and she sat down and started to cry, too. Then the father began to wonder that they didn’t come back, and he went down into the cellar. They were sitting and crying, and the beer was running all over the floor.
“What’s the matter?” says he.
“Oh,” says the mother, “look at that horrid mallet. Just think: if our daughter and her sweetheart marry, and they have a son, and he grows up and comes down into the cellar to bring the beer, the mallet will fall on his head and kill him. How awful! How awful!”
“Dear, dear, dear! It is so dreadful!” said the father, and he sat down and started to cry, too.
Now the gentleman went down into the cellar too, to see what they were doing there. They three were sitting and crying side by side[54 - side by side – бок о бок], and the beer was running all over the floor. And he ran and turned the tap.


Then he said, “What are you three doing? Why are you sitting and crying?”
“Oh!” says the father, “look at that horrid mallet! Just think: if you and our daughter marry, and you have a son, and he grows up and comes down into the cellar to bring the beer, the mallet will fall on his head and kill him. How awful! How awful!” And then they all started to cry worse than before.
But the gentleman smiled and took the mallet, and then he said, “I travelled many miles, and I never met such big sillies as you three before. Now I shall start my travels again, and when I can find three bigger sillies than you three, then I’ll come back and marry your daughter.” So he wished them good-bye and went away. The three sillies were all crying because the girl lost her sweetheart.
Well, he travelled a long way, and at last[55 - at last – наконец] he came to a woman’s cottage. It had some grass on the roof. And the woman was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder[56 - was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder – пыталась заставить свою корову взобраться наверх по лестнице] to the grass. So the gentleman asked the woman what she was doing. “Look at all that beautiful grass,” she said, “I’m going to feed my cow with it.” “Oh, you poor silly!” said the gentleman, “you must cut the grass and throw it down[57 - throw it down – сбросить её вниз] to the cow!”
Well, that was one big silly.
Then the gentleman came to an inn. In the morning he saw a strange man. He hang his trousers on the knobs of the chest of drawers[58 - chest of drawers – комод] and ran across the room and tried to jump into them. At last, he stopped and wiped his face with his handkerchief. “Trousers,” he says, “are the most terrible kind of clothes in the world. Who could invent such things?! I usually spend an hour to get into my trousers every morning!” So the gentleman laughed, and showed him how to put the trousers on[59 - how to put the trousers on – как надеть брюки].
So that was another big silly.
Then the gentleman came to a village. Outside the village there was a pond, and round the pond was a crowd of people. And they had rakes, and brooms, and pitchforks, and they were piercing the water of the pond. The gentleman asked what was the matter. “Don’t you see[60 - Don’t you see – Разве ты не видишь],” they say, “Moon fell down into the pond, and we can’t catch it!” So the gentleman laughed and told them to look up into the sky and that it was only the shadow in the water. But they didn’t listen to him and abused him.
And he saw more and more sillies, even more than three. So the gentleman came back home again and married the farmer’s daughter. And if they didn’t live happily, that’s nothing to do with you or me[61 - that’s nothing to do with you or me – это ни вас, ни меня не касается].

The Old Woman and Her Pig
An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a sixpence. “What,” said she, “shall I do with this little sixpence? I will go to market and buy a little pig.”
While she was coming home, she came to a stile, but the pig did not want to go over the stile.
She went a little further, and she met a dog. So she said to the dog, “Dog! bite the pig; the pig doesn’t go over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the dog refused.
She went a little further, and she met a stick. So she said, “Stick! stick! beat the dog! The dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the stick refused.
She went a little further, and she met a fire. So she said, “Fire! fire! burn the stick; the stick doesn’t beat the dog, the dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the fire refused.
She went a little further, and she met some water. So she said, “Water, water! quench the fire; the fire doesn’t burn the stick, the stick doesn’t beat the dog; the dog doesn’t bite the pig; the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the water refused.
She went a little further, and she met an ox. So she said, “Ox! ox! drink the water; the water doesn’t quench the fire, the fire doesn’t burn the stick, the stick doesn’t beat the dog, the dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the ox refused.
She went a little further, and she met a butcher. So she said, “Butcher! butcher! kill the ox; the ox doesn’t drink the water, the water doesn’t quench the fire, the fire doesn’t burn the stick, the stick doesn’t beat the dog, the dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the butcher refused.
She went a little further, and she met a rope. So she said, “Rope! rope! hang the butcher, the butcher doesn’t kill the ox, the ox doesn’t drink the water, the water doesn’t quench the fire, the fire doesn’t burn the stick, the stick doesn’t beat the dog, the dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the rope refused.
She went a little further, and she met a rat. So she said, “Rat! rat! gnaw rope, rope doesn’t hang the butcher, the butcher doesn’t kill the ox, the ox doesn’t drink the water, the water doesn’t quench the fire, the fire doesn’t burn the stick, the stick doesn’t beat the dog, the dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the rat refused.
She went a little further, and she met a cat. So she said, “Cat! cat! kill the rat, the rat doesn’t gnaw the rope, the rope doesn’t hang the butcher, the butcher doesn’t kill the ox, the ox doesn’t drink the water, the water doesn’t quench the fire, the fire doesn’t burn the stick, the stick doesn’t beat the dog, the dog doesn’t bite the pig, the pig doesn’t get over the stile, and I shan’t get home tonight.” But the cat said to her, “If you go to that cow and fetch me a saucer of milk, I will kill the rat.”
So the old woman went away to the cow.
But the cow said to her, “If you go to that haystack and fetch me some hay, I’ll give you the milk.”
So the old woman went away to the haystack, and she brought the hay to the cow.
When the cow ate the hay, it gave the old woman the milk, and she went with it in a saucer to the cat.
When the cat lapped up[62 - lapped up – вылакала] the milk, the cat began to kill the rat, the rat began to gnaw the rope, the rope began to hang the butcher, the butcher began to kill the ox, the ox began to drink the water, the water began to quench the fire, the fire began to burn the stick, the stick began to beat the dog, the dog began to bite the pig, the little pig in a fright jumped over the stile, and so the old woman got home that night.

Jack and the Beanstalk
There was once upon a time a poor widow who had a son named Jack and a cow named Milky-white. Every morning the cow gave the milk which they carried to the market and sold. But one morning Milky-white gave no milk, and they didn’t know what to do.
“What shall we do, what shall we do?” said the widow.
“Oh, mother, I’ll go and get work somewhere,” said Jack.
“We tried that before, and nobody took you,” said his mother. “We must sell Milky-white.”
“All right, mother,” says Jack. “I’ll sell Milky-white, and then we’ll see what we can do.”
So he took the cow’s halter in his hand and went to the market. While he was going, he met an old man who said to him: “Good morning, Jack.”
“Good morning to you,” said Jack and wondered how he knew his name.
“Jack, where are you going?” said the man.
“I’m going to the market to sell our cow there.”
“Oh, I have five beans,” said the man, “and let’s change[63 - let’s change – давай меняться]: your cow for these beans.”
“You swindler,” says Jack, “it won’t go![64 - it won’t go! – так не пойдёт!]“
“Ah! you don’t know what these beans are,” said the man. “If you plant them over-night, by morning they grow right up to the sky[65 - grow right up to the sky – вырастут прямо до неба].”
“Really?” says Jack. “I don’t believe you.”
“Yes, that is so, and if this is not true, you can have your cow back.”
“Good,” says Jack and gives him over Milky-white’s and takes the beans.
Jack came home happily.
“So what[66 - So what? – Ну что?], Jack?” said his mother. “I see you don’t have Milky-white, so you sold her. How much did you get for her?”
“You’ll never guess, mother,” says Jack.
“Oh no! Good boy! Five pounds, ten, fifteen… Or twenty?”
“No, just look: five magical beans.”
“What!” says Jack’s mother. “My son is a fool, such a dolt! Oh my dear Milky-white! Take that![67 - Take that! – Вот тебе!] Take that! Take that! And your precious beans will go out of the window.”
So Jack went upstairs to his little room in the attic, and he was very sad. At last he began to sleep.
When he woke up, the room looked so funny. The sun was shining into part of it, and all the rest[68 - all the rest – остальная часть] was quite dark and shady. So Jack jumped up and dressed himself and went to the window. And what do you think he saw? The beans that his mother threw out of the window into the garden sprang up into a big beanstalk[69 - sprang up into a big beanstalk – проросли в большой бобовый стебель] which went up and up and up till it reached the sky. So the man spoke truth!
The beanstalk grew up quite close past Jack’s window, so Jack opened it and jumped on the beanstalk which was like a big ladder. So Jack climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed till at last he reached the sky. And when he got there, he found a long broad road. So he walked along and he walked along and he walked along till he came to a great big tall house, and on the doorstep there was a great big tall woman.
“Good morning,” says Jack politely. “Could you give me some breakfast?” He was as hungry as a hunter[70 - as hungry as a hunter – голоден, как охотник].
“You want breakfast, don’t you?” says the great big tall woman. “It’s breakfast you’ll be if you don’t go away.[71 - It’s breakfast you’ll be if you don’t go away. – Ты cам станешь завтраком, если не уйдёшь отсюда.] My husband is an ogre, and he likes to eat boys broiled on toast.”
“Oh! please give me something to eat. I’m very hungry, really and truly,” says Jack.
The ogre’s wife was a kind woman. So she took Jack into the kitchen and gave him some bread and some cheese and a jug of milk. Suddenly, Jack heard a terrible noise: someone was coming.
“Oh, it’s my husband,” said the ogre’s wife, “what shall I do? Here, come quick and jump in here[72 - jump in here – прыгай сюда].” And she put Jack into the oven just as the ogre came in.
The ogre was really big. At his belt he had three pigs, and he threw them down on the table and said, “Here, wife, broil me a couple of these for breakfast. Ah! What’s this I smell?[73 - What’s this I smell? – Чем это пахнет?]”
“Nothing, dear,” said his wife. “Here, go and have a wash, and by the time you come back[74 - by the time you come back – к тому времени, как ты вернёшься], your breakfast will be ready for you.”
So the ogre went off, and the woman told Jack, “Wait till he’s asleep; he always sleeps after breakfast.”
Well, the ogre had his breakfast, and after that he was asleep. Then Jack crept out from his oven, and while he was passing the ogre, he took one of the bags of gold under his arm and ran to the beanstalk. And then he threw down the bag of gold, which of course fell in to his mother’s garden. And then he climbed down and climbed down till at last he got home and told his mother and showed her the gold and said, “Well, mother, I was right about the beans. They are really magical, you see.”
So they lived on the bag of gold for some time. But at last the gold came to an end, so Jack decided to use the beanstalk again. So one fine morning he got up early and went to the beanstalk, and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed till at last he got on the road again and came to the great big tall house. There was the great big tall woman.
“Good morning,” says Jack, “could you give me something to eat?”
“Go away, my boy,” said the big tall woman, “or my husband will eat you for breakfast. But aren’t you the boy who came here before? My husband lost one of his bags of gold that day.”
“That’s strange,” says Jack, “I can tell you something about that, but I’m so hungry I can’t speak.”
The big tall woman was very curious, and she gave him something to eat. But soon he heard thump! thump! thump![75 - thump! thump! thump! – топ! топ! топ!] and the ogre’s wife hid Jack in the oven.
All happened as it did before.[76 - All happened as it did before. – Всё случилось так, как и раньше.] The ogre said, “Wife, bring me the hen that lays the golden eggs.” So she brought it, and the ogre said, “Lay,” and it laid an egg of gold. And then the ogre began to sleep.
Then Jack crept out of the oven and caught the golden hen and went away. But this time he made some noise which woke the ogre. So the ogre woke up and howled, “Wife, wife, where is my golden hen?”
But Jack was running very fast to the beanstalk and climbed down quickly. And when he got home, he showed his mother the wonderful hen and said “Lay,” and it laid a golden egg every time he said “Lay.”
So they lived happily. But Jack was not content, and one fine morning, he got up early and went on to the beanstalk, and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed and he climbed till he got to the top. But this time he did not go to the ogre’s house. When he came near it, he waited behind a bush till he saw the ogre’s wife. She came out with a pail to get some water, and then he crept into the house and hid himself. Soon he heard thump! thump! thump! as before and saw the ogre and his wife.
“I smell the boy!” cried out the ogre. “I smell him, wife, I smell him!”
“Do you, my dear?” says the ogre’s wife. “It must be that little rogue that stole your gold and the hen that laid the golden eggs. He must be in the oven.” And they both rushed to the oven. But Jack wasn’t there, and they found nobody.
So the ogre sat down to the breakfast and ate it. After breakfast, 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 till the ogre fell asleep.
Then Jack crawled out and took the golden harp. But the harp called out, “Master! Master!” and the ogre woke up. Jack began to run very fast with his harp.
Jack ran as fast as he could, but the ogre followed him. When Jack got to the beanstalk, the ogre was not more than twenty yards away. The beanstalk shook with his weight[77 - shook with his weight – закачался под его весом]. Down climbs Jack, and after him climbed the ogre. By this time Jack climbed down and climbed down and climbed down till he was home. So he called out, “Mother! mother! bring me an axe, bring me an axe.” And his mother appeared with an axe in her hand.
Jack jumped down and took the axe and cut the beanstalk. The ogre fell down and died.
Then Jack showed his mother his golden harp, and it began to sing beautiful songs. Jack and his mother became very rich, and he married a princess, and they lived happily.



The Three Little Pigs


Once upon a time, there were three little pigs, and the time came for them to leave home and seek their fortunes.
Before they left, their mother told them, “Whatever you do, do the best that you can because that’s the way to get along in the world[78 - that’s the way to get along in the world – так вы сможете выжить в этом мире].”
So three little pigs left their mother to find homes for themselves.
The first pig met a man with a bundle of straw. “Please, man,” said the pig, “will you let me have that bundle of straw to build my house?” “Yes, here, take it,” said the kind man. The little pig was very pleased and at once built his house out of straw[79 - built his house out of straw – построил свой дом из соломы] because it was the easiest thing to do.
The second little pig said goodbye to his mother and set out[80 - set out – отправился в путь]. Before long[81 - before long – вскоре] he met a man with a bundle of sticks. “Please, man,” he said, “will you let me have that bundle of sticks to build my house?” “Yes, you can have it, here it is,” said the kind man. So the second little pig was very pleased and built his house out of sticks[82 - built his house out of sticks – построил свой дом из ветвей]. This was a little bit stronger[83 - a little bit stronger – немного прочнее] than a straw house. Then last of all, the third little pig set out and met a man with a load of bricks. “Please, man,” he said, “will you let me have that load of bricks to build my house?”
“Yes, here they are, all for you,” said the kind man. The third little pig was very pleased and built his house out of bricks[84 - built his house out of bricks – построил свой дом из камней].
One night, the big bad wolf, who dearly loved to eat fat little piggies, came along and saw the first little pig in his new house of straw. The wolf knocked on the door and said, “Let me in, let me in, little pig, or I’ll huff and I’ll puff[85 - I’ll huff and I’ll puff – я возьму и дуну] and I’ll blow your house in![86 - I’ll blow your house in! – Я сдую твой дом!]”
“No, not by the hair of my chinny chin chin,[87 - not by the hair of my chinny chin chin – не получится, клянусь своей бородой] I’ll not let you in!” said the little pig.
“Now I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down,” cried the wolf.
And of course[88 - of course – конечно] the wolf did blow the house in and ate the first little pig.
The wolf then came to the house of ticks and knocked at the door. “Little pig, little pig,” he said, “open up your door and let me in!”
Now the second little pig remembered what his mother had told him, so he too said, “No, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin, I’ll not let you in.”
“Now I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!” cried the wolf. But the little pig went on saying, “No, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin, I’ll not let you in.” So again the old wolf huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed, this time it was much harder work, but finally down came the house. The wolf blew that house in too and ate the second little pig.
The wolf then came to the house of bricks, and again he said. “Little pig, little pig, open your door and let me in!”
But like his brothers the third little pig said, “No, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin, I’ll not let you in.”
“Now I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!” cried the wolf. And when the third little pig wouldn’t open the door he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed an he tried again, but the brick house was so strong that he could not blow it down.
Well, the wolf huffed and puffed again and again, but he could not blow down that brick house.
This made the wolf very angry.
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 are 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[89 - got up – встал, проснулся] at five and got the turnips before the wolf came (which he did about six), and who said, “Little pig, are you ready?”
The little pig said, “Ready! I have been and come back again, and got nice turnips for dinner.”
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 this afternoon. Will you go?”
“Oh yes,” said the pig, “I will go. What time shall you be ready?”
“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 around, 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 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, “Ha, 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! The wolf was a sly old wolf, and he climbed up on the roof of the little brick house to look for a way into the brick house.
He roared down the chimney, “I’m coming down to eat you up!” The little pig saw the wolf climb up on the roof, so the pig had put a pot of boiling water on the fire and now he took off the lid.
When the wolf finally found the hole in the chimney, he crawled down the chimney and – splash![90 - splash! – плюх!] right into the pot. Quickly, the little pig put down the cover and boiled up the old wolf for his dinner. That was the end of his troubles with the big bad wolf.
The next day the little pig invited his mother to visit him. She said, “You see it is just as I told you[91 - it is just as I told you – всё, как я тебе и говорила]. The way to get along in the world is to do things as well as you can.” Fortunately for that little pig, he learned that lesson. And he just lived happily ever after![92 - And he just lived happily ever after! – И жил потом ещё счастливее!]

The Fish and the Ring
Once upon a time, there was a mighty Baron in the North Country who was a great magician and knew everything that would come to pass[93 - knew everything that would come to pass – знал всё, что произойдёт]. So one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the Book of Fate[94 - the Book of Fate – Книга Судеб] to see what would happen to him. And to his dismay, he found that his son would wed a lowly maid[95 - a lowly maid – девушка из низшего сословия] that had just been born in a small house. Now the Baron knew the father of the little girl was very, very poor, and he had five children already. So he called for his horse and rode to the father’s house and saw him sitting by the door, sad and doleful. So he dismounted and went up to him and said, “What is the matter, my good man?” And the man said, “Well, your honour[96 - your honour – ваша часть], the fact is, I have five children already, and now the sixth one comes, a little girl, and where to get the bread from to fill their mouths, that’s more than I can say.”
“Don’t cry, my dear man,” said the Baron. “If that’s your trouble, I can help you. I’ll take away the last little one, and you won’t have to bother about her.”
“Thank you kindly, sir,” said the man, and he went in and brought out the little girl and gave her to the Baron, who mounted his horse and rode away with her. And when he got by the bank of the river, he threw the little girl into the river and rode off to his castle.
But the little girl didn’t sink; her clothes kept her up for a time[97 - kept her up for a time – держали её некоторое время на плаву], and she floated, and she floated, till she was cast ashore just in front of a fisherman’s hut. There the fisherman found her, and took pity on the poor little girl and took her into his house, and she lived there till she was fifteen years old. So she became a fine handsome girl.
One day, it happened that the Baron went out hunting[98 - went out hunting – отправился на охоту] with some companions along the banks of the river and stopped at the fisherman’s hut to get a drink, and the girl came out to give it to them. They all noticed her beauty, and one of them said to the Baron, “You can read fates, Baron, whom will she marry, how do you think?”
“Oh! that’s easy to guess,” said the Baron; “some farmer or other. But I’ll cast her horoscope. Come here, girl, and tell me on what day you were born.”
“I don’t know, sir,” said the girl, “I was picked up just here. The river brought me down[99 - The river brought me down – Река вынесла меня] about fifteen years ago.”
Then the Baron knew who she was, and when they went away, he rode back and said to the girl, “Listen to me, girl, I will make your fortune. Take this letter to my brother, and you will be settled for life.” And the girl took the letter and said she would go. Now this is what he had written in the letter:
“Dear brother,
Take the bearer and put her to death immediately.”
So soon after, the girl left and slept for the night at a little inn. Now that very night[100 - Now that very night – И как раз в ту самую ночь] a band of robbers broke into the inn and searched the girl, who had no money and only the letter. So they opened this and read it. The captain of the robbers took a pen and paper and wrote this letter:
“Dear brother,
Take the bearer and marry her to my son immediately.”
And then he gave it to the girl. So she went on to the Baron’s brother, a noble knight, with whom the Baron’s son was staying. When she gave the letter to his brother, he gave orders for the wedding to be prepared at once, and they were married that very day[101 - that very day – в тот же день].
Soon after, the Baron himself came to his brother’s castle, and what was his surprise! But he took the girl out for a walk, as he said, along the cliffs. And when he got her all alone, he took her by the arms and was going to throw her over. But she begged hard for her life[102 - she begged hard for her life – она молила пощадить её жизнь]. “I have not done anything,” she said, “please do not kill me; I will do whatever you wish. I will never see you or your son again till you desire it.” Then the Baron took off his gold ring and threw it into the sea, saying, “Never let me see your face till you can show me that ring”, and he let her go[103 - and he let her go – и он отпустил её].
The poor girl wandered on and on till at last she came to a great noble’s castle[104 - great noble’s castle – замок знатного господина], and she said that she could do any work. So they gave her some kitchen work, and she began to cook food.
One day the Baron and his brother and his son, her husband, came up to the noble’s house. She didn’t know what to do, but thought they would not see her in the castle kitchen. So she went back to her work with a sigh and set to cleaning a huge big fish that was to be boiled for their dinner. And, as she was cleaning it, she saw something shine inside it[105 - she saw something shine inside it – она увидела, как что-то внутри неё блестит]. What do you think she found? Why, there was the Baron’s ring, the very one he had thrown over the cliff[106 - the very one he had thrown over the cliff – то самое, которое он бросил со скалы]. She was glad indeed to see it, you may be sure. Then she cooked the fish as nicely as she could and served it up. Well, when the fish came on the table, the guests liked it so well that they asked the noble who cooked it. He said he didn’t know but called to his servants, “Hey, there, send the cook who cooked that fine fish.” So they went down to the kitchen and told the girl she was wanted in the hall.
When the guests saw such a young and beautiful cook, they were surprised. But the Baron was very angry. So the girl went up to him with her hand before her with the ring on it, and she put it down before him on the table. Then at last, the Baron saw that no one could fight against Fate, and he handed her to a seat and announced to all the company that this was his son’s true wife. And he took her and his son home to his castle, and they all lived happy.

The Master and His Pupil
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 the world. He had one big book bound in black calf and clasped with iron and with iron corners and chained to a table on the floor. When he read this book, he unlocked it with an iron key. This famous book 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 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[107 - how they might be summoned – как их можно вызвать] and how tasks might be imposed on them[108 - how tasks might be imposed on them – как им приказывать] and how they might be chained to be as slaves to man[109 - to be as slaves to man – чтобы стали рабами человека].
Now the master had a pupil who was a foolish lad, and he acted as servant to the great master. The boy was never allowed[110 - The boy was never allowed – Мальчику никогда не дозволялось] to look into the black book, hardly to enter the private room.
One day the master was out. The lad was very curious. So he hurried to the chamber where his master kept his wonderful apparatus for changing copper into gold and lead into silver. There was his magic mirror in which he could see all that was passing in the world. There also was the shell which when held to the ear[111 - which when held to the ear – которая, если её приложить к уху] whispered all the words that were spoken by anyone the master desired to know about. The lad tried in vain[112 - in vain – напрасно] 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 produced to his ear only indistinct murmurings, like the breaking of distant seas on an unknown shore. “I can do nothing,” he said; “as I don’t know the right words to utter, and they are locked up in that magic book.”
He looked round, and, see! the book was not locked. The master had forgotten to lock it before he went out. The boy rushed to it and opened the volume. It was written with red and black ink, and much of it he could not understand. But he put his finger on a line and spelled it through.
At once the room was darkened, and the house trembled; a clap of thunder rolled through the passage and the old room, and there stood before him a horrible, horrible form, breathing fire, and with eyes like burning lamps. It was the demon, whom he had called up[113 - whom he had called up – которого он вызвал] to serve him.
“Set me a task![114 - Set me a task! – Приказывай мне!]” said he with a voice like the roaring of an iron furnace.
The boy only trembled, and his hair stood up.
“Set me a task, or I shall strangle you!”
But the lad could not speak. Then the evil spirit stepped towards him and putting forth his hands touched his throat. The fingers burned his flesh. “Set me a task!”
“Water that flower,” cried the boy in despair, pointing to a geranium which stood in a pot on the floor. Instantly, the spirit left the room, but in another instant he returned with a barrel on his back and poured its contents over the flower; and again and again he went and came and poured more and more water till the floor of the room was ankle-deep[115 - the floor of the room was ankle-deep – воды в комнате стало по щиколотку].
“Enough, enough!” gasped the lad, but the demon did not hear him. The lad didn’t know the words by which to send him away, and still he fetched water.
It rose to the boy’s knees and still more water was poured. It mounted to his waist, and the demon still kept on bringing barrels full. It rose to his armpits, and he scrambled to the table-top. And now the water in the room stood up to the window and washed against the glass and around his feet on the table. It still rose; it reached his breast. The poor boy cried, but all was useless. The evil spirit was pouring and pouring and pouring water. But the master remembered on his journey that he had not locked his book and therefore returned, and at the moment when the water was bubbling about the pupil’s chin, rushed into the room and spoke the words which cast the demon back into his fiery home.

Jack the Giant-Killer
When good King Arthur[116 - King Arthur – король Артур (легендарный вождь бриттов V-VI вв., собравший при своём дворе доблестнейших и благороднейших рыцарей Круглого стола. О подвигах Артура и его рыцарей существуют многочисленные легенды и рыцарские романы).] reigned, there lived a farmer who had one only son called Jack. He was brisk and very smart, so nobody or nothing could worst him.
In those days, the country was kept by a huge giant. He was eighteen feet in height and about three yards round the waist, of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighbouring towns and villages. He lived in a cave in the midst of the Mount, and whenever he wanted food he would go and furnish himself with whatever came in his way[117 - with whatever came in his way – тем, что попадалось у него на пути]. Everybody at his approach ran out of their houses while he seized on their cattle. The Giant could carry a dozen oxen on his back at a time[118 - at a time – за раз], and as for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them round his waist. He had done this for many years, so that all the people were in despair.
One day, Jack came to the townhall when the magistrates were sitting in council about the Giant. He asked, “What reward will be given to the man who kills the Giant?” “The giant’s treasure,” they said, “will be the reward.” Jack said, “Then let me undertake it.[119 - Then let me undertake it. – Тогда давайте я за это возьмусь.]”
So he got a horn, shovel, and axe, and went over to the Mount in the beginning of a dark winter’s evening, when he began to work. Before morning, he had dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and nearly as broad, covering it over with long sticks and straw. Then he strewed a little mould over it, so that it appeared like[120 - so that it appeared like – чтобы она выглядела как] plain ground. Jack then sat on the opposite side of the pit, farthest from the Giant’s lodging, and just at the break of day, he put the horn to his mouth and blew very hard.


This noise roused the Giant, who rushed from his cave, crying, “Hey you, have you come here to disturb my rest? You shall pay dearly for this.[121 - You shall pay dearly for this. – Ты за это дорого заплатишь.] I will have satisfaction! I will take you whole and broil you for breakfast.”
He had no sooner uttered this than he tumbled into the pit and made the very foundations of the Mount to shake. “Oh, Giant,” said Jack, “where are you now? I can’t believe your threatening words: what do you think now of broiling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but poor Jack?” Then he gave him a very weighty knock with his axe on the very crown of his head and killed him on the spot.
Jack then filled up the pit with earth and went to search the cave, where he found much treasure. So he became rich and happy even more.

The Golden Arm
Here was once a man who travelled the land all over[122 - who travelled the land all over – который изъездил весь свет] in search of a wife. He saw young and old, rich and poor, pretty and plain, and could not meet with one to his mind[123 - could not meet with one to his mind – не мог себе найти никого по душе]. At last, he found a woman, young, fair, and rich, who possessed a right arm of solid gold. He married her at once and thought no man so fortunate as he was[124 - no man so fortunate as he was – никто не был столь удачлив, как он]. They lived happily together, but though he wished people to think otherwise, he was fonder of the golden arm[125 - he was fonder of the golden arm – он больше любил золотую руку] than of all his wife’s gifts besides.
At last she died. The husband put on black clothes and pulled the longest face at the funeral. But in the middle of the night, he dug up the body and cut off the golden arm. He hurried home to hide his treasure and thought no one would know.
The following night, he put the golden arm under his pillow and was just falling asleep when the ghost of his dead wife glided into the room. Stalking up to the bedside, it drew the curtain and looked at him reproachfully. Pretending not to be afraid, he spoke to the ghost, and said, “What have you done with your red cheeks?”
“All withered and wasted away,” replied the ghost in a hollow tone.
“What have you done with your red rosy lips?”
“All withered and wasted away.”
“What have you done with your golden hair?”
“All withered and wasted away.”
“What have you done with your Golden Arm?”
“You have it!”

The Rose-Tree
There was once upon a time a good man who had two children: a girl by a first wife[126 - a girl by a first wife – девочка от первой жены] and a boy by the second. The girl was as white as milk, and her lips were like cherries. Her hair was like golden silk, and it hung to the ground. Her brother loved her dearly, but her wicked stepmother hated her. “Child,” said the stepmother one day, “go to the grocer’s shop and buy me a pound of candles.” She gave her the money, and the little girl went, bought the candles and started on her return[127 - and started on her return – пустилась в обратный путь]. But there was a stile on her way. How to cross it? She put down the candles while she got over the stile. Suddenly a dog came and ran off with the candles.
The girl went back to the grocer’s, and the grocer gave her a second bunch. She came to the stile, set down the candles and began to climb it over. Again came the dog and ran off with the candles.
The girl went again to the grocer’s, and the grocer gave her a third bunch. But the same thing happened![128 - But the same thing happened! – Но случилось то же самое!] The big dog came again and ran off with the candles as usual.
Then the girl came to her stepmother crying, because she had spent all the money and had lost three bunches of candles.
The stepmother was angry, but she pretended not to mind the loss[129 - she pretended not to mind the loss – она притворилась, что не станет пенять за утрату]. She said to the child, “Come, lay your head on my lap that I may comb your hair.” So the little girl laid her head in the woman’s lap, who proceeded to comb the yellow hair. And when she combed, the hair fell over her knees and rolled right down to the ground.
Then the stepmother hated her more for the beauty of her hair, so she said to her, “I cannot part your hair on my knee; fetch a billet of wood.” So she fetched it. Then said the stepmother, “I cannot part your hair with a comb; fetch me an axe.” So she fetched it.
“Now,” said the wicked woman, “lay your head down on the billet while I part your hair.”
Well! she laid down her little golden head without fear, and whist![130 - whist! – вжик!]down came the axe[131 - down came the axe – топор опустился], and it was off[132 - it was off – она (голова) была отрублена]. So the mother wiped the axe and laughed.
Then she took the heart and liver of the little girl, and she stewed them and brought them into the house for supper. The husband tasted them and shook his head. He said they tasted very strangely. She gave some to the little boy, but he would not eat. She tried to force him, but he refused, ran out into the garden, took up his little sister, put her in a box and buried the box under a rose-tree; and every day he went to the tree and wept till his tears ran down on the box.
One day the rose-tree flowered. It was spring, and there among the flowers was a white bird. The bird sang, and sang and sang like an angel out of heaven. Then it flew away. It went to a cobbler’s shop and perched itself on a tree nearby, and thus it sang,
“My wicked mother slew me,
My dear father ate me,
My little brother whom I love
Sits below, and I sing above
Stick, stock, stone dead.”
“Sing again that beautiful song,” asked the shoemaker.
“Please give me those little red shoes that you are making.”
The cobbler gave the shoes, and the bird sang the song, then flew to a tree in front of a watchmaker’s[133 - watchmaker – часовых дел мастер] and sang:
“My wicked mother slew me,
My dear father ate me,
My little brother whom I love
Sits below, and I sing above
Stick, stock, stone dead.”
“Oh, a beautiful song! Sing it again, sweet bird,” asked the watchmaker.
“Please give me that gold watch and chain in your hand.” The watchmaker gave the watch and chain. The bird took it in one foot, the shoes in the other, and repeated the song. Then the bird flew away to where[134 - flew away to where – улетела туда, где] three millers were picking a millstone. The bird perched on a tree and sang:
“My wicked mother slew me,
My dear father ate me,
My little brother whom I love
Sits below, and I sing above
Stick!”
Then one of the men put down his tool and looked up from his work,
“Stock!”
Then the second miller’s man laid aside his tool and looked up,
“Stone!”
Then the third miller’s man laid down his tool and looked up,
“Dead!”
Then all three cried out with one voice: “Oh, what a beautiful song! Sing it, sweet bird, again.”
“Please put the millstone round my neck,” said the bird. The men did what the bird wanted, and away to the tree it flew with the millstone round its neck, the red shoes in one foot, and the gold watch and chain in the other. It sang the song and then flew home. It rattled the millstone against the eaves of the house, and the stepmother said, “It thunders.” Then the little boy ran out to see the thunder, and down dropped the red shoes at his feet.
It rattled the millstone against the eaves of the house once more, and the stepmother said again: “It thunders.” Then the father ran out, and down fell the chain about his neck.
Father and son came in, laughing and saying, “See, what fine things the thunder has brought us!” Then the bird rattled the millstone against the eaves of the house a third time, and the stepmother said, “It thunders again, perhaps the thunder has brought something for me,” and she ran out. But alas! When she stepped outside the door, the millstone fell down on her head, and so she died.

Jack and His Golden Snuff-Box[135 - Snuff-Box – табакерка]
Once upon a time, there lived an old man and an old woman. They had one son, and they lived in a great forest. And their son never saw any other people in his life, but he knew that there were some more in the world besides his own father and mother because he had lots of books, and he read them every day. And when he read about pretty young women, he wanted to see some of them. One day, when his father was out cutting wood, he told his mother that he wished to go away to look for his living in some other country and to see some other people besides them two. And he said, “I see nothing at all here but great trees around me. If I stay here, maybe I shall go mad[136 - maybe I shall go mad – возможно, я сойду с ума] before I see anything.” The young man’s father was out all this time when this talk was going on between him and his poor old mother.
The old woman says to her son before leaving, “Well, well, my poor boy, if you want to go, it’s better for you to go, and God be with you[137 - and God be with you – и пребудет с тобой Бог].” (The old woman thought for the best when she said that.) “But stop a bit before you go. Which would you like best for me to make you, a little cake and bless you, or a big cake and curse you?”
“Dear, dear!” said he, “make me a big cake. Maybe I shall be hungry on the road.”
The old woman made the big cake, and she went on top of the house, and she cursed him as far as she could see him.
He presently meets with his father, and the old man says to him, “Where are you going, my poor boy?”
And he said, “I see nothing at all here but great trees around me. If I stay here, maybe I shall go mad before I see anything.”
“Well,” says his father, “I’m sorry to see you going away[138 - I’m sorry to see you going away – мне жаль видеть, что ты уходишь], but if you decided to go, it’s better for you to go.”
The poor lad had not gone far when his father called him back. Then the old man drew out of his pocket a golden snuff-box, and said to him, “Here, take this little box and put it in your pocket and be sure not to open it[139 - and be sure not to open it – и не открывай её (коробочку)] till you are near your death.”
And away went poor Jack upon his road[140 - away went poor Jack upon his road – бедолага Джек зашагал по дороге] and walked till he was tired and hungry, for he had eaten all his cake upon the road. By this time night was upon him, so he could hardly see his way before him. He could see some light a long way before him, and he came to it. He found the back door and knocked at it, till one of the maid-servants came and asked him what he wanted. He said that night was on him and he wanted to get some place to sleep. The maidservant called him in to the fire and gave him plenty to eat, good meat and bread and beer. While he was eating his food by the fire, there came the young lady to look at him, and she loved him well[141 - and she loved him well – и она влюбилась в него], and he loved her. And the young lady ran to tell her father and said there was a pretty young man in the back kitchen. Immediately, the gentleman came to him and questioned him and asked what work he could do. Jack said, the silly fellow, that he could do anything.
“Well,” says the gentleman to him, “if you can do anything, at eight o’clock in the morning, I must have a great lake and some big ships sailing before my mansion. And one of the largest ships must fire a royal salute[142 - must fire a royal salute – должен дать королевский салют], and the last round must break the leg of the bed where my young daughter is sleeping. And if you don’t do that, you will have to forfeit your life[143 - you will have to forfeit your life – ты поплатишься своей жизнью].”
“All right,” said Jack, and away he went to his bed. He said his prayers quietly and slept till it was near eight o’clock. He had hardly any time to think what he was to do when suddenly he remembered about the little golden box that his father gave him. And he said to himself, “Well, well, I never was so near my death as I am now,” and then he felt in his pocket and drew the little box out.
When he opened it, out there hopped[144 - out there hopped – оттуда выпрыгнули] three little red men and asked Jack, “What is your will with us?[145 - What is your will with us? – Чего ты от нас хочешь?]”
“Well,” said Jack, “I want a great lake and the biggest ships in the world before this mansion. And one of the largest ships must fire a royal salute, and the last round must break one of the legs of the bed where this young lady is sleeping.”
“All right,” said the little men, “go to sleep.”
It struck eight o’clock when Jack jumped out of bed to look through the window. He saw the biggest ships in the world! It was a wonderful sight for him to see, after being so long[146 - after being so long – после столь долгого пребывания] with his father and mother living in a wood. Bang! Bang! he heard the largest ships fire a royal salute. The last round broke one of the legs of the bed where the young lady was sleeping.

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notes
Примечания

1
Once upon a time, there was a woman – Жила-была женщина

2
they will come again – они подойдут снова

3
that is – то есть

4
I’ll = I shall, I will

5
can’t = cannot

6
didn’t = did not

7
instead of that – вместо того

8
your head will be cut – тебе отрубят голову

9
you will be mine – ты будешь моею

10
for sure – наверняка

11
shan’t = shall not

12
in order to – чтобы

13
Nicodemus – Никодим

14
Sammle – Сэммл

15
Methusalem – Мафусаил

16
What’s up? – В чём дело?

17
I got off – я слез

18
Solomon – Соломон

19
Zebedee – Зеведей

20
Take time – Не торопись

21
How Jack Went to Seek His Fortune – Как Джек счастья искал

22
named Jack – по имени Джек

23
the more the merrier – чем больше, тем веселее

24
So on they went. – И они пошли дальше.

25
told his friends to keep still – сказал своим друзьям, чтобы они не шумели

26
looked in through the window – заглянул в окно

27
to wait till he gave the word – ждать, пока он не даст сигнал

28
flew up on to the roof – взлетел на крышу

29
look after – присмотреть

30
Chuck him up! – Бросайте его вверх!

31
of course – конечно

32
cock-a-doodle-do – ку-ка-ре-ку

33
Out of the oven – Из печи

34
he was out of sight – он скрылся из виду

35
ran after him – погнались за ним

36
for free – бесплатно

37
carry away – уносить

38
take care – позаботиться, присмотреть

39
If you take me out – Если вы вытащите

40
fill it full of thorns – наполните её колючками

41
she was awakened – она была разбужена

42
she put her head out – она высунула голову

43
I’ll get it back. – Я верну его.

44
as usual – как обычно

45
for a little time – ненадолго

46
While I am away – Пока меня не будет

47
This time – На этот раз

48
Better still – Ещё лучше

49
thine = yours

50
She passed me by. – Она прошла мимо меня.

51
go over that gate – пройти через эти ворота

52
look for – искать

53
was running all over the floor – растекалось по полу

54
side by side – бок о бок

55
at last – наконец

56
was trying to get her cow to go up a ladder – пыталась заставить свою корову взобраться наверх по лестнице

57
throw it down – сбросить её вниз

58
chest of drawers – комод

59
how to put the trousers on – как надеть брюки

60
Don’t you see – Разве ты не видишь

61
that’s nothing to do with you or me – это ни вас, ни меня не касается

62
lapped up – вылакала

63
let’s change – давай меняться

64
it won’t go! – так не пойдёт!

65
grow right up to the sky – вырастут прямо до неба

66
So what? – Ну что?

67
Take that! – Вот тебе!

68
all the rest – остальная часть

69
sprang up into a big beanstalk – проросли в большой бобовый стебель

70
as hungry as a hunter – голоден, как охотник

71
It’s breakfast you’ll be if you don’t go away. – Ты cам станешь завтраком, если не уйдёшь отсюда.

72
jump in here – прыгай сюда

73
What’s this I smell? – Чем это пахнет?

74
by the time you come back – к тому времени, как ты вернёшься

75
thump! thump! thump! – топ! топ! топ!

76
All happened as it did before. – Всё случилось так, как и раньше.

77
shook with his weight – закачался под его весом

78
that’s the way to get along in the world – так вы сможете выжить в этом мире

79
built his house out of straw – построил свой дом из соломы

80
set out – отправился в путь

81
before long – вскоре

82
built his house out of sticks – построил свой дом из ветвей

83
a little bit stronger – немного прочнее

84
built his house out of bricks – построил свой дом из камней

85
I’ll huff and I’ll puff – я возьму и дуну

86
I’ll blow your house in! – Я сдую твой дом!

87
not by the hair of my chinny chin chin – не получится, клянусь своей бородой

88
of course – конечно

89
got up – встал, проснулся

90
splash! – плюх!

91
it is just as I told you – всё, как я тебе и говорила

92
And he just lived happily ever after! – И жил потом ещё счастливее!

93
knew everything that would come to pass – знал всё, что произойдёт

94
the Book of Fate – Книга Судеб

95
a lowly maid – девушка из низшего сословия

96
your honour – ваша часть

97
kept her up for a time – держали её некоторое время на плаву

98
went out hunting – отправился на охоту

99
The river brought me down – Река вынесла меня

100
Now that very night – И как раз в ту самую ночь

101
that very day – в тот же день

102
she begged hard for her life – она молила пощадить её жизнь

103
and he let her go – и он отпустил её

104
great noble’s castle – замок знатного господина

105
she saw something shine inside it – она увидела, как что-то внутри неё блестит

106
the very one he had thrown over the cliff – то самое, которое он бросил со скалы

107
how they might be summoned – как их можно вызвать

108
how tasks might be imposed on them – как им приказывать

109
to be as slaves to man – чтобы стали рабами человека

110
The boy was never allowed – Мальчику никогда не дозволялось

111
which when held to the ear – которая, если её приложить к уху

112
in vain – напрасно

113
whom he had called up – которого он вызвал

114
Set me a task! – Приказывай мне!

115
the floor of the room was ankle-deep – воды в комнате стало по щиколотку

116
King Arthur – король Артур (легендарный вождь бриттов V-VI вв., собравший при своём дворе доблестнейших и благороднейших рыцарей Круглого стола. О подвигах Артура и его рыцарей существуют многочисленные легенды и рыцарские романы).

117
with whatever came in his way – тем, что попадалось у него на пути

118
at a time – за раз

119
Then let me undertake it. – Тогда давайте я за это возьмусь.

120
so that it appeared like – чтобы она выглядела как

121
You shall pay dearly for this. – Ты за это дорого заплатишь.

122
who travelled the land all over – который изъездил весь свет

123
could not meet with one to his mind – не мог себе найти никого по душе

124
no man so fortunate as he was – никто не был столь удачлив, как он

125
he was fonder of the golden arm – он больше любил золотую руку

126
a girl by a first wife – девочка от первой жены

127
and started on her return – пустилась в обратный путь

128
But the same thing happened! – Но случилось то же самое!

129
she pretended not to mind the loss – она притворилась, что не станет пенять за утрату

130
whist! – вжик!

131
down came the axe – топор опустился

132
it was off – она (голова) была отрублена

133
watchmaker – часовых дел мастер

134
flew away to where – улетела туда, где

135
Snuff-Box – табакерка

136
maybe I shall go mad – возможно, я сойду с ума

137
and God be with you – и пребудет с тобой Бог

138
I’m sorry to see you going away – мне жаль видеть, что ты уходишь

139
and be sure not to open it – и не открывай её (коробочку)

140
away went poor Jack upon his road – бедолага Джек зашагал по дороге

141
and she loved him well – и она влюбилась в него

142
must fire a royal salute – должен дать королевский салют

143
you will have to forfeit your life – ты поплатишься своей жизнью

144
out there hopped – оттуда выпрыгнули

145
What is your will with us? – Чего ты от нас хочешь?

146
after being so long – после столь долгого пребывания