Be bold, be bold, but not too bold, Lest that your heart’s blood should run cold. 6 страница

Childe Wynd stayed his hand, but he did not know what to think if some witchery were not in it. Then said the Laidly Worm again:

‘O, quit your sword, unbend your bow,
And give me kisses three;
If I’m not won ere set of sun,
Won never shall I be.’

Then Childe Wynd went up to the Laidly Worm and kissed it once; but no change came over it. Then Childe Wynd kissed it once more; but yet no change came over it. For a third time he kissed the loathsome thing, and with a hiss and a roar the Laidly Worm reared back and before Childe Wynd stood his sister Margaret. He wrapped his cloak about her, and then went up to the castle with her. When he reached the keep, he went off to the witch-queen’s bower, and when he saw her, he touched her with a twig of a rowan-tree. No sooner had he touched her than she shrivelled up and shrivelled up, till she became a huge ugly toad, with bold staring eyes and a horrible hiss. She croaked and she hissed, and then hopped away down the castle steps, and Childe Wynd took his father’s place as king, and they all lived happy afterwards.

But to this day a loathsome toad is seen at times haunting the neighbourhood of Bamborough Keep, and the wicked witch-queen is that Laidly Toad.

The Cat and the Mouse (Кот и мышь)

The cat and the mouse (кот и мышь)
Play’s in the malt-house (играли в солодовне; malt — солод):

THE cat bit the mouse’s tail off (кот откусил хвост мыши прочь; to bite — кусать). ‘Pray (пожалуйста: «молю»), Puss (Киска), give me my tail (дай мне мой хвост).’

‘No (нет),’ says the cat (говорит кот), ‘I’ll not give you your tail (я не дам тебе твой хвост), till you go to the cow (пока ты не пойдешь к корове), and fetch me some milk (и не принесешь мне немного молока).’

First she leapt (сперва она прыгала; to leap — прыгать), and then she ran (и затем она бежала),
Till she came to the cow (пока она не пришла к корове), and thus began (и так начала):

‘Pray, Cow, give me milk (пожалуйста, Корова, дай мне молока), that I may give cat milk (чтобы я могла дать коту молока), that cat may give me my own tail again (чтобы кот мог дать мне мой собственный хвост снова = вернуть мне мой хвост).’

‘No (нет),’ said the cow (сказала корова), ‘I will give you no milk (я не дам тебе никакого молока), till you go to the farmer (пока ты не сходишь к крестьянину), and get me some hay (и не достанешь мне немного сена).’

First she leapt, and then she ran (сперва она прыгала, а потом она бежала),
Till she came to the farmer, and thus began (пока она не пришла к крестьянину и так начала):

‘Pray, Farmer, give me hay (пожалуйста, Крестьянин, дай мне сена), that I may give cow hay (чтобы я могла дать корове сено), that cow may give me milk (чтобы корова могла дать мне молока), that I may give cat milk (чтобы я могла дать коту молоко), that cat may give me my own tail again (чтобы кот мог вернуть мне мой собственный хвост).’

‘No,’ says the farmer (нет, — говорит крестьянин), ‘I’ll give you no hay (я не дам тебе никакого сена), till you go to the butcher (пока ты не пойдешь к мяснику) and fetch me some meat (и не принесешь мне немного мяса).’

First she leapt, and then she ran (сперва она прыгала, а потом она бежала),
Till she came to the butcher, and thus began (пока она не пришла к мяснику и так начала):

‘Pray, Butcher, give me meat (пожалуйста, Мясник, дай мне мясо), that I may give farmer meat (чтобы я могла дать крестьянину мясо), that farmer may give me hay (чтобы крестьянин мог дать мне сено), that I may give cow hay (чтобы я могла дать корове сено), that cow may give me milk (чтобы корова могла дать мне молоко), that I may give cat milk (чтобы я могла дать коту молоко), that cat may give me my own tail again (чтобы кот мог вернуть мне мой собственный хвост).’

‘No,’ says the butcher (нет, — говорит мясник), ‘I’ll give you no meat (я не дам тебе никакого мяса), till you go to the baker (пока ты не пойдешь к пекарю) and fetch me some bread (и не принесешь мне немного хлеба).’

First she leapt, and then she ran (сперва она прыгала, а затем она бежала),
Till she came to the baker, and thus began (пока она не прибежала к пекарю и так начала):

‘Pray, Baker, give me bread (пожалуйста, Пекарь, дай мне хлеб), that I may give butcher bread (чтобы я могла дать мяснику хлеб), that butcher may give me meat (чтобы мясник мог дать мне мясо), that I may give farmer meat (чтобы я могла дать крестьянину мясо), that farmer may give me hay (чтобы крестьянин мог дать мне сено), that I may give cow hay (чтобы я могла дать корове сено), that cow may give me milk (чтобы корова могла дать мне молоко), that I may give cat milk (чтобы я могла дать коту молоко), that cat may give me my own tail again (чтобы кот мог вернуть мне мой собственный хвост).’

‘Yes,’ says the baker (да, — говорит пекарь), ‘I’ll give you some bread (я дам тебе немного хлеба),
But if you eat my meal (но если ты съешь мою еду), I’ll cut off your head (я отрублю твою голову).’

Then the baker gave mouse bread (затем пекарь дал мыши хлеб), and mouse gave butcher bread (а мышь дала мяснику хлеб), and butcher gave mouse meat (а мясник дал мыши мясо), and mouse gave farmer meat (а мышь дала крестьянину мясо), and farmer gave mouse hay (а крестьянин дал мыши сено), and mouse gave cow hay (а мышь дала корове сено), and cow gave mouse milk (а корова дала мыши молоко), and mouse gave cat milk (а мышь дала коту молоко), and cat gave mouse her own tail again (а кот вернул мыши ее собственный хвост).

leap [li:p], baker [`beıkə], meal [mi:l]

The cat and the mouse
PIay’d in the malt-house:

THE cat bit the mouse’s tail off. ‘Pray, Puss, give me my tail.’

‘No,’ says the cat, ‘I’ll not give you your tail, till you go to the cow, and fetch me some milk.’

First she leapt, and then she ran,
Till she came to the cow, and thus began:

‘Pray, Cow, give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.’

‘No,’ said the cow, ‘I will give you no milk, till you go to the farmer, and get me some hay.’

First she leapt, and then she ran,
Till she came to the farmer, and thus began:

‘Pray, Farmer, give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.’

‘No,’ says the farmer, ‘I’ll give you no hay, till you go to the butcher and fetch me some meat.’

First she leapt, and then she ran,
Till she came to the butcher, and thus began:

‘Pray, Butcher, give me meat, that I may give farmer meat, that farmer may give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.’

‘No,’ says the butcher, ‘I’ll give you no meat, till you go to the baker and fetch me some bread.’

First she leapt, and then she ran,
Till she came to the baker, and thus began:

‘Pray, Baker, give me bread, that I may give butcher bread, that butcher may give me meat, that I may give farmer meat, that farmer may give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.’

‘Yes,’ says the baker, ‘I’ll give you some bread,
But if you eat my meal, I’ll cut off your head.’

Then the baker gave mouse bread, and mouse gave butcher bread, and butcher gave mouse meat, and mouse gave farmer meat, and farmer gave mouse hay, and mouse gave cow hay, and cow gave mouse milk, and mouse gave cat milk, and cat gave mouse her own tail again.

The Fish and the Ring (Рыба и кольцо)

ONCE upon a time (давным-давно), there was a mighty baron in the North Country (был могущественный барон в северной стране) who was a great magician (который был великим волшебником) and knew everything that would come to pass (и знал все, что случится). So one day (так что однажды), when his little boy was four years old (когда его маленькому мальчику было четыре года), he looked into the Book of Fate (он заглянул в Книгу Судьбы) to see what would happen to him (чтобы увидеть, что случится с ним). And to his dismay (и к своему ужасу), he found that his son would wed a lowly maid (он нашел, что его сын женится на простой девушке) that had just been born in a house (которая только что была рождена в доме) under the shadow of York Minster (под тенью Йоркского Собора). Now the Baron knew the father of the little girl was very, very poor (а барон знал, что отец маленькой девочки был очень, очень беден), and he had five children already (и у него было уже пятеро детей). So he called for his horse (так что он позвал, чтобы ему привели лошадь), and rode into York (и поскакал в Йорк), and passed by the father’s house (и проехал мимо дома отца), and saw him sitting by the door (и увидел его сидящим у двери), sad and doleful (грустного и скорбного). So he dismounted (так что он слез с лошади) and went up to him and said (подошел к нему и сказал): ‘What is the matter, my good man (в чем дело, мой добрый человек)?’ And the man said (и тот человек сказал): ‘Well, your honour (ну, ваша честь), the fact is (дело в том), I’ve five children already (что у меня уже пятеро детей), and now a sixth’s come (и теперь шестой родился), a little lass (маленькая девочка), and where to get the bread from (и откуда взять хлеба) to fill their mouths (чтобы наполнить их рты), that’s more than I can say (это больше, чем я могу сказать = не знаю на это ответа).’

‘Don’t be downhearted (не будь упавшим духом = не падай духом), my man (любезный: «мой человек»),’ said the Baron (сказал барон). ‘If that’s your trouble (если это твоя беда), I can help you (я могу помочь тебе). I’ll take away the last little one (я заберу последнюю маленькую /девочку/), and you won’t have to bother about her (и тебе не придется беспокоиться о ней).’

‘Thank you kindly, sir (благодарю вас сердечно, сэр),’ said the man (сказал тот человек); and he went in (и он пошел внутрь) and brought out the lass and gave her to the Baron (вынес наружу девочку и дал ее Барону), who mounted his horse (который оседлал свою лошадь) and rode away with her (и ускакал с ней прочь). And when he got by the bank of the River Ouse (и когда он добрался до берега реки Уз), he threw the little thing into the river (он бросил маленькое существо в реку; to throw — бросать), and rode off to his castle (и ускакал прочь к своему замку).

But the little lass didn’t sink (но маленькая девочка не утонула); her clothes kept her up for a time (ее одежда удерживала ее наверху в течение какого-то времени), and she floated (и она плыла; to float — держаться на поверхности воды), and she floated (и она плыла), till she was cast ashore (пока она не была выброшена на берег) just in front of a fisherman’s hut (прямо перед рыбацкой лачугой). There the fisherman found her (там рыбак нашел ее), and took pity on the poor little thing (и пожалел бедное маленькое существо) and took her into his house (и взял ее в свой дом), and she lived there (и она жила там) till she was fifteen years old (пока ей не исполнилось пятнадцать лет), and a fine handsome girl (и /она не стала/ прекрасной красивой девушкой).

dismay [dıs`meı], bother [`boðə], ashore [ə`So:]

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. So one day, when his little boy was four years old, he looked into the Book of Fate to see what would happen to him. And to his dismay, he found that his son would wed a lowly maid that had just been born in a house under the shadow of York Minster. 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 into York, and passed by 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, the fact is, I’ve five children already, and now a sixth’s come, a little lass, and where to get the bread from to fill their mouths, that’s more than I can say.’

‘Don’t be downhearted, my 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 lass 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 Ouse, he threw the little thing into the river, and rode off to his castle.

But the little lass didn’t sink; her clothes kept her up for a time, 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 thing and took her into his house, and she lived there till she was fifteen years old, and a fine handsome girl.

One day it happened (однажды случилось) that the Baron went out hunting (что барон отправился охотиться) with some companions (с несколькими приятелями) along the banks of the River Ouse (вдоль берегов реки Уз), and stopped at the fisherman’s hut (и остановился у рыбацкой лачуги) to get a drink (чтобы получить питье = чтобы попить), and the girl came out to give it to them (и девушка вышла, чтобы дать его им = чтобы дать им попить). They all noticed her beauty (они все заметили ее красоту), and one of them said to the Baron (и один из них сказал барону): ‘You can read fates, Baron (ты можешь читать судьбы, барон), whom will she marry (за кого она выйдет замуж), d’ye think (думаешь ты)?’

‘Oh! that’s easy to guess (о, это легко угадать),’ said the Baron (сказал барон); ‘some yokel or other (за какого-нибудь мужлана или другого = за того или другого мужлана, за какого-нибудь мужлана). But I’ll cast her horoscope (но я подсчитаю: «брошу» ее гороскоп). Come here, girl (поди сюда, девушка), and tell me on what day you were born (и скажи мне, в какой день ты родилась).’

‘I don’t know, sir (я не знаю, сэр),’ said the girl (сказала девушка), ‘I was picked up just here (я была подобрана прямо здесь) after having been brought down by the river (после того, как меня принесла вниз река) about fifteen years ago (около пятнадцати лет назад).’

Then the Baron knew who she was (тогда барон узнал, кто она была), and when they went away (и когда они ушли прочь), he rode back (он поскакал назад) and said to the girl (и сказал девушке): ‘Hark ye, girl (слушай ты, девушка), I will make your fortune (я устрою твою судьбу). Take this letter to my brother in Scarborough (возьми это письмо к моему брату в Скарборо), and you will be settled for life (и ты будешь устроена на всю жизнь).’ And the girl took the letter and said she would go (девушка взяла письмо и сказала, что она пойдет). Now this is what he had written in the letter (а вот что он написал в письме):

‘DEAR BROTHER (дорогой брат), — Take the bearer (возьми предъявителя: «носителя» /этого письма/) and put her to death (и предай ее смерти) immediately (немедленно).
Yours affectionately (твой с любовью: «любовно»),
HUMPHREY (Хамфри).’

So soon after (так что вскоре после /этого/) the girl set out for Scarborough (девушка отправилась в Скарборо), and slept for the night at a little inn (и спала одну ночь на маленьком постоялом дворе). Now that very night (а той самой ночью) a band of robbers broke into the inn (банда разбойников вломилась на постоялый двор), and searched the girl (и обыскала девушку), who had no money (у которой не было никаких денег), and only the letter (а только письмо).

So they opened this and read it (так что они открыли это письмо и прочли его), and thought it a shame (и подумали, что это позор/стыд). The captain of the robbers (предводитель: «капитан» разбойников) took a pen and paper (взял ручку и бумагу) and wrote this letter (и написал это = следующее письмо):

‘DEAR BROTHER (дорогой брат), — Take the bearer (возьми носителя /этого письма/) and marry her to my son immediately (и выдай ее за моего сына немедленно).
Yours affectionately (твой с любовью),
HUMPHREY (Хамфри).’

And then he gave it to the girl (и затем он дал его девушке), bidding her begone (приказав ей убраться вон; begone — прочь!, убирайся!). So she went on (так что она пошла дальше) to the Baron’s brother at Scarborough (к брату барона в Скарборо), a noble knight (благородному рыцарю), with whom the Baron’s son was staying (у кого сын барона гостил: «с кем сын барона оставался»). When she gave the letter to his brother (когда она дала письмо его брату), he gave orders for the wedding to be prepared at once (он отдал приказание, чтобы свадьба была приготовлена тотчас же), and they were married that very day (и их поженили в тот самый день).

Soon after (вскоре после /этого/), the Baron himself came to his brother’s castle (барон сам прибыл к замку своего брата), and what was his surprise (и каково было его удивление) to find the very thing (обнаружить, что та самая вещь) he had plotted against (против которой он замышлял) had come to pass (случилась). But he was not to be put off that way (но от него нельзя было так отделаться = он не смирился с этим); and he took the girl out for a walk (и он взял девушку наружу на прогулку), as he said (как он сказал), along the cliffs (вдоль скал). And when he got her all alone (и когда он получил ее совсем одну = когда остался с ней наедине), he took her by the arms (он взял ее за руки), and was going to throw her over (и собирался сбросить ее). But she begged hard for her life (но она умоляла сильно о своей жизни). ‘I have not done anything (я не сделала чего-либо),’ she said (она сказала): ‘if you will only spare me (если вы пожелаете только пощадить меня), I will do whatever you wish (я сделаю что вам будет угодно). I will never see you or your son again (я никогда не увижу вас или вашего сына снова) till you desire it (пока вы не пожелаете этого).’ Then the Baron took off his gold ring and threw it into the sea (тогда барон снял свое золотое кольцо и бросил его в море), saying (сказав): ‘Never let me see your face (никогда не давай мне видеть твое лицо = не попадайся мне на глаза) till you can show me that ring (пока ты не сможешь показать мне это кольцо)’; and he let her go (и он позволил ей уйти = отпустил ее).

companion [kəm`pænıən], affectionately [ə`fekSənətlı], begone [bı`gon]

One day it happened that the Baron went out hunting with some companions along the banks of the River Ouse, 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, d’ye think?’

‘Oh! that’s easy to guess,’ said the Baron; ‘some yokel 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 after having been brought down by the river about fifteen years ago.’

Then the Baron knew who she was, and when they went away, he rode back and said to the girl: ‘Hark ye, girl, I will make your fortune. Take this letter to my brother in Scarborough, 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.
Yours affectionately,
HUMPHREY.’

So soon after the girl set out for Scarborough, and slept for the night at a little inn. Now that very night 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, and thought it a shame. 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.
Yours affectionately,
HUMPHREY.’

And then he gave it to the girl, bidding her begone. So she went on to the Baron’s brother at Scarborough, 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.

Soon after, the Baron himself came to his brother’s castle, and what was his surprise to find the very thing he had plotted against had come to pass. But he was not to be put off that way; and 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. ‘I have not done anything,’ she said: ‘if you will only spare 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.

The poor girl wandered on and on (бедная девушка брела все дальше и дальше), till at last she came to a great noble’s castle (пока, наконец, она не пришла к замку знатного дворянина), and she asked to have some work given to her (и она попросила, чтобы ей дали какую-нибудь работу); and they made her the scullion girl of the castle (и они сделали ее девушкой, помогающей на кухне замка; scullion — поваренок, помощник повара; судомойка), for she had been used to such work in the fisherman’s hut (потому что она привыкла к такой работе в рыбацкой лачуге).

Now one day (однажды), who should she see coming up to the noble’s house (кого должна была она увидеть = кого же она видит подходящими к замку дворянина) but the Baron and his brother and his son (как не барона, его брата и его сына), her husband (ее мужа). She didn’t know what to do (она не знала, что делать); but thought they would not see her (но подумала, что они не увидят ее) in the castle kitchen (в кухне замка). So she went back to her work with a sigh (так что она вернулась к своей работе со вздохом), and set to cleaning a huge big fish (и принялась чистить огромную большую рыбу) that was to be boiled (которая должна была быть сварена) for their dinner (для их обеда). And, as she was cleaning it (и пока она чистила ее), she saw something shine inside it (она увидела, как что-то сверкает внутри нее), and what do you think she found (и, что думаете вы, она нашла)? Why (как же: «почему»), there was the Baron’s ring (там было кольцо барона), the very one (то самое) he had thrown over the cliff at Scarborough (которое он сбросил со скалы в Скарборо). She was glad indeed to see it (она была в самом деле довольна увидеть его), you may be sure (вы можете быть уверены). Then she cooked the fish as nicely as she could (тогда она приготовила рыбу так превосходно, как она могла), and served it up (и подала ее; to serve up — подавать, преподносить).

Well, when the fish came on the table (ну, когда рыба попала на стол), the guests liked it so well (гостям она так понравилась) that they asked the noble who cooked it (что они спросили дворянина, кто готовил ее). He said he didn’t know (он сказал, что он не знает), but called to his servants (но крикнул своим слугам): ‘Ho, there (эй, там), send the cook who cooked that fine fish (пришлите повара, который готовил эту прекрасную рыбу).’ So they went down to the kitchen (так что они спустились на кухню) and told the girl she was wanted in the hall (и сказали девушке, что ее звали в зал; to want — хотеть).

When the banqueters saw such a young and beautiful cook (когда пирующие увидели такую молодую и красивую стряпуху) they were surprised (они были удивлены). But the Baron was in a tower of temper (но барон был вне себя от ярости: «был в башне гнева»), and started up (и поднялся/привстал) as if he would do her some violence (как если бы он хотел учинить ей какое-то насилие = побить ее). So the girl went up to him (так что девушка подошла к нему) with her hand before her (протянув вперед руку: «с ее рукой перед ней») with the ring on it (с кольцом на ней); and she put it down before him on the table (и она положила его перед ним на стол). Then at last the Baron saw (тогда наконец барон увидел) that no one could fight against Fate (что никто не мог биться против Рока), and he handed her to a seat (и он проводил ее к месту) and announced to all the company (и объявил всей компании) that this was his son’s true wife (что это была истинная жена его сына); and he took her and his son home to his castle (и он отвел ее и его сына домой в свой замок); and they all lived happy as could be ever afterwards (и они все жили счастливо, как только возможно, всегда потом).

scullion [`skAlıən], banqueter [`bæŋkwıtə], violence [`vaıələns]

The poor girl wandered on and on, till at last she came to a great noble’s castle, and she asked to have some work given to her; and they made her the scullion girl of the castle, for she had been used to such work in the fisherman’s hut.

Now one day, who should she see coming up to the noble’s house but the Baron and his brother and his son, her husband. 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, and what do you think she found? Why, there was the Baron’s ring, the very one he had thrown over the cliff at Scarborough. 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: ‘Ho, 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 banqueters saw such a young and beautiful cook they were surprised. But the Baron was in a tower of temper, and started up as if he would do her some violence. 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 as could be ever afterwards.

The Magpie's Nest (Сорочье гнездо)

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 (а курицы брали понюшки, чтобы сделать их = себя жесткими),
And ducks went quack, quack, quack, O (а утки говорили: кря-кря)!

ALL the birds of the air (все птицы воздуха) came to the magpie (пришли к сороке) and asked her to teach them (и попросили ее научить их) how to build nests (как строить гнезда). For the magpie is the cleverest bird of all (ибо сорока — сообразительнейшая птица из всех) at building nests (в построении гнезд). So she put all the birds round her (так что она усадила всех птиц вокруг себя) and began to show them how to do it (и начала показывать им, как это делать). First of all (сперва: «первое из всего») she took some mud (она взяла немного грязи) and made a sort of round cake with it (и сделала нечто вроде круглой лепешки из нее).

‘Oh, that’s how it’s done (о, вот как это делается),’ said the thrush (сказал дрозд); and away it flew (и прочь он улетел), and so that’s how thrushes build their nests (и поэтому вот как дрозды строят свои гнезда).

Then the magpie took some twigs (тогда сорока взяла несколько прутиков) and arranged them round in the mud (и расположила их вокруг в грязи).

‘Now I know all about it (теперь я знаю все об этом),’ says the blackbird (говорит черный дрозд), and off he flew (и прочь он улетел); and that’s how the blackbirds make their nests to this very day (и вот как черные дрозды строят свои гнезда до этого самого дня).

Then the magpie put another layer of mud over the twigs (тогда сорока положила еще один слой грязи поверх прутиков).

‘Oh, that’s quite obvious (о, это совершенно очевидно),’ said the wise owl (сказала мудрая сова), and away it flew (и прочь она улетела); and owls have never made better nests since (и совы никогда не делали лучших гнезд с тех самых пор).

After this the magpie took some twigs (после этого сорока взяла несколько прутиков) and twined them round the outside (и сплела их вокруг снаружи).

‘The very thing (та самая вещь = вот как надо)!’ said the sparrow (сказал воробей), and off he went (и прочь он улетел); so sparrows make rather slovenly nests to this day (так что воробьи делают довольно неряшливые гнезда до сего дня).

Well, then Madge Magpie took some feathers (ну, тогда Мэдж-сорока взяла несколько перьев) and stuff (и материи = и всякой всячины) and lined the nest very comfortably with it (и выложила гнездо очень удобно этим).

magpie [`mægpaı], owl [aul], slovenly [`slAvənlı]