Текст книги "Английские легенды / The English Legends"

Binnorie[57]57
  Binnorie – Биннори


[Закрыть]

Once upon a time[58]58
  once upon a time – однажды; как-то раз


[Закрыть] there were two king’s daughters. They lived in a bower near the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie. And Sir William[59]59
  Sir William – сэр Уильям


[Закрыть] came wooing the eldest and won her love and plighted troth[60]60
  plighted troth – поклялся в верности


[Закрыть] with glove and with ring. But after a time[61]61
  after a time – спустя некоторое время


[Закрыть] he looked upon the youngest, with her cherry cheeks and golden hair, and his love grew towards her till he cared no longer for the eldest one[62]62
  he cared no longer for the eldest one – он перестал обращать внимание на старшую сестру


[Закрыть]. So she hated her sister for taking away Sir William’s love, and day by day[63]63
  day by day – день ото дня


[Закрыть] her hate grew upon her, and she plotted and she planned how to get rid of her[64]64
  get rid of her – избавиться от неё


[Закрыть].

So one fine morning, fair and clear, she said to her sister, “Let us go[65]65
  Let us go. – Давай пойдём.


[Закрыть] and see our father’s boats come in at the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie.” So they went there hand in hand. And when they got to the river’s bank the youngest got upon a stone to watch for the coming of the boats. And her sister, coming behind her, caught her round the waist and dashed her into the rushing mill-stream of Binnorie.

“O sister, sister, reach me your hand!” she cried, as she floated away, “and you shall have half of all I’ve got or shall get[66]66
  half of all I’ve got or shall get – половина всего того, что есть у меня и что будет


[Закрыть].”

“No, sister, I’ll reach you no hand of mine, for I am the heir to all your land. Shame on me if I touch the hand that has come ’twixt[67]67
  ’twixt = betwixt, between


[Закрыть] me and my own heart’s love[68]68
  that has come ’twixt me and my own heart’s love – которая разлучила меня с любимым


[Закрыть].”

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

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

And the princess floated down the mill-stream, sometimes swimming and sometimes sinking, till she came near the mill. Now the miller’s daughter was cooking that day, and needed water for her cooking. And as she went to draw it from the stream, she saw something floating towards the mill-dam, and she called out, “Father! father! draw your dam[69]69
  Draw your dam. – Опусти створки.


[Закрыть]. There’s something white – a merrymaid[70]70
  merrymaid – русалка


[Закрыть] or a milk-white swan – coming down the stream.” So the miller hastened to the dam and stopped the heavy cruel mill-wheels. And then they took out the princess and laid her on the bank.

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

And as she lay there in her beauty a famous harper passed by the mill-dam of Binnorie, and saw her sweet pale face. And though he travelled on far away[71]71
  far away – далеко


[Закрыть] he never forgot that face, and after many days he came back to the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie. But then all he could find of her where they had put her to rest were her bones and her golden hair. So he made a harp out of her breastbone and her hair, and travelled on up the hill from the mill-dam of Binnorie, till he came to the castle of the king her father.

That night they were all gathered in the castle hall to hear the great harper – king and queen, their daughter and son, Sir William and all their Court. And first the harper sang to his old harp, making them joy[72]72
  making them joy – заставляя их радоваться


[Закрыть] and be glad or sorrow and weep just as he liked[73]73
  just as he liked – повинуясь его желанию


[Закрыть]. But while he sang he put the harp he had made that day on a stone in the hall. And presently it began to sing by itself, low and clear, and the harper stopped and all were hushed[74]74
  all were hushed – все затаили дыхание


[Закрыть].

And this was what the harp sung:

 
“O yonder sits my father, the king,
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And yonder sits my mother, the queen;
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie[75]75
  o’ Binnorie = of Binnorie


[Закрыть],
And yonder stands my brother Hugh[76]76
  Hugh – Хью


[Закрыть],
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And by him, my William, false and true;
By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie.”
 

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

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

And the harp snapped and broke, and never sang more. But later this story became a ballad called “The Twa Sisters[77]77
  The Twa Sisters – Две сестры


[Закрыть]”. It goes like this:

 
There lived a lady by the North Sea shore
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom[78]78
  Lay the bent to the bonnie broom. – Приложи полевицу к ведьминой метле. (В древности считалось, что перекрестье стебля полевицы с прутиком домашней метлы приносит удачу. Такие небольшие связки делались в качестве оберегов).


[Закрыть])
Two daughters were the babes she bore
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
As one grew bright as is the sun,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
So coal black grew the elder one.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
A knight came riding to the lady’s door,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
He’d travelled far to be their wooer.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
He courted one with gloves and rings,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
But he loved the other above all things.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
“Oh sister, will you go with me
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
To watch the ships sail on the sea?”
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
She took her sister by the hand
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And led her down to the North Sea strand.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
And as they stood on the windy shore
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
The dark girl threw her sister o’er[79]79
  threw her sister o’er – столкнула сестру вниз


[Закрыть].
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
Crying, “Sister, reach to me your hand!
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
“Oh Sister, Sister, let me live,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And all that’s mine I’ll surely give.”
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
“It’s your own true love that I’ll have and more,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
But thou shalt never come ashore[80]80
  thou shalt never come ashore = you’ll never come ashore – тебе никогда не выбраться на берег


[Закрыть].”
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
And there she floated like a swan,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
The salt sea bore her body on.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
Two minstrels walked along the strand
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And saw the maiden float to land.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
They made a harp of her breastbone,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
Whose sound would melt a heart of stone.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
They took three locks of her yellow hair,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
And with them strung the harp so rare.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
They went into her father’s hall
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
To play the harp before them all,
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
But when they laid it on a stone
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
The harp began to play alone.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
The first string sang a doleful sound:
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
“The bride her younger sister drowned.”
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 
 
The second string as that they tried,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
In terror sits the black-haired bride.
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
The third string sang beneath their bow,
(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom)
“And surely now her tears will flow[81]81
  And surely now her tears will flow. – И теперь наверняка прольются её слезы.


[Закрыть].”
(Fa la la la la la la la la la)
 

Упражнения

1. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. This is the tale of a man saved by his father.

2. This is the tale of a man drowned by his brother.

3. This is the tale of a girl drowned by her sister.

4. This is the tale of a girl saved by her sister.

2. Where does murdered girl’s body float?

1. The murdered girl’s body floats far away.

2. The murdered girl’s body floats nowhere.

3. The murdered girl’s body does not float.

4. The murdered girl’s body floats ashore.

3. What is a harp?

1. a musical instrument played using a keyboard

2. a popular musical instrument that makes sound by the playing of its six strings

3. a multi-string musical instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard

4. a musical instrument in the brass family

4. Why did the elder sister refuse to pull her younger sister out again?

1. Because she wanted to drown her younger sister.

2. Because she could not swim.

3. Because she wanted to teach her swim.

4. Because the younger sister was very heavy.

5. What is a Court?

1. a governmental institution

2. the retinue and larger household and entourage of a high nobleman

3. the place in which tennis matches are played

4. an indoor plaza

6. What is the elder sister’s motive?

1. jealousy

2. greediness

3. cowardice

4. laziness

7. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. The elder sister’s affections are greatly encouraged by the young man.

2. The elder sister’s affections are not encouraged by the young man.

3. The elder sister’s affections are not seen by the young man.

4. The elder sister’s affections make the young man satisfied.

8. What does it mean, “ Lay the bent to the bonnie broom”?

1. clean the house

2. cut some bushes

3. make a powerful talisman

4. destroy evil amulets

9. What is “twa”?

1. 3

2. 4

3. 6

4. 2

10. Выберите нужный глагол:

Fair and beautiful she looked as she _____________ there.

1. lay

2. lain

3. lie

4. lied

11. Выберите нужные глаголы:

The harp _____________ itself and _____________ about the murder.

1. dances, plays

2. plays, sings

3. sings, plays

4. talks, says

12. Выберите нужный предлог:

And when they got __________ the river’s bank the youngest got ________ a stone to watch _______ the coming_____ the boats.

1. of, for, upon, at

2. on, in, between, for

3. into, of, at, by

4. to, upon, for, of

13. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How many persons are mentioned in the story?

2. What is the name of the wooer?

3. What have you learned about the jealousy?

4. What do you like and what don’t you like in the story?

5. What would you do if you were[82]82
  What would you do if you were – что бы вы сделали на месте


[Закрыть] the main character of the story?

6. What is the end of the story?

7. Retell the story.

14. Заполните таблицу:

Ответы:

1. This is the tale of a girl drowned by her sister.

2. The murdered girl’s body floats ashore.

3. a multi-string musical instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard

4. Because she wanted to drown her younger sister.

5. the retinue and larger household and entourage of a high nobleman

6. jealousy

7. The elder sister’s affections are not encouraged by the young man.

8. make a powerful talisman

9. 2

10. lay: Fair and beautiful she looked as she lay there.

11. plays, sings: The harp plays itself and sings about the murder.

12. And when they got to the river’s bank the youngest got upon a stone to watch for the coming of the boats.

14.

Tom Thumb[83]83
  Tom Thumb – Мальчик-с-пальчик


[Закрыть]

In the days of the great King Arthur[84]84
  King Arthur – король Артур (легендарный вождь бриттов V–VI вв., разгромивший завоевателей-саксов)


[Закрыть] there lived a magician called Merlin[85]85
  Merlin – Мерлин (мудрец и волшебник, наставник и советник короля Артура)


[Закрыть]. He was the most wonderful magician in the world. This famous magician, who could take any form he wanted, was once travelling about as a poor beggar. One day he got very tired and stopped to rest at the house of a farmer. He knocked at the door and begged for some food.

The countryman invited him to come in, and his wife, who was a very kind woman, soon brought him some milk in a wooden bowl, and some brown bread on a plate.

Merlin was much pleased with the kindness of the farmer and his wife, but he noticed that though everything was tidy and comfortable in the house, they both looked unhappy. He asked them why they were so sad, and learned that they were unhappy because they had no children.

The poor woman said, with tears in her eyes, “I should be the happiest woman in the world if I had a son. Even if he was no bigger than my husband’s thumb, I would be pleased.”

Merlin was so much amused with the idea of a boy[86]86
  was so much amused with the idea of a boy – (ему) так понравилась мысль о мальчике


[Закрыть] no bigger than a man’s thumb, that he decided to carry out the poor woman’s wish[87]87
  to carry out the poor woman’s wish – исполнить желание бедной женщины


[Закрыть]. Some time after, the farmer’s wife had a son, who was not bigger than his father’s thumb.

The queen of the fairies wished to see the little boy. She came in at the window while the happy mother was sitting up in the bed looking at the boy. The queen kissed the child, gave it the name of Tom Thumb, and sent for some of the fairies. She gave orders to the fairies to dress the little boy, and the fairies dressed him very well.

Tom did not grow any bigger than his father’s thumb, which was an ordinary finger. But as he got older, he became very cunning and full of tricks. When he was old enough to play with other boys and had lost all his own cherry-stones[88]88
  cherry-stones – вишнёвые косточки


[Закрыть] for playing the games he usually crept into the bags of his friends and filled his pockets. No one noticed him. Then he joined in the game again.

One day as he was getting out of a bag of cherry-stones, the boy to whom it belonged saw him. “Ah, ah! You little thief!” said the boy, “you’ve stolen my cherry-stones. I’ve caught you at last.” And the boy gave the bag such a shake that poor little Tom’s legs and body were badly hurt, and Tom screamed with pain[89]89
  screamed with pain – закричал от боли


[Закрыть], and promised never to steal again.

A short time afterwards his mother was making a batter pudding, Tommy wanted to see how it was made and climbed up to the edge of the bowl. But his foot slipped, and he fell into the batter. His mother didn’t notice him, and put the batter into the pudding-bag. Then she put it in the pot to boil.

The batter filled Tom’s mouth, and he could not cry. But when he felt the hot water, he began to struggle so much in the pot that his mother thought that the pudding was magic. So she pulled it out of the pot and threw it outside the door. A poor worker, who was passing by, lifted up the pudding, and walked off. As Tom had now cleared his mouth of the batter, he began to scream. The worker was so frightened that he threw down the pudding and ran away. The pudding was broken to pieces, Tom crept out with the batter all over him, and walked home. His mother put him into a teacup, and soon washed off the batter. After that she kissed him, and put him to bed.

Soon after the adventure of the pudding, Tom’s mother went to milk her cow in the meadow, and she took the boy along with her. As the wind was very strong, she tied him to a thistle with a piece of thread. The cow soon saw Tom’s oak-leaf hat, and at once poor Tom and the thistle were in her mouth. Tom was afraid of her great teeth, and he roared out as loud as he could, “Mother! Mother!”

“Where are you, my son, my dear little son?” Tom’s mother asked.

“Here, Mother,” he answered, “in the red cow’s mouth.”

His mother began to cry; but the cow, surprised at the strange noise in her mouth, opened it and dropped Tom. His mother caught him in her apron as he was falling to the ground. Then she took Tom in her hand and ran home with him.

Tom’s father made him a whip of a barley straw[90]90
  a whip of a barley straw – хлыст из ячменной соломы


[Закрыть] to drive the cattle with[91]91
  to drive the cattle with – чтобы погонять им скот


[Закрыть]. One day Tom went into the fields, but his foot slipped and befell down. A bird, which was flying over the field, picked him up, and flew with him over the sea, and then dropped him.

A large fish swallowed Tom the moment he fell into the sea. The fish was soon caught and bought for the round table of King Arthur. When the cook opened the fish to cook it, everybody in the kitchen was surprised to find a little boy inside the fish, and Tom was happy to be free again. They carried him to the king, who was delighted with him and let him live in the palace. And soon he became a great favourite at court for his tricks and jokes. He amused not only the king and queen, but also all the Knights of the Round Table[92]92
  the Knights of the Round Table – рыцари Круглого стола (рыцари короля Артура, за Круглым столом заседали самые лучшие или самые важные рыцари)


[Закрыть].

When the king rode out on horseback, he often took Tom along with him. If it rained, Tom usually crept into the king’s pocket, where he slept till the rain was over.

One day King Arthur asked Tom about the parents, he wished to know if they were as small as Tom was, and if they were poor or rich. Tom told the king that his father and mother were as tall as anybody in the court, but they were not rich. When he heard this, the king carried Tom to the treasury, the place where he kept all his money, and told him to take as much money as he could carry home to his parents.

The poor little boy was very happy and at once he went to get a purse. He returned to the treasury with a purse which was made of a soap-bubble[93]93
  soap-bubble – мыльный пузырь


[Закрыть]. He received a silver coin and put it into his purse.

It was very difficult for the little boy to lift the purse and put it upon his back. But at last he went on his journey. More than a hundred times he rested by the way, and in two days and two nights he finally reached his father’s house safely.

Tom had travelled many hours with a great heavy silver coin on his back. He was almost tired to death[94]94
  almost tired to death – устал почти до смерти


[Закрыть], when his mother ran out to meet him and carried him into the house. She was very glad to see her son, but Tom soon returned to the king’s court.

As Tom’s clothes were spoilt after the batter-pudding, and the fish, the king ordered to make new clothes for Tom. The king also gave him a mouse to ride. He sat on it like a proud knight.

And Tom Thumb in his fine clothes rode out on his mouse to hunt with the king and his knights. They all liked to look at Tom and laugh as he sat on his fine “horse”.

The king loved Tom so much that he ordered his men to make a little chair for him, and he was sitting on the king’s table when he had his meals. Moreover, the little boy was also given a golden palace to live in and a coach drawn by eight small mice[95]95
  a coach drawn by eight small mice – карета, которую везли восемь маленьких мышек


[Закрыть]. So Tom lived happily at King Arthur’s court[96]96
  at King Arthur’s court – при дворе короля Артура


[Закрыть] until he died.

The Princess of Canterbury[97]97
  The Princess of Canterbury – Принцесса Кентербери


[Закрыть]

In the old days, when there were more than one king in this country, one of them was king of Canterbury. He had an only daughter, wise, fair, beautiful, and unmarried.

The king had it proclaimed that whoever would watch one night with his daughter and neither sleep nor doze at the time, should have her the next day in marriage. But if he did not stay awake, he should lose his head.

Such bargains were not uncommon in those days. Many knights did their best[98]98
  did their best – старались изо всех сил


[Закрыть], but failed and lost their lives.

Now a young shepherd, named John, grazing his flock near the road, said to his master, “Sir, I see many gentlemen ride to the court at Canterbury, but I never see them return again.”

“Shepherd,” said his master, “I know not how you should[99]99
  I know not how you should. – Понятно, что ты их не видишь.


[Закрыть], for they try to watch with the king’s daughter, and all who fail lose their heads.”

“Well,” said the shepherd, “I’ll try my worth, folly or luck[100]100
  I’ll try my worth, folly or luck. – Попытаю-ка я свою судьбу.


[Закрыть]; so now for a king’s daughter, or a headless shepherd!”

And taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to the court to try his fortune. On his way he had to cross a river. He pulled off his shoes and stockings, and while he was passing over he observed several pretty fish bobbing against his feet. He caught some and put them into his pocket. When he reached the palace, he knocked at the gate loudly with his shepherd’s staff.

As soon as[101]101
  as soon as – как только


[Закрыть] he said why he was visiting, he was taken to a hall where the king’s daughter sat ready, prepared to receive her lovers. He was placed in a luxurious chair, and rich wines and spices were set before him, and all sorts of delicate meals. The shepherd was unused to such fare, and ate and drank plentifully, so that he was nearly dozing before midnight.

“Shepherd,” said the lady, “I have caught you sleeping!”

“No, sweet ally[102]102
  sweet ally – милая


[Закрыть], I was busy fishing.”

“Fishing?” said the princess in surprise. “No, shepherd, there is no fish-pond in the hall.”

“No matter that[103]103
  No matter that. – И не надо.


[Закрыть], I have been fishing in my pocket, and have just caught one.”

‘‘Oh my![104]104
  Oh my! – Надо же!


[Закрыть]” said she. “Let me see it[105]105
  Let me see it. – Дай-ка я посмотрю.


[Закрыть].”

The shepherd cleverly drew a fish out of his pocket and showed it to her, and she said it was the finest she had ever seen.

About half an hour afterwards, she said, “Shepherd, do you think you could get me one more?”

He replied, “Maybe,” and after a little while he brought out another. It was finer than the first, and the princess was so delighted that she gave him leave to go to sleep[106]106
  she gave him leave to go to sleep – она отпустила его спать


[Закрыть], and promised to excuse him to her father[107]107
  excuse him to her father – оправдать его перед отцом


[Закрыть].

In the morning the princess told the king to his great astonishment that the shepherd must not be beheaded, for he had been fishing in the hall all night. The shepherd agreed.

But when the king heard how the shepherd had caught such beautiful fish out of his pocket, he asked him to catch one in his own royal pocket.

The shepherd agreed, bid the king lie down, and pretended to fish in his pocket while he had another fish hidden and ready in his hand. At last he gave the king a prick with a needle, held up the fish, and showed it to the king.

And even though the king did not delight in such a fishing method, nevertheless the princess and shepherd were united the same day and lived for many years together.