Самые лучшие английские легенды / The Best English Legends

Подготовка текста, комментарии, упражнения и словарь С. А. Матвеева

Иллюстрации М. М. Салтыкова

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2017

The Wishing Ring[1]

Once upon a time there lived a young farmer. He worked very hard, and yet he was quite poor. One day he ploughed his field. Suddenly a strange woman appeared before him. And this is what she said to him:

“Why are you working so hard, and all for nothing?[2] Listen to me. Go straight on for two days until you come to a great oak. This oak stands by itself[3] and is higher than all the other trees. Fell it, and your fortune is made.[4]” And she disappeared as suddenly as she appeared.

The farmer took his axe and started on his way. He went straight on for two days. At the end of the two days he came to a place where he saw a great oak which stood by itself and was higher than the other trees.

“Now I see that the woman told me the truth,” said the farmer to himself. “I must do what she said.” And he began to fell the tree at once.

When the tree came down, a bird’s nest fell on the ground. Two little eggs in the nest were broken. From one of them came a gold ring, from the other a wonderful bird. The bird grew and grew until it was very large. It became so large that the farmer was frightened. But the wonderful bird spoke to him in a very kind voice.

“You have set me free,[5]” said the bird, “and I want to thank you for it. I shall give you the ring that was in the other egg. It isn’t an ordinary ring. It is a wishing ring. If you turn it on your finger, and say to yourself a wish, your wish will come true.[6] But you can only have one wish. After that the wishing ring will become an ordinary ring. So you must think carefully before you say your wish.”

And with these words the bird flew away. The farmer put the ring on his finger and started on the way home. In the evening he came to a town and went to a goldsmith who had many gold rings in his shop. The farmer showed him the ring and asked what it was worth.

“Next to nothing,[7]” answered the goldsmith.

The farmer laughed aloud and said, “You don’t understand anything. It is a wishing ring. It is worth more than all the rings in your shop put together.”

That goldsmith became silent; he was greedy enough. Though he was very rich, he always wanted to have more money. So he asked the farmer to stay at his house for the night.

“It will bring me good fortune,[8]” he said, “if a man with such a wonderful ring spends the night here.”

The goldsmith gave the farmer some bottles of wine to drink and talked to him like a friend. But he was a false friend, indeed! At night, when the farmer was fast asleep, he took the ring from his finger, and put another one in its place, which looked just like the wishing ring.

In the morning the goldsmith could hardly wait[9] until his guest left his house. As soon as the farmer went away, he hurried to his shop, closed the shutters, locked the door, turned the ring on his finger and said, “I wish to have a hundred thousand sovereigns.[10]”

As soon as he said these words the sovereigns began to come raining down.[11] The sovereigns fell on his head, his shoulders, his arms; they fell all over his body. He tried to get to the door, but the rain of gold made it impossible. Soon the gold covered all his body. He couldn’t move, and it still rained. At last the floor could bear the weight no longer, and the goldsmith and the gold fell into the cellar.

When the neighbours heard the terrible noise, they came running and broke open the door. But they were too late. The greedy goldsmith was already dead.

So they sighed and said, “What a misfortune it is to have so much money!” And they all put in their pockets as much money as they could carry and went away.

Meanwhile the farmer came home and showed the ring to his wife.

“We are lucky people,” he said, “our fortune is made. But we must be careful. We must choose the right wish.”

His wife was delighted.

“Let’s wish for some more land,” she said. “There is a nice bit of land between two of our fields. What do you say to that? I think it’s the best wish we can have.”

But the farmer answered, “I am sure we can wish for something better than that. If we work hard for a year, we shall perhaps be able to buy this bit of land.”

So they worked very hard for a year and as the harvest was good, they had enough money to buy that bit of land easily.

“You see,” said the farmer to his wife with a smile, “we have that bit of land now, and we still have our wish.”

“Then perhaps we shall wish for a cow and a horse?” offered his wife. “Our life will be easier then. We shall not have to work so much.”

“My good wife,” said the farmer, “let’s not waste our wish, just for nothing.[12] I think we shall get a horse and a cow even without it.”

So they again worked day and night for a year and the harvest was good again. At the end of the second year they had enough money to buy a horse and a cow. The farmer was very pleased and said, “Again we have got what we wanted, and we still have our wish. What lucky people we are!”

But his wife did not agree with him. She was very angry with her husband.

“You cant’ say that!” she cried. “I really can’t understand you. I wonder at you. You always complained that we had to work so much. You always wanted to have many nice and useful things. And now when you can have anything you desire, you work from morning till night and make me work as much.[13] We work and work and work. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.[14] And the best years of our lives go by. You might be a great man – a king I dare say! You might have your cellars full of silver and gold. And you are nothing, just because you cannot decide what to wish and cannot use your wishing ring.”

“Stop worrying about this wish,” the farmer answered firmly. “We are both still young, and life is long. Remember there is only one wish in the ring. It is very easy to make a mistake. And if we make a mistake, we shall be so unhappy. We shall never forgive ourselves. No, no! We must keep our wishing ring. It has already brought us good fortune. We must not use it yet. Be reasonable, my dear. Cheer up and try to choose the best wish.”

What the farmer said was true. The ring really brought them good fortune. But they both still worked hard all day. And in the evening the farmer usually sat on the steps, smoked his pipe and talked with his neighbours.

The years went by, their children grew up, but the farmer still kept his wish. Sometimes his wife spoke to him about it, but he always answered,

“No, no, my dear. We have still a lot of time. We must not use our wishing ring yet.”

At last she saw that she couldn’t make him use the ring and gave up speaking about it.[15] Though the farmer often looked at his ring and even turned it on his finger, he never said a wish. Thirty, forty years went by. The farmer and his wife grew old, their hair was white as snow.

And so they lived happily on till one day, when they both died together, at the same time. Their children and grand-children stood around them and cried. The youngest son wanted to take the ring from the father’s finger as a remembrance; but the eldest son said,

“No, don’t take the ring. Let our dear Father keep it. He liked it so much. And Mother also often looked at it. Perhaps she once gave it to Father, when they were young.”

So they left the ring on the finger of the old farmer, who always thought it was a wishing ring, though it was not. And yet the ring had brought him as much happiness as a man could wish. Indeed, a bad thing in good hands is better than a good thing in bad hands.

Binnorie[16]

Once upon a time[17] there were two king’s daughters. They lived in a bower near the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie. And Sir William[18] came wooing the eldest and won her love and plighted troth[19] with glove and with ring. But after a time[20] 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.[21] So she hated her sister for taking away Sir William’s love, and day by day[22] her hate grew upon her, and she plotted and she planned how to get rid of her.[23]

So one fine morning, fair and clear, she said to her sister, “Let us go[24] 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.[25]”

“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[26] me and my own heart’s love.[27]”

“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.[28] There’s something white – a merrymaid[29] 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[30] 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[31] and be glad or sorrow and weep just as he liked.[32] 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.[33]

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,[34]

And yonder stands my brother Hugh,[35]

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[36]”. It goes like this:

There lived a lady by the North Sea shore

(Lay the bent to the bonnie broom[37])

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.[38]

(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.[39]”

(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.[40]”

(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[41] 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[42]

In the days of the great King Arthur[43] there lived a magician called Merlin.[44] 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[45] no bigger than a man’s thumb, that he decided to carry out the poor woman’s wish.[46] 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[47] 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,[48] 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[49] to drive the cattle with.[50] 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.[51]

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.[52] 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,[53] 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.[54] So Tom lived happily at King Arthur’s court[55] until he died.

The Princess of Canterbury[56]

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,[57] 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,[58] 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;[59] 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[60] 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,[61] I was busy fishing.”

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

“No matter that,[62] I have been fishing in my pocket, and have just caught one.”

‘‘Oh my![63]” said she. “Let me see it.[64]”

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,[65] and promised to excuse him to her father.[66]

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.

УПРАЖНЕНИЯ

1. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. Taking his bead, he trudged to the court to try his fortune.

2. Taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to the court to try his fortune.

3. Taking his sheep, he trudged to the court to try his fortune.

4. Taking his children, he trudged to the court to try his fortune.

2. Where did he put several pretty fish?

1. He put them into his bag.

2. He put them into his socks.

3. He put them into his pocket.

4. He put them into his mouth.

3. Who is a shepherd?

1. a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards herds of sheep

2. a person who works with natural wood

3. a person who produces musical sounds with the voice

4. an individual who owns or runs a shop

4. Why was the shepherd nearly dozing before midnight?

1. Because he was working hard.

2. Because he liked to sleep.

3. Because there were some nice beds in the hall.

4. Because he had not slept for a long time.

5. sweet ally = _____________

1. my brother

2. my dear

3. good food

4. candy and sugar

6. What is a fish pond?

1. a natural watercourse, flowing towards an ocean

2. the body of salty water

3. a part of the ocean

4. a pond that is stocked with fish

7. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. I have been fished in my pocket.

2. I have been fishing in my pocket.

3. I have fishing in my pocket.

4. I been fishing in my pocket.

8. What does it mean, “she gave him leave to go to sleep”?

1. she disturbed his sleep

2. he was dreaming about her

3. she refused to marry him

4. he asked her where he could sleep

9. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. The shepherd bidden the king lie down.

2. The shepherd bid the king lay down.

3. The shepherd bid the king lie down.

4. The shepherd was bidding the king lie down.

10. Выберите нужный глагол:

The shepherd _____________ the king a prick with a needle.

1. gave

2. made

3. took

4. put

11. Выберите нужные глаголы:

Shepherd, do you _____________ you _____________ get me one more?

1. thought, could

2. can, thought

3. think, could

4. think, will

12. Выберите нужный предлог:

He pulled _____________ his shoes and stockings.

1. on

2. out

3. of

4. off

13. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How many persons are mentioned in the story?

2. What is the name of the shepherd?

3. What have you learned about the fishing?

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

5. What would you do if you were the main character of the story?

6. What is the end of the story?

7. Retell the story.

14. Заполните таблицу:

ОТВЕТЫ:

1. Taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to the court to try his fortune.

2. He put them into his pocket.

3. a person who tends, herds, feeds, or guards herds of sheep

4. Because he was unused to such fare.

5. sweet ally = my dear

6. a pond that is stocked with fish

7. I have been fishing in my pocket.

8. she allowed him to sleep

9. The shepherd bid the king lie down.

10. gave: The shepherd gave the king a prick with a needle.

11. think, could: Shepherd, do you think you could get me one more?

12. He pulled off his shoes and stockings.

14.

Lady Godiva[67]

Some 900 years ago an extraordinary occurrence took place on Market Day in the English midlands town of Coventry.[68]

Lady Godiva was the wife of Earl Leofric of Mercia,[69] one of the most powerful men in England. Earl Leofric was one of the all-powerful lords who ruled England under the Danish King Canute.[70] Lady Godiva was a wealthy and powerful woman. Lady Godiva was a rich landowner in her own right and one of her most valuable properties was Coventry.

Leofric was a tyrant, he tyrannised the Church and did not hold the same religious convictions as his wife.

The Earl’s taxes were very high, and people in Coventry was very upset about it. So the people were burdened terribly by taxes. Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who were suffering grievously under her husband’s oppressive taxation. Lady Godiva begged her husband to lower the taxes many times, but he never agreed to. Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to remit the tolls.

In order to arrange for tax relief, she needled her husband Leofric at every opportunity until one day he made her a rash promise. Finally, the Earl told Lady Godiva that if she rode through the streets completely naked, he would grant her request and lower the taxes:

“Mount your horse, and ride naked, before all the people, through the market of the town, from one end to the other, and on your return you shall have your request.[71]”

Clearly Leofric meant it as a joke for he considered his wife to be practically a religious woman. The very idea that Godiva would agree to his challenge took him completely by surprise. He was quite sure that his demure, modest wife would never do such a thing.

But Godiva thought that her nudity would be interpreted as a sign of her humility and repentance before God. She was not ashamed of her nudity. On Leofric’s words Godiva replied:

“But will you give me permission, if I am willing to do it?”

“I will,” said he.

So great was Godiva’s compassion for the people of Coventry that she overcame her horror of doing this. The Countess sent a message through town that told everyone to close their shutters and stay indoors. Then she loosed her hair and let down her tresses, which covered the whole of her body like a veil, and then mounting her horse and attended by two knights, she rode through the market-place, without being seen,[72] except her fair legs. So Godiva rode through town only clothed by her hair. She rode through the silent streets unseen by the people, who had obeyed her command because of their respect for her.

When she had completed the journey, she returned with gladness to her astonished husband, and obtained of him what she had asked. The Earl gave in and lowered the taxes of the town: he freed the town of Coventry and its inhabitants from the service, and confirmed what he had done by a charter.

However, only one man was unable to resist the temptation to peep at the Countess. It was a tailor named Tom who drilled a hole through his shutters, so that he might see Godiva pass.[73] He caught a glimpse of Lady Godiva, and before he could satisfy his gaze he was struck blind.[74] He was blinded by the wrath of Heaven. This is where the phrase “Peeping Tom[75]” for a voyeur[76] comes from. Tom’s nickname has become synonymous with pervert.[77]

Leofric was forced to pretend the whole thing was a miracle, which in a way it was, since almost no one did see her nudity. But the worst thing about this was that he had to grant the tax break.

Lady Godiva, as Countess of Mercia, had personal charge over the good people of Coventry. Her name Godiva is the Latin form of the Saxon name Godgifu or Godgyfu, meaning God’s gift. There were many celebrations to remember Lady Godiva’s courage. A pageant is held annually in Coventry[78] to re-enact Lady Godiva’s original route through the town.

Beowulf[79]

Once, long ago,[80] the Danish land owned a mighty monarch, Scyld Scefing,[81] the founder of a great dynasty, the Scyldings.[82] This famous king Scyld had come to Denmark in a mysterious manner, since no man knew whence he sprang. As a babe he drifted to the Danish shore in a vessel loaded with treasures; but no man was with him, and there was no token to show his kindred and race. When Scyld grew up he increased the power of Denmark and enlarged its borders; his fame spread far and wide among men. He and his warriors sailed far over the sea, conquered many tribes and forced them to pay tribute to him. His glory shone undimmed until the day when, full of years and honours, he died.

When Scyld died, his men took his body to the shore of the ocean where, in the harbour, stood Scyld’s ship, ready for a journey across the ocean. They laid him on the deck of the ship. Then they brought there many treasures, also his weapons and armour, and put a golden banner high over his head. Then, with sad hearts, they let the ocean carry him away. Nobody ever knew what happened to that ship. The sorrowing people restored Scyld to the mysterious ocean from which he had come to them.

After Scyld, his grandson ruled the fierce vikings. The descendants of Scyld ruled and prospered till the days of his great-grandson Hrothgar.[83]

Hrothgar was a mighty warrior and conqueror, who won glory in battle, and whose fame spread wide among men, so that nobly born warriors, his kinsmen, were glad to serve as his bodyguard and to fight for him loyally in strife. He was very successful in war and his warriors obeyed him gladly; they received much tribute, and soon his groups of warriors grew into a large and mighty army.

Then Hrothgar decided to build a great hall, the greatest and tallest and most beautiful in the world, in which he could hold feasts[84] and banquets, and could entertain his warriors and thanes,[85] and visitors from afar. He sent orders to many tribes to come and help to build the hall. They came and very quickly the banquet hall was ready. So King Hrothgar constructed the great hall Heorot[86] for his people. In it he, his wife, and his warriors spent their time singing and celebrating. At the first grand feast that Hrothgar held in the great banquet hall, he gave many precious gifts of rings and jewels and other things to his thanes and warriors. The musicians played their harps, the bards sang, and there was plenty of the best food and wine on the tables. Thus Hrothgar and his men lived a joyful and happy life until a cruel stranger appeared among them.

What happened? Day by day[87] the feasting continued, until its noise and the festal joy of its revellers aroused a mighty enemy. Grendel[88] was a terrible troll-like monster, a man-eater, powerful, evil and cruel. This monstrous being, half-man, half-fiend, dwelt in the fens near the hill on which Heorot stood. Terrible was he, dangerous to men, of extraordinary strength, human in shape but gigantic of stature, covered with a green horny skin, on which the sword would not bite. His race, all sea-monsters, giants, goblins,[89] and evil demons, were offspring of Cain.[90]

Grendel was pained by the noise. He did not like people and he did not like the merry life in the banquet hall. Grendel was one of mankind’s most bitter enemies;[91] his hatred of the joyous shouts from Heorot, and his determination to stop the feasting grew on. One night he went to the hall to see what the king and his men did there. The door was open and he saw a company of thanes and warriors sitting at the tables or lying on the floor, and all of them were asleep after the feast. Grendel attacked the hall and killed and devoured thirty of Hrothgar’s warriors while they were sleeping. But Grendel did not touch the throne of Hrothgar, for it was protected by a powerful god.

When dawn broke, and the Danes[92] from their dwellings around the hall entered Heorot, great was the lamentation, and dire the dismay, for thirty noble champions had vanished, and the blood-stained tracks of the monster showed but too well the fate that had overtaken them. Hrothgar’s grief was profound, for he had lost thirty of his dearly loved bodyguards, and he himself was too old to wage a conflict[93] against the foe – a foe who repeated night by night his awful deeds.

The people were looking at the tracks of the terrible stranger on the floor of the hall. They knew that it was Grendel. “He will come again and again,” they said. “We are not safe here now.” Hrothgar and his people, helpless against Grendel’s attacks, abandoned Heorot. No champion would face the monster, and the Danes, in despair, deserted the glorious hall of which they had been so proud. Many of the thanes were frightened, and ran away and hid themselves in places where they thought the monster could not find them.

There were now fewer men in the banquet hall. And when Grendel came again one night, there was a very long struggle, but Grendel was a demon and had the strength of a demon. And so he killed some of the men and again ran away with them to the moor and devoured them.

Hrothgar could do nothing. The monster came now not only to the banquet hall, but to the houses of the people, and soon many houses were empty. And Grendel continued to kill.

The deeds of Grendel became known in all the countries of that time. Far and wide[94] spread the tidings of this terrible oppression, and many champions came from afar[95] to offer King Hrothgar their aid, but none was heroic enough to conquer the monster, and many mighty warriors lost their lives in a vain struggle against Grendel. At length[96] even these bold adventurers ceased to come; Grendel remained master of Heorot, he came often at night to the hall and slept there, and the Danes settled down in misery under the bondage of a perpetual nightly terror, while Hrothgar grew old in helpless longing for strength to rescue his people from their foe.

Twelve long years passed and there was great sorrow in the land. Hrothgar wanted to give Grendel much gold to end the war between them, but the monster refused. The banquet hall was empty now at night and there were no more feasts there. Those who had to cross the moors were in great danger, for Grendel watched for them, and caught and killed many. Many strong and brave men often sat in council[97] with Hrothgar to decide what to do.

Beowulf, a young warrior who lived in a land far from the Danes, heard of Hrothgar’s troubles and left his homeland to help Hrothgar.

When Beowulf with his men came to Hrothgar, he said: “O great king! We have heard about the terrible monster that comes in the dark nights and destroys your people. Perhaps I can help you to overcome this demon.”

“I knew you when you were a child,” said Hrothgar. “Your father was a brave warrior. Now his son has come for a friendly purpose. Your fame has come hither before you; seafarers have told me that you have the might of thirty men in your hand-grip. Great joy it is to know of your coming. If you succeed in killing Grendel, great treasures will I bestow upon you.”

Beowulf said, “I know that this monster does not use any weapons, so I shall fight with him with my hands, without armour. If he kills me, he will take my body to his home. Then I ask you to send my armour back to my country.”

The aged King Hrothgar, who had listened attentively while the hero spoke of his plans and of his possible fate, said, “I shall do what you ask. Grendel has caused us much sorrow with his hatred. I know you will kill the monster. Now let us sit down and have a feast.”

So a company of warriors sat down at the table and ate and drank, and the bards sang and it was merry again in the banquet hall. Thereupon room was made for the warriors on the long benches, and Beowulf sat in the place of honour opposite to the king: great respect was shown to him, and all men looked with wonder on this mighty hero. When evening came, Hrothgar rose to leave the hall with his men. Then the king said to Beowulf, “I trust this great hall of the Danes to you and your men. Have courage, watch for the enemy.[98] Every wish that you have shall be granted[99] if you kill the monster Grendel.”

Then Beowulf and his warriors were alone. Beowulf lay down on the floor and waited for Grendel. Then Grendel came from the moor, an awful light like fire came from his eyes. In the hall he saw a company of sleeping men and laughed loudly, as he expected to have a great meal before dawn. Grendel entered the hall and attacked, devouring one of Beowulf’s men. He stepped further into the hall and seized Beowulf, lying on the floor. Beowulf was sleeping and leaped up to clench Grendel’s hand.

The monster felt the strength of thirty men in that grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened. He wanted to escape and run away to the moor, but he could not free himself from Beowulf’s grip, and his bones cracked. Beowulf held the monster fast, and Grendel knew that his death was near.

Beowulf’s retainers drew their swords and rushed to his aid, but their blades could not pierce Grendel’s skin. The companions of Beowulf, with their swords, struck the monster on every side, but they did not know that no weapon could touch him, for he was a demon. But as much as he struggled,[100] he could not free himself from Beowulf’s grip. At last[101] Beowulf tore the arm out of Grendel’s body and a great wound appeared on the shoulder of the monster. Grendel ran to his home in the moor to die.

Everybody talked about the fame of Beowulf – that in all the world there was not a braver warrior than he. Then a famous bard composed a song about the killing of Grendel. The king greeted Beowulf and embraced him, and said, “We have suffered much from Grendel. Now you, Beowulf, the best of men, have done that which all of us could not do.[102] I wish to take you into my heart as a son. Your fame will live forever because of the deed which you have performed.”

The king and queen gave many precious gifts to Beowulf, beautiful horses and weapons and armour with precious jewels. Hrothgar did not forget Beowulf’s warriors, and gave to each a valuable reward for his loyalty and courage. He did not forget the warrior killed by Grendel and gave much gold to Beowulf for the man’s wife and children. The feasting stopped for a few moments[103] to honour the memory of that warrior.

They did not leave the hall when it became dark, for now they had nothing to fear. So there was music and singing and feasting far into the night.[104]

The next night, after celebrating Grendel’s defeat, Hrothgar and his men were sleeping in Heorot. Grendel had gone home to die, but his mother, a fiend scarcely less terrible than her son,[105] yet lived to avenge his death. She arose from her dwelling in the gloomy lake. Angered by the punishment of her son, Grendel’s mother appeared and attacked the hall. There was a horrible panic when her presence became known, and men ran hither and thither[106] vainly seeking to attack her. Grendel’s mother killed Hrothgar’s most trusted warrior, Aeschere,[107] in revenge for Grendel’s defeat. Then she ran away.

Hrothgar burst forth in uncontrollable emotion: “O Beowulf, help us if you can! Help is only to be found in you.[108] But yet you know not the dangerous place you must explore it if you seek the fiend in her den. I will richly reward your valour if you return alive from this hazardous journey.”

Beowulf was touched by the sorrow of the grey-haired king, and replied, “Arise, my lord; let us scan the track left by the monster, for I promise you I will never lose it, wheresoever it may lead me.” So Hrothgar, Beowulf and their men tracked Grendel’s mother to her lair under a lake.[109] Beowulf prepared himself for battle, and went into the lake. He was swiftly detected and attacked by Grendel’s mother. However, she was unable to harm Beowulf through his armour and dragged him to the bottom of the lake. In a cavern containing Grendel’s body and the remains of men that the two had killed, Grendel’s mother and Beowulf engaged in fierce combat.

At first, Grendel’s mother appeared to prevail. Beowulf, finding that his sword could not harm his foe, discarded it in fury. But Grendel’s mother had a magic sword which she kept in that cavern. Beowulf grabbed the magical sword, and with it won her. Travelling further into the lair, Beowulf discovered Grendel’s dying body and severed its head. The blade of the magic sword melted like ice when it touched Grendel’s toxic blood, until only the hilt was left. This hilt was the only treasure that Beowulf carried out of cavern, which he presented to Hrothgar upon his return[110] to Heorot. Hrothgar gave Beowulf many gifts, including the magic sword, his family’s heirloom.[111]

Beowulf returned home and eventually became king of his own people. He ruled the kingdom for many years. During that time he performed many great deeds.

One day, fifty years after Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother, a slave stole a golden cup from the lair of a dragon. When the dragon saw that the cup had been stolen, it left its cave in a rage, burning everything in sight. Beowulf and his warriors came to fight the dragon, but Beowulf told his men that he would fight the dragon alone and that they should wait on the barrow. Beowulf descended to do battle with the dragon but found himself outmatched. His men, upon seeing this display and fearing for their lives, crept back into the woods. One of his men, however, Wiglaf,[112] who found great distress in seeing Beowulf’s plight, came to Beowulf’s aid. The two killed the dragon, but Beowulf was mortally wounded.

Beowulf was buried on a cliff. The dragon’s treasure was buried with him, in accordance with Beowulf’s wishes,[113] rather than distributed to his people, and there is a curse associated with the hoard to ensure that Beowulf’s wish is kept.

УПРАЖНЕНИЯ

1. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. Scyld Scefing had come to Denmark in a boat loaded with bottles of rum.

2. Scyld Scefing had come to England in a vessel loaded with treasures.

3. Scyld Scefing had come to Denmark in a vessel loaded with treasures.

4. Scyld Scefing had come to Denmark in a big ship.

2. What colour was the banner which Scyld’s men put over his head when he died?

1. red.

2. black.

3. white.

4. golden.

3. Who (or what) is Heorot?

1. a mighty warrior.

2. the great hall.

3. a conqueror.

4. a king.

4. A goblin is

1. a legendary evil or mischievous grotesque dwarf-like creature.

2. a legendary creature with magic powers and supernatural beauty.

3. a big and ugly creature that dwells in isolated rocks.

4. a small, humanoid creature that lives underground.

5. What did Cain do?

1. Cain created his brother from one of his ribs.

2. Cain ate fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden.

3. Cain created the world.

4. Cain committed the first murder by killing his brother.

6. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. The feasting stopped for a few moments to honour the memory of the warrior.

2. The feasting stopped for few moments to honour the memory of the warrior.

3. The feasting stopped for a little moments to honour the memory of the warrior.

4. The feasting stopped for little moments to honour the memory of the warrior.

7. О ком здесь говорится:

Terrible was he, dangerous to men, of extraordinary strength, human in shape but gigantic of stature, covered with a green horny skin

1. Hrothgar

2. Wiglaf

3. Grendel

4. Aeschere

8. Выберите нужный глагол:

The monster _____________ the strength of thirty men in the grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened.

1. The monster will feel the strength of thirty men in the grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened.

2. The monster feeling the strength of thirty men in the grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened.

3. The monster felt the strength of thirty men in the grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened.

4. The monster feet the strength of thirty men in the grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened.

9. Выберите нужные глаголы:

If you _____________ in killing Grendel, great treasures will I _____________ upon you.

1. succeed, bestow

2. succeeded, bestow

3. succeed, bestowed

4. succeeding, bestow

10. Выберите нужный предлог:

Many mighty warriors lost their lives _____________ a vain struggle against Grendel.

1. on

2. at

3. in

4. by

11. Заполните таблицу:

ОТВЕТЫ:

1. Scyld Scefing had come to Denmark in a vessel loaded with treasures.

2. golden.

3. the great hall.

4. A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous grotesque dwarf-like creature

5. Cain committed the first murder by killing his brother.

6. The feasting stopped for a few moments to honour the memory of the warrior.

7. Grendel

8. felt: The monster felt the strength of thirty men in the grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened.

9. succeed, bestow: If you succeed in killing Grendel, great treasures will I bestow upon you.

10. in: Many mighty warriors lost their lives in a vain struggle against Grendel.

11.

Catskin[114]

There was once a princess[115] whose mother died when she was born. She grew up very beautiful, with lovely golden hair. Her father wanted her to marry against her will.[116] So she thought of a plan to put off the wedding.[117] She asked to make her three new dresses. One was to be[118] golden like the sun, the second was to be silver like the moon, and the third must sparkle like the stars. She also asked for a fur cloak with a hood made of a thousand different skins from a thousand different animals. The princess said to herself, “It will be very difficult to make these clothes, and the wedding will be put off for a long time.”

But her father set all his best workers to make the three dresses, and his hunters took a tiny piece from the fur of a thousand different animals and a cloak with a hood was made. So the dresses and the cloak were soon ready and the wedding could not be put off much longer.[119]

At night the princess got up secretly and took from her jewel box a gold ring, a gold necklace and a gold brooch.

Then she took the golden dress like the sun and the silver dress like the moon and the dress that sparkled like the stars, and folded them. They were so light and so magic that she could pack all three into a nutshell.[120] She put on her fur cloak and pulled the hood over her golden hair, and rubbed soot on her face and hands so that no one would know who she was.[121] Then she left her father’s palace. She walked till she was tired, and when she came to a hollow tree she crept inside and fell asleep.

Next day the king of the neighbouring country was hunting, and his hunters found the girl in her fur cloak, asleep in the tree. When the dogs barked, she woke up and was very frightened. She said, “I am a poor girl and I have no parents. Please take me with you.”

“Yes, Miss Catskin,” said the hunters. “We shall take you with us and you can work in the kitchen.”

And they took her to the palace and showed her a little dark room under the stairs and said, “You can sleep there, Catskin.”

They thought it was quite a good room for a girl who had sooty hands[122] and a sooty face.

She had to work very hard in the kitchen. She fetched water and wood, looked after the fires and raked out the ashes. At night she often cried in her little dark room.

One day there was a feast in the king’s palace and she asked the cook, “May I go and watch the fine ladies and gentlemen?”

“You can go for just half-an-hour,” said the cook, “and then you must come back and rake out the ashes.”

So Catskin washed the soot off her face and hands, and went into her little room. She opened the nutshell, shook out her golden dress, and put it on. She went to the party and no one knew who she was. The king thought she was very beautiful and danced with her himself.

When the dance was over, she slipped away to her tiny bedroom, took off her golden dress, put on her fur cloak, and blackened her hands and face with soot. She began to rake out the ashes, but the cook, who wanted to have a look at the fine people herself, said:

“Heat up the king’s soup and don’t let even a hair fall in it[123] or you’ll be in trouble.”

So Catskin heated up the king’s soup, fetched her gold ring and put it at the bottom of the bowl.

When the king ate the soup, he liked it very much. Then he was surprised to find the gold ring lying at the bottom. He asked who made the soup.

“I did,” said the cook.

“That is not true,” said the king. “It tasted better than the soup you make.”

Then the cook said it was Catskin who had made the soup. So the king sent for Catskin and asked her who she was.

Catskin only answered that she was a poor orphan and was good for nothing but[124] to do dirty jobs in the kitchen.

He asked her if she knew how the gold ring got into the soup, but she shook her head.

Later on there was another feast at the palace and again Catskin asked the cook, “May I go and watch?”

“Yes,” said the cook, “but be back in half-an-hour to make the king’s soup because he likes the way you make it.”

So Catskin ran to her little room and washed herself carefully. Then she opened the nutshell, shook out the silver dress, and put it on. The king was very glad to see her again and they danced together. When the dance was over, she slipped away and dressed herself as Catskin again. Then she cooked the king’s soup and put her gold necklace at the bottom of the bowl.

Once again the king sent for her and asked her if she knew anything about the gold necklace. She answered as before that she was a poor girl who could only do dirty jobs in the kitchen, and knew nothing about the necklace.

Some time later the king ordered a third feast to be held. Catskin washed herself again, opened the nutshell and shook out the dress that sparkled like the stars and put it on. The king was so very glad to see her again that he held her hand very tightly as they danced, and when she was not looking, he slipped a gold ring on her finger.[125]

When she left the party, it was very late, and she threw her fur cloak over her fine dress, and she did not rub the soot properly on her face and hands. One finger was left white. She cooked the king’s soup and put her gold brooch at the bottom of the bowl.

When the king had finished eating his soup, and found the gold brooch at the bottom, he sent for Catskin. He soon noticed the one white finger with the ring he had put on it. He took her sooty hand in his, and when she tried to pull it away, the fur cloak slipped a little, and her dress sparkled like the stars.

The king took off her fur cloak and saw how beautiful she was with her golden hair and her shining dress. He fell in love with her at once. Then she washed the soot off herself so that she looked even more beautiful than before. Everyone saw that she was a real princess. So Catskin told her story to the king. In a few days they were married and lived happily ever afterwards.

УПРАЖНЕНИЯ

1. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. The queen puts on the catskin coat and runs away, disguising herself as a peasant woman.

2. The princess puts on the catskin coat and runs away, disguising herself as a peasant girl.

3. The princess puts on the golden coat and runs away, disguising herself as a rich girl.

4. The girl puts on the royal coat and runs away, disguising herself as a proncess.

2. Where did the girl sleep?

1. in the bed

2. on the grass

3. in a hollow tree

4. in the bedroom

3. How many dresses did she ask to make her?

1. 2

2. 3

3. 4

4. 5

4. Why did the hunters take the girl with them?

1. Because they liked girls.

2. Because she was sleeping.

3. Because they wanted to eat her.

4. Because she asked them.

5. What is a kitchen?

1. a room for personal hygiene

2. a room for relaxing and socializing

3. a room used for cooking and food preparation

4. a room where people sleep

6. Who is an orphan?

1. a child whose parents are dead

2. a recipient of health care services

3. a poor child without food

4. a good friend

7. Выберите правильный вариант:

1. When she left the party, it was very early.

2. When she left the party, it was very late.

3. When she left the party, it was cold.

4. When she left the party, it was hot.

8. What does it mean, “good for nothing”?

1. a person that is competent with many skills

2. a person that has difficulty with mimesis and imaginative play

3. one who is industrious

4. a person of little worth or usefulness

9. What happened when she washed the soot off herself?

1. She looked even more beautiful than before.

2. She began to dance.

3. She looked even uglier than before.

4. She played harp music.

10. Выберите нужный глагол:

He asked her if she _____________ how the gold ring got into the soup.

1. knew

2. knows

3. will know

4. knowing

11. Выберите нужные глаголы:

The king thought she _____________ very beautiful and _____________ with her himself.

1. is, danced

2. was, dancing

3. was, danced

4. is, dance

12. Выберите нужный предлог:

Catskin opened the nutshell and shook _____________ the dress that sparkled like the stars and put it _____________.

1. onto, out

2. by, at

3. out, on

4. out, in

13. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How many persons are mentioned in the story?

2. What is the name of the girl?

3. What have you learned about the king?

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

5. What would you do if you were the main character of the story?

6. What is the end of the story?

7. Retell the story.

14. Заполните таблицу:

ОТВЕТЫ:

1. The princess puts on the catskin coat and runs away, disguising herself as a peasant girl.

2. in a hollow tree

3. 3

4. Because she asked them.

5. a room used for cooking and food preparation

6. a child whose parents are dead

7. When she left the party, it was very late.

8. a person of little worth or usefulness

9. She looked even more beautiful than before.

10. knew: He asked her if she knew how the gold ring got into the soup.

11. was, danced: The king thought she was very beautiful and danced with her himself.

12. out, on: Catskin opened the nutshell and shook out the dress that sparkled like the stars and put it on.

14.

Англо-русский словарь

A

abandon – покидать

able – способный

about – о, об; около

above – над

accordance – согласие; соответствие

across – через

adventure – приключение

adventurer – искатель приключений

afar – далеко

afraid – испуганный

after – после

afterward – потом; впоследствии; позже

again – опять

against – против

aged – старый; пожилой

ago – тому назад

agree – соглашаться

aid – помощь

alive – живой

all – все, всё

almost – почти

alone – один, одинокий

along – вдоль

aloud – вслух

already – уже

also – также

always – всегда

among – среди; между, из числа; в числе

amuse – забавлять; развлекать

and – и, а

angry – сердитый

animal – животное

another – другой, ещё один

answer – ответ; отвечать

any – какой-либо, какой бы то ни было; любой

anybody – кто-нибудь; кто-либо

anything – что-нибудь; что-либо

appear – показываться, появляться

apron – передник; фартук

arise (arose, arisen) – подниматься

arm – рука

armour – доспехи; кольчуга

army – армия

arose – поднялся (рast от to arise)

around – вокруг

arouse – пробуждать

as – как

ash – зола; пепел

ashore – на берегу; на берег

ask – спрашивать; просить

asleep – спящий

associate – связывать; ассоциировать

astonishment – удивление

at – у, при

ate – ел (past от to eat)

attack – нападение; нападать

avenge – мстить

awake (awoke, awoken) – пробудить, просыпаться

away – прочь

awful – ужасный

axe – топор

B

babe – ребёнок

back – спина; назад

bad – плохой

badly – очень

bag – мешок; сумка

ballad – баллада

bank – берег

banner – знамя; флаг

banquet – пир, банкет

bard – бард; певец

bargain – заключать сделку; торговаться

bark – лаять

barley – ячмень

barrow – холм

batter – многократно ударять; бить

battle – битва, сражение

be (was / were, been) – быть

bear – медведь

bear (bore, borne) – нести, выносить

beast – животное

beastly – ужасный; противный

beautiful – красивый

beauty – красота

became – становился, стал (рast от to become)

because – потому что

become (became, become) – становиться

bed – кровать

bedroom – спальня

been – p. p. от to be – быть

befell – past om to befall – приключаться; происходить

before – раньше, прежде; перед

beg – просить

began – начал (past oт to begin)

beggar – нищий

begin (began, begun) – начинать

behead – обезглавливать

behind – позади, сзади

being – существо

belly – живот; брюхо

belong – принадлежать

belt – пояс, ремень

bench – скамья

bend (bent, bent) – сгибать(ся)

beneath – вниз; ниже

bent – past и p. p. oт to bend – cгибать(ся)

beside – рядом; около

best – лучше всего; лучший

bestow – даровать; награждать

better – лучше

between – между

bid (bade, bidden) – предлагать

big – большой

bind (bound, bound) – связывать, перетягивать

bird – птица

bit – кусок, кусочек; чуть-чуть

bite (bit, bitten) – кусать

bitter – горький

black – чёрный

blacken – делать чёрным, тёмным; чернить

blade – лезвие, клинок

blew – дул (past oт to blow)

blood – кровь

blood-stained – с пятнами крови

blow (blew, blown) – дуть

boat – лодка

bob – подпрыгивать, биться

body – тело

bodyguard – личная охрана; телохранитель

boil – кипение; кипятить(ся); варить(ся)

bold – смелый

bondage – рабство; зависимость

bone – кость

bonny – красивый, хороший, дивный

border – граница

bore – принёс, вынес (past oт to bear)

born – рождённый

both – оба

bottle – бутылка

bottom – дно

bought – past и p. p. от to buy – покупать

bow – поклон; кланяться

bower – замок

bowl – чаша; шар

box – ящик, коробка

boy – мальчик

brain – мозг

branch – ветвь

brave – храбрый, смелый

bread – хлеб

break (broke, broken) – ломать

breakfast – завтрак

breast – грудь

breastbone – грудная кость; грудина

bride – невеста

bridge – мост

bright – светлый, яркий

bring (brought, brought) – приносить

broil – жарить

broke – сломал (past от to break)

brooch – брошь

broom – метла

brother – брат

brought – past и p. p. от to bring – приносить

brown – коричневый

build (built, built) – строить

burn – жечь

burst (burst, burst) – взрываться

bury – хоронить

busy – занят

but – но

buy (bought, bought) – покупать

by – посредством, около, у

C

call – звать, называть

came – пришёл (past от to come)

can (could) – мочь

cannot – отрицательная форма от can

cap – шапка

captive – пленник

care – заботиться

careful – осторожный

carefully – осторожно; внимательно

carry – нести

castle – замок

catch (caught, caught) – ловить

cattle – крупный рогатый скот

caught – past и p. p. от to catch – ловить

cause – причина; быть причиной; вызывать (что-л.)

cave – пещера

cavern – большая пещера

cease – прекращать

celebrate – праздновать

cellar – погреб, подвал

chair – стул

champion – воин-победитель

change – менять

cheek – щека

cheer – восторженный крик; подбодрять

cherry – вишня

child – ребёнок

children – дети (pl от child)

choose (chose, chosen) – выбирать

clear – ясный; прояснять

clench – захватывать; зажимать; сжимать

clever – умный

cleverly – умно

cliff – утёс, скала

climb – влезать

cloak – плащ

close – близко

closed – закрытый

clothes – одежда

cloud – облако

club – дубинка

coach – карета

coal – уголь

coat – плащ

coin – монета

combat – бой

come (came, come) – приходить

comfortable – удобный, уютный

companion – товарищ

company – обществo

complain – жаловаться

compose – составлять; сочинять

conquer – завоёвывать; захватывать; побеждать

conqueror – завоеватель

construct – строить; сооружать

contain – содержать

continue – продолжать(ся)

cook – повар; готовить еду

copper – медь

corner – угол

cornmeal – кукурузная мука

could – мог (past от can)

country – страна

countryman – крестьянин

courage – храбрость, смелость, мужество

course – ход, течение

court – (королевский) двор

cover – покрывать

cow – корова

crack – трещать

creep (crept, crept) – ползать

crept – рast и p. p. от to creep – ползать

cross – пересекать

cruel – жестокий

cry – крик; кричать, воскликнуть

cunning – хитрый

cup – чашка

curl – локон; завиток; завивать

curse – проклинать

cut (cut, cut) – резать

D

dam – дамба, плотина

dance – танец; танцевать

danger – опасность

dangerous – опасный

Danish – датский

dare – отваживаться; осмеливаться

dark – темнота; тёмный

dash – кидать(ся)

daughter – дочь

dawn – рассвет

day – день

dead – мёртвый

dear – милый, дорогой

dearly – очень; чрезвычайно

death – смерть

decide – решать

deck – палуба

deed – действие, поступок

deep – глубокий

defeat – поражение

delicate – изысканный

delight – радость; доставлять наслаждение

demon – демон, дьявол

den – притон; вертеп

Denmark – Дания

descend – спускаться

descendant – потомок

desert – оставлять, покидать

desert – пустыня

desire – желание, стремление; желать

despair – отчаяние; отчаиваться

destroy – разрушать; разбивать; истреблять; уничтожать

detect – находить; замечать

determination – решительность

devour – пожирать

did – делал (past от to do)

die – умирать

different – различный

difficult – трудный

dinner – обед; ужин

dire – ужасный; страшный

dirty – грязный

disappear – исчезать; пропадать

discard – отбрасывать

discover – находить; открывать; обнаруживать

dismay – испуг, тревога; пугаться, тревожиться

display – показывать, проявлять

distress – огорчение; горе

distribute – распределять; раздавать

disturb – беспокоить, мешать

divide – делить

do (did, done) – делать

dog – собака

doleful – скорбный

done – p. p. от to do – делать

door – дверь

down – внизу, вниз

doze – дремать

drag – тащить, волочить

dragon – дракон

drank – пил (past от to drink)

draw (drew, drawn) – тащить

drawbridge – разводной мост

dreadful – ужасный

dress – платье; одеваться

drew – вытащил (past от to draw)

drift – плыть

drink (drank, drunk) – пить

drive (drove, driven) – вести, тащить

drop – ронять, уронить

drown – тонуть; топить

dug – past и p. p. от to dig – копать

duke – герцог

dull – тусклый, скучный

during – в течение; во время

dwell – жить, обитать

dwelling – дом; жилище

dwelt – обитал (past от to dwell)

dynasty – династия

E

each – каждый

early – ранний; рано

earth – земля

easily – легко

easy – лёгкий

eat (ate, eaten) – есть

edge – грань; край

egg – яйцо

eight – восемь

elder – старший

eldest – самый старший (в семье)

embrace – обнимать

emotion – эмоция; волнение

empty – пустой

enchantment – чародейство

end – конец

enemy – враг

engaged – помолвленный, обручёный

enjoy – наслаждаться

enlarge – увеличивать

enough – достаточно

ensure – обеспечивать; гарантировать

enter – входить

entertain – развлекать; принимать (гостей)

equally – в равной степени; одинаково

escape – избежать, выбраться

even – даже

evening – вечер

ever – когда-либо; всегда; с тех пор, как

every – каждый, всякий

everyone – каждый; всякий; все

everything – всё

evil – злой

excuse – оправдать; извинять

expect – ждать, ожидать

expectant – выжидающий

expectantly – ожидающе

expectation – ожидание; надежда; предвкушение

explain – объяснять

explore – исследовать; изучать

extraordinary – чрезвычайный, необычайный, выдающийся

eye – глаз

F

face – лицо

fail – не удаваться

fair – прекрасный, красивый

fairy – фея

fall (fell, fallen) – падать

false – ложный

fame – слава

family – семья

famous – знаменитый

far – далёкий; далеко

fare – еда, угощение

farmer – фермер

fast – быстрый; быстро

fate – судьба, рок

father – отец

fear – страх; бояться

feast – пир, пиршество

feel (felt, felt) – чувствовать

feeling – ощущение, чувство

feet – ноги, ступни (pl от foot)

fell – упал (past от to fall)

felt – past и p. p. от to feel – чувствовать

fen – топь, болото

festal – праздничный

fetch – приводить; приносить

few – немногие; немного; мало

field – поле

fiend – злодей

fierce – свирепый, лютый

fifty – пятьдесят

fight – бой, схватка, драка

fill – наполнять

finally – наконец

find (found, found) – находить

fine – хороший, прекрасный

finger – палец

finish – заканчивать

fire – огонь

firmly – крепко, твёрдо

first – сначала; первый; в первый раз

fish – рыба; ловить рыбу

flew – летел (рast от to fly)

float – плавать, плыть

flock – стадо

floor – пол (в доме)

fly (flew, flown) – летать

foe – враг, недруг

fold – складывать

follow – следовать

folly – безрассудство; причуда, каприз

food – пища, еда

foot – стопа, ступня

for – для, за; потому что

force – сила; заставлять

forever – навсегда

forget (forgot, forgotten) – забывать

forgive (forgave, forgiven) – прощать

forgot – забыл (past от to forget)

form – форма, вид

forth – вперёд, дальше

fortune – удача, счастье

forty – сорок

found – past и p. p. от to find – находить

founder – основатель

four – четыре

free – свободный; освобождать

friend – друг

friendly – дружеский

fright – страх, испуг

frightened – испуган; устрашён

fringe – бахрома

from – из, от

front – передняя сторона; передний

full – полный

fur – мех

further – далее, дальше

fury – неистовство, ярость, бешенство

G

game – игра

garden – сад

gate – ворота

gather – собирать(ся)

gave – дал (past от to give)

gentlemen – джентльмены

get (got, got) – доставать; получать; добираться

giant – гигант, великан

gift – дар

gigantic – гигантский

girdle – пояс

girl – девочка, девушка

give (gave, given) – давать

given – р. p. от to give – давать

glad – довольный

gladly – довольно

glance – взгляд; взглянуть

glorious – славный, великолепный

glory – слава

glove – перчатка

go (went, gone) – идти

goblin – гоблин

god – бог

gold – золото

golden – золотой

goldsmith – золотых дел мастер

gone – p. p. от to go – идти

good – хороший, добрый

got – достал, получил; добрался (past от to get)

grab – схватить

grand – великий

grand-children – внуки

grandson – внук

great – великий

great-grandson – правнук

greatly – очень, сильно, значительно

greedy – жадный; алчный

green – зелёный

greet – приветствовать

grew – рос (past от to grow)

grey-haired – седой

grief – горе, печаль

grip – схватывать, не отпускать, крепко держать

ground – земля

group – группа

grow (grew, grown) – расти

guard – охранять

guest – гость

H

had – имел (past от to have); вспомогательный глагол для образования времени Past Perfect

hair – волосы

half – половина

half-fiend – полудьявол

half-man – получеловек

hall – зал

hand – рука (кисть руки)

hand-grip – хватка (руки)

hang (hanged, hung) – висеть

happen – случаться; происходить

happily – счастливо

happiness – счастье

happy – счастливый

harbour – гавань

hard – трудный, тяжёлый; трудно, тяжело

hardly – едва (ли)

harm – вред, ущерб; вредить; причинять вред; обижать

harp – арфа

harper – арфист

harvest – жатва; урожай

has – имеет; вспомогательный глагол для образования времени Present Perfect

hasten – торопиться, спешить

hat – шляпа

hate – ненавидеть

hatred – ненависть

have (had, had) – иметь

hazardous – рискованный; опасный

he – он

head – голова

headless – безголовый

hear (heard, heard) – слышать

heard – past и p. p. от to hear – слышать

heart – сердце

heat – жара; нагревать

heavy – тяжёлый

heir – наследник

heirloom – фамильная реликвия

held – past и p. p. от to hold – держать

help – помогать

helpless – беспомощный, бессильный; бесполезный

her – её; неё

here – здесь, сюда

hero – герой

heroic – геройский, героический

herself – себя

hid – спрятал (past от to hide)

hidden – спрятанный (р. р. от to hide)

hide (hid, hidden) – прятать, прятаться

high – высокий; высоко

hill – холм

hilt – рукоятка, эфес

him – его, ему, ним

himself – себя

his – его

hit (hit, hit) – ударять, бить

hither – сюда

hoard – клад

hold (held, held) – держать

hole – дыра; яма

hollow – впадина; пустой

holy – святой

home – дом; домой

homeland – родина

honest – честный

honour – честь; почитать

hood – капюшон

horn – рог

horny – роговой

horrible – ужасный

horse – лошадь

hot – горячий, жаркий

hour – час

house – дом

how – как

however – однако

huge – огромный, громадный

human – человек

hundred – сто

hungry – голодный

hunt – охотиться

hunter – охотник

hurry – спешка, поспешность; спешить

hurt (hurt, hurt) – вредить, ранить

husband – муж

hush – молчать

I

ice – лёд

idea – идея; мысль

if – если

impossible – невозможно

in – в

include – включать

increase – увеличивать(ся), возрастать

indeed – действительно; в самом деле; вот именно

inside – внутрь; внутри

into – в

invisible – невидимый

invite – приглашать

iron – железо

it – оно, это

its – его, её

itself – сам, сама

J

jewel – драгоценный камень

job – работа

join – соединять; присоединяться

joke – шутка

journey – путешествие

joy – радость

joyful – радостный, счастливый

joyous – радостный; весёлый

just – точно, просто

K

keep (kept, kept) – держать

kept – past и p. p. от to keep – держать

key – ключ

kill – убивать

kind – добрый, любезный

kindness – доброта

kindred – родня

king – король

kingdom – королевство

kinsman – родственник

kiss – поцелуй; целовать

kitchen – кухня

knew – знал (past от to know)

knife – нож

knight – рыцарь

knock – стук; стучать, ударять

know (knew, known) – знать

knowledge – знание

known – p. p. от to know – знать

L

lady – леди

laid – положил (рast от to lay)

lair – логовище

lake – озеро

lamentation – сетование, причитание; плач, жалобы

land – земля; страна

large – большой

last – последний; длиться

late – поздно; поздний

later – позже

laugh – смех; смеяться

lay – лежал (past от to lie)

lay (laid, laid) – класть

lead (led, led) – вести

leap (leaped, leapt) – прыгать

learn (learnt, learned) – изучать

leather – кожа

leave (left, left) – оставлять, уходить

led – past и p. p. от to lead – вести

left – рast и p. p. от to leave – покидать, оставлять, уходить

left – левый

leg – нога

less – меньший; меньше

lesson – урок

let (let, let) – позволять

letter – буква

lick – лизать

lie (lay, lain) – лежать

life – жизнь

lift – поднимать

light – свет; лёгкий, светлый

lightly – легко

like – как; любить, нравиться

lily – лилия

listen – слушать

little – маленький; мало

live – жить

lock – запирать на замок

lodge – обитать

long – долгий, длинный; долго

longing – желание, жажда; тоска

look – смотреть; выглядеть

look upon – взглянуть

loop – делать петлю; закреплять петлёй

loose – свободный

lord – господин

lose (lost, lost) – терять

lost – past и р. р. от to lose – терять

loud – громкий

loudly – громко

love – любовь; любить

lovely – красивый, прекрасный; прелестный, миловидный

lover – возлюбленный

low – низкий, тихий

loyally – верно, преданно

loyalty – верность, преданность

luck – удача

lucky – удачливый

luxurious – роскошный

M

made – past и p. p. от to make – делать

magic – волшебный

magical – волшебный

magician – волшебник

magistrate – судья

maid – дева, девица

maiden – дева, девица

make (made, made) – делать

man – мужчина, человек

man-eater – людоед

manner – способ, манера

many – многие

marriage – свадьба

marry – жениться, выходить замуж

master – хозяин, повелитель

matter – дело

may – могу, может

maybe – может быть

me – меня, мне

meadow – луг

meal – еда

meanwhile – тем временем

meet (met, met) – встречать

melt – растапливать, таять

memory – память

men – мужчины, люди (pl от man)

merry – весёлый

met – past и p. p. от to meet – встречать

method – метод, способ

mice – мыши

middle – середина; средний

midnight – полночь

might – мог (past от may)

mighty – могучий

milk – молоко

mill – мельница

miller – мельник

mine – мой, моя

minstrels – менестрель

misery – страдание; мучение

miss – мисс; госпожа

mistake – ошибка

moat – ров

moment – момент, миг

monarch – монарх

money – деньги

monster – чудовище

monstrous – ужасный, безобразный; чудовищный

month – месяц

moon – луна

moor – болото

more – более, больше

moreover – кроме того; сверх того

morning – утро

mortally – смертельно

most – наиболее, самый

mother – мама, мать

mountain – гора

mouse – мышь

mouth – рот

move – двигать(ся)

much – много, очень

musician – музыкант

must – долженствовать

my – мой, моя, моё, мои

myself – себя

mysterious – таинственный, загадочный

N

name – имя; называть

near – рядом

nearby – расположенный поблизости; близлежащий, соседний

nearly – почти

necklace – ожерелье

need – нуждаться

needle – игла

neighbouring – соседний

neither – ни тот ни другой

nest – гнездо

never – никогда

nevertheless – тем не менее

new – новый

news – новости

next – следующий

nice – милый, красивый

night – ночь, вечер

nightly – ночной

nightmare – кошмар

no – нет

noble – благородный

nobly – благородно

nobody – никто

noise – шум

none – никто

nor – ни

north – север

not – не

nothing – ничто, ничего

notice – замечать

now – сейчас, теперь

nut – орех

O

oak – дуб

observe – наблюдать, замечать

ocean – океан

off – с, от, прочь

offer – предложение; предлагать

offspring – потомок, отпрыск

often – часто

old – старый

on – на

once – (один) раз; однажды

one – один

only – только; единственный

open – открывать

opposite – противоположный

oppression – угнетение, гнёт, притеснение

or – или

order – приказ; приказывать

ordinary – простой

orphan – сирота

other – другой

our – наш, наша, наше, наши

ourselves – себя

out – из, вне

outmatch – превосходить

outside – наружная сторона

over – через

overcome (overcame, overcome) – победить, преодолеть

overstudy – чрезмерно много учиться

overtake – постигать, случаться

overtaken – p. p. от to overtake – постигать, случаться

own – собственный; владеть

oxen – быки (pl от ox)

P

pack – упаковывать

pain – боль

pained – раздражённый

palace – дворец

pale – бледный

panic – паника

parent – родитель

part – часть

party – званый вечер

pass – проводить (что-л); проходить, проезжать

pay (paid, paid) – платить

pearl – жемчужина

people – люди

perform – выполнить, совершить

perhaps – может быть; возможно; пожалуй

perpetual – вечный

pick – собирать

piece – кусок

pierce – прокалывать

pig – свинья

pipe – трубка

pit – яма

place – место, помещать

plan – план; планировать

plate – тарелка

play – играть

please – пожалуйста; доставлять удовольствие

plentifully – изобильно, обильно

plenty – изобилие; множество

plot – вынашивать заговор

plough – пахать

pocket – карман

poor – бедный

porridge – каша

possible – возможный

pot – горшок

power – сила

powerful – могущественный

precious – драгоценный

prepare – готовить, приготавливать

prescription – предписание

presence – присутствие

present – дарить

presently – вскоре

pretend – притворяться; делать вид

pretty – хорошенький

prevail – торжествовать, побеждать

prevent – предотвращать

prick – укол

princess – принцесса

promise – обещать

properly – подобающе; как следует; должным образом

prosper – процветать

protect – охранять, защищать

proud – гордый

pudding – пудинг

pull – тащить

punishment – наказание

purpose – цель

purse – кошелёк

put (put, put) – класть

Q

queen – королева

quickly – быстро

quite – совсем, вполне

R

race – племя, род

rain – дождь

rake – подметать

ran – бежал (past от to run)

rare – редкий

rat – крыса

rather – скорее, вернее

reach – дотягиваться, достигать

read (read, read) – читать

ready – готовый

real – настоящий

really – действительно; на самом деле; по-настоящему; точно

reasonable – разумный

receive – получать

red – красный, рыжий

refuse – отказывать(ся)

remain – оставаться

remains – останки

remember – помнить

remembrance – воспоминание; память

repeat – повторять

reply – ответ; отвечать

rescue – спасать

respect – уважение

rest – отдых; отдыхать

restore – восстанавливать; возвращать

retainer – слуга

return – возвращение; возвращать(ся)

reveller – гуляка

revenge – месть

reward – награда; награждать

rich – богатый

richly – богато

ride (rode, ridden) – ехать

right – правый, правильный

ring – кольцо

ring (rang, rung) – звонить

river – река

road – дорога

roar – реветь; рычать

rode – поехал (рast от to ride)

room – комната

rope – верёвка

rose – поднялся (рast от to rise)

round – круглый; вокруг

rub – тереть

rule – править, управлять

run (ran, run) – бежать

rush – мчаться, броситься

S

sad – грустный, печальный

safe – безопасный; в безопасности

safely – безопасно

said – past и p. p. от to say – сказать

sail – плыть

salt – соль

same – тот же (самый)

sang – пел (past от to sing)

sank – погрузился (рast от to sink)

sat – past и p. p. от to sit – сидеть

save – спасать

saw – видел (past от to see)

say (said, said) – говорить, сказать

scan – просматривать

scarcely – едва

sea – море

seafarer – мореплаватель

second – второй

secretly – тайно

see (saw, seen) – видеть

seek (sought, sought) – искать

seen – p.p. от to see – видеть

seize – хватать, схватить

send (sent, sent) – посылать

sent – past и p.p. от to sent – посылать

serve – служить

set (set, set) – размещать, устанавливать

settle – устанавливать, погружать

several – некоторые

severe – отсекать

shake (shook, shaken) – трясти, трястись

shame – стыд; стыдить

shape – форма

sharp – острый

she – она

shepherd – пастух

shine (shone, shone) – светить

ship – корабль

shoe – ботинок

shook – тряс (рast от to shake)

shop – магазин; лавка

shore – берег

short – короткий; низкорослый

shoulder – плечо

shout – крик; кричать

show (showed, shown) – показывать

shown – p. p. от to show – показывать

shutter – ставень

side – сторона

sigh – вздох; вздыхать

sight – взгляд

silent – молчаливый, безмолвный

silver – серебро

since – с тех пор (как)

sing (sang, sung) – петь

sink (sank, sunk) – погружаться

sir – сэр, господин

sister – сестра

sit (sat, sat) – сидеть

skin – кожа, шкура

slap – прямо

slave – слуга

sleep (slept, slept) – спать

sleeve – рукав

slept – past и p. p. от to sleep – спать

slip – скользить; просовывать; выскальзывать (из рук)

small – маленький

smell (smelt, smelt) – нюхать; пахнуть

smile – улыбка; улыбаться

smoke – дым; курить

snake – змея

snap – трескаться, ломаться

snow – снег

so – так; поэтому

soap – мыло

some – некоторый; какой-то

something – что-то

sometimes – иногда

son – сын

song – песня

soon – скоро, вскоре

soot – сажа

sorrow – печаль; печалиться, горевать

soup – суп

sovereign – соверен

spade – лопата

sparkle – сверкать; искриться

speak (spoke, spoken) – говорить

spend (spent, spent) – проводить

spent – past и р. р. от to spend – проводить

spice – приправа

spoil (spoilt, spoiled) – портить

spoke – говорил, сказал (past от to speak)

sprang – выходил (past от to spring)

spread (spread, spread) – распространять(ся)

spring – источник, ключ, родник

staff – палка, посох

stair – ступенька

stand (stood, stood) – стоять; выдерживать

star – звезда

start – начинать; отправляться

starve – голодать; умирать от голода

stature – рост

stay – оставаться; останавливаться

steal (stole, stolen) – воровать, красть

step – шаг; шагать

still – (всё) ещё

stocking – чулок

stole – украл (рast от to steal)

stolen – р. р. от to steal – красть

stone – камень

stood – рast и р. р. от to stand – стоять

stop – остановка; останавливать(ся)

story – история

straight – прямой; прямо

strand – побережье

strange – странный; незнакомый

stranger – незнакомец, посторонний

straw – солома

stream – ручей, река, поток

strength – сила

strife – борьба, вражда

string – верёвка, бечёвка

strong – сильный, прочный

struck – past и p. p. от to strike – ударять, бить

struggle – борьба; сражаться

succeed – удаваться; преуспевать

successful – успешный, удачный

such – такой

suddenly – внезапно

suffer – испытывать страдания

sun – солнце

sunk – p. p. от to sink – идти ко дну, тонуть

sure – конечно; уверенный

surely – надёжно

surprise – удивление; удивляться

surprised – удивлённый

surround – окружать, обступать

swallow – глотать

swam – плыл (past от to swim)

swan – лебедь

sweet – сладкий

swiftly – быстро

swim (swam, swum) – плавать

sword – меч

T

table – стол

tail – хвост

take (took, taken) – брать

taken – p. p. от to take – брать

talk – говорить

taste – иметь вкус

teacup – чайная чашка

tear – слеза

teeth – зубы (pl от tooth)

terrible – ужасный

terror – ужас

than – чем

thane – тан

thank – благодарить

that – то, это; что

their – их

them – их, им, ими

themselves – себя, себе

then – тогда; потом

there – там, туда

thereupon – сразу же

these – эти

they – они

thick – толстый

thief – вор

thing – вещь

think (thought, thought) – думать

third – третий

thirty – тридцать

this – это; этот

those – те

though – всё-таки, хотя

thought – past и p. p. от to think – думать

thousand – тысяча

three – три

threw – бросил (past от to throw)

throne – трон

through – сквозь, через

throw (threw, thrown) – бросать

thumb – большой палец (руки)

thus – следовательно, таким образом

tidings – вести, новости

tidy – аккуратный, опрятный

tie – связывать, завязывать

tightly – крепко

till – до; до тех пор пока

time – время; раз

tiny – крошечный

tired – уставший

together – вместе

token – знак

told – рast и р. p. от to tell – сказать

tomorrow – завтра

too – тоже; слишком

took – взял (past от to take)

tooth – зуб

top – вершина

tore – выхватил, порвал (past от to tear)

touch – трогать, дотрагиваться

toward(s) – к; н; по направлению

town – город

toxic – ядовитый

track – след; проследить

travel – путешествовать, странствовать

treasure – сокровище

treasury – сокровищница

tree – дерево

tremble – дрожать

tribe – племя

tribute – дань

trick – фокус, трюк

troll-like – похожий на тролля

trouble – беда, неприятность; беспокоить

trudge – тащиться

true – истинный

trumpet – труба

trust – доверять, верить

trusted – верный

truth – правда

try – пытаться

turn – поворачивать(ся)

twelve – двенадцать

two – два

U

unable – неспособный

uncommon – необычный

uncontrollable – неуправляемый

under – под

understand (understood, understood) – понимать

undimmed – немеркнущий

unhappy – несчастный

unite – соединять(ся)

unmarried – неженатый; незамужняя

until – до

up – вверх, наверх

upon – на

us – нас, нам, нами

use – использовать

useful – полезный

usually – обычно

V

vain – тщетный, напрасный

vainly – тщетно, напрасно

valour – доблесть

valuable – ценный, полезный

vanish – исчезать, пропадать

very – очень

vessel – сосуд

victory – победа

viking – викинг

village – деревня

visit – посетить

visitor – гость, посетитель

voice – голос

W

wage – начинать, развязывать

wait – ждать

walk – идти пешком, гулять

want – хотеть

war – война

warrior – воин

was – был (past от to be)

wash – мыть

waste – тратить впустую

watch – смотреть

water – вода

way – путь; способ

we – мы

weapon – оружие

wedding – свадьба

weep (wept, wept) – плакать

weight – вес

welcome – добро пожаловать!; милости просим!

went – пошёл (past от to go)

were – были (past от to be)

what – что

when – когда

whence – откуда

where – где; куда

wheresoever – куда бы ни

whether – ли

while – в то время как

whip – плётка, хлыст

white – белый

who – кто

whoever – кто бы ни

whole – весь, целый

whom – кого

why – почему

wicked – злой, злобный

wide – широкий

wife – жена

will – воля; хотеть, желать

win (won, won) – побеждать

wind – ветер

window – окно

windy – ветреный

wine – вино

wise – мудрый

wish – желание; желать

with – с

within – внутри

without – без

woke – разбудил; проснулся (past от to wake)

woman – женщина

won – past и p. p. от to win – победить, выиграть

wonder – удивление; удивляться

wonderful – удивительный

woo – ухаживать

wood – лес; дерево

wooden – деревянный

word – слово

work – работа; работать

worker – рабочий, работник

world – мир

worry – беспокоиться

worth – стоящий

wound – рана; ранить

Y

year – год

yellow – жёлтый

yes – да

yesterday – вчера

yet – пока, однако

yonder – вон там

you – вы, вас, вам; ты, тебя, тебе

young – молодой

youngest – самый младший (в семье)

your – ваш, ваша, ваше, ваши; твой, твоя, твоё, твои

yourself – себя

Примечания

1

The Wishing Ring – Кольцо, исполняющее желания

2

and all for nothing – и всё без толку

3

stands by itself – стоит в стороне

4

your fortune is made – найдёшь свою удачу

5

you have set me free – ты освободил меня

6

your wish will come true – твое желание исполнится

7

next to nothing – почти ничего

8

good fortune – удача

9

could hardly wait – не мог никак дождаться

10

hundred thousand sovereigns – сто тысяч соверенов (соверен – золотая монета в 1 фунт стерлингов)

11

the sovereigns began to come raining down – соверены посыпались дождём

12

just for nothing – просто так, впустую

13

and make me work as much – и меня заставляешь тоже усердно работать

14

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. – cравни Работа утомляет.

15

and gave up speaking about it – и прекратила всякие разговоры о нём

16

Binnorie – Биннори

17

once upon a time – однажды; как-то раз

18

Sir William – сэр Уильям

19

plighted troth – поклялся в верности

20

after a time – спустя некоторое время

21

he cared no longer for the eldest one – он перестал обращать внимание на старшую сестру

22

day by day – день ото дня

23

get rid of her – избавиться от неё

24

Let us go. – Давай пойдём.

25

half of all I’ve got or shall get – половина всего того, что есть у меня и что будет

26

’twixt = betwixt, between

27

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

28

Draw your dam. – Опусти створки.

29

merrymaid – русалка

30

far away – далеко

31

making them joy – заставляя их радоваться

32

just as he liked – повинуясь его желанию

33

all were hushed – все затаили дыхание

34

o’ Binnorie = of Binnorie

35

Hugh – Хью

36

The Twa Sisters – Две сестры

37

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).

38

threw her sister o’er – столкнула сестру вниз

39

thou shalt never come ashore = you’ll never come ashore – тебе никогда не выбраться на берег

40

And surely now her tears will flow. – И теперь наверняка прольются её слезы.

41

What would you do if you were – что бы вы сделали на месте

42

Tom Thumb – Мальчик-с-пальчик

43

King Arthur – король Артур (легендарный вождь бриттов V–VI вв., разгромивший завоевателей-саксов)

44

Merlin – Мерлин (мудрец и волшебник, наставник и советник короля Артура)

45

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

46

to carry out the poor woman’s wish – исполнить желание бедной женщины

47

cherry-stones – вишнёвые косточки

48

screamed with pain – закричал от боли

49

a whip of a barley straw – хлыст из ячменной соломы

50

to drive the cattle with – чтобы погонять им скот

51

the Knights of the Round Table – рыцари Круглого стола (рыцари короля Артура, за Круглым столом заседали самые лучшие или самые важные рыцари)

52

soap-bubble – мыльный пузырь

53

almost tired to death – устал почти до смерти

54

a coach drawn by eight small mice – карета, которую везли восемь маленьких мышек

55

at King Arthur’s court – при дворе короля Артура

56

The Princess of Canterbury – Принцесса Кентербери

57

did their best – старались изо всех сил

58

I know not how you should. – Понятно, что ты их не видишь.

59

I’ll try my worth, folly or luck. – Попытаю-ка я свою судьбу.

60

as soon as – как только

61

sweet ally – милая

62

No matter that. – И не надо.

63

Oh my! – Надо же!

64

Let me see it. – Дай-ка я посмотрю.

65

she gave him leave to go to sleep – она отпустила его спать

66

excuse him to her father – оправдать его перед отцом

67

Godiva – Годива

68

Coventry – Ковентри (город на востоке английского графства Уэст-Мидлендс)

69

the wife of Earl Leofric of Mercia – жена Леофрика, эрла (графа) Мерсии

70

Canute – Канут

71

on your return you shall have your request – по возвращении твоя просьба будет исполнена

72

without being seen – незамеченная

73

so that he might see Godiva pass – чтобы он смог увидеть проезжающую Годиву

74

He was struck blind. – Он ослеп.

75

Peeping Tom – Подглядывающий Том

76

voyeur – подглядывающий

77

has become synonymous with pervert – стало синонимом извращённого человека

78

a pageant is held annually in Coventry – ежегодно в Ковентри проходит процессия

79

Beowulf – Беовульф (с древнеанглийского буквально переводится как «пчелиный волк», то есть «медведь»).

80

long ago – давно

81

Scyld Scefing – Скильд Скевинг

82

Scyldings – Скильдинги

83

Hrothgar – Хротгар

84

hold feasts – устраивал пиры

85

thane – тан (англо-саксонский воин, который в награду за свою военную службу получал землю)

86

Heorot – Хеорот

87

day by day – изо дня в день

88

Grendel – Грендель

89

goblilns – гоблины, человекоподобные создания, живущие в подземных пещерах и не переносящие солнечного света

90

Cain – Каин, старший сын первых людей Адама и Евы, из зависти убивший своего брата Авеля.

91

bitter enemies – злейшие враги

92

Danes – даны, древнегерманское племя, населявшее нынешнюю Данию и Швецию

93

wage a conflict – вступить в сражение

94

far and wide – повсюду

95

from afar – издалека

96

at length – со временем

97

sat in council – заседали в совете

98

watch for the enemy – жди врага

99

Every wish that you have shall be granted. – Будет исполнено любое твоё желание.

100

but as much as he struggled – но сколько бы он ни боролся

101

at last – наконец

102

have done that which all of us could not do – совершил то, чего не смог сделать никто из нас

103

for a few moments – на некоторое время

104

far into the night – до глубокой ночи

105

scarcely less terrible than her son – не менее ужасная, чем её сын

106

hither and thither – туда-сюда

107

Aeschere – Эшер

108

Help is only to be found in you. – Только ты сможешь помочь.

109

under a lake – на дне озера

110

upon his return – по своему возвращению

111

family’s heirloom – фамильная реликвия

112

Wiglaf – Виглаф

113

in accordance with wishes – согласно воле

114

Catskin – Кошачья шкурка

115

There was once a princess – жила-была принцесса

116

wanted her to marry against her will – хотел выдать её замуж против её воли

117

to put off the wedding – отложить свадьбу

118

One was to be – одно должно было быть

119

the wedding could not be put off much longer – свадьбу уже нельзя было больше откладывать

120

that she could pack all three into a nutshell – что она могла уложить всё это (буквально: все эти три вещи) в ореховую скорлупку

121

so that no one would know who she was – чтобы никто её не узнал

122

sooty hands – руки, испачканные в саже

123

and don’t let even a hair fall in it – пусть ни один волос не упадёт в него

124

was good for nothing but – не годилась ни для чего больше, кроме как

125

he slipped a gold ring on her finger – он незаметно надел ей на палец золотое кольцо

Content

Самые лучшие английские легенды / The Best English Legends

The Wishing Ring

Binnorie

Tom Thumb

The Princess of Canterbury

Lady Godiva

Beowulf

Catskin

Англо-русский словарь

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Примечания