Английский язык с Р. Киплингом. Истории просто так

‘Now,’ said the Cat, ‘I will sing the Baby a song that shall keep him asleep for an hour.’ And he began to purr, loud and low, low and loud, till the Baby fell fast asleep. The Woman smiled as she looked down upon the two of them and said, ‘That was wonderfully done. No question but you are very clever, O Cat.’

That very minute and second, Best Beloved, the smoke of the fire at the back of the Cave came down in clouds from the roof — puff! — because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat, and when it had cleared away — lo and behold! — the Cat was sitting quite comfy close to the fire.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘it is I, for you have spoken a second word in my praise (это я — ибо ты сказала второе слово похвалы в мой адрес), and now I can sit by the warm fire at the back of the Cave for always and always and always (и я теперь могу сидеть у теплого огня в задней части Пещеры всегда и во веки веков). But still I am the Cat who walks by himself (но, тем не менее, я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места одинаковы для меня).’

mother ['mADq], fire ['faIq], himself [hIm'self]

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy,’ said the Cat, ‘it is I, for you have spoken a second word in my praise, and now I can sit by the warm fire at the back of the Cave for always and always and always. But still I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.’

Then the Woman was very very angry (тогда Женщина очень-очень рассердилась), and let down her hair and put more wood on the fire (и распустила свои волосы, и добавила дров в огонь) and brought out the broad blade-bone of the shoulder of mutton and began to make a Magic (и вытащила широкую лопатку = лопаточную кость

из плеча барана, и начала творить Волшебство; to bring out — вытащить) that should prevent her from saying a third word in praise of the Cat (которое должно было не дать ей сказать третье слово похвалы в адрес Кота). It was not a Singing Magic, Best Beloved (это было не Волшебство с Пением, Самые Любименькие), it was a Still Magic (это было Безмолвное Волшебство); and by and by the Cave grew so still (и вскоре в Пещере стало так тихо) that a little wee-wee mouse crept out of a corner and ran across the floor (что малюсенькая-малюсенькая мышка выползла из одного угла и побежала по полу; to creep out — выползать).

prevent [prI'vent], third [TWd], corner ['kLnq]

Then the Woman was very very angry, and let down her hair and put more wood on the fire and brought out the broad blade-bone of the shoulder of mutton and began to make a Magic that should prevent her from saying a third word in praise of the Cat. It was not a Singing Magic, Best Beloved, it was a Still Magic; and by and by the Cave grew so still that a little wee-wee mouse crept out of a corner and ran across the floor.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘is that little mouse part of your magic (эта маленькая мышка — часть твоего волшебства)?’

‘Ouh! Chee! No indeed (ай! ой! нет, в самом деле)!’ said the Woman (сказала Женщина), and she dropped the blade-bone and jumped upon the footstool in front of the fire (и она уронила лопатку и запрыгнула на скамеечку для ног[147] перед очагом) and braided up her hair very quick for fear that the mouse should run up it (и очень быстро подобрала свои волосы из опасения, что мышка заберется вверх по ним).