Well, there was once a very rich gentleman (жил-был однажды очень богатый джентльмен), and he had three daughters (и у него были три дочери), and he thought he’d see (и он решил увидеть: «он подумал, он бы увидел»; ‘d see = would see) how fond they were of him (как любили они его). So he says to the first (так что он говорит первой), ‘How much do you love me, my dear (насколько ты любишь меня, моя дорогая)?’

‘Why (как же: «почему»),’ says she, ‘as I love my life (как я люблю мою жизнь).’

‘That’s good (это хорошо),’ says he.

So he says to the second (так что он говорит второй), ‘How much do you love me, my dear (насколько ты любишь меня, моя дорогая)?’

‘Why,’ says she, ‘better nor all the world (больше: «лучше», чем весь мир; nor «чем» – редк. вместо than).’

‘That’s good (это хорошо),’ says he.

So he says to the third (так что он говорит третьей), ‘How much do you love me, my dear (насколько ты любишь меня, моя дорогая)?’

‘Why, I love you as fresh meat loves salt (я люблю тебя, как свежее мясо любит соль),’ says she.

Well, but he was angry (ну, но он был сердит = как же он рассердился). ‘You don’t love me at all (ты не любишь меня совсем),’ says he, ‘and in my house you stay no more (и в моем доме ты не остаешься более).’ So he drove her out there and then (так что он изгнал ее сразу же: «там и тогда»; to drive out – изгонять), and shut the door in her face (и захлопнул дверь перед ее лицом).

salt [sɔ:lt], angry [‘ænɡrɪ]

Well, there was once a very rich gentleman, and he had three daughters, and he thought he’d see how fond they were of him. So he says to the first, ‘How much do you love me, my dear?’

‘Why,’ says she, ‘as I love my life.’

‘That’s good,’ says he.

So he says to the second, ‘How much do you love me, my dear?’

‘Why,’ says she, ‘better nor all the world.’

‘That’s good,’ says he.

So he says to the third, ‘How much do you love me, my dear?’

‘Why, I love you as fresh meat loves salt,’ says she.

Well, but he was angry. ‘You don’t love me at all,’ says he, ‘and in my house you stay no more.’ So he drove her out there and then, and shut the door in her face.

Well, she went away on and on (она пошла прочь дальше и дальше) till she came to a fen (пока она не пришла к болоту), and there she gathered a lot of rushes (и там она собрала много: «кучу» камышей) and made them into a kind of a sort of a cloak with a hood (и сделала из них что-то вроде плаща с капюшоном), to cover her from head to foot (чтобы покрыть ее с головы до ног: «до ступни»), and to hide her fine clothes (и чтобы спрятать хорошую одежду). And then she went on and on (и тогда она пошла дальше и дальше) till she came to a great house (пока не пришла к большому дому).

‘Do you want a maid (вам нужна служанка)?’ says she.

‘No, we don’t (нет, не нужна),’ said they.

‘I haven’t nowhere to go (мне некуда пойти),’ says she; ‘and I ask no wages (и я не прошу никакой платы), and do any sort of work (и делаю любую разновидность работы = любую работу),’ says she.

‘Well (ну),’ said they, ‘if you like to wash the pots and scrape the saucepans (если ты хочешь мыть горшки и скрести кастрюли) you may stay (ты можешь остаться),’ said they.

So she stayed there and washed the pots and scraped the saucepans (так что она осталась там и мыла горшки и скребла кастрюли) and did all the dirty work (и делала всю грязную работу). And because she gave no name (и потому что она не сказала: «дала» никакого имени) they called her ‘Cap o’ Rushes’ (они звали ее Чепец из камышей; o’ = of, разг.).

cover [‘kʌvǝ], saucepan [‘sɔ:spən]

Well, she went away on and on till she came to a fen, and there she gathered a lot of rushes and made them into a kind of a sort of a cloak with a hood, to cover her from head to foot, and to hide her fine clothes. And then she went on and on till she came to a great house.

‘Do you want a maid?’ says she.

‘No, we don’t,’ said they.

‘I haven’t nowhere to go,’ says she; ‘and I ask no wages, and do any sort of work,’ says she.

‘Well,’ said they, ‘if you like to wash the pots and scrape the saucepans you may stay,’ said they.

So she stayed there and washed the pots and scraped the saucepans and did all the dirty work. And because she gave no name they called her ‘Cap o’ Rushes’.

Well, one day (однажды) there was to be a great dance (там должен был быть большой бал) a little way off (неподалеку: «небольшой путь прочь»), and the servants were allowed to go and look on (и слугам было позволено пойти и посмотреть) at the grand people (на знатных людей). Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired to go (Чепец из камышей сказала, что она была слишком усталая, чтобы пойти), so she stayed at home (так что она осталась дома).

But when they were gone (но когда они ушли; архаич. форма Present Perfect вместо совр. have gone), she offed with her cap o’ rushes (она сняла свой чепец из камышей) and cleaned herself (и почистила себя), and went to the dance (и пошла на бал). And no one there was so finely dressed as she (и никто там не был так изящно одет, как она).

Well, who should be there but her master’s son (кто должен был быть там, как не сын ее хозяина), and what should he do but fall in love with her (и что должен был он сделать, как не влюбиться в нее) the minute he set eyes on her (в ту же минуту, когда он посмотрел: «положил глаза» на нее)? He wouldn’t dance with anyone else (он не танцевал: «не желал танцевать» ни с кем другим: «с кем-нибудь еще»).

But before the dance was done (но прежде чем бал окончился: «был сделан»), Cap o’ Rushes slipt off (Камышовый чепец ускользнула; to slip off – ускользать), and away she went home (и прочь она пошла домой). And when the other maids came back (и когда другие служанки пришли назад), she was pretending to be asleep (она притворялась, что спит) with her cap o’ rushes on (одетая в свой камышовый чепец).

dance [dɑ:ns], allow [ə’laʋ], minute [‘mɪnɪt]

Well, one day there was to be a great dance a little way off, and the servants were allowed to go and look on at the grand people. Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired to go, so she stayed at home.

But when they were gone, she offed with her cap o’ rushes and cleaned herself, and went to the dance. And no one there was so finely dressed as she.

Well, who should be there but her master’s son, and what should he do but fall in love with her the minute he set eyes on her? He wouldn’t dance with anyone else.

But before the dance was done, Cap o’ Rushes slipt off, and away she went home. And when the other maids came back, she was pretending to be asleep with her cap o’ rushes on.

Well, next morning they said to her (на следующее утро они сказали ей), ‘You did miss a sight (ты все-таки пропустила зрелище), Cap o’ Rushes!’

‘What was that (что было это = какое именно)?’ says she.

‘Why (ах: «почему»), the beautifullest lady you ever see (наипрекраснейшая дама, которую ты когда-либо видишь = могла видеть), dressed right gay and ga’ (одетая очень: «прямо» весело = разряженная в пух и прах). The young master (молодой хозяин), he never took his eyes off her (он не отводил от нее глаз).’

‘Well, I should have liked to have seen her (я хотела бы увидеть ее = жаль, что я ее не видела),’ says Cap o’ Rushes.

‘Well, there’s to be another dance this evening (назначен другой бал этим вечером), and perhaps she’ll be there (и, возможно, она будет там).’

But, come the evening (но когда пришел вечер), Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired to go with them (что она была слишком усталая, чтобы идти с ними). Howsoever (как бы то ни было), when they were gone (когда они ушли), she offed with her cap o’ rushes and cleaned herself (она сняла свой камышовый чепец и почистила себя), and away she went to the dance (и прочь она пошла на бал = и отправилась на бал).

perhaps [pə’hæps], howsoever [,haʋsǝʋ’evǝ]

Well, next morning they said to her, ‘You did miss a sight, Cap o’ Rushes!’

‘What was that?’ says she.

‘Why, the beautifullest lady you ever see, dressed right gay and ga’. The young master, he never took his eyes off her.’

‘Well, I should have liked to have seen her,’ says Cap o’ Rushes.

‘Well, there’s to be another dance this evening, and perhaps she’ll be there.’

But, come the evening, Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired to go with them. Howsoever, when they were gone, she offed with her cap o’ rushes and cleaned herself, and away she went to the dance.

The master’s son had been reckoning on seeing her (сын хозяина рассчитывал на то, чтобы увидеть ее), and he danced with no one else (и он не танцевал ни с кем еще = кроме), and never took his eyes off her (и не сводил глаз с нее). But, before the dance was over (но прежде чем танец закончился), she slipt off (она ускользнула), and home she went (и домой она пошла), and when the maids came back (и когда служанки пришли назад) she pretended to be asleep (она притворилась спящей) with her cap o’ rushes on (в своем камышовом чепце).

Next day they said to her again (на следующий день они сказали ей снова), ‘Well, Cap o’ Rushes, you should ha’ been there to see the lady (ты должна была быть там, чтобы увидеть эту даму; ha’ = have – разг.). There she was again (там она была снова), gay and ga’ (разряженная), and the young master (и молодой хозяин) he never took his eyes off her (он никогда = вовсе не сводил глаз с нее).’

‘Well, there (ну: «ну там»),’ says she, ‘I should ha’ liked to ha’ seen her (я хотела бы увидеть ее = жаль, что я ее не видела).’

‘Well,’ says they (говорят они; says во множ. числе – разг. вместо say), ‘there’s a dance again this evening (будет бал снова этим вечером), and you must go with us (и ты должна пойти с нами), for she’s sure to be there (ибо она точно будет там).’

reckon [‘rekən]

The master’s son had been reckoning on seeing her, and he danced with no one else, and never took his eyes off her. But, before the dance was over, she slipt off, and home she went, and when the maids came back she pretended to be asleep with her cap o’ rushes on.

Next day they said to her again, ‘Well, Cap o’ Rushes, you should ha’ been there to see the lady. There she was again, gay and ga’, and the young master he never took his eyes off her.’

‘Well, there,’ says she, ‘I should ha’ liked to ha’ seen her.’

‘Well,’ says they, ‘there’s a dance again this evening, and you must go with us, for she’s sure to be there.’

Well, come this evening (когда пришел этот вечер), Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired to go (сказала, что она была слишком усталой, чтобы пойти), and do what they would (и что бы они ни делали = пусть делают, что хотят) she stayed at home (она осталась дома = а она останется дома). But when they were gone (но когда они ушли), she offed with her cap o’ rushes and cleaned herself (она сняла свой камышовый чепец и почистила себя), and away she went to the dance (и отправилась на бал).

The master’s son was rarely glad when he saw her (сын хозяина был на редкость: «редко» рад, когда он увидел ее). He danced with none but her (он не танцевал ни с кем, кроме нее) and never took his eyes off her (и вовсе не сводил своих глаз с нее). When she wouldn’t tell him her name (когда она не захотела сказать ему свое имя), nor where she came from (ни откуда она пришла), he gave her a ring (он дал ей кольцо) and told her if he didn’t see her again (и сказал ей, что если он не увидит ее снова) he should die (он умрет).

Well, before the dance was over (прежде чем бал был окончен), off she slipped (прочь она ускользнула), and home she went (и домой она пошла), and when the maids came home (и когда служанки пришли домой) she was pretending to be asleep with her cap o’ rushes on (она притворялась быть спящей = что спит в своем камышовом чепце).

herself [hǝ’self], rarely [‘reǝlɪ]

Well, come this evening, Cap o’ Rushes said she was too tired to go, and do what they would she stayed at home. But when they were gone, she offed with her cap o’ rushes and cleaned herself, and away she went to the dance.

The master’s son was rarely glad when he saw her. He danced with none but her and never took his eyes off her. When she wouldn’t tell him her name, nor where she came from, he gave her a ring and told her if he didn’t see her again he should die.

Well, before the dance was over, off she slipped, and home she went, and when the maids came home she was pretending to be asleep with her cap o’ rushes on.

Well, next day they says to her (на следующий день они говорят ей), ‘There (вот: «там»), Cap o’ Rushes, you didn’t come last night (ты не пришла прошлой: «последней» ночью), and now you won’t see the lady (и теперь ты не увидишь эту даму), for there’s no more dances (ибо нет больше танцев).’

‘Well, I should have rarely liked to have seen her (я бы исключительно: «редко» хотела увидеть ее),’ says she.

The master’s son tried every way (сын хозяина пробовал каждый способ: «путь») to find out (обнаружить) where the lady was gone (куда дама ушла), but go where he might (но куда бы он ни ходил), and ask whom he might (и кого он ни спрашивал) he never heard anything about her (он так и не: «никогда не» услышал что-то о ней). And he got worse and worse for the love of her (и ему становилось все хуже и хуже из-за любви к ней) till he had to keep his bed (пока он не должен был оставаться в постели).

‘Make some gruel for the young master (сделай немного каши для молодого хозяина),’ they said to the cook (сказали кухарке). ‘He’s dying for the love of the lady (он умирает от любви к той даме).’ The cook set about making it (кухарка начала делать ее; to set about – приступать) when Cap o’ Rushes came in (когда Камышовый чепец вошла внутрь).

‘What are you a-doing (что ты делаешь; разг. вместо doing)?’ says she.

‘I’m going to make some gruel (я собираюсь сделать немного каши; to be going to do something – собираться сделать что-то) for the young master (для молодого хозяина),’ says the cook (говорит кухарка), ‘for he’s dying for the love of the lady (ибо он умирает от любви к той даме).’

‘Let me make it (позволь мне сделать ее),’ says Cap o’ Rushes.

might [maɪt], gruel [‘ɡru:əl]

Well, next day they says to her, ‘There, Cap o’ Rushes, you didn’t come last night, and now you won’t see the lady, for there’s no more dances.’

‘Well, I should have rarely liked to have seen her,’ says she.

The master’s son tried every way to find out where the lady was gone, but go where he might, and ask whom he might he never heard anything about her. And he got worse and worse for the love of her till he had to keep his bed.

‘Make some gruel for the young master,’ they said to the cook. ‘He’s dying for the love of the lady.’ The cook set about making it when Cap o’ Rushes came in.

‘What are you a-doing?’ says she.

‘I’m going to make some gruel for the young master,’ says the cook, ‘for he’s dying for the love of the lady.’

‘Let me make it,’ says Cap o’ Rushes.

Well, the cook wouldn’t at first (кухарка не хотела сперва), but at last she said yes (но наконец она сказала да), and Cap o’ Rushes made the gruel (и Камышовый чепец сделала кашу). And when she had made it (а когда она сделала ее), she slipped the ring into it (она незаметно положила кольцо в нее) on the sly (тайком) before the cook took it upstairs (прежде чем кухарка понесла ее наверх: «взяла ее наверх по лестнице»).

The young man he drank it (молодой человек выпил ее) and then he saw the ring at the bottom (и тогда он увидел кольцо на дне).

‘Send for the cook (пошлите за кухаркой),’ says he. So up she comes (так что вверх она приходит = и вот, она поднимается наверх).

‘Who made this gruel here (кто сделал эту кашу)?’ says he.

‘I did (я сделала),’ says the cook, for she was frightened (сказала кухарка, ибо она была напугана).

And he looked at her (а он посмотрел на нее).

‘No, you didn’t (нет, ты не делала),’ says he. ‘Say who did it (скажи, кто сделал ее), and you shan’t be harmed (и тебе ничего не будет: «ты не будешь обижена»).’

‘Well, then (ну тогда), ’twas Cap o’ Rushes (это была Камышовый чепец; ’twas = it was – это была),’ says she.

‘Send Cap o’ Rushes here (пришлите Камышовый чепец сюда),’ says he.

So Cap o’ Rushes came (так что Камышовый чепец пришла).

bottom [‘bɒtǝm], frighten [‘fraɪt(ǝ)n]

Well, the cook wouldn’t at first, but at last she said yes, and Cap o’ Rushes made the gruel. And when she had made it, she slipped the ring into it on the sly before the cook took it upstairs.

The young man he drank it and then he saw the ring at the bottom.

‘Send for the cook,’ says he. So up she comes.

‘Who made this gruel here?’ says he.

‘I did,’ says the cook, for she was frightened.

And he looked at her.

‘No, you didn’t,’ says he. ‘Say who did it, and you shan’t be harmed.’

‘Well, then, ’twas Cap o’ Rushes,’ says she.

‘Send Cap o’ Rushes here,’ says he.

So Cap o’ Rushes came.

‘Did you make my gruel (ты сделала мою кашу)?’ says he.

‘Yes, I did (да, я сделала),’ says she.

‘Where did you get this ring (где ты получила это кольцо = откуда у тебя это кольцо)?’ says he.

‘From him that gave it me (от него = от того, кто дал его мне; совр. to me),’ says she.

‘Who are you, then (кто /же/ ты тогда)?’ says the young man.

‘I’ll show you (я покажу тебе),’ says she. And she offed with her cap o’ rushes (и она сняла свой камышовый чепец), and there she was in her beautiful clothes (и вот она была в своей прекрасной одежде).

Well, the master’s son he got well very soon (сын хозяина стал здоровым очень скоро), and they were to be married in a little time (и они должны были пожениться через немного времени). It was to be a very grand wedding (это должна была быть очень великолепная свадьба), and everyone was asked far and near (и каждый был приглашен отовсюду: «далеко и близко»). And Cap o’ Rushes’s father was asked (и отец Камышового чепца был приглашен). But she never told anybody (но она так и не: «никогда не» сказала кому-либо) who she was (кто она была).

clothes [kləʋðz]

‘Did you make my gruel?’ says he.

‘Yes, I did,’ says she.

‘Where did you get this ring?’ says he.

‘From him that gave it me,’ says she.

‘Who are you, then?’ says the young man.

‘I’ll show you,’ says she. And she offed with her cap o’ rushes, and there she was in her beautiful clothes.

Well, the master’s son he got well very soon, and they were to be married in a little time. It was to be a very grand wedding, and everyone was asked far and near. And Cap o’ Rushes’s father was asked. But she never told anybody who she was.

But before the wedding (но прежде свадьбы), she went to the cook (она пошла к кухарке), and says she (и говорит она):

‘I want you to dress every dish (я хочу, чтобы ты приготовила каждое блюдо) without a mite o’ salt (без крупицы соли).’

‘That’ll be rare nasty (это будет на редкость: «редко» отвратительно),’ says the cook.

‘That doesn’t signify (это не имеет значения: «не означает»),’ says she.

‘Very well (очень хорошо),’ says the cook.

Well, the wedding day came (свадебный день пришел), and they were married (и их поженили). And after they were married (а после того как они поженились), all the company sat down to the dinner (вся компания села обедать). When they began to eat the meat (когда они начали есть мясо), it was so tasteless they couldn’t eat it (оно было таким безвкусным, что они не могли есть его). But Cap o’ Rushes’s father (но отец Камышового чепца) tried first one dish and then another (попробовал сперва одно блюдо и затем другое), and then he burst out crying (и затем он разразился рыданиями).

signify [‘sɪɡnɪfaɪ], tasteless [‘teɪstlɪs]

But before the wedding, she went to the cook, and says she:

‘I want you to dress every dish without a mite o’ salt.’

‘That’ll be rare nasty,’ says the cook.

‘That doesn’t signify,’ says she.

‘Very well,’ says the cook.

Well, the wedding day came, and they were married. And after they were married, all the company sat down to the dinner. When they began to eat the meat, it was so tasteless they couldn’t eat it. But Cap o’ Rushes’s father tried first one dish and then another, and then he burst out crying.

‘What is the matter (в чем: «что есть» дело)?’ said the master’s son to him (сказал сын хозяина ему).

‘Oh!’ says he, ‘I had a daughter (у меня была дочь). And I asked her how much she loved me (и я спросил ее, насколько она любила меня). And she said: “As much as fresh meat loves salt (настолько, как свежее мясо любит соль).” And I turned her from my door (и я выгнал ее из дома: «я повернул ее от моей двери»), for I thought she didn’t love me (ибо я подумал, что она не любила меня). And now I see she loved me best of all (а теперь я вижу, что она любила меня больше всех). And she may be dead for aught I know (и она, может быть, мертва, насколько: «для что-то» я знаю = не знаю даже, жива она или мертва).’

‘No, father, here she is (нет, отец, она здесь)!’ said Cap o’ Rushes. And she goes up to him (и она подходит к нему) and puts her arms round him (и обнимает его: «кладет свои руки вокруг него»).

And so they were all happy ever after (и так они были все счастливы всю жизнь: «всегда после»).

aught [ɔ:t]

‘What is the matter?’ said the master’s son to him.

‘Oh!’ says he, ‘I had a daughter. And I asked her how much she loved me. And she said. “As much as fresh meat loves salt.” And I turned her from my door, for I thought she didn’t love me. And now I see she loved me best of all. And she may be dead for aught I know.’

‘No, father, here she is!’ said Cap o’ Rushes. And she goes up to him and puts her arms round him.

And so they were all happy ever after.

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