But the leper entreated him sore, so that the Star-Child had pity on him, and gave him the piece of yellow gold.

And when he came to the Magician's house, the Magician opened to him, and brought him in, and said to him, 'Hast thou the piece of yellow gold?' And the Star-Child said to him, 'I have it not.' So the Magician fell upon him, and beat him, and loaded him with chains, and cast him again into the dungeon.

 

And on the morrow the Magician came to him (и на следующий день Волшебник пришел к нему), and said, 'If to-day thou bringest me the piece of red gold (если сегодня ты принесешь мне монету из красного золота) I will set thee free (я освобожу тебя; free — свободный, вольный), but if thou bringest it not (но если ты не принесешь ее; thou bringest = you bring) I will surely slay thee (я непременно убью тебя).'

So the Star-Child went to the wood (тогда Звездный Мальчик отправился в лес; to go (went, gone)), and all day long (и целый день напролет) he searched for the piece of red gold (он искал монету из красного/червонного золота), but nowhere could he find it (но нигде не мог он найти ее; can (could)). And at evening (вечером) he sat him down and wept (он присел на землю и заплакал; to weep (wept)), and as he was weeping (пока он плакал) there came to him the little Hare (к нему подошел маленький Зайчик).

 

free [fri:] slay [sleI] weeping ['wi:pIN]

 

And on the morrow the Magician came to him, and said, 'If to-day thou bringest me the piece of red gold I will set thee free, but if thou bringest it not I will surely slay thee.'

So the Star-Child went to the wood, and all day long he searched for the piece of red gold, but nowhere could he find it. And at evening he sat him down and wept, and as he was weeping there came to him the little Hare.

 

And the Hare said to him, 'The piece of red gold that thou seekest (монета из красного золота, которую ты ищешь; thou seekest = you seek) is in the cavern (находится в пещере) that is behind thee (что позади тебя; thee = you). Therefore weep no more (поэтому не плачь больше) but be glad (и радуйся: «будь довольным/радостным»).'

'How shall I reward thee (как же мне вознаградить тебя)?' cried the Star-Child, 'for lo (подумать только)! this is the third time (это уже третий раз) thou hast succoured me (когда ты приходишь ко мне на помощь в трудную минуту).'

'Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first (ты первым сжалился надо мной),' said the Hare, and it ran away swiftly (и быстро убежал прочь).

 

cavern ['kxvqn] behind [bI'haInd] third [Tq:d] first [fq:st]

 

And the Hare said to him, 'The piece of red gold that thou seekest is in the cavern that is behind thee. Therefore weep no more but be glad.'

'How shall I reward thee?' cried the Star-Child, 'for lo! this is the third time thou hast succoured me.'

'Nay, but thou hadst pity on me first,' said the Hare, and it ran away swiftly.

 

And the Star-Child entered the cavern (и Звездный Мальчик вошел в пещеру), and in its farthest corner (и в самом дальнем ее уголке; far — далекий, дальний, farthest — самый дальний, удаленный) he found the piece of red gold (он нашел монету из красного золота; to find (found)). So he put it in his wallet (тогда он положил ее в свою котомку), and hurried to the city (и поспешил к городу). And the leper seeing him coming (и прокаженный, видя, что он идет), stood in the centre of the road (встал посреди дороги; to stand (stood); centre — центр, середина), and cried out (и вскричал), and said to him, 'Give me the piece of red money (отдай мне монету из красного золота: «из красных денег»), or I must die (или я умру: «я должен умереть»),' and the Star-Child had pity on him again (и Звездный Мальчик снова сжалился над ним), and gave him the piece of red gold (и отдал ему монету из красного золота; to give (gave, given)), saying, 'Thy need is greater than mine (твоя нужда больше моей).' Yet was his heart heavy (все же на сердце у него было тяжело), for he knew (потому что он знал; to know (knew, known)) what evil fate awaited him (какая злая судьба/участь ожидала его; to await — ждать, предстоять).

 

farthest ['fQ:DIst] centre ['sentq] money ['mAnI] heavy ['hevI]

await [q'weIt]

 

And the Star-Child entered the cavern, and in its farthest corner he found the piece of red gold. So he put it in his wallet, and hurried to the city. And the leper seeing him coming, stood in the centre of the road, and cried out, and said to him, 'Give me the piece of red money, or I must die,' and the Star-Child had pity on him again, and gave him the piece of red gold, saying, 'Thy need is greater than mine.' Yet was his heart heavy, for he knew what evil fate awaited him.

 

But lo (но, подумать только)! as he passed through the gate of the city (когда он прошел сквозь ворота города), the guards bowed down (стражники склонились; to bow — кланяться, преклоняться) and made obeisance to him (в почтительном поклоне перед ним: «и почтительно поклонились ему»; obeisance — почтительный поклон, реверанс), saying, 'How beautiful is our lord (как прекрасен наш Господин/Владыка)!' and a crowd of citizens followed him (и толпа горожан следовала за ним; citizen — гражданин, городской житель), and cried out (и восклицала), 'Surely there is none so beautiful (несомненно, нет никого настолько же прекрасного) in the whole world (во всем мире)!' so that the Star-Child wept (так что Звездный Мальчик заплакал), and said to himself (и сказал про себя), 'They are mocking me (они насмехаются надо мной), and making light of my misery (и не воспринимают серьезно мои страдания/мучения; to make light of smth. — недооценивать что-либо, относиться к чему-либо несерьезно, пренебрежительно).' And so large was the concourse of the people (стечение народа было настолько огромным), that he lost the threads of his way (что он заблудился: «потерял нити своего пути»; to lose (lost), thread — нитка, нить), and found himself at last (и в конце концов очутился) in a great square (на огромной площади; square — квадрат; площадь), in which there was a palace of a King (на которой стоял дворец Короля).

 

guard [gQ:d] obeisance [qV'beIs(q)ns] citizen ['sItIz(q)n] light [laIt]

misery ['mIz(q)rI] concourse ['kONkO:s] thread [Tred] square [skweq]

 

But lo! as he passed through the gate of the city, the guards bowed down and made obeisance to him, saying, 'How beautiful is our lord!' and a crowd of citizens followed him, and cried out, 'Surely there is none so beautiful in the whole world!' so that the Star-Child wept, and said to himself, 'They are mocking me, and making light of my misery.' And so large was the concourse of the people, that he lost the threads of his way, and found himself at last in a great square, in which there was a palace of a King.

 

And the gate of the palace opened (и ворота дворца отворились), and the priests (и священники) and the high officers of the city (и высокие должностные лица города; officer — чиновник, должностное лицо) ran forth to meet him (выбежали /вперед = навстречу/, чтобы встретить его), and they abased themselves before him (и они склонились перед ним; to abase — унижать; уст. опускаться в поклоне, выражать смирение), and said, 'Thou art our lord (ты наш Владыка) for whom we have been waiting (которого мы ожидали), and the son of our King (и сын нашего Короля).'

 

palace ['pxlIs] priest [pri:st] officer ['OfIsq] abase [q'beIs] lord [lO:d]

 

And the gate of the palace opened, and the priests and the high officers of the city ran forth to meet him, and they abased themselves before him, and said, 'Thou art our lord for whom we have been waiting, and the son of our King.'

 

And the Star-Child answered them (и Звездный Мальчик ответил им) and said, 'I am no king's son (я не сын короля), but the child of a poor beggar-woman (а сын: «ребенок» бедной нищенки). And how say ye (и как вы можете говорить; ye = you) that I am beautiful (что я прекрасен), for I know (потому что я знаю) that I am evil to look at (что на меня противно смотреть; evil — злой, зловредный; отвратительный)?'

 

child [tSaIld] beggar ['begq] beautiful ['bju:tIf(q)l] evil ['i:v(q)l]

 

And the Star-Child answered them and said, 'I am no king's son, but the child of a poor beggar-woman. And how say ye that I am beautiful, for I know that I am evil to look at?'

 

Then he, whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers (затем тот: «он», чьи доспехи были инкрустированы золоченными цветами), and on whose helmet crouched a lion that had wings (и на чьем шлеме притаился крылатый лев: «лев у которого были крылья»), held up a shield (поднял щит; to hold (held)), and cried, 'How saith my lord (как говорит мой владыка; saith = say) that he is not beautiful (что он не прекрасен)?'

And the Star-Child looked (и Звездный Мальчик поглядел /в щит/), and lo (и, подумать только)! his face was even as it had been (его лицо было таким же, каким оно было раньше), and his comeliness had come back to him (и его миловидность/привлекательная внешность вернулась к нему), and he saw that in his eyes (и он увидел что-то в своих глазах; to see (saw, seen)) which he had not seen there before (чего он раньше там никогда не видел).

 

armour ['Q:mq] flower ['flaVq] lion ['laIqn]

 

Then he, whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers, and on whose helmet crouched a lion that had wings, held up a shield, and cried, 'How saith my lord that he is not beautiful?'

And the Star-Child looked, and lo! his face was even as it had been, and his comeliness had come back to him, and he saw that in his eyes which he had not seen there before.

 

And the priests and the high officers knelt down (и священники, и высокие должностные лица опустились на колени; to kneel (knelt)) and said to him, 'It was prophesied of old (так было предсказано давно/в давние времена; to prophesy — предсказывать, пророчить; old — давнее, прошлое) that on this day (что именно в этот день) should come he (должен прийти тот: «он») who was to rule over us (который должен править нами; to rule over smb. — управлять, править кем-либо). Therefore (поэтому), let our lord take this crown (да примет: «пусть возьмет» наш владыка эту корону; let — пускать; вспомогательный глагол в повелительном наклонении — приказание или разрешение: пусть) and this sceptre (и этот скипетр), and be in his justice and mercy (и будет в своей справедливости и своем милосердии) our King over us (нашим Королем над нами).'

 

prophesy ['prOfIsaI] crown [kraVn] sceptre ['septq] justice ['dZAstIs]

 

And the priests and the high officers knelt down and said to him, 'It was prophesied of old that on this day should come he who was to rule over us. Therefore, let our lord take this crown and this sceptre, and be in his justice and mercy our King over us.'

 

But he said to them (но он сказал им), 'I am not worthy (я недостоин; worthy — достойный, заслуживающий), for I have denied the mother (потому что я отверг мать) who bare me (которая родила меня; to bear (bore, арх. bare; born) — нести что-либо; рождать, производить на свет), nor may I rest (и не могу я успокоиться) till I have found her (до тех пор, пока не найду ее; to find (found)), and known her forgiveness (и не узнаю, что она простила меня: «о ее прощении»; to know (knew, known)). Therefore, let me go (поэтому разрешите мне уйти), for I must wander again over the world (потому что я должен снова отправиться странствовать по миру), and may not tarry here (и не должен задерживаться здесь; to tarry — пребывать; медлить, мешкать), though ye bring me the crown and the sceptre (хотя вы приносите мне корону и скипетр).' And as he spake (и когда он говорил /это/) he turned his face from them (он отвернул свое лицо от них) towards the street (к той улице) that led to the gate of the city (что вела к воротам города; to lead (led)), and lo (и — о чудо)! amongst the crowd (среди толпы) that pressed round the soldiers (которую сдерживали солдаты: «что теснилась вокруг солдат»; to press — жать, нажимать; теснить, оказывать давление), he saw the beggar-woman (он увидел ту самую нищенку) who was his mother (которая была его матерью), and at her side stood the leper (и рядом с ней стоял тот самый прокаженный; side — стенка, стена; место рядом), who had sat by the road (который сидел у дороги; to sit (sat)).

 

worthy ['wq:DI] deny [dI'naI] amongst [q'mANst]

 

But he said to them, 'I am not worthy, for I have denied the mother who bare me, nor may I rest till I have found her, and known her forgiveness. Therefore, let me go, for I must wander again over the world, and may not tarry here, though ye bring me the crown and the sceptre.' And as he spake he turned his face from them towards the street that led to the gate of the city, and lo! amongst the crowd that pressed round the soldiers, he saw the beggar-woman who was his mother, and at her side stood the leper, who had sat by the road.

 

And a cry of joy broke from his lips (крик радости сорвался с его губ; to break (broke, broken) — ломать, разбивать; срыватьcя), and he ran over (и он подбежал), and kneeling down (и падая на колени) he kissed the wounds on his mother's feet (он поцеловал раны на ногах своей матери), and wet them with his tears (и оросил их своими слезами; to wet — мочить, смачивать, увлажнять). He bowed his head in the dust (он склонил свою голову в /дорожную/ пыль), and sobbing (и рыдая/всхлипывая), as one whose heart might break (словно /человек, чье/ сердце могло разорваться), he said to her: 'Mother, I denied thee in the hour of my pride (мать, я отверг тебя в час моей гордыни; thee = you). Accept me in the hour of my humility (прими меня в час моего смирения; to accept — принимать, брать, признавать). Mother, I gave thee hatred (мать, я дал тебе ненависть/отвращение; to give (gave, given)). Do thou give me love (дай мне любовь). Mother, I rejected thee (мать, я отверг тебя). Receive thy child now (прими теперь своего ребенка).' But the beggar-woman answered him not a word (но нищенка не ответила ему ни слова).

 

wound [wu:nd] tear [tIq] hour ['aVq] humility [hju:'mIlItI]

hatred ['heItrId] reject [rI'dZekt]

 

And a cry of joy broke from his lips, and he ran over, and kneeling down he kissed the wounds on his mother's feet, and wet them with his tears. He bowed his head in the dust, and sobbing, as one whose heart might break, he said to her: 'Mother, I denied thee in the hour of my pride. Accept me in the hour of my humility. Mother, I gave thee hatred. Do thou give me love. Mother, I rejected thee. Receive thy child now.' But the beggar-woman answered him not a word.

 

And he reached out his hands (и он протянул свои руки), and clasped the white feet of the leper (и обнял белые ноги прокаженного; to clasp — застегивать; пожимать, обнимать), and said to him: 'Thrice did I give thee of my mercy (трижды я проявил к тебе милосердие; thrice — трижды, три раза подряд). Bid my mother (упроси мою мать) speak to me once (заговорить со мною хоть один раз).' But the leper answered him not a word (но прокаженный не ответил ему ни слова).

 

clasp [klQ:sp] thrice [TraIs] mercy ['mq:sI]

 

And he reached out his hands, and clasped the white feet of the leper, and said to him: 'Thrice did I give thee of my mercy. Bid my mother speak to me once.' But the leper answered him not a word.

 

And he sobbed again (и он снова зарыдал/всхлипнул) and said: 'Mother, my suffering is greater than I can bear (мать, мои страдания больше, чем я могу вынести; to bear — переносить, перевозить; терпеть, выдерживать). Give me thy forgiveness (дай мне твое прощение; to forgive — прощать), and let me go back to the forest (и позволь мне вернуться назад в лес).' And the beggar-woman put her hand on his head (и нищенка положила свою руку на его голову), and said to him, 'Rise (встань; to rise — восходить; вставать на ноги, подниматься),' and the leper put his hand on his head (и прокаженный положил свою руку на его голову), and said to him, 'Rise,' also (также).

And he rose up from his feet (и он поднялся с колен: «с ног»), and looked at them (и взглянул на них), and lo! they were a King and a Queen (и, о чудо, это были Король и Королева).

 

rise [raIz] king [kIN] queen [kwi:n]

 

And he sobbed again and said: 'Mother, my suffering is greater than I can bear. Give me thy forgiveness, and let me go back to the forest.' And the beggar-woman put her hand on his head, and said to him, 'Rise,' and the leper put his hand on his head, and said to him, 'Rise,' also.

And he rose up from his feet, and looked at them, and lo! they were a King and a Queen.

 

And the Queen said to him (и Королева сказала ему), 'This is thy father (это твой отец) whom thou hast succoured (которому ты пришел на помощь в трудную минуту; thou hast = you have).'

And the King said (и Король сказал), 'This is thy mother (вот твоя мать) whose feet thou hast washed with thy tears (чьи ноги ты омыл своими слезами; to wash — мыть, обмывать, thy = your).'

And they fell on his neck (и они бросились: «пали» к нему на шею; to fall (fell, fallen) — падать, опускаться) and kissed him (и поцеловали его), and brought him into the palace (и привели его во дворец; to bring (brought)) and clothed him in fair raiment (и одели его в прекрасные одежды; to clothe — одевать), and set the crown upon his head (и возложили ему на голову корону), and the sceptre in his hand (и /вложили/ в его руку скипетр), and over the city that stood by the river he ruled (и он правил городом, что стоял возле реки; to stand (stood)), and was its lord (и был его властелином).

 

palace ['pxlIs] clothe [klqVD] raiment ['reImqnt]

 

And the Queen said to him, 'This is thy father whom thou hast succoured.'

And the King said, 'This is thy mother whose feet thou hast washed with thy tears.' And they fell on his neck and kissed him, and brought him into the palace and clothed him in fair raiment, and set the crown upon his head, and the sceptre in his hand, and over the city that stood by the river he ruled, and was its lord.

 

Much justice and mercy did he show to all (он всем оказывал /много/ милости и справедливости; to show — показывать; проявлять, обнаруживать, выказывать), and the evil Magician he banished (а злого Волшебника он изгнал), and to the Woodcutter and his wife (а Дровосеку и его жене) he sent many rich gifts (он отправил множество богатых даров; to send (sent) — посылать), and to their children (и их детям) he gave high honour (оказал высокие почести; to give (gave, given), honour — честь; почет, уважение). Nor would he suffer any (он никому не позволял; to suffer — страдать; позволять, допускать) to be cruel to bird or beast (быть жестоким по отношению к птице или зверю), but taught love (но учил любви; to teach (taught)) and loving-kindness (и милосердию) and charity (и состраданию), and to the poor he gave bread (и бедным он дал хлеб), and to the naked he gave raiment (а нагим он дал одежду), and there was peace (мир) and plenty (и изобилие/достаток) in the land (царили: «были» в той стране; land — земля; страна, царство).

 

justice ['dZAstIs] mercy ['mq:sI] banish ['bxnIS] honour ['Onq]

taught [tO:t]

 

Much justice and mercy did he show to all, and the evil Magician he banished, and to the Woodcutter and his wife he sent many rich gifts, and to their children he gave high honour. Nor would he suffer any to be cruel to bird or beast, but taught love and loving-kindness and charity, and to the poor he gave bread, and to the naked he gave raiment, and there was peace and plenty in the land.

 

Yet ruled he not long (однако, он правил не долго), so great had been his suffering (настолько велики были его страдания), and so bitter the fire of his testing (и так горек/резок = жгуч был огонь его испытания; to test — подвергать испытаниям, испытывать), for after the space of three years (что спустя три года: «после промежутка времени в три года») he died (он умер). And he who came after him (и тот, кто правил: «пришел» после него; to come (came, come)) ruled evilly (правил дурно).

suffering ['sAf(q)rIN] fire ['faIq] die [daI] rule [ru:l]