Oscar Wilde: The Happy Prince and Ohter Tales

But the Happy Prince looked so sad(но Счастливый Принц выглядел таким печальным)that the little Swallow was sorry(что маленький Ласточка пожалел /его/). `It is very cold here(здесь очень холодно),' he said; `but I will stay with you for one night(но я останусь с тобой на одну ночь), and be your messenger(и буду твоим гонцом).'

`Thank you, little Swallow,' said the Prince.

rude[ru:d ] agility[ə'dζiliti] messenger['mes(ə)ndζə]

`I don't think I like boys,' answered the Swallow. `Last summer, when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the miller's sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it was a mark of disrespect.'

But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was sorry. `It is very cold here,' he said; `but I will stay with you for one night, and be your messenger.'

`Thank you, little Swallow,' said the Prince.

So the Swallow picked out the great ruby(тогда Ласточка выклевал/сковырнул большой рубин; to pick — выбирать, ковырять, клевать)from the Prince's sword(из /рукоятки/ шпаги Принца), and flew away with it(и улетел с ним)in his beak(/держа его/ в своем клюве)over the roofs of the town(над крышами города = городскими крышами).

He passed by the cathedral tower(он пролетел мимо башни собора; to pass — идти, проходить мимо), where the white marble angels were sculptured(где /были установлены/ ангелы /которые/ были высечены из белого мрамора; sculpture — скульптура, to sculpture — ваять, лепить, высекать). He passed by the palace(он пролетел мимо дворца)and heard the sound of dancing(и услышал звуки танцев = танцевальной музыки; to hear (heard), dance — танец, пляска). A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover(прекрасная девушка вышла на балкон со своим возлюбленным; to come (came, come)).

`How wonderful the stars are(какие изумительные/чудесные звезды),' he said to her(сказал он ей), and how wonderful is the power of love(и как изумительна/удивительна сила любви)!'

`I hope my dress will be ready in time(я надеюсь, что мое платье будет готово вовремя)for the State-ball(к придворному: «государственному» балу; state — государство),' she answered(ответила она); `I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it(я приказала, чтобы на нем были вышиты страстоцветы); but the seamstresses are so lazy(но швеи такие ленивые).'

cathedral[kə'θi:drəl ] sculpture ['skλlpt∫ə ] embroider[im'broidə]

So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Prince's sword, and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.

He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover.

`How wonderful the stars are,' he said to her, and how wonderful is the power of love!'

`I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball,' she answered; `I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it; but the seamstresses are so lazy.'

He passed over the river(он пролетел над рекой), and saw the lanterns(и увидел фонари; to see (saw, seen))hanging to the masts of the ships(свисающие с мачт кораблей; to hang — вешать, висеть). He passed over the Ghetto(он пролетел над Гетто; Ghetto — /еврейское/ гетто), and saw the old jews bargaining with each other(и увидел старых евреев, торгующихся друг с другом; bargain — торговая сделка, договор), and weighing out money in copper scales(и отвешивающих деньги на медных весах; weight — вес, to weigh — взвешивать). At last he came to the poor house(наконец он подлетел к тому самому бедному/убогому дому)and looked in(и заглянул внутрь). The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed(мальчик метался лихорадочно на своей постели; to toss — бросать, метать), and the mother had fallen asleep(а мать заснула; to fall (fell, fallen)), she was so tired(настолько она устала: «она была такой усталой»). In he hopped(он впорхнул внутрь /комнаты/; to hop — прыгать), and laid the great ruby on the table(и положил большой рубин на стол; to lay (laid) — класть, положить)beside the woman's thimble(рядом с наперстком женщины). Then he flew gently round the bed(затем он осторожно облетел вокруг кровати; gently — мягко, тихо, легко), fanning the boy's forehead with his wings(обмахивая лоб мальчика своими крыльями; fan — веер, опахало, to fan — обмахивать).

`How cool I feel(как прохладно /я себя чувствую/),' said the boy, `I must be getting better(я, должно быть, выздоравливаю; to get better — поправляться после болезни);' and he sank into a delicious slumber(и он погрузился в сладостную дремоту; to sink (sank, sunk) — тонуть, опускаться, delicious — восхитительный).

mast [mα:st ] bargain ['bα:gin ] weighing ['weiiŋ] thimble['θimb(ə)l] forehead ['forid, 'fo:hed ] delicious[di'li∫əs]

He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old jews bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman's thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy's forehead with his wings.