Rudolf Raspe - The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen / Приключения барона Мюнхгаузена. Уровень 1

The crew was consulting how to cut the fish up. They wanted to preserve the greatest quantity of oil. As I understood Italian, I was in most dreadful position. Their weapons could destroy me also! I stood as near the centre as possible, for there was room enough for a dozen men in this creature’s stomach. However, my fears were soon dispersed: the sailor began to open the bottom of the belly. As soon as I perceived a glimmering of light I called out lustily. I almost suffocated. The sailors were very astonished, when they heard a human voice from a fish. They were even more astonished, when a naked man walked upright out of its body. In short, gentlemen, I told them the whole story, and they were dumb with amazement.

Then I jumped into the sea to cleanse myself, I swam to my clothes, which lay on the shore. I was near four hours and a half confined in the stomach of this animal.

So the ship that saved me was heading for the Turkish capital. The Italians saw that I was a remarkable man, and proposed me to stay with them. I agreed, and in a week we saw the Turkish coast.

The Turkish Sultan heard of my arrival. Of course he invited me to dine with him in his palace. He said:

“I am happy, my dear Munchausen, to welcome you here. I hope you are quite well. I know all your great heroic deeds, and I want to ask you a favour. It is a very difficult task that no one else can manage. But I know you are the most intelligent and resourceful person in the world. Can you go to Egypt immediately?”

“With pleasure!” I said. “I like to travel and I’m ready to go anywhere right now!”

The Sultan was very much pleased with my answer. He entrusted me with the task which must remain a secret. Therefore I cannot tell you about it. Yes, the Sultan himself confided a great secret to me, for he knew that I was the most reliable man in the world. I bowed and immediately set off [27] set off – тронулся в путь .

As soon as I left the Turkish capital, I came across a little man. He was running with unusual rapidity. Heavy weights were tied to his legs, and yet he flew like an arrow.

“Where are you going?” I asked him. “And why did you tie these weights to your legs?”

“Three minutes ago I was in Vienna,” the little man answered, “and now I am going to Constantinople to look for some job. I hung the weights not to run very fast, because I have time.”

I liked this amazing runner very much, and I took him into my service [28] I took him into my service – я нанял его себе на службу . So he followed me.

The next day we saw a man. He was lying on the ground and was listening to something.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I’m listening how the grass grows in the field,” he answered.

“Do you hear that?”

“Of course I do. It’s very easy!”

And I took this wonderful man into my service, too. We went on. Soon I saw a hunter with a rifle in his hand.

“Listen,” I said. “What are you shooting at? I can see neither animal nor bird here.”

“There was a sparrow on the roof of a bell-tower [29] bell-tower – колокольня in Berlin, and I got it right in the eye [30] I got it right in the eye – попал ему прямо в глаз .”

You know how much I like hunting, gentlemen. Of course, I took this good hunter into my service. He was happy to follow me.

We passed many countries and cities, and we came to a big forest. There was a great man near the forest. He was holding a rope and he fastened the forest with loop.

“What are you carrying?” I asked.

“I want to chop wood, but I forgot my axe at home,” he said. “That’s why I’m carrying this forest.”

He pulled the rope, and the great oaks flew into the air and fell to the ground.

Needless to say, I took this strong man into my service as well.

When we were approaching Egypt, there was such a terrible storm that all our carriages and horses were all in a tumble.

We saw seven windmills, their wings were whirling very fast. And a man was lying on a hillock. He pinched his left nostril with a finger. When he saw us, he greeted me courteously, and the storm stopped.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I turn my master’s windmills,” he replied, “and I don’t want to break them. That’s why I don’t blow too hard: from one nostril only.”

“This man will be useful to me,” I thought, and took him into my service, too.

So, gentlemen, such wonderful men became my servants. And they served me well!

In Egypt, I soon completed the Sultan’s task. My resourcefulness helped me there, too. A week later, I returned to the Turkish capital with my extraordinary servants.

The Sultan was glad to see me back.

“You are cleverer than all my ministers, my dear Munchausen!” he said and shook my hand. “Come and dine with me today!”

The dinner was very delicious, but – alas! – there was no wine on the table. I was very much distressed, and the Sultan took me to his study after dinner. He opened a secret cupboard, and took out a bottle.

“This is the most excellent wine in the world, my dear Munchausen!” he said.

The wine was really good. But after the first sip, I said that in China the wine was better.

“My dear Munchausen!” the Sultan exclaimed. “I believe every word you say, because you are the most truthful man in the world, but I swear that you are not telling the truth now. This wine is the best!”

“No. I tasted better wine, indeed.”

“Munchausen, you are talking nonsense!”

“No, I am telling you the truth, and I will deliver you a bottle of wine from China in an hour. You will compare the bottles and see yourself.”

“Munchausen, you play with fire! Now I see that you are a shameless liar!”

“You can make certain of it [31] make certain of it – убедиться в этом yourself. I am telling the truth!”

“I agree!” the Sultan replied. “If you don’t bring me a bottle of the best wine in the world from China by four o’clock, I’ll have your head cut off

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tobacco-pouches – кисет

the more I advanced – чем ближе я двигался

I found myself – я оказался

in two – надвое

was making after me – бежал за мной

fire flew out of my eyes – из моих глаз посыпались искры