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He presently meets with his father, and the old man says to him, “Where are you going, my poor boy?”
And he said, “I see nothing at all here but great trees around me. If I stay here, maybe I shall go mad before I see anything.”
“Well,” says his father, “I’m sorry to see you going away, [142] but if you decided to go, it’s better for you to go.”
The poor lad had not gone far, when his father called him back. Then the old man drew out of his pocket a golden snuff-box, and said to him, “Here, take this little box, and put it in your pocket, and be sure not to open it [143] till you are near your death.”
142
I’m sorry to see you going away – мне жаль видеть, что ты уходишь
143
and be sure not to open it –
And away went poor Jack upon his road, [144] and walked till he was tired and hungry, for he had eaten all his cake upon the road. By this time night was upon him, so he could hardly see his way before him. He could see some light a long way before him, and he came to it. He found the back door and knocked at it, till one of the maid-servants came and asked him what he wanted. He said that night was on him, and he wanted to get some place to sleep. The maid-servant called him in to the fire, and gave him plenty to eat, good meat and bread and beer. While he was eating his food by the fire, there came the young lady to look at him, and she loved him well [145] and he loved her. And the young lady ran to tell her father, and said there was a pretty young man in the back kitchen. Immediately the gentleman came to him, and questioned him, and asked what work he could do. Jack said, the silly fellow, that he could do anything.
144
away went poor Jack upon his road – бедолага Джек зашагал по дороге
145
and she loved him well – и она влюбилась в него
“Well,” says the gentleman to him, “if you can do anything, at eight o’clock in the morning I must have a great lake and some big ships sailing before my mansion. And one of the largest ships must fire a royal salute, [146] and the last round must break the leg of the bed where my young daughter is sleeping. And if you don’t do that, you will have to forfeit your life. [147] ”
“All right,” said Jack; and away he went to his bed. He said his prayers quietly, and slept till it was near eight o’clock. He had hardly any time to think what he was to do, till suddenly he remembered about the little golden box that his father gave him. And he said to himself, “Well, well, I never was so near my death as I am now;” and then he felt in his pocket, and drew the little box out.
146
must fire a royal salute – должен дать королевский салют
147
you will have to forfeit your life – ты поплатишься своей жизнью
When he opened it, out there hopped [148] three little red men, and asked Jack, “What is your will with us? [149] ”
“Well,” said Jack, “I want a great lake and the biggest ships in the world before this mansion. And one of the largest ships must fire a royal salute, and the last round must break one of the legs of the bed where this young lady is sleeping.”
“All right,” said the little men; “go to sleep.”
It struck eight o’clock, when Jack jumped out of bed to look through the window. He saw the biggest ships in the world! It was a wonderful sight for him to see, after being so long [150] with his father and mother living in a wood. Bang! Bang! he heard the largest ships fire a royal salute. The last round broke one of the legs of the bed where the young lady was sleeping.
148
out there hopped – оттуда выпрыгнули
149
What is your will with us? – Чего ты от нас хочешь?
150
after being so long – после столь долгого пребывания
By this time Jack dressed himself, and said his prayers, and came down laughing. He was proud, he was, because the thing was done so well. [151] The gentleman comes to him, and says to him, “Well, my young man, I must say that you are very clever indeed. Come and have some breakfast.”
And the gentleman tells him, “Now there are two more things you have to do, and then you shall have my daughter in marriage. [152] ” Jack gets his breakfast, and has a good squint at the young lady, and also she at him.
151
because the thing was done so well –
152
and then you shall have my daughter in marriage – а потом ты получишь руку моей дочери
The other thing that the gentleman told him to do was to fell all the great trees for miles around by eight o’clock in the morning.
“All right,” said Jack; and away he went to his bed. He said his prayers quietly, and slept till it was near eight o’clock. He remembered about the little golden box that his father gave him. And he said to himself, “Well, well, I never was so near my death as I am now;” and then he felt in his pocket, and drew the little box out.
When he opened it, out there hopped three little red men, and asked Jack, “What is your will with us?” “Well,” said Jack, “I want to fell all the great trees for miles around.”
“All right,” said the little men; “go to sleep.”
It struck eight o’clock, when Jack jumped out of bed to look through the window. He saw that everything was done, and it pleased the gentleman well. The gentleman said to him, “The other thing you have to do”—(and it was the last thing)—“you must get me a great castle standing on twelve golden pillars. And there must come regiments of soldiers and go through their drill. At eight o’clock the commanding officer must say, ‘Shoulder up! [153] ’”
153
Shoulder up! – На плечо! (военная команда)
“All right,” said Jack; and away he went to his bed. He said his prayers quietly, and slept till it was near eight o’clock again. He remembered about the little golden box that his father gave him. And he said to himself, “Well, well, I never was so near my death as I am now;” and then he felt in his pocket, and drew the little box out.
When he opened it, out there hopped three little red men, and asked Jack, “What is your will with us?” “Well,” said Jack, “You must get me a great castle standing on twelve golden pillars. And there must come regiments of soldiers and go through their drill. At eight o’clock the commanding officer must say, ‘Shoulder up!’”
“All right,” said the little men; “go to sleep.”
It struck eight o’clock, when Jack jumped out of bed to look through the window. He saw the great castle standing on twelve golden pillars. And there came regiments of soldiers and went through their drill. At eight o’clock the commanding officer said, ‘Shoulder up!’ So Jack had the young daughter in marriage.
But, oh dear! [154] Bad things happen.
The gentleman now makes a large hunting party, and invites all the gentlemen around the country to it, and to see the castle as well. And by this time Jack has a beautiful horse and a scarlet dress to go with them. On that morning his servant, when putting Jack’s clothes by, after changing them to go a hunting, put his hand in one of Jack’s waistcoat-pockets, and pulled out the little golden snuff-box.
154
oh dear! – о Боже мой!
That man opened the little box, and there hopped the three little red men out, and asked him what he wanted with them. “Well,” said the servant to them, “I want this castle to be moved from this place far and far across the sea.” “All right,” said the little red men to him; “do you wish to go with it?” “Yes,” said he. “Well, get up,” said they to him; and away they went far and far over the great sea.
Now the grand hunting party comes back, and the castle upon the twelve golden pillars had disappeared, to the great disappointment of those gentlemen as did not see it before. Jack’s father-in-law is threatening poor silly Jack to take his beautiful young wife from him. But the gentleman at last made an agreement with him: Jack would have twelve months and a day to look for it. And off he goes [155] with a good horse and money in his pocket.
155
off he goes – и он уезжает