Снежная королева / The Snow Queen бесплатное чтение
Ганс Христиан Андерсон / Hans Christian Andersen
Снежная королева / The Snow Queen
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Story the First
Which Tells of the Looking-Glass and the Bits of It
Attention, please, we’re going to begin. When we’ve got to the end of the story we shall know more than we do now. Once there was a wicked troll. He had made a looking-glass which had this property: everything good and pretty that was reflected in it became bad and ugly. And everything that was no good came out even worse[1]. The most beautiful landscapes looked like boiled spinach, and the best of men grew hideous. Their faces were so distorted that they couldn’t be recognized. It was very funny, the troll said. He couldn’t help but laugh at his clever invention. Everyone who attended the troll school (for he kept a troll school) spread the news all about that miracle looking-glass: you could now see, they said, what the world and mankind really looked like. They ran about everywhere with the glass, and at last there wasn’t a country or a person left who hadn’t been distorted in it. After that they decided to fly up to heaven itself and make fun of the angels. The higher they flew with the glass, the more it grimaced. Up and up they flew, and then the glass grimaced so hard that it fell out of their hands and to the ground. It broke into millions of tiny pieces. Some of them were as big as a grain of sand. They flew around the wide world, and when they got into peoples’ eyes, they stuck there, and from that moment the people saw everything crooked and only looked for the bad things[2]. Every little splinter of the glass had kept the same power that the whole glass had. Some people got a little bit of the glass into their hearts, and that was horrible, for their hearts became just like a lump of ice. Some of the pieces were so big that they were used for window glass. Other pieces were made into glasses, and that was a bad thing, if people put them on in order to see correctly and judge rightly. The evil troll laughed at this, for it was very amusing to him. And out in the world little bits of glass were still flying in the air.
Now you shall hear what happened with some of them.
Story the Second
A Little Boy and a Little Girl
In the big town, where there are so many houses and people that there isn’t enough room for everybody to have a little garden, and where most people have to grow flowers in pots, there were two poor children. They weren’t brother and sister, but they were as fond of each other as if they had been[3]. Their parents were near neighbours, living in two attics, where the roof of the one house touched the other: a small window in each house faced the other; you could get from one window to the other in one step.
The parents had, each of them, a large wooden box outside the window, and in it grew kitchen herbs which they used, and also a little rose tree; there was one in each box, and they flourished wonderfully[4]. Then the parents thought of putting the boxes across the gutter[5] in such a way that they reached almost from the one window to the other and really looked like two bunches of flowers. The pea plants hung down over the boxes, and the rose trees twined about the windows and bent over to meet each other, and made almost an arch of leaves and blossoms. The boxes were very high up, and the children knew they must not climb up into them, but they were often allowed to get out to meet each other and sit on their little stools beneath the roses, and there they used to play very happily.
In winter, of course, that pleasure was gone. The windows were often quite frozen over; but then they would heat copper pennies on the stove, and then put the hot pennies on the frosty window, and this made a small peep-hole, one out of each window; the little boy’s and the little girl’s. The boy’s name was Kay and the girl’s name was Gerda.
“Those are the white bees swarming,” said the old grandmother once in winter, looking at the falling snow.
“Have they got a queen too?” asked the little boy—for he knew that the real bees have one. “Indeed, they have,” said grandmother, “she is the biggest of them all, and she never stays still on the ground, but flies up into the black cloud. At winter nights she flies through the streets of the town and looks in the windows, and then they freeze into wonderful patterns, like flowers.”
“Can the Snow Queen get in here?” asked the little girl.
“Let her come!” said the boy, “and I’ll put her on the hot stove and she’ll melt.”
One evening, when little Kay was at home, he climbed up on the stool by the window and peeped through the little hole. A few snowflakes were falling outside, and one of them, the biggest of them all, was lying in a corner of one of the flower-boxes. It grew larger and larger, and at last turned into a lady, dressed in a white dress, which seemed to be made out of millions of snowflakes. She was very pretty and delicate, and she was made from ice, but she was alive. Her eyes were like two bright stars, but there was no rest or quietness in them. She nodded towards the window and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was frightened and jumped down off the stool.
Next day was clear and frosty, and after that came spring-time; the swallows built their nests, the windows were open, and the children sat once more in their little garden.
What lovely summer days were those, and how nice it was to be out among the fresh rose bushes!
Kay and Gerda were looking at a picture book with beasts and birds in it, and then—just as the clock in the great church tower was striking five—Kay said, “Oh! Something pricked my heart, and I’ve just got something in my eye!”
The little girl put her arm round his neck, and he winked his eye[6], but no, there was nothing to be seen. “I think it’s gone,” he said, but it wasn’t. It was one of those tiny bits of the troll-glass. Poor Kay! He had got a piece of it right into his heart, and it started to turn into ice.
“What are you crying for?” he asked. “It makes you look ugly!” Then he looked at the roses. “That rose is worm-eaten! And look at that other, it’s all crooked. Rotten roses they are, after all, like the boxes they’re in.[7]” With that he gave the box a hard kick and pulled off the two roses. “What are you doing, Kay?” cried the little girl; and when he saw she was frightened, he pulled off a third rose, and ran home, leaving dear little Gerda. Later, when she brought him the picture book, he said, “it was only fit for babies”, and when grandmother told them stories, he was always interrupting. The bit of glass he had got in his eye and the bit he had in his heart made him tease everyone, even little Gerda, who loved him with all her heart.
One winter day, Kay came in with his sledge hung on his back; he shouted to Gerda, “I’m going to the big square where the others are playing,” and he was off.
Out there in the square the boldest of the boys often used to tie their sledges to a farmer’s cart and drive a good long way[8] with it. It was excellent fun. This time, a large sledge came by; it was painted white all over, and in it was someone wrapped in white fur and wearing a white cap. This sledge drove twice round the square, and little Kay tied his own little sledge to it, and drove off with it. Faster and faster it went, into the next street. The driver turned his head and nodded to Kay in a friendly way; it seemed as if they knew each other. Every time Kay thought of loosing his sledge the driver nodded again, so Kay stayed where he was: and they drove right out through the town gate. Then the snow began to fall so thick that the boy couldn’t see anything; and he tried to untie the rope so as to let go[9] of the big sledge. But it made no difference, his sledge was tied well, and it went like the wind. He called out loudly, but no one heard, and the snow drifted down and the sledge flew onward. He was very scared.
Suddenly the storm stopped, the big sledge pulled up[10], and the person who was driving in it rose. The fur and the cap were all of snow: it was a lady, tall and shining white—the Snow Queen.
“We have travelled well,” said she; “but you mustn’t freeze. Creep into my bearskin.” She put him beside her in the sledge. “Are you still cold?” she asked, and kissed him on the forehead. It was colder than ice, and struck straight to his heart. And after that, he didn’t notice the cold anymore.
Once more the Snow Queen kissed Kay, and he had forgotten little Gerda and grandmother and everyone at home.
“No more kisses now,” said she, “or I should kiss you to death.” Kay looked at her; she was very pretty. She wasn’t scary anymore. In his eyes she was perfect, and he felt no fear. Kay looked at the immense spaces of the air[11], and they flew high among the dark clouds, and the storm wind whistled and roared as if it were singing old ballads. They flew over forest and lake, sea and land: below them the wolves howled; above them flew the black crows, and over all shone the moon[12], large and bright.
Exercises
1.1. Translate into Russian.
attention, attic, blossom, copper, frosty, gutter, herbs, immense, mankind, sledge, snowflake, splinter, temper, to creep, to distort, to grimace, to judge, to swarm, to twine, troll
1.2. Answer the questions.
1. What is the looking-glass?
2. What happened to the looking-glass?
3. What were the names of the boy and the girl?
4. Were the children brother and sister?
5. Which flowers did the parents grow in their boxes?
6. Who told the children about the Snow Queen?
7. When did the pieces of looking glass got into the boys, eye and heart?
8. What was the boy going to do at the big square?
9. Who drove the large white sledge?
10. When did the boy meet the Snow Queen for the first time?
1.3. Insert the right prepositions (about, after, at, for, in, into, on, to, with).
1. Everyone spread the news all ______ the miracle looking glass.
2. It was very amusing _________ him.
3. And _____________ that, he didn’t notice the cold anymore.
4. Everything good and pretty that was reflected _________ it became bad and ugly.
5. They would heat copper pennies _____________ the stove.
6. Kay and Gerda were sitting looking _____________ a picture book.
7. She nodded towards the window and beckoned _____________ her hand.
8. It broke _____________ millions of tiny pieces.
9. There isn’t enough room ___________ everybody to have a little garden.
10. Now we are going to hear all _____________ it.
1.4. Complete the sentences using the words below.
millions • high • bees • excellent • wicked • window • boxes • wonderful • swallows • stricking
1. Those are white _______ swarming.
2. It was _____________ fun.
3. It broke into _____________ of tiny pieces.
4. Once there was a __________ troll.
5. You could get from one ____________ to the other in one step.
6. The pea plants hung down over the _____________.
7. They freeze into ___________ patterns.
8. The ____________ built their nests.
9. The clock in the great church tower was _____________ five.
10. They flew _____________ among the dark clouds.
1.5. True or false?
1. The troll broke the magic looking-glass.
2. Kay got pieces of the looking-glass in his eye and in his heart.
3. Gerda lived far away from Kay.
4. Gerda saw the Snow Queen first.
5. Kay tied his sledge to the Snow Queen’s.
6. The children’s parents had a garden where they grew roses.
7. The Snow Queen kissed Kay twice.
8. The wicked troll kept a school.
9. The children weren’t allowed to play under the roses.
10. The glass made Kay tease everyone but Gerda.
Story the Third
The Flower Garden of the Old Woman who knew Magic
But how fared little Gerda when Kay didn’t came back? Nobody knew where he was, nobody could tell. The boys could only say they had seen him tie his little sledge to another large one which had driven down the street and out at the town gate. Many tears were shed. Then they said he was dead, drowned in the river. Dark indeed and long were those winter days.
Then came spring with warmer sunshine.
“Kay is dead and gone,” said little Gerda.
“I don’t believe it,” said the Sunshine.
“He’s dead and gone,” said she to the swallows.
“We don’t believe it,” they answered, and at last little Gerda didn’t believe it either.
“I’ll put on my new red shoes,” she said one morning early, “the ones Kay has never seen, and I’ll go down to the river and ask about him.”
It was quite early. She kissed her old grandmother as she slept, put on the red shoes, and went out of the gate to the river, quite alone[13].
“Is it true that you have taken Kay? I’ll give you my red shoes if you’ll give him back to me.”
The waves, she thought, nodded to her; so she took her red shoes, the most precious thing she had, and threw them into the river, but they fell close to the bank, and the waves carried them back to her. It seemed that the river would not take them because it didn’t have little Kay. But Gerda thought she hadn’t thrown the shoes far enough, so she climbed into a boat that lay near the water, and went out to the further end of it and threw out the shoes. But the boat wasn’t tied down, and with the movement she made it floated away from the shore. She noticed this and tried to get out, but before she could get back the boat was too far away, and began to drift quickly. Little Gerda was very much frightened and began to cry; but nobody heard her except the sparrows, and they couldn’t carry her ashore; but they flew along the bank and sang, as if to comfort her: “Here we are, here we are!” The boat was carried downstream; little Gerda sat still; her little red shoes floated behind, but couldn’t reach the boat[14], which was now travelling faster.
Both banks were very pretty, with beautiful flowers, old trees, and sloping fields with sheep and cows; but there weren’t any people to be seen.
“Perhaps the river will carry me to Kay,” thought Gerda. At last the boat came to a large cherry orchard, in which was a little house with blue and red windows, and outside two wooden soldiers, who were protecting it. Gerda called to them, thinking they were alive: but very naturally[15] they didn’t answer. The river carried the boat straight towards the shore. Gerda called out louder, and out of the house came a very old woman with a walking stick. She had a large sun-hat on, painted with the most splendid flowers.
“Poor dear little child,” said the old woman, “how ever did you get out here on this great big river, far out into the wide world?[16]” And with that the old woman stepped into the water and hooked her stick to the boat and pulled it ashore[17] and lifted little Gerda out. Gerda was glad to be on dry land again, but she was a little afraid. “Come now, and tell me who you are, and how you got here,” said the old woman. When Gerda had told her everything and asked if she had seen little Kay, the woman said he hadn’t passed that way, but he would come, sure enough, and she wasn’t to be worried, but must taste her cherries, and look at her flowers. Then she took Gerda by the hand, and they went into the little house, and the old woman locked the door.
The windows in the house were placed very high up[18], and the glass in them was red and blue and yellow. The daylight shone very oddly through them; but on the table were the most beautiful cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she liked; and while she was eating, the old woman combed her hair with a gold comb.
“I’ve always wanted a sweet little girl like you,” said the old woman, “you’ll see how well we two shall get on[19],” and all the time she was combing little Gerda’s hair Gerda was forgetting more and more about Kay: for the old woman was skilled in witchcraft. She wasn’t a wicked witch, she only used witchcraft a little, for her own pleasure, and she wanted very much to keep little Gerda.
Later, the old woman went out into the garden and stretched out her stick towards all the rose bushes: and though they were all blooming beautifully, they all sank down into the earth[20] and you couldn’t see where they had been. The old woman was afraid that when Gerda saw the roses she would think of her own roses, and then remember little Kay and run away.
Then she took Gerda out into the flower garden. What beauty was there! All the flowers one could think of stood there in their full bloom. Gerda jumped with joy and played till the sun set behind the tall cherry trees. Then she went to sleep in a lovely bed with red silk pillows.
Next day she played among the flowers again in the hot sunshine; and so many days went by. Gerda knew every flower, but even thought there were so many of them in the garden, she thought that one was missing, but she didn’t know which. Then, one day she was sitting looking at the old woman’s sun-hat with the flowers painted on it, and the prettiest of all that were there was a rose. The old woman forgot to take it away from her hat. “Why!” said Gerda, “aren’t there any roses?” And she ran around the garden and looked and looked, but there were none to be found. Then she sat down and cried; but her tears fell exactly on the spot where a rose bush was, and when the tears wetted the ground, it rose up all at once[21], blossoming.
“Oh, what am I doing?” said the little girl. “I was to find Kay—do you know where he is?” she asked the roses, “do you think he’s dead and gone?” “Dead he isn’t,” said the roses. “We’ve been down in the ground where all the dead people are, but Kay wasn’t there.”
“Thank you,” said little Gerda, and went off to the other flowers and looked into their cups and asked: “Do you know where little Kay is?”
But every flower was standing in the sun and dreaming its own story; none of them knew anything about Kay.
What said the tiger lily?
“Do you hear the drum! Boom! Boom! An Indian woman stands on the pyre in her long red robe, and the flames rise round her and her dead husband. But the woman is thinking of the living one who stands there in the circle. His eyes burn hotter than the flames, their fire pierces closer to her heart. Can the heart’s flame perish in the flames of the pyre?”
“I don’t understand,” said little Gerda.
“That’s my story,” said the tiger lily.
What says the bindweed?
“High above the narrow field-path stands an ancient castle. Thick vines grow over the old red walls, leaf on leaf, up to the balcony, and there stands a fair maiden. She bends over and looks down upon the road. There is no one more beautiful and graceful than she. How her silken skirt rustles! Is he coming?”
“Are you talking about Kay?” asked little Gerda.
“I’m only talking of my story, my dream,” the bindweed answered.
What says the little snowdrop?
“Between the trees a swing hangs on the ropes. Two pretty little girls—their clothes white as snow, and long green silk ribbons on their hats—are sitting and swinging. Their brother, who is bigger than they, is standing up in the swing, with his arm round the ropes to steady himself. In one hand he has a little saucer and in the other a clay pipe, and he’s blowing soap bubbles. The bubbles float with lovely changing colours. The little black dog wants to get into the swing too; it flies past, he falls down, and barks, and is angry. They laugh at him. The bubbles burst. That is my song.”
“I suppose it’s very pretty, but you say it so sadly, and you never mention Kay.”
What do the hyacinths say?
“There were three fair sisters, delicate and fine. The robe of one was red, the second’s robe was blue, and the third’s robe was white. They danced by the lake in the bright moonlight. Then came a waft of a smell, and the maidens vanished in the forest. The smell grew stronger. Three coffins glided over the lake, and in them lay the maidens. Fireflies flew around them like tiny evening lamps. Are the maidens dead or are they asleep? The scent of the flowers tells that they are dead.”
“Ugh!” said little Gerda. “Your scent is so strong, I can’t help thinking of the dead maidens. Oh, dear! Is little Kay really dead? The roses have been down in the ground and they say ‘No’.”
“Ding, dong!” rang out the hyacinth bells. “We’re not ringing for little Kay, we don’t know him, we’re only singing our own song, the only one we know.”
So Gerda went to the buttercup. “You’re a bright little sun,” said Gerda; “tell me if you know where I can find Kay.” The buttercup looked back at Gerda.
“In a little yard the sun was shining warm on the first day of spring; its beams crept down the neighbour’s white wall. The old grandmother was in her chair; her pretty granddaughter, the poor servant maid, came home to visit, and gave her grandmother a kiss. There was gold, beautiful gold in that kiss, gold on the lips, gold in the heart. Look, that’s my little story,” said the buttercup.
“Oh, my poor old granny!” sighed Gerda. “Yes, she must miss me, and she must be unhappy about me, as she was about little Kay. But I’ll soon be home again and bring Kay with me. It’s no good asking the flowers; they tell me nothing.”
Gerda ran to the border of the garden; the door was locked, but she twisted at the rusty staple till it came away, and the door flew open, and Gerda ran out barefoot into the wide world. She looked back, but there was nobody coming after her. Eventually she could run no further, and sat down on a big stone, and when she looked about her[22], she saw, that summer was over and it was late autumn.
“Good heavens!” said the Gerda. “It’s autumn now. I shouldn’t rest a minute!” So she got up and went on.
He little feet were bruised and tired, and it was cold and raw all round! How grey and dismal it was out in the wide world!
Story the Fourth
A Prince and Princess
Gerda had to rest again. And there, hopping over the road right in front of where she sat was a large crow. For a long time it had sat and looked at her, and now it said, “Kra, Kra—Goo’day, Goo’day!”—it couldn’t say it any better, but it meant very kindly by the little girl, and asked where she was going all alone in the wide world. The words “all alone” Gerda understood very well; so she told the crow all the story of her life and asked if it had seen Kay. The crow nodded very thoughtfully, and said, “Maybe, maybe.”
“What? Do you think you have?” the little girl cried.
“I think it may be little Kay, but if so, he’s quite forgotten you for the Princess[23].”
“Does he live with a Princess?” asked Gerda.
“Yes, listen,” said the crow, “but I find it so hard to talk your speech. If you can understand crow-talk I can tell you better.”
“No, I haven’t learnt it,” said Gerda. “I wish I did.”
“Doesn’t matter,” said the crow, “I’ll tell you as well as I can.” So it told what it knew.
“In the kingdom where we are now there lives a Princess who is very clever. The other day she was sitting on her throne, which isn’t much fun, as people say; and she decided to find a husband; only she wanted a husband who knew how to answer when you talked to him, one that wasn’t very dull. So she gathered all the court ladies, and when they heard what she wanted, they were delighted. ‘We do like that,’ they said, ‘we were just thinking something of the sort the other day[24].’ Now you may be sure every word I’m telling you is true,” said the crow, “for I’ve got a sweetheart who goes everywhere about the palace, and she told me the whole thing.” Of course, the sweetheart was a crow too, for crow seeks his mate[25], and the mate’s always a crow.
“The newspapers came out immediately with the Princess’s monogram, and it said that any good-looking young man can come up to the palace and speak with the Princess, and the one that talked the best the Princess would take for her husband. The people came streaming in: there was a crowd and a commotion, but nothing came of it, neither on the first day nor the second. They could all talk well enough while they were out in the street, but when they came inside the palace and saw the guards and the footmen and the throne where the Princess was sitting, they couldn’t think of anything to say, and she didn’t care about hearing that again. There was a row of them reaching right from the town gate to the palace. I went there myself to look at it,” said the crow. “They got hungry and thirsty too. Some of the cleverest, to be sure, had brought a bit of bread and butter with them, but they didn’t share: they thought to themselves: ‘Just let him look hungry and the Princess won’t have him.’”
“But Kay, little Kay,” asked Gerda. “When did he come? Was he among all those people?”
“Give me time, give me time! It was the third day, and there came a little fellow without horse or carriage. He was quite cheerful and went straight up to the palace. His eyes shone like gems and he had lovely long hair, but his clothes were shabby.”
“It was Kay,” Gerda cried out. “Oh, then I’ve found him!” And she clapped her hands.
“He had a little bundle on his back,” the crow said.
“Ah, that must have been his sledge,” said Gerda.
“It might be that,” said the crow. “I didn’t look very close at it. I know from my sweetheart that when he came in at the palace gate and saw the guards and the footmen, he nodded and said to them: ‘It must be dull standing on the stairs. I’d sooner go in.[26]’ The halls were shining with lights, and it was enough to make anybody feel solemn. His boots creaked dreadfully loud too.”
“That’s certainly Kay,” said Gerda. “I know he’d got some new boots, I heard them creak in Granny’s room.”
“He walked straight to the Princess, who was sitting on the throne, and all the court ladies with their maids and their maids’ maids, and all the courtiers with their men and their men’s men, were standing all around.”
“That must be scary,” said little Gerda, “and yet Kay won the Princess!”
“He spoke every bit as well as I do[27] when I speak crow-talk, so my sweetheart tells me. He was cheerful and nice-looking. He had come to hear the Princess’s conversation, and he thought well of it, and she thought well of him.”
“Oh, yes! Certainly it’s Kay,” said Gerda. “He is clever. Oh, won’t you take me into the palace?”
“It’s easy enough to say that,” said the crow, “but how are we to manage it? I must talk to my sweetheart about it. I must tell you that a little girl like you will never be allowed to come right in.”
“When Kay hears I’m here, he’ll come out to me,” said Gerda.
“Well, wait for me here,” said the crow and flew off. Only when it was dark did he come back. “Rax! rax!” said he. “She sends you her best compliments[28], and here’s a small loaf for you which she took from the kitchen: I’m sure you’re hungry. You shall get in the palace. My sweetheart knows of a little backstair that leads to the bedroom, and she knows where she can get the key.”
They went into the garden. Oh, how Gerda’s heart beat with anxiety and longing! She felt as if she was going to do something wrong, yet all she wanted was to know if it was little Kay; why, it must be he; she imagined his clever eyes and his long hair; she could actually see how he would smile when they were sitting at home beneath the roses. How anxious and how glad she was!
They were now at the stairs: in the middle of the floor stood the tame crow, looking at Gerda, who curtsied as her grandmother had taught her to do.
“My betrothed has spoken most charmingly of you, my little lady,” said the tame crow. “If you will take the lamp, I will lead the way. We shall go by the shortest way, where we shall meet no one.”
They now entered the first chamber, which was of rose-red satin with worked flowers on the walls. Each chamber was handsomer than the last, it was enough to bewilder anyone; and now they were in the bedchamber. The roof was made to look like[29] a palm tree with leaves of glass and in the middle of the floor there hung from a thick gold stem two beds, each made to look like a lily. One was white, and in it lay the Princess; the other was red, and there lay the Prince. Gerda bent down, called the boy’s name aloud and held the lamp over him. He woke, turned his head, and—it wasn’t little Kay.
Out of the white lily bed the Princess peeped and asked what was the matter. Then little Gerda burst into tears and told her whole story and all that the crows had done for her.
“Poor little dear!” said the Prince and the Princess, and they praised the crows. They were not angry with them, but all the same[30] they warned the crows not to do it again. “Would you like to go free?” the Princess asked, “or would you like to live in the palace?”
Both crows bowed and asked to live in the palace, for they had their old age in mind[31]. The Prince got up out of his bed and let Gerda sleep in it, and he couldn’t do more than that! She clasped her little hands and said: “How kind people and animals are.” And then she shut her eyes and slept.
Next day she was dressed in silk and velvet from top to toe and invited to stay at the palace and enjoy herself. But she begged only to have a little carriage and horse, and a pair of little boots, and she could find Kay. She was given both boots and a muff, and was dressed very nicely, and when she was ready to go a new carriage of pure gold drew up[32] at the door. The arms of the Prince and Princess shone like a star on it. The Prince and Princess helped her into the carriage themselves and wished her the best of luck. Inside the carriage there was a provision of sugar twists, and inside the seat was fruit and gingerbread nuts. “Good-bye, good-bye!” shouted the Prince and Princess. Then the crow said, “Good-bye” and that was the hardest parting.
Exercises
2.1. Translate into Russian.
backstair, bundle, carriage, chamber, commotion, dead, downstream, dull, lily, muff, oddly, palace, precious, rusty, splendid, sunshine, tame, thirsty, to drift, witch
2.2. Answer the questions.
1. Where did Gerda go to search for Kay?
2. What color were Gerda’s new boots?
3. Who did Gerda meet at the house?
4. How many wooden soldiers were near the house?
5. What did Gerda eat at the house?
6. Were there any flowers missing from the garden?
7. Who told Gerda about the boy in the palace?
8. How did Gerda get into the palace?
9. Did the Princess help Gerda?
10. What did the Princess and the Prince give to Gerda?
2.3. Insert the right prepositions (about, after, at, for, in, into, on, to, with).
1. I’ll go down to the river and ask _____________ him.
2. She took her shoes and threw them _____________ the river.
3. I went there myself to look _____________ it.
4. There was nobody coming _____________ her.
5. I’ll put _____________ my new red shoes.
6. She went _____________ sleep in a lovely bed with red silk pillows.
7. The windows _____________ the house were placed very high up.
8. The old woman combed her hair _____________ a gold comb.
9. Does he live _____________ a Princess?
10. Wait _____________ me here.
2.4. Complete the sentences using the words below.
dressed • tears • autumn • skilled • sledge • true • towards • shining • creaked • dull
1. Many _____________ were shed.
2. Is that _____________ that you’ve taken Kay?
3. The river carried the boat straight _____________ the shore?
4. The old woman was _____________ in witchcraft.
5. The summer was over and it was late _____________.
6. It must be _______________ standing on the stairs.
7. The halls were _____________ with lights.
8. She was _____________ in silk and velvet.
9. His boots _____________ dreadfully loud.
10. That must’ve been his ___________.
2.5. True or false?
1. Gerda had a pair of new red shoes.
2. The river has taken Kay.
3. The boat that Gerda was in was being followed by pigeons.
4. The house had blue and green windows.
5. The old woman was skilled in witchcraft.
6. There was one flower missing from the garden.
7. The Prince had short hair.
8. The crows gave Gerda some food from the kitchen.
9. The Princess’s bed was red.
10. The crows decided to go free.
Story the Fifth
The Little Robber Girl
They were driving through the dark forest, but the carriage shone so brightly, it attracted the robbers. “It’s gold, it’s gold!” they shouted, and attacked the carriage. They took the horses, killed the servants and the coachman, and dragged little Gerda out of the carriage.
“She’s fat, she’s been fed up with nut kernels,” said the old robber woman; “she’s as good as a little lamb; aha, how good she’ll taste!” With that she took her bright knife, and it shone frightfully.
“Ow!” suddenly said the old hag. She’d been bitten in the ear by her own little daughter, who was hanging on her back, and was wild and rough.
“She shall play with me,” said the little robber girl, “she will give me her muff and her nice coat and sleep with me in my bed.” And she gave her mother another bite.
“I’m going to go in the carriage,” said the little robber girl. She and Gerda sat in it and drove over stumps and bushes, deep into the forest. The little robber girl was as big as Gerda, but stronger, broader in the shoulders[33] and dark-skinned. Her eyes were quite black. She put her arm about little Gerda and said: “They won’t kill you as long as you don’t make me angry: are you a Princess?”
“No,” said little Gerda, and told her everything that had happened to her. The robber girl looked at her very gravely and nodded and said: “They won’t kill you even if you do make me angry; I’ll do it myself.” And she dried Gerda’s eyes and put both her hands into the pretty muff that was so soft and warm.
The carriage stopped. They were in the court of a robber’s castle. Ravens and crows flew out of the holes in the walls, and big dogs, each of which looked as if it could swallow a man, leapt high in the air. They didn’t bark, for they weren’t allowed to. In the great hall a large fire was burning in the middle of the stone floor. A large pot was on the boil, with soup, and nearby hares and rabbits were roasting on the fire.
“You will sleep tonight with me and my pets,” said the robber girl. They had something to eat and drink, and then went off into a corner where straw and blankets were lying. Above the straw were about a hundred pigeons. They were perched on poles. They seemed to be all asleep, but they stirred a little when the girls came there.
“Those are all mine,” said the little robber girl. She took one and held it by the legs and shook it till it flapped its wings. “And there’s my own old sweetheart.” She pulled out a reindeer by the horn: he had a bright copper ring on its neck and was tied to a wall. “We have to keep him tied, else he’d run away. Every night I tickle his neck with my sharp knife, and it frightens him a lot,” and the girl pulled a long knife out of a crack in the wall and slid it along the reindeer’s neck. The poor deer kicked out with his legs and the robber girl laughed.
“Do you want the knife with you when you go to sleep?” Gerda asked, looking at it rather nervously.
“I always sleep with my knife by me,” said the little robber girl, “you never know what may happen. But now tell me again what you told me about little Kay, and why you’re so far from home.” So Gerda told the story again from the beginning. Then they went to sleep. The little robber girl put her arm round Gerda’s neck, and held her knife in her other hand, and slept, but Gerda couldn’t even shut her eyes. She was very afraid. The robbers sat round the fire and sang and drank. It was a frightful sight for the little girl to see.
Then the pigeons said: “Coo, Coo! We have seen little Kay. He was sitting in the Snow Queen’s carriage which was flying low above the forest where we lay in the nest. Coo! Coo!”
“Where did the Snow Queen drive to? Do you know anything about it?” cried Gerda.
“She drove to Lapland, for there’s always snow and ice there. Just ask the reindeer that’s tied by the rope there.”
“There is ice and snow, it’s lovely and pleasant there,” said the reindeer. “There you can run about free. The Snow Queen has her summer house there, but her strong castle is up by the North Pole, on the island that’s called Spitzbergen.”
“Oh, Kay, dear little Kay!” sighed Gerda.
In the morning Gerda told the robber girl everything the pigeons had said. The girl looked very grave, but nodded and said: “Alright. Do you know where Lapland is?” she asked the reindeer.
“Who should know better than I?” said the beast. “I was born there.”
“Look here,” said the robber girl to Gerda, “all of our men are out, but mother’s still here. Later in the morning she’ll drink out of the big bottle and have a little nap; and then I’ll do something for you.”
Well, when her mother had had a drink out of the bottle and was taking a little nap, the robber girl went to the reindeer and said: “I’m going to free you, so that you can run to Lapland. But you must put your best foot foremost[34] and take the little girl to the Snow Queen’s palace. You’ve heard what she told me, for she talked loud enough, and you were listening.”
The reindeer was excited. The robber girl lifted little Gerda up tied her to the deer’s back. She even gave her a little pad to sit on. “Here are your fur boots, for it’ll be cold. But I will keep your muff, it’s too pretty. You won’t be frozen, here are my mother’s big mittens, put them on.”
Gerda cried with joy.
“Here are two loaves for you, and a ham, so you won’t starve.” Both these were tied to the reindeer’s back. The little robber girl opened the door and cut the rope with her knife and said to the reindeer: “Off you go, but take good care of the little girl.” Gerda stretched out her hands to the robber girl, and said “Good-bye”, and then the reindeer started running over bushes and stumps through the great forest, as fast as he could. The wolves howled and the ravens screamed. Faster and faster he ran, through day and night alike. The loaves were eaten up and the ham too, and then—they were in Lapland.
Story the Sixth
The Lapp Woman and the Finn Woman
They stopped at a small house. Its roof reached down to the ground, and the door was so low that the family had to crawl on their stomachs when they wanted to get in or out. There was an old Lapp woman inside who stood roasting fish at an oil lamp. And the reindeer told her his and Gerda’s story; and Gerda was so exhausted with the cold that she couldn’t speak.
“Dear me, you poor dear creature!” said the Lapp woman. “You’ve got a long way to run yet! You must travel more than four hundred miles, into Finmark, for that’s where the Snow Queen has her house. I’ll write a word or two on a dry cod, for I haven’t any paper, and give it you to take to the Finn woman up there: she can tell you more than I can.” So as soon as Gerda had got warm and had something to eat and drink, the Lapp woman gave her the message for the Finn woman, tied her fast[35] on the reindeer again, and off they went.
When they got to Finmark, they knocked at the Finn woman’s chimney, for she didn’t have a door. It was very warm inside her home. The Finn woman was stout and very thick; she helped to undo little Gerda’s clothes and took off her mittens and boots, otherwise she would have been too hot. She laid a piece of ice on the reindeer’s head, and then read what was written on the cod. Three times over she read it, and then she put the fish into the cooking pot.
Then the reindeer told their story; and the Finn woman blinked her wise eyes, but didn’t say anything.
“You are so clever,” said the reindeer, “I know you can bind all the winds of the world in a single thread. Can you give the little girl a drink, so she can get the strength of twelve men and get the better of the Snow Queen?”
“Strength of twelve men!” said the Finn woman. “That would be just the thing, to be sure!” She went over to a shelf and took out a large rolled-up skin; strange letters were written on it, and the Finn woman read in it till the water trickled down her brow. The reindeer pleaded again for little Gerda. The Finn woman drew the reindeer into a corner, where she whispered to him, at the same time laying fresh ice on his head.
“Little Kay is with the Snow Queen, and he believes that it is the best place in the world: but that’s because he has a splinter of glass in his heart and a little grain of glass in his eye. They must come out, or he will never become human again, and the Snow Queen will keep her power over him.”
“But can’t you give little Gerda something to help?”
“I can give her no greater power than she has already! Don’t you see how great it is? How men and beasts alike are bound to serve her, and how she has made her way so wonderfully in the world on her bare feet? It lies in her heart, it lies in her being a dear innocent child. If she cannot rid little Kay of the glass, we cannot be of any help. Ten miles from here begins the Snow Queen’s garden. You can carry the little girl as far as that. Put her down by the large bush with red berries on it. Then run back.” Then the Finn woman lifted little Gerda up on to the reindeer, and he ran off as fast as he could.
Once they were out in the cold, Gerda noticed that she forgot her boots and mittens. But the reindeer did not stop, and he ran till he came to the large bush with the red berries, and then he put little Gerda down, and then ran back again as hard as he could. There stood poor Gerda, without shoes or mittens, in the middle of ice-cold Finmark.
She ran on as quick as she could, and then there appeared a whole regiment[36] of snowflakes. They had not fallen from the sky, for it was quite clear and shining with the Northern Lights. These snowflakes ran along the ground, and the nearer they came the larger they grew. They were the Snow Queen’s sentinels. Some looked like great ugly hedgehogs, others like knots of snakes[37]. All of them were glittering white, and all were alive.
Little Gerda was scared and began to say a prayer. It was so cold that she could see her own breath coming out of her mouth like a cloud of smoke. Thicker and thicker it grew, until it became little bright angels who grew larger and larger when they touched the ground. They all had helmets and spears and shields, and more and more of them came. When Gerda finished, there was a whole legion of them around her. They struck the ugly snowflakes with their spears and broke them into little pieces, and little Gerda went safely onwards. The angels warmed up her hands and feet, so she didn’t feel the cold anymore and went quickly towards the Snow Queen’s palace.
But now we must see how little Kay’s getting on[38]. He certainly wasn’t thinking about little Gerda, and least of all that she was just outside the palace.
Story the Seventh
What happened in the Snow Queen’s Palace, and what happened after that
The walls of the palace were of made of snow, and the windows and doors of cutting wind. The halls were lit up with the bright Northern Lights, and they were vast, empty, ice-cold and shining. There was never anything exciting there. In the midst of the endless, empty halls there was a frozen lake: it had cracked into thousands of pieces, but each piece was exactly like the others. The Snow Queen would sit in the centre when she was at home, and say that she was seated in the mirror of intellect, and that it was the only one and the best in the whole world.
Little Kay was blue with the cold, but he didn’t notice it. The Snow Queen had kissed the shivers out of him[39], and his heart was almost completely ice. He was arranging a few sharp pieces of ice in every possible pattern and trying to make something out of them. To him, these patterns were beautiful and very important, because of the grain of glass in his eye. He tried to put together the word “Eternity”, but he couldn’t do it. The Snow Queen had said: “If you can make that word, you will be free, and I’ll make you a present of the whole world, and a new pair of skates.” But he still couldn’t do it. “Now I’m going to go to the hot countries,” said the Snow Queen. “I will make the mountains white: that’s my job, and, besides, it’ll be good for the lemons and vines.” So the Snow Queen flew off, and Kay sat all alone in the empty hall, and looked at the bits of ice.
It was at that moment that little Gerda walked into the palace and entered the empty cold hall. And there she saw Kay and ran to him and caught him by the neck, and hugged him and cried: “Kay! Darling little Kay! So I’ve found you at last!”
But he sat quiet and stiff and cold. Then little Gerda wept hot tears, which fell on him and pierced through to his heart and melted the ice.
Kay looked at her and started crying: and cried so hard that the grain of glass washed out[40] of his eye. And then he cried out: “Gerda! Darling little Gerda! Where have you been all this time? And where have I been?” He looked around. “How cold it is here, how empty it is and how big!” And he hugged her, and she laughed and cried with joy. It was all so happy that even the bits of ice danced about with joy; and when they were tired, they lay down in a pattern the Snow Queen asked Kay to create.
And Gerda kissed his cheeks and they became rosy; she kissed his eyes and they shone like hers; she kissed his hands and he was well.
They took each other by the hand and walked out of the great palace. They talked of grandmother and of the roses on the roof, and wherever they went the winds lay still and the sun broke out; and when they reached the bush with the red berries, the reindeer was there, waiting for them, and he had another young doe with him. Then they carried Kay and Gerda, first to the Finn woman, where they warmed themselves in the hot room and got directions for their journey home, and then to the Lapp woman, who had made new clothes for them and repaired Kay’s sledge.
The reindeer and the doe went with them to forest at the border of the country. There they said “Good-bye!” to each other. Now the first little birds began to twitter, and the trees were starting to become green. And out of the forest came riding on a fine horse a young girl with a red cap on her head and pistols at her side. It was the little robber girl. She knew Gerda at once and Gerda knew her, and they were happy to see each other. Gerda stroked her cheeks and asked after the Prince and Princess.
“They’ve gone travelling abroad,” said the robber girl.
“And the crow?” little Gerda asked.
“Oh, the crow’s dead,” answered the robber girl. “The tame sweetheart’s a widow, and goes about with a bit of black tied on her leg. Tell me how you’ve been, and how you managed to find Kay.” So the children both told her the story. “And Snip-Snap-snurre-basselurre!” said the robber girl, shook hands with them both, and promised that if ever she was ever in their town she’d pay them a visit; and then she rode off.
Kay and Gerda went on, hand in hand: and as they went, beautiful spring was all around them. They heard the church bell and saw the tall towers of the big town where they lived. They came to their grandmother’s door, and up the stairs and into the room. Everything stood where it did before. But, just as they passed through the door they were aware that they were grown people. The roses in the gutter were blooming in at the open windows, and there were the little stools, and Kay and Gerda sat down and held each other by the hand. They had forgotten the Snow Queen’s palace as if it was a dream.
There they both sat, grown up and yet children, children at heart; and it was summer, warm delightful summer.
Exercises
3.1. Translate into Russian.
brightly, kernel, robber, raven, straw, reindeer, pleasant, mittens, to starve, to howl, to crawl, chimney, strength, to plead, splinter, legion, free
3.2. Answer the questions.
1. What happened to the carriage?
2. Where did the robbers take Gerda?
3. What pets did the robber girl have?
4. Who told Gerda about where Kay was?
5. Where did the reindeer take Gerda first?
6. What was Kay doing in the palace?
7. Where did the Snow Queen go to?
8. What melted the ice in Kay’s heart?
9. What happened to the Prince and the Princess?
10. What happened to the crows?
3.3. Insert the right prepositions (at, in, into, on, to, with).
1. A large pot was _____________ the boil.
2. A reindeer had a copper ring on its neck and was tied _____________ a wall.
3. Gerda looked _____________ the knife rather nervously.
4. She’s been fed up _____________ nut kernels.
5. You will sleep tonight ___________ me and my pets.
6. They drove deep _____________ the forest.
7. I’m going to go _____________ the carriage.
8. They stopped _____________ a small house.
9. I’ll write a word or two ___________ a dry cod.
10. Little Kay is _____________ the Snow Queen.
3.4. Complete the sentences using the words below.
knife • miles • took • give • hundred • white • spears • exciting • forgot • house
1. Above the straw were about a _____________ pigeons.
2. I always sleep with my ___________ by me.
3. The Snow Queen has he summer _____________ in Lapland.
4. You must travel more than four hundred _____________ into Finmark.
5. Can’t you _____________ little Gerda something to help?
6. Gerda noticed that she ___________ her boots and mittens.
7. They all had helmets and __________ and shields.
8. There was never anything _________here.
9. I will make the mountains _________: that’s my job.
10. They _________ each other by the hand and walked out of the palace.
3.5. True or false?
1. The carriage attracted the robbers because it had the arms of the Prince and the Princess on it.
2. The robbers took Gerda to the robber’s castle.
3. The robber girl had pigeons and a deer for pets.
4. The deer told Gerda that he saw Kay.
5. The robber girl gave Gerda her boots and her muff back.
6. Gerda went to the Lapp woman first.
7. The deer took Gerda to the Snow Queen’s castle.
8. Gerda was attacked by the Snow Queen’s sentinels.
9. Kay had to make a picture out of the ice pieces.
10. The Snow Queen went to the hot countries.
Keys
1.3. 1. about; 2. to; 3. after; 4. in; 5. on; 6. at; 7. with; 8. into; 9. for; 10. about.
1.4. 1. bees; 2. excellent; 3. millions; 4. wicked; 5. window ; 6. boxes; 7. wonderful; 8. swallows; 9. striking; 10. high.
1.5. 1. false; 2. true; 3. false; 4. false; 5. true; 6. false; 7. true; 8. true; 9. false; 10. false.
2.3. 1. about; 2. in; 3. for; 4. after; 5. on; 6. to; 7. in; 8. with; 9. with; 10. for.
2.4. 1. tears; 2. true; 3. towards; 4. skilled; 5. autumn; 6. dull; 7. shining; 8. dressed; 9. creaked; 10. sledge.
2.5. 1. true; 2. false; 3. false; 4. false; 5. true; 6. true; 7. false; 8. true; 9. false; 10. false.
3.3. 1. on; 2. to; 3. at; 4. with; 5. with; 6. into; 7. in; 8. at; 9. on; 10. with.
3.4. 1. hundred; 2. knife; 3. house; 4. miles; 5. give; 6. forgot; 7. spears; 8. exciting; 9. white; 10. took.
3.5. 1. false; 2. true; 3. true; 4. false; 5. false; 6. true; 7. false; 8. true; 9. false; 10. true.
Vocabulary
A
abroad – n заграница
afraid – adj испуганный
age – n возраст
air – n воздух
alive – adj живой
allow – v позволять
alone – adj один, одинокий
aloud – adv вслух
always – adv всегда; постоянно, всё время
among – prep среди; между
amusing – adj забавный
angel – adj ангел
angry – adj сердитый, разгневанный
animal – n животное
answer – n ответ; v отвечать
anxiety – n беспокойство; тревога
anxious – adj озабоченный; беспокоящийся; волнующийся
anymore — adv больше не, уже не
arch – n арка; свод, дуга
arm – n рука
ashore – adv на берегу; на берег
ask – v спрашивать
attack – n нападение; v нападать
attention – n внимание
attic – n чердак
autumn – n осень
B
baby – n младенец
back – n спина; n назад, сзади
backstair — n черный ход
ballad – n баллада
bank – n берег
barefoot — adj босой
bark – v лаять
bearskin — n медвежья шкура
beast – n животное
beat (beat, beaten) – v бить
beauty – n красота
beckon – v манить (жестом)
bed – n кровать; грядка
bedchamber – n спальня
bee – n пчела
beg – v просить, молить
behind – adv сзади, позади; prep за; сзади, позади
below – adv внизу; вниз; ниже; снизу; prep под
bend (bent, bent) – v сгибаться
beneath – adv внизу; prep под
berry – n ягода
beside – adv рядом
betrothed – n жених
better — adj & adv лучше
bewilder – v восхищать
bind (bound, bound) – v связывать
bird – n птица
bit – n кусок, кусочек
bite (bit, bitten) – v кусать
black – adj черный
blanket – n одеяло
bloom – n цвет, цветение
blossom – n цветок
blue – adj синий
boat – n лодка
border – n граница
bread – n хлеб
bright – adj светлый, яркий
bring (brought, brought) – v приносить
broad – adj широкий
brow – n бровь
bruised – adj раненный, в синяках
build (built, built) – v строить
bunch – n связка
bundle – n узел
burst (burst, burst) – v взрываться
bush – n куст
butter – n масло
C
call – v звать, называть
cap – n шапка
care – v заботиться
carriage – n повозка
carry – v нести
castle – n замок
chamber – n спальня; комната
charmingly – adv очаровательно
cheerful – adj бодрый
cherry – n вишня
child – n ребёнок
children – n дети (pl от child)
chimney – n труба, дымоход
church – n церковь
clap – v хлопать
clear – adj ясный; v прояснять
clever – adj умный
climb – v лезть
clock – n часы
close – adv близко; v закрывать
clothes – n одежда
cloud – n облако; туча
coachman – n кучер
cod – n треска
cold – adj холодный
comb – n гребень; v расчесывать
comfort – v утешать
commotion – n беспокойство
compliment – n комплимент; v делать комплимент
conversation – n разговор, беседа
copper – n медь; adj медный
corner – n угол
correctly – adv правильно; верно
country – n страна
court – n двор
courtier – n придворный
cow – n корова
crack – v ломаться
crawl – v ползти
creak – v скрипеть
create – v coздавать
creature – n создание
creep – v залезать
crooked – adj кривой
crow – n ворон
crowd – n толпа
cry – n крик; v кричать, воскликнуть
cup – n чашка
curtsy – n книксен
D
dark – n темнота; adj тёмный
daughter – n дочь
dead – adj мёртвый
dear – adj милый, дорогой
death – n смерть
delicate – adj изысканный
delightful – adj восхитительный
difference – n разница
direction – n направление
dismal — adv мрачно
doe – n олень
dog – n собака
door – n дверь
downstream — n вниз по течению
drag – v тащить, волочить
dreadfully – adv ужасно
dressed – adj одетый
drift – v плыть
drive (drove, driven) – v вести
driver – n водитель
drown – v тонуть
dry – adj сухой; v сушить
dull – adj тусклый, скучный
E
early – adj ранний; adv рано
earth – n земля
empty – adj пустой; v опустошать
endless – adj бесконечный
enjoy – v наслаждаться
eternity – n вечность
evening – n вечер
eventually – adv в конце концов
everyone – pron каждый, всякий
everything – pron всё
excellent – adj отличный
exhausted – adj изнурённый, истощённый
F
face – n лицо; v стоять лицом к лицу
fall (fell, fallen) – v падать
far – adj дальний, далёкий; adv далеко
fare – v жить, поживать
fear – v бояться
feel (felt, felt) – v чувствовать
fellow – n парень
field – n поле
fire – n огонь
fish – n рыба
fit – v подходить
flap – v взмахивать
float – v плыть
floor – n пол
flourish – v цвести
flower – n цветок
footman – n лакей
forehead — n лоб
forest – n лес
free – adj свободный
freeze – v замерзать
fresh – adj свежий
frightened – adj испуганный
frosty – adj морозный
frozen – adj замёрзший, застывший
fruit – n фрукт
fur – n мех
G
garden – n сад
gate – n ворота
gather – v собирать(ся)
gem – n драгоценный камень
gingerbread — adj имбирный
glad – adj довольный
glass – n стекло
glittering – adj мерцающий
gold – n золото; adj золотой
grain – n зерно
grandmother — n бабушка
grave – adj серьёзный
green – adj зелёный
grey – adj серый
grimace – n гримаса; v корчиться
ground – n земля
grow (grew, grown) – v расти
guard – n страж; v охранять
gutter – n желоб
H
hair – n волосы
hall – n зал
ham – n ветчина
hand – n рука, кисть руки
hang (hanged, hung) – v висеть
happily – adv счастливо
hard – adj тяжёлый; adv тяжёло
hare – n кролик
hear (heard, heard) – v слышать
heart – n сердце
hedgehog — n еж
helmet – n щлем
help – n помощь; v помогать
herb – n трава
hideous – adj уродливый, безобразный
high – adj высокий; adv высоко
home – n дом; adv дома, домой
hook – v цеплять
horrible – adj ужасный
horse – n лошадь
hot – n горячий
house – n дом
howl – v выть
hug – v обнимать
hundred – n сто
hungry – adj голодный
husband – n муж
I
ice – n лед
imagine – v воображать, представлять
immediately – adv непосредственно, немедленно
immense – adj огромный, громадный
important – adj важный
indeed – adv действительно; в самом деле; вот именно
innocent – adj невинный
inside — adv внутри
intellect – n интеллект
interrupt — v прерывать
J
joy – n радость
judge – v судить
K
keep (kept, kept) – v держать
key – n ключ
kick – v пинать
kindly – adv по доброму
kingdom – n королевство
kiss – n поцелуй; v целовать
kitchen – n кухня
knife – n нож
knot – n узел
L
lake – n озеро
lamb – n овечка
lamp – n лампа
land – n земля
landscape — n пейзаж
large – adj большой, крупный
late – adj поздний; adv поздно
lead – v вести
leap – v прыгать
lemon – n лимон
lift – v поднимать
light – n свет; adj лёгкий, светлый; v зажигать
lily – n лилия
little – adj маленький
loaf – n буханка
lock – n замок; v запирать на замок
long – adj длинный, долгий
longing – n стремление, тоска
looking-glass – n зеркало
loose – adj свободный
lose – v терять
loud – adj громкий; adv громко
loudly – adv громко
lovely – adj милый
luck – n удача
lump – n кусок
M
maid – n служанка
man – n человек; мужчина
manage – v справляться
mandate – n указ
mankind – n человечество
mate – n пара
melt – v таять
message – n сообщение
middle – n середина
mirror – n зеркало
mitten – n рукавица
moon – n луна
mountain – n гора
muff – n муфта
N
naturally – adv конечно
near – adj близкий; adv близко
neck – n шея
neighbour – n сосед
nest – n гнездо
new – adj новый
newspaper — n газета
nicely – adv мило
nobody – pron никто
nod – n кивок; v кивать
nothing – pron ничто
notice – v замечать
nut – n орех
O
oddly – adv странно
oil – n масло
old – adj старый
onward – adv вперед
orchard – n сад
outside — adv снаружи
P
pad – n подушечка
painted – adj разрисованный
palace – n дворец
palm – n пальма
paper – n бумага
parting – n прощание
pattern – n узор
pea – n горох
pearl – n жемчужина
peep – v взглянуть
penny – n монета
perch — v сидеть
perfect – adj совершенный
perhaps – adv может быть, возможно, пожалуй
person – n человек
pierce – v прокалывать
pigeon – n голубь
pillow – n подушка
pistol – n пистолет
plant – n растение
plead – v просить, умолять
pleasure – n удовольствие
pole – n столб
poor – adj бедный
pot – n горшок
power – n сила
prayer – n молитва
precious – adj драгоценный
pretty – adj милый
prick – v прокалывать
prince – n принц
princess — n принцесса
promise – v обещать
protect – v защищать
provision – n провизия; съестные припасы
pull – v тащить
pure – adj чистый
put (put, put) – v класть
Q
queen – n королева
quickly – adv быстро
quietness – n тишина
quite – adv совсем, вполне
R
rabbit – n кролик
raven – n ворон
raw – adj сырой
reach – v дотягиваться, достигать
red – adj красный
reindeer — n олень
repair – v ремонтировать
rest – n отдых
rightly – adv по праву
ring – n кольцо
river – n река
road – n дорога
roar – n рёв, рык; крик; вопль; v реветь; рычать
roast – v жариться
robber – n разбойник
roof – v крыша
room – n комната, помещение
rope – n верёвка
rose – n роза
rosy – adj розовый
rotten – adj гнилой
row – n ряд
run (ran, run) – v бежать
rusty – adj ржавый
S
satin – adj атласный
scared – adj испуганный
scary – adj страшный
sea – n море
seat – n сиденье
sentinel – n страж
servant – n слуга
serve – v служить
shabby – adj поношенный
share – v делить
sharp – adj острый
sheep – n овца
shield – n щит
shine – v сиять
shining – adj сияющий
shiver – v дрожать
shore – n берег
shoulder – n плечо
silk – n шелк
sing (sang, sung) – v петь
sink (sank, sunk) – v тонуть; v идти ко дну
skates – n коньки
sledge – n сани; санки
sloping – adj покатый
small – adj маленький
smoke – n дым
snake – n змея
snow – n снег
snowflake — n снежинка
soldier – n солдат
solemn – adj серьезный
something – pron что-то, нечто; что-нибудь, что-либо
soup – n суп
space – n пространство; место
sparrow – n воробей
speak (spoke, spoken) – v говорить, сказать
spear – n копье
speech – n речь
spinach – n шпинат
splendid – adj великолепный
splinter – n осколок
stair – n лестница
stand (stood, stood) – v стоять
staple – n засов
star – n звезда
stem – n стебель
stick – n палка
stiff – adj твердый
still – adv тихо, не двигаясь; (всё) ещё
stomach – n живот
stone – n камень
stool – n стул
storm – n буря
story – n история
stout – adj крепкий
stove – n печь
straight – adj прямой
strange – adj странный
straw – n солома
stream – n поток
street – n улица
strength – n сила
stretch – v растягивать(ся)
strike – v пронзать, сражать
strong – adj сильный, крепкий
stump – n пень
suddenly – adv внезапно
sugar – n сахар
summer – n лето
sunshine — n солнечный свет
swallow – n ласточка
swarm – v роиться
sweet – adj сладкий
sweetheart — n возлюбленная; зазноба
T
tame – adj ручной
taste – v пробовать
tear – n слеза
tease – v дразнить
thick – adj толстый
third – adj третий
thirsty – adj испытывающий жажду
thoughtfully – adv задумчиво, внимательно
thousand – n тысяча
throne – n трон
through – adv сквозь, через
throw (threw, thrown) – v бросать
tickle – v щекотать
tie – n галстук; v связывать, завязывать
tiny – adj маленький
tired – adj уставший
toe – n палец (ноги)
towards – adv в направлении
tower – башня
town – n город
travel – v путешествовать
tree – n дерево
trickle – v капать
troll – n тролль
true – adj верный, правдивый; adv правильно, верно
turn – v поворачивать(ся)
twelve – n двенадцать
twine – v виться
twist – v поворачивать
twitter – v щебетать
U
ugly – adj уродливый
understand (understood, understood) — v понимать
untie – v отвязывать
V
vast – adj обширный, просторный, громадный
velvet – n бархат
vine – n лоза
W
wake (woke, woken) – v будить, пробуждаться
wall – n стена
water – n вода
wave – n волна; v махать
wet – adj мокрый, сырой, влажный; v мочить
wherever – adv где-угодно
whisper – v шептать
whistle – n свист; v свистеть
white – adj белый
wicked – adj злой
wide – adj широкий
widow – n вдова
wind – n ветер
wink – v моргать, мигать
witch – n ведьма
witchcraft — n колдовство
wolf – n волк
wonderful – adj удивительный
wonderfully – adv удивительно
wooden — adj деревянный
world – n мир
worm-eaten — adj червивый
worry – v беспокоиться
wrap – v укутывать
Y
yellow – adj жёлтый
Примечания
1
everything that was no good came out even worse – все, что уже было плохим, становилось еще хуже
(обратно)2
from that moment the people saw everything crooked and only looked for bad things – и с этого момента люди видели все искаженно и всегда искали изъяны
(обратно)3
but they were as fond of each other as if they had been – но они так любили друг друга, как будто бы они были [братом и сестрой]
(обратно)4
flourished wonderfully – прекрасно цвели
(обратно)5
across the gutter – поперек сточной трубы
(обратно)6
he winked his eye —он моргнул
(обратно)7
Rotten roses they are, after all, like the boxes they’re in. – Все таки эти розы гнилые, как и коробки, в которых они растут.
(обратно)8
a good long way – довольно далеко
(обратно)9
so as to let go – чтобы отпустить
(обратно)10
pulled up – остановилась
(обратно)11
immense spaces of the air – громадные пустоты воздуха
(обратно)12
over all shone the moon – все вокруг освещала Луна
(обратно)13
quite alone – совсем одна
(обратно)14
couldn’t reach the boat – не могли догнать лодку
(обратно)15
very naturally – естественно
(обратно)16
far out into the wide world – так далеко от дома
(обратно)17
pulled it ashore – притянула ее к берегу
(обратно)18
were placed very high up – находились очень высоко
(обратно)19
how well we two shall get on – как хорошо мы с тобой поладим
(обратно)20
they all sank down into the earth – они все ушли под землю
(обратно)21
it rose up all at once – он тут же вылез из-под земли
(обратно)22
when she looked about her – когда она оглянулась
(обратно)23
forgotten you for the Princess – забыл тебя ради Принцессы
(обратно)24
we were just thinking something of the sort the other day – мы думали о чем-то подобном на днях
(обратно)25
seeks hi mate – ищет себе пару
(обратно)26
I’d sooner go in. – Я лучше зайду внутрь.
(обратно)27
every bit as well as I do – так же хорошо, как я
(обратно)28
she sends you her best compliments – она шлет тебе свои наилучшие пожелания
(обратно)29
made to look like – сделанный в виде чего-либо
(обратно)30
all the same – все равно
(обратно)31
for they had their old age in mind – поскольку они думали о своей старости
(обратно)32
drew up – подъехала
(обратно)33
broader in the shoulders – шире в плечах
(обратно)34
put your best foot foremost – приложить все усилия, постараться
(обратно)35
tied her fast – крепко привязала её
(обратно)36
a whole regiment – целый полк
(обратно)37
knots of snakes – комки змей
(обратно)38
getting on – поживает
(обратно)39
The Snow Queen had kissed the shivers out of him – поцелуи Снежной королевы прекратили его дрожь
(обратно)40
to wash out – вымывать
(обратно)Оглавление
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© ООО «Издательство АСТ»
Story the First
Which Tells of the Looking-Glass and the Bits of It
Attention, please, we’re going to begin. When we’ve got to the end of the story we shall know more than we do now. Once there was a wicked troll. He had made a looking-glass which had this property: everything good and pretty that was reflected in it became bad and ugly. And everything that was no good came out even worse[1]. The most beautiful landscapes looked like boiled spinach, and the best of men grew hideous. Their faces were so distorted that they couldn’t be recognized. It was very funny, the troll said. He couldn’t help but laugh at his clever invention. Everyone who attended the troll school (for he kept a troll school) spread the news all about that miracle looking-glass: you could now see, they said, what the world and mankind really looked like. They ran about everywhere with the glass, and at last there wasn’t a country or a person left who hadn’t been distorted in it. After that they decided to fly up to heaven itself and make fun of the angels. The higher they flew with the glass, the more it grimaced. Up and up they flew, and then the glass grimaced so hard that it fell out of their hands and to the ground. It broke into millions of tiny pieces. Some of them were as big as a grain of sand. They flew around the wide world, and when they got into peoples’ eyes, they stuck there, and from that moment the people saw everything crooked and only looked for the bad things[2]. Every little splinter of the glass had kept the same power that the whole glass had. Some people got a little bit of the glass into their hearts, and that was horrible, for their hearts became just like a lump of ice. Some of the pieces were so big that they were used for window glass. Other pieces were made into glasses, and that was a bad thing, if people put them on in order to see correctly and judge rightly. The evil troll laughed at this, for it was very amusing to him. And out in the world little bits of glass were still flying in the air.
Now you shall hear what happened with some of them.
Story the Second
A Little Boy and a Little Girl
In the big town, where there are so many houses and people that there isn’t enough room for everybody to have a little garden, and where most people have to grow flowers in pots, there were two poor children. They weren’t brother and sister, but they were as fond of each other as if they had been[3]. Their parents were near neighbours, living in two attics, where the roof of the one house touched the other: a small window in each house faced the other; you could get from one window to the other in one step.
The parents had, each of them, a large wooden box outside the window, and in it grew kitchen herbs which they used, and also a little rose tree; there was one in each box, and they flourished wonderfully[4]. Then the parents thought of putting the boxes across the gutter[5] in such a way that they reached almost from the one window to the other and really looked like two bunches of flowers. The pea plants hung down over the boxes, and the rose trees twined about the windows and bent over to meet each other, and made almost an arch of leaves and blossoms. The boxes were very high up, and the children knew they must not climb up into them, but they were often allowed to get out to meet each other and sit on their little stools beneath the roses, and there they used to play very happily.
In winter, of course, that pleasure was gone. The windows were often quite frozen over; but then they would heat copper pennies on the stove, and then put the hot pennies on the frosty window, and this made a small peep-hole, one out of each window; the little boy’s and the little girl’s. The boy’s name was Kay and the girl’s name was Gerda.
“Those are the white bees swarming,” said the old grandmother once in winter, looking at the falling snow.
“Have they got a queen too?” asked the little boy—for he knew that the real bees have one. “Indeed, they have,” said grandmother, “she is the biggest of them all, and she never stays still on the ground, but flies up into the black cloud. At winter nights she flies through the streets of the town and looks in the windows, and then they freeze into wonderful patterns, like flowers.”
“Can the Snow Queen get in here?” asked the little girl.
“Let her come!” said the boy, “and I’ll put her on the hot stove and she’ll melt.”
One evening, when little Kay was at home, he climbed up on the stool by the window and peeped through the little hole. A few snowflakes were falling outside, and one of them, the biggest of them all, was lying in a corner of one of the flower-boxes. It grew larger and larger, and at last turned into a lady, dressed in a white dress, which seemed to be made out of millions of snowflakes. She was very pretty and delicate, and she was made from ice, but she was alive. Her eyes were like two bright stars, but there was no rest or quietness in them. She nodded towards the window and beckoned with her hand. The little boy was frightened and jumped down off the stool.
Next day was clear and frosty, and after that came spring-time; the swallows built their nests, the windows were open, and the children sat once more in their little garden.
What lovely summer days were those, and how nice it was to be out among the fresh rose bushes!
Kay and Gerda were looking at a picture book with beasts and birds in it, and then—just as the clock in the great church tower was striking five—Kay said, “Oh! Something pricked my heart, and I’ve just got something in my eye!”
The little girl put her arm round his neck, and he winked his eye[6], but no, there was nothing to be seen. “I think it’s gone,” he said, but it wasn’t. It was one of those tiny bits of the troll-glass. Poor Kay! He had got a piece of it right into his heart, and it started to turn into ice.
“What are you crying for?” he asked. “It makes you look ugly!” Then he looked at the roses. “That rose is worm-eaten! And look at that other, it’s all crooked. Rotten roses they are, after all, like the boxes they’re in.[7]” With that he gave the box a hard kick and pulled off the two roses. “What are you doing, Kay?” cried the little girl; and when he saw she was frightened, he pulled off a third rose, and ran home, leaving dear little Gerda. Later, when she brought him the picture book, he said, “it was only fit for babies”, and when grandmother told them stories, he was always interrupting. The bit of glass he had got in his eye and the bit he had in his heart made him tease everyone, even little Gerda, who loved him with all her heart.
1 everything that was no good came out even worse – все, что уже было плохим, становилось еще хуже
2 from that moment the people saw everything crooked and only looked for bad things – и с этого момента люди видели все искаженно и всегда искали изъяны
3 but they were as fond of each other as if they had been – но они так любили друг друга, как будто бы они были [братом и сестрой]
4 flourished wonderfully – прекрасно цвели
5 across the gutter – поперек сточной трубы
6 he winked his eye —он моргнул
7 Rotten roses they are, after all, like the boxes they’re in. – Все таки эти розы гнилые, как и коробки, в которых они растут.
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