Английские легенды / The English Legends

bargain – сделка

country – страна

daughter – дочь

did their best – старались изо всех сил

fair – справедливый

flock – стадо

head – голова

life – жизнь

next – следующий

night – ночь

return – возвращать

see – видеть

shepherd – пастух

unmarried – незамужняя

The Princess of Canterbury

In the old days, when there were more than one king in this country, one of them was king of Canterbury. He had an only daughter, wise, fair, beautiful, and unmarried.

The king had it proclaimed that whoever would watch one night with his daughter and neither sleep nor doze at the time, should have her the next day in marriage.

But if he did not stay awake, he should lose his head.

Such bargains were not uncommon in those days. Many knights did their best, but failed and lost their lives.

Now a young shepherd, grazing his flock near the road, said to his master,

“Sir, I see many gentlemen ride to the court at Canterbury, but I never see them return again.”

* * *

«Пастух, – сказал его master, – они пытаются охранять королевскую daughter, и все, у кого это не получается, лишаются своих heads».

«Ну, – сказал пастух, – I'll try my worth, folly or luck, отправлюсь за королевской daughter, а не получится, так будет одним headless пастухом больше!»

И, взяв свою bottle и мешок, он trudged к королевскому двору попытать счастья. По пути ему нужно было перейти river. Он снял ботинки и stockings, и когда переходил реку вброд, то увидел, как красивые рыбёшки bobbing о его ноги.

Он поймал несколько рыбин и положил их себе в pocket. Добравшись до palace, он громко постучал в ворота пастушеским staff.

bob – подпрыгивать, биться

bottle – бутылка

daughter – дочь

head – голова

headless – безголовый

I'll try my worth, folly or luck. – Попытаю-ка я свою судьбу.

master – хозяин, господин

palace – дворец

pocket – карман

river – река

staff – палка, посох

stocking – чулок

trudge – тащиться

* * *

“Shepherd,” said his master, “they try to watch with the king's daughter, and all who fail lose their heads.

”

“Well,” said the shepherd, “I'll try my worth, folly or luck; so now for a king's daughter, or a headless shepherd!”

And taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to the court to try his fortune. On his way he had to cross a river. He pulled off his shoes and stockings, and while he was passing over he observed several pretty fish bobbing against his feet.