Irish Tales / Ирландские сказки. Книга для чтения на английском языке

At last his road led by the side of a bog, and there was a poor ass up to his shoulders near a big bunch of grass he was striving to come at.

�Ah, then, Jack asthore,’ says he, �help me out or I’ll be drowned.’

�Never say’t twice[24 - Never say’t twice – (разг.) Можете не повторять (я понял)],’ says Jack, and he pitched in big stones and sods into the slob, till the ass got good ground under him.

�Thank you, Jack,’ says he, when he was out on the hard road; �I’ll do as much for you another time.

�Faith, I’m going to seek my fortune till harvest comes in, God bless it!’

�And if you like,’ says the ass, �I’ll go along with you; who knows what luck we may have!’

�With all my heart, it’s getting late, let us be jogging.’

Well, they were going through a village, and a whole army of gossoons were hunting a poor dog with a kettle tied to his tail. He ran up to Jack for protection, and the ass let such a roar out of him, that the little thieves took to their heels as if the ould boy was after them[25 - as if the ould boy was after them – (устар.

�More power to you, Jack,’ says the dog. �I’m much obleeged to you; where is the baste and yourself going?’

�We’re going to seek our fortune till harvest comes in.’

�And wouldn’t I be proud to go with you!’ says the dog. �And get rid of them ill-conducted boys; purshuin’ to ’em.

�Well, well, throw your tail over your arm, and come along.’

They got outside the town, and sat down under an old wall, and Jack pulled out his bread and meat, and shared with the dog; and the ass made his dinner on a bunch of thistles. While they were eating and chatting, what should come by but a poor half-starved cat, and the moll-row he gave out of him would make your heart ache.

�You look as if you saw the tops of nine houses since breakfast[26 - saw the tops of nine houses since breakfast – (устар.

�May your child never know a hungry belly!’ says Tom. �It’s myself that’s in need of your kindness. May I be so bold as to ask where yez are all going?’

�We’re going to seek out fortune till the harvest comes in, and you may join us if you like.