The Best English Fairy Tales / Лучшие английские сказки

“Ah!” said the father, “what fears we have had for you![29 - what fears we have had for you! – Мы так боялись за тебя]”

“Yes, father,” answered he, “I have travelled all over the world, I think, in one way or other, since we parted; and now I am very glad to come home and get fresh air again.”

“Why, where have you been?” said his father.

“I have been in a mouse-hole, and in a snail-shell, and down a cow’s stomach, and in the wolf’s belly.

And now here I am again, safe and sound[30 - safe and sound – целый и невредимый].”

“Well,” said they, “You came back and we will not sell you again for all the riches in the world.”

Then they hugged and kissed their dear little son. They gave him a lot to eat and drink, because he was very hungry. So Master Thumb stayed at home with his father and mother. He was a traveler, and had done and seen so many fine things, and liked telling the whole story.

He always agreed that, after all, there’s no place like HOME!

The Nightingale and yhe Rose

O. Wilde

“She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,” cried the young Student; “but in all my garden there is no red rose.”

From her nest in the oak tree the Nightingale heard him. She looked out through the leaves, and wondered.

“No red rose in all my garden!” he cried, and his beautiful eyes filled with tears.

“I have read all the books, and I know all the secrets of philosophy. But it is only the red rose that matters.”

“He is a true lover,” said the Nightingale. “Every night I sing songs about love and lovers and now I can see one of them. His hair is dark, and his lips are red, his face is pale.”

“The Prince gives a ball tomorrow night,” said the young Student, “and my love will be there. If I bring her a red rose she will dance with me. If I bring her a red rose, I will hold her in my arms.

But there is no red rose in my garden, so I will sit lonely, and she will pass me by. And my heart will break.”

“He is the true lover,” said the Nightingale. “What is joy to me, to him is pain. Surely Love is a wonderful thing. It is dearer than fine opals.”

“The musicians will play their instruments,” said the young Student, “and my love will dance to the sound of the harp and the violin.