Лучшие сказки загадочной Шотландии. Уровень 1 / The Best Tales of Enchanted Scotland

How to cross this desert? How to reach the other side of it? The Fairy Queen suddenly stopped the horse.

“Now you must get down on earth, Thomas,” said the Lady. “Lie down. Lay your head on my knee. I will show you hidden things. You cannot see them by mortal eyes.”

Thomas dismounted. He lay down, and rested his head on the Fairy Queen's knee. He looked once more over the desert. Everything changed. He saw three roads across it. He did not notice them before. Each of these three roads was different.

One of them was broad, level and even.

It ran straight on across the sand. No one who travels by it will lose his way.

The second road was narrow, winding and long. There were bushes on both sides of it. Those bushes grew very high. Their branches were very wild and tangled.

The third road was through a hillside among brackens and heather. It looked pleasant.

“Now,” said the Fairy Queen, “I shall tell you where these three roads lead to. The first road, as you see, is broad, even and easy.

Many people choose it. But it leads to a bad end. So the folk that choose it repent their choice for ever.

The narrow road is hampered and hindered by the thorns and the briars. Where does it lead? That is the Road of Righteousness. Although it is hard and irksome, it ends in a glorious City. That City is called the City of the Great King.

The third road runs up the brae among the ferns. I can say, Thomas, where it leads. It leads unto fair Elf-land. We will take that road.

Remember, Thomas, if you hope to see your home again, take care of your tongue when we reach our journey's end. Speak no single word to anyone save me[5 - save me – кроме меня]. The mortal who opens his lips rashly in Fairy-land must bide there for ever.”

Then she told him to get on her horse again. They rode on. The road was not very lovely, however. It led them into a narrow ravine[6 - ravine – ущелье]. The ravine went right down under the earth. There was no ray of light to guide them.

The air was dank and heavy under the earth. There was a sound of water everywhere. It was cold and chill.

Thomas was scared. Where is their journey's end? At last the darkness began to lighten. The light grew stronger. Soon they were back in broad sunshine.

Then Thomas looked up. They rode through a beautiful orchard. He saw apples and pears, dates and figs and wine-berries. His tongue was parched and dry. He wanted to eat some of the fruit.