Английские сказки для мальчиков / English Fairy Tales for Boys

Holding its drawstrings in his forepaws,[3 - Holding its drawstrings in his forepaws – Держа шнурки в передних лапах] he went to a place where there were a lot of rabbits. He put some bran and greens into his bag, then laid down as if he were dead. He waited for some young rabbits to come and look into his bag.

Soon, a rash and foolish young rabbit jumped into his bag, and the master cat immediately closed the strings, then took and killed him without pity.[4 - without pity – без сожаления]

Proud of his prey, he went with it to the palace, and asked to speak with his majesty.

He was shown upstairs into the king’s apartment[5 - He was shown upstairs into the king’s apartment – Его провели наверх в покои короля] and, making a low bow,[6 - low bow – низкий поклон] said to him, “Sir, I have brought you a rabbit from my noble lord,[7 - my noble lord – мой благородный лорд] the Master of Carabas” (for that was the title which the cat was pleased to give his master).

“Tell your master,” said the king, “that I thank him and that I am very pleased with his gift.

”

Another time he went and hid himself in a grain field. He again held his bag open, and when a brace of partridges[8 - a brace of partridges – пара куропаток] ran into it, he drew the strings and caught them both. He presented these to the king, as he had done before with the rabbit. The king received the partridges with great pleasure and gave him a tip. The cat continued, from time to time[9 - from time to time – время от времени] for two or three months, to take game[10 - to take game – приносить добычу] to his majesty from his master.

One day, when he knew for certain[11 - for certain – наверняка] that the king would be taking a drive along the riverside with his daughter, the most beautiful princess in the world, he said to his master, “If you follow my advice, your fortune is made. All you must do is to go and bathe yourself in the river at the place I show you, then leave the rest to me.”

The Marquis of Carabas did what the cat advised him to, without knowing why.

[12 - without knowing why – не зная почему] While he was bathing, the king passed by in his coach, and the cat began to cry out, “Help! Help! My Lord Marquis of Carabas is going to be drowned.”

At this noise, the king put his head out of the coach window and saw that it was the cat who had so often brought him such good game, so he commanded his guards to help the Marquis of Carabas.