Кот в сапогах. Красная шапочка / Puss in Boots. Little Red Riding Hood

If you will give me a bag, and have a pair of boots made for me, that I may scamper through the dirt and the brambles, then you shall see that you are not so poorly off with me as you imagine.”

The cat’s master did not believe him very much. However, he had often seen him play a great many cunning tricks to catch rats and mice,[1 - he had often seen him play a great many cunning tricks to catch rats and mice – он часто видел, как тот проделывал разные уловки, чтобы поймать мышей и крыс] such as hanging by his heels, or hiding himself in the meal, and pretending to be dead; so he did take some hope that he might give him some help in his miserable condition.

[2 - miserable condition – жалкое положение]

After receiving what he had asked for, the cat gallantly pulled on the boots and slung the bag about his neck. 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.