The Dainty China Country (изысканная фарфоровая страна)

While the Woodman was making a ladder from wood (пока Дровосек делал лестницу из дерева) which he found in the forest (которое нашел в лесу) Dorothy lay down and slept (легла и спала), for she was tired by the long walk (устала от долгой прогулки). The Lion also curled himself up (свернулся) to sleep and Toto lay beside him (около него).

The Scarecrow watched the Woodman (смотрел на Дровосека) while he worked (работал), and said to him: "I cannot think (понять) why this wall is here (здесь), nor what it is made of (ни из чего она сделана)."

"Rest your brains (дай отдых своим мозгам) and do not worry about the wall (не беспокойся о стене)," replied (ответил) the Woodman.

"When we have climbed over it (перелезем через нее), we shall know (узнаем) what is on the other side (что на другой стороне)." After a time (спустя некоторое время) the ladder was finished (была закончена). It looked clumsy (выглядела неаккуратно /сделанной/: «нескладной»), but the Tin Woodman was sure (уверен) it was strong (прочной) and would answer their purpose (отвечала их цели).

The Scarecrow waked Dorothy (разбудил) and the Lion and Toto, and told them (сказал им) that the ladder was ready (готова). The Scarecrow climbed up the ladder first (поднялся по лестнице первым), but he was so awkward (таким неуклюжим) that Dorothy had to follow close behind (пришлось следовать близко сзади = идти сзади на небольшом расстоянии) and keep him from falling off (предохранять его от падения). When he got his head over the top of the wall (когда его голова высунулась через верх забора) the Scarecrow said, "Oh, my (О, Боже)!"

"Go on (продолжай)," exclaimed Dorothy (воскликнула).

So the Scarecrow climbed farther up (дальше вверх) and sat down (сел) on the top of the wall, and Dorothy put her head over and cried (закричала), "Oh, my!" just as the Scarecrow had done.

Then Toto came up (подошел), and immediately began to bark (немедленно начал лаять), but Dorothy made him be still (заставила его быть спокойным = успокоиться).

The Lion climbed the ladder next, and the Tin Woodman came last (последним); but both of them cried, "Oh, my!" as soon as they looked over the wall (как только они посмотрели через стену). When they were all sitting in a row (в ряд) on the top of the wall, they looked down and saw a strange sight (видели странное зрелище).

Before them was a great stretch of country (большой участок страны) having a floor as smooth and shining and white (имеющей пол /землю/ такой же гладкий и сияющий, и белый) as the bottom of a big platter (как дно большого плоского блюда).

Scattered around (разбросанные вокруг) were many houses made entirely of china (полностью из фарфора) and painted in the brightest colors (окрашенные в ярчайшие цвета). These houses were quite small (довольно маленькими), the biggest of them reaching (достигающие) only as high as Dorothy's waist (высоты талии).

There were also pretty little barns (сараи), with china fences around them (с фарфоровыми заборами вокруг них); and many cows and sheep (много коров и овец) and horses and pigs and chickens (и лошадей, и поросят, и цыплят), all made of china, were standing about in groups (стояли вокруг группами = стадами, выводками).

But the strangest of all were the people (но причудливей всего были люди) who lived in this queer country (жили в этой странной стране). There were milkmaids (доярки) and shepherdesses (пастушки), with brightly colored bodices (с корсажами /платьев/ ярких цветов) and golden spots all over their gowns (и золотыми крапинками все по их платьям); and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple (принцессы с самыми великолепными платьями из серебра, и золота, и пурпура); and shepherds dressed in knee breeches (одетые в коленные бриджи = бриджи до колена) with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them (с розовыми и желтыми, и голубыми полосками вниз по ним = вдоль них), and golden buckles on their shoes (с золотыми пряжками на их туфлях); and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads (принцы с украшенными /драгоценностями / коронами на их головах), wearing ermine robes (носящие горностаевые мантии) and satin doublets (камзолы); and funny clowns in ruffled gowns (клоуны в гофрированных платьях; ruffle — рябь), with round red spots upon their cheeks (с круглыми, красными пятнами на их щеках) and tall, pointed caps (высокими, остроконечными шапками).

shepherd ['shepəd] clown [klaun] ermine ['ə:mın]

While the Woodman was making a ladder from wood which he found in the forest Dorothy lay down and slept, for she was tired by the long walk. The Lion also curled himself up to sleep and Toto lay beside him.

The Scarecrow watched the Woodman while he worked, and said to him: "I cannot think why this wall is here, nor what it is made of."

"Rest your brains and do not worry about the wall," replied the Woodman.

"When we have climbed over it, we shall know what is on the other side." After a time the ladder was finished. It looked clumsy, but the Tin Woodman was sure it was strong and would answer their purpose.

The Scarecrow waked Dorothy and the Lion and Toto, and told them that the ladder was ready. The Scarecrow climbed up the ladder first, but he was so awkward that Dorothy had to follow close behind and keep him from falling off. When he got his head over the top of the wall the Scarecrow said, "Oh, my!"

"Go on," exclaimed Dorothy.

So the Scarecrow climbed farther up and sat down on the top of the wall, and Dorothy put her head over and cried, "Oh, my!" just as the Scarecrow had done.

Then Toto came up, and immediately began to bark, but Dorothy made him be still.

The Lion climbed the ladder next, and the Tin Woodman came last; but both of them cried, "Oh, my!" as soon as they looked over the wall. When they were all sitting in a row on the top of the wall, they looked down and saw a strange sight.

Before them was a great stretch of country having a floor as smooth and shining and white as the bottom of a big platter.

Scattered around were many houses made entirely of china and painted in the brightest colors. These houses were quite small, the biggest of them reaching only as high as Dorothy's waist.

There were also pretty little barns, with china fences around them; and many cows and sheep and horses and pigs and chickens, all made of china, were standing about in groups.

But the strangest of all were the people who lived in this queer country. There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple; and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them, and golden buckles on their shoes; and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads, wearing ermine robes and satin doublets; and funny clowns in ruffled gowns, with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall, pointed caps.

And, strangest of all (самое странное из всего), these people were all made of china (были все сделаны из фарфора), even to their clothes (вплоть до их одежд), and were so small (такими маленькими) that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy's knee (что самые высокие из них были не выше, чем Дороти колено).

No one did so much as look at the travelers at first (никто даже не посмотрел на путешественников сначала), except one little purple china dog (кроме одной маленькой пурпурной фарфоровой собаки) with an extra-large head (со сверхбольшой головой), which came to the wall (которая подошла к стене) and barked at them in a tiny voice (лаяла на них крошечным = тоненьким голосом), afterwards running away again (после чего убежала снова).

"How shall we get down (спустимся)?" asked Dorothy.

They found the ladder so heavy (нашли лестницу такой тяжелой) they could not pull it up (подтянуть ее /на верх/), so the Scarecrow fell off the wall (упал со стены) and the others jumped down upon him (спрыгнули на него) so that the hard floor (так чтобы твердый пол) would not hurt their feet (не повредил их ноги). Of course (конечно) they took pains (приложили усилия) not to light on his head (не упасть на его голову; to light — неожиданно упать, обрушиться) and get the pins in their feet (получить булавки в свои ноги).

When all were safely down (благополучно внизу) they picked up the Scarecrow (подобрали Страшилу = помогли ему подняться), whose body was quite flattened out (тело было довольно расплющенным; to flatten out — расплющивать), and patted his straw into shape again (и подбили /ладошкой/ его солому в форму снова).

"We must cross this strange place (пересечь это странное место) in order to get to the other side (чтобы попасть на другую сторону)," said Dorothy, "for it would be unwise for us (было бы немудрым для нас = с нашей стороны) to go any other way except due South (кроме как прямо на Юг)." They began walking through the country of the china people (начали идти по стране фарфоровых людей), and the first thing (первой вещью) they came to was a china milkmaid milking a china cow (доярка, доящая фарфоровую корову; to milk — доить). As they drew near (подтянулись =подошли ближе), the cow suddenly gave a kick (вдруг дала удар /ногой/ = лягнула) and kicked over the stool (опрокинула табуретку), the pail (ведро), and even the milkmaid herself, and all fell on the china ground with a great clatter (и все упало на фарфоровую землю с сильным грохотом).

Dorothy was shocked to see (шокирована увидеть) that the cow had broken her leg off (сломала свою ногу), and that the pail was lying in several small pieces (лежало в нескольких маленьких кусочках = разбитое на кусочки), while the poor milkmaid had a nick in her left elbow (трещину на левом локте).

"There (ну вот)!" cried the milkmaid angrily (закричала доярка зло). "See what you have done (смотрите, что вы наделали)!

My cow has broken her leg, and I must take her to the mender's shop (отвести ее в магазин по ремонту = мастерскую) and have it glued on again (чтобы ее снова склеили). What do you mean (что вы подразумеваете, имеете в виду = зачем, с какой целью вы) by coming here and frightening my cow (пугая мою корову)?"

"I'm very sorry (мне очень жаль)," returned Dorothy. "Please forgive us (пожалуйста, простите нас)." But the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed (слишком раздосадована) to make any answer (чтобы сделать какой-нибудь ответ = чтобы ответить что-нибудь).

She picked up the leg sulkily (подобрала ногу сердито) and led her cow away (увела свою корову), the poor animal limping on three legs (бедное животное, хромающее на трех ногах; to limp — прихрамывать). As she left them (покинула их) the milkmaid cast many reproachful glances (доярка бросила много укоризненных взглядов; to cast — бросать /взгляд/; reproach — упрек) over her shoulder at the clumsy strangers (через свое плечо на неуклюжих чужестранцев), holding her nicked elbow close to her side (держа свой треснутый локоть близко к своему боку = прижимая).

Dorothy was quite grieved at this mishap (довольно огорчена этим несчастным случаем).

"We must be very careful here (осторожными здесь)," said the kind-hearted Woodman (сказал добросердечный Дровосек), "or we may hurt these pretty little people (можем ранить этих милых маленьких людей) so they will never get over it (не оправятся от этого: «не перейдут через это»)." A little farther on (немного дальше) Dorothy met a most beautifully dressed young Princess (прекраснейше одетую юную Принцессу), who stopped short (остановилась резко) as she saw the strangers and started to run away (начала убегать = бросилась бежать).

Dorothy wanted (хотела) to see more of the Princess, so she ran after her (за ней).

But the china girl cried out (выкрикнула): "Don't chase me (гонись за мной)! Don't chase me!" She had such a frightened little voice (такой испуганный тонкий голос) that Dorothy stopped and said, "Why not?"

"Because," answered the Princess, also stopping, a safe distance away (на безопасном расстоянии), "if I run I may fall down and break myself (могу упасть и разбить себя)."

"But could you not be mended (но разве тебя нельзя починить)?" asked the girl.

"Oh, yes; but one is never so pretty (но уже никогда не будешь такой красивой, милой) after being mended (после того, как тебя починят), you know (знаешь = видишь ли)," replied the Princess.

clatter ['klætə] flatten ['flætn] reproach [rı'prəutʃ]

And, strangest of all, these people were all made of china, even to their clothes, and were so small that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy's knee.

No one did so much as look at the travelers at first, except one little purple china dog with an extra-large head, which came to the wall and barked at them in a tiny voice, afterwards running away again.

"How shall we get down?" asked Dorothy.

They found the ladder so heavy they could not pull it up, so the Scarecrow fell off the wall and the others jumped down upon him so that the hard floor would not hurt their feet. Of course they took pains not to light on his head and get the pins in their feet.

When all were safely down they picked up the Scarecrow, whose body was quite flattened out, and patted his straw into shape again.

"We must cross this strange place in order to get to the other side," said Dorothy, "for it would be unwise for us to go any other way except due South." They began walking through the country of the china people, and the first thing they came to was a china milkmaid milking a china cow. As they drew near, the cow suddenly gave a kick and kicked over the stool, the pail, and even the milkmaid herself, and all fell on the china ground with a great clatter.

Dorothy was shocked to see that the cow had broken her leg off, and that the pail was lying in several small pieces, while the poor milkmaid had a nick in her left elbow.

"There!" cried the milkmaid angrily. "See what you have done!

My cow has broken her leg, and I must take her to the mender's shop and have it glued on again. What do you mean by coming here and frightening my cow?"

"I'm very sorry," returned Dorothy. "Please forgive us." But the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed to make any answer.

She picked up the leg sulkily and led her cow away, the poor animal limping on three legs. As she left them the milkmaid cast many reproachful glances over her shoulder at the clumsy strangers, holding her nicked elbow close to her side.

Dorothy was quite grieved at this mishap.

"We must be very careful here," said the kind-hearted Woodman, "or we may hurt these pretty little people so they will never get over it." A little farther on Dorothy met a most beautifully dressed young Princess, who stopped short as she saw the strangers and started to run away.

Dorothy wanted to see more of the Princess, so she ran after her.

But the china girl cried out: "Don't chase me!Don't chase me!" She had such a frightened little voice that Dorothy stopped and said, "Why not?"

"Because," answered the Princess, also stopping, a safe distance away, "if I run I may fall down and break myself."

"But could you not be mended?" asked the girl.

"Oh, yes; but one is never so pretty after being mended, you know," replied the Princess.

"I suppose not (полагаю, что нет)," said Dorothy.

"Now there is Mr. Joker, one of our clowns (один из наших клоунов)," continued the china lady (продолжала фарфоровая леди), "who is always trying (всегда пытается) to stand upon his head (встать на свою голову). He has broken himself so often (разбивал себя так часто) that he is mended in a hundred places (отремонтирован в сотнях мест), and doesn't look at all pretty (выглядит вовсе не симпатичным). Here he comes now (вот он подходит сейчас), so you can see for yourself (так что можете сами увидеть)." Indeed (в самом деле), a jolly little clown (веселый маленький клоун) came walking toward them, and Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and yellow and green (несмотря на его симпатичные одежды из красного, и желтого, и зеленого) he was completely covered with cracks (полностью покрыт трещинами), running every which way («бегущими» повсюду) and showing plainly (показывающие ясно) that he had been mended in many places.

The Clown put his hands in his pockets (положил свои руки в свои карманы), and after puffing out his cheeks (после надувания щек; to puff out — надувать) and nodding his head (кивания своей головой; to nod — кивать) at them saucily (дерзко), he said: "My lady fair (моя прекрасная леди), Why do you stare аt poor old Mr. Joker (так пристально смотришь на бедного старого мистера Джокера; to stare at — уставиться, пристально смотреть)? You're quite as stiff аnd prim (столь одеревеневшая и чопорная) as if You'd eaten up a poker (как будто съела кочергу)!"

"Be quiet (будь спокойным = успокойся), sir!" said the Princess. "Can't you see these are strangers (чужестранцы), and should be treated with respect (приняты с уважением; to treat — обращаться, обходиться)?"

"Well, that's respect (уважение), I expect (ожидаю)," declared the Clown (заявил Клоун), and immediately stood upon his head (немедленно встал на свою голову).

"Don't mind Mr. Joker (не обращайте внимания на мистера Джокера)," said the Princess to Dorothy. "He is considerably (значительно) cracked in his head, and that makes him foolish (глупым)."

"Oh, I don't mind him a bit (ничуть)," said Dorothy. "But you are so beautiful (красивая)," she continued (продолжала), "that I am sure (уверена) I could love you dearly (любить вас нежно).

Won't you let me carry you back to Kansas (позволь мне отнести тебя в Каназас), and stand you on Aunt Em's mantel (поставить тебя на каминной полочке Тети Эм)? I could carry you in my basket (в своей корзине)."

"That would make me very unhappy (сделало бы меня очень несчастной)," answered the china Princess.

"You see, here in our country (здесь в нашей стране) we live contentedly (живем довольно = довольные), and can talk and move around (говорить и двигаться вокруг = гулять) as we please (как нам угодно). But whenever any of us are taken away (но если кого-либо из нас забирают = уносят) our joints at once stiffen (наши суставы немедленно деревенеют), and we can only stand straight and look pretty (можем лишь прямо стоять и мило выглядеть).

Of course (конечно) that is all that is expected of us (это все, что ожидается от нас) when we are on mantels and cabinets and drawing-room tables (на столах в гостиной), but our lives are much pleasanter (гораздо приятнее) here in our own country."

"I would not make you unhappy for all the world (ни за что в мире)!" exclaimed Dorothy.

"So I'll just say good-bye (попрощаюсь)."

"Good-bye," replied the Princess.

They walked carefully through the china country. The little animals and all the people scampered out of their way (быстро разбегались с их пути), fearing (боясь) the strangers would break them, and after an hour or so (и спустя час или около того) the travelers reached the other side of the country (достигли другой стороны страны) and came to another china wall.

It was not so high as the first (высокой, как первая), however (однако), and by standing upon the Lion's back (на спине) they all managed to scramble to the top (удалось вскарабкаться наверх). Then the Lion gathered his legs under him (подобрал свои ноги) and jumped on the wall (прыгнул на стену); but just as he jumped, he upset a china church with his tail (опрокинул фарфоровую церковь своим хвостом; to upset — опрокидывать) and smashed it all to pieces (разбил ее всю на кусочки).

"That was too bad (плохо)," said Dorothy, "but really I think we were lucky (удачливыми) in not doing these little people more harm than breaking a cow's leg and a church. They are all so brittle (хрупкие)!"

"They are, indeed," said the Scarecrow, "and I am thankful (благодарен) I am made of straw (сделан из соломы) and cannot be easily damaged (не могу быть легко поврежден = меня трудно повредить; to damage — вредить). There are worse things in the world (более плохие вещи) than being a Scarecrow."

damage ['dæmıʤ] mantel [mæntl] saucily ['so:sılı] considerable [kən'sıdərəbl]

"I suppose not," said Dorothy.

"Now there is Mr. Joker, one of our clowns," continued the china lady, "who is always trying to stand upon his head. He has broken himself so often that he is mended in a hundred places, and doesn't look at all pretty. Here he comes now, so you can see for yourself." Indeed, a jolly little clown came walking toward them, and Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and yellow and green he was completely covered with cracks, running every which way and showing plainly that he had been mended in many places.

The Clown put his hands in his pockets, and after puffing out his cheeks and nodding his head at them saucily, he said: "My lady fair, Why do you stare At poor old Mr. Joker? You're quite as stiff And prim as if You'd eaten up a poker!"

"Be quiet, sir!" said the Princess. "Can't you see these are strangers, and should be treated with respect?"

"Well, that's respect, I expect," declared the Clown, and immediately stood upon his head.

"Don't mind Mr. Joker," said the Princess to Dorothy. "He is considerably cracked in his head, and that makes him foolish."

"Oh, I don't mind him a bit," said Dorothy. "But you are so beautiful," she continued, "that I am sure I could love you dearly.

Won't you let me carry you back to Kansas, and stand you on Aunt Em's mantel?I could carry you in my basket."

"That would make me very unhappy," answered the china Princess.

"You see, here in our country we live contentedly, and can talk and move around as we please. But whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen, and we can only stand straight and look pretty.

Of course that is all that is expected of us when we are on mantels and cabinets and drawing-room tables, but our lives are much pleasanter here in our own country."

"I would not make you unhappy for all the world!" exclaimed Dorothy.

"So I'll just say good-bye."

"Good-bye," replied the Princess.

They walked carefully through the china country. The little animals and all the people scampered out of their way, fearing the strangers would break them, and after an hour or so the travelers reached the other side of the country and came to another china wall.

It was not so high as the first, however, and by standing upon the Lion's back they all managed to scramble to the top. Then the Lion gathered his legs under him and jumped on the wall; but just as he jumped, he upset a china church with his tail and smashed it all to pieces.

"That was too bad," said Dorothy, "but really I think we were lucky in not doing these little people more harm than breaking a cow's leg and a church. They are all so brittle!"

"They are, indeed," said the Scarecrow, "and I am thankful I am made of straw and cannot be easily damaged. There are worse things in the world than being a Scarecrow."