The Queen of the Field Mice (королева полевых мышей)

"We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick (мы не можем быть далеко от дороги из желтого кирпича), now," remarked the Scarecrow (заметил), as he stood beside the girl (стоя около девочки), "for we have come nearly (пришли почти) as far as the river carried us away." The Tin Woodman was about to reply (собирался ответить) when he heard a low growl (услышал низкое рычание), and turning his head (поворачивая свою голову) which worked beautifully on hinges (которая работала прекрасно на шарнирах) he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them (он увидел странного зверя, подходящего прыгая над травой к: «по направлению к»; ним). It was, indeed, a great yellow Wildcat (большая желтая Дикая Кошка), and the Woodman thought (подумал) it must be chasing something (должно быть, гонится /за/ чем-то), for its ears (уши) were lying close to its head (лежали прижатыми к голове) and its mouth was wide open (ее рот был широко открыт), showing two rows of ugly teeth (показывая два ряда уродливых зубов), while its red eyes glowed (сверкали; to glow — сверкать) like balls of fire (как/будто/ шары из огня). As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse (было маленькой серой полевой мышью), and although (хотя) he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature (пытаться убить такое милое, безобидное существо).

So the Woodman raised his axe (поднял свой топор), and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow (дал ему быстрый удар) that cut the beast's head clean off from its body (отрубил голову зверя начисто от его тела), and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces (и она покатилась к его ногам в двух частях = скатилась, разделенная на две части, к его ногам).

The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy (освобожденная от своего врага), stopped short (остановилась резко); and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said (сказала), in a squeaky little voice (писклявым, тоненьким голосом): "Oh, thank you (спасибо вам)! Thank you ever so much for saving my life (за спасение моей жизни)."

"Don't speak of it, I beg of you (не стоит об этом, умоляю вас)," replied the Woodman (ответил).

"I have no heart, you know (вы знаете), so I am careful to help all those (я есть внимательный = стараюсь помогать всем тем) who may need a friend (которым может быть нужен друг), even if it happens to be only a mouse (даже если это окажется только мышкой = даже если это будет всего лишь мышка)."

"Only a mouse!" cried the little animal (воскликнуло маленькое животное), indignantly (с негодованием).

"Why, I am a Queen (королева) — the Queen of all the Field Mice!"

"Oh, indeed (в самом деле)," said the Woodman, making a bow (делая поклон = кланяясь).

"Therefore you have done a great deed (тем не менее, ты сделал великое дело), as well as a brave one, in saving my life," added (добавила) the Queen.

At that moment several mice (несколько мышей) were seen running up as fast as their little legs could carry them (как только их маленькие ноги могли нести их), and when they saw their Queen they exclaimed (воскликнули; to exclaim — восклицать): "Oh, your Majesty (ваше Величество), we thought you would be killed! How did you manage to escape the great Wildcat (как вам удалось избежать, спастись бегством; to escape — избегать, сбежать)?" They all bowed so low to the little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads (что они почти стояли на своих головах).

"This funny tin man (этот забавный железный человек)," she answered (ответила), "killed the Wildcat and saved my life. So hereafter you must all serve him (так что в дальнейшем вы должны все служить ему), and obey his slightest wish (и подчиняться его малейшему желанию)."

"We will!" cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus (визгливым хором). And then they scampered in all directions (побежали во всех направлениях; to scamper — быстро бежать), for Toto had awakened from his sleep (проснулся от своего сна), and seeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight (издал один лай восторга) and jumped right into the middle of the group (прыгнул прямо в середину группы). Toto had always loved to chase mice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it (не видел никакого вреда в этом).

But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms (поймал собаку в свои руки) and held him tight (и держал его крепко), while he called to the mice, "Come back!Come back! Toto shall not hurt you (не причинит вам вреда)." At this (на это) the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath a clump of grass (высунула свою голову из-под: «из низа» зарослей травы) and asked, in a timid voice (робким голосом), "Are you sure he will not bite us (не покусает нас)?"

"I will not let him (я не позволю ему)," said the Woodman; "so do not be afraid (не бойтесь)." One by one (одна за одной) the mice came creeping back (возвращались, крадучись), and Toto did not bark again, although he tried to get out of the Woodman's arms, and would have bitten him had he not known very well he was made of tin (и покусал бы его, если бы не знал очень хорошо, что он был сделан из железа). Finally (в итоге) one of the biggest mice spoke (одна из самых больших мышей заговорила).

"Is there anything we can do (можем ли мы что-нибудь сделать)," it asked, "to repay you (вознаградить вас) for saving the life of our Queen?"

"Nothing that I know of (ничего такого, чтобы я знал = даже не знаю)," answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think (старался подумать), but could not because his head was stuffed with straw (набита соломой), said, quickly (быстро), "Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed (спит на маковой постели)."

"A Lion!" cried the little Queen. "Why, he would eat us all up (съест нас всех)."

"Oh, no," declared the Scarecrow (заявил); "this Lion is a coward (трус)."

"Really (действительно = в самом деле)?" asked the Mouse.

"He says so himself," answered the Scarecrow, "and he would never hurt anyone who is our friend. If you will help us (поможете нам) to save him I promise (обещаю) that he shall treat you all with kindness (обращаться с вами всеми с добротой; to treat — обращаться)."

"Very well (очень хорошо)," said the Queen, "we trust you (мы доверяем тебе). But what shall we do?"

"Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing (желают) to obey you?"

"Oh, yes; there are thousands (их тысячи)," she replied.

underneath [Λndə´ni:θ] scamper [´skæmpə] squeaky [´skwi:kı] exclaime [ıks´kleım]

"We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now," remarked the Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, "for we have come nearly as far as the river carried us away." The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, and turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them. It was, indeed, a great yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasing something, for its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth was wide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire. As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse, and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.

So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces.

The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short; and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice: "Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life."

"Don't speak of it, I beg of you," replied the Woodman.

"I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse."

"Only a mouse!" cried the little animal, indignantly.

"Why, I am a Queen — the Queen of all the Field Mice!"

"Oh, indeed," said the Woodman, making a bow.

"Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in saving my life," added the Queen.

At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as their little legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queen they exclaimed: "Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed!How did you manage to escape the great Wildcat?"They all bowed so low to the little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads.

"This funny tin man," she answered, "killed the Wildcat and saved my life. So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey his slightest wish."

"We will!" cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus. And then they scampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, and seeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumped right into the middle of the group. Toto had always loved to chase mice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.

But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight, while he called to the mice, "Come back!Come back! Toto shall not hurt you." At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath a clump of grass and asked, in a timid voice, "Are you sure he will not bite us?"

"I will not let him," said the Woodman; "so do not be afraid." One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again, although he tried to get out of the Woodman's arms, and would have bitten him had he not known very well he was made of tin. Finally one of the biggest mice spoke.

"Is there anything we can do," it asked, "to repay you for saving the life of our Queen?"

"Nothing that I know of," answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed with straw, said, quickly, "Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed."

"A Lion!" cried the little Queen. "Why, he would eat us all up."

"Oh, no," declared the Scarecrow; "this Lion is a coward."

"Really?" asked the Mouse.

"He says so himself," answered the Scarecrow, "and he would never hurt anyone who is our friend. If you will help us to save him I promise that he shall treat you all with kindness."

"Very well," said the Queen, "we trust you. But what shall we do?"

"Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing to obey you?"

"Oh, yes; there are thousands," she replied.

"Then send for them all (тогда пошлите за ними всеми) to come here as soon as possible (прийти сюда = чтобы пришли так скоро, как возможно), and let each one bring a long piece of string (пусть каждая /мышь/ принесет кусок веревки)." The Queen turned to the mice (повернулась к мышам) that attended her (которые сопровождали ее / прислуживали ей) and told them to go at once and get all her people (получить = собрать весь ее народ). As soon as they heard her orders (услышали ее приказы) they ran away in every direction (убежали в каждом направлении) as fast as possible (как можно быстрее).

"Now," said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman, "you must go to those trees by the riverside (должны пойти к тем деревьям у речного берега) and make a truck (сделать тележку) that will carry the Lion (повезет Льва)." So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work (начал работать); and he soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees (из веток деревьев), from which he chopped away all the leaves and branches (срубил все листья и поросли). He fastened it together with wooden pegs (прикрепил их вместе с /помощью/ деревянных гвоздей) and made the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk (четыре колеса из коротких обломков большого деревянного ствола = большого ствола дерева). So fast and so well did he work that by the time the mice began to arrive (прибывать) the truck was all ready for them (полностью готов для них).

They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them (тысячи их): big mice and little mice and middle-sized mice (среднего размера мыши); and each one brought a piece of string in his mouth (кусок веревки во рту). It was about this time (примерно в это время) that Dorothy woke from her long sleep (проснулась от своего длинного сна) and opened her eyes (открыла свои глаза).

She was greatly astonished (она была сильно удивлена) to find herself lying upon the grass (обнаружить себя лежащей на траве), with thousands of mice standing around (стоящих вокруг) and looking at her timidly (смотрящих на нее робко).

But the Scarecrow told her about everything (рассказал ей обо всем), and turning to the dignified little Mouse (поворачиваясь к почтенной маленькой Мыши), he said: "Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty (разреши мне представить тебе ее Величество; to introduce — представлять), the Queen." Dorothy nodded gravely (кивнула серьезно) and the Queen made a curtsy (сделала реверанс), after which she became quite friendly with the little girl (после чего она стала довольно дружелюбной с маленькой девочкой).

The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to the truck (прикреплять мышей к тележке), using the strings (используя веревки) they had brought (которые они принесли). One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse (один конец был завязан вокруг шеи каждой мыши; to tie — завязывать) and the other end to the truck. Of course (конечно) the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice (конечно, тележка был в тысячи раз больше, чем любая из мышей) who were to draw it (должны были тянуть его; to be to do smth — быть должным делать что-либо); but when all the mice had been harnessed (были запряжены; to harness — запрягать), they were able to pull it quite easily (были способны тянуть ее довольно легко). Even (даже) the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it, and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place (были перевозимы быстро своими странными маленькими лошадьми = /их тянули/ быстро странные маленькие лошади к месту) where the Lion lay asleep (лежал спящим).

After a great deal of hard work (после изрядной доли тяжелой работы; deal — некоторое количество), for the Lion was heavy (поскольку Лев был тяжелым), they managed to get him up on the truck (удалось взвалить его на тележку). Then the Queen hurriedly (спешно) gave her people the order to start (приказ начинать, отправляться), for she feared (так как она боялась) if the mice stayed among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep.

At first the little creatures (существа, твари), many though they were (хотя их было много), could hardly stir the heavily loaded truck (могли едва пошевелить тяжело нагруженную тележку); but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both pushed from behind (оба толкали сзади), and they got along better (и справились лучше, стали справляться лучше: to get along).

Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields (вскоре они выкатили Льва из маковой постели к зеленым полям), where he could breathe the sweet, fresh air again (дышать приятным, свежим воздухом снова), instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers (вместо отравляющего запаха цветов).

Dorothy came to meet them (встретить) and thanked the little mice warmly (тепло) for saving her companion from death (за спасение ее товарища от смерти). She had grown so fond of the big Lion (она она так полюбила большого Льва) she was glad he had been rescued (была счастлива, что он был спасен; to rescue — спасать).

Then the mice were unharnessed (отстегнуты) from the truck and scampered away through the grass to their homes (к своим домам). The Queen of the Mice was the last to leave (была последней, кто ушел).

"If ever you need us again," she said, "come out into the field and call, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance (вам на помощь).

Good-bye (прощайте)!"

"Good-bye!" they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy held Toto tightly lest (чтобы не) he should run after her and frighten her (не побежал бы за/вслед за/ ней и /не/ испугал ее).

After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken (пока он не проснется); and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit (плодов, фруктов) from a tree near by, which she ate for her dinner (которые она съела на свой обед).

аssistance [ə´sıstəns] astonish [æs’tonı∫] curtsy [kə:tsı] introduce [ıntrə´dju:s]

"Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible, and let each one bring a long piece of string." The Queen turned to the mice that attended her and told them to go at once and get all her people. As soon as they heard her orders they ran away in every direction as fast as possible.

"Now," said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman, "you must go to those trees by the riverside and make a truck that will carry the Lion." So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work; and he soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees, from which he chopped away all the leaves and branches. He fastened it together with wooden pegs and made the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk. So fast and so well did he work that by the time the mice began to arrive the truck was all ready for them.

They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them: big mice and little mice and middle-sized mice; and each one brought a piece of string in his mouth. It was about this time that Dorothy woke from her long sleep and opened her eyes.

She was greatly astonished to find herself lying upon the grass, with thousands of mice standing around and looking at her timidly.

But the Scarecrow told her about everything, and turning to the dignified little Mouse, he said: "Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen." Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy, after which she became quite friendly with the little girl.

The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to the truck, using the strings they had brought. One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck. Of course the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice who were to draw it; but when all the mice had been harnessed, they were able to pull it quite easily. Even the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it, and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place where the Lion lay asleep.

After a great deal of hard work, for the Lion was heavy, they managed to get him up on the truck. Then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the order to start, for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep.

At first the little creatures, many though they were, could hardly stir the heavily loaded truck; but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both pushed from behind, and they got along better.

Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields, where he could breathe the sweet, fresh air again, instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers.

Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly for saving her companion from death. She had grown so fond of the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued.

Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered away through the grass to their homes. The Queen of the Mice was the last to leave.

"If ever you need us again," she said, "come out into the field and call, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance.

Good-bye!"

"Good-bye!" they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her.

After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken; and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by, which she ate for her dinner.