Out in the Wet Wild Woods all the wild animals gathered together where they could see the light of the fire a long way off, and they wondered what it meant.

Then Wild Horse stamped with his wild foot and said, ‘O my Friends and O my Enemies, why have the Man and the Woman made that great light in that great Cave, and what harm will it do us?’

Wild Dog lifted up his wild nose and smelled the smell of roast mutton (Дикий Пес поднял свой дикий нос и учуял запах жареной баранины), and said (и сказал), ‘I will go up and see and look, and say (я поднимусь, и посмотрю, и погляжу, и скажу); for I think it is good (ибо я думаю, что это хорошо). Cat, come with me (Кот, идем со мной).’

‘Nenni!’ said the Cat (нетушки! — сказал Кот). ‘I am the Cat who walks by himself (я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места для меня одинаковы). I will not come (я не пойду).’

roast [rqust], mutton ['mAtqn], with [wID]

Wild Dog lifted up his wild nose and smelled the smell of roast mutton, and said, ‘I will go up and see and look, and say; for I think it is good. Cat, come with me.’

‘Nenni!’ said the Cat. ‘I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me. I will not come.’

‘Then we can never be friends again (тогда мы /не/ сможем никогда снова быть друзьями),’ said Wild Dog, and he trotted off to the Cave (сказал Дикий Пес и /он/ поспешил прочь к Пещере). But when he had gone a little way the Cat said to himself (но когда он немного прошел, Кот сказал себе) ‘All places are alike to me (все места одинаковы для меня). Why should I not go too and see and look (почему бы мне тоже не пойти, и не посмотреть, и поглядеть) and come away at my own liking (и уйти, когда мне захочется; liking — предпочтение; склонность, вкус, пристрастие).’ So he slipped after Wild Dog softly, very softly (и он тихо, очень тихо скользнул за Диким Псом), and hid himself where he could hear everything (и спрятался там, где он мог все слышать; to hide).

never ['nevq], gone [gOn], own [qun]

‘Then we can never be friends again,’ said Wild Dog, and he trotted off to the Cave. But when he had gone a little way the Cat said to himself, ‘All places are alike to me. Why should I not go too and see and look and come away at my own liking.’ So he slipped after Wild Dog softly, very softly, and hid himself where he could hear everything.

When Wild Dog reached the mouth of the Cave (когда Дикий Пес добрался до входа в Пещеру) he lifted up the dried horse-skin with his nose (он поднял высушенную шкуру лошади своим носом) and sniffed the beautiful smell of the roast mutton (и вдохнул превосходный запах жареной баранины; to sniff — вдыхать через нос; нюхать; обнюхивать, принюхиваться), and the Woman, looking at the blade-bone (а Женщина, глядя на лопатку), heard him, and laughed, and said (услышала его, и засмеялась, и сказала; to hear — слышать), ‘Here comes the first Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods (вот идет = пришла первая Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей), what do you want (что тебе нужно)?’

Wild Dog said (Дикий Пес сказал), ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага), what is this that smells so good in the Wild Woods (что это пахнет так вкусно в Диких Дебрях)?’

reach [rJC], enemy ['enImI], want [wOnt]

When Wild Dog reached the mouth of the Cave he lifted up the dried horse-skin with his nose and sniffed the beautiful smell of the roast mutton, and the Woman, looking at the blade-bone, heard him, and laughed, and said, ‘Here comes the first Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, what do you want?’

Wild Dog said, ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy, what is this that smells so good in the Wild Woods?’

Then the Woman picked up a roasted mutton-bone (тогда Женщина подняла поджаренную баранью кость) and threw it to Wild Dog, and said (и бросила ее Дикому Псу и сказала), ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, taste and try (Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей, попробуй и испробуй).’ Wild Dog gnawed the bone (Дикий Пес обглодал кость), and it was more delicious than anything he had ever tasted (и она оказалась вкуснее всего, что он когда-нибудь пробовал), and he said (и он сказал), ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага), give me another (дай мне еще /одну/).’

The Woman said (Женщина сказала), ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods (Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей), help my Man to hunt through the day and guard this Cave at night (помогай моему Мужчине охотиться днем и охраняй эту Пещеру ночью), and I will give you as many roast bones as you need (и я буду давать тебе столько жареных косточек, сколько тебе понадобится).’

taste [teIst], gnaw [nL], delicious [dI'lISqs]

Then the Woman picked up a roasted mutton-bone and threw it to Wild Dog, and said, ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, taste and try.’ Wild Dog gnawed the bone, and it was more delicious than anything he had ever tasted, and he said, ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy, give me another.’

The Woman said, ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, help my Man to hunt through the day and guard this Cave at night, and I will give you as many roast bones as you need.’

‘Ah!’ said the Cat, listening (ах! — сказал Кот, слушая). ‘This is a very wise Woman (это очень мудрая Женщина), but she is not so wise as I am (но она не такая мудрая, как я).’

Wild Dog crawled into the Cave (Дикий Пес вполз в Пещеру) and laid his head on the Woman’s lap, and said (и положил свою голову на колени Женщины и сказал), ‘O my Friend and Wife of my Friend (О мой Друг и Жена моего Друга), I will help your Man to hunt through the day (я буду помогать твоему Мужчине охотиться на протяжении дня), and at night I will guard your Cave (а ночью я буду охранять вашу Пещеру).’

‘Ah!’ said the Cat, listening (ах! — сказал Кот, слушая). ‘That is a very foolish Dog (это очень глупый Пес).’ And he went back through the Wet Wild Woods waving his wild tail (и он пошел обратно через Дикие Дремучие Дебри, помахивая своим диким хвостом), and walking by his wild lone (и идя в своем диком одиночестве). But he never told anybody (но он никогда никому /не/ говорил /об этом/).

crawl [krLl], guard [gRd], foolish ['fHlIS]

‘Ah!’ said the Cat, listening. ‘This is a very wise Woman, but she is not so wise as I am.’

Wild Dog crawled into the Cave and laid his head on the Woman’s lap, and said, ‘O my Friend and Wife of my Friend, I will help your Man to hunt through the day, and at night I will guard your Cave.’

‘Ah!’ said the Cat, listening. ‘That is a very foolish Dog.’ And he went back through the Wet Wild Woods waving his wild tail, and walking by his wild lone. But he never told anybody.

When the Man waked up he said (когда Человек проснулся, он спросил), ‘What is Wild Dog doing here (что это Дикий Пес делает тут)?’ And the Woman said (а Женщина сказала), ‘His name is not Wild Dog any more (его больше не зовут Дикий Пес = его зовут уже не Дикий Пес), but the First Friend (а Первый Друг), because he will be our friend for always and always and always (потому что он будет нашим другом навсегда, и всегда, и всегда = и во веки веков). Take him with you when you go hunting (бери его с собой, когда идешь на охоту).’

Next night the Woman cut great green armfuls of fresh grass from the water-meadows (следующим вечером Женщина накосила зеленые охапки свежей травы с заливных лугов), and dried it before the fire (и высушила их перед костром), so that it smelt like new-mown hay (так что это пахло, как свежескошенное сено), and she sat at the mouth of the Cave (и она села у входа в Пещеру) and plaited a halter out of horse-hide (и сплела недоуздок из лошадиной шкуры), and she looked at the shoulder of mutton-bone (и она посмотрела на лопатку бараньей кости) — at the big broad blade-bone (на большую широкую лопатку) — and she made a Magic (и она сотворила Волшебство). She made the Second Singing Magic in the world (она сотворила Второе Сопровождаемое Пением Волшебство в мире).

armful ['Rmful], meadow ['medqu], halter ['hLltq]

When the Man waked up he said, ‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting.’

Next night the Woman cut great green armfuls of fresh grass from the water-meadows, and dried it before the fire, so that it smelt like new-mown hay, and she sat at the mouth of the Cave and plaited a halter out of horse-hide, and she looked at the shoulder of mutton-bone — at the big broad blade-bone — and she made a Magic. She made the Second Singing Magic in the world.

Out in the Wild Woods all the wild animals wondered (снаружи в Диких Дебрях все дикие животные гадали) what had happened to Wild Dog (что случилось с Диким Псом), and at last Wild Horse stamped with his foot and said (и наконец Дикая Лошадь топнула /своей/ ногой и сказала), ‘I will go and see and say (я пойду, и посмотрю, и скажу) why Wild Dog has not returned (почему не вернулся Дикий Пес). Cat, come with me (Кот, идем со мной).’

‘Nenni!’ said the Cat (нетушки! — сказал Кот). ‘I am the Cat who walks by himself (я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места для меня одинаковы). I will not come (я не пойду).’ But all the same he followed Wild Horse softly, very softly (но все равно он тихонько, очень тихонько последовал за Дикой Лошадью), and hid himself where he could hear everything (и спрятался там, где он мог все слышать).

foot [fut], return [rI'tWn], come [kAm]

Out in the Wild Woods all the wild animals wondered what had happened to Wild Dog, and at last Wild Horse stamped with his foot and said, ‘I will go and see and say why Wild Dog has not returned. Cat, come with me.’

‘Nenni!’ said the Cat. ‘I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me. I will not come.’ But all the same he followed Wild Horse softly, very softly, and hid himself where he could hear everything.

When the Woman heard Wild Horse tripping and stumbling on his long mane (когда Женщина услышала, как Дикая Лошадь гарцует и спотыкается о свою длинную гриву; to stumble — спотыкаться, натолкнуться), she laughed and said (она засмеялась и сказала), ‘Here comes the second Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods (вот пришла вторая Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей), what do you want (что тебе нужно)?’

Wild Horse said (Дикая Лошадь сказала), ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага), where is Wild Dog (где Дикий Пес)?’

The Woman laughed (Женщина засмеялась), and picked up the blade-bone and looked at it, and said (и подняла лопатку, и посмотрела на нее, и сказала), ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods (Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей), you did not come here for Wild Dog (ты пришла сюда не из-за Дикого Пса), but for the sake of this good grass (а ради этой вкусной травы).’

stumble [stAmbl], second ['sekqnd], grass [grRs]

When the Woman heard Wild Horse tripping and stumbling on his long mane, she laughed and said, ‘Here comes the second Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, what do you want?’

Wild Horse said, ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy, where is Wild Dog?’

The Woman laughed, and picked up the blade-bone and looked at it, and said, ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, you did not come here for Wild Dog, but for the sake of this good grass.’

And Wild Horse, tripping and stumbling on his long mane, said (и Дикая Лошадь, гарцуя и спотыкаясь о свою длинную гриву, сказала), ‘That is true; give it me to eat (это правда, дай мне ее поесть).’

The Woman said (Женщина сказала), ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods (Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей), bend your wild head and wear what I give you (склони свою дикую голову и носи то, что я тебе дам), and you shall eat the wonderful grass three times a day (и ты будешь есть эту замечательную траву три раза в день).’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening (ах! — сказал Кот, слушая), ‘this is a clever Woman (это умная Женщина), but she is not so clever as I am (но она не такая умная, как я).’

wonderful ['wAndqful], three [TrJ], clever ['klevq]

And Wild Horse, tripping and stumbling on his long mane, said, ‘That is true; give it me to eat.’

The Woman said, ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, bend your wild head and wear what I give you, and you shall eat the grass three times a day.’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening, ‘this is a clever Woman, but she is not so clever as I am.’

Wild Horse bent his wild head (Дикая Лошадь склонила свою дикую голову), and the Woman slipped the plaited hide halter over it (а Женщина набросила на нее недоуздок, сплетенный из шкуры), and Wild Horse breathed on the Woman’s feet and said (и Дикая Лошадь дохнула на ступни Женщины и сказала), ‘O my Mistress, and Wife of my Master (О моя Госпожа и Жена моего Господина), I will be your servant for the sake of the wonderful grass (я буду вашим слугой ради этой замечательной травы).’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening (ах! — сказал Кот, слушая), ‘that is a very foolish Horse (это очень глупая Лошадь).’ And he went back through the Wet Wild Woods (и он пошел обратно через Дикие Дремучие Дебри), waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone (помахивая своим диким хвостом и идя в своем диком одиночестве). But he never told anybody (но он никогда никому /не/ сказал /об этом/).

plait [plxt], mistress ['mIstrqs], servant ['sWvqnt]

Wild Horse bent his wild head, and the Woman slipped the plaited hide halter over it, and Wild Horse breathed on the Woman’s feet and said, ‘O my Mistress, and Wife of my Master, I will be your servant for the sake of the wonderful grass.’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening, ‘that is a very foolish Horse.’ And he went back through the Wet Wild Woods, waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone. But he never told anybody.

When the Man and the Dog came back from hunting (когда Человек и Пес вернулись с охоты), the Man said (Человек сказал), ‘What is Wild Horse doing here (что тут делает Дикая Лошадь)?’ And the Woman said (и Женщина сказала), ‘His name is not Wild Horse any more (ее больше не зовут Дикая Лошадь = ее зовут уже не Дикая Лошадь), but the First Servant (а Первая Служанка), because he will carry us from place to place for always and always and always (потому что она будет перевозить нас с места на место всегда и во веки веков). Ride on his back when you go hunting (езжай на ее спине, когда отправляешься на охоту).’

hunt [hAnt], horse [hLs], carry ['kxrI]

When the Man and the Dog came back from hunting, the Man said, ‘What is Wild Horse doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Horse any more, but the First Servant, because he will carry us from place to place for always and always and always. Ride on his back when you go hunting.’

Next day, holding her wild head high (на следующий день, держа высоко свою дикую голову) that her wild horns should not catch in the wild trees (чтобы ее дикие рога не зацеплялись за дикие деревья), Wild Cow came up to the Cave (Дикая Корова подошла к Пещере), and the Cat followed (а Кот последовал за ней), and hid himself just the same as before (и спрятался точно так же, как и раньше); and everything happened just the same as before (и все произошло точно так же, как и раньше); and the Cat said the same things as before (и Кот сказал то же самое, что и раньше), and when Wild Cow had promised to give her milk to the Woman every day in exchange for the wonderful grass (а когда Дикая Корова пообещала давать свое молоко Женщине каждый день в обмен на замечательную траву), the Cat went back through the Wet Wild Woods (Кот пошел обратно через Дикие Дремучие Дебри) waving his wild tail (помахивая своим диким хвостом) and walking by his wild lone (и шагая в своем диком одиночестве), just the same as before (точно так же, как и раньше). But he never told anybody (но он никогда никому /не/ сказал /об этом/). And when the Man and the Horse and the Dog came home from hunting (и когда Человек, и Лошадь, и Собака пришли домой с охоты) and asked the same questions same as before (и задали те же вопросы, что и раньше), the Woman said (Женщина сказала), ‘Her name is not Wild Cow any more (ее зовут уже не Дикая Корова), but the Giver of Good Food (а Дающая Добрую Еду). She will give us the warm white milk for always and always and always (она будет давать нам теплое белое молоко всегда и во веки веков), and I will take care of her (и я буду заботиться о ней) while you and the First Friend and the First Servant go hunting (пока ты, и Первый Друг, и Первый Слуга будете охотиться).’

horn [hLn], exchange [Iks'CeInG], question ['kwesCqn]

Next day, holding her wild head high that her wild horns should not catch in the wild trees, Wild Cow came up to the Cave, and the Cat followed, and hid himself just the same as before; and everything happened just the same as before; and the Cat said the same things as before, and when Wild Cow had promised to give her milk to the Woman every day in exchange for the wonderful grass, the Cat went back through the Wet Wild Woods waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone, just the same as before. But he never told anybody. And when the Man and the Horse and the Dog came home from hunting and asked the same questions same as before, the Woman said, ‘Her name is not Wild Cow any more, but the Giver of Good Food. She will give us the warm white milk for always and always and always, and I will take care of her while you and the First Friend and the First Servant go hunting.’

Next day the Cat waited to see (на следующий день Кот подождал, чтобы выяснить) if any other Wild thing would go up to the Cave (/не/ пойдет ли к Пещере какая-нибудь другая = еще Дикая тварь), but no one moved in the Wet Wild Woods (но никто /не/ двигался в Диких Дремучих Дебрях), so the Cat walked there by himself (так что Кот пошел туда сам); and he saw the Woman milking the Cow (и он увидел, как Женщина доит Корову), and he saw the light of the fire in the Cave (и он увидел свет от костра в Пещере), and he smelt the smell of the warm white milk (и он учуял запах теплого белого молока; to smell — чуять, обонять, нюхать).

Cat said (Кот сказал), ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага), where did Wild Cow go (куда делась Дикая Корова)?’

move [mHv], walk [wLk], warm [wLm]

Next day the Cat waited to see if any other Wild thing would go up to the Cave, but no one moved in the Wet Wild Woods, so the Cat walked there by himself; and he saw the Woman milking the Cow, and he saw the light of the fire in the Cave, and he smelt the smell of the warm white milk.

Cat said, ‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy, where did Wild Cow go?’

The Woman laughed and said (Женщина засмеялась и сказала), ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods (Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей), go back to the Woods again (уходи обратно в Дебри /снова/), for I have braided up my hair (ибо я заплела мои волосы), and I have put away the magic blade-bone (и я убрала волшебную лопатку), and we have no more need of either friends or servants in our Cave (и нам больше не нужно ни друзей, ни слуг в нашей Пещере).’

Cat said (Кот сказал), ‘I am not a friend (я не друг), and I am not a servant (и я не слуга). I am the Cat who walks by himself (я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and I wish to come into your cave (и я желаю войти в твою пещеру).’

braid [breId], either ['aIDq], hair [hFq]

The Woman laughed and said, ‘Wild Thing out of the Wild Woods, go back to the Woods again, for I have braided up my hair, and I have put away the magic blade-bone, and we have no more need of either friends or servants in our Cave.’

Cat said, ‘I am not a friend, and I am not a servant. I am the Cat who walks by himself, and I wish to come into your cave.’

Woman said (Женщина сказала), ‘Then why did you not come with First Friend on the first night (тогда почему ты не пришел с Первым Другом в первый вечер)?’

Cat grew very angry and said (Кот очень рассердился и спросил), ‘Has Wild Dog told tales of me (Дикий Пес рассказывал байки обо мне?; to tell tales — рассказывать истории / сказки)?’

Then the Woman laughed and said (тогда Женщина засмеялась и сказала), ‘You are the Cat who walks by himself (ты Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to you (и все места для тебя одинаковы). You are neither a friend nor a servant (ты ни друг, ни слуга). You have said it yourself (ты сказал это сам). Go away and walk by yourself in all places alike (уходи и гуляй сам по себе во всех местах одинаково).’

woman ['wumqn], angry ['xNgrI], neither ['naIDq]

Woman said, ‘Then why did you not come with First Friend on the first night?’

Cat grew very angry and said, ‘Has Wild Dog told tales of me?’

Then the Woman laughed and said, ‘You are the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to you. You are neither a friend nor a servant. You have said it yourself. Go away and walk by yourself in all places alike.’

Then Cat pretended to be sorry and said (тогда Кот притворился, что сожалеет, и сказал), ‘Must I never come into the Cave (мне никогда нельзя будет войти в Пещеру)? Must I never sit by the warm fire (мне никогда нельзя будет посидеть у теплого огня)? Must I never drink the warm white milk (мне никогда нельзя будет попить белого молока)? You are very wise and very beautiful (ты очень мудрая и очень красивая). You should not be cruel even to a Cat (тебе не следует быть жестокой даже по отношению к Коту).’

Woman said (Женщина сказала), ‘I knew I was wise (я знала, что я мудрая), but I did not know I was beautiful (но я не знала, что я красивая). So I will make a bargain with you (поэтому я заключу с тобой сделку). If ever I say one word in your praise (если я когда-нибудь скажу одно слово похвалы в твой адрес) you may come into the Cave (ты можешь войти в Пещеру).’

‘And if you say two words in my praise (а если ты скажешь два слова похвалы в мой адрес)?’ said the Cat (спросил Кот).

sorry ['sOrI], cruel ['krHql], bargain ['bRgIn]

Then Cat pretended to be sorry and said, ‘Must I never come into the Cave? Must I never sit by the warm fire? Must I never drink the warm white milk? You are very wise and very beautiful. You should not be cruel even to a Cat.’

Woman said, ‘I knew I was wise, but I did not know I was beautiful. So I will make a bargain with you. If ever I say one word in your praise you may come into the Cave.’

‘And if you say two words in my praise?’ said the Cat.

‘I never shall (я никогда /не/ сделаю /этого/),’ said the Woman (сказала Женщина), ‘but if I say two words in your praise (но если я скажу два слова похвалы в твой адрес), you may sit by the fire in the Cave (ты можешь сидеть у огня в Пещере).’

‘And if you say three words (а если ты скажешь три слова)?’ said the Cat (спросил Кот).

‘I never shall (я никогда /не скажу/),’ said the Woman (сказала Женщина), ‘but if I say three words in your praise (но если я скажу три слова похвалы в твой адрес), you may drink the warm white milk three times a day for always and always and always (ты можешь пить теплое белое молоко три раза в день всегда и во веки веков).’

word [wWd], praise [preIz], always ['Llwqz]

‘I never shall,’ said the Woman, ‘but if I say two words in your praise, you may sit by the fire in the Cave.’

‘And if you say three words?’ said the Cat.

‘I never shall,’ said the Woman, ‘but if I say three words in your praise, you may drink the warm white milk three times a day for always and always and always.’

Then the Cat arched his back and said (тогда Кот изогнул дугой спину и сказал), ‘Now let the Curtain at the mouth of the Cave, and the Fire at the back of the Cave, and the Milk-pots that stand beside the Fire (теперь пусть Занавес у входа в Пещеру, и Огонь в задней части Пещеры, и Молочные горшки, которые стоят у Огня), remember what my Enemy and the Wife of my Enemy has said (запомнят, что сказала мой Враг и Жена моего Врага).’ And he went away through the Wet Wild Woods (и он пошел прочь через Дикие Дремучие Дебри) waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone (помахивая своим диким хвостом и гуляя в своем диком одиночестве).

That night when the Man and the Horse and the Dog came home from hunting (в тот вечер, когда Человек, и Лошадь, и Пес пришли домой с охоты), the Woman did not tell them of the bargain (Женщина не рассказала им о сделке) that she had made with the Cat (которую она заключила с Котом), because she was afraid that they might not like it (потому что она боялась, что, возможно, им это не понравится).

arch [RC], afraid [q'freId], might [maIt]

Then the Cat arched his back and said, ‘Now let the Curtain at the mouth of the Cave, and the Fire at the back of the Cave, and the Milk-pots that stand beside the Fire, remember what my Enemy and the Wife of my Enemy has said.’ And he went away through the Wet Wild Woods waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone.

That night when the Man and the Horse and the Dog came home from hunting, the Woman did not tell them of the bargain that she had made with the Cat, because she was afraid that they might not like it.

Cat went far and far away and hid himself in the Wet Wild Woods by his wild lone for a long time (Кот ушел далеко-далеко и долгое время скрывался в Диких Дремучих Дебрях в своем диком одиночестве) till the Woman forgot all about him (пока Женщина совсем /не/ забыла о нем). Only the Bat (только Летучая Мышь) — the little upside-down Bat — that hung inside the Cave (маленькая Летучая Мышь, которая висела вверх тормашками в Пещере; upside-down — вверх тормашками), knew where Cat hid (знала, где скрывается Кот); and every evening Bat would fly to Cat with news of what was happening (и каждый вечер Летучая Мышь летала к Коту с новостями о том, что происходит).

One evening Bat said (однажды вечером Летучая Мышь сказала), ‘There is a Baby in the Cave (в Пещере есть = появился Малыш). He is new and pink and fat and small (он новый = появился недавно,и розовый, и пухлый, и маленький; new — недавний, недавнего происхождения), and the Woman is very fond of him (и Женщина очень любит его; to be fond of — любить, нравиться, увлекаться).’

every ['evrI], evening ['JvnIN], news [njHz]

Cat went far and far away and hid himself in the Wet Wild Woods by his wild lone for a long time till the Woman forgot all about him. Only the Bat — the little upside-down Bat — that hung inside the Cave, knew where Cat hid; and every evening Bat would fly to Cat with news of what was happening.

One evening Bat said, ‘There is a Baby in the Cave. He is new and pink and fat and small, and the Woman is very fond of him.’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening (ах, — сказал Кот, слушая), ‘but what is the Baby fond of (а что любит Малыш)?’

‘He is fond of things that are soft and tickle (он любит вещи, которые мягкие и щекочут),’ said the Bat (сказала Летучая Мышь). ‘He is fond of warm things to hold in his arms when he goes to sleep (он любит держать в руках теплые вещи, когда он идет спать = он засыпает). He is fond of being played with (он любит, чтобы с ним играли). He is fond of all those things (он любит все это).’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening (а, — сказал Кот, слушая), ‘then my time has come (значит, пришло мое время).’

baby ['beIbI], tickle [tIkl], those [Dquz]

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening, ‘but what is the Baby fond of?’

‘He is fond of things that are soft and tickle,’ said the Bat. ‘He is fond of warm things to hold in his arms when he goes to sleep. He is fond of being played with. He is fond of all those things.’

‘Ah,’ said the Cat, listening, ‘then my time has come.’

Next night Cat walked through the Wet Wild Woods (следующим вечером Кот пошел через Дикие Дремучие Дебри) and hid very near the Cave till morning-time (и спрятался совсем рядом возле Пещеры до утра), and Man and Dog and Horse went hunting (а Человек, и Пес, и Лошадь пошли на охоту). The Woman was busy cooking that morning (Женщина была занята приготовлением пищи в то утро), and the Baby cried and interrupted (а Малыш плакал и мешал; to interrupt — прерывать). So she carried him outside the Cave and gave him a handful of pebbles to play with (поэтому он вынесла его из Пещеры и дала ему пригоршню камешков, чтобы он играл с ними; pebbles — булыжник, галька, мелкий щебень). But still the Baby cried (но Малыш все равно плакал).

Then the Cat put out his paddy paw (тогда Кот вытянул свою упругую лапу-лапочку) and patted the Baby on the cheek (и погладил Малыша по щечке; to pat — похлопывать, поглаживать), and it cooed (и тот заворковал); and the Cat rubbed against its fat knees and tickled it under its fat chin with his tail (а Кот потерся о его пухлые коленки и пощекотал его под его пухленьким подбородком своим хвостом). And the Baby laughed (и Малыш засмеялся) and the Woman heard him and smiled (а Женщина услышала его и улыбнулась).

interrupt ["Intq'rApt], coo [kH], knee [nJ]

Next night Cat walked through the Wet Wild Woods and hid very near the Cave till morning-time, and Man and Dog and Horse went hunting. The Woman was busy cooking that morning, and the Baby cried and interrupted. So she carried him outside the Cave and gave him a handful of pebbles to play with. But still the Baby cried.

Then the Cat put out his paddy paw and patted the Baby on the cheek, and it cooed; and the Cat rubbed against its fat knees and tickled it under its fat chin with his tail. And the Baby laughed and the Woman heard him and smiled.

Then the Bat — the little upside-down Bat — that hung in the mouth of the Cave said (тогда Летучая Мышь — маленькая Летучая Мышь — которая висела вверх тормашками у входа в Пещеру сказала), ‘O my Hostess and Wife of my Host and Mother of my Host’s Son (О моя Хозяйка и Жена моего Хозяина и Мать Сына моего Хозяина), a Wild Thing from the Wild Woods is most beautifully playing with your Baby (Дикая Тварь из Диких Дебрей очень красиво играет с твоим Малышом).’

‘A blessing on that Wild Thing whoever he may be (благословение на эту Дикую Тварь, кем бы она ни была),’ said the Woman (сказала Женщина), straightening her back (выпрямляя спину = выпрямляясь), ‘for I was a busy woman this morning and he has done me a service (ибо я была занятой женщиной = занята сегодня утром, а она оказала мне услугу).’

hostess ['hqustIs], host [hqust], straighten ['streItn]

Then the Bat — the little upside-down Bat — that hung in the mouth of the Cave said, ‘O my Hostess and Wife of my Host and Mother of my Host’s Son, a Wild Thing from the Wild Woods is most beautifully playing with your Baby.’

‘A blessing on that Wild Thing whoever he may be,’ said the Woman, straightening her back, ‘for I was a busy woman this morning and he has done me a service.’

The very minute and second, Best Beloved (в ту же самую минуту и секунду, Самые Любименькие), the dried horse-skin Curtain (Занавес из высушенной лошадиной шкуры) that was stretched tail-down at the mouth of the Cave (который был натянут хвостом вниз у входа в Пещеру) fell down — woosh! — (упал — со свистом: фьюить!; whoosh — свист, пронестись со свистом) because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat (потому что он вспомнил сделку, которую она заключила с Котом), and when the Woman went to pick it up (и когда Женщина пошла поднять его) — lo and behold (смотрите и слушайте)! — the Cat was sitting quite comfy inside the Cave (Кот сидел очень уютно внутри Пещеры).

stretch [streC], whoosh [wHS], comfy ['kAmfI]

The very minute and second, Best Beloved, the dried horse-skin Curtain that was stretched tail-down at the mouth of the Cave fell down — woosh! — because it remembered the bargain she had made with the Cat, and when the Woman went to pick it up — lo and behold! — the Cat was sitting quite comfy inside the Cave.

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy (О мой Враг и Жена моего Врага и Мать моего Врага),’ said the Cat (сказал Кот), ‘it is I: for you have spoken a word in my praise (это я — ибо ты сказала слово похвалы в мой адрес), and now I can sit within the Cave for always and always and always (и теперь я могу сидеть внутри Пещеры всегда и во веки веков). But still I am the Cat who walks by himself (но тем не менее я Кот, который гуляет сам по себе), and all places are alike to me (и все места одинаковы для меня).’

The Woman was very angry (Женщина была очень сердита), and shut her lips tight (и сжала плотно губы; to shut — закрывать, запирать) and took up her spinning-wheel and began to spin (и взяла свою прялку и начала прясть).

But the Baby cried (но Малыш заплакал) because the Cat had gone away (потому что Кот /уже/ ушел), and the Woman could not hush it (и Женщина не могла успокоить его), for it struggled and kicked and grew black in the face (так как он бился и лягался, и он стал побагровевшим: «черным» в лице = и лицо у него побагровело; black in the face — побагровевший /от гнева, злости, усилий и т. д./).

within [wI'DIn], shut [SAt], struggle [strAgl]

‘O my Enemy and Wife of my Enemy and Mother of my Enemy,’ said the Cat, ‘it is I: for you have spoken a word in my praise, and now I can sit within the Cave for always and always and always. But still I am the Cat who walks by himself, and all places are alike to me.’