Presently two Butterflies flew under the tree, quarrelling.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 545.

So he went on between the lilies and the loquats and the roses and the cannas and the heavy-scented ginger-plants that grew in the garden, till he came to the great camphor-tree that was called the Camphor Tree of Suleiman-bin-Daoud. But Balkis hid among the tall irises and the spotted bamboos and the red lilies behind the camphor-tree, so as to be near her own true love, Suleiman-bin-Daoud.

Of course if he had chosen to turn his ring on his finger and call up the Djinns and the Afrits, they would have magicked all those nine hundred and ninety-nine quarrelsome wives into white mules of the desert or greyhounds or pomegranate seeds; but Suleiman-bin-Daoud thought that that would be showing off. So, when they quarrelled too much, he only walked by himself in one part of the beautiful Palace gardens and wished he had never been born.

Some of the wives were nice, but some were simply horrid, and the horrid ones quarrelled with the nice ones and made them horrid too, and then they would all quarrel with Suleiman-bin-Daoud, and that was horrid for him. But Balkis the Most Beautiful never quarrelled with Suleiman-bin-Daoud. She loved him too much. She sat in her rooms in the Golden Palace, or walked in the Palace garden, and was truly sorry for him.

He married ever so many wives. He married nine hundred and ninety-nine wives, besides the Most Beautiful Balkis; and they all lived in a great golden palace in the middle of a lovely garden with fountains. He didn't really want nine-hundred and ninety-nine wives, but in those days everybody married ever so many wives, and of course the King had to marry ever so many more just to show that he was the King.

And yet Suleiman-bin-Daoud was not proud. He very seldom showed off, and when he did he was sorry for it. Once he tried to feed all the animals in all the world in one day, but when the food was ready an Animal came out of the deep sea and ate it up in three mouthfuls.

Suleiman-bin-Daoud was strong. Upon the third finger of the right hand he wore a ring. When he turned it once, Afrits and Djinns came out of the earth to do whatever he told them. When he turned it twice, Fairies came down from the sky to do whatever he told them; and when he turned it three times, the very great angel Azrael of the Sword came dressed as a water-carrier, and told him the news of the three worlds, — — Below — and Here.

Suleiman-bin-Daoud was wise. He understood what the beasts said, what the birds said, what the fishes said, and what the insects said. He understood what the rocks said deep under the earth when they bowed in towards each other and groaned; and he understood what the trees said when they rustled in the middle of the morning. He understood everything, from the bishop on the bench to the hyssop on the wall, and Balkis, his Head Queen, the Most Beautiful Queen Balkis, was nearly as wise as he was.

There are three hundred and fifty-five stories about Suleiman-bin-Daoud; but this not one of them. It is not the story of the Lapwing who found the Water; or the Hoopoe who shaded Suleiman-bin-Daoud from the heat. It is not the story of the Glass Pavement, or the Ruby with the Crooked Hole, or the Gold Bars of Balkis. It is the story of the Butterfly that Stamped.

Now attend all over again and listen (теперь обратись весь в слух и внимай; to attend — уделять внимание, быть внимательным; to listen — внимательно воспринимать)!

Suleiman-bin-Daoud was wise (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд был мудр). He understood what the beasts said (он понимал, что говорили звери), what the birds said (что говорили птицы), what the fishes said (что говорили рыбы), and what the insects said (и что говорили насекомые). He understood what the rocks said deep under the earth (он понимал, что говорили скалы глубоко под землей) when they bowed in towards each other and groaned (когда они кланялись друг другу и стонали; to groan — стонать; трещать); and he understood what the trees said when they rustled in the middle of the morning (и он понимал, что говорили деревья, когда они шелестели в середине утра = в утреннее время). He understood everything, from the bishop on the bench to the hyssop on the wall (он понимал все, от бархатного ткача на карнизе до иссопа на стене), and Balkis, his Head Queen, the Most Beautiful Queen Balkis, was nearly as wise as he was (а Балкис, его Старшая Королева, Прекраснейшая Королева Балкис была почти такой же мудрой, как он).

beast [bJst], insect ['Insekt], rustle [rAsl]

Now attend all over again and listen!

Suleiman-bin-Daoud was strong (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд был могущественным). Upon the third finger of the right hand he wore a ring (на среднем пальце правой руки он носил кольцо; to wear). When he turned it once (когда он поворачивал его один раз), Afrits[153] and Djinns came out of the earth to do whatever he told them (из земли выходили Африты и Джинны, чтобы сделать = исполнить все, что он велел им). When he turned it twice (когда он поворачивал его дважды), Fairies came down from the sky to do whatever he told them (с неба спускались Феи, чтобы исполнить все, что он велел им); and when he turned it three times (а когда он поворачивал его трижды), the very great angel Azrael of the Sword came dressed as a water-carrier (приходил сам великий ангел Азраил[154] с Мечом, одетый водоносом), and told him the news of the three worlds (и рассказывал ему новости трех миров), — Above — Below — and Here (Верхнего = Горнего — Нижнего = Дольнего — и Здешнего).

angel ['eInGql], sword [sLd], above [q'bAv]

And yet Suleiman-bin-Daoud was not proud (и тем не менее Сулейман-ибн-Дауд не был высокомерным). He very seldom showed off (он очень редко хвастался; to show off — пускать пыль в глаза, рисоваться; похваляться, хвастаться), and when he did he was sorry for it (а когда он все-таки делал /это/, он сожалел об этом). Once he tried to feed all the animals in all the world in one day (однажды он попытался накормить всех животных во всем мире за один день), but when the food was ready (но когда еда была готова) an Animal came out of the deep sea (из глубокого моря вышло одно Животное) and ate it up in three mouthfuls (и съело все за три глотка).

ready ['redI], sea [sJ], mouthful ['mauTful]

Suleiman-bin-Daoud was very surprised and said (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд очень удивился и спросил) ‘O Animal, who are you (О Животное, кто ты)?' And the Animal said (и Животное сказало), ‘O King, live for ever (О Царь, живи вечно)! I am the smallest of thirty thousand brothers (я самый маленький из тридцати тысяч братьев), and our home is at the bottom of the sea (и наш дом находится на дне моря). We heard that you were going to feed all the animals in all the world (мы услышали, что ты собираешься накормить всех животных во всем мире), and my brothers sent me to ask (и мои братья послали меня спросить) when dinner would be ready (когда будет готов обед).' Suleiman-bin-Daoud was more surprised than ever and said (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд удивился больше, чем когда-либо = удивился, как никогда и сказал), ‘O Animal, you have eaten all the dinner (О Животное, ты съело весь обед) that I made ready for all the animals in the world (который я приготовил для всех животных в мире).' And the Animal said (и Животное сказало), ‘O King, live for ever (О Царь, живи вечно), but do you really call that a dinner (но ты действительно называешь это обедом)? Where I come from we each eat twice as much as that between meals (там, откуда я родом, мы съедаем в два раза больше этого между приемами пищи).' Then Suleiman-bin-Daoud fell flat on his face and said (тогда Сулейман-ибн-Дауд упал плашмя на /свое/ лицо = лицом вниз / ниц и сказал), ‘O Animal (О Животное)! I gave that dinner to show (я дал этот обед, чтобы показать) what a great and rich king I was (какой великий и богатый я царь), and not because I really wanted to be kind to the animals (а не потому что я действительно хотел быть добрым = проявить доброту к животным). Now I am ashamed (сейчас мне стыдно), and it serves me right (но так мне и надо).' Suleiman-bin-Daoud was a really truly wise man (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд был действительно /и/ воистину мудрым человеком = мудрецом), Best Beloved (Самые Любименькие). After that he never forgot that it was silly to show off (после этого он никогда не забывал, что глупо похваляться); and now the real story part of my story begins (а теперь начинается настоящая часть моего повествования = сама история).

brother ['brADq], between [bI'twJn], truly ['trHlI]

Suleiman-bin-Daoud was very surprised and said ‘O Animal, who are you?' And the Animal said, ‘O King, live for ever! I am the smallest of thirty thousand brothers, and our home is at the bottom of the sea. We heard that you were going to feed all the animals in all the world, and my brothers sent me to ask when dinner would be ready.' Suleiman-bin-Daoud was more surprised than ever and said, ‘O Animal, you have eaten all the dinner that I made ready for all the animals in the world.' And the Animal said, ‘O King, live for ever, but do you really call that a dinner? Where I come from we each eat twice as much as that between meals.' Then Suleiman-bin-Daoud fell flat on his face and said, ‘O Animal! I gave that dinner to show what a great and rich king I was, and not because I really wanted to be kind to the animals. Now I am ashamed, and it serves me right.' Suleiman-bin-Daoud was a really truly wise man, Best Beloved. After that he never forgot that it was silly to show off; and now the real story part of my story begins.

He married ever so many wives (он женился = был женат на очень многих женах). He married nine hundred and ninety-nine wives (он был женат на 999 женах), besides the Most Beautiful Balkis (кроме Прекраснейшей Балкис); and they all lived in a great golden palace in the middle of a lovely garden with fountains (и они все жили в огромном золотом дворце посреди красивого сада с фонтанами). He didn't really want nine-hundred and ninety-nine wives (на самом деле, ему не нужно было 999 жен), but in those days everybody married ever so many wives (но в те дни все были женаты на очень большом количестве жен = у всех было очень много жен), and of course the King had to marry ever so many more (и конечно, Царю нужно было иметь еще гораздо больше жен) just to show that he was the King (только чтобы показать, что он Царь).

palace ['pxlIs], lovely ['lAvlI], fountain ['fauntIn]

Some of the wives were nice (некоторые из жен были милые), but some were simply horrid (но некоторые были просто ужасны = противные), and the horrid ones quarrelled with the nice ones and made them horrid too (и противные ругались с милыми и делали их тоже противными; to quarrel — ругаться, ссориться), and then they would all quarrel with Suleiman-bin-Daoud (а потом они все ругались с Сулейманом-ибн-Даудом), and that was horrid for him (а это было противно ему / ужасно для него). But Balkis the Most Beautiful never quarrelled with Suleiman-bin-Daoud (но Прекраснейшая Балкис никогда не ругалась с Сулейманом-ибн-Даудом). She loved him too much (она его слишком любила). She sat in her rooms in the Golden Palace (она сидела в своих комнатах в Золотом Дворце), or walked in the Palace garden (или гуляла в Дворцовом саду), and was truly sorry for him (и ей действительно было жалко его; to be sorry for — жалеть /кого-л./).

horrid ['hOrId], quarrel ['kwOrql], golden ['gquldqn]

Of course if he had chosen to turn his ring on his finger and call up the Djinns and the Afrits (разумеется, если бы он решился повернуть свое кольцо на /своем/ пальце и призвать Джиннов и Афритов), they would have magicked all those nine hundred and ninety-nine quarrelsome wives into white mules of the desert or greyhounds or pomegranate seeds (они бы превратили всех тех 999 сварливых жен в белых мулов пустыни, или в борзых, или в зерна граната; to magic(k) — делать с помощью волшебства); but Suleiman-bin-Daoud thought that that would be showing off (но Сулейман-ибн-Дауд думал, что это будет похвальба). So, when they quarrelled too much (поэтому когда они слишком ругались), he only walked by himself in one part of the beautiful Palace gardens and wished he had never been born (он лишь гулял сам по себе / в одиночестве в одной части прекрасных Дворцовых садов и желал, чтобы он никогда не рождался = сожалел, что родился).

desert ['dezqt], greyhound ['greIhaund], pomegranate ['pOmIgrxnqt]

One day, when they had quarrelled for three weeks (однажды, когда они ссорились уже три недели) — all nine hundred and ninety-nine wives together (все 999 жен вместе) — Suleiman-bin-Daoud went out for peace and quiet as usual (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд вышел для = в поисках покоя и спокойствия, как обычно); and among the orange trees he met Balkis the Most Beautiful (и среди апельсиновых деревьев он встретил Прекраснейшую Балкис), very sorrowful because Suleiman-bin-Daoud was so worried (очень печальную из-за того, что Сулейман-ибн-Дауд был так обеспокоен). And she said to him (и она сказала ему), ‘O my Lord and Light of my Eyes (О мой Владыка и Свет моих Очей), turn the ring upon your finger (поверни кольцо на твоем пальце) and show these Queens of Egypt and Mesopotamia and Persia and China (и покажи этим Царицам Египта, и Месопотамии, и Персии, и Китая) that you are the great and terrible King (что ты великий и внушающий страх Царь; terrible — внушающий страх, ужас; страшный, ужасный).' But Suleiman-bin-Daoud shook his head and said (но Сулейман-ибн-Дауд покачал /своей/ головой и сказал), ‘O my Lady and Delight of my Life (О моя Госпожа и Отрада моей Жизни), remember the Animal that came out of the sea and made me ashamed (помнишь то Животное, которое вышло из моря и пристыдило меня) before all the animals in all the world (прежде всех животных во всем мире) because I showed off (потому что я похвастался). Now, if I showed off before these Queens of Persia and Egypt and Abyssinia and China (теперь, если бы я похвалился перед этими Царицами Персии, и Египта, и Абиссинии, и Китая), merely because they worry me (лишь из-за того, что они донимают меня; to worry — надоедать; докучать, донимать, приставать), I might be made even more ashamed than I have been (возможно, я бы оказался пристыжен еще больше, /чем я был/).'

usual ['jHZuql], Egypt ['JGIpt], worry ['wArI]

One day, when they had quarrelled for three weeks — all nine hundred and ninety-nine wives together — Suleiman-bin-Daoud went out for peace and quiet as usual; and among the orange trees he met Balkis the Most Beautiful, very sorrowful because Suleiman-bin-Daoud was so worried. And she said to him, ‘O my Lord and Light of my Eyes, turn the ring upon your finger and show these Queens of Egypt and Mesopotamia and Persia and China that you are the great and terrible King.' But Suleiman-bin-Daoud shook his head and said, ‘O my Lady and Delight of my Life, remember the Animal that came out of the sea and made me ashamed before all the animals in all the world because I showed off. Now, if I showed off before these Queens of Persia and Egypt and Abyssinia and China, merely because they worry me, I might be made even more ashamed than I have been.'

And Balkis the Most Beautiful said (и Прекраснейшая Балкис сказала), ‘O my Lord and Treasure of my Soul, what will you do (О мой Владыка и Сокровище моей Души, что ты будешь делать)?'

And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said (и Сулейман-ибн-Дауд сказал), ‘Omy Lady and Content of my Heart (О моя Госпожа и Услада моего Сердца; content — удовлетворенность, довольство), I shall continue to endure my fate at the hands of these nine hundred and ninety-nine Queens (я буду продолжать сносить мою участь от этих 999 Цариц; to endure — сносить, терпеть) who vex me with their continual quarrelling (которые досаждают мне своими непрерывными ссорами).'

treasure ['treZq], soul [squl], content [kqn'tent]

And Balkis the Most Beautiful said, ‘O my Lord and Treasure of my Soul, what will you do?'

And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said, ‘O my Lady and Content of my Heart, I shall continue to endure my fate at the hands of these nine hundred and ninety-nine Queens who vex me with their continual quarrelling.'

So he went on between the lilies and the loquats and the roses and the cannas and the heavy-scented ginger-plants (и он пошел дальше между лилий, и локвы[155], и роз, и канн, и пижмы обыкновенной с тяжелым запахом) that grew in the garden (которые росли в саду), till he came to the great camphor-tree (пока /он/ /не/ пришел к огромному камфорному дереву[156]) that was called the Camphor Tree of Suleiman-bin-Daoud (которое называлось Камфорным Деревом Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда). But Balkis hid among the tall irises and the spotted bamboos and the red lilies behind the camphor-tree (но Балкис спряталась среди высоких ирисов, и пятнистого бамбука, и красных лилий за камфорным деревом), so as to be near her own true love, Suleiman-bin-Daoud (чтобы быть рядом со своей /собственной/ истинной любовью, Сулейманом-ибн-Даудом).

Presently two Butterflies flew under the tree, quarrelling (некоторое время спустя две Бабочки прилетели под дерево, ссорясь).

loquat ['lqukwqt], ginger ['GInGq], camphor ['kxmfq]

Suleiman-bin-Daoud heard one say to the other (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд слышал, как одна говорила другой), ‘I wonder at your presumption in talking like this to me (я удивляюсь твоей самонадеянности разговаривать так со мной). Don't you know that if I stamped with my foot (разве ты не знаешь, что если бы я топнул моей ногой) all Suleiman-bin-Daoud's Palace and his garden here would immediately vanish in a clap of thunder (весь Дворец Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда и этот его сад тотчас бы исчезли с ударом грома).'

Then Suleiman-bin-Daoud forgot his nine hundred and ninety-nine bothersome wives (тогда Сулейман-ибн-Дауд забыл о своих 999 неугомонных женах), and laughed, till the camphor-tree shook, at the Butterfly's boast (и засмеялся /и смеялся/, пока /не/ затряслось камфорное дерево, над похвальбой Мотылька). And he held out his finger and said (и он выставил /свой/ палец и сказал), ‘Little man, come here (маленький мужчина = мужчинка / мужичок, иди сюда).'

wonder ['wAndq], presumption [prI'zAmpSqn], immediately [I'mJdIqtlI]

Suleiman-bin-Daoud heard one say to the other, ‘I wonder at your presumption in talking like this to me. Don't you know that if I stamped with my foot all Suleiman-bin-Daoud's Palace and his garden here would immediately vanish in a clap of thunder.'

Then Suleiman-bin-Daoud forgot his nine hundred and ninety-nine bothersome wives, and laughed, till the camphor-tree shook, at the Butterfly's boast. And he held out his finger and said, ‘Little man, come here.'

The Butterfly was dreadfully frightened (Мотылек страшно испугался), but he managed to fly up to the hand of Suleiman-bin-Daoud (но он смог вспорхнуть на руку Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда), and clung there, fanning himself (и прицепился там, обмахиваясь; to cling — прицепиться, крепко держаться). Suleiman-bin-Daoud bent his head and whispered very softly (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд склонил /свою/ голову и прошептал очень тихо), ‘Little man, you know that all your stamping wouldn't bend one blade of grass (мужичок, ты знаешь, что все твои топанья не склонили бы /и/ травинку; blade of grass — травинка: «клинок травы»). What made you tell that awful fib to your wife (что заставило тебя сказать такую чудовищную ложь твоей жене; fib — выдумка, домысел, неправда)? — for doubtless she is your wife (ибо несомненно, она твоя жена; doubt — сомнение).'

manage ['mxnIG], whisper ['wIspq], doubtless ['dautlIs]

The Butterfly was dreadfully frightened, but he managed to fly up to the hand of Suleiman-bin-Daoud, and clung there, fanning himself. Suleiman-bin-Daoud bent his head and whispered very softly, ‘Little man, you know that all your stamping wouldn't bend one blade of grass. What made you tell that awful fib to your wife? — for doubtless she is your wife.'

The Butterfly looked at Suleiman-bin-Daoud (Мотылек посмотрел на Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда) and saw the most wise King's eyes twinkle like stars on a frosty night (и увидел, что глаза самого мудрого Царя сверкают, как звезды в морозном небе), and he picked up his courage with both wings (и он собрал /все/ свое мужество обоими крылышками), and he put his head on one side and said (и он склонил свою голову набок и сказал), ‘O King, live for ever (О Царь, живи вечно). She is my wife (она моя жена); and you know what wives are like (а ты знаешь, каковы жены).'

Suleiman-bin-Daoud smiled in his beard and said (Сулейман-ибн-Дауд улыбнулся в /свою/ бороду и сказал), ‘Yes, Iknow, little brother (да, /уж/ я/-то/ знаю, маленький братец).'

‘One must keep them in order somehow (их нужно каким-то образом держать в порядке = в повиновении),' said the Butterfly (сказал Мотылек), ‘and she has been quarrelling with me all the morning (а она ругается со мной все утро). I said that to quiet her (я сказал это, чтобы угомонить ее).'

courage ['kArIG], beard [bIqd], brother ['brADq]

The Butterfly looked at Suleiman-bin-Daoud and saw the most wise King's eyes twinkle like stars on a frosty night, and he picked up his courage with both wings, and he put his head on one side and said, ‘O King, live for ever. She is my wife; and you know what wives are like.'

Suleiman-bin-Daoud smiled in his beard and said, ‘Yes, I know, little brother.'

‘One must keep them in order somehow,' said the Butterfly, ‘and she has been quarrelling with me all the morning. I said that to quiet her.'

And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said (и Сулейман-ибн-Дауд сказал), ‘May it quiet her (пусть это угомонит ее). Go back to your wife, little brother (возвращайся к своей жене, маленький братец), and let me hear what you say (и позволь мне услышать, что ты скажешь).'

Back flew the Butterfly to his wife (Мотылек полетел обратно к своей жене), who was all of a twitter behind a leaf, and she said (которая вся трепетала за листом, и она сказала), ‘He heard you (он услышал тебя)! Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself heard you (сам Сулейман-ибн-Дауд услышал тебя)!'

‘Heard me (услышал меня)!' said the Butterfly (сказал Мотылек). ‘Of course he did (конечно, он услышал). I meant him to hear me (я и предполагал, что он услышит меня).'

‘And what did he say (и что он сказал)? Oh, what did he say (ах, что он сказал)?'

twitter ['twItq], leaf [lJf], meant [ment]

And Suleiman-bin-Daoud said, ‘May it quiet her. Go back to your wife, little brother, and let me hear what you say.'

Back flew the Butterfly to his wife, who was all of a twitter behind a leaf, and she said, ‘He heard you! Suleiman-bin-Daoud himself heard you!'

‘Heard me!' said the Butterfly. ‘Of course he did. I meant him to hear me.'

‘And what did he say? Oh, what did he say?'

‘Well,' said the Butterfly (ну, — сказал Мотылек), fanning himself most importantly (обмахиваясь очень важно = с очень важным видом), ‘between you and me, my dear (между нами говоря, моя дорогая) — of course I don't blame him (конечно, я не виню его), because his Palace must have cost a great deal and the oranges are just ripening (потому что его Дворец, наверное, обошелся в круглую сумму: «очень много», и апельсины как раз созревают), — he asked me not to stamp (он попросил меня не топать), and I promised I wouldn't (и я пообещал, что не буду).'

Gracious (Батюшки)!' said his wife, and sat quite quiet (сказала его жена и сидела очень тихо; to sit — сидеть); but Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed till the tears ran down his face at the impudence of the bad little Butterfly (а Сулейман-ибн-Дауд засмеялся /и смеялся/, пока слезы не побежали по его лицу, над наглостью жалкого маленького Мотылька).

deal [dJl], orange ['OrInG], impudence ['Impjudqns]

‘Well,' said the Butterfly, fanning himself most importantly, ‘between you and me, my dear — of course I don't blame him, because his Palace must have cost a great deal and the oranges are just ripening, — he asked me not to stamp, and I promised I wouldn't.'

Gracious!' said his wife, and sat quite quiet; but Suleiman-bin-Daoud laughed till the tears ran down his face at the impudence of the bad little Butterfly.

Balkis the Most Beautiful stood up behind the tree among the red lilies and smiled to herself (Прекраснейшая Балкис встала за деревом среди красных лилий и улыбнулась про себя), for she had heard all this talk (ибо она слышала всю эту беседу). She thought (она подумала), ‘If I am wise I can yet save my Lord from the persecutions of these quarrelsome Queens (если я мудра, я еще смогу спасти моего Повелителя от приставаний этих сварливых Цариц),' and she held out her finger and whispered softly to the Butterfly's Wife (и она выставила /свой/ палец и прошептала тихо Жене Мотылька), ‘Little woman, come here (маленькая женщина, иди сюда).' Up flew the Butterfly's Wife, very frightened (Жена Мотылька, очень испуганная, взлетела), and clung to Balkis's white hand (и прицепилась к белой кисти Балкис).

lord [lLd], persecution ["pWsI'kjHSn], butterfly ['bAtqflaI]

Balkis the Most Beautiful stood up behind the tree among the red lilies and smiled to herself, for she had heard all this talk. She thought, ‘If I am wise I can yet save my Lord from the persecutions of these quarrelsome Queens,' and she held out her finger and whispered softly to the Butterfly's Wife, ‘Little woman, come here.' Up flew the Butterfly's Wife, very frightened, and clung to Balkis's white hand.

Balkis bent her beautiful head down and whispered (Балкис склонила свою прекрасную голову и прошептала), ‘Little woman, do you believe what your husband has just said (маленькая женщина, ты веришь тому, что только что сказал твой муж)?'

The Butterfly's Wife looked at Balkis (Жена Мотылька посмотрела на Балкис), and saw the most beautiful Queen's eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them (и увидела, как глаза прекраснейшей Царицы сияют, словно глубокие пруды /сияют/ от звездного света на них), and she picked up her courage with both wings and said (и она собрала /всю/ свою храбрость обоими крылышками и сказала), ‘O Queen, be lovely for ever (О Царица, будь прекрасна вечно). You know what men-folk are like (ты/-то/ знаешь, какие мужчины).'

And the Queen Balkis, the Wise Balkis of Sheba (и Царица Балкис, Мудрая Балкис из Шебы = Шебская / Савская), put her hand to her lips to hide a smile and said (приложила /свою/ руку к /своим/ губам, чтобы скрыть улыбку, и сказала), ‘Little sister, Iknow (маленькая сестра, /уж/ я/-то/ знаю).'

believe [bI'lJv], eye [aI], men-folk ['menfquk]

Balkis bent her beautiful head down and whispered, ‘Little woman, do you believe what your husband has just said?'

The Butterfly's Wife looked at Balkis, and saw the most beautiful Queen's eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them, and she picked up her courage with both wings and said, ‘O Queen, be lovely for ever. You know what men-folk are like.'

And the Queen Balkis, the Wise Balkis of Sheba, put her hand to her lips to hide a smile and said, ‘Little sister, I know.'

‘They get angry (они сердятся),' said the Butterfly's Wife (сказала Жена Мотылька), fanning herself quickly (быстро обмахиваясь), ‘over nothing at all (совершенно не из-за чего = из-за совершеннейших пустяков), but we must humour them, O Queen (но мы должны потакать им, О Царица). They never mean half they say (они никогда /по-настоящему/ не имеют в виду и половины из того, что /они/ говорят). If it pleases my husband to believe (если моему муженьку доставляет радость верить) that I believe he can make Suleiman-bin-Daoud's Palace disappear by stamping his foot (что я верю тому, что он может заставить исчезнуть Дворец Сулеймана-ибн-Дауда, топнув /своей/ ногой; to make — заставлять), I'm sure I don't care (я уверена, что мне все равно = уверяю, что мне нет дела до того). He'll forget all about it to-morrow (он совершенно забудет об этом завтра).'

humour ['hjHmq], believe [bI'lJv], disappear ["dIsq'pIq]

‘They get angry,' said the Butterfly's Wife, fanning herself quickly, ‘over nothing at all, but we must humour them, O Queen. They never mean half they say. If it pleases my husband to believe that I believe he can make Suleiman-bin-Daoud's Palace disappear by stamping his foot, I'm sure I don't care. He'll forget all about it to-morrow.'

‘Little sister,' said Balkis (сестренка, — сказала Балкис), ‘you are quite right (ты совершенно права); but next time he begins to boast (но в следующий раз, когда он начнет хвалиться), take him at his word (поймай его на слове). Ask him to stamp, and see what will happen (попроси его топнуть и посмотри, что случится = получится). We know what men-folk are like, don't we (мы-то знаем, какие мужчины, не так ли)? He'll be very much ashamed (он будет очень пристыжен).'

Away flew the Butterfly's Wife to her husband (Жена Мотылька улетела к своему мужу), and in five minutes they were quarrelling worse than ever (и через пять минут они ссорились еще хуже чем прежде = еще пуще прежнего).

‘Remember!' said the Butterfly (помни! — сказал Мотылек). ‘Remember what I can do if I stamp my foot (помни /о том/, что я могу сделать, если /я/ топну моей ногой).'

boast [bqust], worse [wWs], remember [rI'membq]

‘Little sister,' said Balkis, ‘you are quite right; but next time he begins to boast, take him at his word. Ask him to stamp, and see what will happen. We know what men-folk are like, don't we? He'll be very much ashamed.'