Золушка / Cinderella

Золушка / Cinderella
А. А. Пахомова

Д. Л. Абрагин

Карманное чтение на английском языке
В книгу вошли известные классические сказки, любимые многими: «Золушка», «Русалочка», «Кот в сапогах» и другие. Текст произведений адаптирован и сопровождается словарем. Предназначается для начинающих изучать английский язык (уровень Elementary).

Золушка / Cinderella

© Д.Л. Абрагин, А.А. Пахомова, адаптация текста

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2019

Cinderella

Once upon a time, there lived a gentleman[1 - Once upon a time, there lived a gentleman – Жил-был один господин], who after his beautiful and kind wife died, married the proudest and meanest woman in all the land[2 - the proudest and meanest woman in all the land – самой высокомерной и недоброй женщине в округе].

She had two daughters from a previous marriage who were just as nasty and haughty as their mother.

The gentleman also had a young daughter by another wife[3 - by another wife – от прежней жены] named Cinderella, who was one of the sweetest girls in the kingdom.

Cinderella’s stepmother was extremely jealous of her beauty and charm and made her do[4 - made her do – заставляла ее делать] the hardest and most dreadful work in the house.

Cinderella did the dishes[5 - did the dishes – мыла посуду], scrubbed the floor and made the beds[6 - made the beds – убирала постели] while her stepsisters rested in their beds or had fun playing dress-up.

Now, it so happened that the King’s son decided to give a ball, inviting all the young ladies in the land to attend.

Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters were delighted and would talk of nothing but the ball all day long. They sent for the greatest designers in the kingdom to ensure that they looked their best[7 - to ensure that they looked their best – чтобы быть уверенными, что они будут выглядеть лучше всех].

Cinderella offered to help them get ready for the ball, for she had excellent taste, and despite how her stepsisters treated her, she always gave them the best advice.

As she helped them, the eldest sister asked, “Cinderella, are you not going to the ball?”

Cinderella sadly lowered her head and said, “No, you’re only teasing me because I have nothing to wear for the ball. Perhaps I could borrow something?”

“Lend our clothes to such a dirty Cinderwench[8 - Cinderwench – Замарашка]? We’re not fools!” And the sisters laughed cruelly.

When the big day finally came, Cinderella accompanied her stepmother and stepsisters to the Court and couldn’t help but burst into tears as she watched them enter the beautiful ball[9 - couldn’t help but burst into tears as she watched them enter the beautiful ball – не могла сдержать слез при виде того, как они оказались на прекрасном балу].

As she wept, Cinderella’s fairy godmother appeared.

“Cinderella, why are you crying?” she asked.

“You wish to attend the ball, is that not so?”

“Yes,” cried Cinderella, between sobs.

The fairy godmother smiled and said, “Well, run into the garden and bring me a pumpkin.”

Cinderella immediately went to get the finest pumpkin she could find.

When she brought it, her godmother struck the pumpkin with her wand, instantly turning it into a fine coach plated with gold and silver.

Next, she had Cinderella find some mice[10 - had Cinderella find some mice – заставила Золушку найти нескольких мышей], and when she brought the furry little creatures back, the fairy godmother tapped them each with her wand, turning[11 - turning – превращая] them into six fine horses and a coachman.

“Well, what do you say? Do you still think you are not able to attend the ball?” asked her godmother.

“Oh yes!” cried Cinderella, “but should I go looking like this, in these rags?[12 - but should I go looking like this, in these rags? – но как я буду выглядеть в этих лохмотьях?]”

Her godmother only touched her with her wand, and instantly Cinderella’s rags turned into a dress of white and silver, sparkling with jewels.

To top it off[13 - To top it off – для завершения образа], fairy godmother gave Cinderella a pair of glass slippers[14 - glass slippers – зд. хрустальные туфельки], the prettiest in the whole world.

“The spell only lasts until midnight, so promise you will leave the ball before then,” said the Godmother.

Cinderella promised to return before midnight, thanked her again, and drove off to the ball.

When Cinderella entered the castle, the dancing and music stopped as everyone turned to gaze at her beauty.

No one recognized her; she was a complete mystery.

The Prince rushed up to greet her, led her to the most honorable seat, and later took her out for a dance[15 - took her out for a dance – пригласил ее на танец].

Cinderella even made time to approach her step-sisters, who still did not recognize her, and shared some of the oranges the prince had presented to her as a gift.

The Prince never left her side[16 - never left her side – не отходил от нее], and Cinderella was enjoying herself so much that she completely forgot the time!

When the clock struck midnight, Cinderella was shocked and ran away immediately, leaving one of her glass slippers behind in haste.

The Prince ran to follow her, but only managed to pick up the glass slipper she left behind.

Cinderella managed to get home[17 - to get home – добраться до дома] but was quite out of breath[18 - out of breath – задыхающийся, запыхавшийся] and in her dirty old clothes.

She was resting in bed when her two stepsisters suddenly entered her room.

“You stayed really late![19 - You stayed really late! – Что-то вы припозднились!]” cried Cinderella, rubbing her eyes and stretching as if she had been sleeping.

“If you had been there, you would have seen the most beautiful princess[20 - If you had been there you would have seen the most beautiful princess – Если бы ты там побывала, ты бы увидела прекрасную принцессу],” exclaimed the eldest sister, “she was so nice to us and had the undivided attention of the Prince.”

“Her background is a mystery, and the Prince would give anything to know who she was[21 - would give anything to know who she was – все бы отдал за то, чтобы узнать, кто она такая],” said the youngest.

A few days later, the Prince declared that he would marry the woman whose foot fit in the slipper.

His soldiers began to try the slipper on all the princesses and duchesses in the Court, but it was all in vain.

A little later, the slipper was brought to the two sisters, who tried with all their might to make the slipper fit[22 - who tried with all their might to make the slipper fit – изо всех сил старались поместить ногу в туфельку].

Cinderella, who saw this, politely asked to try it.