Сборник самых известных английских легенд. Уровень 1

Сборник

Легко читаем по-английски

Изучение английского языка лучше всего начать с чтения английских легенд, так как это носит не только развлекательный характер, но и знакомит читателя с культурными особенностями тех или иных народов. В данное издание вошли такие знаменитые легенды как «Боевульф», «Леди Годива», «Принцесса Кентербери» и многие другие.

Тексты адаптированы для начинающих изучение английского языка (уровень Al, A2) и сопровождаются комментариями, упражнениями и словарем.

В формате PDF A4 сохранен издательский макет книги.

Сборник легенд

Сборник самых известных английских легенд. Уровень 1

© С. Матвеев, Д. Демидова, А. Бохенек, адаптация текста, упраж. и словарь, 2023

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2023

The Princess of Canterbury[1 - The Princess of Canterbury – Принцесса Кентербери]

In the old days, when there were more than one king in this country, one of them was king of Canterbury. He had an only daughter, wise, fair, beautiful, and unmarried.

The king had it proclaimed that whoever would watch one night with his daughter and neither sleep nor doze at the time, should have her the next day in marriage. But if he did not stay awake, he should lose his head.

Such bargains were not uncommon in those days. Many knights did their best[2 - did their best – старались изо всех сил], but failed and lost their lives.

Now a young shepherd, named John, grazing his flock near the road, said to his master, “Sir, I see many gentlemen ride to the court at Canterbury, but I never see them return again.”

“Shepherd,” said his master, “I know not how you should[3 - I know not how you should. – Понятно, что ты их не видишь.], for they try to watch with the king’s daughter, and all who fail lose their heads.”

“Well,” said the shepherd, “I’ll try my worth, folly or luck[4 - I’ll try my worth, folly or luck. – Попытаю-ка я свою судьбу.]; so now for a king’s daughter, or a headless shepherd!”

And taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to the court to try his fortune. On his way he had to cross a river. He pulled off his shoes and stockings, and while he was passing over he observed several pretty fish bobbing against his feet. He caught some and put them into his pocket. When he reached the palace, he knocked at the gate loudly with his shepherd’s staff.

As soon as[5 - as soon as – как только] he said why he was visiting, he was taken to a hall where the king’s daughter sat ready, prepared to receive her lovers. He was placed in a luxurious chair, and rich wines and spices were set before him, and all sorts of delicate meals. The shepherd was unused to such fare, and ate and drank plentifully, so that he was nearly dozing before midnight.

“Shepherd,” said the lady, “I have caught you sleeping!”

“No, sweet ally[6 - sweet ally – милая], I was busy fishing.”

“Fishing?” said the princess in surprise. “No, shepherd, there is no fish-pond in the hall.”

“No matter that[7 - No matter that. – И не надо.], I have been fishing in my pocket, and have just caught one.”

''Oh my![8 - Oh my! – Надо же!]” said she. “Let me see it[9 - Let me see it. – Дай-ка я посмотрю.].”

The shepherd cleverly drew a fish out of his pocket and showed it to her, and she said it was the finest she had ever seen.

About half an hour afterwards, she said, “Shepherd, do you think you could get me one more?”

He replied, “Maybe,” and after a little while he brought out another. It was finer than the first, and the princess was so delighted that she gave him leave to go to sleep[10 - she gave him leave to go to sleep – она отпустила его спать], and promised to excuse him to her father[11 - excuse him to her father – оправдать его перед отцом].

In the morning the princess told the king to his great astonishment that the shepherd must not be beheaded, for he had been fishing in the hall all night. The shepherd agreed.

But when the king heard how the shepherd had caught such beautiful fish out of his pocket, he asked him to catch one in his own royal pocket.

The shepherd agreed, bid the king lie d