bother ['bɔðə], clock-work ['klɔkwə:k], scholar ['skɔlə]

The Queen seemed very surprised to hear so much good sense from so small an animal. She took me up in her hand and carried me to the King.

At first the King didn't bother to look closely at me. When, he wanted to know, had the Queen grown so fond of a splacknuck? She placed me gently on my feet on a small table. When I began to walk about, the King decided that I must be a piece of clock-work. The Queen then told me to tell the King about myself. I told him how I had happened to arrive in his country. It was clear that he didn't quite believe me. He asked me several more questions and then sent for the Court scholars.

I was examined by three scholars (я был осмотрен/обследован тремя учеными), who discussed their views at length (которые обстоятельно обсуждали свои взгляды/мнения; at length — во всю длину; детально, обстоятельно). I could not be an animal, it was decided (они решили, что я не могу быть животным), since I had no way of defending myself (поскольку не имею способа защитить себя). I could not run very fast (я не могу бегать очень быстро), climb trees very well (/не могу/ очень хорошо лазать по деревьям) or dig a hole in the ground with my hands (или рыть норы в земле своими руками; hole — дыра; отверстие; нора). I could not be a person either (также я не могу быть и человеком). Even the Queen's favourite dwarf (даже любимый карлик королевы), the smallest ever known in the kingdom (самый маленький из всех когда-либо бывших: «известных» в королевстве), was nearly thirty feet high (был ростом почти в тридцать футов). After a long discussion (после долгого обсуждения), they decided that I was a quirk of nature (они решили, что я — игра/каприз природы; изгиб, /неожиданный/ поворот; выверт, каприз, причуда; случайность).

either ['aɪðə], dwarf [dwɔ:f], quirk [kwə:k]

I was examined by three scholars, who discussed their views at length. I could not be an animal, it was decided, since I had no way of defending myself. I could not run very fast, climb trees very well or dig a hole in the ground with my hands. I could not be a person either. Even the Queen's favourite dwarf, the smallest ever known in the kingdom, was nearly thirty feet high. After a long discussion, they decided that I was a quirk of nature.

It seemed to me that the King was more reasonable (мне показалось, что король был более разумен/рассудителен; reason — разум, интеллект; здравый рассудок) than any of these learned scholars (чем любой из этих ученых мужей; learned — ученый; обладающий глубокими знаниями; scholar — ученый /обычно гуманитарий/). So I asked if I might say a few more words to him (поэтому я спросил, могу ли я сказать ему еще несколько слов). I told him that I came from a part of the world (я рассказал ему, что прибыл из /такой/ части света) where there were several million people (где есть = живут несколько миллионов человек), both men and women (и мужчин, и женщин), who were the same size as myself (которые имеют такую же величину, как я сам). The size of the animals, trees and houses in that part of the world (размеры животных, деревьев и домов в той части света) were in proportion to the people (соответствуют людям = росту людей; proportion — пропорция, пропорциональность; правильное соотношение; соразмерность; гармония). It was possible, therefore, for a person of my size (поэтому для человека моего размера = роста возможно) to defend himself (защищать себя) and to make a living in his own country (и добывать/зарабатывать себе средства к существованию /живя/ в своей собственной стране; living — жизнь; средства к существованию).

reasonable ['ri:z(ə)nəb(ə)l], million ['mɪljən], living ['lɪvɪŋ]

It seemed to me that the King was more reasonable than any of these learned scholars. So I asked if I might say a few more words to him. I told him that I came from a part of the world where there were several million people, both men and women, who were the same size as myself. The size of the animals, trees and houses in that part of the world were in proportion to the people. It was possible, therefore, for a person of my size to defend himself and to make a living in his own country.

On hearing this (услышав это), the learned scholars only smiled (ученые мужи только улыбнулись). It was clear to me, however (тем не менее, мне было ясно), that the King was beginning to believe me (что король стал склоняться к мысли, что я говорю правду: «начинает мне верить»). He asked the Queen to make sure (он попросил, чтобы королева приняла меры /к тому/; to make sure — убедиться; удостовериться; обеспечить, позаботиться, принять меры) that particular care was taken of me (чтобы я был окружен особыми заботами) and he said he was pleased (и сказал, что доволен /тем/) that Glumdalclitch would continue to be my nurse (что Глюмдалклич как и прежде будет за мной присматривать: «продолжит быть моей няней»).

Glumdalclitch was provided with rooms at Court (Глюмдалклич было предоставлено помещение при дворе; to provide — давать, предоставлять; обеспечивать), a teacher and three maids (/назначены/ учитель/учительница и три служанки). The Queen's own carpenter was told to make a bedroom for me (личному столяру королевы было приказано смастерить для меня спальню), exactly the way I wanted it (точно так: «именно таким образом», как я пожелаю).

particular [pə'tɪkjʋlə], provide [prə'vaɪd], carpenter ['kɑ:pɪntə]

On hearing this, the learned scholars only smiled. It was clear to me, however, that the King was beginning to believe me. He asked the Queen to make sure that particular care was taken of me and he said he was pleased that Glumdalclitch would continue to be my nurse.

Glumdalclitch was provided with rooms at Court, a teacher and three maids. The Queen's own carpenter was told to make a bedroom for me, exactly the way I wanted it.

Within three weeks this skilled worker (в три недели этот искусный/умелый мастер) had made a wooden box with a door (соорудил деревянный ящик с дверью), windows and furniture (окнами и мебелью) that could have been seen in a bedroom in London (какие можно увидеть в лондонской спальне). The board that was the ceiling (доска, служившая потолком) lifted up and down on two hinges (поднималась и опускалась на петлях; to lift up — поднимать/ся/; to lift down — опускать/ся/). Glumdalclitch lifted my bed out through the roof every day to air it (каждый день вынимала мою кровать через крышу для проветривания; air — воздух; to air — проветривать; вентилировать). She put it back each evening (каждый вечер она ставила ее обратно = на место) and locked the roof (и запирала крышу). I had two chairs (у меня было два стула/кресла), two tables (два стола) and a cupboard for my things (и шкаф для моих вещей). The smallest lock in the kingdom was made for this cupboard (для этого шкафа был сделан самый маленький замок в королевстве) and I kept the key to this lock myself (и я сам хранил ключ от этого замка: «к этому замку»).

furniture ['fə:nɪʧə], ceiling ['si:lɪŋ], cupboard ['kʌbəd]