‘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, I know (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;
