Лучшие английские сказки Best english fairy tales by Елена А. Лебедева

Author:Елена А. Лебедева [Лебедева, Елена]
Language: rus
Format: epub
Tags: Иностранные языки, Европейская старинная литература, Сказки
Publisher: ООО «ЛитРес», www.litres.ru

The Goose-Girl (A. Lang)

Once upon a time an old queen, whose husband had been dead for many years, had a beautiful daughter. When she grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived a great way off. Now, when it was the time to be married and to depart into a foreign kingdom, her old mother gave her much costly baggage, and many ornaments, gold and silver, trinkets and knickknacks, for she loved her daughter very much. She gave her a waiting-maid also, who was to ride with her and hand her over to the bridegroom, and she provided each of them with a horse for the journey. The Princess’s horse was called Falada, and could speak.

When the hour for departure drew near the old mother went to her bedroom, and cut her fingers with a small knife till they bled; then she held a white rag under them, and let three drops of blood fall into it, she gave it to her daughter, and said: ‘Dear child, take great care of this rag: it may be of use to you on the journey.’

So they took a sad farewell[51] of each other, and the Princess stuck the rag in front of her dress, mounted her horse, and set forth on the journey to her bridegroom’s kingdom. After they had ridden for about an hour the Princess began to feel very thirsty, and said to her waiting-maid: ‘Get down and fetch me some water in my golden cup out of the stream: I would like a drink.’ ‘If you’re thirsty,’ said the maid, ‘dismount[52] yourself, and lie down by the water and drink; I don’t mean to be your servant any longer.’ The Princess was so thirsty that she got down, bent over the stream, and drank, as she wasn’t allowed to drink out of the golden goblet. As she drank she said: ‘Oh heaven, what am I to do?’ and the three drops of blood replied:

‘If your mother only knew, her heart would surely break in two.’

But the Princess was kind, and said nothing about her maid’s rude behavior, and quietly mounted her horse again. They rode for several miles, but the day was hot, and the sun’s rays were hot, and the Princess was soon thirsty again. And as they passed a brook she called once more to her waiting-maid: ‘Get down and give me a drink from my golden cup,’ for she had long ago forgotten her maid’s rude words. But the waiting-maid replied, more angrily even than before: ‘If you want a drink, you can dismount and get it; I don’t mean to be your servant.’ Then the Princess was compelled[53] by her thirst to get down, and bending over the flowing water she cried and said: ‘Oh! Heaven, what am I to do?’ and the three drops of blood replied:

‘If your mother only knew, her heart would surely break in two.’

And as she drank, and leaned right over the water, the rag containing the three

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