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1. THE King's son was going to be married (королевский сын собирался жениться; to be going – собираться, намереваться), so there were general rejoicings (по этому поводу были повсеместные празднования). He had waited a whole year for his bride (он целый год ждал свою невесту), and at last she had arrived (и наконец она прибыла). She was a Russian Princess (она была русской Принцессой), and had driven all the way from Finland in a sledge drawn by six reindeer (она ехала всю дорогу из Финляндии на санях, запряженных шестеркой северных оленей; draw-drew-drawn – тащить). The sledge was shaped like a great golden swan (сани были сделаны в форме огромного золотого лебедя; to shape – создавать, придавать форму), and between the swan's wings lay the little Princess herself (и между лебедиными крыльями возлежала сама маленькая Принцесса). Her long ermine cloak reached right down to her feet (ее длинный плащ из горностая доставал ей до пят), on her head was a tiny cap of silver tissue (на голове ее была крошечная шапочка из серебряной материи), and she was as pale as the Snow Palace in which she had always lived (она была такой белой, как Снежный Дворец, в котором она всегда жила). So pale was she that as she drove through the streets all the people wondered (она была настолько бледной, что когда она ехала по улицам, все люди изумлялись; drive-drove-driven). `She is like a white rose (она похожа на белую розу)!' they cried, and they threw down flowers on her from the balconies (кричали они и кидали ей цветы с балконов).
1. THE King's son was going to be married, so there were general rejoicings. He had waited a whole year for his bride, and at last she had arrived. She was a Russian Princess, and had driven all the way from Finland in a sledge drawn by six reindeer. The sledge was shaped like a great golden swan, and between the swan's wings lay the little Princess herself. Her long ermine cloak reached right down to her feet, on her head was a tiny cap of silver tissue, and she was as pale as the Snow Palace in which she had always lived. So pale was she that as she drove through the streets all the people wondered. `She is like a white rose!' they cried, and they threw down flowers on her from the balconies.
2 At the gate of the Castle the Prince was waiting to receive her (у ворот замка Принц ожидал, чтобы встретить ее; to receive – получать, принимать, приветствовать). He had dreamy violet eyes (у него были мечтательные фиалковые глаза), and his hair was like fine gold (волосы, как чистое золото). When he saw her he sank upon one knee, and kissed her hand (когда он увидел ее, он упал на одно колено и поцеловал ей руку; sink-sank-sunk – опускаться, падать, погружаться).
`Your picture was beautiful (Ваш портрет был прекрасен),' he murmured (прошептал он), `but you are more beautiful than your picture (но вы намного прекраснее, чем Ваш портрет);' and the little Princess blushed (и маленькая Принцесса залилась румянцем).
`She was like a white rose before (она была похожа на белую розу),' said a young Page to his neighbour (сказал юный Паж стоящему рядом (Королю)), `but she is like a red rose now (но сейчас она похожа на алую розу);' and the whole Court was delighted (и весь Двор был восхищен).
For the next three days everybody went about saying (следующие три дня все ходили, говоря), `White rose, Red rose, Red rose, White rose (Белая Роза, Красная Роза);' and the King gave orders that the Page's salary was to be doubled (и Король распорядился удвоить жалование Пажу). As he received no salary at all this was not of much use to him (так как он не получал вообще никакой зарплаты, то от этого ему было немного пользы), but it was considered a great honour (но считалось большой честью), and was duly published in the Court Gazette (и было должным образом опубликовано в Придворной газете).
2 At the gate of the Castle the Prince was waiting to receive her. He had dreamy violet eyes, and his hair was like fine gold. When he saw her he sank upon one knee, and kissed her hand.
`Your picture was beautiful,' he murmured, `but you are more beautiful than your picture;' and the little Princess blushed.
`She was like a white rose before,' said a young Page to his neighbour, `but she is like a red rose now;' and the whole Court was delighted.
For the next three days everybody went about saying, `White rose, Red rose, Red rose, White rose;' and the King gave orders that the Page's salary was to be doubled. As he received no salary at all this was not of much use to him, but it was considered a great honour, and was duly published in the Court Gazette.
3. When the three days were over the marriage was celebrated (по прошествии трех дней была сыграна свадьба). It was a magnificent ceremony (это была великолепная церемония), and the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand under a canopy of purple velvet embroidered with little pearls (невеста и жених шли рука...
Kanfieta