So one fine morning, fair and clear, she said to her sister, “Let us go[24] and see our father’s boats come in at the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie.” So they went there hand in hand. And when they got to the river’s bank the youngest got upon a stone to watch for the coming of the boats. And her sister, coming behind her, caught her round the waist and dashed her into the rushing mill-stream of Binnorie.
“O sister, sister, reach me your hand!” she cried, as she floated away, “and you shall have half of all I’ve got or shall get.[25]”
“No, sister, I’ll reach you no hand of mine, for I am the heir to all your land. Shame on me if I touch the hand that has come ’twixt[26] me and my own heart’s love.[27]”
“O sister, O sister, then reach me your glove!” she cried, as she floated further away, “and you shall have your William again.”
“Sink on,” cried the cruel princess, “no hand or glove of mine you’ll touch. Sweet William will be all mine when you are sunk beneath the bonny mill-stream of Binnorie.” And she turned and went home to the king’s castle.
And the princess floated down the mill-stream, sometimes swimming and sometimes sinking, till she came near the mill. Now the miller’s daughter was cooking that day, and needed water for her cooking. And as she went to draw it from the stream, she saw something floating towards the mill-dam, and she called out, “Father! father! draw your dam.[28]
Примечания
1
The Wishing Ring – Кольцо, исполняющее желания
2
and all for nothing – и всё без толку
3
stands by itself – стоит в стороне
4
your fortune is made – найдёшь свою удачу
5
you have set me free – ты освободил меня
6
your wish will come true – твое желание исполнится
7
next to nothing – почти ничего
8
good fortune – удача
9
could hardly wait – не мог никак дождаться
10
hundred thousand sovereigns – сто тысяч соверенов (соверен – золотая монета в 1 фунт стерлингов)
11
the sovereigns began to come raining down – соверены посыпались дождём
12
just for nothing – просто так, впустую
13
and make me work as much – и меня заставляешь тоже усердно работать
14
All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. – cравни Работа утомляет.
15
and gave up speaking about it – и прекратила всякие разговоры о нём
16
Binnorie – Биннори
17
once upon a time – однажды; как-то раз
18
Sir William – сэр Уильям
19
plighted troth – поклялся в верности
20
after a time – спустя некоторое время
21
he cared no longer for the eldest one – он перестал обращать внимание на старшую сестру
22
day by day – день ото дня
23
get rid of her – избавиться от неё
24
Let us go. – Давай пойдём.
25
half of all I’ve got or shall get – половина всего того, что есть у меня и что будет
26
’twixt = betwixt, between
27
that has come ’twixt me and my own heart’s love – которая разлучила меня с любимым
28
Draw your dam. – Опусти створки.