Then the Mock Turtle said thoughtfully. “I would like to hear her try and repeat something now. Tell her to begin.” And he looked at the Gryphon.
“Stand up and repeat ‘TIS THE VOICE OF THE SLUGGARD,’[155]” said the Gryphon.
“I could as well be at school now,[156]” thought Alice. However, she got up, and began to repeat it, but her head was so full of the Lobster Quadrille, that she didn’t think what she was saying, so the words were very strange: —
“It is the voice of the Lobster;I heard him declare,‘You have baked me too brown,I must sugar my hair.’As a duck with its eyelids,so he with his noseTrims his belt and his buttons,and turns out his toes.”“That’s different from what I said when I was a child,” said the Gryphon.
“Well, I never heard it before,” said the Mock Turtle; “but it sounds uncommon nonsense.”
Alice said nothing; she had sat down with her face in her hands, wondering if anything would EVER happen in a natural way again.
“I would like to have an explanation,” said the Mock Turtle.
“She can’t explain it,” said the Gryphon hastily. “Go on with the next verse.”
“But about his toes?” the Mock Turtle asked again. “How COULD he turn them out with his nose, you know?”
“It’s the first position in dancing.” Alice said; but she was greatly puzzled by the whole thing, and wanted so much to change the subject.
“Go on with the next verse,” the Gryphon repeated impatiently: “it begins “I passed by his garden.””
Alice felt sure it would all be wrong too, but she was ready to continue when suddenly the Mock Turtle interrupted her, “What IS the use of repeating all those things, if you don’t explain them? It’s the most confusing thing I ever heard!”
“Yes, I think you’d better stop it,” said the Gryphon: and Alice was very glad to do so.
“Shall we try another figure of the Lobster Quadrille?” the Gryphon went on. “Or would you like the Mock Turtle to sing you a song?”
“Oh, a song, please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind,” Alice replied, so fast that the Gryphon said, in a rather offended tone, “Hm! Sing her “Turtle Soup,” then, old fellow.[158]”
The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and began to sing.
Suddenly a cry “The trial’s beginning!” was heard in the distance.
“Come on!” cried the Gryphon, and, taking Alice by the hand, hurried off, without waiting for the end of the song.
“What trial is it?” Alice tried to ask as she ran; but the Gryphon only answered “Come on!” and they ran faster.
Chapter 11. Who Stole the Tarts?
When they arrived, the King and Queen of Hearts were sitting on their throne. Around them was a great crowd – different little birds and creatures, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, he was in chains and on each his side there was a soldier; and near the King was the White Rabbit. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts on it: they looked so delicious, that Alice felt quite hungry looking at them. – “I hope the trial will be finished soon,” she thought, “and everybody can have the refreshments!” But it seemed impossible, so she began looking at everything about her, to pass away the time.
Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read about them in books, and she was glad that she knew the name of nearly everything there. “That’s the judge,” she said to herself, “because he is wearing a great wig.”
The judge, by the way, was the King; and his crown was put on over the wig.
“And that’s the jury-box,” thought Alice, “and those twelve creatures,” (she called them “creatures,”, because some of them were animals, and some were birds,) “I suppose they are the jurors.” She felt very proud of her knowledge.
The twelve jurors were busy writing something. “What are they doing?” Alice whispered to the Gryphon.
“They’re writing down their names,” the Gryphon whispered in reply, “because they are afraid of forgetting them before the end of the trial.”
“Stupid things!” Alice began in a loud voice, but she stopped immediately because the White Rabbit cried out, “Silence in the court!” and the King put on his spectacles and looked round.
“Herald, read the accusation!” said the King.
And the White Rabbit began to read: —
“Give your verdict,” the King said to the jury.
“Not yet, not yet!” the Rabbit hastily interrupted.
“Call the first witness,” said the King; and the White Rabbit called out, “First witness!”
The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other. “I beg pardon, your Majesty,” he began, “for bringing these things here: but I haven’t finished my tea yet.”
“It’s not good,” said the King. “When did you begin?”
The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who was in the court too with the Dormouse. “Fourteenth of March, I think it was,” he said.
“Fifteenth,” said the March Hare.
“Sixteenth,” added the Dormouse.
“Write that down,” the King said to the jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates.
“Take off your hat,” the King said to the Hatter.
“It isn’t mine,” said the Hatter. “I sell them,” the Hatter added as an explanation; “I’ve no hats of my own. I’m a hatter.”
Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the Hatter, who became pale.
“Give your evidence,” said the King; “and don’t be nervous, or you’ll be executed right now.”
These words frightened the witness even more so that he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread-and-butter.
Just at this moment Alice had a very curious feeling, which puzzled her greatly until she understood what it was: she was beginning to grow larger again, and at first she wanted to get up and leave the court; but then she decided to stay where she was.
“Give your evidence,” the King repeated angrily, “or you’ll be executed, whether you’re nervous or not
Примечания
1
was tired of – устала от…
2
She had nothing to do – ей было нечего делать
3
What is the use of a book… – какая польза от книги…
4
daisy-chain – венок из маргариток
5
Oh dear, I shall be late! – О Боже, я опоздаю!
6
burning with curiosity – умирая от любопытства
7
just in time – как раз вовремя
8
was like – была похожа на
9
well – колодец
10
I must be… – должно быть, я…
11
I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth – Интересно, провалюсь ли я сквозь землю?
12
went after him like a wind – помчалась за ним словно ветер
13
heard the Rabbit say – услышала, как Кролик сказал
14
how late it is! – Как поздно уже!
15
To her great delight – К ее огромному восторгу
16
which lead – который вел
17
hoping – надеясь
18
this time – в этот раз
19
in a hurry – в спешке
20
I must be shutting up like a telescope – Должно быть, я складываюсь, как телескоп.
21
inch = 2,54 см
22
there is no use in crying – бесполезно плакать
23
Curiouser and curiouser (неправильная грамматическая форма сравнительной степени прилагательного) – любопытственнее и любопытственнее
24
I am opening out – я раскладываюсь
25
out of sight – вне поля зрения
26
nine feet – девять футов, 1 фут = 30,48 см
27
You must be ashamed of yourself – Тебе должно быть стыдно за себя
28
in a low voice – тихим голосом
29
as fast as it could – так быстро, как только мог
30
things were just as usual – все было как обычно
31
I wonder if I’ve been changed during the night. – Интересно, может, меня ночью подменили.
32
she had put on (Past Perfect) – она надела
33
As she said these words – Как только она произнесла эти слова
34
I will be drowned – Я утону
35
Just then – И в тот момент
36
Shall I speak to this mouse? – Поговорить ли мне с этой мышью?
37
“Où est ma chatte?” – фр. Где моя кошка?
38
I beg your pardon! – Я прошу прощения!
39
Would YOU like cats if you were me? – А вы бы любили кошек на моем месте?
40
I would like you to see – Мне бы хотелось, чтобы Вы увидели
41
you would start liking cats if you could see her – Вы бы полюбили кошек, если бы могли увидеть ее.
42
to change the subject of conversation – сменить тему разговора
43
Are you fond of…? – Вы любите…?
44