We saw seven windmills, their wings were whirling very fast. And a man was lying on a hillock. He pinched his left nostril with a finger. When he saw us, he greeted me courteously, and the storm stopped.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I turn my master’s windmills,” he replied, “and I don’t want to break them. That’s why I don’t blow too hard: from one nostril only.”
“This man will be useful to me,” I thought, and took him into my service, too.
So, gentlemen, such wonderful men became my servants. And they served me well!
Chinese Wine
In Egypt, I soon completed the Sultan’s task. My resourcefulness helped me there, too. A week later, I returned to the Turkish capital with my extraordinary servants.
The Sultan was glad to see me back.
“You are cleverer than all my ministers, my dear Munchausen!” he said and shook my hand. “Come and dine with me today!”
The dinner was very delicious, but – alas! – there was no wine on the table. I was very much distressed, and the Sultan took me to his study after dinner. He opened a secret cupboard, and took out a bottle.
“This is the most excellent wine in the world, my dear Munchausen!” he said.
The wine was really good. But after the first sip, I said that in China the wine was better.
“My dear Munchausen!” the Sultan exclaimed. “I believe every word you say, because you are the most truthful man in the world, but I swear that you are not telling the truth now. This wine is the best!”
“No. I tasted better wine, indeed.”
“Munchausen, you are talking nonsense!”
“No, I am telling you the truth, and I will deliver you a bottle of wine from China in an hour. You will compare the bottles and see yourself.”
“Munchausen, you play with fire! Now I see that you are a shameless liar!”
“You can make certain of it[31] yourself. I am telling the truth!”
“I agree!” the Sultan replied. “If you don’t bring me a bottle of the best wine in the world from China by four o’clock, I’ll have your head cut off
Примечания
1
tobacco-pouches – кисет
2
the more I advanced – чем ближе я двигался
3
I found myself – я оказался
4
in two – надвое
5
was making after me – бежал за мной
6
fire flew out of my eyes – из моих глаз посыпались искры
7
presence of mind – присутствие духа
8
ball – пуля
9
and placed a good spike-nail in its room – вставил в неё хорошую шпиковальную иглу
10
a piece of fat – кусок сала
11
St. Hubert – св. Герберт (покровитель охотников)
12
cherry-stones – вишнёвые косточки
13
fleet-footed – быстроногий
14
I’d been chasing the hare for three days – я гонялся за зайцем три дня
15
to turn inside out – выворачивать наизнанку
16
fur coat – шуба
17
for God’s sake – ради бога
18
in one leap – одним прыжком
19
was cut in two – был разрезан на две части
20
a cannon ball – пушечное ядро
21
a counter-ball – встречное ядро
22
Turkey-beans – турецкие бобы
23
judge my surprise – представьте моё удивление
24
man-of-war – военный корабль
25
the ship sprung a leak – в корабле появилась пробоина
26
to get rid of me – избавиться от меня
27
set off – тронулся в путь
28
I took him into my service – я нанял его себе на службу
29
bell-tower – колокольня
30
I got it right in the eye – попал ему прямо в глаз
31
make certain of it – убедиться в этом