And the Eldest Magician said (и Старейший Волшебник сказал), ‘I will give it back, Pau Amma (я верну его, Пау Амма), for eleven months of the year (на одиннадцать месяцев в году); but on the twelfth month of every year (но на двенадцатый месяц каждого года) it shall grow soft again (он станет мягким опять), to remind you and all your children (чтобы напомнить тебе и твоим детям) that I can make magics (что я могу творить волшебство), and to keep you humble, Pau Amma (и чтобы сохранить тебя скромным =
gift [gIft], eleven [I'levqn], greedy ['grJdI]
And Pau Amma said, ‘I do not choose yet, for, all soft as I am, these gifts would not help me. Give me back my shell, O Eldest Magician, and then I will play your play.’
And the Eldest Magician said, ‘I will give it back, Pau Amma, for eleven months of the year; but on the twelfth month of every year it shall grow soft again, to remind you and all your children that I can make magics, and to keep you humble, Pau Amma; for I see that if you can run both under the water and on land, you will grow too bold; and if you can climb trees and crack nuts and dig holes with your scissors, you will grow too greedy, Pau Amma.’
Then Pau Amma thought a little and said (тогда Пау Амма немного подумал и сказал), ‘I have made my choice (я сделал выбор). I will take all the gifts (я приму все подарки).’
Then the Eldest Magician made a Magic with the right hand (тогда Старейший Волшебник сотворил Волшебство правой рукой), with all five fingers of his right hand (всеми пятью пальцами /своей/ правой руки), and lo and behold, Best Beloved (и вот смотрите и внимайте, Самые Любименькие), Pau Amma grew smaller and smaller and smaller (Пау Амма стал =
choice [COIs], grew [grH], small [smLl]
Then Pau Amma thought a little and said, ‘I have made my choice. I will take all the gifts.’
Then the Eldest Magician made a Magic with the right hand, with all five fingers of his right hand, and lo and behold, Best Beloved, Pau Amma grew smaller and smaller and smaller, till at last there was only a little green crab swimming in the water alongside the canoe, crying in a very small voice, ‘Give me the scissors!’