The Butterfly’s Wife looked at Balkis (Жена Мотылька посмотрела на Балкис), and saw the most beautiful Queen’s eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them (и увидела, как глаза прекраснейшей Царицы сияют, словно глубокие пруды /сияют/ от звездного света на них), and she picked up her courage with both wings and said (и она собрала /всю/ свою храбрость обоими крылышками и сказала), ‘O Queen, be lovely for ever (О Царица, будь прекрасна вечно).
And the Queen Balkis, the Wise Balkis of Sheba (и Царица Балкис, Мудрая Балкис из Шебы =
believe [bI'lJv], eye [aI], men-folk ['menfquk]
Balkis bent her beautiful head down and whispered, ‘Little woman, do you believe what your husband has just said?’
The Butterfly’s Wife looked at Balkis, and saw the most beautiful Queen’s eyes shining like deep pools with starlight on them, and she picked up her courage with both wings and said, ‘O Queen, be lovely for ever.
And the Queen Balkis, the Wise Balkis of Sheba, put her hand to her lips to hide a smile and said, ‘Little sister,
‘They get angry (они сердятся),’ said the Butterfly’s Wife (сказала Жена Мотылька), fanning herself quickly (быстро обмахиваясь), ‘over nothing at all (совершенно не из-за чего =
humour ['hjHmq], believe [bI'lJv], disappear ["dIsq'pIq]
‘They get angry,’ said the Butterfly’s Wife, fanning herself quickly, ‘over nothing at all, but we must humour them, O Queen. They never mean half they say. If it pleases my husband to believe that I believe he can make Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Palace disappear by stamping his foot, I’m sure
‘Little sister,’ said Balkis (сестренка, — сказала Балкис), ‘you are quite right (ты совершенно права); but next time he begins to boast (но в следующий раз, когда он начнет хвалиться), take him at his word (поймай его на слове). Ask him to stamp, and see what will happen (попроси его топнуть и посмотри, что случится =
Away flew the Butterfly’s Wife to her husband (Жена Мотылька улетела к своему мужу), and in five minutes they were quarrelling worse than ever (и через пять минут они ссорились еще хуже чем прежде =
‘Remember!’ said the Butterfly (помни! — сказал Мотылек). ‘Remember what I can do if I stamp my foot (помни /о том/, что я могу сделать, если /я/ топну моей ногой).’
boast [bqust], worse [wWs], remember [rI'membq]
‘Little sister,’ said Balkis, ‘you are quite right; but next time he begins to boast, take him at his word. Ask him to stamp, and see what will happen.