The Road Through the Forest (дорога через лес)

After a few hours (спустя нескольких часов) the road began to be rough (дорога начала быть неровной), and the walking grew so difficult (и ходьба становилась такой сложной) that the Scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow bricks (часто спотыкался о: «через»; желтые кирпичи), which were here very uneven (очень неровными). Sometimes (иногда), indeed, they were broken (сломаны) or missing altogether (отсутствовали совершенно), leaving holes that Toto jumped across (перепрыгивал) and Dorothy walked around (обходила вокруг). As for the Scarecrow, having no brains (имеющего никаких мозгов = без мозгов), he walked straight ahead (прямо вперед), and so stepped into the holes (так /что/ наступал в ямы) and fell at full length (падал в полную длину /своего роста/) on the hard bricks. It never hurt him (никогда = вовсе /не/ вредило ему), however (однако), and Dorothy would pick him up (подбирала его) and set him upon his feet again (ставила его на ноги снова), while he joined her (присоединился /к/ ней) in laughing merrily at his own mishap (весело смеясь над своей собственной неудачей).

The farms were not nearly so well cared for here (фермы здесь не были близко так хорошо ухоженными = возделанными) as they were farther back (как те, что /остались/ «дальше» позади). There were fewer houses (меньше домов) and fewer fruit trees (фруктовых деревьев), and the farther they went (чем дальше они шли) the more dismal and lonesome (тем более угрюмой и пустынной) the country became (страна становилась).

At noon (в полдень) they sat down by the roadside (сели на обочине), near a little brook (около маленького ручья), and Dorothy opened her basket (открыла свою корзину) and got out some bread (достала немного: «сколько-то, какое-то количество» хлеба). She offered a piece (предложила кусочек) to the Scarecrow, but he refused (отказался).

"I am never hungry (никогда /не/ голоден)," he said, "and it is a lucky thing I am not (удачная вещь = и это удачно, что я не голоден), for my mouth is only painted (так как мой рот только нарисован), and if I should cut a hole in it (и если я прорежу в нем дырку) so I could eat (чтобы я смог есть), the straw I am stuffed with would come out (солома, которой я набит, выйдет наружу), and that would spoil the shape of my head (испортит форму моей головы; to spoil — портить)." Dorothy saw at once (увидела сразу же) that this was true, so she only nodded (только кивнула) and went on (продолжила; to go on — продолжать) eating her bread.

"Tell me something about yourself (расскажи мне что-нибудь о себе) and the country you came from," said the Scarecrow, when she had finished her dinner (закончила свой обед). So she told him all about Kansas, and how gray everything was there (и каким серым там все было), and how the cyclone had carried her (и как ураган принес ее) to this queer Land of Oz.

The Scarecrow listened carefully (слушал внимательно), and said, "I cannot understand (понять) why you should wish (желать) to leave this beautiful country (покинуть эту прекрасную страну) and go back to the dry, gray place you call Kansas (и вернуться в засушливое, серое место, которое…)."

"That is because you have no brains," answered the girl (ответила девочка).

"No matter (не важно) how dreary and gray our homes are (какие унылые и серые наши дома есть), we people of flesh and blood would rather live there (мы, люди из плоти и крови, будем лучше жить там) than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful (какой бы красивой она /другая страна/ ни была). There is no place like home (нет места, подобного /родному/ дому = которое могло бы сравниться)." The Scarecrow sighed (вздохнул; to sigh — вздыхать).

"Of course I cannot understand it," he said. "If your heads were stuffed with straw, like mine (как мои), you would probably (возможно) all live in the beautiful places, and then Kansas would have no people at all.

It is fortunate (удачно /сложилось/) for Kansas that you have brains."

"Won't you tell me a story, while we are resting (пока мы отдыхаем)?" asked the child (ребенок).

The Scarecrow looked at her reproachfully (укоризненно; reproach — упрек), and answered: "My life has been so short (моя жизнь такая короткая) that I really know nothing whatever («ничего вовсе»).

I was only made day before yesterday (был только сделан позавчера). What happened in the world (что произошло в мире) before that time is all unknown to me (неизвестно мне). Luckily (к счастью), when the farmer made my head (сделал мою голову), one of the first things he did was to paint my ears (нарисовать мои уши), so that I heard (слышал) what was going on (что происходило). There was another Munchkin with him, and the first thing I heard was the farmer saying, `How do you like those ears?' 'They aren't straight (прямые),'" answered the other.

dreary [´drıərı] blood [blΛd] sigh [saı] mishap [´mıshæp]

After a few hours the road began to be rough, and the walking grew so difficult that the Scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow bricks, which were here very uneven. Sometimes, indeed, they were broken or missing altogether, leaving holes that Toto jumped across and Dorothy walked around. As for the Scarecrow, having no brains, he walked straight ahead, and so stepped into the holes and fell at full length on the hard bricks. It never hurt him, however, and Dorothy would pick him up and set him upon his feet again, while he joined her in laughing merrily at his own mishap.

The farms were not nearly so well cared for here as they were farther back. There were fewer houses and fewer fruit trees, and the farther they went the more dismal and lonesome the country became.

At noon they sat down by the roadside, near a little brook, and Dorothy opened her basket and got out some bread. She offered a piece to the Scarecrow, but he refused.

"I am never hungry," he said, "and it is a lucky thing I am not, for my mouth is only painted, and if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat, the straw I am stuffed with would come out, and that would spoil the shape of my head." Dorothy saw at once that this was true, so she only nodded and went on eating her bread.

"Tell me something about yourself and the country you came from," said the Scarecrow, when she had finished her dinner. So she told him all about Kansas, and how gray everything was there, and how the cyclone had carried her to this queer Land of Oz.

The Scarecrow listened carefully, and said, "I cannot understand why you should wish to leave this beautiful country and go back to the dry, gray place you call Kansas."

"That is because you have no brains," answered the girl.

"No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home." The Scarecrow sighed.

"Of course I cannot understand it," he said. "If your heads were stuffed with straw, like mine, you would probably all live in the beautiful places, and then Kansas would have no people at all.

It is fortunate for Kansas that you have brains."

"Won't you tell me a story, while we are resting?" asked the child.

The Scarecrow looked at her reproachfully, and answered: "My life has been so short that I really know nothing whatever.

I was only made day before yesterday. What happened in the world before that time is all unknown to me. Luckily, when the farmer made my head, one of the first things he did was to paint my ears, so that I heard what was going on. There was another Munchkin with him, and the first thing I heard was the farmer saying, 'How do you like those ears?' 'They aren't straight,'" answered the other.

"`Never mind (не бери в голову),'" said the farmer. "`They are ears just the same (уши просто те же /самые/ = это все равно уши),'" which was true enough (правдой достаточно = что, в общем-то, было правдой).

"`Now I'll make the eyes (сделаю глаза),'" said the farmer. So he painted (нарисовал) my right eye (правый глаз), and as soon as it was finished (и как только он был закончен = его закончили /рисовать/) I found myself looking at him (нашел себя смотрящим на него) and at everything around me with a great deal of curiosity (с большой /долей/ любопытства), for this was my first glimpse of the world (мой первый /беглый/ взгляд на мир).

"That's a rather pretty eye," remarked (заметил) the Munchkin who was watching the farmer (смотрел на фермера). "'Blue paint (голубая краска) is just the color for eyes.' "`I think I'll make the other a little bigger (немного больше),'" said the farmer. And when the second eye was done I could see much better than before (мог видеть намного лучше, чем раньше). Then he made my nose and my mouth (мой нос и мой рот). But I did not speak (не говорил), because at that time (в то время) I didn't know (не знал) what a mouth was for (для чего рот).

I had the fun of (веселился, меня забавляло; to have fun — веселиться) watching them make my body and my arms and legs; and when they fastened on my head (прикрепили мою голову), at last (наконец), I felt very proud (почувствовал /себя/ очень гордым), for I thought I was just as good a man as anyone (ничуть не хужу других).

"'This fellow (парень) will scare the crows fast enough (будет пугать = распугает ворон быстро достаточно = достаточно быстро),' said the farmer. `He looks just like a man (выглядит, как человек/мужчина).' "'Why, he is a man (так он и есть человек),' said the other (другой), and I quite agreed with him (согласился с ним).

The farmer carried me under his arm to the cornfield (отнес меня под своей рукой на кукурузное поле), and set me up on a tall stick (установил меня на высокую палку), where you found me (где ты нашла меня). He and his friend soon after (вскоре после) walked away (ушли прочь) and left me alone (оставили меня одного).

"I did not like to be deserted this way (мне не понравилось быть покинутым таким вот образом). So I tried to walk after them (пытался пойти вслед /за/ ними). But my feet would not touch the ground (мои ноги не касались земли), and I was forced (принужден; to force — принуждать) to stay on that pole. It was a lonely life to lead (одинокая жизнь /чтобы/ вести), for I had nothing to think of (не о чем было подумать), having been made such a little while before (поскольку меня сделали столь недавно: «будучи сделанным…»).

Many crows and other birds flew (много ворон и других птиц прилетало) into the cornfield, but as soon as they saw me (как только видели меня) they flew away again, thinking I was a Munchkin; and this pleased me (нравилось, льстило мне) and made me feel (давало мне почувствовать) that I was quite an important person (довольно важной персоной).

By and by (постепенно) an old crow flew near me (вскоре старый ворон подлетел близко /ко/ мне), and after looking at me carefully he perched upon my shoulder and said: "'I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy manner (одурачить меня столь неловким, грубым образом). Any crow of sense (любая ворона разума = разумная ворона) could see that you are only stuffed with straw.' Then he hopped down (спрыгнул = слетел вниз; to hop — прыгать) at my feet and ate all the corn he wanted (сколько хотел). The other birds (птицы), seeing he was not harmed by me (не был поврежден мной, что я не причинил ему вреда), came to eat the corn too (тоже), so in a short time (так что за короткое время) there was a great flock of them about me (была большая стая их около меня).

"I felt sad at this (грустным из-за этого), for it showed (так как это показывало) I was not such a good Scarecrow after all (после всего /этого/ = в конце концов); but the old crow comforted me (успокоил меня), saying, `If you only had brains in your head (если бы только у тебя были мозги в твоей голове) you would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them (и лучше, чем некоторые из них). Brains are the only things worth having in this world (стоящие обладания в этом мире; worth — стоящий, заслуживающий), no matter whether one is a crow or a man (независимо от того, ворона ты или человек). "After the crows had gone I thought this over (я обдумал это), and decided (решил) I would try hard (буду стараться сильно: «тяжело») to get some brains (раздобыть мозги). By good luck (по счастливой удаче) you came along and pulled me off the stake (и стянула меня с кола), and from what you say I am sure (уверен) the Great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City."

"I hope so (надеюсь так)," said Dorothy earnestly (убедительно), "since you seem anxious to have them (так как ты кажешься стремящимся, чтобы иметь их)."

"Oh, yes; I am anxious," returned (ответил) the Scarecrow. "It is such an uncomfortable feeling (такое неприятное чувство) to know one is a fool (знать, что ты глупец)."

"Well," said the girl, "let us go (пойдем)". And she handed the basket to the Scarecrow (вручила корзину Страшиле).

There were no fences at all by the roadside now (у обочины теперь), and the land was rough and untilled (земля была ухабистая и невспаханная). Toward evening (к вечеру) they came to a great forest (пришли к большому лесу), where the trees grew so big and close together (росли такими большими и /так/ близко вместе = столь густо) that their branches met over the road of yellow brick (их ветки встречались посреди = сплетались над дорогой из желтых кирпичей). It was almost dark (почти темно) under the trees, for the branches shut out the daylight (загораживали свет); but the travellers did not stop (путешественники не останавливались), and went on into the forest (продолжали идти вглубь леса).

"If this road goes in, it must come out (если эта дорога заходит /в лес/, она должна и выходить)," said the Scarecrow, "and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road (на другом конце дороги), we must go wherever it leads us (куда бы она нас ни вела)."

"Anyone would know that (каждый знает это)," said Dorothy.

"Certainly (конечно); that is why I know it," returned the Scarecrow.

"If it required brains to figure it out (если это требовало бы мозгов /чтобы/ постигнуть это; to figure out — постигать), I never should have said it (я бы никода этого не сказал)." After an hour or so the light faded away (спустя час или около /того/ свет угас), and they found themselves stumbling along in the darkness (оказались спотыкающимися = идущими, спотыкаясь в темноте). Dorothy could not see at all (вообще), but Toto could, for some dogs see very well in the dark; and the Scarecrow declared (заявил) he could see as well as by day (как днем). So she took hold of his arm (схватила его за руку) and managed to get along fairly well (удалось идти довольно хорошо; to manage — удаваться).

"If you see any house, or any place where we can pass the night (провести ночь)," she said, "you must tell me; for it is very uncomfortable (очень неудобно) walking in the dark." Soon after the Scarecrow stopped.

"I see a little cottage at the right of us (/загородный/ дом справа от нас)," he said, "built of logs and branches (построенный из бревен и веток). Shall we go there?"

"Yes, indeed," answered the child (ответил ребенок). "I am all tired out (я вся измучена)." So the Scarecrow led her through the trees until they reached the cottage (достигли коттеджа), and Dorothy entered (вошла) and found a bed of dried leaves in one corner (постель из сухих листьев в одном углу). She lay down at once (легла сразу же), and with Toto beside her soon fell into a sound sleep (погрузилась в крепкий: «здоровый» сон). The Scarecrow, who was never tired, stood up in another corner and waited patiently (спокойно) until morning came (пока не настало утро).

cottage [´kotı ʤ] fasten [´fa:sn] fellow [´feləu]

"`Never mind,'" said the farmer. "`They are ears just the same,'" which was true enough.

"`Now I'll make the eyes,'" said the farmer. So he painted my right eye, and as soon as it was finished I found myself looking at him and at everything around me with a great deal of curiosity, for this was my first glimpse of the world.

"That's a rather pretty eye," remarked the Munchkin who was watching the farmer. "`Blue paint is just the color for eyes.' "`I think I'll make the other a little bigger,'" said the farmer. And when the second eye was done I could see much better than before. Then he made my nose and my mouth. But I did not speak, because at that time I didn't know what a mouth was for.

I had the fun of watching them make my body and my arms and legs; and when they fastened on my head, at last, I felt very proud, forI thought I was just as good a man as anyone.

"`This fellow will scare the crows fast enough,' said the farmer. `He looks just like a man. ' "`Why, he is a man,' said the other, and I quite agreed with him.

The farmer carried me under his arm to the cornfield, and set me up on a tall stick, where you found me. He and his friend soon after walked away and left me alone.

"I did not like to be deserted this way. So I tried to walk after them. But my feet would not touch the ground, and I was forced to stay on that pole. It was a lonely life to lead, for I had nothing to think of, having been made such a little while before.

Many crows and other birds flew into the cornfield, but as soon as they saw me they flew away again, thinking I was a Munchkin; and this pleased me and made me feel that I was quite an important person.

By and by an old crow flew near me, and after looking at me carefully he perched upon my shoulder and said: "'I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy manner. Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with straw.' Then he hopped down at my feet and ate all the corn he wanted. The other birds, seeing he was not harmed by me, came to eat the corn too, so in a short time there was a great flock of them about me.

"I felt sad at this, for it showed I was not such a good Scarecrow after all; but the old crow comforted me, saying, 'If you only had brains in your head you would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them. Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man. ' "After the crows had gone I thought this over, and decided I would try hard to get some brains. By good luck you came along and pulled me off the stake, and from what you say I am sure the Great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City."

"I hope so," said Dorothy earnestly, "since you seem anxious to have them."

"Oh, yes; I am anxious," returned the Scarecrow. "It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool."

"Well," said the girl, "let us go. "And she handed the basket to the Scarecrow.

There were no fences at all by the roadside now, and the land was rough and untilled. Toward evening they came to a great forest, where the trees grew so big and close together that their branches met over the road of yellow brick. It was almost dark under the trees, for the branches shut out the daylight; but the travelers did not stop, and went on into the forest.

"If this road goes in, it must come out," said the Scarecrow, "and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road, we must go wherever it leads us."

"Anyone would know that," said Dorothy.

"Certainly; that is why I know it," returned the Scarecrow.

"If it required brains to figure it out, I never should have said it." After an hour or so the light faded away, and they found themselves stumbling along in the darkness. Dorothy could not see at all, but Toto could, for some dogs see very well in the dark; and the Scarecrow declared he could see as well as by day. So she took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well.

"If you see any house, or any place where we can pass the night," she said, "you must tell me; for it is very uncomfortable walking in the dark." Soon after the Scarecrow stopped.

"I see a little cottage at the right of us," he said, "built of logs and branches. Shall we go there?"

"Yes, indeed," answered the child. "I am all tired out." So the Scarecrow led her through the trees until they reached the cottage, and Dorothy entered and found a bed of dried leaves in one corner. She lay down at once, and with Toto beside her soon fell into a sound sleep. The Scarecrow, who was never tired, stood up in another corner and waited patiently until morning came.