The Marvelous Land of Oztby L. Frank Baum

Chapter 23. Princess Ozma of Oz

"You are my prisoner ['prIznq] (пленница), and it is useless ['jHslqs] (бесполезно) for you to struggle ['strAgl] (сопротивляться) any longer ['lPNq] (больше)," said Glinda, in her soft, sweet [swJt] (милым) voice. "Lie [laI] still (полежи спокойно) a moment, and rest yourself, and then I will carry you back to my tent."

"Why do you seek [sJk] (ищешь) me?" asked Mombi, still scarce [skeqs] (едва) able to speak plainly for lack [lxk] (недостатка) of breath. "What have I done to you, to be so persecuted ['pE:sIkjHtId] (преследуемой)?"

"You have done nothing to me," answered the gentle ['Gentl] (добрая) Sorceress; "but I suspect you have been guilty ['gIltI] (виновна) of several wicked actions ['xkS(q)nz] (поступках); and if I find it is true that you have so abused [q'bjHzd] (злоупотребила) your knowledge ['nPlIG] (знанием) of magic, I intend [In'tend] (намерена) to punish ['pAnIS] (наказать) you severely [sI'vIqli] (строго)."

"I defy [dI'faI] (отказываюсь подчиняться) you!" croaked [krqukt] (каркнула) the old hag [hxg] (ведьма). "You dare [deq] (осмелишься) not harm [hRm] (причинить вред) me!"

Just then the Gump flew up to them and alighted [q'laItId] (приземлился) upon the desert sands [sxndz] (пески) beside Glinda. Our friends were delighted to find that Mombi had finally been captured, and after a hurried ['hArid] (поспешного) consultation ["kPnsql'teISqn] (совещания) it was decided they should all return to the camp [kxmp] (лагерь) in the Gump. So the Saw-Horse was tossed [tPst] (заброшен) aboard [q'bLd] (на борт), and then Glinda still holding ['hquldIN] (держа) an end of the golden thread [Tred] (нити) that was around Mombi's neck, forced [fLst] (заставила) her prisoner ['prIznq] (пленницу) to climb [klaIm] (взобраться) into the sofas. The others now followed, and Tip gave the word to the Gump to return.

The journey was made in safety ['seIftI] (благополучно), Mombi sitting in her place with a grim [grIm] (мрачным) and sullen ['sAlqn] air (угрюмым видом); for the old hag [hxg] (ведьма) was absolutely ['xbsqlu:tli] (совершенно) helpless ['helplIs] (беспомощна) so long as (пока) the magical thread [Tred] (нить) encircled [In'sE:k(q)ld] (окружала) her throat [Trqut] (горло). The army hailed [heIld] (приветствовала) Glinda's return with loud cheers [CIqz] (криками "ура"), and the party of friends soon gathered ['gxDqd] (собрались) again in the royal tent, which had been neatly ['nJtli] (зд. полностью) repaired [rI'peqd] (отремонтирована) during their absence ['xbsqns] (отсутствия).

"Now," said the Sorceress to Mombi, "I want you to tell us why the Wonderful Wizard of Oz paid (нанёс) you three visits ['vIzIts], and what became of the child, Ozma, which so curiously disappeared."

The Witch looked at Glinda defiantly [dI'faIqntli] (вызывающе), but said not a word.

"Answer me!" cried the Sorceress.

But still Mombi remained silent ['saIlqnt] (безмолвна).

"Perhaps she doesn't know," remarked Jack.

"I beg you will keep quiet," said Tip. "You might spoil everything with your foolishness ['fHlISnIs] (глупостью)."

"Very well, dear father!" returned the Pumpkinhead, meekly ['mJkli] (покорно).

"How glad I am to be a Woggle-Bug!" murmured ['mE:mqd] (прошептал) the Highly Magnified Insect, softly ['sPftli] (тихо). "No one can expect [Ik'spekt] (ожидать, что) wisdom ['wIzdqm] (мудрость) to flow [flqu] (потечёт) from a pumpkin."

"Well," said the Scarecrow, "what shall we do to make Mombi speak? Unless she tells us what we wish to know her capture ['kxpCq] (поимка) will do us no good at all."

"Suppose we try kindness ['kaIndnIs] (доброту)," suggested the Tin Woodman. "I've heard that anyone can be conquered with kindness ['kaIndnIs], no matter (неважно) how ugly ['AglI] (гадкими) they may be."

At this the Witch turned to glare [gleq] (свирепо посмотреть) upon him so horribly ['hPrIbli] (ужасно) that the Tin Woodman shrank [SrxNk] (попятился) back abashed [q'bxSt] (смутившись).

Glinda had been carefully considering [kqn'sIdqrIN] (обдумывала) what to do, and now she turned to Mombi and said:

"You will gain [geIn] (не добьёшься) nothing, I assure [q'Suq] (заверяю) you, by thus defying ['dIfaIN] (не подчиняясь) us. For I am determined [dI'tE:mInd] (твёрдо намерена) to learn [lE:n] the truth (узнать правду) about the girl Ozma, and unless you tell me all that you know, I will certainly put you to death."

"Oh, no! Don't do that!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman. "It would be an awful ['Lf(q)l] (ужасную) thing to kill anyone -- even old Mombi!"

"But it is merely a threat [Tret] (угроза)," returned Glinda. "I shall not put Mombi to death, because she will prefer to tell me the truth."

"Oh, I see!" said the tin man, much relieved [rI'lJvd] (с обегчением).

"Suppose I tell you all that you wish to know," said Mombi, speaking so suddenly that she startled them all. "What will you do with me then?"

"In that case [keIs] (случае)," replied Glinda, "I shall merely ask you to drink a powerful draught [dra:ft] (снадобье) which will cause [kLz] (заставит) you to forget [fq'get] (забыть) all the magic you have ever learned."

"Then I would become a helpless ['helplIs] (беспомощной) old woman!"

"But you would be alive," suggested the Pumpkinhead, consolingly [kqn'squlINli] (утешительно).

"Do try to keep silent ['saIlqnt] (молчать)!" said Tip, nervously ['nE:vqsli] (нервно).

"I'll try," responded Jack; "but you will admit [qd'mIt] (признаешь) that it's a good thing to be alive."

"Especially if one happens ['hxpqnz] to be (оказывается) Thoroughly Educated," added the Woggle-Bug, nodding approval [q'pru:vql] (одобрительно).

"You may make your choice," Glinda said to old Mombi, "between death if you remain silent ['saIlqnt] (будешь продолжать молчать), and the loss [lPs] (потерей) of your magical powers ['pauqz] (сил) if you tell me the truth. But I think you will prefer to live.

Mombi cast (бросила) an uneasy glance [glRns] (тревожный взгляд) at the Sorceress, and saw that she was in earnest ['E:nIst] (говорила серьёзно), and not to be trifled ['traIf(q)ld] with (с ней шутки плохи). So she replied, slowly:

"I will answer your questions ['kwesCqnz] (вопросы)."

"That is what I expected [Ik'spektId] (ожидала)," said Glinda, pleasantly. "You have chosen wisely ['waIzli] (мудро), I assure [q'Suq] (уверяю) you."

She then motioned ['mquS(q)nd] (дала знак) to one of her Captains ['kxptqnz] (капитанов), who brought her a beautiful golden casket ['kRskIt] (шкатулку). From this the Sorceress drew an immense [I'mqns] (огромную) white pearl [pE:l] (жемчужину), attached [q'txCt ] (прикреплённую) to a slender chain [CeIn] (тонкой цепочке) which she placed around her neck in such a way that the pearl [pE:l] rested upon her bosom ['buzqm] (груди), directly [dI'rektlI] (прямо) over her heart.

"Now," said she, "I will ask my first question: Why did the Wizard pay you three visits ['vIzIts]?"

"Because I would not come to him," answered Mombi.

"That is no answer," said Glinda, sternly ['stE:nlI] (строго). "Tell me the truth."

"Well," returned Mombi, with downcast ['daunkRst] (потупленным) eyes, "he visited ['vIzItId] me to learn [lE:n] (узнать) the way I make tea [ti:]-biscuits ['bIskIts] (печенье к чаю)."

"Look up!" commanded the Sorceress.

Mombi obeyed [qu'beId] (подчинилась).

"What is the color of my pearl [pE:l] (жемчужины)?" demanded Glinda.

"Why -- it is black [blxk] (чёрный)!" replied the old Witch, in a tone of wonder.

"Then you have told me a falsehood ['fLlshud] (ложь)!" cried Glinda, angrily ['xNgrIli] (сердито). "Only when the truth is spoken  will my magic pearl remain a pure [pjuq] (чистого) white in color."

Mombi now saw how useless ['jHslqs] (бесполезно) it was to try to deceive [dI'sJv] (обманывать) the Sorceress; so she said, meanwhile ['mJn'waIl] (тем временем) scowling ['skaulIN] (хмурясь) at her defeat [dI'fi:t] (поражения):

"The Wizard brought to me the girl Ozma, who was then no more than a baby ['beIbI], and begged [begd] (просил) me to conceal [kqn'sJl] (спрятать) the child."

"That is what I thought," declared Glinda, calmly. "What did he give you for thus serving ['sE:vIN] (услугу) him?"

"He taught [tLt] (научил) me all the magical tricks [trIks] (трюки) he knew. Some were good tricks, and some were only frauds [frLdz] (подделки, обман); but I have remained faithful ['feITf(q)l] (верна) to my promise."

"What did you do with the girl?" asked Glinda; and at this question everyone bent forward and listened eagerly ['Jgqli] (жадно) for the reply.

"I enchanted [In'CRntId] (заколдовала) her," answered Mombi.

"In what way?"

"I transformed her into -- into -- "

"Into what?" demanded Glinda, as the Witch hesitated ['hezIteItId] (заколебалась).

"Into a boy!" said Mombi, in a low tone."

A boy!" echoed ['ekqud] (вторил) every voice; and then, because they knew that this old woman had reared ['rIqd] (воспитывала) Tip from childhood ['CaIldhud] (детства), all eyes were turned to where the boy stood.

"Yes," said the old Witch, nodding her head; "that is the Princess Ozma - the child brought to me by the Wizard who stole [stqul] (украл) her father's throne. That is the rightful ['raItf(q)l] (законный) ruler of the Emerald City!" and she pointed her long bony ['bqunI] (костлявый) finger ['fINgq] (палец) straight at the boy.

"I!" cried Tip, in amazement. "Why, I'm no Princess Ozma -- I'm not a girl!"

Glinda smiled [smaIld] (улыбнулась), and going to Tip she took his small brown [braun] (загорелую) hand within her dainty ['deInti] (изящной) white one.

"You are not a girl just now" said she, gently ['Gentli] (тихо), "because Mombi transformed you into a boy. But you were born [bLn] (родился) a girl, and also a Princess; so you must resume [rI'zju:m] (вновь принять) your proper ['prPpq] (настоящую) form, that you may become Queen of the Emerald City."

"Oh, let Jinjur be the Queen!" exclaimed Tip, ready to cry. "I want to stay [steI] (остаться) a boy, and travel with the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and the WoggleBug, and Jack -- yes! and my friend the Saw-Horse -- and the Gump! I don't want to be a girl!"

"Never mind, old chap [Cxp] (приятель)," said the Tin Woodman, soothingly ['sHDINli] (успокоительно); "it don't hurt to be a girl, I'm told; and we will all remain your faithful ['feITf(q)l] (верными) friends just the same. And, to be honest [PnIst] (честным) with you, I've always considered girls nicer than boys."

"They're just as nice, anyway ['enIweI] (во всяком случае)," added the Scarecrow, patting ['pxtIN] (похлопав) Tip affectionately [q'fekSqnqtlI] (нежно) upon the head.

"And they are equally ['i:kwqlI] (такие же) good students ['stjHdqnts]," proclaimed [prq'kleImd] (объявил) the Woggle-Bug. "I should like to become your tutor ['tju:tq] (наставником), when you are transformed into a girl again."

"But -- see here!" said Jack Pumpkinhead, with a gasp [gRsp] (): "if you become a girl, you can't be my dear father any more!"

"No," answered Tip, laughing in spite [spaIt] of (несмотря на) his anxiety [xN'zaIqti] (беспокойство). "and I shall not be sorry ['sPrI] (сожалеть) to escape the relationship [rI'leISqnSIp] (родство)." Then he added, hesitatingly ['hezIteItINlI] (нерешительно), as he turned to Glinda: "I might try it for awhile [q'waIl] (недолго), - just to see how it seems, you know. But if I don't like being a girl you must promise to change [CeInG] (превратить) me into a boy again."

"Really," said the Sorceress, "that is beyond [bI'jPnd] (не подвластно) my magic. I never deal [dJl] (занимаюсь) in transformations ["trxnsfq'meIS(q)nz] (превращениями), for they are not honest [PnIst] (честные), and no respectable [rIs'pektqbl] (уважающая себя) sorceress likes to make things appear [q'pIq] (казаться) to be what they are not. Only unscrupulous [An'skru:pjulqs] (бессовестные) witches use the art [Rt] (умение), and therefore I must ask Mombi to effect [I'fekt] (совершить) your release [rI'lJs] (освобождение) from her charm, and restore [rIs'tL] (вернуть) you to your proper ['prPpq] (настоящее) form. It will be the last opportunity ["Ppq'tju:nItI] (возможность, когда) she will have to practice ['prxktIs] magic."

Now that the truth about Princess Ozma had been discovered, Mombi did not care what became of Tip; but she feared Glinda's anger ['xNgq] (гнева), and the boy generously ['Gen(q)rqsli] (великодушно) promised ['prPmIst] (обещал) to provide [prq'vaId] (позаботиться) for Mombi in her old age [eIdZ] (старости) if he became the ruler of the Emerald City. So the Witch consented [kqn'sentId] (согласилась) to effect [I'fekt] (совершить) the transformation, and preparations ["prepq'reIS(q)nz] (приготовления) for the event [I'vent] (событию) were at once (тотчас) made.

Glinda ordered ['Ldqd] (приказала) her own royal couch [kautS] (ложе) to be placed in the center of the tent. It was piled [paIld] (завалено) high with cushions (подушками) covered with rose-colored silk, and from a golden railing ['reIlIN] (решётки) above hung many folds [fquldz] (складок) of pink [pINk] (розового) gossamer ['gPsqmq] (газа), completely [kqm'plJtlI] (полностью) concealing [kqn'sJlIN] (закрывавшего) the interior [In'tIqrIq] (внутреннюю сторону) of the couch [kautS] (ложа).

The first act [xkt] (действие) of the Witch was to make the boy drink a potion ['pquSqn] (зелье) which quickly sent him into a deep and dreamless ['drI:mlIs] (без сновидений) sleep. Then the Tin Woodman and the Woggle-Bug bore [bL] (отнесли) him gently ['Gentli] (осторожно) to the couch [kautS] (ложе), placed him upon the soft cushions, and drew the gossamer ['gPsqmq] (из газа) hangings ['hxNINz] (портьеры) to shut him from all earthly ['E:TlI] (людского) view.

The Witch squatted ['skwPtId] (села на корточки) upon the ground and kindled ['kInd(q)ld] (разожгла) a tiny fire of dried herbs [hE:bz] (трав), which she drew from her bosom ['buzqm] (груди). When the blaze [bleIz] (пламя) shot [SPt] up (разгорелось) and burned [bE:nd] (горело) clearly ['klIqlI] (ясно) old Mombi scattered ['skxtqd] (посыпала) a handful ['hxndful] (щепоть) of magical powder over the fire, which straightway ['streItweI] (сразу) gave off a rich [rItS] (богатый) violet ['vaIqlIt] (фиолетовый) vapor ['veIpq] (пар), filling ['fIlIN] (заполняя) all the tent with its fragrance ['freIgrqns] (запахом) and forcing ['fLsIN] (заставляя) the Saw-Horse to sneeze [snJz] (чихнуть) -- although he had been warned [wLnd] (предупрежден) to keep quiet.

Then, while the others watched [wPCt] (наблюдали за) her curiously, the hag [hxg] (ведьма) chanted ['CRntId] (пропела) a rhythmical ['rIDmIkql] verse [vE:s] (стих) in words which no one understood ["Andq'stud] (понимал), and bent her lean [li:n] (тощее) body seven times [taImz] (раз) back and forth [fLT] (взад и вперёд) over the fire. And now the incantation ["Inkxn'teISqn] (заклинание) seemed complete, for the Witch stood upright and cried the one word "Yeowa!" in a loud voice.

The vapor ['veIpq] (пар) floated ['flqutId] away (улетучился); the atmosphere ['xtmqsfIq] became clear [klIq] (ясной) again; a whiff [wIf] (струя) of fresh [freS] (свежего) air filled the tent, and the pink [pINk] (розовые) curtains [kE:tnz] (занавески) of the couch [kautS] (ложа) trembled ['tremb(q)ld] (дрожали) slightly, as if stirred [stE:d] (двигаемые) from within.

Glinda walked to the canopy ['kxnqpI] (балдахину) and parted ['pRtId] (раздвинула) the silken ['sIlkqn] (шёлковые) hangings ['hxNINz] (занавески). Then she bent over the cushions, reached out her hand, and from the couch [kautS] (ложа) arose [q'rquz] (поднялась) the form of a young girl, fresh [freS] (свежая) and beautiful as a May morning. Her eyes sparkled [spRkld] (блестели) as two diamonds ['daIqmqndz] (алмаза), and her lips [lIps] (губы) were tinted ['tIntId] (окрашены) like a tourmaline (турмалин). All adown [q'daun] (вниз по) her back floated ['flqutId] (струились) tresses ['tresIz] (косы) of ruddy ['rAdI] (красного) gold, with a slender jeweled ['GHqld] (украшенным драгоценностями) circlet ['sE:klIt] (кольцом) confining [kqn'faInIN] (удерживавшим) them at the brow [brau] (лбу). Her robes [rqubz] (платье) of silken gauze [gLz] (газа) floated ['flqutId] around (окутывало) her like a cloud [klaud] (облако), and dainty ['deInti] (изящные) satin ['sxtIn] (атласные) slippers ['slIpqz] (туфли) shod [SPd] (были надеты на) her feet.

At this exquisite [Ik'skwIzIt, 'ekskwI-] (изысканного) vision ['vIZqn] (зрелища) Tip's old comrades ['kPmrIdz] (товарищи) stared [steqd] (глазели) in wonder for the space [speIs] (протяжении) of a full [ful] (целой) minute ['mInIt], and then every head bent low in honest [PnIst] (истинном) admiration ["xdmq'reISqn] (восхищении) of the lovely Princess Ozma. The girl herself cast one look into Glinda's bright face, which glowed [glqud] (сияло) with pleasure ['pleZq] (удовольствия) and satisfaction [sxtIs'fxkSqn] (удовлетворения), and then turned upon the others. Speaking the words with sweet [swJt] (милой) diffidence ['dIfIdqns] (застенчивостью), she said:

"I hope none of you will care less for me than you did before. I'm just the same Tip, you know; only -- only -- "

"Only you're different!" said the Pumpkinhead; and everyone  thought it was the wisest ['waIzIst] (самая мудрая) speech he had ever made.

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