Синяя птица / The blue Bird. Уровень 1

Luckily, I always carry with me something to give new light to dimmed eyes. What am I taking out of my bag?

Tyltyl. Oh, what a dear little green hat! What’s that in the cockade?

The Fairy. That’s the big diamond that makes people see[9 - makes people see – возвращает людям зрение].

Tyltyl. Really?

The Fairy. Yes; first the hat on your head. Then turn the diamond a little; from right to left. Do you see? The diamond presses a bump which opens your eyes.

Tyltyl. Doesn’t it hurt?

The Fairy.

Not at all. You will see even the inside of things: the soul of bread, of wine, of pepper, for instance.

Mytyl. Can you see the soul of sugar, too?

The Fairy (angrily). Of course you can! I hate unnecessary questions. The soul of pepper is more interesting than the soul of sugar. I give you all that to help you in your search for the Blue Bird. Oh, one more thing. (Pointing to the diamond) When you hold it like this, and when you turn it, you can behold the past. Another little turn and you behold the future.

It’s curious and practical and it’s noiseless.

Tyltyl. Daddy will take it from me.

The Fairy. He won’t see it; no one can see it when it’s on your head. Will you try it? (She puts the little green hat on Tyltyl’s head). Now, turn the diamond.

Tyltyl turned the diamond and a sudden and wonderful change came over everything. The old Fairy alters into a princess of marvellous beauty. The flints of the cottage walls turn blue as sapphires, become transparent and gleam and sparkle like the most precious stones.

The humble furniture becomes resplendent. The table looks like a table of marble. The face of the clock winks its eye and smiles genially. The door that contains the pendulum opens and releases the Hours. They begin to dance.

Tyltyl (pointing to the Hours). Who are all those pretty ladies?

The Fairy. Don’t be afraid; they are the hours of your life and they are glad to be free and visible for a moment.

Tyltyl. And why are the walls so bright? Are they made of sugar or of precious stones?

The Fairy. All stones are alike, all stones are precious; but man sees only a few of them.

While they are speaking, the souls of the Quartern-loaves[10 - quartern-loaves – каравай], in the form of little men scramble out of the bread-pan and frisk round the table. Fire follows them with laughter.

Tyltyl. Who are those ugly little men?

The Fairy.