Лучшие сказки мира на английском языке. Уровень 1 / The Best Fairy Tales of the World

Still she went on, till she came into the hall, and went up the broad stairs till she came to a door in the gallery, over which was a writing:

Be bold, be bold, but not too bold,

Lest that your heart's blood should run cold.

But Lady Mary was a brave one, she was, and she opened the door, and what do you think she saw?

She saw skeletons of beautiful young ladies all stained with blood.

So Lady Mary thought it was high time to get out of that horrible place, and she closed the door, went through the gallery, and was just going down the stairs, and out of the hall, when who should she see through the window but Mr Fox dragging a beautiful young lady along from the gateway to the door.

Lady Mary rushed downstairs, and hid herself behind a cask, just in time, as Mr Fox came in with the poor young lady, who seemed to have fainted.

Just as he got near Lady Mary, Mr Fox saw a diamond ring[61 - diamond ring – кольцо с бриллиантом] glittering on the finger of the young lady he was dragging, and he tried to pull it off.

But it was tightly fixed, and would not come off, so Mr Fox drew his sword, raised it, and brought it down upon the hand of the poor lady.

The sword cut off the hand, which jumped up into the air, and fell of all places in the world into Lady Mary's hands.

Mr Fox looked about a bit, but did not think of looking behind the cask, so at last he went on dragging the young lady up the stairs.

As soon as she heard him pass through the gallery, Lady Mary crept out of the door, down through the gateway, and ran home as fast as she could.

Now it happened that the very next day the marriage contract of Lady Mary and Mr Fox was to be signed[62 - was to be signed – должен был быть подписан], and there was a splendid breakfast before that.

And when Mr Fox sat at table opposite Lady Mary, he looked at her.

'How pale you are this morning, my dear.'

'Yes,' said she, 'I had a bad night's rest last night.

'Dreams go by contraries[63 - dreams go by contraries – дурной сон может предвещать хорошее и наоборот],' said Mr Fox; 'but tell us your dream, and your sweet voice will make the time pass till the happy hour comes.'

'I dreamed,' said Lady Mary, 'that I went to your castle, and I found it in the woods, with high walls, and a deep moat, and over the gateway was a writing:

Be bold, be bold.