"And I (а я)," declared her sister (заявила сестра), "choose for my husband (я выбираю себе в мужья) that little twinkling Star (эту маленькую мерцающую Звезду)!"

husband [`hAzbqnd], declare [dI`kleq], twinkle [twInkl]

"If that is true, sister, and it may be true," said the Water, "I choose that brightest Star for my husband!"

"And I," declared her sister, "choose for my husband that little twinkling Star!"

By and by the sisters slept (вскоре сестры заснули; by and by — постепенно, мало-помалу, вскоре); and when they awoke (а когда они проснулись; to awake), they found themselves in the sky (они поняли, что находятся на небе: «нашли/обнаружили себя на небе»; to find — находить; to find oneself — оказываться /где-либо, в каком-либо состоянии/)! The husband of the elder sister (мужем старшей сестры) who had chosen the bright star (которая выбрала яркую звезду) was an old warrior with a shining name (был опытным воином с прославленным именем; shining — великолепный, выдающийся; to shine — светить), but the husband of the younger girl (но мужем младшей девушки) was a fine-looking young man (был красивый молодой человек), who had as yet no great reputation (который еще не имел великой славы/доброго имени).

elder [`eldq], star [stR], warrior [`wOrIq], reputation ["repju(:)`teIS(q)n]

By and by the sisters slept; and when they awoke, they found themselves in the sky! The husband of the elder sister who had chosen the bright star was an old warrior with a shining name, but the husband of the younger girl was a fine-looking young man, who had as yet no great reputation.

The Star men were kind to their wives (Звездные люди/мужчины были добры к своим женам), who lived very happily in their new home (которые жили очень счастливо в своем новом доме). One day they went out to dig wild turnips (однажды они вышли накопать дикой репы), and the old warrior said to his wife (и опытный/старый воин сказал своей жене):

"When you are digging (когда ты будешь копать), you must not hit the ground too hard (ты не должна слишком сильно бить по земле)!"

wife [waIf], wild [waIld], turnip ['tq:nIp], too [tH]

The Star men were kind to their wives, who lived very happily in their new home. One day they went out to dig wild turnips, and the old warrior said to his wife:

"When you are digging, you must not hit the ground too hard!"

The younger man also warned his wife, saying (более молодой мужчина также предупредил свою жену, сказав):

"Do not hit the ground too hard (не бей по земле слишком сильно)!"

However, the Earth forgot (однако Земля забыла), and in her haste (и в своей спешке) she struck the ground so hard (она так сильно ударила по земле; to strike) with the sharp-pointed stick (остроконечной палочкой; point — острие; наконечник) with which she dug turnips (которой она копала репу; to dig), that the floor of the sky was broken (что небесный свод: «пол неба» раскололся; floor — пол; to break) and she fell through (и она провалилась: «упала через/сквозь»; to fall).

warn [wLn], however [hau`evq], haste [heIst]

The younger man also warned his wife, saying:

"Do not hit the ground too hard!"

However, the Earth forgot, and in her haste she struck the ground so hard with the sharp-pointed stick with which she dug turnips, that the floor of the sky was broken and she fell through.

Two very old people found the poor girl (двое глубоких стариков: «два очень старых человека» нашли несчастную девушку) lying in the meadow (лежащей на лугу).

They kindly made for her a little wigwam of pine boughs (они по своей доброте построили для нее маленький вигвам из сосновых веток; kindly — любезно, сердечно), and brought ferns for her bed (и принесли папоротника для ее постели). The old woman nursed her as well as she could (старуха ухаживала за ней настолько хорошо, насколько она могла), but she did nothing but wail and cry (но она ничего не делала, только плакала и причитала; to wail — причитать, стенать; to cry — кричать; плакать).

"Let me go to him (отпустите меня к нему)!" she begged (она умоляла). "I cannot live without my husband (я не могу жить без моего мужа)!"

meadow [`medqu], bough [bqu], fern [fWn]

Two very old people found the poor girl lying in the meadow.

They kindly made for her a little wigwam of pine boughs, and brought ferns for her bed. The old woman nursed her as well as she could, but she did nothing but wail and cry.

"Let me go to him!" she begged. "I cannot live without my husband!"

Night came (пришла ночь), and the stars appeared in the sky as usual (и звезды появились на небе, как обычно). Only the little twinkling Star did not appear (только маленькая мерцающая Звезда не появилась), for he was now a widower (ибо теперь он был вдовцом) and had painted his face quite black (и раскрасил свое лицо в совершенно черный цвет).

The poor wife waited for him a long time (несчастная жена ждала его долгое время), but he did not come (но он не приходил), because he could not (потому что не мог). At last she slept (наконец она уснула; to sleep), and dreamed (/и ей/ приснилось) she saw a tiny red Star in the sky (что она увидела крошечную красную Звездочку в небе) that had not been there before (которой не было там раньше).