instead [In`sted], ugly [`AglI], blossom [`blOsqm]

So the witch-sisters stood a little way down the hill, and she rolled the bright hoop. As it came trundling to them, both grasped it at the same instant; and lo! instead of the Yellow-Corn-Maidens, there were two great snakes, with tears rolling down ugly faces. The Moon came and put upon their heads a little of the pollen of the corn-blossom (still used by Pueblo snake-charmers) to tame them, and a pinch of sacred meal for their food.

"Now (теперь)," she said, "you have the reward of treacherous friends (вы имеете награду вероломных друзей = вы вознаграждены за свое вероломство). Here shall be your home (здесь будет ваш дом) among these rocks and cliffs forever (среди этих скал и холмов навсегда), but you must never be found upon the prairie (но вас никогда не должны находить в прериях); and you must never bite a person (и вы никогда не должны кусать людей/человека). Remember you are women (помните, вы — женщины), and must be gentle (и должны быть смирными; gentle — знатный, родовитый, благородный; мягкий, добрый; послушный, смирный /обычно о животных/)."

reward [rI`wO:d], treacherous [`treC(q)rqs], forever [fq`revq], person [pWsn], women [`wImIn]

"Now," she said, "you have the reward of treacherous friends. Here shall be your home among these rocks and cliffs forever, but you must never be found upon the prairie; and you must never bite a person. Remember you are women, and must be gentle."

And then the Moon went home to her husband (и потом Луна пошла домой к своему мужу), and they were very happy together (и они были очень счастливы вместе). As for the sister snakes (что до сестер-змей), they still dwell where she bade them (они все еще живут там, где она им велела; to bid), and never venture away (и никогда не отваживаются /уползти/ прочь); though sometimes the people bring them to their houses to catch mice (хотя иногда люди приносят их в свои дома, чтобы ловить мышей), for these snakes never hurt a person (так как эти змеи никогда не причиняют боль человеку).

happy [`hxpI], dwell [dwel], venture [`venCq]

And then the Moon went home to her husband, and they were very happy together. As for the sister snakes, they still dwell where she bade them, and never venture away; though sometimes the people bring them to their houses to catch mice, for these snakes never hurt a person.

The Laugh-maker (Делатель Смеха =Смехунчик/Тот-Кто-Заставляет-Смеяться; ср. to make smb. laugh — заставить кого-либо смеяться, рассмешить кого-либо)

The village of the Bears was a large one (деревня Медведей была большой), and the people were well-fed and prosperous (а жители — упитанные и зажиточные; to feed well — хорошо откармливать, питаться). Upon certain days (по определенным дням), a herald went the round of the lodges (глашатай обходил домики; to go around — обходить), announcing in a loud voice (объявляя громким голосом: «в громкий голос») that the time had come to "go a-laughing" (что время пришло, чтобы пойти посмеяться).

prosperous [`prOsp(q)rqs], herald [`herqld], announce [q`nauns], loud [laud]

The village of the Bears was a large one, and the people were well-fed and prosperous. Upon certain days, a herald went the round of the lodges, announcing in a loud voice that the time had come to "go a-laughing."

Not a Bear was left in the village at such times (ни одного Медведя не оставалось в деревне в такие времена; to be left), for every one went (так как каждый уходил), old and young (стар и мал), sick and well (больной и здоровый), the active and the lame (деятельный и увечный; lame — хромой). Only the stranger remained at home (только чужестранец оставался дома; strange — чужой; странный), although his wife (хотя его жена), Woshpee (Уошпи), always went with her kinsfolk (всегда уходила со своей родней), for somehow he did not feel inclined to "go a-laughing" (так как почему-то он не чувствовал себя расположенным/склонным пойти посмеяться; to be inclined to do smth. — быть склонным что-либо сделать); and he kept with him his little son (и оставлял с собой своего маленького сына), who was half Bear and half human (который был наполовину Медведь, а наполовину человек).

lame [leIm], stranger [`streInGq], remain [rI`meIn], although [O:l`Dqu], kinsfolk [`kInzfquk]

Not a Bear was left in the village at such times, for every one went, old and young, sick and well, the active and the lame. Only the stranger remained at home, although his wife, Woshpee, always went with her kinsfolk, for somehow he did not feel inclined to "go a-laughing;" and he kept with him his little son, who was half Bear and half human.

One day (однажды), however (однако), a curiosity seized him to know (его охватило любопытство узнать) what this laughing business might be (чем могла быть эта история со смехом; business — какая-либо активность, деятельность; дело, занятие, деятельность). He took his boy (он взял своего сына) and followed the Bears at a distance (и пошел /за/ Медведями на расстоянии), not choosing to be seen (не желая, чтобы его видели: «быть увиденным»; to choose — выбирать; предпочитать; to see). Their trail led to the shore of the Great Water (их след привел к берегу Великой Воды; to lead), and when he had come as near as he could (и когда он подошел так близко, как он мог) without exposing himself (чтобы не выдать себя: «не выдавая себя»; to expose — выставлять; раскрывать, разоблачать), he climbed a tall pine (он взобрался на высокую сосну) from whose bushy top (с густой верхушки которой; bushy — покрытый кустарником; густой /в том числе и о бровях, бороде и т. п./; bush — куст) he could observe all (он мог наблюдать /за/ всем) that took place (что происходило; to take place — происходить: «брать место»).

curiosity ["kjuqrI`OsItI], seize [sJz], distance [`dIst(q)ns], expose [Iks`pquz], climb [klaIm], bushy [`buSI], observe [qb`zq:v]

One day, however, a curiosity seized him to know what this laughing business might be. He took his boy and followed the Bears at a distance, not choosing to be seen. Their trail led to the shore of the Great Water, and when he had come as near as he could without exposing himself, he climbed a tall pine from whose bushy top he could observe all that took place.