Приключения Пиноккио / The adventures of Pinocchio. Уровень 1

When other people are sad and sorrowful, they weep and wipe their eyes. The Director sneezed each time he felt unhappy. So the Director, ugly as ever, cried to Pinocchio:

“Stop it! Your wails-E-tchee! – E-tchee!”

Two loud sneezes finished his speech.

“God bless you!” said Pinocchio.

“Thanks! Are your father and mother alive?” demanded The Director.

“My father, yes.”

“Your poor father… Poor old man! I feel sorry for him! E-tchee! E-tchee! E-tchee!”

Three more sneezes sounded, louder than ever.

“God bless you!” said Pinocchio.

“Thanks! However, I have no more wood for the fire, and the lamb is only half cooked. Never mind![13 - Never mind! – Не беда!] I’ll burn some other Marionette. Hey there! Officers!”

Two wooden officers appeared, long and thin, with queer hats on their heads and swords in their hands. The Director yelled at them in a hoarse voice:

“Take Harlequin, tie him, and throw him on the fire!”

Poor Harlequin was so scared that he fell to the floor. Pinocchio threw himself at the feet of the Director and asked him:

“Have pity, signore!”

“There are no signori here!”

“Have pity, kind sir!”

“There are no sirs here!”

“Have pity, your Excellency!”

The Director of the Marionette Theater sat up very straight in his chair, stroked his long beard, and became suddenly kind and compassionate. He smiled proudly as he said to Pinocchio:

“Well, what do you want from me now, Marionette?”

“I beg for mercy for my poor friend, Harlequin.”

“There is no mercy here, Pinocchio. Harlequin must burn in your place[14 - in your place – вместо тебя]. I am hungry and my dinner is not ready yet.”

“In that case,” said Pinocchio proudly, “in that case, my duty is clear. Come, officers! Tie me up and throw me on those flames. In poor Harlequin’s place!”

All the Marionettes cried. Even the officers, who were made of wood also, cried like two babies.

The Director softened and began to sneeze. And after four or five sneezes, he opened wide his arms and said to Pinocchio:

“You are a brave boy! Come to my arms and kiss me!”

Pinocchio ran to him and kissed the Director on the tip of his nose.

“Well, tonight I shall eat my lamb only half cooked,” said The Director and sighed and wagged his head. He added: “But beware the next time, Marionettes.”

The Marionettes ran to the stage and danced and sang till dawn.

Chapter 12

Pinocchio meets a Fox and a Cat

The next day The Director called Pinocchio aside and asked him:

“What is your father’s name?”

“Geppetto.”

“And what is his trade?”

“He’s a wood carver.”

“Does he earn much?”

“He never has a penny in his pockets. In order to buy[15 - In order to buy – чтобы купить] me an ABC book for school, he sold his coat.”

“Poor fellow! I feel sorry for him. Here, take these five gold pieces[16 - five gold pieces – пять золотых (монет)]. Go, give them to him.”

Pinocchio thanked him a thousand times. He kissed each Marionette, even the officers, and went home.

Soon he met a lame Fox and a blind Cat. The lame Fox leaned on the Cat, and the blind Cat leaned on the Fox.

“Good morning, Pinocchio,” said the Fox courteously.

“How do you know my name?” asked the Marionette.

“I know your father well.”

“Where did you see him?”

“I saw him yesterday.”

“And what did he do?”

“He was in his shirt. He trembled with cold.”

“Poor Father! But, after today, he will suffer no longer.”

“Why?”