"I am terribly afraid of falling, myself (я сам ужасно боюсь упасть)," said the Cowardly Lion, "but I suppose there is nothing to do but try it (но полагаю, что ничего не остается сделать, как попытаться /это сделать/). So get on my back and we will make the attempt (поэтому садись мне на спину, и мы попытаемся: «сделаем попытку»)."
The Scarecrow sat upon the Lion's back (Страшила уселся на спину Льву), and the big beast walked to the edge of the gulf and crouched down (и большой зверь подошел к краю пропасти и прижался к земле;
"Why don't you run and jump (а почему ты не разбегаешься и не прыгаешь)?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Because that isn't the way we Lions do these things (потому что мы, Львы, так не поступаем: «это не способ, которым мы, львы, выполняем такие вещи»)," he replied.
Then giving a great spring, he shot through the air (затем, огромным прыжком он пронесся по воздуху;
afraid [q'freId], attempt [q'tem(p)t], crouch [krautS]
"I am terribly afraid of falling, myself," said the Cowardly Lion, "but I suppose there is nothing to do but try it. So get on my back and we will make the attempt." The Scarecrow sat upon the Lion's back, and the big beast walked to the edge of the gulf and crouched down.
"Why don't you run and jump?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Because that isn't the way we Lions do these things," he replied.
Then giving a great spring, he shot through the air and landed safely on the other side. They were all greatly pleased to see how easily he did it, and after the Scarecrow had got down from his back the Lion sprang across the ditch again.
Dorothy thought she would go next (Дороти подумала, что она будет: «пойдет» следующей); so she took Toto in her arms and climbed on the Lion's back (поэтому она взяла Тото на руки и влезла на спину Льва), holding tightly to his mane with one hand (крепко держась одной рукой за его гриву;
tightly ['taItlI], through [Tru:], air [eq], breath [breT]
Dorothy thought she would go next; so she took Toto in her arms and climbed on the Lion's back, holding tightly to his mane with one hand. The next moment it seemed as if she were flying through the air; and then, before she had time to think about it, she was safe on the other side. The Lion went back a third time and got the Tin Woodman, and then they all sat down for a few moments to give the beast a chance to rest, for his great leaps had made his breath short, and he panted like a big dog that has been running too long.