Зачем им столько времен?

Early in the morning, when people in the town (sleep), Zerbino (get) up and (go) to the mountains where he (walk) around the forest with his axe on his shoulder. In the evening he (return) to the town with a bundle of wood, (sell) it and (buy) something to eat.

Back at home, he (have) his simple meal, (wrap) up in his old blanket and soon (be) fast asleep.

One day Zerbino (work) in the forest. He (cut) brunches off an old tree. He (be) very tired, so he (decide) to have a short rest by the lake. But when he (come) to the lake, he (be) surprised to see a beautiful woman in a white dress who (sleep) in the grass by the water.

«It (be) silly to fall asleep in the hot sun. A one-year-old child (be) cleverer than women!» Zerbino (think). He (take) off his coat and (stretch) it above the woman’s head. Just then he (notice) a snake in the grass. It (crawl) to the woman. Without stopping to think, Zerbino (cut) it in two.

The woman (wake) up.

«You (save) me,» she (say), «how can I thank you?»

«I (not/mean) to save you,» (answer) Zerbino. He even (not/look) at her. «Next time don’t lie down in the grass without checking if there (be) snakes there. Anyway, leave me alone, I (want) to sleep, too.»

«You (not/ask) me for anything?»

«I do. Leave me alone.»

He (stretch) on the grass and (fall) asleep.

«Poor thing,» (say) the woman, «I (know) how to thank you. All your wishes (be) going to come true. This (be) a present for you from the Fairy of Waters.»

And she (step) on the water. As she (walk) across the lake, the water (be) still and undisturbed. Soon she (disappear). Everything (be) silent again. Only Zerbino (snore) by the water.

2

The sun (go) down when the woodman (wake) up. He (take) his axe and (begin) to cut a tree. It (be) a hard work.

«I would like to have an axe that (cut) wood like butter,» Zerbino (think). He (be) tired and hungry. He hit the tree with all his might. The tree (fall) down at once.

«Well done!» (cry) Zerbino. He cut off all the branches and (tie) them together.

«Now I (have) to carry this bundle. Oh, if bundles of wood had legs!»

At that very moment the bundle (get) up on four legs and (set) out to the town. But Zerbino (be) hard to surprise. All the way to the town he (sit) on his strange horse (look) at those poor people who (not/have) such a bundle of wood.

There (be) a Royal Palace in the middle of the town square. The king Mushamiel (be) the ruler of the country at that time. Every day people (see) his daughter, Princess Alelie on one of the balconies. She (sit) there (look) sad and thoughtful.

That day Alelie (sit) on the balcony as usual when Zerbino (come) to the Palace on his bundle.

«Dear Princess,» he (say), looking at the girl, «why you (be) so sad? I (wish) you to fall in love with a good man who can make you laugh.»

With these words Zerbino (lift) his hat – and (fall) to the ground, because when he (take) off his hat, he (let) go of the rope that (hold) the bundle, and it (fall) apart. Everybody (laugh). The Princess (laugh), too. Suddenly her face (get) pale. She (look) at Zerbino, (stand) up and (leave).

3

The King (sleep). Suddenly somebody (put) his arms round him. Mushamiel (sit) up. His beautiful daughter (stand) in front of him.

«You (want) me to get married, dear father,«she (say), «I (be) ready to do it.»

«Oh, thank God! Who (be) he?»

«I (not/know), father.»

«You (not/know)?»

«I (see) him just now on the square in front of the Palace.»

«He (be) a prince?»

«I (not/know). It (not/matter).»

«It (matter). You (not/be) good at politics. Call my Minister!»

The Minister’s name (be) Mistigris. He (be) a short, fat man with small eyes.

«What (happen) in my kingdom?» (ask) Mushamiel angrily. «Some woodman (appear) in front of my Palace riding a bundle of wood, and my daughter (want) to marry him!»

…Zerbino (sharpen) his old axe when the policemen (break) into his house and (take) him to the king.

Mushamiel (sit) on the throne. To seem more important, he (look) at the tip of his nose. Mistigris (write) something. Princess Alelie (sigh). When Zerbino (enter), she (cross) the throne room and (stand) next to him.

«This (be) my husband, father,» she (say). «I (be) going to be with him wherever he (go).»

«Hey, guards!» Mushamiel (cry) out, «Take them to the ship. They must leave my country. And I (want) you, Mistigris, to go with them. Good bye!»

4

The strong wind (blow), and the ship (sail) fast. Zerbino (stand) at the steering wheel. Princess Alelie (sit) at his feet. She (not/care) where to sail. But Mistigris (not/enjoy) the voyage. He (run) up and down the deck (shout),

«What can happen to us? We can die here! What you (think) about?»

«I (be) hungry,» (say) Zerbino, «I (want) some oranges and grapes.»

That very moment a large basket with oranges and grapes (appear) from under his feet.

«Oh, now I (know) your secret,» (think) Mistigris.

«Senior Zerbino,» he (say), «you (not/think) of making the Princess a present?»