‘Fifty pounds was what I was promised,’ said the Piper shortly; ‘and if I were you I‘d pay it quickly. Because I can pipe many kinds of tunes, as folk sometimes find to their cost[26].’
‘Would you threaten us, tramp[27]?’ shrieked the Mayor, and at the same time he winked to the council; ‘the rats are all dead and drowned,’ said he; and so ‘You may do your worst, my good man,’ and with that he turned short upon his heel.
‘Very well,’ said the Piper, and he smiled a quiet smile. With that he laid his pipe to his lips again, but now there came another tunes. And as he went down the streets from school-room and playroom, from nursery and workshop, children ran, following the Piper to the cool green forest full of oaks and wide-spreading[28] beeches. In and out among the oak trees was heard the laughter of the children break and fade as deeper and deeper into the green wood.
All the while[29], the elders watched and waited. They mocked no longer now. And never saw they the Piper in his pied coat again. The Mayor sent his men to look for the Piper and bring the children back but none could find the lost children.
1) True or false?
1. Newtown was full of rats.
2. The Mayor and the town council desided to hunt rats.
3. The Piper was tall and thin.
4. Piper’s clothes was all black.
5. The Mayor promised to pay Piper twenty pounds.
6. The Piper led children to the forest.
2) Fill in the gaps using words in brackets.
1. Even beer in the barrels… (to be) not safe from them.
2. The Mayor and the town council… (to be) desperate.
3. They were… (to sit) one day in the town hall… (to try) to figure up what to do.
4. His clothes… (to be painted) in all colours of the rainbow.
5. The Piper… (to lay) his pipe to his lips and started… (to play) it.
6. In and out among the oak trees… (to be heard) the laughter of the children.
3) Write down a plural form:
Example: dog – dogs
cat – ____________________
mouse – ____________________
rat – ____________________
horse – ____________________
pig – ____________________
chicken – ____________________
bird – ____________________
goose – ____________________
fish – ____________________
4) Translate the following sentences:
1. На свою беду он узнал, что обещания надо выполнять.
2. У дудочника был пронзительный взгляд и пёстрая куртка.
3. Всё то время, что дети были в доме, она пряталась в кладовой.
4. Мэр разрешил провести дудочника внутрь.
5. Вокруг амбара росли дубы и широко раскинувшиеся буки.
6. В порту живёт много бродяг.
7. Эта дудка стоит десять фунтов.
5) Retell the fairy-tale.
Princess of Canterbury
There lived formerly in the County of Cumberland a nobleman who had three sons, two of whom were clever, but the third one a natural fool, named Jack, who was a shepherd. The King of Canterbury had a beautiful daughter, who was also very clever. The King proclaimed that whoever[30] should answer three questions put to him by the princess should marry her, and take the crown when her father dies. Soon news of it reached the ears of[31] the nobleman’s sons, and the two clever ones desided to have a trial[32]. They didn’t want their idiot brother to go with them, but they could not get rid of him. They had not gone far, before Jack shrieked with laughter, saying ‘I’ve found an egg.’ ‘Put it in your pocket,’ said the brothers. A little while afterwards, again he laughted because he found a crooked hazel stick, which he also put in his pocket; and a third time he again laughed because he found a nut. That also was put with his other treasures.
When they arrived at the palace, they were immediately shown into a room where the princess and her suite[33] were sitting. Jack, who never stood on ceremony, cried, ‘What a troop[34] of fair ladies we’ve got here!’
‘Yes,’ said the princess, ‘we are fair ladies, for we carry fire in our bosoms[35].’
‘Do you?’ said Jack. ‘Then roast me an egg,’ pulling out[36] the egg from his pocket.
‘How will you get it out again?’ said the princess.
‘With a crooked stick,’ replied Jack, producing[37] the hazel.
‘Where did that come from?’ said the princess.
‘From a nut,’ answered Jack, pulling out the nut from his pocket. ‘I’ve answered the three questions, and now I’ll have the lady.’ ‘No, no,’ said the king, ‘not so fast. You have still a test to go through. You must come here in a week’s time and watch for one whole night with the princess, my daughter. If you can manage to keep awake the whole night long you shall marry her next day.’
‘But if I can’t?’ said Jack.
‘Then off goes your head,’ said the king. ‘But you need not try unless you like.’
Well, Jack went back home for a week, and thought over[38] whether he should try to win the princess. At last he made up his mind. ‘Well,’ said Jack, ‘I’ll have a try; so now for the king’s daughter, or a headless shepherd!’
He took his bottle and bag and went to the court. In his way he had to cross a river and he saw several pretty fish swimming there, so he caught some and put them into his pocket. When he reached the palace he knocked at the gate loudly with his crook. He was immediately led to the hall where the king’s daughter sat ready to see her lovers. He was placed in a luxurious[39] chair, and rich wines and spices were set before him, and all sorts of delicate meats. Jack, unused to such feast, ate and drank, so that he was nearly dozing[40] before midnight.
‘Oh, shepherd,’ said the lady, ‘I have caught you napping[41]!’
‘No,