14. «Zerbino the Loner» by E. Labule
Vocabulary: stretch – растянуть (-ся); bundle of wood – вязанка хвороста, wrap – закутать, fall apart – развалиться, sharpen – точить, bubble – зд. бурлить, snore – храпеть, sigh – вздыхать, invisible – зд. невидимка
Tenses to use: Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple, Past Continuous.
1
A long time ago, in Salerno there (live) a young woodman called Zerbino. He (have) neither family or friends nor money. He (not/have) anyone to talk to, and he (not/like) to talk, so people (call) him Zerbino the Loner.
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.
