And one said that he would live in the soft mud, and always be wet and cool.
And another, that he would plunge from the rocks, and take headers, diving into the deep, cold water, drinking as he dived.
And the third, that he would be washed up and down with the rippling waves, living on the land, yet ever in the water.
Then the fourth said, "Verily, you know not how to wish, and I will teach you. I would live in the water all the time, and swim about in it forever."
Now it chanced that these things were said in the hour (и случилось /так/, что эти вещи были произнесены в тот час) which, when it passes over the world (/в/ который, когда он проходит по миру), all the wishes uttered by men are granted (все желания, произнесенные людьми, сбываются: «даруются»). And so it was with these Indians (и так произошло: «было» с этими индейцами). For the first became a Leech (ибо первый стал Пиявкой), the second a Spotted Frog (второй — Пятнистой Лягушкой), the third a Crab (третий — Крабом), which is washed up and down with the tide (которого омывает вверх-вниз прибой), and the fourth a Fish (а четвертый — Рыбой). Ere this there had been in all the world (до этого /не/ было во всем мире /еще/; ere — поэтич.:до, перед) none of the creatures (ни одного из существ) which dwell in the water (что живут/обитают в воде), and now they were there (и теперь они были = и вот они появились), and of all kinds (и /притом/ всех видов). And the river came rushing and roaring on (и река пришла, стремительная и ревущая; to come on — приближаться, появляться, налетать), and they all went headlong down to the sea (и они все отправились вперед головой вниз к морю; headlong — головой вперед /о падении вниз, нырянии/; стремительно, безрассудно, очертя голову), to be washed into many lands over all the world (чтобы их смыло = унесло во многие земли/страны по всему миру).
leech [lJC], creature [`krJCq], ere [eq]
Now it chanced that these things were said in the hour which, when it passes over the world, all the wishes uttered by men are granted. And so it was with these Indians. For the first became a Leech, the second a Spotted Frog, the third a Crab, which is washed up and down with the tide, and the fourth a Fish. Ere this there had been in all the world none of the creatures which dwell in the water, and now they were there, and of all kinds. And the river came rushing and roaring on, and they all went headlong down to the sea, to be washed into many lands over all the world.
