Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо (в пересказе для детей)

I looked for the roots of a plant which the Indians use instead of bread, but could find none.

In one place, however, I saw many tall sugar canes and some fair-looking plants of a kind that was strange to me.

As I went back to my castle I wondered how I could learn something useful about the many objects I had seen. But I had never taken much thought about such things, and now I had but little chance to learn.

The next day I went up the same way, but much farther.

Beyond the meadows I came to some beautiful woods.

Here I found several different kinds of fruits. There were grapevines covering the trees, and huge clusters of ripe grapes were hanging from them.

I was very glad of this. I made up my mind to come another day and gather some of this fruit. I would dry the grapes in the sun, and have some raisins.

Night came on while I was still in the woods, and I could not do better than stay there till morning. So I climbed into a tree and slept there quite well.

It was the first night that I had spent away from home.

The next day I went on through the woods for nearly four miles.

At last I came to an open space where the land sloped to the west. The country was so fresh and green that it looked like a big garden.

I went down into a pleasant valley where there were many beautiful trees. There I found oranges, lemons, limes, and citrons, besides many grapes.

I loaded myself with fruit and started homeward. "I must come again and bring a sack," I said.

It was three days before I reached my castle. By that time the fruit had lost all its flavor.

The next day I went back to the same valley. I carried two small sacks to bring home my harvest.

But I found many of the grapevines torn down. The fruit was scattered on the ground. Some had been eaten. Some had been trodden to pieces.

A wild animal had been there. Perhaps it was a goat, perhaps it was a larger beast. Perhaps several animals had done the mischief.

I GET READY FOR WINTER

(я готовлюсь к зиме)

I WAS so much pleased with the valley I had discovered (я был так доволен этой долиной, /которую/ я открыл) that I spent much of my time there (что проводил большую часть времени там; to spend — проводить /время/).

At last I built me a small summer house (наконец я построил себе маленький летний домик) close by a grove of orange trees (близко к роще апельсиновых деревьев).

It was but little more than a bower (он был лишь немного больше, чем беседка; bower — дача, коттедж; беседка), made of the branches of trees (сделанная из веток деревьев).

I built a strong fence around it (я соорудил крепкий забор вокруг него; to build — строить). This was made of two rows of tall stakes (он был сделан из двух рядов высоких кольев) with brushwood between (с ветками между /ними/; brushwood — подлесок, молодая поросль, заросли; кустарник; валежник, хворост).

There was no gate in this fence (в этом заборе не было калитки; gate — ворота /как сооружение/; дверь, ворота, калитка), but only a short ladder (но только короткая лестница), just as at my castle (совсем как в моем замке).

Here I sometimes stayed two or three nights together (здесь я иногда оставался на две или три ночи кряду).

I gathered about two hundred clusters of grapes and hung them up to dry (я собрал почти двести гроздьев винограда и повесил их сушиться; to hang — вешать). In due time (в должное время) they made the finest of raisins (из них сделался самый вкусный изюм). I took them down and carried them to my castle (я снял их и отнес в мой замок).

Thus little by little I gathered food for winter (так/таким образом мало-помалу я собрал еду на зиму).

The winters there were not cold (зимы там были не холодные). But the rain fell every day (но дождь падал = шел каждый день), and often all the day (и часто весь день).

I had just finished my bower (я только что закончил беседку/летний домик), and was beginning to enjoy myself (и начал наслаждаться = жить припеваючи; to enjoy smth. — получать удовольствие от чего-л.; to enjoy oneself — хорошо проводить время) when the rainy season or winter, began (когда = как начался сезон дождей, или зима,).

What could I do but hurry back to my castle and its dry, warm cave (что я мог сделать, кроме как поторопиться обратно в замок и в его сухую, теплую пещеру)?

For weeks I could not stir out without getting wet (неделями я не мог выйти, не намокнув; to stir — шевелиться, двигаться). My store of food began to grow small (мои запасы еды начали сокращаться: «становиться малыми»).

One day, in spite of the rain (однажды, несмотря на дождь), I went out and killed a goat (я вышел и убил козу). The next day I found a very large turtle among the rocks (на следующий день я нашел очень большую черепаху среди /больших/ камней).

This was all good luck (это все была удача), for I had now enough to eat for many a day (так как теперь у меня было достаточно еды: «достаточно, чтобы есть» на много дней).

My meals were simple and plain (мои приемы пищи были простыми и неразнообразными = моя еда была…; plain — /уст./ плоский, ровный; незамысловатый, обыкновенный; meal — прием пищи; еда).

For breakfast, I had a bunch of raisins and a bit of biscuit (на завтрак я ел горсть изюма и кусок печенья).

For dinner, I had broiled turtle (на обед у меня была жареная черепаха). I could not have turtle soup (я не мог приготовить суп из черепахи), for I had no vessel in which to cook it (так как у меня не было сосуда, в котором приготовить его).

For supper, I ate two or three turtle's eggs (на ужин я съедал два или три черепашьих яйца; to eat — есть).

Although I was kept close indoors by the rain (хотя дождь вынуждал меня оставаться внутри дома: «я был удерживаем заключенным в помещение дождем»; indoors — внутри дома, в помещении; door — дверь; close — закрытый; заключенный /в тюрьму и т. п./, строго охраняемый), I was never idle (я никогда не был без дела; idle — праздный).