without [wI'DaVt] sweet-scented ["swi:t'sentId] briar ['braIq]

thorn [TO:n] encompass [In'kAmpqs] nettle [netl] thistle ['TIs(q)l]

distress [dIs'tres]

And the Star-Child went out of the gate of the city, and came to the wood of which the Magician had spoken to him.

Now this wood was very fair to look at from without, and seemed full of singing birds and of sweet-scented flowers, and the Star-Child entered it gladly. Yet did its beauty profit him little, for wherever he went harsh briars and thorns shot up from the ground and encompassed him, and evil nettles stung him, and the thistle pierced him with her daggers, so that he was in sore distress. Nor could he anywhere find the piece of white gold of which the Magician had spoken, though he sought for it from morn to noon, and from noon to sunset. And at sunset he set his face towards home, weeping bitterly, for he knew what fate was in store for him.

But when he had reached (но, когда он достиг; to reach — протягивать; достигать /места назначения/) the outskirts of the wood (опушки леса; outskirt — окраина, предместье, опушка леса), he heard from a thicket (он услышал /доносящийся/ из чащи; to hear (heard)) a cry as of some one in pain (страдальческий крик: «словно крик кого-то, испытывающего боль»). And forgetting his own sorrow (и, забывая о своей собственной печали) he ran back to the place (он побежал к тому самому месту /откуда доносился крик/), and saw there a little Hare (и увидел там маленького Зайчика) caught in a trap (попавшего в капкан; to catch (caught)) that some hunter had set for it (расставленный каким-то охотником: «который какой-то охотник расставил на /зайца/»).

cry [kraI] sorrow ['sOrqV] hare [heq] caught [kO:t] hunter ['hAntq]

But when he had reached the outskirts of the wood, he heard from a thicket a cry as of some one in pain. And forgetting his own sorrow he ran back to the place, and saw there a little Hare caught in a trap that some hunter had set for it.

And the Star-Child had pity on it (и Звездный Мальчик пожалел его), and released it (и освободил его), and said to it, 'I am myself but a slave (я сам всего лишь раб), yet may I give thee thy freedom (но все же я могу дать тебе /твою/ свободу).'

And the Hare answered him (и Зайчик ответил ему), and said: 'Surely thou hast given me freedom (несомненно, ты дал мне свободу; thou hast = you have), and what shall I give thee in return (а что же мне отдать тебе взамен; return — возвращение; отдача, возврат)?'

And the Star-Child said to it (и Звездный Мальчик сказал ему), 'I am seeking for a piece of white gold (я ищу монету из белого золота), nor can I anywhere find it (и я нигде не могу ее найти), and if I bring it not to my master (и если я не принесу ее своему хозяину) he will beat me (он побьет меня).'