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Zgodba o zajčku Benjaminu
Živalske pravljice Beatrix Potter · Beatrix PotterO besedilu
Zgodba o zajčku Benjaminu
- Vir
- Živalske pravljice Beatrix Potter
- Avtor
- Beatrix Potter
- Jezik branja
- Slovenščina
- Jezik izvirnika
- English
- Čas branja
- 6 min branja
- Obseg
- 5 strani
- Naslov izvirnika
- 005 The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
O izvirniku
Živalske pravljice Beatrix Potter
Pet britanskih avtorskih živalskih pravljic o Petru, Benjaminu, Tomu, Moppet in gospe Tiggy-Winkle. Bralni jezik je Slovenščina, izvirnik pa prihaja iz vira Živalske pravljice Beatrix Potter v jeziku English.
Besedilo
Zgodba o zajčku Benjaminu
Nekega jutra je na brežini sedel majhen zajček. Našpičil je ušesa in prisluhnil ponijevemu kopitljanju: trit-trot, trit-trot. Po cesti se je bližal lahek dvokolesni voz; vozil ga je gospod McGregor, ob njem pa je sedela gospa McGregor v svoji najlepši avbi.
Brž ko sta se odpeljala mimo, je mali Benjamin Bunny zdrsnil po brežini na cesto in se — hop, hop, skok! — odpravil na obisk k sorodnikom, ki so živeli v gozdu za vrtom gospoda McGregorja.
V tistem gozdu je bilo vse polno zajčjih brlogov; v najčednejšem in najbolj peščenem med njimi pa so živeli Benjaminova teta in njegovi bratranci in sestrične — Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail in Peter.
Stara gospa Rabbit je bila vdova; preživljala se je s pletenjem palčnikov in zapestnikov iz zajčje volne (nekoč sem si na dobrodelnem sejmu kupila en par). Prodajala je tudi zelišča, rožmarinov čaj in zajčji tobak (tako namreč pravimo sivki).
Mali Benjamin si ni prav posebno želel videti tete. Prišel je okoli jelke in skoraj padel naravnost na svojega bratranca Petra.
Peter je sedel čisto sam. Videti je bil slaboten, oblečen pa je bil v rdeč bombažen žepni robec. »Peter,« je zašepetal mali Benjamin, »kdo ima tvojo obleko?«
Peter je odgovoril: »Strašilo na vrtu gospoda McGregorja,« in povedal, kako ga je gospod McGregor podil po vrtu in kako je pri tem izgubil čevlje in suknjič.
Mali Benjamin je sedel k bratrancu in mu zagotovil, da se je gospod McGregor odpeljal z dvokolesnim vozom, gospa McGregor pa z njim; in gotovo ju ne bo ves dan, saj si je nadela svojo najlepšo avbo.
Peter je rekel, da upa, da bo deževalo. Tedaj se je iz brloga zaslišal glas stare gospe Rabbit: »Cotton-tail! Cotton-tail! Prinesi še malo kamilic!«
Peter je rekel, da bi mu sprehod morda dobro del. Z roko v roki sta odšla in splezala na raven vrh zidu ob spodnjem robu gozda. Od tam sta pogledala na vrt gospoda McGregorja. Na strašilu sta jasno videla Petrov suknjič in čevlje, povrhu pa še staro škotsko baretko gospoda McGregorja.
Mali Benjamin je rekel: »Če se tlačiš pod vrati, si uničiš obleko; prav je, da splezaš dol po hruški.« Peter je padel z glavo naprej; a nič hudega se mu ni zgodilo, saj je bila gredica spodaj sveže pograbljena in čisto mehka.
Na njej je bila posejana solata. Po vsej gredici sta pustila množico nenavadnih drobnih stopinj, zlasti mali Benjamin, ki je nosil cokle.
Mali Benjamin je rekel, da morata najprej dobiti nazaj Petrovo obleko, da bosta lahko uporabila žepni robec.
Slekla sta jo s strašila. Ponoči je deževalo; v čevljih je bila voda, suknjič pa se je nekoliko skrčil. Benjamin je pomeril škotsko baretko, vendar mu je bila prevelika.
Nato je predlagal, da bi žepni robec napolnila s čebulo in jo odnesla teti za majhno darilo. Peter ni bil videti prav nič vesel; ves čas je slišal nekakšne šume.
Benjamin pa se je, nasprotno, počutil povsem domače in je pojedel solatni list. Povedal je, da z očetom pogosto prihajata na vrt po solato za nedeljsko kosilo.
(Očku malega Benjamina je bilo ime stari gospod Benjamin Bunny.) Solata je bila res prekrasna. Peter ni pojedel ničesar; rekel je, da bi rad šel domov. Kmalu zatem mu je na tla padla polovica čebule.
Mali Benjamin je rekel, da s tovorom zelenjave ne moreta splezati nazaj na hruško. Pogumno je stopil naprej proti drugemu koncu vrta. Šla sta po ozki potki iz desk ob osončenem zidu iz rdeče opeke.
Miši so sedele na svojih pragovih in trle češnjeve koščice; pomežiknile so Petru Rabbitu in malemu Benjaminu Bunnyju. Kmalu zatem je Peter spet izpustil žepni robec.
Znašla sta se med cvetličnimi lonci, okvirji toplih gred in čebri. Peter je slišal še hujše šume kot prej; oči je imel velike kakor lizike! Bil je korak ali dva pred bratrancem, ko se je nenadoma ustavil.
Tole sta zajčka zagledala za tistim vogalom! Mali Benjamin je samo enkrat pogledal, nato pa je, še preden bi lahko trenil, skril sebe, Petra in čebulo pod veliko košaro....
Mačka je vstala, se pretegnila ter prišla ovohavat košaro. Morda ji je bil všeč vonj po čebuli! Kakor koli že, sedla je na vrh košare.
Tam je sedela pet ur. Ne morem vam narisati Petra in Benjamina pod košaro, ker je bilo tam popolnoma temno in ker je čebula strahotno zaudarjala; Petru Rabbitu in malemu Benjaminu so se od nje ulile solze.
Sonce se je pomaknilo za gozd in popoldne se je že nagibalo h koncu; mačka pa je še vedno sedela na košari. Nazadnje se je zaslišalo tip-tap, tip-tap in z zidu nad njima se je odkrušilo nekaj koščkov malte.
Mačka je pogledala navzgor in zagledala starega gospoda Benjamina Bunnyja, ki je poskakoval po vrhu zidu zgornje terase. Kadil je pipo z zajčjim tobakom in v roki držal tanko šibo.
Iskal je svojega sina. Stari gospod Bunny ni imel prav nobenega spoštovanja do mačk. Z mogočnim skokom se je pognal z vrha zidu naravnost na mačko, jo s krepkimi zaušnicami zbil s košare in jo z brcami pregnal v rastlinjak, pri tem pa ji izpraskal cel šop dlake.
Mačka je bila preveč presenečena, da bi mu vrnila praske. Ko jo je stari gospod Bunny nagnal v rastlinjak, je zaklenil vrata. Nato se je vrnil h košari, za ušesa izvlekel svojega sina Benjamina in ga našeškal s tanko šibo.
Potem je izvlekel še nečaka Petra. Nato je vzel robec s čebulo in odkorakal z vrta. Ko se je gospod McGregor približno pol ure pozneje vrnil, je opazil več stvari, ki so ga spravile v zadrego.
Videti je bilo, kakor da bi nekdo v coklah prehodil ves vrt — le da so bile stopinje smešno majhne! Prav tako ni mogel razumeti, kako se je mački posrečilo zapreti v rastlinjak in zakleniti vrata od zunaj.
Ko se je Peter vrnil domov, mu je mama odpustila, saj je bila presrečna, da je našel čevlje in suknjič. Cotton-tail in Peter sta zložila žepni robec, stara gospa Rabbit pa je čebulo povezala v kito in jo obesila pod kuhinjski strop, k šopkom zelišč in zajčjemu tobaku.
Izvirnik
005 The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
Naslednje strani prikazujejo izvirno besedilo za primerjavo.
One morning a little rabbit sat on a bank.
He pricked his ears and listened to the trit-trot, trit-trot of a pony.
A gig was coming along the road; it was driven by Mr. McGregor, and beside him sat Mrs. McGregor in her best bonnet.
As soon as they had passed, little Benjamin Bunny slid down into the road, and set off--with a hop, skip, and a jump--to call upon his relations, who lived in the wood at the back of Mr. McGregor's garden.
That wood was full of rabbit holes; and in the neatest, sandiest hole of all lived Benjamin's aunt and his cousins--Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.
Old Mrs. Rabbit was a widow; she earned her living by knitting rabbit-wool mittens and muffatees (I once bought a pair at a bazaar). She also sold herbs, and rosemary tea, and rabbit-tobacco (which is what we call lavender).
Little Benjamin did not very much want to see his Aunt.
He came round the back of the fir-tree, and nearly tumbled upon the top of his Cousin Peter.
Peter was sitting by himself. He looked poorly, and was dressed in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief.
"Peter," said little Benjamin, in a whisper, "who has got your clothes?"
Peter replied, "The scarecrow in Mr. McGregor's garden," and described how he had been chased about the garden, and had dropped his shoes and coat.
Little Benjamin sat down beside his cousin and assured him that Mr. McGregor had gone out in a gig, and Mrs. McGregor also; and certainly for the day, because she was wearing her best bonnet.
Peter said he hoped that it would rain.
At this point old Mrs. Rabbit's voice was heard inside the rabbit hole, calling: "Cotton-tail! Cotton-tail! fetch some more camomile!"
Peter said he thought he might feel better if he went for a walk.
They went away hand in hand, and got upon the flat top of the wall at the bottom of the wood. From here they looked down into Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter's coat and shoes were plainly to be seen upon the scarecrow, topped with an old tam-o'-shanter of Mr. McGregor's.
Little Benjamin said: "It spoils people's clothes to squeeze under a gate; the proper way to get in is to climb down a pear-tree."
Peter fell down head first; but it was of no consequence, as the bed below was newly raked and quite soft.
It had been sown with lettuces.
They left a great many odd little footmarks all over the bed, especially little Benjamin, who was wearing clogs.
Little Benjamin said that the first thing to be done was to get back Peter's clothes, in order that they might be able to use the pocket-handkerchief.
They took them off the scarecrow. There had been rain during the night; there was water in the shoes, and the coat was somewhat shrunk.
Benjamin tried on the tam-o'-shanter, but it was too big for him.
Then he suggested that they should fill the pocket-handkerchief with onions, as a little present for his Aunt.
Peter did not seem to be enjoying himself; he kept hearing noises.
Benjamin, on the contrary, was perfectly at home, and ate a lettuce leaf. He said that he was in the habit of coming to the garden with his father to get lettuces for their Sunday dinner.
(The name of little Benjamin's papa was old Mr. Benjamin Bunny.)
The lettuces certainly were very fine.
Peter did not eat anything; he said he should like to go home. Presently he dropped half the onions.
Little Benjamin said that it was not possible to get back up the pear-tree with a load of vegetables. He led the way boldly towards the other end of the garden. They went along a little walk on planks, under a sunny, red brick wall.
The mice sat on their doorsteps cracking cherry-stones; they winked at Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin Bunny.
Presently Peter let the pocket-handkerchief go again.
They got amongst flower-pots, and frames, and tubs. Peter heard noises worse than ever; his eyes were as big as lolly-pops!
He was a step or two in front of his cousin when he suddenly stopped.
This is what those little rabbits saw round that corner!
Little Benjamin took one look, and then, in half a minute less than no time, he hid himself and Peter and the onions underneath a large basket....
The cat got up and stretched herself, and came and sniffed at the basket.
Perhaps she liked the smell of onions!
Anyway, she sat down upon the top of the basket.
She sat there for five hours.
I cannot draw you a picture of Peter and Benjamin underneath the basket, because it was quite dark, and because the smell of onions was fearful; it made Peter Rabbit and little Benjamin cry.
The sun got round behind the wood, and it was quite late in the afternoon; but still the cat sat upon the basket.
At length there was a pitter-patter, pitter-patter, and some bits of mortar fell from the wall above.
The cat looked up and saw old Mr. Benjamin Bunny prancing along the top of the wall of the upper terrace.
He was smoking a pipe of rabbit-tobacco, and had a little switch in his hand.
He was looking for his son.
Old Mr. Bunny had no opinion whatever of cats.
He took a tremendous jump off the top of the wall on to the top of the cat, and cuffed it off the basket, and kicked it into the greenhouse, scratching off a handful of fur.
The cat was too much surprised to scratch back.
When old Mr. Bunny had driven the cat into the greenhouse, he locked the door.
Then he came back to the basket and took out his son Benjamin by the ears, and whipped him with the little switch.
Then he took out his nephew Peter.
Then he took out the handkerchief of onions, and marched out of the garden.
When Mr. McGregor returned about half an hour later he observed several things which perplexed him.
It looked as though some person had been walking all over the garden in a pair of clogs--only the footmarks were too ridiculously little!
Also he could not understand how the cat could have managed to shut herself up inside the greenhouse, locking the door upon the outside.
When Peter got home his mother forgave him, because she was so glad to see that he had found his shoes and coat. Cotton-tail and Peter folded up the pocket-handkerchief, and old Mrs. Rabbit strung up the onions and hung them from the kitchen ceiling, with the bunches of herbs and the rabbit-tobacco.
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