Самые лучшие английские сказки / The best english fairy tales

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There was once a very learned man in the north-country who knew all the languages under the sun, and who was acquainted with all the mysteries of the world. He had one big book bound in black calf and clasped with iron, and with iron corners, and chained to a table on the floor. When he read this book, he unlocked it with an iron key. This famous book contained all the secrets of the spiritual world. It told how many angels there were in heaven, and how they marched in their ranks, and sang, and what were their several functions, and what was the name of each great angel of might. And it told of the demons, how many of them there were, and what were their several powers, and their labours, and their names, and how they might be summoned,[1] and how tasks might be imposed on them,[2] and how they might be chained to be as slaves to man.[3]

Now the master had a pupil who was a foolish lad, and he acted as servant to the great master. The boy was never allowed[4] to look into the black book, hardly to enter the private room.

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