Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий (Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper) - Twain Mark - Страница 50

'Thou wilt sleep athwart the door, and guard it.' In a moment more he was out of his troubles, in a deep slumber.

'Dear heart, he should have been born a king!' muttered Hendon, admiringly, 'he playeth the part to a marvel.'

Then he stretched himself across the door, on the floor, saying contentedly:

'I have lodged worse for seven years; 'twould be but ill gratitude to Him above to find fault with this.'

He dropped asleep as the dawn appeared. Toward noon he rose, uncovered his unconscious ward — a section at a time — and took his measure with a string. The king awoke, just as he had completed his work, complained of the cold, and asked what he was doing.

''Tis done now, my liege,' said Hendon; 'I have a bit of business outside, but will presently return; sleep thou again — thou needest it. There — let me cover thy head also — thou'lt be warm the sooner.'

The king was back in dreamland before this speech was ended. Miles slipped softly out, and slipped as softly in again, in the course of thirty or forty minutes, with a complete second-hand suit of boy's clothing, of cheap material, and showing signs of wear; but tidy, and suited to the season of the year. He seated himself and began to overhaul his purchase, mumbling to himself:

'A longer purse would have got a better sort, but when one has not the long purse one must be content with what a short one may do —

'"There was a woman in our town (женщина жила в нашем городке),

In our town did dwell" (у нас в городке жила; did — делала; to dwell — жить, обитать) —

'He stirred, methinks (он пошевелился, кажется мне) — I must sing in a less thunderous key (я должен петь в менее громогласном ключе); 'tis not good to mar his sleep (это нехорошо — нарушать его сон), with this journey before him (с этим путешествием перед ним = предстоящим ему) and he so wearied out, poorchap (и (при том что) он так устал, бедняга)... This garment (это одеяние) — 'tis well enough (оно хорошо достаточно) — a stitch here and another one there will set it aright (один стежок здесь и другой там приведут его в порядок; to set — установить). This other is better (это другое (одеяние) лучше), albeit a stitch or two will not come amiss in it, likewise (хотя стежок-другой не помешает в нем также; amiss — неподходящий, несвоевременный, неуместный; некстати)... These be very good and sound (эти — очень хороши и крепки), and will keep his small feet warm and dry (и сохранят его маленькие ноги теплыми и сухими) — an odd new thing to him, belike (странная новая вещь для него, похоже), since he has doubtless been used to foot it bare (так как он без сомнения привык ходить босиком), winters and summers the same (зимой и летом одинаково)... Would thread were bread (если бы нитка была хлебом), seeing one getteth (видя = учитывая, что человек: «один» получает) a year's sufficiency (годовой запас) for a farthing (за один фартинг), and such a brave big needle without cost (а такую прекрасную большую иглу — бесплатно: «без цены»), for mere love (ни за что: «за простую любовь»). Now shall I have the demon's own time (теперь у меня будет дьявольское собственное время = мне будет, черт возьми, нелегко) to thread it (вдеть ее = нитку в иголку)!'

And so he had (и так и случилось). He did as men have always done (он делал, как мужчины всегда делали), and probably always will do (и, возможно, всегда будут делать), to the end of time (до конца времен) — held the needle still (держал иглу неподвижно; to hold — держать), and tried to thrust the thread (и старался просунуть нитку) through the eye (в ушко: «в глазок»), which is the opposite of a woman's way (что есть противоположность женскому пути = способу). Time and time again the thread missed the mark (снова и снова нитка пропускала цель), going sometimes on one side of the needle (проходя иногда по одну сторону иголки), sometimes on the other (иногда по другую), sometimes doubling up against the shaft (иногда сгибаясь об иголку; to double up — сгибаться, сдваиваться; shaft — стержень); but he was patient (но он был терпелив), having been through these experiences before (пройдя через этот опыт раньше), when he was soldiering (когда он солдатствовал = служил солдатом). He succeeded at last (он достиг цели наконец), and took up the garment that had lain waiting, meantime, across his lap (и поднял одеяние, которое лежало, ожидая, между тем, у него на коленях; across — поперек; lap — лоно), and began his work (и начал свою работу; to begin — начинать). 'The inn is paid (эта гостиница оплачена; to pay — платить) — the breakfast that is to come, included (завтрак, который должен подойти, включен) — and there is wherewithal left (и есть необходимые средства оставшиеся) to buy a couple of donkeys (чтобы купить пару ослов) and meet our little costs (и соответствовать нашим малым расходам) for the two or three days betwixt this (на два или три дня между этим = сегодняшним) and the plenty that awaits us at Hendon Hall (и изобилием, которое ожидает нас в Хендон-Холле) —

'"She loved her hus" (она любила своего мужень…; husband — супруг) —

'Body o' me (черт возьми)! I have driven the needle under my nail (я загнал иглу себе под ноготь; to drive — вести, вбивать)!.. It matters little (это значит немного) — 'tis not a novelty (это не новшество = не в первый раз) — yet 'tis not a convenience, neither (и все же это не удобство = неприятно тоже)... We shall be merry there (мы будем веселы там), little one (малыш), never doubt it (не сомневайся в этом)! Thy troubles will vanish there (твои беды исчезнут там), and likewise thy sad distemper (и также твое прискорбное душевное расстройство) —

'"She loved her husband dearilee (она любила своего мужа нежно; устар. вместо dearily — нежно),

But another man (но другой мужчина)"—

'These be noble large stitches (эти — благородные, крупные стежки)!' — holding the garment up and viewing it admiringly (держа одежду вверх = на вытянутых руках и разглядывая ее с восхищением) — 'they have a grandeur and a majesty (они имеют размах и величие) that do cause these small stingy ones of the tailor-man to look mighty paltry and plebeian (которые заставляют эти маленькие скупые стежки портного выглядеть чрезвычайно ничтожными и плебейскими) —

'"She loved her husband dearilee (она любила своего мужа нежно),

But another man he loved she (но другой человек, он любил ее)," —

albeit [O:l`bi:?t], convenience [k?n`vi:n??ns], experience [?ks`p??r??ns]

'"There was a woman in our town,

In our town did dwell" —

'He stirred, methinks — I must sing in a less thunderous key; 'tis not good to mar his sleep, with this journey before him and he so wearied out, poorchap... This garment — 'tis well enough — a stitch here and another one there will set it aright. This other is better, albeit a stitch or two will not come amiss in it, likewise.... These be very good and sound, and will keep his small feet warm and dry — an odd new thing to him, belike, since he has doubtless been used to foot it bare, winters and summers the same... Would thread were bread, seeing one getteth a year's sufficiency for a farthing, and such a brave big needle without cost, for mere love. Now shall I have the demon's own time to thread it!'

And so he had. He did as men have always done, and probably always will do, to the end of time — held the needle still, and tried to thrust the thread through the eye, which is the opposite of a woman's way. Time and time again the thread missed the mark, going sometimes on one side of the needle, sometimes on the other, sometimes doubling up against the shaft; but he was patient, having been through these experiences before, when he was soldiering. He succeeded at last, and took up the garment that had lain waiting, meantime, across his lap, and began his work. 'The inn is paid — the breakfast that is to come, included — and there is wherewithal left to buy a couple of donkeys and meet our little costs for the two or three days betwixt this and the plenty that awaits us at Hendon Hall —