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

'Oh, good sir (о, добрый сэр), peradventure you mean the ragged regal vagrant (возможно, вы подразумеваете того оборванного царственного бродягу) that tarried here the night (который провел здесь ночь). If such as you (если такой как вы) take interest in such as he (интересуется: «берет интерес» таким, как он), know, then (знайте тогда), that I have sent him of an errand (что я послал его по поручению; to send — посылать). He will be back anon (он вернется: «будет назад» сейчас).'

'How soon (как скоро)? How soon? Come, waste not the time (давай же, не трать зря времени; to come — приходить, двигаться) — cannot I overtake him (не могу ли я нагнать его)? How soon will he be back (как скоро он вернется: «будет он назад»)?'

'Thou needst not stir (тебе не нужно шевелиться = беспокоиться); he will return quickly (он вернется быстро).'

'So be it then (ну, будь так тогда). I will try to wait (я постараюсь подождать). But stop (но постой)! — you sent him of an errand (ты послал его с поручением; to send — посылать)? — you (ты)! Verily, this is a lie (поистине, это ложь) — he would not go (он бы не пошел). He would pull thy old beard (он вырвал бы твою старую бороду), an thou didst offer him such an insolence (если бы ты предложил ему такую дерзость). Thou hast lied, friend (ты солгал, друг); thou hast surely lied (ты точно солгал)! He would not go for thee (он не пошел бы ни ради тебя) nor for any man (ни ради другого человека; nor — и не).'

'For any man — no (ради любого человека — нет); haply not (к счастью, нет). But I am not a man (но я не человек).'

'What (что)! Now o' God's name what art thou, then (но во Имя Божие, что есть ты тогда = в таком случае)?'

'It is a secret (это тайна) — mark thou reveal it not (смотри, не выдавай ее). I am an archangel (я архангел)!'

There was a tremendous ejaculation (было = раздалось страшное восклицание) from Miles Hendon (от Майлса Хендона) — not altogether unprofaned (не вполне неругательное; to profane — осквернять) — followed by (за которым последовало; to follow — следовать):

'This doth well and truly account for his complaisance (это хорошо и правдиво объясняет его услужливость; to account for — объяснять: «отчитываться за»)! Right well I knew (очень хорошо я знал; to know — знать) he would budge nor hand nor foot (что он не пошевелил бы ни рукой, ни ногой) in the menial service of any mortal (ради лакейской услуги любому смертному); but Lord (но Боже), even a king must obey (даже король обязан повиноваться) when an archangel gives the word o' command (когда архангел отдает приказ: «слово команды»)! Let me (позвольте мне) — 'sh (шш)! What noise was that (какой шум был это = что за шум)?'

chapel [`tʃæp(ə)l], regal [`ri:gəl], complaisance [kəm`pleızəns]

Hark! There was a sound of voices near the cabin — the knife dropped from the hermit's hand; he cast a sheepskin over the boy and started up, trembling. The sounds increased, and presently the voices became rough and angry; then came blows, and cries for help; then a clatter of swift footsteps retreating. Immediately came a succession of thundering knocks upon the cabin door, followed by:

'Hullo-o-o! Open! And despatch, in the name of all the devils!'

Oh, this was the blessedest sound that had ever made music in the king's ears; for it was Miles Hendon's voice!

The hermit, grinding his teeth in impotent rage, moved swiftly out of the bedchamber, closing the door behind him; and straightway the king heard a talk, to this effect, proceeding from the 'chapel':

'Homage and greeting, reverend sir! Where is the boy — my boy?'

'What boy, friend?'

'What boy! Lie me no lies, sir priest, play me no deceptions! I am not in the humor for it. Near to this place I caught the scoundrels who I judged did steal him from me, and I made them confess; they said he was at large again, and they had tracked him to your door. They showed me his very footprints. Now palter no more; for look you, holy sir, an thou produce him not — Where is the boy?'

'Oh, good sir, peradventure you mean the ragged regal vagrant that tarried here the night. If such as you take interest in such as he, know, then, that I have sent him of an errand. He will be back anon.'

'How soon? How soon? Come, waste not the time — cannot I overtake him? How soon will he be back?'

'Thou needst not stir; he will return quickly.'

'So be it then. I will try to wait. But stop! — you sent him of an errand? — you! Verily, this is a lie — he would not go. He would pull thy old beard, an thou didst offer him such an insolence. Thou hast lied, friend; thou hast surely lied! He would not go for thee nor for any man.'

'For any man — no; haply not. But I am not a man.'

'What! Now o' God's name what art thou, then?'

'It is a secret — mark thou reveal it not. I am an archangel!'

There was a tremendous ejaculation from Miles Hendon — not altogether unprofane — followed by:

'This doth well and truly account for his complaisance! Right well I knew he would budge nor hand nor foot in the menial service of any mortal; but Lord, even a king must obey when an archangel gives the word o' command! Let me — 'sh! What noise was that?'

All this while the king had been yonder (все это время король был там), alternately quaking with terror and trembling with hope (поочередно трясясь от страха и дрожа от надежды); and all the while, too (и все это время, также), he had thrown all the strength he could (он бросил все силы, которые мог; to throw — бросать) into his anguished moanings (на свои страдальческие стоны), constantly expecting them to reach Hendon's ear (постоянно ожидая, что они достигнут уха Хендона: «ожидая их достигнуть…»), but always realizing, with bitterness (но все время осознавая с горечью), that they failed (что они потерпели неудачу), or at least made no impression (или, по крайней мере, не произвели никакого впечатления; to make — делать). So this last remark of his servant (так что это последнее замечание его слуги) came as comes a reviving breath (пришло, как приходит оживляющее дыхание; to revive — оживлять) from fresh fields to the dying (со свежих полей к умирающему); and he exerted himself once more (и он поднатужился: «напряг себя» еще раз), and with all his energy (и со всей своей энергией), just as the hermit was saying (прямо когда отшельник говорил):