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

'Oh, my lord (о, мой господин), on thy knees (на коленях)? and to me (и ко мне)!'

Then she fled away (затем она убежала; to flee — убегать) in fright (в испуге); and Tom, smitten with despair (а Том, охваченный отчаянием; to smite — охватить, сразить), sank down (опустился; to sink — погружаться, тонуть), murmuring (бормоча):

'There is no help (нет никакой помощи), there is no hope (нет никакой надежды). Now will they come and take me (теперь они придут и схватят меня).'

Whilst he lay there (пока он лежал там; to lie — лежать) benumbed with terror (оцепеневший от ужаса), dreadful tidings (страшные известия) were speeding through the palace (распространялись по дворцу). The whisper (шепот), for it was whispered always (так как это всегда передавалось шепотом: «было прошептано всегда»), flew from menial to menial (пронесся от слуги к слуге), from lord to lady (от господ к дамам), down all the long corridors (по всем коридорам), from story to story (c этажа на этаж), from saloon to saloon (из залы в залу), 'The prince hath gone mad (принц сошел с ума), the prince hath gone mad!' Soon every saloon, every marble hall (скоро каждая зала, мраморный холл), had its groups of glittering lords and ladies (имела свои группы блистательных господ и дам), and other groups of dazzling lesser folk (и другие группы ослепительных людей более низкого звания; lesser — меньший), talking earnestly together in whispers (говорящих серьезно вместе шепотом), and every face had in it dismay (и каждое лицо имело /выражение/ испуга). Presently (через некоторое время) a splendid official (величественный чиновник) came marching by these groups (прошел мимо этих групп), making solemn proclamation (делая торжественное объявление):

'IN THE NAME OF THE KING (именем короля)

Let none listen to this false (пусть никто не слушает эту лживую) and foolish matter (и глупую весть), upon pain of death (под страхом смерти; pain — боль), nor discuss the same (и не обсуждает ее; same — то(т) же), nor carry it abroad (и не выносит за пределы /дворца/). In the name of the king (именем короля)!'

The whisperings ceased (шепот прекратился) as suddenly (так внезапно) as if the whisperers had been stricken dumb (как будто шептавшие внезапно онемели).

Soon there was a general buzz (вскоре раздалось всеобщий гул /голосов/) along the corridors (вдоль коридоров), of (о) 'The prince (принц)! See, the prince comes (смотрите, принц идет)!'

tongue [tAŋ], benumb [bı`nAm], death [deθ]

He said:

'Oh, they mock at me! They will go and tell. Oh! why came I here to cast away my life?'

He walked up and down the floor, filled with nameless fears, listening, starting at every trifling sound. Presently the door swung open, and a silken page said:

'The Lady Jane Grey.'

The door closed, and a sweet young girl, richly clad, bounded toward him.

But she stopped suddenly, and said in a distressed voice:

'Oh, what aileth thee, my lord?'

Tom's breath was nearly failing him; but he made shift to stammer out:

'Ah, be merciful, thou! In sooth I am no lord, but only poor Tom Canty of Offal Court in the city. Prithee let me see the prince, and he will of his grace restore to me my rags, and let me hence unhurt. Oh, be thou merciful, and save me!'

By this time the boy was on his knees, and supplicating with his eyes and uplifted hands as well as with his tongue. The young girl seemed horror-stricken. She cried out:

'Oh, my lord, on thy knees? and to me!'

Then she fled away in fright; and Tom, smitten with despair, sank down, murmuring:

'There is no help, there is no hope. Now will they come and take me.'

Whilst he lay there benumbed with terror, dreadful tidings were speeding through the palace. The whisper, for it was whispered always, flew from menial to menial, from lord to lady, down all the long corridors, from story to story, from saloon to saloon, 'The prince hath gone mad, the prince hath gone mad!' Soon every saloon, every marble hall, had its groups of glittering lords and ladies, and other groups of dazzling lesser folk, talking earnestly together in whispers, and every face had in it dismay. Presently a splendid official came marching by these groups, making solemn proclamation:

'IN THE NAME OF THE KING

Let none list to this false and foolish matter, upon pain of death, nor discuss the same, nor carry it abroad. In the name of the king!'

The whisperings ceased as suddenly as if the whisperers had been stricken dumb.

Soon there was a general buzz along the corridors, of 'The prince! See, the prince comes!'

Poor Tom came slowly walking past (бедный Том прошел медленно мимо) the low-bowing (низко-кланявшихся) groups (групп /людей/), trying to bow in return (пытаясь кланяться в ответ), and meekly gazing upon (и кротко/смиренно смотря на) his strange surroundings (свое странное окружение) with bewildered and pathetic eyes (растерянными и жалкими/грустными глазами). Great nobles walked upon each side of him (вельможи шли с обеих сторон от него), making him lean upon them (заставляя его опираться на них), and so steady his steps (и так придавая устойчивость его шагам). Behind him followed (позади него следовали) the court physicians (придворные врачи) and some servants (и несколько слуг).

Presently Tom found himself in a noble apartment of the palace (через некоторое время Том оказался в благородных апартаментах дворца), and heard the door close (и услышал, как дверь закрывалась) behind him (за ним). Around him (вокруг него) stood those who had come with him (стояли те, кто пришел с ним).

Before him (перед ним), at a little distance (на небольшом расстоянии) reclined (полулежал) a very large and very fat man (очень большой и очень толстый человек), with a wide, pulpy face (с широким, мясистым лицом), and a stern expression (и суровым выражением /лица/). His large head was very gray (его большая голова была очень седой; gray — серый; седой); and his whiskers (и его бакенбарды), which he wore only around his face (которые он носил только вокруг своего лица), like a frame (как рамку), were gray also (были седыми также). His clothing was of rich stuff (его одежда была из дорогого материала), but old (но старая), and slightly frayed (и немного потертая) in places (местами). One of his swollen legs (одна раздутых ног) had a pillow under it (имела подушку под собой), and was wrapped in bandages (и была обернута в бинты). There was silence now (настала тишина теперь); and there was no head there (и не было (ни одной) головы там) but was bent in reverence (которая не была бы почтительно склонена), except this man's (кроме (головы) этого человека). This stern-countenanced invalid (этот инвалид с суровым выражением лица; countenance — выражение /лица, глаз/) was the dread Henry VIII (был грозный Генрих Восьмой). He said (он произнес) — and his face grew gentle (и его лицо стало мягким) as he began to speak (когда он начал говорить):