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

When daylight arrived at last (когда дневной свет пришел наконец), he had made many a mile (он сделал = прошел много миль; many a mile = many miles (устар.)), and canvassed many a crowd (и опросил много толп), but the only result was (но единственным результатом было) that he was tolerably tired (что он был довольно-таки уставшим), rather hungry, and very sleepy (весьма голодным и очень сонным). He wanted some breakfast (он хотел какой-нибудь завтрак), but there was no way to get it (но не было способа получить его). To beg for it (выпрашивать его) did not occur to him (не пришло ему в голову; to occur — случаться, приходить на ум); as to pawning his sword (что до /того, чтобы/ заложить свой меч), he would as soon have thought (он бы так скоро = скорее подумал; to think — думать) of parting with his honor (о том, чтобы расстаться со своей честью); he could spare some of his clothes (он мог бы обойтись без части своей одежды) — yes, but one could (но один мог = можно было) as easily find a customer for a disease as for such clothes (так же легко найти покупателя на болезнь, как на такую одежду).

haunt [hO:nt], rather [`ra:ðə], disease [dı`zi:z]

MILES HENDON was picturesque enough before he got into the riot on London Bridge — he was more so when he got out of it. He had but little money when he got in, none at all when he got out. The pickpockets had stripped him of his last farthing.

But no matter, so he found his boy. Being a soldier, he did not go at his task in a random way, but set to work, first of all, to arrange his campaign.

What would the boy naturally do? Where would he naturally go? Well — argued Miles — he would naturally go to his former haunts, for that is the instinct of unsound minds, when homeless and forsaken, as well as of sound ones. Whereabouts were his former haunts? His rags, taken together with the low villain who seemed to know him and who even claimed to be his father, indicated that his home was in one or other of the poorest and meanest districts of London. Would the search for him be difficult, or long? No, it was likely to be easy and brief. He would not hunt for the boy, he would hunt for a crowd; in the center of a big crowd or a little one, sooner or later he should find his poor little friend, sure; and the mangy mob would be entertaining itself with pestering and aggravating the boy, who would be proclaiming himself king, as usual. Then Miles Hendon would cripple some of those people, and carry off his little ward, and comfort and cheer him with loving words, and the two would never be separated any more.

So Miles started on his quest. Hour after hour he tramped through back alleys and squalid streets, seeking groups and crowds, and finding no end of them, but never any sign of the boy. This greatly surprised him, but did not discourage him. To his notion, there was nothing the matter with his plan of campaign; the only miscalculation about it was that the campaign was becoming a lengthy one, whereas he had expected it to be short.

When daylight arrived at last, he had made many a mile, and canvassed many a crowd, but the only result was that he was tolerably tired, rather hungry, and very sleepy. He wanted some breakfast, but there was no way to get it. To beg for it did not occur to him; as to pawning his sword, he would as soon have thought of parting with his honor; he could spare some of his clothes — yes, but one could as easily find a customer for a disease as for such clothes.

At noon he was still tramping (в полдень он все еще бродил) — among the rabble (среди сброда) which followed after the royal procession now (который следовал за королевской процессией теперь); for he argued (ибо он рассудил) that this regal display (что это королевское выступление) would attract his little lunatic powerfully (привлекло бы его маленького безумца мощно). He followed the pageant (он следовал за процессией) through all its devious windings (по всем ее хитроумным изгибам) about London (по Лондону), and all the way to Westminster and the Abbey (и вплоть до Вестминстера и Аббатства). He drifted here and there (он бродил здесь и там) among the multitudes (среди толп) that were massed in the vicinity (которые скапливались поблизости) for a weary long time (в течение изматывающего долгого времени), baffled and perplexed (сбитый с толку и озадаченный), and finally wandered off (и наконец забрел далеко: «убрел прочь») thinking, and trying to contrive some way (думая и пытаясь выдумать какой-нибудь способ) to better his plan of campaign (улучшить свой план кампании). By and by (мало-помалу), when he came to himself (когда он пришел к себе = в себя) out of his musings (из своих размышлений), he discovered that the town was far behind him (он обнаружил, что город оказался далеко за ним) and that the day was growing old (и что день становился старым = клонился к закату). He was near the river (он был близ реки), and in the country (и в сельской местности); it was a region of fine rural seats (это был район роскошных деревенских усадеб) — not the sort of district (не такой сорт местности) to welcome clothes like his (чтобы радушно принять одежду вроде его = как у него).

It was not at all cold (не было совсем холодно); so he stretched himself (так что он растянулся) on the ground in the lee of a hedge (на земле под сенью изгороди; lee — укрытие, подветренная сторона) to rest and think (чтобы отдохнуть и подумать). Drowsiness presently began (сонливость вскоре начала; to begin — начать) to settle upon his senses (оседать на его чувства); the faint and far-off boom of cannon (слабый и отдаленный залп пушки) was wafted to his ear (был донесен до его уха), and he said to himself (и он сказал себе), 'The new king is crowned (новый король коронован),' and straightway fell asleep (и сразу же заснул: «упал спящим»; to fall — падать). He had not slept or rested, before (он не спал и не отдыхал прежде; to sleep — спать), for more than thirty hours (в течение больше чем тридцати часов). He did not wake again (он не проснулся снова) until near the middle of the next morning (до почти середины следующего утра).

He got up, lame (он поднялся, хромой; to get up — вставать), stiff (затекший), and half famished (и полуголодный; half — половина; to famish — проголодаться), washed himself in the river (умылся в реке), stayed his stomach (утолил свой желудок) with a pint or two of water (пинтой-другой воды), and trudged off toward Westminster (и устало потащился к Вестминстеру) grumbling at himself (ворча на себя) for having wasted so much time (за то, что потратил столько времени). Hunger helped him to a new plan now (голод помог ему к новому плану теперь = подсказал ему новый план); he would try (он попробовал бы) to get speech with old Sir Humphrey Marlow (поговорить: «получить речь» со старым сэром Хамфри Марло) and borrow a few marks (и одолжить несколько марок), and (и) — but that was enough of a plan (но это было достаточно от плана = это уже был достаточный план) for the present (пока что: «для настоящего времени»); it would be time enough (будет времени достаточно) to enlarge it (увеличить = доработать его) when this first stage should be accomplished (когда этот первый этап будет окончен).