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

Toward eleven o'clock (к одиннадцати часам) he approached the palace (он приблизился к дворцу); and although a host of showy people were about him (и, хотя толпа блестящих людей была вокруг него), moving in the same direction (двигаясь в том же направлении), he was not inconspicuous (он не был незаметен) — his costume took care of that (его костюм позаботился об этом; to take care — позаботиться о чем-то: «взять заботу»). He watched these people's faces narrowly (он наблюдал за лицами этих людей пристально), hoping to find a charitable one (надеясь найти доброжелательное лицо: «одно») whose possessor might be willing (чей обладатель мог бы быть желающим = согласился бы) to carry his name (донести его имя = доложить о нем) to the old lieutenant (старому лейтенанту) — as to trying (что до того, чтобы попытаться) to get into the palace himself (попасть во дворец самому), that was simply out of the question (это было просто вне вопроса = об этом и речи быть не могло).

Presently our whipping-boy (вскоре наш мальчик для битья; to whip — пороть /хлыстом, кнутом/) passed him (прошел мимо него), then wheeled about (затем обернулся; about — вокруг) and scanned his figure well (и рассмотрел его внешность хорошо), saying to himself (говоря себе), 'An that is not the very vagabond (если это не тот самый бродяга) his majesty is in such a worry about (о котором его величество так беспокоится: «в таком беспокойстве»; about — о), then am I an ass (тогда я осел) — though belike I was that before (хотя похоже, что я был им прежде). He answereth the description to a rag (он отвечает описанию до лоскутка) — that God should make two such (чтобы Бог сделал двух таких), would be to cheapen miracles (значило бы обесценивать чудеса), by wasteful repetition (расточительным повторением). I would I could contrive an excuse (я хотел бы, чтобы я мог придумать предлог) to speak with him (заговорить с ним).'

lunatic [`lu:nətık], waft [wa:ft], repetition [repı`tıS(ə)n]

At noon he was still tramping — among the rabble which followed after the royal procession now; for he argued that this regal display would attract his little lunatic powerfully. He followed the pageant through all its devious windings about London, and all the way to Westminster and the Abbey. He drifted here and there among the multitudes that were massed in the vicinity for a weary long time, baffled and perplexed, and finally wandered off thinking, and trying to contrive some way to better his plan of campaign. By and by, when he came to himself out of his musings, he discovered that the town was far behind him and that the day was growing old. He was near the river, and in the country; it was a region of fine rural seats — not the sort of district to welcome clothes like his.

It was not at all cold; so he stretched himself on the ground in the lee of a hedge to rest and think. Drowsiness presently began to settle upon his senses; the faint and far-off boom of cannon was wafted to his ear, and he said to himself, 'The new king is crowned,' and straightway fell asleep. He had not slept or rested, before, for more than thirty hours. He did not wake again until near the middle of the next morning.

He got up, lame, stiff, and half famished, washed himself in the river, stayed his stomach with a pint or two of water, and trudged off toward Westminster grumbling at himself for having wasted so much time. Hunger helped him to a new plan now; he would try to get speech with old Sir Humphrey Marlow and borrow a few marks, and — but that was enough of a plan for the present; it would be time enough to enlarge it when this first stage should be accomplished.

Toward eleven o'clock he approached the palace; and although a host of showy people were about him, moving in the same direction, he was not inconspicuous — his costume took care of that. He watched these people's faces narrowly, hoping to find a charitable one whose possessor might be willing to carry his name to the old lieutenant — as to trying to get into the palace himself, that was simply out of the question.

Presently our whipping-boy passed him, then wheeled about and scanned his figure well, saying to himself, 'An that is not the very vagabond his majesty is in such a worry about, then am I an ass — though belike I was that before. He answereth the description to a rag — that God should make two such, would be to cheapen miracles, by wasteful repetition. I would I could contrive an excuse to speak with him.'

Miles Hendon saved him the trouble (Майлс Хендон сэкономил ему заботы = усилия); for he turned about, then (ибо он обернулся тогда), as a man generally will (как любой человек обычно будет = сделает) when somebody mesmerizes him (когда кто-нибудь гипнотизирует его) by gazing hard at him from behind (глазея пристально на него сзади); and observing a strong interest in the boy's eyes (и, видя сильный интерес в глазах мальчика), he stepped toward him and said (он шагнул к нему и сказал):

'You have just come out from the palace (вы только что вышли из дворца); do you belong there (ты оттуда: «принадлежишь к там»)?'

'Yes, your worship (да, ваша милость).'

'Know you Sir Humphrey Marlow (знаешь ли ты сэра Хамфри Марло)?'

The boy started, and said to himself (мальчик вздрогнул и сказал себе), 'Lord (Господи)! mine old departed father (мой старый почивший отец)!' Then he answered, aloud (затем он ответил вслух), 'Right well, your worship (очень хорошо, ваша милость).'

'Good (хорошо) — is he within (он внутри)?'

'Yes (да),' said the boy; and added, to himself (сказал мальчик и добавил, про себя: «к себе»), 'within his grave (внутри своей могилы).'

Might I crave your favor (могу ли я просить о вашей любезности) to carry my name to him (донести мое имя ему), and say I beg (и сказать, что я молю) to say a word in his ear (сказать слово ему на ухо)?'

'I will despatch the business (я разберусь с этим делом) right willingly (весьма охотно), fair sir (любезный сэр).'

'Then say Miles Hendon, son of Sir Richard (тогда скажите, что Майлс Хендон, сын сэра Ричарда), is here without (здесь снаружи) — I shall be greatly bounden to you (я буду очень обязан вам; to bind — вязать), my good lad (мой милый юноша).'

The boy looked disappointed (мальчик выглядел разочарованным) — 'the king did not name him so (король не назвал его так),' he said to himself (он сказал себе) — 'but it mattereth not (но это не имеет значения), this is his twin brother (это его брат-близнец), and can give his majesty (и /он/ может сообщить его величеству) news of t'other Sir-Odds-and-Ends (новости о том, другом сэре Оборванце), I warrant (я ручаюсь).' So he said to Miles (так что он сказал Майлсу), 'Step in there a moment, good sir (зайдите вон туда на секунду, добрый сэр), and wait (подождите) till I bring you word (пока я не принесу вам слово = ответ).'