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

armor [`a:mə], suspense [səs`pens], immediate [ı`mi:dıət]

AT nine in the evening the whole vast river-front of the palace was blazing with light. The river itself, as far as the eye could reach cityward, was so thickly covered with watermen's boats and with pleasure barges, all fringed with colored lanterns, and gently agitated by the waves, that it resembled a glowing and limitless garden of flowers stirred to soft motion by summer winds. The grand terrace of stone steps leading down to the water, spacious enough to mass the army of a German principality upon, was a picture to see, with its ranks of royal halberdiers in polished armor, and its troops of brilliantly costumed servitors flitting up and down, and to and fro, in the hurry of preparation.

Presently a command was given, and immediately all living creatures vanished from the steps. Now the air was heavy with the hush of suspense and expectancy. As far as one's vision could carry, he might see the myriads of people in the boats rise up, and shade their eyes from the glare of lanterns and torches, and gaze toward the palace.

A file of forty or fifty state barges drew up to the steps. They were richly gilt, and their lofty prows and sterns were elaborately carved. Some of them were decorated with banners and streamers; some with cloth-of-gold and arras embroidered with coats of arms; others with silken flags that had numberless little silver bells fastened to them, which shook out tiny showers of joyous music whenever the breezes fluttered them; others of yet higher pretensions, since they belonged to nobles in the prince's immediate service, had their sides picturesquely fenced with shields gorgeously emblazoned with armorial bearings. Each state barge was towed by a tender. Besides the rowers, these tenders carried each a number of men-at-arms in glossy helmet and breastplate, and a company of musicians.

The advance-guard of the expected procession (авангард ожидаемой процессии) now appeared in the great gateway (теперь показался в больших воротах), a troop of halberdiers (группа алебардщиков). They were dressed in striped hose (они были одеты в полосатые штаны) of black and tawny (черного и рыжевато-коричневого цвета), velvet caps graced at the sides with silver roses (бархатные шапочки, украшенные по бокам серебряными розами), and doublets of murrey and blue cloth (и камзолы из багровой и голубой ткани), embroidered on the front and back with the three feathers (украшенными спереди и сзади тремя перьями), the prince's blazon (гербом принца), woven in gold (вытканным золотом; to weave — ткать). Their halberd staves (древки их алебард) were covered with crimson velvet (были покрыты малиновым бархатом), fastened with gilt nails (прибитым золочеными гвоздиками), and ornamented with gold tassels (украшены золотыми кистями). Filing off on the right and left (выстраиваясь справа и слева), they formed two long lines (они образовали две длинные шеренги), extending from the gateway of the palace to the water's edge (тянущиеся от ворот дворца к кромке воды; edge — край). A thick, rayed cloth or carpet (толстая, с узором в виде расходящихся лучей, ткань или ковер; ray — луч) was then unfolded (была затем развернута), and laid down between them by attendants in the gold-and-crimson liveries of the prince (и положена между ними слугами в золото-малиновых ливреях принца; to lay down — класть вниз). This done (это сделано = когда это было сделано), a flourish of trumpets resounded from within (звуи фанфар прогремели изнутри; trumpet — труба /муз./). A lively prelude arose from the musicians on the water (оживленная прелюдия донеслась от музыкантов на воде); and two ushers with white wands (и два церемониймейстера с белыми жезлами) marched with a slow and stately pace (прошагали медленной и статной походкой) from the portal (от главных ворот). They were followed (за ними следовал; to follow — следовать) by an officer bearing the civic mace (офицер, несущий гражданский жезл), after whom came another carrying the city's sword (за которым шел другой, неся меч города); then several sergeants of the city guard (затем несколько сержантов городской стражи), in their full accoutrements (в своем полном снаряжении), and with badges on their sleeves (и с эмблемами на рукавах); then the Garter king-at-arms (зате герольдмейстер ордена Подвязки), in his tabard (в камзоле герольда; tabard — плащ, носимый рыцарями поверх лат; амзол герольда); then several knights of the Bath (затем несколько рыцарей ордена Бани), each with a white lace (каждый с белым кружевом) on his sleeve (на своем рукаве); then their esquires (затем их оруженосцы); then the judges (затем судьи), in their robes of scarlet and coifs (в своих мантиях алого цвета и шапочках); then the Lord High Chancellor of England (затем лорд-канцлер Англии), in a robe of scarlet, open before (в одеянии алого цвета, открытом спереди), and purfled with minever (и отороченном горностаем); then a deputation of aldermen (затем делегация олдерменов /членов городского правления/), in their scarlet cloaks (в своих алых мантиях); and then the heads of the different civic companies (а затем — главы различных гражданских компаний), in their robes of state (в своих парадных одеждах). Now came twelve French gentlemen (затем шли двенадцать французских джентльменов), in splendid habiliments (в прелестных одеяниях), consisting of pourpoints of white damask (состоящих из стеганых камзолов белого дамаска) barred with gold (обитого золотом), short mantles of crimson velvet (в коротких мантиях из малинового бархата) lined with violet taffeta (украшенных лиловой тафтой), and carnation-colored hauts-de-chausses (и широких штанах до колен, покрашенных в цвет гвоздики; carnation — гвоздика), and took their way down the steps (и спустились по лестнице). They were of the suite of the French ambassador (они были из свиты Французского посла), and were followed by twelve cavaliers (и за ними шли двенадцать кавалеров) of the suite of the Spanish ambassador (из свиты испанского посланника), clothed in black velvet (одетые в черный бархат), unrelieved by any ornament (нерасцвеченный какими-либо украшениями; to relieve — облегчать). Following these came several great English nobles with their attendants (вслед за этим прошли несколько великих английских дворян со своими слугами).'