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

Privately (про себя: «частным образом»), after a while (спустя некоторое время), Tom organized a royal court (Том организовал = придумал королевский двор)! He was the prince (он был принцем); his special comrades were guards (его лучшие товарищи были стражниками), chamberlains (камергерами), equerries (конюшими), lords and ladies in waiting (лордами и леди при дворе; waiting — ожидание), and the royal family (и королевской семьей). Daily the mock prince (ежедневно мнимый принц) was received (бывал принят) with elaborate ceremonials (с тщательно разработанным церемониалом) borrowed (заимствованным) by Tom from his romantic readings (Томом из своего романтического чтения); daily the great affairs of the mimic kingdom (ежедневно великие = важные дела притворного = вымышленного королевства) were discussed in the royal council (бывали обсуждаемы в королевском совете), and daily his mimic highness (и ежедневно его мнимое высочество) issued decrees (издавало декреты) to his imaginary armies (своим воображаемым армиям), navies, and viceroyalties (флотам и заморским владениям).

unfortunate [An`fO:tSənət], unconsciously [An`kOnSəslı], creature [`kri:tSə]

Tom could always find something going on around the Maypole in Cheapside, and at the fairs; and now and then he and the rest of London had a chance to see a military parade when some famous unfortunate was carried prisoner to the Tower, by land or boat. One summer's day he saw poor Anne Askew and three men burned at the stake in Smithfield, and heard an ex-bishop preach a sermon to them which did not interest him. Yes, Tom's life was varied and pleasant enough, on the whole.

By and by Tom's reading and dreaming about princely life wrought such a strong effect upon him that he began to act the prince, unconsciously. His speech and manners became curiously ceremonious and courtly, to the vast admiration and amusement of his intimates. But Tom's influence among these young people began to grow now, day by day; and in time he came to be looked up to by them with a sort of wondering awe, as a superior being. He seemed to know so much! and he could do such marvellous things! and withal, he was so deep and wise! Tom's remarks and Tom's performances were reported by the boys to their elders; and these, also, presently began to discuss Tom Canty, and to regard him as a most gifted and extraordinary creature. Full-grown people brought their perplexities to Tom for solution, and were often astonished at the wit and wisdom of his decisions. In fact, he was become a hero to all who knew him except his own family — these only saw nothing in him.

Privately, after a while, Tom organized a royal court! He was the prince; his special comrades were guards, chamberlains, equerries, lords and ladies in waiting, and the royal family. Daily the mock prince was received with elaborate ceremonials borrowed by Tom from his romantic readings; daily the great affairs of the mimic kingdom were discussed in the royal council, and daily his mimic highness issued decrees to his imaginary armies, navies, and viceroyalties.

After which he would go forth in his rags (после чего он шел дальше в своих лохмотьях) and beg a few farthings (и выпрашивал несколько фартингов), eat his poor crust (сухари), take his customary cuffs and abuse (принимал обычные затрещины и брань), and then stretch himself upon (и затем растягивался на) his handful of foul straw (своем клочке грязной соломы), and resume his empty grandeurs (возобновлял свои пустые великолепия) in his dreams (в своих мечтах).

And still his desire to look just once upon a real prince (и все же его желание взглянуть лишь один раз на настоящего принца), in the flesh (во плоти), grew upon him (усиливалось в нем; to grow — расти), day by day (день ото дня), and week by week (и с каждой неделей), until at last it absorbed (пока наконец оно (не) вобрало в себя) all other desires (все прочие желания), and became the one passion of his life (и стало одной-единственной страстью его жизни; to become — становиться).

One January day (в один январский день), on his usual begging tour (на своем обычном нищенском обходе = ходя и прося милостыню), he tramped despondently up and down (он бродил уныло по: «вверх и вниз») the region round about Mincing Lane and Little East Cheap (району около Минсинг-лейн и Литтл-Ист-Чип), hour after hour (один час за другим: «час после часа»), barefooted (босой) and cold (замерзший), looking in at cook-shop windows (заглядывая в окна харчевен) and longing for (и страстно желая) the dreadful pork-pies (страшных пирогов со свининой; pork — свинина) and other deadly inventions (и других смертоносных изделий: «изобретений») displayed there (выставленных там) — for to him these were dainties (ибо для него они были деликатесами) fit for the angels (созданными для ангелов); that is, judging by the smell (то есть, судя по запаху), they were (они были /такими/) — for it had never been his good luck to own and eat one (потому что ему никогда не удавалось попробовать ни один из них: «это никогда не было его удачей обладать одним (из них) и съесть один /из них/). There was a cold drizzle of rain (была холодная морось дождя); the atmosphere was murky (атмосфера была мрачная); it was a melancholy day (это был унылый день). At night Tom reached home so wet (ночью Том добрался домой такой промокший; to reach — достигать) and tired and hungry (и усталый и голодный) that it was not possible for his father and grandmother to observe his forlorn condition and not be moved (что не было возможно его отцу и бабушке видеть его жалкое состояние и не быть тронутыми) — after their fashion (на свой лад); wherefore they gave him a brisk cuffing (с каковой целью они задали ему хорошую взбучку) at once (сразу) and sent him to bed (и послали его в постель). For a long time his pain and hunger (долгое время его боль и голод), and the swearing and fighting (и ругань и побои) going on in the building (происходящие в здании), kept him awake (не позволяли ему заснуть; to keep — хранить; awake — бодрствующий); but at last his thoughts drifted (но наконец его мечты отошли; to drift — дрейфовать) away to far, romantic lands (прочь к далеким, романтическим землям), and he fell asleep (и он заснул; to fall — падать; asleep — спящий) in the company of jeweled and gilded princelings (в компании украшенных каменьями и золотом маленьких принцев; to jewel — украшать драгоценными камнями; to gild — золотить) who lived in vast palaces (которые жили в огромных дворцах), and had servants salaaming before them (и имели слуг, поклоняющихся перед ними: «делающих селям») or flying to execute their orders (или несущихся исполнить их приказы). And then, as usual (и потом, как обычно), he dreamed that he was a princeling himself (он мечтал, что он был принц сам).