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

Tom was about to blurt out something (был готов выпалить что-нибудь) about the propriety of paying (о уместности (того, чтобы) выплатить) the late king's debts (долги покойного короля) first (сперва) before squandering all his money (прежде чем расточать все его деньги); but a timely touch upon his arm (но своевременное прикосновение к его руке), from the thoughtful Hertford (от чуткого Хартфорда = сделанное им), saved him this indiscretion (сохранило его от этой неосмотрительности); wherefore he gave the royal assent (по каковой причине он дал свое королевское согласие), without spoken comment (без произнесенного комментария), but with much inward discomfort (но с сильным внутренним дискомфортом). While he sat (пока он сидел) reflecting a moment over the ease (размышляя минуту над легкостью) with which he was doing strange and glittering miracles (с которой он делал странные и блистательные чудеса), a happy thought shot into his mind (счастливая мысль пришла ему на ум; to shoot — стрелять; mind — сознание, мысли): why not make his mother Duchess of Offal Court (почему бы не сделать свою мать герцогиней Тупика отбросов) and give her an estate (и не дать ей поместье)? But a sorrowful thought (но печальная мысль) swept it instantly away (смела это немедленно прочь; to sweep — мести); he was only a king in name (он был королем только по имени; only — только), these grave veterans and great nobles were his masters (эти важные ветераны и великие дворяне были его хозяевами); to them his mother was only the creature of a diseased mind (для них его мать была всего лишь созданием больного ума); they would simply listen to his project with unbelieving ears (они просто выслушали бы его проект неверящими ушами), then send for the doctor (затем послали бы за доктором).

The dull work went tediously on (скучная работа нудно продолжилась). Petitions were read (петиции зачитывались), and proclamations (и прокламации), patents (грамоты), and all manner of wordy, repetitious and wearisome papers (и всякие виды многословных, повторяющихся и утомительных бумаг) relating to the public business (относящихся к государственным делам); and at last Tom sighed pathetically (и наконец Том вздохнул жалобно) and murmured to himself (и пробормотал себе), 'In what have I offended (в чем согрешил я), that the good God should take me away from the fields and the free air and the sunshine (чтобы милостивый Бог забрал меня с полей и вольного воздуха и солнечного света), to shut me up here and make me a king and afflict me so (чтобы запереть меня здесь и сделать меня королем и причинять мне боль так; to shut up — закрыть, заколотить, заткнуться; to afflict — беспокоить; страдать; задевать, огорчать; причинять боль)?' Then his poor muddled head nodded awhile (затем его бедная одурманенная голова кивала какое-то время), and presently dropped to his shoulder (и вскоре упала ему на плечо); and the business of the empire came to a standstill (и дела империи зашли в тупик) for want of that august factor (из-за отсутствия августейшего фактора), the ratifying power (ратифицирующей силы). Silence ensued around the slumbering child (тишина воцарилась вокруг дремлющего ребенка), and the sages of the realm ceased from their deliberations (и мудрецы королевства прекратили свои обсуждения).

pressure [`preSə], assent [ə`sent], pathetically [pə`θetıklı]

A sharp pressure upon Tom's arm stopped his foolish tongue and sent a blush to his face; but no countenance there betrayed any sign that this strange speech had been remarked or given concern.

A secretary made report that forasmuch as the late king had provided in his will for conferring the ducal degree upon the Earl of Hertford and raising his brother, Sir Thomas Seymour, to the peerage, and likewise Hertford's son to an earldom, together similar aggrandizements to other great servants of the crown, the council had resolved to hold a sitting on the 16th February for the delivering and confirming of these honors; and that meantime the late king not having granted, in writing, estates suitable to the support of these dignities, the council, knowing his private wishes in that regard, had thought proper to grant to Seymour '500 pound lands' and to Hertford's son '800 pound lands, and 300 pound of the next bishop's lands which should fall vacant,' — his present majesty being willing.

Tom was about to blurt out something about the propriety of paying the late king's debts first before squandering all his money; but a timely touch upon his arm, from the thoughtful Hertford, saved him this indiscretion; wherefore he gave the royal assent, without spoken comment, but with much inward discomfort. While he sat reflecting a moment over the ease with which he was doing strange and glittering miracles, a happy thought shot into his mind: why not make his mother Duchess of Offal Court and give her an estate? But a sorrowful thought swept it instantly away; he was only a king in name, these grave veterans and great nobles were his masters; to them his mother was only the creature of a diseased mind; they would simply listen to his project with unbelieving ears, then send for the doctor.

The dull work went tediously on. Petitions were read, and proclamations, patents, and all manner of wordy, repetitious and wearisome papers relating to the public business; and at last Tom sighed pathetically and murmured to himself, 'In what have I offended, that the good God should take me away from the fields and the free air and the sunshine, to shut me up here and make me a king and afflict me so?' Then his poor muddled head nodded awhile, and presently dropped to his shoulder; and the business of the empire came to a standstill for want of that august factor, the ratifying power. Silence ensued around the slumbering child, and the sages of the realm ceased from their deliberations.

During the forenoon (в течение утра), Tom had an enjoyable hour (Том провел приятный час), by permission of his keepers, Hertford and St. John (с позволения своих смотрителей, Хартфорда и Сент-Джона), with the Lady Elizabeth and the little Lady Jane Grey (с леди Элизабет и маленькой леди Джейн Грей); though the spirits of the princesses were rather subdued (хотя настроение принцесс было весьма подавленным) by the mighty stroke that had fallen upon the royal house (могучим ударом, который упал на королевский дом); and at the end of the visit his 'elder sister' (и в конце визита его «старшая сестра») — afterward the 'Bloody Mary' of history (впоследствии «Кровавая Мэри» истории) — chilled him with a solemn interview (заморозила его = привела его в уныние торжественной беседой) which had but one merit in his eyes, its brevity (которая имела только одно достоинство в его глазах, краткость). He had a few moments to himself (у него было несколько минут на себя), and then a slim lad of about twelve years of age was admitted to his presence (а затем худой парень примерно двенадцати лет был допущен в его присутствие), whose clothing (чья одежда), except his snowy ruff and the laces about his wrists (за исключением его белоснежного воротника и кружев на запястьях), was of black (была черного цвета) — doublet, hose and all (камзол, чулки и все /остальное/). He bore no badge of mourning but a knot of purple ribbon on his shoulder (он не носил никакого знака траура, только узел из пурпурной ленты на плече). He advanced hesitatingly (он продвинулся колеблясь; to hesitate — колебаться), with head bowed and bare (с головой склоненной и непокрытой), and dropped upon one knee in front of Tom (и упал на одно колено перед Томом). Tom sat still and contemplated him soberly for a moment (Том сидел неподвижно и разглядывал его серьезно минуту). Then he said (затем он сказал):