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

'Rise, lad (встань, мальчик). Who art thou (кто ты)? What wouldst have (чего ты хочешь)?'

The boy rose (мальчик встал), and stood at graceful ease (и стоял с непринужденной грацией), but with an aspect of concern in his face (но с выражением озабоченности на лице). He said (он сказал):

'Of a surety thou must remember me, my lord (конечно, ты должен помнить меня, милорд). I am thy whipping-boy (я твой мальчик для битья; to whip — хлестать).

'My whipping-boy (мой мальчик для битья)?'

'The same, your grace (он самый, ваша милость), I am Humphrey — Humphrey Marlow (я Хамфри — Хамфри Марло).'

Tom perceived that here was some one (Том понял, что здесь = перед ним был кто-то) whom his keepers ought to have told him about (о ком его хранители должны были бы ему рассказать). The situation was delicate (ситуация была деликатная). What should he do (что должен он сделать)? — pretend he knew this lad (притвориться, что он знает этого мальчика; to know — знать), and then betray, by his every utterance (а затем выдать каждым своими высказыванием), that he had never heard of him before (что он никогда о нем раньше не слышал)? No, that would not do (нет, это не пойдет: «это бы не сделало»). An idea came to his relief (мысль пришла ему на помощь; relief — облегчение, помощь): accidents like this (случаи как этот = такие собыитя) might be likely to happen (возможно, будут случаться; likely — вероятный) with some frequency (с некоторой частотой), now that (теперь, когда) business urgencies (неотложные дела; urgency — крайняя необходимость) would often call (часто будут отзывать) Hertford and St. John from his side (Хартфорда и Сент-Джона от него: «от его бока»), they being members of the council of executors (так как они члены совета душеприказчиков); therefore perhaps it would be well (следовательно, возможно, было бы хорошо) to strike out a plan himself (составить план самому) to meet the requirements of such emergencies (чтобы отвечать требованиям таких непредвиденных случаев). Yes, that would be a wise course (да, это был бы мудрый курс) — he would practise on this boy (он попрактикуется на этом мальчике), and see what sort of success he might achieve (и посмотрит, какого рода успеха он мог бы достигнуть). So he stroked his brow (так что он гладил свой лоб), perplexedly (растерянно), a moment or two (минуту или две), and presently said (и наконец сказал):

'Now I seem to remember thee somewhat (сейчас я, кажется, вспомнил тебя отчасти) — but my wit (но мой разум) is clogged and dim with suffering (застопорен и затуманен страданием; clog — затруднение, помеха, препятствие; to clog — затруднять движение, задерживать, препятствовать, обременять; dim — неясный, неотчетливый, смутный) —'

'Alack, my poor master (увы, мой бедный хозяин)!' ejaculated the whipping-boy, with feeling (воскликнул мальчик для битья с чувством); adding, to himself (добавив к себе = себе под нос), 'In truth 'tis as they said (поистине это = все так, как они сказали) — his mind is gone (его разум исчез) — alas, poor soul (увы, бедная душа)! But misfortune catch me (но напасть меня разрази; to catch — ловить), how am I forgetting (как это я забываю)! they said one must not seem to observe (они сказали, что никто не должен казаться замечать = подавать вида, что замечает) that aught is wrong with him (что что-либо не в порядке с ним).'

subdue [səb`dju:], brevity [`brevıtı], frequency [`fri:kwənsı]

During the forenoon, Tom had an enjoyable hour, by permission of his keepers, Hertford and St. John, with the Lady Elizabeth and the little Lady Jane Grey; though the spirits of the princesses were rather subdued by the mighty stroke that had fallen upon the royal house; and at the end of the visit his 'elder sister' — afterward the 'Bloody Mary' of history — chilled him with a solemn interview which had but one merit in his eyes, its brevity. He had a few moments to himself, and then a slim lad of about twelve years of age was admitted to his presence, whose clothing, except his snowy ruff and the laces about his wrists, was of black — doublet, hose and all. He bore no badge of mourning but a knot of purple ribbon on his shoulder. He advanced hesitatingly, with head bowed and bare, and dropped upon one knee in front of Tom. Tom sat still and contemplated him soberly for a moment. Then he said:

'Rise, lad. Who art thou? What wouldst have?'

The boy rose, and stood at graceful ease, but with an aspect of concern in his face. He said:

'Of a surety thou must remember me, my lord. I am thy whipping-boy.

'My whipping-boy?'

'The same, your grace, I am Humphrey — Humphrey Marlow.'

Tom perceived that here was some one whom his keepers ought to have told him about. The situation was delicate. What should he do? — pretend he knew this lad, and then betray, by his every utterance, that he had never heard of him before? No, that would not do. An idea came to his relief: accidents like this might be likely to happen with some frequency, now that business urgencies would often call Hertford and St. John from his side, they being members of the council of executors; therefore perhaps it would be well to strike out a plan himself to meet the requirements of such emergencies. Yes, that would be a wise course — he would practise on this boy, and see what sort of success he might achieve. So he stroked his brow, perplexedly, a moment or two, and presently said:

'Now I seem to remember thee somewhat — but my wit is clogged and dim with suffering —'

'Alack, my poor master!' ejaculated the whipping-boy, with feeling; adding, to himself, 'In truth 'tis as they said — his mind is gone — alas, poor soul! But misfortune catch me, how am I forgetting! they said one must not seem to observe that aught is wrong with him.'

''Tis strange how my memory doth wanton with me these days (это странно, как = какие шутки моя память играет со мной в эти дни; to wanton — резвиться, забавляться),' said Tom (сказал Том). 'But mind it not (но не обращай на это внимания) — I mend apace (я поправляюсь быстро) — a little clue (маленький ключ) doth often serve (обычно служит) to bring me back again the things and names which had escaped me (чтобы принести мне обратно вещи и имена, которые от меня убежали = которые я забыл). (And not they, only, forsooth (и не их только, поистине), but e'en such (но даже такие; e’en вместо even — даже) as I ne'er heard before (о которых я никогда не слыхал прежде; to hear — слышать) — as this lad shall see (как этот мальчик увидит).) Give thy business speech (говори о твоем деле: «дай твою деловую речь»).'