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

The woman prostrated herself (женщина пала ниц), and protested, with tears (и уверяла со слезами), that she had no power to do the miracle (что она не имела силы сделать такое чудо), else she would gladly win her child's life alone (иначе она бы с радостью выиграла = добилась бы жизни ребенка только), and be content to lose her own (и была бы довольна = согласна потерять свою собственную), if by obedience to the king's command (если послушанием королевскому приказу) so precious a grace might be acquired (столь драгоценная милость могла бы быть приобретена = заслужена).

Tom urged (Том настаивал) — the woman still adhered to her declarations (женщина все держалась своих высказываний). Finally, he said (наконец он сказал):

'I think the woman hath said true (я думаю, женщина сказала истинно = правду). An’ my mother were in her place (если бы моя мать была на ее месте) and gifted with the devil's functions (и одарена дьявольскими функциями = способностями), she had not stayed a moment (она не ждала бы и момента; to stay — оставаться) to call her storms (призвать свои бури) and lay the whole land in ruins (и положить = повергнуть всю землю в руины), if the saving of my forfeit life (если бы спасение моей погибшей жизни) were the price (было бы наградой) she got (которую она бы получила; to get — получать)! It is argument (это доказательство) that other mothers are made in like mold (что другие матери отлиты в той же форме = сделаны из того же теста). Thou art free, good wife (ты свободная, добрая женщина) — thou and thy child (ты и твое дитя) — for I do think thee innocent (ибо я полагаю тебя невиновной). Now thou'st naught to fear (теперь ты не имеешь ничего, чтобы бояться = тебе нечего бояться), being pardoned (будучи прощенной) — pull off thy stockings (стяни свои чулки)! — an thou canst make me a storm (и если ты сможешь сделать мне бурю), thou shalt be rich (ты будешь богата)!'

The redeemed creature (искупленное = прощенное создание) was loud in her gratitude (была громка в своей благодарности), and proceeded to obey (и повиновалась; to proceed — приниматься, приступать), while Tom looked on (пока Том наблюдал: «смотрел на») with eager expectancy (с нетерпеливым ожиданием), a little marred by apprehension (немного расстроенный предчувствием); the courtiers at the same time manifesting decided discomfort and uneasiness (придворные в то же время выражали решительное неудобство и беспокойство). The woman stripped her own feet (женщина раздела свои собственные ноги) and her little girl's also (и своей маленькой девочки также), and plainly did her best (и явно сделала свое лучшее = все возможное) to reward the king's generosity with an earthquake (чтобы наградить королевское великодушие землетрясением), but it was all a failure and a disappointment (но это все было провалом и разочарованием). Tom sighed and said (Том вздохнул и сказал):

'There, good soul (ладно, добрая душа), trouble thyself no further (беспокой себя не дальше = не беспокойся более), thy power is departed out of thee (твоя сила покинула тебя; to depart — уезжать). Go thy way in peace (иди своей дорогой в мире = с миром); and if it return to thee at any time (и если она = сила вернется к тебе в любое время), forget me not (не забудь меня), but fetch me a storm (но устрой мне грозу; to fetch — принести, привести, раздобыть).'

perilous [`perıləs], pull [pul], earthquake [`ə:θkweık]

'The law doth not permit a child to make or meddle in any weighty matter, good my liege, holding that its callow wit unfitteth it to cope with the riper wit and evil schemings of them that are its elders. The devil may buy a child, if he so choose, and the child agree thereto, but not an Englishman — in this latter case the contract would be null and void.'

'It seemeth a rude unchristian thing, and ill contrived, that English law denieth privileges to Englishmen, to waste them on the devil!' cried Tom, with honest heat.

This novel view of the matter excited many smiles, and was stored away in many heads to be repeated about the court as evidence of Tom's originality as well as progress toward mental health.

The elder culprit had ceased from sobbing, and was hanging upon Tom's words with an excited interest and a growing hope. Tom noticed this, and it strongly inclined his sympathies toward her in her perilous and unfriended situation. Presently he asked:

'How wrought they, to bring the storm?'

'By pulling off their stockings, sire.'

This astonished Tom, and also fired his curiosity to fever heat. He said eagerly:

'It is wonderful! Hath it always this dread effect?'

'Always, my liege — at least if the woman desire it, and utter the needful words, either in her mind or with her tongue.'

Tom turned to the woman, and said with impetuous zeal:

'Exert thy power — I would see a storm.'

There was a sudden paling of cheeks in the superstitious assemblage, and a general, though unexpressed, desire to get out of the place — all of which was lost upon Tom, who was dead to everything but the proposed cataclysm. Seeing a puzzled and astonished look in the woman's face, he added, excitedly:

'Never fear — thou shalt be blameless. More — thou shalt go free — none shall touch thee. Exert thy power.'

'O, my lord the king, I have it not — I have been falsely accused.'

'Thy fears stay thee. Be of good heart, thou shalt suffer no harm. Make a storm — it mattereth not how small a one — I require naught great or harmful, but indeed prefer the opposite — do this and thy life is spared — thou shalt go out free, with thy child, bearing the king's pardon, and safe from hurt or malice from any in the realm.'

The woman prostrated herself, and protested, with tears, that she had no power to do the miracle, else she would gladly win her child's life alone, and be content to lose her own, if by obedience to the king's command so precious a grace might be acquired.

Tom urged — the woman still adhered to her declarations. Finally, he said:

'I think the woman hath said true. An’ my mother were in her place and gifted with the devil's functions, she had not stayed a moment to call her storms and lay the whole land in ruins, if the saving of my forfeit life were the price she got! It is argument that other mothers are made in like mold. Thou art free, good wife — thou and thy child — for I do think thee innocent. Now thou'st naught to fear, being pardoned — pull off thy stockings! — an thou canst make me a storm, thou shalt be rich!'