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

'The Yeomen of the Guard entered bareheaded (йомены-гвардейцы вошли с непокрытыми головами), clothed in scarlet (облаченные в алое), with golden roses upon their backs (с золотыми розами на их спинах); and these went and came (и эти = они приходили и уходили; to come — приходить; to go — идти, уходить), bringing in each turn (принося каждый раз) a course of dishes (перемену блюд), served in plate (сервированную на блюде). These dishes were received by a gentleman (эти блюда принимались неким джентльменом) in the same order they were brought (в том же порядке, как они были принесены), and placed upon the table (и поставлены = и их ставили на стол), while the taster (пока «отведыватель» = слуга, пробовавший блюда перед их подачей) gave to each guard a mouthful to eat (дал каждому гвардейцу кусок съесть) of the particular dish he had brought (от того блюда, которое он принес; to bring — приносить; particular — особенный; отдельный), for fear of any poison (от страха перед каким-либо ядом).'

Tom made a good dinner (Том сделал хороший обед = хорошо пообедал), notwithstanding (несмотря на то, что) he was conscious (он был сознателен = осознавал) that hundreds of eyes followed each morsel to his mouth (что сотни глаз прослеживали каждый кусочек пищи к его рту) and watched him eat it (и смотрели, как он ест его: «смотрели его есть его») with an interest (с интересом) which could not have been more intense (который не мог бы быть более сильным) if it had been a deadly explosive (если бы это было губительное взрывчатое вещество) and was expected (и оно ожидалось бы = угрожающее) to blow him up (разнести его /на мелкие части/) and scatter him all over the place (и разбросать по всей зале). He was careful (он был осторожен = следил за тем, чтобы) not to hurry (не спешить), and equally careful (и столь же осторожен) not to do anything whatever for himself (не сделать чего бы то ни было самостоятельно), but wait (но подождать) till the proper official knelt down (пока соответствующий чиновник не стал = не станет на колени) and did it for him (и не сделал = не сделает это за него). He got through without a mistake (он прошел через это без единой ошибки) — flawless and precious triumph (безупречный и драгоценный триумф; flaw — трещина, щель, порок /в металле, фарфоре и т. п./, брак /в приобретенном изделии/).

When the meal was over at last (когда еда была закончена наконец) and he marched away (и он ушагал прочь) in the midst of his bright pageant (в середине своей яркой свиты), with the happy noises in his ears (под радостные звуки в его ушах) of blaring bugles (трубящих рожков), rolling drums (гремящих барабанов), and thundering acclamations (и громогласных приветствий), he felt (он чувствовал; to feel — чувствовать) that if he had seen the worst of dining in public (что если он видел худшее от публичного обеда), it was an ordeal (это была пытка) which he would be glad to endure (которую он был бы рад переносить) several times a day (несколько раз в день) if by that means (если таким средством = такой ценой) he could but buy himself free (он мог бы купить себя свободным = откупиться) from some of the more formidable requirements of his royal office (от некоторых из более тяжких обязанностей своей королевской службы).

earl [ə:l], group [gru:p], blare [bleə]

'First come Gentlemen, Barons, Earls, Knights of the Garter, all richly dressed and bareheaded; next comes the Chancellor, between two, one of which carries the royal scepter, the other the Sword of State in a red scabbard, studded with golden fleurs-de-lis, the point upwards; next comes the King himself- whom, upon his appearing, twelve trumpets and many drums salute with a great burst of welcome, whilst all in the galleries rise in their places, crying "God save the King!" After him come nobles attached to his person, and on his right and left march his guard of honor, his fifty Gentlemen Pensioners, with gilt battle-axes.'

This was all fine and pleasant. Tom's pulse beat high and a glad light was in his eye. He bore himself right gracefully, and all the more so because he was not thinking of how he was doing it, his mind being charmed and occupied with the blithe sights and sounds about him — and besides, nobody can be very ungraceful in nicely fitting beautiful clothes after he has grown a little used to them — especially if he is for the moment unconscious of them. Tom remembered his instructions, and acknowledged his greeting with a slight inclination of his plumed head, and a courteous 'I thank ye, my good people.'

He seated himself at table without removing his cap; and did it without the least embarrassment; for to eat with one's cap on was the one solitary royal custom upon which the kings and the Cantys met upon common ground, neither party having any advantage over the other in the matter of old familiarity with it. The pageant broke up and grouped itself picturesquely, and remained bareheaded.

Now, to the sound of gay music, the Yeomen of the Guard entered — 'the tallest and mightiest men in England, they being selected in this regard' — but we will let the chronicler tell about it:

'The Yeomen of the Guard entered bareheaded, clothed in scarlet, with golden roses upon their backs; and these went and came, bringing in each turn a course of dishes, served in plate. These dishes were received by a gentleman in the same order they were brought, and placed upon the table, while the taster gave to each guard a mouthful to eat of the particular dish he had brought, for fear of any poison.'

Tom made a good dinner, notwithstanding he was conscious that hundreds of eyes followed each morsel to his mouth and watched him eat it with an interest which could not have been more intense if it had been a deadly explosive and was expected to blow him up and scatter him all over the place. He was careful not to hurry, and equally careful not to do anything whatever for himself, but wait till the proper official knelt down and did it for him. He got through without a mistake — flawless and precious triumph.

When the meal was over at last and he marched away in the midst of his bright pageant, with the happy noises in his ears of blaring bugles, rolling drums, and thundering acclamations, he felt that if he had seen the worst of dining in public, it was an ordeal which he would be glad to endure several times a day if by that means he could but buy himself free from some of the more formidable requirements of his royal office.