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

The king answered, sullenly (король ответил угрюмо):

'Trouble me not (не беспокой меня) with these riddles (этими загадками). My mother is dead (моя мать мертва); my sisters are in the palace (мои сестры во дворце).'

The youth near by (юноша рядом) burst into a derisive laugh (разразился саркастическим смехом; derisive — иронический, саркастический, насмешливый), and the king would have assaulted him (и король напал бы на него), but Canty — or Hobbs (но Кэнти — или Хоббс), as he now called himself (как он теперь называл себя) — prevented him (удержал его), and said (и сказал):

'Peace, Hugo (тише, Хьюго), vex him not (не дразни его); his mind is astray (его разум заблудился = помутнен), and thy ways fret him (и твои манеры беспокоят его). Sit thee down, Jack (садись, Джек), and quiet thyself (и успокойся); thou shalt have a morsel to eat (ты получишь кусочек — поесть), anon (сейчас).'

bough [bau], prevail [prı`veıl], derisive [di`raısıv]

It was some distance to the wood, but the space was speedily traversed. The youth looked about him, discovered a bough sticking in the ground, with a small bit of rag tied to it, then led the way into the forest, watching for similar boughs and finding them at intervals; they were evidently guides to the point he was aiming at. By and by an open place was reached, where were the charred remains of a farmhouse, and near them a barn which was falling to ruin and decay. There was no sign of life anywhere, and utter silence prevailed. The youth entered the barn, the king following eagerly upon his heels. No one there! The king shot a surprised and suspicious glance at the youth, and asked:

'Where is he?'

A mocking laugh was his answer. The king was in a rage in a moment; he seized a billet of wood and was in the act of charging upon the youth when another mocking laugh fell upon his ear. It was from the lame ruffian, who had been following at a distance. The king turned and said angrily:

'Who art thou? What is thy business here?'

'Leave thy foolery,' said the man, 'and quiet thyself. My disguise is none so good that thou canst pretend thou knowest not thy father through it.'

'Thou art not my father. I know thee not. I am the king. If thou hast hid my servant, find him for me, or thou shalt sup sorrow for what thou hast done.'

John Canty replied, in a stern and measured voice:

'It is plain thou art mad, and I am loath to punish thee; but if thou provoke me, I must. Thy prating doth no harm here, where there are no ears that need to mind thy follies, yet is it well to practise thy tongue to wary speech, that it may do no hurt when our quarters change. I have done a murder, and may not tarry at home — neither shalt thou, seeing I need thy service. My name is changed, for wise reasons; it is Hobbs — John Hobbs; thine is Jack — charge thy memory accordingly. Now, then, speak. Where is thy mother? Where are thy sisters? They came not to the place appointed — knowest thou whither they went?'

The king answered, sullenly:

'Trouble me not with these riddles. My mother is dead; my sisters are in the palace.'

The youth near by burst into a derisive laugh, and the king would have assaulted him, but Canty — or Hobbs, as he now called himself — prevented him, and said:

'Peace, Hugo, vex him not; his mind is astray, and thy ways fret him. Sit thee down, Jack, and quiet thyself; thou shalt have a morsel to eat, anon.'

Hobbs and Hugo fell to talking together (Хоббс и Хьюго принялись разговаривать вместе; to fall to — приниматься за что-либо), in low voices (тихими голосами), and the king removed himself (а король удалил себя) as far as he could (так далеко, как он мог) from their disagreeable company (от их неприятной компании). He withdrew into the twilight of the farther end of the barn (он отошел в полумрак дальнего конца сарая; to withdraw — забирать, отходить), where he found the earthen floor (где он нашел земляной пол; to find — находить) bedded a foot deep with straw (устланный на фут глубиной соломой). He lay down here (он лег здесь; to lie — ложиться, лежать), drew straw over himself (натянул солому поверх себя; to draw — тянуть) in lieu of blankets (вместо одеял), and was soon absorbed in thinking (и стал скоро поглощен размышлениями). He had many griefs (он имел много печалей), but the minor ones (но меньшие) were swept almost into forgetfulness (были сметены почти в забвение) by the supreme one (первостепенной; supreme — высший), the loss of his father (потерей его отца). To the rest of the world (на остальную часть мира) the name of Henry VIII brought a shiver (имя Генриха VIII наводило трепет; to bring — приносить), and suggested an ogre (и наводило на мысль о великане-людоеде; to suggest — внушать, вызывать; подсказывать /мысль/; намекать; наводить на мысль; говорить о, означать) whose nostrils breathed destruction (чьи ноздри дышали разрушением) and whose hand dealt scourgings and death (и чья рука раздавала бичевания и смерть; scourge — плеть, бич; to scourge — бичевать); but to this boy (но этому мальчику) the name brought only sensations of pleasure (это имя приносило только чувство удовольствия; to bring — приносить), the figure it invoked (фигура, которую оно вызывало) wore a countenance (носила выражение лица; to wear — носить) that was all gentleness and affection (которое было все мягкость и любовь). He called to mind (он вызывал в уме) a long succession of loving passages (длинный ряд задушевных разговоров) between his father and himself (между его отцом и самим собой), and dwelt fondly upon them (и задерживался любовно на них = лелеял эти воспоминания; to dwell — подробно останавливаться, задерживаться, обитать), his unstinted tears (его безмерные слезы = рыдания) attesting (свидетельствующие) how deep and real was the grief (как глубока и неподдельна была печаль) that possessed his heart (которая овладела его сердцем). As the afternoon wasted away (пока день уходил; to waste away — зачахнуть, истаять; to waste — терять даром, тратить впустую; чахнуть, угасать), the lad, wearied with his troubles (мальчик, измотанный своими бедами), sunk gradually into a tranquil and healing slumber (погрузился постепенно в спокойный и целительный сон; to sink — погружаться, тонуть; to heal — исцелять).