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

'LONG LIVE EDWARD, KING OF ENGLAND (да здравствует Эдуард, король Англии)!'

The response came with such a thunder-gust (ответ пришел с таким громогласным ревом; thunder — гром; gust — порыв /ветра/) from the motley crew (от пестрой толпы) that the crazy building (что шаткое здание; crazy — покрытый трещинами; дефектный, шаткий, непрочный, разваливающийся) vibrated to the sound (задрожало до звука). The little king's face lighted with pleasure (лицо маленького короля озарилось удовольствием) for an instant (на мгновение), and he slightly inclined his head (и он слегка наклонил свою голову) and said with grave simplicity (и сказал с важной простотой):

'I thank you, my good people (я благодарю вас, мои добрые люди).'

This unexpected result (этот неожиданный эффект) threw the company into convulsions of merriment (привел сборище в конвульсии = судороги веселья; to throw — бросать, приводить в какое-то состояние). When something like quiet (когда что-то вроде тишины) was presently come again (вскоре пришло = установилось снова; to come — приходить), the Ruffler said, firmly (атаман сказал твердо), but with an accent of good nature (но с оттенком добродушия: «доброй натуры»):

'Drop it, boy (брось = оставь это, мальчик), 'tis not wise, nor well (это ни мудро, ни хорошо). Humor thy fancy (потакай своей фантазии), if thou must (если ты должен), but choose some other title (но выбери какой-нибудь другой титул).'

hurriedly [`hArıdlı], whirlwind [`wə:lwınd], crew [kru:]

A ringing voice came through the murky air:

'Thou shalt not! — and this day the end of that law is come!'

All turned, and saw the fantastic figure of the little king approaching hurriedly; as it emerged into the light and was clearly revealed, a general explosion of inquiries broke out:

'Who is it ? What is it? Who art thou, manikin?'

The boy stood unconfused in the midst of all those surprised and questioning eyes, and answered with princely dignity:

'I am Edward, king of England.'

A wild burst of laughter followed, partly of derision and partly of delight in the excellence of the joke. The king was stung. He said sharply:

'Ye mannerless vagrants, is this your recognition of the royal boon I have promised?'

He said more, with angry voice and excited gesture, but it was lost in a whirlwind of laughter and mocking exclamations. 'John Hobbs' made several attempts to make himself heard above the din, and at last succeeded — saying:

'Mates, he is my son, a dreamer, a fool, and stark mad — mind him not — he thinketh he is the king.'

'I am the king,' said Edward, turning toward him, 'as thou shalt know to thy cost, in good time. Thou hast confessed a murder — thou shalt swing for it.'

'Thou'lt betray me! — thou? An I get my hands upon thee —'

'Tut-tut!' said the burly Ruffler, interposing in time to save the king, and emphasizing this service by knocking Hobbs down with his fist, 'hast respect for neither kings nor Rufflers? An thou insult my presence so again, I'll hang thee up myself.' Then he said to his majesty, 'Thou must make no threats against thy mates, lad; and thou must guard thy tongue from saying evil of them elsewhere. Be king, if it please thy mad humor, but be not harmful in it. Sink the title thou hast uttered — 'tis treason; we be bad men, in some few trifling ways, but none among us is so base as to be traitor to his king; we be loving and loyal hearts, in that regard. Note if I speak truth. Now — all together: "Long live Edward, King of England!"'

'LONG LIVE EDWARD, KING OF ENGLAND!'

The response came with such a thunder-gust from the motley crew that the crazy building vibrated to the sound. The little king's face lighted with pleasure for an instant, and he slightly inclined his head and said with grave simplicity:

'I thank you, my good people.'

This unexpected result threw the company into convulsions of merriment. When something like quiet was presently come again, the Ruffler said, firmly, but with an accent of good nature:

'Drop it, boy, 'tis not wise, nor well. Humor thy fancy, if thou must, but choose some other title.'

A tinker (один бродячий ремесленник) shrieked out a suggestion (прокричал предложение):

'Foo-foo the First, king of the Mooncalves (Фу-Фу Первый, король дурачков)!'

The title 'took' at once (этот титул «взял» = понравился сразу; to take — брать), every throat responded (каждая глотка ответила), and a roaring shout sent up (и ревущий крик раздался; to send up — взрывать), of (= а именно):

'Long live Foo-foo the First, king of the Mooncalves (да здравствует Фу-фу Первый, король дурачков)!' followed (следуемый = за которым последовали) by hootings, cat-calls, and peals of laughter (улюлюканье, кошачий вой и раскаты хохота).

'Hale him forth (тащите его вперед), and crown him (и коронуйте его)!'

'Robe him (одеть его)!'

'Scepter him (дать ему скипетр)!'

'Throne him (посадить на трон)!'

These and twenty other cries broke out at once (эти и двадцать других криков раздались сразу; to break out — раздаваться); and almost before the poor little victim could draw a breath (и почти прежде, чем бедная маленькая жертва смогла вдохнуть: «втянуть дыхание» = в мгновение ока) he was crowned with a tin basin (он был коронован оловянным тазом), robed in a tattered blanket (облачен в потрепанное одеяло), throned upon a barrel (усажен /как на трон/ на бочку), and sceptered (и наделен скипетром) with tinker's soldering-iron (паяльником лудильщика). Then all flung themselves upon their knees about him (затем все бросились на колени вокруг него; to fling — бросать) and sent up a chorus of ironical wailings (и вознесли хор ироничных ироничных воплей; to send — посылать), and mocking supplications (и издевательских молений), while they swabbed their eyes with their soiled and ragged sleeves and aprons (пока они вытирали свои глаза своими засаленными и рваными рукавами и передниками):

'Be gracious to us (будь милостив к нам), O sweet king (о, любезный король)!'

'Trample not upon thy beseeching worms (не попирай твоих молящих червей), O noble majesty (о, благородное Величество)!'