Михаил Сарапов - Английский для смелых. Истории о духах и привидениях / Great Ghost Stories

‘The world,’ he said, ‘grows hourly more and more sceptical of all that lies beyond its own narrow radius; and our men of science foster the fatal tendency. They condemn as fable all that resists experiment. They reject as false all that cannot be brought to the test of the laboratory or the dissecting-room. Against what superstition have they waged so long and obstinate a war, as against the belief in apparitions? And yet what superstition has maintained its hold upon the minds of men so long and so firmly? Show me any fact in physics, in history, in archaeology, which is supported by testimony so wide and so various. Attested by all races of men, in all ages, and in all climates, by the soberest sages of antiquity, by the rudest savage of today, by the Christian, the Pagan, the Pantheist, the Materialist, this phenomenon is treated as a nursery tale by the philosophers of our century. Circumstantial evidence weighs with them as a feather in the balance. The comparison of causes with effects, however valuable in physical science, is put aside as worthless and unreliable. The evidence of competent witnesses, however conclusive in a court of justice, counts for nothing. He who pauses before he pronounces, is condemned as a trifler. He who believes, is a dreamer or a fool.’

He spoke with bitterness(он говорил с горечью) , and, having said thus, relapsed for some minutes into silence(и, сказав это, на несколько минут погрузился в молчание; to relapse – впадать / в какое-либо состояние /) . Presently he raised his head from his hands(вскоре он выпрямился: «поднял голову со своих рук») , and added, with an altered voice and manner(и добавил, изменившимся голосом и в другой манере),

‘I, sir, paused, investigated, believed(я, сэр, колебался, исследовал, поверил; pause – пауза, перерыв; замешательство, колебания ) , and was not ashamed to state my convictions to the world(и не постыдился изложить миру свои убеждения; to state – заявлять; формулировать; излагать ) . I, too, was branded as a visionary(я тоже был заклеймен как мечтатель; visionary – мечтатель; выдумщик, фантазер ) , held up to ridicule by my contemporaries(выставлен на посмешище моими современниками; to hold up – выставлять, показывать; to ridicule – осмеивать; поднимать на смех ) , and hooted from that field of science in which I had laboured with honour during all the best years of my life(и был изгнан из той отрасли науки, в которой я пользуясь уважением/честно трудился на протяжении лучших лет своей жизни; hoot – крик совы; гиканье; to hoot – гикать, улюлюкать; прогонять, изгонять с гиканьем; honour – слава, почет, честь; почтение, уважение; благородство, честность ) . These things happened just three-and-twenty years ago(это случилось как раз двадцать три года назад) . Since then, I have lived as you see me living now(с тех пор я живу так, как вы сейчас видите) , and the world has forgotten me, as I have forgotten the world(а мир забыл меня, как я забыл мир; to forget ) . You have my history(вы знаете теперь мою историю) .’

‘It is a very sad one(очень печальная история) ,’ I murmured, scarcely knowing what to answer(пробормотал я, едва представляя, что тут можно сказать; to know – знать; to answer – отвечать ).

‘It is a very common one,’ he replied(вполне обычная история, – ответил он; very – очень ) . ‘I have only suffered for the truth(я только пострадал за правду) , as many a better and wiser man has suffered before me(как многие лучше и мудрее /меня/ пострадали до меня) .’

He spoke with bitterness, and, having said thus, relapsed for some minutes into silence. Presently he raised his head from his hands, and added, with an altered voice and manner,

‘I, sir, paused, investigated, believed, and was not ashamed to state my convictions to the world. I, too, was branded as a visionary, held up to ridicule by my contemporaries, and hooted from that field of science in which I had laboured with honour during all the best years of my life. These things happened just three-and-twenty years ago. Since then, I have lived as you see me living now, and the world has forgotten me, as I have forgotten the world. You have my history.’

‘It is a very sad one,’ I murmured, scarcely knowing what to answer.

‘It is a very common one,’ he replied. ‘I have only suffered for the truth, as many a better and wiser man has suffered before me.’

He rose, as if desirous of ending the conversation(он поднялся, словно желая положить конец беседе; desirous of smth. – желающий, жаждущий / чего-либо /) , and went over to the window(и подошел к окну).

‘It has ceased snowing,’ he observed, as he dropped the curtain(снег перестал, – заметил он, опустив штору; drop – капля; to drop – капать; ронять; бросать ) , and came back to the fireside(и вернулся к камину).

‘Ceased!’ I exclaimed, starting eagerly to my feet(перестал! – воскликнул я, живо вскочив на ноги; to start – начинать; стартовать; вскакивать ) . ‘Oh, if it were only possible(о, если бы только это было возможным) – but no! it is hopeless(но нет, это невозможно; hopeless – безнадежный; невозможный, невыполнимый ) . Even if I could find my way across the moor, I could not walk twenty miles tonight(если бы даже я смог найти дорогу через пустошь, я не в состоянии пройти пешком двадцать миль этим вечером) .’

‘Walk twenty miles tonight!’ repeated my host(пройти пешком двадцать миль! – повторил мой хозяин) . ‘What are you thinking of(о чем вы /только/ думаете) ?’