Оскар Уайльд - Английский с Оскаром Уайльдом. Кентервильское привидение / Oscar Wilde. The Canterville Ghost

Accordingly, he made arrangements for appearing to Virginia’s little lover in his celebrated impersonation of “The Vampire Monk, or the Bloodless Benedictine,” a performance so horrible that when old Lady Startup saw it, which she did on one fatal New Year’s Eve, in the year 1764, she went off into the most piercing shrieks, which culminated in violent apoplexy, and died in three days, after disinheriting the Cantervilles, who were her nearest relations, and leaving all her money to her London apothecary. At the last moment, however, his terror of the twins prevented his leaving his room, and the little Duke slept in peace under the great feathered canopy in the Royal Bedchamber, and dreamed of Virginia.

A few days after this(через несколько дней после этого) , Virginia and her curly-haired cavalier went out riding on Brockley meadows(Вирджиния и ее кудрявый кавалер отправились кататься верхом на луга Брокли) , where she tore her habit so badly in getting through a hedge(где она так сильно порвала свою одежду /для езды верхом/, прыгая через изгородь; to tear ) that, on their return home(что, по возвращении домой) , she made up her mind to go up by the back staircase(она решила пройти по черной лестнице) so as not to be seen(чтобы ее никто не увидел) . As she was running past the Tapestry Chamber(в то время, как она пробегала мимо Гобеленовой комнаты) , the door of which happened to be open(дверь которой оказалась открытой) , she fancied she saw some one inside(ей показалось, что она увидела кого-то внутри) , and thinking it was her mother’s maid(и подумав, что это была горничная ее матери) , who sometimes used to bring her work there(которая иногда приходила туда с работой = рукоделием) , looked in to ask her to mend her habit(она заглянула, чтобы попросить ее починить ее одежду).

A few days after this, Virginia and her curly-haired cavalier went out riding on Brockley meadows, where she tore her habit so badly in getting through a hedge that, on their return home, she made up her mind to go up by the back staircase so as not to be seen. As she was running past the Tapestry Chamber, the door of which happened to be open, she fancied she saw some one inside, and thinking it was her mother’s maid, who sometimes used to bring her work there, looked in to ask her to mend her habit.

To her immense surprise, however(однако, к ее огромному изумлению) , it was the Canterville Ghost himself(это было само Кентервильское привидение) ! He was sitting by the window(он сидел у окна) , watching the ruined gold of the yellowing trees fly through the air(глядя на желтые листья, облетавшие с деревьев: «на разрушенную позолоту желтеющих деревьев, летящую по воздуху») , and the red leaves dancing madly down the long avenue(и на красные листья, танцующие сумасшедший танец = гонимые ветром по длинной дороге, ведущей в дом) . His head was leaning on his hand(он подпирал рукой свою голову: «его голова опиралась на его ладонь») , and his whole attitude was one of extreme depression(и вся его поза указывала на крайнюю депрессию) . Indeed, so forlorn and so much out of repair did he look(на самом деле, он выглядел таким одиноким и таким больным: «столь вне /состояния/ годности»; repair – восстановление; поправка; годность; исправность ) , that little Virginia, whose first idea had been to run away and lock herself in her room(что маленькая Вирджиния, первой мыслью которой было убежать и запереться в своей комнате) , was filled with pity(исполнилась жалостью) , and determined to try and comfort him(и решила попытаться утешить его) . So light was her footfall(столь легкой была ее походка) , and so deep his melancholy(и столь глубокой была его меланхолия) , that he was not aware of her presence(что он не заметил ее присутствия) , till she spoke to him(пока она не заговорила с ним; to speak ).

To her immense surprise, however, it was the Canterville Ghost himself! He was sitting by the window, watching the ruined gold of the yellowing trees fly through the air, and the red leaves dancing madly down the long avenue. His head was leaning on his hand, and his whole attitude was one of extreme depression. Indeed, so forlorn, and so much out of repair did he look, that little Virginia, whose first idea had been to run away and lock herself in her room, was filled with pity, and determined to try and comfort him. So light was her footfall, and so deep his melancholy, that he was not aware of her presence till she spoke to him.

“I am so sorry for you(мне очень жаль вас) ,” she said, “but my brothers are going back to Eton to-morrow(но мои братья возвращаются в Итон завтра) , and then, if you behave yourself(и тогда, если вы будете вести себя хорошо) , no one will annoy you(никто не будет досаждать вам) .”

“I am so sorry for you,” she said, “but my brothers are going back to Eton to-morrow, and then, if you behave yourself, no one will annoy you.”

“It is absurd asking me to behave myself(нелепо просить меня вести себя хорошо) ,” he answered, looking round in astonishment at the pretty little girl(глядя с удивлением на хорошенькую девчушку) who had ventured to address him(которая посмела обратиться к нему) , “quite absurd(совершенно нелепо) .” I must rattle my chains(я должен греметь своими цепями) , and groan through keyholes(и стонать через замочные скважины) , and walk about at night(и бродить по ночам) , if that is what you mean(если это и есть то, что вы имеете в виду) . It is my only reason for existing(это единственная цель моего существования; reason – разум, рассудок; благоразумие; причина, повод, основание ) .”