Илья Франк - Английский язык с В. Ирвингом. Рип ван Винкль

Having nothing to do at home, and being arrived at that happy age when a man can be idle with impunity, he took his place once more on the bench at the inn door, and was reverenced as one of the patriarchs of the village, and a chronicle of the old times "before the war." It was some time before he could get into the regular track of gossip, or could be made to comprehend the strange events that had taken place during his torpor. How that there had been a revolutionary war — that the country had thrown off the yoke of old England — and that, instead of being a subject of his majesty George the Third, he was now a free citizen of the United States.

Rip, in fact, was no politician (Рип, на самом деле, не был политиком); the changes of states and empires (изменения государств и империй) made but little impression on him (производили на него мало впечатления); but there was one species of despotism (но там была одна представительница: «особь» деспотизма) under which he had long groaned (под чьим /гнетом/ он долго страдал), and that was — petticoat government (и это было правительство юбки). Happily that was at an end (к счастью, ему пришел конец); he had got his neck out of the yoke of matrimony (он выпряг свою шею из ярма: «ига» супружества), and could go in and out (и мог приходить и уходить) whenever he pleased (когда ему этого хотелось), without dreading the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle (не опасаясь тирании хозяйки ван Винкль). Whenever her name was mentioned (каждый раз, когда упоминалось ее имя), however (тем не менее), he shook his head (он тряс головой), shrugged his shoulders (пожимал плечами), and cast up his eyes (закатывал глаза); which might pass either for an expression of resignation to his fate (что могло проходить = восприниматься либо как выражение покорности своей судьбе), or joy at his deliverance (либо как радость по поводу своего избавления).

Rip, in fact, was no politician; the changes of states and empires made but little impression on him; but there was one species of despotism under which he had long groaned, and that was — petticoat government. Happily that was at an end; he had got his neck out of the yoke of matrimony, and could go in and out whenever he pleased, without dreading the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle. Whenever her name was mentioned, however, he shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and cast up his eyes; which might pass either for an expression of resignation to his fate, or joy at his deliverance.

He used to tell his story to every stranger (он привык рассказывать свою историю каждому незнакомцу) that arrived at Mr. Doolittle's hotel (который прибывал в гостиницу мистера Дулитла). He was observed (было замечено, что он), at first (сначала), to vary on some points (изменяет /историю/ в некоторых местах) every time he told it (каждый раз, когда рассказывает ее), which was, doubtless (что было, несомненно), owing to his having so recently awaked (из-за того, что он так недавно пробудился; recently [‘ri:sqntlI] — недавно, на днях, в последнее время ). It at last settled down (эта история в конце концов свелась; to settle down [‘setl daVn] — успокаиваться, угомониться, приходить в норму ) precisely to the tale (точно = именно к тому повествованию) I have related (которое я рассказал), and not a man (и /не было/ ни одного мужчины), woman (женщины), or child in the neighborhood (или ребенка в окрестностях), but knew it by heart (кто бы /не/ знал ее на зубок; by heart — наизусть, на память ). Some always pretended to doubt the reality of it (некоторые всегда утверждали, что сомневаются в ее реальности; to pretend — притворяться ), and insisted (и настаивали) that Rip had been out of his head (что Рип выжил из ума), and that this was one point (и что это был единственный пункт) on which he always remained flighty (на котором он всегда оставался немного помешанным; flighty — непостоянный, изменчивый; ветреный, капризный, взбалмошный; переменный ).

He used to tell his story to every stranger that arrived at Mr. Doolittle's hotel. He was observed, at first, to vary on some points every time he told it, which was, doubtless, owing to his having so recently awaked. It at last settled down precisely to the tale I have related, and not a man, woman, or child in the neighborhood, but knew it by heart. Some always pretended to doubt the reality of it, and insisted that Rip had been out of his head, and that this was one point on which he always remained flighty.

The old Dutch inhabitants (старые голландские поселенцы), however (тем не менее), almost universally gave it full credit (почти единодушно давали ей /истории/ полную веру = верили ей вполне). Even to this day (даже по сегодняшний день) they never hear a thunderstorm of a summer afternoon about the Kaatskill (они никогда не слышат грозу в летний полдень над Каатскиллскими горами), but they say (не говоря /при этом, что/) Hendrick Hudson and his crew are at their game of nine-pins (это Гендрик Гудзон и его команда играют в кегли: «за игрой в кегли»); and it is a common wish (и это является обычным желанием) of all henpecked husbands in the neighborhood (всех мужей-подкаблучников в окрестностях), when life hangs heavy on their hands (когда жизнь повисает тяжким /грузом/ на их руках), that they might have a quieting draught out of Rip Van Winkle's flagon (что они могли бы получить успокаивающий глоток из графина Рипа ван Винкля).

The old Dutch inhabitants, however, almost universally gave it full credit. Even to this day they never hear a thunderstorm of a summer afternoon about the Kaatskill, but they say Hendrick Hudson and his crew are at their game of nine-pins; and it is a common wish of all henpecked husbands in the neighborhood, when life hangs heavy on their hands, that they might have a quieting draught out of Rip Van Winkle's flagon.

Fort Christina [ fO:t krIs’tInq ] — форт Христина — первое шведское поселение в Северной Америке, построенное в 1638 г., и названное в честь шведской королевы.

Bunker's Hill [‘bANkqz hIl] — возвышенность близ Бостона, на которой 17 июня 1775 года произошло сражение между жителями американских колоний и английскими войсками. В борьбе за независимость победу одержали повстанцы.