Эдгар Берроуз - Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса

converse [kqn'vWs], cover ['kAvq], mount [maunt]

The Martians, after conversing for a short time, turned and rode away in the direction from which they had come, leaving one of their number alone by the enclosure. When they had covered perhaps two hundred yards they halted, and turning their mounts toward us, sat watching the warrior by the enclosure.

He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me (это был тот самый /воин/, чье копье чуть не пронзило меня; to transfix — пронзать, прокалывать ), and was evidently the leader of the band (и /он/, очевидно, был командиром этого отряда ; band — отряд, организованная группа людей ), as I had noted (так как я заметил) that they seemed to have moved to their present position at his direction (что они переместились в свою теперешнюю позицию по его приказанию). When his force had come to a halt (когда его отряд остановился ; halt — остановка; to come to a halt — остановиться ) he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms (он спешился, бросил вниз свое копье и стрелковое оружие; arms — оружие; small arms — стрелковое оружие ), and came around the end of the incubator toward me (и /начал/ огибать инкубатор с краю по направлению ко мне), entirely unarmed and as naked as I (совершенно безоружный и обнаженный, как и я), except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast (за исключением украшений, охватывающих его голову, конечности и грудь; ornament — украшение ).

transfix [trxns'fIks], incubator ['InkjubeItq], naked ['neIkId]

He was the one whose spear had so nearly transfixed me, and was evidently the leader of the band, as I had noted that they seemed to have moved to their present position at his direction. When his force had come to a halt he dismounted, threw down his spear and small arms, and came around the end of the incubator toward me, entirely unarmed and as naked as I, except for the ornaments strapped upon his head, limbs, and breast.

When he was within about fifty feet of me (когда он оказался на расстоянии примерно пятидесяти футов от меня) he unclasped an enormous metal armlet (он расстегнул огромный металлический браслет; to clasp — застегивать, надевать ), and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand (и, протягивая его мне на открытой ладони руки), addressed me in a clear, resonant voice (обратился ко мне ясным, звучным голосом), but in a language (но на языке), it is needless to say (нет нужды и говорить; needless — ненужный, излишний ), I could not understand (который я не мог понять). He then stopped as though waiting for my reply (затем он остановился, как будто ожидая моего ответа), pricking up his antennae-like ears (навострив свои подобные усикам/отросткам уши; to prick — колоть; to prickup — торчать острием вверх; antenna — антенна; усик, щупальце ) and cocking his strange-looking eyes still further toward me (и вперяя в меня свои странные глаза еще упорнее: «дальше»; to cock — поднимать, загибать кверху /как петух свой хвост/; to cock the eye — многозначительно взглянуть; cock — петух ).

enormous [I'nLmqs], resonant ['reznqnt], further ['fWDq]

When he was within about fifty feet of me he unclasped an enormous metal armlet, and holding it toward me in the open palm of his hand, addressed me in a clear, resonant voice, but in a language, it is needless to say, I could not understand. He then stopped as though waiting for my reply, pricking up his antennae-like ears and cocking his strange-looking eyes still further toward me.

As the silence became painful (когда молчание стало тягостным) I concluded to hazard a little conversation (я решился осмелиться на небольшой разговор; to conclude — заканчивать; решать; to hazard — рисковать; осмеливаться ) on my own part (со своей стороны; part — часть; сторона ), as I had guessed that he was making overtures of peace (так как я догадался, что он делает попытки к примирению; overture — инициатива; попытка примирения ). The throwing down of his weapons (отбрасывание оружия) and the withdrawing of his troop (и удаление своего отряда) before his advance toward me (перед приближением ко мне) would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth (обозначало бы миссию мира в любом месте на Земле), so why not, then, on Mars (тогда, почему бы, в таком случае, и не на Марсе)!

withdraw [wID'drL], peaceful ['pi: sful], mission [mISn]

As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on Mars!

Placing my hand over my heart (положив руку на сердце) I bowed low to the Martian (я низко поклонился марсианину) and explained to him that while I did not understand his language (и объяснил ему, что, хотя я и не понимаю его языка), his actions spoke for the peace and friendship (его поступки говорят о мире и дружбе) that at the present moment were most dear to my heart (которые в настоящий момент чрезвычайно дороги моему сердцу). Of course I might have been a babbling brook (конечно, я мог быть /просто/ говорливым ручейком = говорить все, что угодно; to babble — болтать; brook — ручей ) for all the intelligence my speech carried to him (по всему тому смыслу, /который/ моя речь могла донести до него = мои слова были непонятны; intelligence — ум; сведения ), but he understood the action (но он понял действие) with which I immediately followed my words (которое немедленно последовало за моими словами).

friendship ['frendSIp], babbling ['bxblIN], immediately [I'mJdjqtlI]

Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action with which I immediately followed my words.