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

hereditary [hI'redItrI], unbearable [An'beqrqbl], influence ['Influqns]

My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love which, in all probability, she did not return. Should I be so indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which sealed my lips.

"Why are you so quiet (почему ты молчишь; quiet — тихий, бесшумный; to be quiet — молчать, хранить молчание ), Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would rather return to Sola and your quarters (может быть, ты предпочла бы вернуться к Соле и в свое жилье)."

"No," she murmured, "I am happy here (нет, — пробормотала она, — я счастлива здесь). I do not know why it is that I should always be happy and contented (я не знаю, почему так происходит, что я всегда чувствую себя счастливой и довольной; contented — довольный, удовлетворенный ) when you, John Carter, a stranger, are with me (когда ты, Джон Картер, чужеземец, находишься рядом со мной); yet at such times it seems that I am safe (однако в такое время мне кажется, что я в безопасности) and that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's court (и что с тобой я скоро вернусь ко двору своего отца) and feel his strong arms about me (и почувствую, как его сильные руки обнимают меня) and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek (а также слезы и поцелуи моей матери на моих щеках)."

"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom (значит, и на Барсуме люди целуются)?" I asked, when she had explained the word she used (когда она объяснила /значение/ того слова, которое она употребила), in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning (в ответ на мой вопрос о его значении).

murmur ['mWmq], contented [kqn'tentId], inquiry [In'kwaIqrI]

"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would rather return to Sola and your quarters."

"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel his strong arms about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek."

"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning.

"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes (родители, братья и сестры — да); and," she added in a low, thoughtful tone, "lovers (и, — добавила она тихим, задумчивым голосом — влюбленные)."

"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters (а у тебя, Дежа Торис, есть родители, братья и сестры)?"

"Yes."

"And a lover (а возлюбленный)?"

She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question (она молчала, и я не мог отважиться повторить вопрос).

"The man of Barsoom (мужчина на Барсуме)," she finally ventured (наконец решилась она), "does not ask personal questions of women (не задает личных вопросов женщинам), except his mother, and the woman he has fought for and won (за исключением своей матери и женщины, за которую он сражался и победил; to fight; to win )."

"But I have fought —" I started (но я сражался, начал я), and then I wished my tongue had been cut from my mouth (и затем мне захотелось, чтобы мне отрезали язык: «чтобы мой язык вырезали изо рта»); for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased (потому что она отвернулась, даже несмотря на то, что я спохватился и замолчал; to cease — прекращать, останавливать; to cease talking — замолчать ), and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me (и, стягивая мои шелка с плеч, она протянула их мне), and without a word, and with head held high (и без единого слова, с высоко поднятой головой), she moved with the carriage of the queen she was (она двинулась с осанкой королевы, которой она была) toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters (по направлению к площади и к дверям своего жилища).

thoughtful ['TO: tful], cease [si: s], carriage ['kxrIdZ]

"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes; and," she added in a low, thoughtful tone, "lovers."

"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters?"

"Yes."

"And a — lover?"

She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question.

"The man of Barsoom," she finally ventured, "does not ask personal questions of women, except his mother, and the woman he has fought for and won."

"But I have fought —" I started, and then I wished my tongue had been cut from my mouth; for she turned even as I caught myself and ceased, and drawing my silks from her shoulder she held them out to me, and without a word, and with head held high, she moved with the carriage of the queen she was toward the plaza and the doorway of her quarters.

I did not attempt to follow her (я не пытался следовать за ней), other than to see that she reached the building in safety (только /хотел бы/ проследить за тем, что она дошла до здания в безопасности; to see that… — проследить, чтобы было сделано ), but, directing Woola to accompany her (но, приказав Вуле сопровождать ее), I turned disconsolately (я повернулся, безутешный; disconsolate — неутешный, несчастный ) — and entered my own house (и зашел в свой собственный дом). I sat for hours cross-legged, and cross-tempered (несколько часов я просидел, нога на ногу, и в дурном расположении духа; cross — пересекающийся; сердитый, злой ) upon my silks meditating upon the queer freaks chance plays upon us poor devils of mortals (на шелках, размышляя о странных причудах судьбы, /которая/ играет с нами, бедными смертными; freak — причуда, чудачество; chance — случайность; судьба; poor devil — бедняга ).

direct [dI'rekt], disconsolately [dIs'kOnslItlI], freak [fri: k]