Уильям Моэм: Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы

It was not till he had seen her two or three times (не раньше чем = только лишь когда он увиделся с ней два или три раза) that he induced her to speak (он побудил ее заговорить). Then it was only to ask him (и то лишь /для того/, чтобы спросить его) if he had seen in Apia a man called Red (видел ли он в Апии человека по имени Рыжий). Two years had passed since his disappearance (два года прошло со /дня/ его исчезновения), but it was plain that she still thought of him incessantly (но было ясно, что она все еще думала о нем постоянно).

insignificant ["InsIg`nIfIkqnt], appearance [q`pIqr(q)ns], Psyche [`saIki(:)]

But Neilson could not get the story out of his head. Perhaps because he was sick and weakly, the radiant health of Red appealed to his imagination. Himself an ugly man, insignificant of appearance, he prized very highly comeliness in others. He had never been passionately in love, and certainly he had never been passionately loved. The mutual attraction of those two young things gave him a singular delight. It had the ineffable beauty of the Absolute. He went again to the little hut by the creek. He had a gift for languages and an energetic mind, accustomed to work, and he had already given much time to the study of the local tongue. Old habit was strong in him and he was gathering together material for a paper on the Samoan speech. The old crone who shared the hut with Sally invited him to come in and sit down. She gave him kava to drink and cigarettes to smoke. She was glad to have someone to chat with and while she talked he looked at Sally. She reminded him of the Psyche in the museum at Naples. Her features had the same clear purity of line, and though she had borne a child she had still a virginal aspect.

It was not till he had seen her two or three times that he induced her to speak. Then it was only to ask him if he had seen in Apia a man called Red. Two years had passed since his disappearance, but it was plain that she still thought of him incessantly.

It did not take Neilson long to discover (это не заняло /у/ Нилсона много времени: «долго», чтобы понять: «обнаружить») that he was in love with her (что он был влюблен в нее). It was only by an effort of will now (теперь только усилием воли) that he prevented himself from going every day to the creek (он не давал себе каждый день ходить к речке; to prevent — предотвращать;не допускать ), and when he was not with Sally his thoughts were (и когда он не был с Салли, его мысли были /с ней/). At first, looking upon himself as a dying man (поначалу, считая себя умирающим человеком), he asked only to look at her (ему было нужно только /лишь/ смотреть на нее; to ask — спрашивать; требовать/ся/ ), and occasionally hear her speak (и изредка слышать, /как/ она говорит), and his love gave him a wonderful happiness (и его любовь дарила ему удивительное счастье). He exulted in its purity (он радовался ее чистоте). He wanted nothing from her (он /не/ хотел от нее ничего) but the opportunity to weave around her graceful person (кроме возможности сплести вокруг ее грациозной особы) a web of beautiful fancies (паутину из красивых фантазий). But the open air (но свежий: «открытый» воздух), the equable temperature (постоянная температура /воздуха/; equable — ровный; без перепадов ), the rest (покой/отдых), the simple fare (простая пища), began to have an unexpected effect on his health (начали оказывать неожиданный эффект на его здоровье). His temperature did not soar at night to such alarming heights (его температура не поднималась по ночам до таких тревожных высот), he coughed less and began to put on weight (он меньше кашлял и начал набирать вес); six months passed without his having a haemorrhage (шесть месяцев прошло, а у него не было кровоизлияния/ кровотечения; without — без ); and on a sudden he saw the possibility that he might live (и вдруг он увидел вероятность /того/, что он сможет жить). He had studied his disease carefully (он тщательно изучил свою болезнь), and the hope dawned upon him (и у него появилась: «забрезжила над ним» надежда) that with great care he might arrest its course (что соблюдая особую осторожность, он мог бы приостановить ее течение; with — с; great — большой ). It exhilarated him to look forward once more to the future (это воодушевило его опять с нетерпением ожидать будущего; to look forward — предвкушать; once more — еще раз ). He made plans (он строил планы). It was evident that any active life was out of the question (было очевидно, что о любой активной жизни не могло быть и речи; out — вне; question — /обсуждаемый/вопрос ), but he could live on the islands (но он мог бы жить на этих островах), and the small income he had (и тот небольшой доход, /который/ он имел), insufficient elsewhere (недостаточный где-либо в другом месте), would be ample to keep him (был бы достаточным, чтобы обеспечивать его /здесь/). He could grow coconuts (он мог бы выращивать кокосы = кокосовые пальмы); that would give him an occupation (это дало бы ему какое-то занятие); and he would send for his books and a piano (и он бы послал за своими книгами и роялем); but his quick mind saw that in all this (но его живой ум видел, что за всем этим) he was merely trying to conceal from himself the desire (он просто пытается скрыть от себя самого то желание) which obsessed him (которое овладело им).

cough [kOf], disease [dI`zJz], exhilarate [Ig`zIlqreIt]

It did not take Neilson long to discover that he was in love with her. It was only by an effort of will now that he prevented himself from going every day to the creek, and when he was not with Sally his thoughts were. At first, looking upon himself as a dying man, he asked only to look at her, and occasionally hear her speak, and his love gave him a wonderful happiness. He exulted in its purity. He wanted nothing from her but the opportunity to weave around her graceful person a web of beautiful fancies. But the open air, the equable temperature, the rest, the simple fare, began to have an unexpected effect on his health. His temperature did not soar at night to such alarming heights, he coughed less and began to put on weight; six months passed without his having a haemorrhage; and on a sudden he saw the possibility that he might live. He had studied his disease carefully, and the hope dawned upon him that with great care he might arrest its course. It exhilarated him to look forward once more to the future. He made plans. It was evident that any active life was out of the question, but he could live on the islands, and the small income he had, insufficient elsewhere, would be ample to keep him. He could grow coconuts; that would give him an occupation; and he would send for his books and a piano; but his quick mind saw that in all this he was merely trying to conceal from himself the desire which obsessed him.