Читать интересную книгу Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса - Edgar Burroughs

narrate [nq'reIt], miraculous [mI'rxkjulqs], achievement [q'tSi:vmqnt]

My cousin has narrated the details of your wonderful achievement, which seems little short of miraculous, and if you can so well defend a cousin of the jeddak how much better could you defend the person of the jeddak himself. You are therefore appointed a padwar of The Guards and will be quartered in my palace hereafter.

I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff (я поблагодарил его и по его приказанию присоединился к членам его свиты). After the ceremony I returned my machine (после церемонии я вернул свою машину) to its quarters on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout squadron (на ее стоянку на крыше казарм эскадрильи воздушных разведчиков), and with an orderly from the palace to guide me (и, /сопровождаемый/ ординарцем из дворца, который указывал мне дорогу; orderly — /воен./ ординарец) I reported to the officer in charge of the palace (я доложил /о себе/ дежурному офицеру дворца; officer in charge — дежурныйофицер).

thank [TxNk], return [rI'tWn]

I thanked him, and at his direction joined the members of his staff. After the ceremony I returned my machine to its quarters on the roof of the barracks of the air-scout squadron, and with an orderly from the palace to guide me I reported to the officer in charge of the palace.

CHAPTER XXII (глава двадцать вторая)

I FIND DEJAH (я нахожу Дежу)

The major-domo to whom I reported (мажордом, которому я доложил /о себе/) had been given instructions to station me near the person of the jeddak (получил распоряжения разместить меня близ особы джеддака; tostation— помещать, размещать), who, in time of war, is always in great danger of assassination (который в период войны всегда подвергается большой опасности убийства), as the rule that all is fair in war (так как правило, что все законно во время войны; fair— честный, законный); seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict (кажется, составляет преобладающую этическую норму марсианского конфликта; toconstitute— составлять).

major-domo ["meIdZq'doumou], assassination [q"sxsI'neIS(q)n], fair [feq]

The major-domo to whom I reported had been given instructions to station me near the person of the jeddak, who, in time of war, is always in great danger of assassination, as the rule that all is fair in war seems to constitute the entire ethics of Martian conflict.

He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than Kosis then was (он поэтому немедленно проводил меня в апартаменты, где находился Тан Косис в то время). The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son (правитель был занят беседой со своим сыном), Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household (и несколькими придворными своего двора; courtier — придворный), and did not perceive my entrance (и не заметил моего прихода; entrance — вход; вхождение).

courtier ['kO:tIq], entrance['entrqns]

He therefore escorted me immediately to the apartment in which Than Kosis then was. The ruler was engaged in conversation with his son, Sab Than, and several courtiers of his household, and did not perceive my entrance.

The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid tapestries (стены комнаты были полностью увешаны великолепными гобеленами; tapestry — гобелен) which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them (которые скрывали все окна и двери, которые могли нарушать их целостность: «пронзать их»). The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine (комната освещалась запертыми солнечными лучами; to imprison — заключатьвтюрьму,заточать) held between the ceiling proper (/которые/ находились между собственно потолком) and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a few inches below (и тем, что, по-видимому, было искусственным потолком из матового стекла несколькими дюймами ниже; to appear to be — оказываться, по-видимому; to grind — толочь, растирать; ground-glass — матовоестекло; false — ложный; искусственный).

splendid ['splendId], tapestry ['txpIstrI], pierce [pIqs]

The walls of the apartment were completely hung with splendid tapestries which hid any windows or doors which may have pierced them. The room was lighted by imprisoned rays of sunshine held between the ceiling proper and what appeared to be a ground-glass false ceiling a few inches below.

My guide drew aside one of the tapestries (мой проводник отодвинул в сторону один из гобеленов), disclosing a passage which encircled the room (открыв проход, который окружал комнату), between the hangings and the walls of the chamber (между драпировками и стенами зала; hangings— драпировки, портьеры). Within this passage I was to remain (я должен был оставаться в этом проходе), he said, so long as Than Kosis was in the apartment (до тех пор, пока, Тан Косис находился в комнате). When he left I was to follow (когда он выйдет, я должен последовать за ним). My only duty was to guard the ruler (моей единственной обязанностью было охранять правителя) and keep out of sight as much as possible (и попадаться ему на глаза как можно реже: «держаться вне видимости столько, сколько возможно»). I would be relieved after a period of four hours (меня сменят через четыре часа; to relieve — освобождать, сменять). The major-domo then left me (мажордом затем покинул меня).

disclose [dIs'klouz], hanging ['hxNIN], relieve [rI'li:v]

My guide drew aside one of the tapestries, disclosing a passage which encircled the room, between the hangings and the walls of the chamber. Within this passage I was to remain, he said, so long as Than Kosis was in the apartment. When he left I was to follow. My only duty was to guard the ruler and keep out of sight as much as possible. I would be relieved after a period of four hours. The major-domo then left me.

The tapestries were of a strange weaving (гобелены были странного плетения; weaving — ткачество, плетение; to weave — ткать;плести) which gave the appearance of heavy solidity from one side (которое выглядело тяжелым и плотным с одной стороны), but from my hiding place I could perceive (но из моего укрытия я мог рассмотреть) all that took place within the room (все, что происходило в комнате) as readily as though there had been no curtain intervening (так легко, будто и не было никакой промежуточной завесы; readily — легко, просто).

Scarcely had I gained my post (едва я занял свой пост) than the tapestry at the opposite end of the chamber separated (как гобелены на противоположной стороне комнаты раздвинулись) and four soldiers of The Guard entered (и вошли четыре солдата Стражи), surrounding a female figure (окружающие женскую фигуру). As they approached Than Kosis (когда они приблизились к Тану Косису) the soldiers fell to either side (солдаты расступились по обе стороны) and there standing before the jeddak and not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah Thoris (и там перед джеддаком и не далее чем в десяти футах от меня, с прекрасным лицом, сияющим от улыбки, стояла Дежа Торис).

weaving ['wi:vIN], readily ['redIlI], radiant ['reIdIqnt]

The tapestries were of a strange weaving which gave the appearance of heavy solidity from one side, but from my hiding place I could perceive all that took place within the room as readily as though there had been no curtain intervening.

Scarcely had I gained my post than the tapestry at the opposite end of the chamber separated and four soldiers of The Guard entered, surrounding a female figure. As they approached Than Kosis the soldiers fell to either side and there standing before the jeddak and not ten feet from me, her beautiful face radiant with smiles, was Dejah Thoris.

Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her (приблизился, чтобы встретить ее), and hand in hand they approached close to the jeddak (и рука об руку они подошли близко к джеддаку). Then Kosis looked up in surprise, and, rising, saluted her (взглянул с удивлением и, поднявшись, приветствовал ее).

"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium (какому странному причуду /судьбы/ обязан я визитом принцессы Гелиума; freak— причуда, чудачество), who, two days ago (которая два дня тому назад), with rare consideration for my pride (с редким уважением к моей гордости; consideration — внимание, уважение), assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son (уверяла меня, что она предпочтет Тала Хаджуса, зеленого тарка, моему сыну)?"

Dejah Thoris only smiled the more (продолжала улыбаться только еще больше) and with the roguish dimples playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer (и с плутовскими ямочками, играющими у уголков ее рта, ответила; roguish — плутоватый; шаловливый; rogue — плут):

ago [q'gou], pride [praId], dimple [dImpl]

Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, advanced to meet her, and hand in hand they approached close to the jeddak. Then Kosis looked up in surprise, and, rising, saluted her.

"To what strange freak do I owe this visit from the Princess of Helium, who, two days ago, with rare consideration for my pride, assured me that she would prefer Tal Hajus, the green Thark, to my son?"

Dejah Thoris only smiled the more and with the roguish dimples playing at the corners of her mouth she made answer:

"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom (с начала времен на Барсуме) it has been the prerogative of woman to change her mind as she listed (это было привилегией женщин менять свои взгляды, как она пожелает; to list — желать, хотеть) and to dissemble in matters concerning her heart (и притворяться в вопросах, касающихся ее сердца; to dissemble — скрывать, притворяться). That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your son (это вы должны простить, Тан Косис, как простил ваш сын). Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me (два дня тому назад я не была уверена в его любви ко мне), but now I am (но теперь уверена), and I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words (и я пришла просить вас забыть мои опрометчивые слова; rash— поспешный, необдуманный) and to accept the assurance of the Princess of Helium (и принять уверения принцессы Гелиума) that when the time comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga (что, когда придет время, она выйдет за Саба Тана, принца Зоданги)."

prerogative [prI'rOgqtIv], dissemble [dI'sembl], forget [fq'get]

"From the beginning of time upon Barsoom it has been the prerogative of woman to change her mind as she listed and to dissemble in matters concerning her heart. That you will forgive, Than Kosis, as has your son. Two days ago I was not sure of his love for me, but now I am, and I have come to beg of you to forget my rash words and to accept the assurance of the Princess of Helium that when the time comes she will wed Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga."

"I am glad that you have so decided (я счастлив, что ты так решила)," replied Than Kosis. "It is far from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium (это вовсе не соответствует моему желанию — дальше развивать войну с народом Гелиума; far from— далеконе; вовсене; to push — толкать; развивать), and your promise shall be recorded (и твое обещание будет записано) and a proclamation to my people issued forthwith (и официальное объявление будет немедленно сделано моему народу; proclamation — официальноеобъявление; forthwith— тотчас, немедленно)."

proclamation ["prOklq'meIS(q)n], forthwith ['fO:TwID]

"I am glad that you have so decided," replied Than Kosis. "It is far from my desire to push war further against the people of Helium, and your promise shall be recorded and a proclamation to my people issued forthwith."