Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий (Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper), стр. 69

'There, good soul (ладно, добрая душа), trouble thyself no further (беспокой себя не дальше = не беспокойся более), thy power is departed out of thee (твоя сила покинула тебя; to depart — уезжать). Go thy way in peace (иди своей дорогой в мире = с миром); and if it return to thee at any time (и если она = сила вернется к тебе в любое время), forget me not (не забудь меня), but fetch me a storm (но устрой мне грозу; to fetch — принести, привести, раздобыть).'

perilous [`per?l?s], pull [pul], earthquake [`?:?kwe?k]

'The law doth not permit a child to make or meddle in any weighty matter, good my liege, holding that its callow wit unfitteth it to cope with the riper wit and evil schemings of them that are its elders. The devil may buy a child, if he so choose, and the child agree thereto, but not an Englishman — in this latter case the contract would be null and void.'

'It seemeth a rude unchristian thing, and ill contrived, that English law denieth privileges to Englishmen, to waste them on the devil!' cried Tom, with honest heat.

This novel view of the matter excited many smiles, and was stored away in many heads to be repeated about the court as evidence of Tom's originality as well as progress toward mental health.

The elder culprit had ceased from sobbing, and was hanging upon Tom's words with an excited interest and a growing hope. Tom noticed this, and it strongly inclined his sympathies toward her in her perilous and unfriended situation. Presently he asked:

'How wrought they, to bring the storm?'

'By pulling off their stockings, sire.'

This astonished Tom, and also fired his curiosity to fever heat. He said eagerly:

'It is wonderful! Hath it always this dread effect?'

'Always, my liege — at least if the woman desire it, and utter the needful words, either in her mind or with her tongue.'

Tom turned to the woman, and said with impetuous zeal:

'Exert thy power — I would see a storm.'

There was a sudden paling of cheeks in the superstitious assemblage, and a general, though unexpressed, desire to get out of the place — all of which was lost upon Tom, who was dead to everything but the proposed cataclysm. Seeing a puzzled and astonished look in the woman's face, he added, excitedly:

'Never fear — thou shalt be blameless. More — thou shalt go free — none shall touch thee. Exert thy power.'

'O, my lord the king, I have it not — I have been falsely accused.'

'Thy fears stay thee. Be of good heart, thou shalt suffer no harm. Make a storm — it mattereth not how small a one — I require naught great or harmful, but indeed prefer the opposite — do this and thy life is spared — thou shalt go out free, with thy child, bearing the king's pardon, and safe from hurt or malice from any in the realm.'

The woman prostrated herself, and protested, with tears, that she had no power to do the miracle, else she would gladly win her child's life alone, and be content to lose her own, if by obedience to the king's command so precious a grace might be acquired.

Tom urged — the woman still adhered to her declarations. Finally, he said:

'I think the woman hath said true. An’ my mother were in her place and gifted with the devil's functions, she had not stayed a moment to call her storms and lay the whole land in ruins, if the saving of my forfeit life were the price she got! It is argument that other mothers are made in like mold. Thou art free, good wife — thou and thy child — for I do think thee innocent. Now thou'st naught to fear, being pardoned — pull off thy stockings! — an thou canst make me a storm, thou shalt be rich!'

The redeemed creature was loud in her gratitude, and proceeded to obey, while Tom looked on with eager expectancy, a little marred by apprehension; the courtiers at the same time manifesting decided discomfort and uneasiness. The woman stripped her own feet and her little girl's also, and plainly did her best to reward the king's generosity with an earthquake, but it was all a failure and a disappointment. Tom sighed and said:

'There, good soul, trouble thyself no further, thy power is departed out of thee. Go thy way in peace; and if it return to thee at any time, forget me not, but fetch me a storm.'

CHAPTER XVI (Глава шестнадцатая)

THE dinner-hour drew near (час обеда приближался; to draw — приближаться; near — близко) — yet, strangely enough (и все же, странно достаточно = как ни странно), the thought brought but slight discomfort to Tom (эта мысль принесла лишь незначительный дискомфорт = незначительное беспокойство Тому; to bring — приносить), and hardly any terror (и едва ли какой-либо ужас). The morning's experiences (переживания этого утра) had wonderfully built up his confidence (удивительным образом укрепили его уверенность в себе; to build up — укреплять); the poor little ash-cat (бедный маленький кочегар = испачканный сажей котенок = чумазый ребенок) was already more wonted (был уже более привыкшим) to his strange garret (к своему странному чердаку), after four days' habit (после четырехдневного привыкания), than a mature person could have become (чем зрелый человек мог бы стать) in a full month (в полный = целый месяц). A child's facility (способность ребенка) in accommodating itself (приспосабливаться) to circumstances (к обстоятельствам) was never more strikingly illustrated (никогда не была более ярко иллюстрирована).

Let us privileged ones (давайте мы, привилегированные особы) hurry to the great banqueting-room (поспешим в огромный пиршественный зал) and have a glance at matters there (и взглянем на дела там) while Tom is being made ready (пока Тома готовят) for the imposing occasion (к торжественному событию). It is a spacious apartment (это просторная комната), with gilded pillars and pilasters (с позолоченными колоннами и пилястрами), and pictured walls and ceilings (и расписанными стенами и потолками). At the door stand tall guards (у двери стоят высокие стражники), as rigid as statues (столь же неподвижные, как статуи), dressed in rich and picturesque costumes (одетые в богатые и живописные одежды), and bearing halberds (и носящие алебарды). In a high gallery (на высокой галерее) which runs all around the place (которая бежит = проходит вокруг этого места) is a band of musicians (находится группа музыкантов) and a packed company (и компания, как на подбор) of citizens of both sexes (граждан обоих полов), in brilliant attire (в блистательном облачении). In the center of the room (в центре комнаты), upon a raised platform (на приподнятом помосте), is Tom's table (находится стол Тома). Now let the ancient chronicler speak (теперь пусть говорит старинный летописец):

'A gentleman enters the room bearing a rod (джентльмен входит в комнату, неся жезл), and along with him another bearing a table-cloth (и вместе с ним другой, несущий скатерть), which (которую), after they have both kneeled three times (после того как они оба преклонили колени три раза) with the utmost veneration (с предельным благоговением), he spreads upon the table (он расстилает на столе), and after kneeling again (и после коленопреклонения снова) they both retire (они оба удаляются); then come two others (затем приходят двое других), one with the rod again (один с жезлом снова), the other with a salt-cellar, a plate, and bread (другой с солонкой, блюдом и хлебом); when they have kneeled (когда они преклонили колени) as the others had done (как другие делали), and placed what was brought upon the table (и поставили то, что было принесено, на стол), they too retire with the same ceremonies (они тоже удаляются с теми же церемониями) performed by the first (исполненными первыми); at last come two nobles richly clothed (наконец приходят два дворянина, богато одетых), one bearing a tasting-knife (один несущий нож для пробования; to taste — пробовать), who, after prostrating themselves in the most graceful manner (которые, после того как пасть ниц в наивежливой манере), approach and rub the table (приближаются и трут стол) with bread and salt (хлебом и солью), with as much awe (с таким многим = сильным благоговением) as if the king had been present (как если бы король присутствовал).'