Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий (Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper), стр. 71

Tom made a good dinner (Том сделал хороший обед = хорошо пообедал), notwithstanding (несмотря на то, что) he was conscious (он был сознателен = осознавал) that hundreds of eyes followed each morsel to his mouth (что сотни глаз прослеживали каждый кусочек пищи к его рту) and watched him eat it (и смотрели, как он ест его: «смотрели его есть его») with an interest (с интересом) which could not have been more intense (который не мог бы быть более сильным) if it had been a deadly explosive (если бы это было губительное взрывчатое вещество) and was expected (и оно ожидалось бы = угрожающее) to blow him up (разнести его /на мелкие части/) and scatter him all over the place (и разбросать по всей зале). He was careful (он был осторожен = следил за тем, чтобы) not to hurry (не спешить), and equally careful (и столь же осторожен) not to do anything whatever for himself (не сделать чего бы то ни было самостоятельно), but wait (но подождать) till the proper official knelt down (пока соответствующий чиновник не стал = не станет на колени) and did it for him (и не сделал = не сделает это за него). He got through without a mistake (он прошел через это без единой ошибки) — flawless and precious triumph (безупречный и драгоценный триумф; flaw — трещина, щель, порок /в металле, фарфоре и т. п./, брак /в приобретенном изделии/).

When the meal was over at last (когда еда была закончена наконец) and he marched away (и он ушагал прочь) in the midst of his bright pageant (в середине своей яркой свиты), with the happy noises in his ears (под радостные звуки в его ушах) of blaring bugles (трубящих рожков), rolling drums (гремящих барабанов), and thundering acclamations (и громогласных приветствий), he felt (он чувствовал; to feel — чувствовать) that if he had seen the worst of dining in public (что если он видел худшее от публичного обеда), it was an ordeal (это была пытка) which he would be glad to endure (которую он был бы рад переносить) several times a day (несколько раз в день) if by that means (если таким средством = такой ценой) he could but buy himself free (он мог бы купить себя свободным = откупиться) from some of the more formidable requirements of his royal office (от некоторых из более тяжких обязанностей своей королевской службы).

earl [?:l], group [gru:p], blare [ble?]

'First come Gentlemen, Barons, Earls, Knights of the Garter, all richly dressed and bareheaded; next comes the Chancellor, between two, one of which carries the royal scepter, the other the Sword of State in a red scabbard, studded with golden fleurs-de-lis, the point upwards; next comes the King himself- whom, upon his appearing, twelve trumpets and many drums salute with a great burst of welcome, whilst all in the galleries rise in their places, crying "God save the King!" After him come nobles attached to his person, and on his right and left march his guard of honor, his fifty Gentlemen Pensioners, with gilt battle-axes.'

This was all fine and pleasant. Tom's pulse beat high and a glad light was in his eye. He bore himself right gracefully, and all the more so because he was not thinking of how he was doing it, his mind being charmed and occupied with the blithe sights and sounds about him — and besides, nobody can be very ungraceful in nicely fitting beautiful clothes after he has grown a little used to them — especially if he is for the moment unconscious of them. Tom remembered his instructions, and acknowledged his greeting with a slight inclination of his plumed head, and a courteous 'I thank ye, my good people.'

He seated himself at table without removing his cap; and did it without the least embarrassment; for to eat with one's cap on was the one solitary royal custom upon which the kings and the Cantys met upon common ground, neither party having any advantage over the other in the matter of old familiarity with it. The pageant broke up and grouped itself picturesquely, and remained bareheaded.

Now, to the sound of gay music, the Yeomen of the Guard entered — 'the tallest and mightiest men in England, they being selected in this regard' — but we will let the chronicler tell about it:

'The Yeomen of the Guard entered bareheaded, clothed in scarlet, with golden roses upon their backs; and these went and came, bringing in each turn a course of dishes, served in plate. These dishes were received by a gentleman in the same order they were brought, and placed upon the table, while the taster gave to each guard a mouthful to eat of the particular dish he had brought, for fear of any poison.'

Tom made a good dinner, notwithstanding he was conscious that hundreds of eyes followed each morsel to his mouth and watched him eat it with an interest which could not have been more intense if it had been a deadly explosive and was expected to blow him up and scatter him all over the place. He was careful not to hurry, and equally careful not to do anything whatever for himself, but wait till the proper official knelt down and did it for him. He got through without a mistake — flawless and precious triumph.

When the meal was over at last and he marched away in the midst of his bright pageant, with the happy noises in his ears of blaring bugles, rolling drums, and thundering acclamations, he felt that if he had seen the worst of dining in public, it was an ordeal which he would be glad to endure several times a day if by that means he could but buy himself free from some of the more formidable requirements of his royal office.

CHAPTER XVII (Глава семнадцатая)

MILES Hendon hurried along toward the Southwark end of the bridge (Майлс Хендон спешил к Саутуоркскому концу моста), keeping a sharp lookout (сохраняя зоркое наблюдение) for the persons he sought (за людьми, которых он искал; to seek — искать), and hoping and expecting (и надеясь и ожидая) to overtake them presently (догнать их вскоре). He was disappointed in this, however (он был разочарован в этом, однако). By asking questions (задавая вопросы), he was enabled to track them (он смог следовать за ними; to enable — давать возможность) part of the way through Southwark (часть пути через Саутуорк); then all traces ceased (затем все следы прекратились = оборвались), and he was perplexed (и он был озадачен) as to how to proceed (насчет того, как продолжать = что делать дальше). Still (все же), he continued his efforts (он продолжал свои усилия) as best he could (как лучше всего он мог = как можно лучше) during the rest of the day (в течение остатка дня). Nightfall found him leg-weary (сумерки нашли его сбившимся с ног; to find — находить; leg — нога; weary — уставший), half famished (полуголодным; to famish — голодать, морить голодом), and his desire as far from accomplishment as ever (а его желание — таким же далеким от выполнения, как всегда); so he supped at the Tabard inn (так что он поужинал в Табард-инне) and went to bed (и пошел в постель = спать), resolved to make an early start in the morning (полный решимости сделать раннее начало = рано начать утром), and give the town an exhaustive search (и хорошенько обыскать город: «дать городу исчерпывающий поиск»). As he lay thinking and planning (пока он лежал, думая и строя планы; to lie — лежать), he presently began to reason thus (он вскоре начал рассуждать так): The boy would escape from the ruffian (мальчик бы убежал от этого негодяя), his reputed father (его предполагаемого отца), if possible (если возможно); would he go back to London (пошел ли бы он назад в Лондон) and seek his former haunts (и искал бы свои бывшие любимые места; haunt — часто посещаемое место; to haunt — посещать)? No, he would not do that (нет, он бы не сделал этого), he would avoid recapture (он бы избегал новой поимки). What, then, would he do (что же тогда бы он сделал)? Never having had a friend in the world (никогда не имевший друга в мире), or a protector (или защитника), until he met Miles Hendon (пока он не встретил Майлса Хендона; to meet — знакомиться, встретиться), he would naturally try to find that friend again (он бы естественно постарался найти этого друга снова), provided the effort did not require him (в случае, если это усилие не потребует от него) to go toward London and danger (идти к Лондону и к опасности). He would strike for Hendon Hall (он бы направился к Хендон-Холлу), that is what he would do (вот что он бы сделал), for he knew Hendon was homeward bound (ибо он знал, что Хендон намеревался уехать домой; homeward — по направлению к дому; bound — намеренный, направляющийся), and there he might expect to find him (и там он мог бы ожидать найти его). Yes, the case was plain to Hendon (да, дело было ясно для Хендона) — he must lose no more time in Southwark (он должен не терять больше времени в Саутуорке), but move at once through Kent (но двинуться сразу через Кент), toward Monk's Holm (к Монашьему островку), searching the wood (обыскивая леса) and inquiring (и расспрашивая) as he went (пока он шел = по дороге; to go — идти). Let us return (позволим нам = давайте вернемся) to the vanished little king now (к исчезнувшему маленькому королю теперь).