I will set down a tale (я изложу историю; to set down — класть) as it was told to me by one (как она была рассказана мне одним (человеком), who had it of his father (кто услышал ее от своего отца; to have — иметь, получать), which latter (которую последний /т.е. отец/) had it of his father (получил ее от своего отца), this last (этот последний) having in like manner had it of his father (в такой же манере получивший ее от своего отца) — and so on (и так далее), back and still back (назад и еще назад /в историю/), three hundred years and more (триста лет и больше), the fathers were transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it (отцы передавали ее сыновьям и таким образом сохраняли ее).
It may be history, it may be only legend, a tradition (это может быть история, это может быть лишь легенда, традиция). It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it could have happened (это могло произойти, могло не произойти: но это могло произойти; to happen — случаться). It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days (может быть, что мудрые и ученые верили в нее в старые дни = давние времена); it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it (может быть, что только неученые и простые = простаки любили ее и верили в нее).
transmit [trænz`mıt], tradition [trə`dıS(ə)n], learned [`lə:nıd]
I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of his father, this last having in like manner had it of his father — and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it.
It may be history, it may be only legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it could have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.
IN the ancient city of London (в древнем городе Лондоне), on a certain autumn day (в один осенний день; certain — некоторый, определенный) in the second quarter of the sixteenth century (во второй четверти шестнадцатого века), a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty (мальчик был рожден в бедной семье по фамилии Кэнти), who did not want him (которая не хотела его).
On the same day another English child (в тот же день другой английский ребенок) was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor (родился в богатой семье по фамилии Тюдор), who did want him (которая хотела его). All England wanted him too (вся Англия хотела его тоже). England had so longed for him (так хотела его; to long for smth — страстно желать чего-либо), and hoped for him (надеялась на него), and prayed God for him (и молила Бога за него), that (что), now that he was really come (сейчас, когда он действительно пришел), the people went nearly mad for joy (люди почти сошли с ума от радости; to go mad — сойти с ума).
Mere acquaintances (едва знакомые люди; acquaintance — знакомство, знакомый) hugged and kissed each other and cried (обнимали и целовали друг друга и плакали). Everybody took a holiday (каждый взял выходной; to take — брать), and high and low (и высокий и низкий), rich and poor (богатый и бедный), feasted and danced and sang (пировали и танцевали и пели), and got very mellow (и стали очень добродушными); and they kept this up for days and nights together (и они продолжали это день и ночь вместе: «в течение дней и ночей»; to keep up — не прекращать, не меняться). By day (днем), London was a sight to see (был зрелищем (которое стоит) увидеть), with gay banners (с веселыми стягами) waving from every balcony and housetop (развевающимися с каждого балкона и кровли; house — дом; top — верхушка, вершина), and splendid pageants marching along (и прекрасными процессиями марширующими; along — вдоль, мимо).
By night (ночью), it was again a sight to see (он был опять зрелищем (которое стоит) увидеть), with its great bonfires at every corner (со своими огромными кострами на каждом углу), and its troops of revelers making merry around them (и его ватагами гуляк, веселившимися вокруг них; to make — делать, merry — веселый).
There was no talk (не было никаких разговоров) in all England but of (во всей Англии кроме (как) о) the new baby (новом = новорожденном младенце), Edward Tudor (Эдварде Тюдоре), Prince of Wales (принце Уэльском), who lay (лежал, to lie — лежать) lapped (завернутый) in silks and satins (в шелка и атласы = в шелк и атлас), unconscious (не ведающий: «бессознательный») of all this fuss (обо всей этой суете), and not knowing (и не знающий) that great lords and ladies (что великие лорды и леди) were tending him (нянчили его) and watching over him (и смотрели за ним) — and not caring (и не имея до этого никакого дела: «не заботясь»), either (также).
But there was no talk about the other baby (но не было разговоров о другом малыше), Tom Canty (Томе Кэнти), lapped in his poor rags (завернутом в свои бедные лохмотья), except among the family of paupers (кроме (как) в семье бедняков; among — среди) whom he had just come to trouble with his presence (кого = которых он только что пришел беспокоить своим присутствием).
trouble [trAbl], certain [`sə:t(ə)n], quarter [`kwO:tə], acquaintance [ə`kweıntəns]
IN the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him.
On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy.
Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this up for days and nights together. By day, London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, and splendid pageants marching along.
By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revelers making merry around them.
There was no talk in all England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him — and not caring, either.
But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.
LET us skip a number of years (позволим нам перепрыгнуть = давайте пропустим некоторое число = несколько лет).
London was fifteen hundred years old (Лондону было полторы тысячи: «15 сотен» лет), and was a great town (и был огромным городом) — for that day (для того дня = времени). It had a hundred thousand inhabitants (он имел сотню тысяч жителей) — some think double as many (некоторые думают (что) в два раза больше: «дважды так много»). The streets (улицы) were very narrow (были очень узкие), and crooked (и кривые), and dirty (и грязные), especially in the part where (особенно в той части где) Tom Canty lived (жил Том Кэнти), which was not far from (что было не далеко от) London Bridge (Лондонского моста).
The houses were of wood (дома были из дерева), with the second story projecting over the first (со вторым этажом, выступавшим над первым), and the third sticking its elbows out beyond the second (и третьим, выставлявшим свои локти над вторым; beyond — вне, за пределами). The higher the houses grew (чем выше дома становились; to grow — расти), the broader (тем шире) they grew (они становились). They were skeletons of strong crisscross beams (они были скелетами из крепких крест-накрест балок), with solid material between (с твердым материалом между /ними/), coated with plaster (покрытых штукатуркой). The beams were painted red (балки были покрашены красным) or blue (или синим) or black (или черным), according to the owner's taste (в соответствии со вкусом хозяина; owner — владелец; to own — владеть), and this gave the houses a very picturesque look (и это придавало домам очень живописный вид). The windows were small (окна были маленькие), glazed with little diamond-shaped panes (застекленные маленькими ромбовидными стеклами; diamond — бриллиант, ромб; shape — форма) and they opened outward (и они открывались вперед = наружу), on hinges (на петлях), like doors (как двери).
The house which Tom's father lived in (дом, в котором жил отец Тома) was in a foul little pocket (был в вонючем маленьком закоулке: «кармане») called Offal Court (называвшемся Тупиком Отбросов; court — двор), out of Pudding Lane (рядом с (улицей) Пудинг-лейн; out — из). It was small, decayed (он был маленький, обветшалый; to decay — разлагаться, приходить в упадок), and rickety (и расшатанный), but it was packed full (но он был набит полностью) of wretchedly poor families (жалкими: «/самым/ жалким образом» бедными семьями = бедными до убожества семьями). Canty's tribe occupied (род Кэнти занимал; tribe — племя) a room on the third floor (комнату на четвертом: «третьем» этаже). The mother and father had a sort of bedstead (мать и отец имели подобие кровати) in the corner (в углу); but Tom (но Том), his grandmother (его бабушка), and his two sisters, Bet and Nan (и его две сестры, Бет и Нэн), were not restricted (не были ограничены) — they had all the floor to themselves (весь пол для себя), and might sleep where they chose (и могли спать где они выбирали = где хотели; to chose — выбирать). There were the remains of a blanket or two (были остатки одеяла или двух = нескольких одеял), and some bundles of ancient and dirty straw (и несколько охапок древней и грязной соломы), but these could not rightly be called beds (но эти = они не могли быть правильно быть названы кроватями), for they were not organized (так как они не были организованы = устроены); they were kicked into a general pile (они /небрежно/ складывались в общую кучу; to kick — пинать) mornings (по утрам: «утра»), and selections were made from the mass at night (и выбор делался из этой массы по вечерам).
especially [ıs`peSəlı], material [mə`tıərıəl], ancient [`eınSənt]
LET us skip a number of years.
London was fifteen hundred years old, and was a great town — for that day. It had a hundred thousand inhabitants — some think double as many. The streets were very narrow, and crooked, and dirty, especially in the part where Tom Canty lived, which was not far from London Bridge.
The houses were of wood, with the second story projecting over the first, and the third sticking its elbows out beyond the second. The higher the houses grew, the broader they grew. They were skeletons of strong crisscross beams, with solid material between, coated with plaster. The beams were painted red or blue or black, according to the owner's taste, and this gave the houses a very picturesque look. The windows were small, glazed with little diamond-shaped panes, and they opened outward, on hinges, like doors.
The house which Tom's father lived in was up a foul little pocket called Offal Court, out of Pudding Lane. It was small, decayed, and rickety, but it was packed full of wretchedly poor families. Canty's tribe occupied a room on the third floor. The mother and father had a sort of bedstead in the corner; but Tom, his grandmother, and his two sisters, Bet and Nan, were not restricted — they had all the floor to themselves, and might sleep where they chose. There were the remains of a blanket or two, and some bundles of ancient and dirty straw, but these could not rightly be called beds, for they were not organized; they were kicked into a general pile mornings, and selections made from the mass at night.