Читаем без скачивания Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса - Эдгар Берроуз

assume [q'sju: m], discernible [dI'sWnqbl], reveal [rI'vi: l]

At the foot of the throne these two parties separated and halted, facing each other at opposite sides of the aisle. Then came more dignitaries, and the officers of the palace and of the army, and finally two figures entirely muffled in scarlet silk, so that not a feature of either was discernible. These two stopped at the foot of the throne, facing Than Kosis. When the balance of the procession had entered and assumed their stations Than Kosis addressed the couple standing before him. I could not hear his words, but presently two officers advanced and removed the scarlet robe from one of the figures, and I saw that Kantos Kan had failed in his mission, for it was Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga, who stood revealed before me.

Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers (затем Тан Косис взял набор украшений с одного из подносов) and placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck (и надел одно из золотых ожерелий на шею своему сыну; collar — /предмет, надеваемый на шею/; воротник; воротничок; ожерелье; ошейник), springing the padlock fast (крепко защелкнув замок; to spring — защелкивать с помощью пружины). After a few more words addressed to Sab Than (после еще нескольких слов, адресованных Сабe Тану) he turned to the other figure (он повернулся к другой фигуре), from which the officers now removed the enshrouding silks (с которой офицеры теперь снимали окутывающие /ее/ шелка; to enshroud — закутывать, обволакивать; shroud — саван; покров), disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah Thoris (открывая моему теперь уже /все/ понимающему взгляду Дежу Торис; to comprehend — понять, постигнуть), Princess of Helium.

ornament['Lnqmqnt], enshroud [In'Sraud], comprehend ["kOmprI'hend]

Than Kosis now took a set of the ornaments from one of the salvers and placed one of the collars of gold about his son's neck, springing the padlock fast. After a few more words addressed to Sab Than he turned to the other figure, from which the officers now removed the enshrouding silks, disclosing to my now comprehending view Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium.

The object of the ceremony was clear to me (цель церемонии была теперь ясна для меня); in another moment Dejah Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga (в следующее мгновение Дежа Торис будет навеки соединена с принцем Зоданги). It was an impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume (это была впечатляющая и красивая церемония, я полагаю), but to me it seemed the most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed (но для меня это казалось самым отвратительным: «дьявольским» зрелищем, при котором я когда-либо присутствовал; fiend — дьявол; демон; to witness — быть свидетелем; witness — свидетель), and as the ornaments were adjusted upon her beautiful figure (и пока украшения надевали на ее прекрасную фигуру; to adjust — приводить в порядок) and her collar of gold swung open in the hands of Than Kosis (и ее золотое ожерелье раскрылось в руках Тана Косиса) I raised my long-sword above my head (я поднял свой длинный меч над головой), and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window (и тяжелой рукояткой я вдребезги разбил стекло огромного окна; hilt — рукоятка меча) and sprang into the midst of the astonished assemblage (и запрыгнул в гущу изумленного собрания). With a bound I was on the steps of the platform beside Than Kosis (одним прыжком я очутился на ступеньках возвышения рядом с Таном Косисом), and as he stood riveted with surprise (и пока он стоял, окаменевший от изумления; to rivet — сковывать движение) I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain (я опустил свой длинный меч на золотую цепь) that would have bound Dejah Thoris to another (которая должна была связать Дежу Торис с другим).

impressive [Im'presIv], fiendish ['fi: ndIS], witness ['wItnIs]

The object of the ceremony was clear to me; in another moment Dejah Thoris would be joined forever to the Prince of Zodanga. It was an impressive and beautiful ceremony, I presume, but to me it seemed the most fiendish sight I had ever witnessed, and as the ornaments were adjusted upon her beautiful figure and her collar of gold swung open in the hands of Than Kosis I raised my long-sword above my head, and, with the heavy hilt, I shattered the glass of the great window and sprang into the midst of the astonished assemblage. With a bound I was on the steps of the platform beside Than Kosis, and as he stood riveted with surprise I brought my long-sword down upon the golden chain that would have bound Dejah Thoris to another.

In an instant all was confusion (через мгновение все смешалось; confusion — беспорядок, путаница); a thousand drawn swords menaced me from every quarter (тысяча обнаженных мечей угрожали мне со всех сторон; quarter — место, сторона; from every quarter — отовсюду), and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger (а Саб Тан прыгнул на меня с украшенным драгоценностями кинжалом) he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments (который он вытащил из своих свадебных украшений; nuptial — брачный, свадебный). I could have killed him as easily as I might a fly (я мог бы убить его так же легко, как муху), but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my hand (но вековой обычай Барсума остановил мою руку), and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart (и, схватив его за запястье, когда кинжал устремлялся к моему сердцу; to fly — лететь) I held him as though in a vise (я удерживал его, как в тисках) and with my long-sword pointed to the far end of the hall (а моим длинным мечом указал на дальний конец зала; to point — указывать, показывать).

"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look (Зоданга пала, — воскликнул я, — смотри)!"

confusion [kqn'fju: Z(q)n], nuptial ['nApS(q)l], easily ['i: zIlI]

In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled dagger he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments. I could have killed him as easily as I might a fly, but the age-old custom of Barsoom stayed my hand, and grasping his wrist as the dagger flew toward my heart I held him as though in a vise and with my long-sword pointed to the far end of the hall.

"Zodanga has fallen," I cried. "Look!"

All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated (глаза всех повернулись в том направлении, в котором я указывал), and there, forging through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty warriors on their great thoats (и там, через входные двери, медленно въезжали Тарс Таркас и его пятьдесят воинов на своих огромных тотах; to forge — медленно продвигаться вперед).

A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage (крик тревоги и изумления вырвался у собравшихся), but no word of fear (но ни слова страха), and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks (и через мгновение солдаты и знать Зоданги кинулись на приближающихся тарков; to advance — продвигаться вперед).

Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform (столкнув Саба Тана головой вперед с возвышения), I drew Dejah Thoris to my side (я привлек к себе Дежу Торис). Behind the throne was a narrow doorway (позади трона был узкий дверной проем) and in this Than Kosis now stood facing me (и теперь в нем стоял Тан Косис, глядя мне в лицо), with drawn long-sword (с обнаженным длинным мечом). In an instant we were engaged (через мгновение мы схватились), and I found no mean antagonist (и я нашел в нем сильного противника; mean — посредственный, слабый; no mean — сильный).

entranceway ['entrqnsweI], amazement [q'meIzmqnt], assemblage [q'semblIdZ]

All eyes turned in the direction I had indicated, and there, forging through the portals of the entranceway rode Tars Tarkas and his fifty warriors on their great thoats.

A cry of alarm and amazement broke from the assemblage, but no word of fear, and in a moment the soldiers and nobles of Zodanga were hurling themselves upon the advancing Tharks.

Thrusting Sab Than headlong from the platform, I drew Dejah Thoris to my side. Behind the throne was a narrow doorway and in this Than Kosis now stood facing me, with drawn long-sword. In an instant we were engaged, and I found no mean antagonist.

As we circled upon the broad platform (пока мы кружили по широкому возвышению) I saw Sab Than rushing up the steps (я увидел, как Саб Тан мчится вверх по ступенькам) to aid his father (чтобы помочь своему отцу), but, as he raised his hand to strike (но когда он занес руку для удара), Dejah Thoris sprang before him (Дежа Торис прыгнула перед ним) and then my sword found the spot that made Sab Than jeddak of Zodanga (и тогда мой меч нашел то место, которое сделало Саба Тана джеддаком Зоданги). As his father rolled dead upon the floor (когда его отец скатился замертво на пол) the new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp (новый джеддак вырвался из хватки Дежи Торис), and again we faced each other (и снова мы оказались лицом к лицу). He was soon joined by a quartet of officers (к нему вскоре присоединились четверо офицеров), and, with my back against a golden throne (и, /прижимаясь/ спиной к золотому трону), I fought once again for Dejah Thoris (я вновь сражался за Дежу Торис). I was hard pressed (я был в трудном положении; to press — жать; стеснять, затруднять; to be hard pressed — быть в затруднении) to defend myself and yet not strike down Sab Than (/нужно было/ защищать себя и в то же время не уничтожить Саба Тана; to strike down — сразить) and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved (и вместе с ним мой последний шанс завоевать женщину, которую я любил). My blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning (мой клинок крутился со скоростью молнии) as I sought to parry the thrusts and cuts of my opponents (когда я старался отражать выпады и удары моих противников; to seek — искать; пытаться, стараться; cut — порез; удар /мечом/). Two I had disarmed (двоих я разоружил), and one was down (а один был сражен), when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler (когда еще несколько бросились на помощь своему новому правителю), and to avenge the death of the old (и чтобы отомстить за смерть старого).

disarm [dIs'Q: m], throne [Troun], avenge [q'vendZ]

As we circled upon the broad platform I saw Sab Than rushing up the steps to aid his father, but, as he raised his hand to strike, Dejah Thoris sprang before him and then my sword found the spot that made Sab Than jeddak of Zodanga. As his father rolled dead upon the floor the new jeddak tore himself free from Dejah Thoris' grasp, and again we faced each other. He was soon joined by a quartet of officers, and, with my back against a golden throne, I fought once again for Dejah Thoris. I was hard pressed to defend myself and yet not strike down Sab Than and, with him, my last chance to win the woman I loved. My blade was swinging with the rapidity of lightning as I sought to parry the thrusts and cuts of my opponents. Two I had disarmed, and one was down, when several more rushed to the aid of their new ruler, and to avenge the death of the old.

As they advanced there were cries (когда они приблизились, послышались крики) of "The woman! The woman! Strike her down; it is her plot (сразите ее, это ее заговор; plot — заговор). Kill her (убейте ее)! Kill her!"

Calling to Dejah Thoris to get behind me (крикнув Дее, чтобы она держалась позади меня: «зашла за меня») I worked my way toward the little doorway back of the throne (я прокладывал дорогу к маленькой двери позади трона), but the officers realized my intentions (но офицеры поняли мои намерения; to realize — представлять себе, осознавать), and three of them sprang in behind me (и трое из них прыгнули позади меня) and blocked my chances for gaining a position (и перекрыли мне возможность занять такую позицию) where I could have defended Dejah Thoris against any army of swordsmen (где бы я мог защищать Дежу Торис от любой армии воинов).