Читаем без скачивания Английский язык с Джеромом К. Джеромом. Трое в лодке, не считая собаки - Jerome Jerome

My first idea was that he had suddenly caught sight of some girl he knew (моей первой мыслью было, что он внезапно увидел какую-нибудь знакомую девушку; to catch sight of), and I looked about to see who it was (и я оглянулся посмотреть, кто это). Everybody in the lock seemed to have been suddenly struck wooden (все, /кто находился/ в шлюзе, словно вдруг окоченели; to strike — ударять/ся/, бить; поражать, производить впечатление; wooden — деревянный). They were all standing or sitting about in the most quaint and curious attitudes I have ever seen off a Japanese fan (все они стояли или сидели в очень странных и необычных позах, какие я видел /только/ на японском веере). All the girls were smiling (все девушки улыбались). Oh, they did look so sweet (они выглядели такими милыми)! And all the fellows were frowning, and looking stern and noble (а все мужчины нахмурились и казались угрюмыми и благородными).

assuming [ǝˈsju:mɪŋ] Japanese [,ʤæpǝˈni:z]

I did not catch what was going on at first, and was, therefore, extremely surprised at noticing George hurriedly smooth out his trousers, ruffle up his hair, and stick his cap on in a rakish manner at the back of his head, and then, assuming an expression of mingled affability and sadness, sit down in a graceful attitude, and try to hide his feet.

My first idea was that he had suddenly caught sight of some girl he knew, and I looked about to see who it was. Everybody in the lock seemed to have been suddenly struck wooden. They were all standing or sitting about in the most quaint and curious attitudes I have ever seen off a Japanese fan. All the girls were smiling. Oh, they did look so sweet! And all the fellows were frowning, and looking stern and noble.

And then, at last, the truth flashed across me, and I wondered if I should be in time (и тут наконец истина открылась мне, и я испугался, что опоздаю; to flash — сверкать, вспыхивать; промелькнуть, осенить, прийти в голову; to be in time — быть вовремя, успеть). Ours was the first boat, and it would be unkind of me to spoil the man's picture, I thought (наша лодка была первой, и я подумал, будет невежливо с моей стороны испортить фотографу снимок).

So I faced round quickly, and took up a position in the prow (поэтому я повернулся быстро и занял позицию на носу; to face — стоять лицом к, быть повернутым /в какую-либо сторону/), where I leant with careless grace upon the hitcher, in an attitude suggestive of agility and strength (где оперся с небрежным изяществом на багор, /приняв/ положение, говорившее о ловкости и силе; to lean; suggestive — наводящий на мысли). I arranged my hair with a curl over the forehead (я привел волосы в порядок, спустив один локон на лоб), and threw an air of tender wistfulness into my expression (и придал лицу выражение ласковой задумчивости; tender — мягкий, нежный, спокойный; wistful — тоскующий, задумчивый /о взгляде, улыбке/; мечтательный), mingled with a touch of cynicism, which I am told suits me (смешанной с оттенком цинизма, которое, как говорят, мне идет).

As we stood, waiting for the eventful moment, I heard someone behind call out (пока мы стояли, ожидая важного момента, я услышал, как кто-то сзади крикнул; eventful — полный событий, богатый событиями; чреватый важными последствиями):

"Hi! look at your nose (эй, посмотрите на свой нос)."

agility [ǝˈʤɪlɪtɪ] forehead [ˈfɔrɪd; ˈfɔ:hed] cynicism [ˈsɪnɪsɪzm]

And then, at last, the truth flashed across me, and I wondered if I should be in time. Ours was the first boat, and it would be unkind of me to spoil the man's picture, I thought.

So I faced round quickly, and took up a position in the prow, where I leant with careless grace upon the hitcher, in an attitude suggestive of agility and strength. I arranged my hair with a curl over the forehead, and threw an air of tender wistfulness into my expression, mingled with a touch of cynicism, which I am told suits me.

As we stood, waiting for the eventful moment, I heard someone behind call out:

"Hi! look at your nose."

I could not turn round to see what was the matter (я не мог повернуться, чтобы посмотреть, в чем дело), and whose nose it was that was to be looked at (и на чей нос нужно посмотреть). I stole a side-glance at George's nose (я бросил косой взгляд на нос Джорджа; to steal a look — взглянуть украдкой; side-glance — взгляд искоса, мимоходом)! It was all right — at all events, there was nothing wrong with it that could be altered (с ним все было в порядке — во всяком случае, не было ничего неправильного, что можно было бы изменить = ничего нельзя было изменить). I squinted down at my own, and that seemed all that could be expected also (я покосился на свой собственный, он казался всем, что можно было ожидать = тоже оправдал ожидания).

"Look at your nose, you stupid ass (посмотрите на свой нос, тупой осел)!" came the same voice again, louder (раздался тот же голос снова, громче).

And then another voice cried (затем другой голос крикнул):

"Push your nose out, can't you, you — you two with the dog (вытолкните свой нос, эй вы, двое с собакой)!"

squinted [ˈskwɪntɪd] louder [ˈlaudǝ]

I could not turn round to see what was the matter, and whose nose it was that was to be looked at. I stole a side-glance at George's nose! It was all right — at all events, there was nothing wrong with it that could be altered. I squinted down at my own, and that seemed all that could be expected also.

"Look at your nose, you stupid ass!" came the same voice again, louder.

And then another voice cried:

"Push your nose out, can't you, you — you two with the dog!"

Neither George nor I dared to turn round (ни Джордж, ни я не осмеливались повернуться). The man's hand was on the cap, and the picture might be taken any moment (рука фотографа была на крышке /объектива/, и снимок мог быть сделан в любую минуту; cap — шляпка, крышка, колпачок; капсюль). Was it us they were calling to (уж не нам ли они кричали)? What was the matter with our noses (что такое случилось с нашими носами)? Why were they to be pushed out (почему их нужно было вытолкнуть)!

But now the whole lock started yelling, and a stentorian voice from the back shouted (но теперь весь шлюз начал кричать, и громкий/зычный голос сзади выкрикнул):

"Look at your boat, sir; you in the red and black caps (посмотрите на свою лодку, сэр; эй, вы, в красно-черных фуражках). It's your two corpses that will get taken in that photo, if you ain't quick (а то ваши два трупа получатся на снимке, если не поторопитесь)."

We looked then, and saw that the nose of our boat had got fixed under the woodwork of the lock (тогда мы посмотрели и увидели, что нос нашей лодки застрял под деревянными частями = сваями шлюза), while the in-coming water was rising all around it, and tilting it up (а прибывающая вода поднималась /вокруг/ и наклоняла лодку; in-coming — поступающий, прибывающий; на подходе). In another moment we should be over (через минуту мы бы перевернулись). Quick as thought, we each seized an oar, and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the butt-ends (с быстротой молнии: «быстрые как мысль» мы схватили весло, и сильный удар по боковине шлюза рукоятью) released the boat, and sent us sprawling on our backs (освободил лодку, и мы полетели на спину; to send — посылать; to sprawl — растягивать/ся/, разваливаться; разбрасывать/ся/).

stentorian [stenˈtɔ:rɪǝn] seized [si:zd]

Neither George nor I dared to turn round. The man's hand was on the cap, and the picture might be taken any moment. Was it us they were calling to? What was the matter with our noses? Why were they to be pushed out!

But now the whole lock started yelling, and a stentorian voice from the back shouted:

"Look at your boat, sir; you in the red and black caps. It's your two corpses that will get taken in that photo, if you ain't quick."

We looked then, and saw that the nose of our boat had got fixed under the woodwork of the lock, while the in-coming water was rising all around it, and tilting it up. In another moment we should be over. Quick as thought, we each seized an oar, and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the butt-ends released the boat, and sent us sprawling on our backs.

We did not come out well in that photograph, George and I (мы плохо получились на этой фотографии, Джордж и я). Of course, as was to be expected, our luck ordained it (конечно, как и следовало ожидать, наша удача так предопределила = так нам повезло), that the man should set his wretched machine in motion at the precise moment (что фотограф привел в действие свой несчастный аппарат в тот самый момент; to set in motion — приводить в действие, движение; запускать) that we were both lying on our backs with a wild expression of "Where am I? and what is it?" on our faces (когда мы оба лежали на спине с диким выражением «Где я?» и «Что такое?» на лицах = с растерянным и ошеломленным видом), and our four feet waving madly in the air (и неистово болтая /четырьмя/ ногами в воздухе; to wave — развеваться, качаться; размахивать).

Our feet were undoubtedly the leading article in that photograph (наши ноги, несомненно, были главной деталью на той фотографии; leading article — передовица, передовая статья). Indeed, very little else was to be seen (в самом деле, очень мало другого было видно). They filled up the foreground entirely (они полностью заполнили передний план). Behind them, you caught glimpses of the other boats, and bits of the surrounding scenery (за ними можно было разглядеть очертания других лодок и немного: «кусочки» окружающего пейзажа; to catch a glimpse of — увидеть на мгновение, мельком); but everything and everybody else in the lock looked so utterly insignificant and paltry compared with our feet (но все другое в этом шлюзе выглядело настолько незначительно и ничтожно по сравнению с нашими ногами; utterly — весьма, крайне, очень), that all the other people felt quite ashamed of themselves, and refused to subscribe to the picture (что все остальные почувствовали себя совсем пристыженными и отказались приобрести фотографию; to subscribe — жертвовать деньги, подписываться, приобретать по подписке).

machine [mǝˈʃi:n] scenery [ˈsi:nǝrɪ] paltry [ˈpɔ:ltrɪ]

We did not come out well in that photograph, George and I. Of course, as was to be expected, our luck ordained it, that the man should set his wretched machine in motion at the precise moment that we were both lying on our backs with a wild expression of "Where am I? and what is it?" on our faces, and our four feet waving madly in the air.

Our feet were undoubtedly the leading article in that photograph. Indeed, very little else was to be seen. They filled up the foreground entirely. Behind them, you caught glimpses of the other boats, and bits of the surrounding scenery; but everything and everybody else in the lock looked so utterly insignificant and paltry compared with our feet, that all the other people felt quite ashamed of themselves, and refused to subscribe to the picture.

The owner of one steam launch, who had bespoke six copies (владелец одного из паровых баркасов, который заказал шесть экземпляров; to bespeak — заказывать заранее), rescinded the order on seeing the negative (отменил заказ, увидев негатив). He said he would take them if anybody could show him his launch (сказал, что возьмет их, если кто-нибудь покажет ему его баркас), but nobody could (но никто не смог). It was somewhere behind George's right foot (он был где-то позади правой ноги Джорджа).