Текст книги "Английский язык с Джеком Лондоном. В далекой стране (рассказы)"

Автор книги: Джек Лондон

Соавторы: Илья Франк
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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

"We will hear his talk which is like that of a child (мы хотим услышать его слова, которые похожи на детский лепет)," said the square-browed man (сказал лобастый человек). "And we will hear it (и мы услышим их), word for word (слово в слово), as he speaks it (когда он скажет их). Do you understand (тебе понятно)?"

damn [dxm], child [CaIld], word [wWd]

Imber rose feebly to his feet and swayed back and forth. He began to speak in a low and faintly rumbling voice, but Howkan interrupted him.

"This old man, he is damn crazy," he said in English to the square-browed man. "His talk is foolish and like that of a child."

"We will hear his talk which is like that of a child," said the square-browed man. "And we will hear it, word for word, as he speaks it. Do you understand?"

Howkan understood (Хаукан понял), and Imber's eyes flashed (а глаза Имбера сверкнули), for he had witnessed the play between his sister's son and the man in authority (ибо он понял сцену между сыном его сестры и человеком власти; to witness – видеть, быть свидетелем; play – представление; игра, ход игры; спектакль, пьеса). And then began the story (а потом начался рассказ), the epic of a bronze patriot which might well itself be wrought into bronze for the generations unborn (эпопея бронзового патриота, которую саму по себе можно было бы вполне отлить в бронзе для грядущих поколений; to work – выделывать, вытесывать, выковывать, придавать определенную форму /камню, металлу или другому твердому веществу/; unborn – /еще/ не рожденный; будущий, грядущий). The crowd fell strangely silent (толпа необычно затихла), and the square-browed judge leaned head on hand (а судья с массивным лбом подпер рукой подбородок: «оперся головой на руку») and pondered his soul and the soul of his race (и задумался о его душе и душе его расы). Only was heard the deep tones of Imber (была слышен лишь низкий звук /голоса/ Имбера), rhythmically alternating with the shrill voice of the interpreter (равномерно перемежающийся визгливым голосом переводчика), and now and again (и время от времени), like the bell of the Lord (словно колоколом Господним), the wondering and meditative «Hell» of the red-haired man (удивленным и задумчивым «черт» рыжеволосого мужчины).

wrought [rLt], judge [GAG], interpreter [In'tWprItq]

Howkan understood, and Imber's eyes flashed, for he had witnessed the play between his sister's son and the man in authority. And then began the story, the epic of a bronze patriot which might well itself be wrought into bronze for the generations unborn. The crowd fell strangely silent, and the square-browed judge leaned head on hand and pondered his soul and the soul of his race. Only was heard the deep tones of Imber, rhythmically alternating with the shrill voice of the interpreter, and now and again, like the bell of the Lord, the wondering and meditative «Hell» of the red-haired man.

«I am Imber of the Whitefish people (я Имбер из народа Белой Рыбы).» So ran the interpretation of Howkan (так зазвучал перевод Хаукана; to run – гласить /о документе, тексте и т. п./; быть выраженным /определенным способом/), whose inherent barbarism gripped hold of him (врожденное дикарство которого охватило его; to grip hold of – схватиться, ухватиться), and who lost his mission culture and veneered civilization (и который потерял свою миссионерскую культуру и внешний налет цивилизации) as he caught the savage ring and rhythm of old Imber's tale (когда он уловил дикое звучание и ритм рассказа старого Имбера; to catch – ловить, улавливать /слова, смысл и т. п./). "My father was Otsbaok, a strong man (моим отцом был Отсбаок, сильный человек). The land was warm with sunshine and gladness when I was a boy (земля была теплой от солнечного света и счастья, когда я был мальчиком). The people did not hunger after strange things (люди не жаждали необычных вещей), nor hearken to new voices (и не прислушивались к новым мнениям; voice – голос; мнение), and the ways of their fathers were their ways (и обычаи их отцов были их обычаями). The women found favor in the eyes of the young men (женщины находили интерес в глазах молодых мужчин), and the young men looked upon them with content (а молодые мужчины смотрели на них с удовольствием). Babes hung at the breasts of the women (младенцы висели на груди женщин), and they were heavy-hipped with increase of the tribe (и их бедра были тяжелы от прибавления племени). Men were men in those days (мужчины были мужчинами в те дни). In peace and plenty (в мире и изобилии), and in war and famine (и в войне и голоде), they were men (они были мужчинами).

inherent [In'hIqrqnt], rhythm [rIDm], increase (существительное) ['InkrJs]

«I am Imber of the Whitefish people.» So ran the interpretation of Howkan, whose inherent barbarism gripped hold of him, and who lost his mission culture and veneered civilization as he caught the savage ring and rhythm of old Imber's tale. "My father was Otsbaok, a strong man. The land was warm with sunshine and gladness when I was a boy. The people did not hunger after strange things, nor hearken to new voices, and the ways of their fathers were their ways. The women found favor in the eyes of the young men, and the young men looked upon them with content. Babes hung at the breasts of the women, and they were heavy-hipped with increase of the tribe. Men were men in those days. In peace and plenty, and in war and famine, they were men.

"At that time there was more fish in the water than now (в то время в воде было больше рыбы, чем сейчас), and more meat in the forest (а в лесу больше мяса). Our dogs were wolves (наши собаки были волками), warm with thick hides and hard to the frost and storm (которым было тепло от толстых шкур = в толстых шкурах, и они были стойкими к морозу и буре). And as with our dogs so with us (и как с нашими собаками, так было и с нами), for we were likewise hard to the frost and storm (ибо мы тоже были стойкими к морозу и буре). And when the Pellys came into our land (и когда в нашу землю пришли пелли) we slew them and were slain (мы убивали их, а они убивали нас: «и /мы/ были убиваемы»). For we were men, we Whitefish (ибо мы были мужчины, мы – Белые Рыбы), and our fathers and our fathers' fathers had fought against the Pellys and determined the bounds of the land (и наши отцы, и отцы наших отцов сражались с пелли и установили границы /нашей/ страны; to fight – сражаться).

warm [wLm], fought [fLt], determine [dI'tWmIn]

"At that time there was more fish in the water than now, and more meat in the forest. Our dogs were wolves, warm with thick hides and hard to the frost and storm. And as with our dogs so with us, for we were likewise hard to the frost and storm. And when the Pellys came into our land we slew them and were slain. For we were men, we Whitefish, and our fathers and our fathers' fathers had fought against the Pellys and determined the bounds of the land.

"As I say (как я говорю), with our dogs, so with us (как наши собаки, так и мы). And one day came the first white man (и однажды пришел первый белый человек). He dragged himself (он притащился), so, on hand and knee, in the snow (вот так, на четвереньках, в снегу; on hand and knee – ползком; hand – рука /кисть/; knee – колено). And his skin was stretched tight (а его кожа была туго натянута), and his bones were sharp beneath (а под ней были острые кости = выпирали кости). Never was such a man (никогда не было такого человека), we thought (думали мы), and we wondered of what strange tribe he was, and of its land (и задавались вопросом, из какого чужого племени он родом и из какой земли; to wonder – интересоваться, желать знать). And he was weak, most weak (а он был слаб, очень слаб), like a little child (как маленький ребенок), so that we gave him a place by the fire (так что мы дали ему место у костра), and warm furs to lie upon (и теплые меха, чтобы лежать на них), and we gave him food (и мы давали ему еду = кормили его) as little children are given food (как кормят маленьких детей: «как маленьким детям дается еда»).

tight [taIt], beneath [bI'nJT], wonder ['wAndq]

"As I say, with our dogs, so with us. And one day came the first white man. He dragged himself, so, on hand and knee, in the snow. And his skin was stretched tight, and his bones were sharp beneath. Never was such a man, we thought, and we wondered of what strange tribe he was, and of its land. And he was weak, most weak, like a little child, so that we gave him a place by the fire, and warm furs to lie upon, and we gave him food as little children are given food.

"And with him was a dog (а с ним была собака), large as three of our dogs (большая, как три наших собаки), and very weak (и очень слабая). The hair of this dog was short, and not warm (шерсть этой собаки была короткая и не теплая = не грела), and the tail was frozen so that the end fell off (а хвост так замерз, что кончик отвалился; to fall off – отпадать, отваливаться). And this strange dog we fed (и эту необычную собаку мы кормили; to feed – кормить), and bedded by the fire (и выделили /ей/ место у огня; to bed – выделять кому-либо место для ночлега; стлать подстилку /для лошади или другого животного/), and fought from it our dogs (и защищали ее от наших собак; to fight – защищать, оказывать поддержку, отстаивать), which else would have killed him (которые бы иначе убили ее). And what of the moose meat and the sun-dried salmon (и благодаря лосиному мясу и вяленой лососине), the man and dog took strength to themselves (человек и пес набрались сил); and what of the strength they became big and unafraid (а благодаря силе они стали важными и смелыми). And the man spoke loud words and laughed at the old men and young men (и мужчина стал говорить развязные слова и смеяться над стариками и молодыми мужчинами; loud – громкий, шумный; развязный, вульгарный), and looked boldly upon the maidens (и посматривать дерзко на девиц). And the dog fought with our dogs (а пес дрался с нашими собаками), and for all of his short hair and softness slew three of them in one day (и, несмотря на свою короткую шерсть и изнеженность, убил троих из них за один день; soft – изнеженный).

strange [streInG], strength [streNT], young [jAN]

"And with him was a dog, large as three of our dogs, and very weak. The hair of this dog was short, and not warm, and the tail was frozen so that the end fell off. And this strange dog we fed, and bedded by the fire, and fought from it our dogs, which else would have killed him. And what of the moose meat and the sun-dried salmon, the man and dog took strength to themselves; and what of the strength they became big and unafraid. And the man spoke loud words and laughed at the old men and young men, and looked boldly upon the maidens. And the dog fought with our dogs, and for all of his short hair and softness slew three of them in one day.

"When we asked the man concerning his people (когда мы спросили человека о его народе), he said, 'I have many brothers (у меня много братьев), and laughed in a way that was not good (и засмеялся нехорошим смехом: «засмеялся образом, который был нехорош»). And when he was in his full strength (а когда он полностью набрался сил: «был в своей полной силе») he went away (он ушел), and with him went Noda (и с ним ушла Нода), daughter to the chief (дочь вождя). First, after that, was one of our bitches brought to pup (впервые после этого ощенилась одна из наших сук; to pup – ощениться). And never was there such a breed of dogs (и никогда не было такой породы собак), – big-headed, thick-jawed, and short-haired, and helpless (большеголовые, с сильными челюстями и короткой шерстью, и беспомощные). Well do I remember my father, Otsbaok, a strong man (я хорошо помню моего отца Отсбаока, сильного человека). His face was black with anger at such helplessness (его лицо потемнело от гнева при /виде/ такой беспомощности), and he took a stone, so, and so (и он взял камень, вот так и так), and there was no more helplessness (и больше не было беспомощности). And two summers after that came Noda back to us with a man-child in the hollow of her arm (а через два лета после этого к нам вернулась Нода с мальчиком на руках; hollow – выемка, впадина, ямка).

brother ['brADq], jaw [GL], anger ['xNgq]

"When we asked the man concerning his people, he said, `I have many brothers, and laughed in a way that was not good. And when he was in his full strength he went away, and with him went Noda, daughter to the chief. First, after that, was one of our bitches brought to pup. And never was there such a breed of dogs, – big-headed, thick-jawed, and short-haired, and helpless. Well do I remember my father, Otsbaok, a strong man. His face was black with anger at such helplessness, and he took a stone, so, and so, and there was no more helplessness. And two summers after that came Noda back to us with a man-child in the hollow of her arm.

"And that was the beginning (и это было начало). Came a second white man (пришел другой белый человек), with short-haired dogs (с короткошерстными собаками), which he left behind him when he went (которых он оставил, когда ушел). And with him went six of our strongest dogs (а с ним ушли шесть наших самых сильных псов), for which, in trade, he had given Koo-So-Tee, my mother's brother (за которых в обмен он дал Ку-Со-Ти, брату моей матери), a wonderful pistol that fired with great swiftness six times (замечательный пистолет, который стрелял шесть раз с удивительной быстротой). And Koo-So-Tee was very big, what of the pistol (и Ку-Со-Ти стал очень важным из-за пистолета), and laughed at our bows and arrows (и смеялся над нашими луками и стрелами). 'Woman's things, he called them («бабскими погремушками» называл он их; things – принадлежности, утварь), and went forth against the bald-face grizzly (и вышел против белоголового гризли; bald – лысый, плешивый; с белым пятном на лбу), with the pistol in his hand (с пистолетом в руке). Now it be known that it is not good to hunt the bald-face with a pistol (теперь известно, что не годится охотиться на «белоголового» с пистолетом), but how were we to know (но откуда нам было знать)? and how was Koo-So-Tee to know (и откуда было знать Ку-Со-Ти)?

bow [bqu], arrow ['xrqu], bald [bLld]

"And that was the beginning. Came a second white man, with short-haired dogs, which he left behind him when he went. And with him went six of our strongest dogs, for which, in trade, he had given Koo-So-Tee, my mother's brother, a wonderful pistol that fired with great swiftness six times. And Koo-So-Tee was very big, what of the pistol, and laughed at our bows and arrows. `Woman's things, he called them, and went forth against the bald-face grizzly, with the pistol in his hand. Now it be known that it is not good to hunt the bald-face with a pistol, but how were we to know? and how was Koo-So-Tee to know?

"So he went against the bald-face (и вот он вышел против белоголового /гризли/), very brave (очень храбрый), and fired the pistol with great swiftness six times (и выстрелил из пистолета шесть раз с удивительной быстротой); and the bald-face but grunted and broke in his breast like it were an egg (а белоголовый лишь заворчал и проломил ему грудь, как будто это было яйцо), and like honey from a bee's nest dripped the brains of Koo-So-Tee upon the ground (и, как мед из пчелиного гнезда, потекли мозги Ку-Со-Ти на землю). He was a good hunter (он был хороший охотник), and there was no one to bring meat to his squaw and children (а /теперь/ некому было принести мясо его скво и детям; squaw – скво, жена, супруга). And we were bitter (и нам стало горько), and we said, 'That which for the white men is well, is for us not well (то, что хорошо для белых людей, не годится для нас). And this be true (и это правда). There be many white men and fat (много белых людей, и /они/ толстые), but their ways have made us few and lean (но от их обычаев нас стало мало, и мы стали худыми).

breast [brest], honey ['hAnI], squaw [skwL]

"So he went against the bald-face, very brave, and fired the pistol with great swiftness six times; and the bald-face but grunted and broke in his breast like it were an egg, and like honey from a bee's nest dripped the brains of Koo-So-Tee upon the ground. He was a good hunter, and there was no one to bring meat to his squaw and children. And we were bitter, and we said, `That which for the white men is well, is for us not well. And this be true. There be many white men and fat, but their ways have made us few and lean.

"Came the third white man (пришел третий белый человек), with great wealth of all manner of wonderful foods and things (с огромным богатством из всякого рода замечательных яств и вещей). And twenty of our strongest dogs he took from us in trade (и двадцать наших сильнейших собак выменял он у нас; trade – торговля; сделка, обмен). Also, what of presents and great promises (к тому же, благодаря подаркам и большим обещаниям), ten of our young hunters did he take with him on a journey (увел он с собой десять наших молодых охотников в путь) which fared no man knew where (который лежал неизвестно куда: «никто не знал куда»). It is said they died in the snow of the Ice Mountains (говорят, они умерли в снегах Ледяных гор) where man has never been (где никогда не был человек), or in the Hills of Silence which are beyond the edge of the earth (или в Холмах Безмолвия, которые лежат за краем земли). Be that as it may (как бы там ни было), dogs and young hunters were seen never again by the Whitefish people (народ Белой Рыбы никогда больше не видел собак и молодых охотников).

wealth [welT], mountain ['mauntIn], beyond [bI'jOnd]

"Came the third white man, with great wealth of all manner of wonderful foods and things. And twenty of our strongest dogs he took from us in trade. Also, what of presents and great promises, ten of our young hunters did he take with him on a journey which fared no man knew where. It is said they died in the snow of the Ice Mountains where man has never been, or in the Hills of Silence which are beyond the edge of the earth. Be that as it may, dogs and young hunters were seen never again by the Whitefish people.

"And more white men came with the years (и еще приходили белые люди с каждым годом), and ever, with pay and presents (и всегда за плату и подарки), they led the young men away with them (они уводили молодых мужчин с собой). And sometimes the young men came back with strange tales of dangers and toils in the lands beyond the Pellys (и порой молодые мужчины возвращались с удивительными историями об опасностях и ловушках в краях за /землями/ пелли), and sometimes they did not come back (а порой они не возвращались). And we said: 'If they be unafraid of life (если они не боятся за /свою/ жизнь), these white men (эти белые люди), it is because they have many lives (это потому, что у них много жизней); but we be few by the Whitefish (но нас мало у /племени/ Белой Рыбы), and the young men shall go away no more (и молодые мужчины больше не будут уходить). But the young men did go away (но молодые мужчины все-таки уходили); and the young women went also (и молодые женщины уходили тоже); and we were very wroth (и мы очень разгневались; wroth – разгневанный).

year [jW], few [fjH], wroth [rquT]

"And more white men came with the years, and ever, with pay and presents, they led the young men away with them. And sometimes the young men came back with strange tales of dangers and toils in the lands beyond the Pellys, and sometimes they did not come back. And we said: 'If they be unafraid of life, these white men, it is because they have many lives; but we be few by the Whitefish, and the young men shall go away no more. But the young men did go away; and the young women went also; and we were very wroth.

"It be true, we ate flour, and salt pork, and drank tea (правда, мы ели муку, соленую свинину = солонину и пили чай) which was a great delight (что было большим наслаждением); only, when we could not get tea (однако, когда мы не могли достать чаю), it was very bad (было очень плохо) and we became short of speech and quick of anger (и мы становились немногословными и вспыльчивыми). So we grew to hunger for the things the white men brought in trade (так мы стали жаждать те вещи, что привозили на обмен белые люди; trade – торговля; сделка; обмен). Trade! trade (обмен, торговля)! all the time was it trade (все время была торговля)! One winter we sold our meat for clocks that would not go (однажды зимой мы продали наше мясо в обмен на часы, которые не ходили), and watches with broken guts (на карманные часы со сломанными внутренностями), and files worn smooth (и сточенные напильники; worn – стертый, изношенный, старый, сносившийся; to wear – носить; изнашивать; smooth – гладкий), and pistols without cartridges and worthless (и пистолеты без патронов и /потому/ бесполезные). And then came famine, and we were without meat (а потом пришел голод, а мы оказались без мяса), and two score died ere the break of spring (и сорок человек умерло до начала весны; score – два десятка).

flour ['flauq], salt [sLlt], smooth [smHD]

"It be true, we ate flour, and salt pork, and drank tea which was a great delight; only, when we could not get tea, it was very bad and we became short of speech and quick of anger. So we grew to hunger for the things the white men brought in trade. Trade! trade! all the time was it trade! One winter we sold our meat for clocks that would not go, and watches with broken guts, and files worn smooth, and pistols without cartridges and worthless. And then came famine, and we were without meat, and two score died ere the break of spring.

"`Now are we grown weak (вот мы ослабели), we said; `and the Pellys will fall upon us (и пелли нападут на нас), and our bounds be overthrown (и наши рубежи будут отброшены; to overthrow – бросать слишком далеко; побеждать; уничтожать). But as it fared with us (но как жилось у нас), so had it fared with the Pellys (так жилось и у пелли), and they were too weak to come against us (и они были слишком слабы, чтобы пойти на нас).

"My father, Otsbaok, a strong man, was now old and very wise (мой отец, Отсбаок, сильный человек, был теперь стар и очень мудр). And he spoke to the chief, saying (и он заговорил с вождем, сказав): 'Behold, our dogs be worthless (смотри, наши собаки ничего не стоят). No longer are they thick-furred and strong (у них нет больше густого меха и силы), and they die in the frost and harness (и они умирают в мороз и в упряжи). Let us go into the village and kill them (давай пойдем в поселок и убьем их), saving only the wolf ones (за исключением лишь волчьих /отпрысков/), and these let us tie out in the night (а их будем отвязывать ночью) that they may mate with the wild wolves of the forest (чтобы они могли спариваться с дикими волками леса). Thus shall we have dogs warm and strong again (так у нас снова будут сильные собаки с теплой шерстью).

worthless ['wWTlIs], harness ['hRnIs], wild [waIld]

"`Now are we grown weak, we said; `and the Pellys will fall upon us, and our bounds be overthrown. But as it fared with us, so had it fared with the Pellys, and they were too weak to come against us.

"My father, Otsbaok, a strong man, was now old and very wise. And he spoke to the chief, saying: `Behold, our dogs be worthless. No longer are they thick-furred and strong, and they die in the frost and harness. Let us go into the village and kill them, saving only the wolf ones, and these let us tie out in the night that they may mate with the wild wolves of the forest. Thus shall we have dogs warm and strong again.

"And his word was harkened to (и к его слову прислушались), and we Whitefish became known for our dogs (и мы, Белые Рыбы, стали известны благодаря нашим собакам), which were the best in the land (которые были лучшими в краю). But known we were not for ourselves (но известны мы стали не благодаря самим себе). The best of our young men and women had gone away with the white men to wander on trail and river to far places (лучшие из наших молодых мужчин и женщин уже ушли с белыми людьми странствовать по тропам и реке в далекие места). And the young women came back old and broken (и молодые женщины вернулись старыми и ослабленными; broken – оскверненный; ослабленный, подорванный /о здоровье/; сломленный, сокрушенный), as Noda had come (как пришла Нода), or they came not at all (или не пришли совсем). And the young men came back to sit by our fires for a time (а молодые мужчины возвращались, чтобы некоторое время посидеть у наших костров), full of ill speech and rough ways (преисполненные дурных речей и грубых манер), drinking evil drinks and gambling through long nights and days (пьющие пагубные напитки и играющие в азартные игры дни и ночи напролет; to gamble – играть в азартные игры), with a great unrest always in their hearts (с сильным беспокойством в сердцах), till the call of the white men came to them (пока зов белых людей не доходил до них) and they went away again to the unknown places (и они снова не уходили в неведомые места). And they were without honor and respect (и они были без чести и почтения), jeering the old-time customs and laughing in the faces of chief and shamans (глумились над старинными обычаями и смеялись в лицо вождю и шаманам; to jeer – насмехаться, глумиться, высмеивать).

wander ['wOndq], rough [rAf], evil [Jvl]

"And his word was harkened to, and we Whitefish became known for our dogs, which were the best in the land. But known we were not for ourselves. The best of our young men and women had gone away with the white men to wander on trail and river to far places. And the young women came back old and broken, as Noda had come, or they came not at all. And the young men came back to sit by our fires for a time, full of ill speech and rough ways, drinking evil drinks and gambling through long nights and days, with a great unrest always in their hearts, till the call of the white men came to them and they went away again to the unknown places. And they were without honor and respect, jeering the old-time customs and laughing in the faces of chief and shamans.

"As I say (как я говорю), we were become a weak breed (мы стали слабым племенем), we Whitefish (мы, /народ/ Белой Рыбы). We sold our warm skins and furs for tobacco and whiskey and thin cotton things (мы продавали наши теплые шкуры и мех за табак, виски и тонкие хлопчатобумажные вещи) that left us shivering in the cold (которые оставляли нас дрожащими = в которых мы дрожали на холоде). And the coughing sickness came upon us (и болезнь с кашлем напала на нас; to come upon – лечь бременем на чьи-либо плечи, охватывать кого-либо, случаться с кем-либо; нападать), and men and women coughed and sweated through the long nights (и мужчины и женщины кашляли и потели долгие ночи напролет), and the hunters on trail spat blood upon the snow (а охотники на охотничьей тропе отхаркивали кровь на снег; to spit – плевать/ся/; брызгать слюной; выплевывать, отхаркивать). And now one, and now another (и то у одного, то у другого), bled swiftly from the mouth and died (стремительно шла изо рта = горлом кровь/быстро истекали кровью через рот, и /они/ умирали; to bleed – кровоточить; истекать кровью). And the women bore few children (а женщины рожали мало детей), and those they bore were weak and given to sickness (а те, которых они рожали, были слабыми и подверженными болезням; given to smth. – склонный, подверженный /чему-либо/). And other sicknesses came to us from the white men (и другие болезни пришли к нам от белых людей), the like of which we had never known and could not understand (подобных которым мы никогда не знали и не могли понять). Smallpox, likewise measles (оспа, а также корь), have I heard these sicknesses named (я слышал названия этих болезней), and we died of them as die the salmon in the still eddies (и мы умирали от них, как умирают лососи в тихих омутах) when in the fall their eggs are spawned (когда осенью окончен нерест икры: «их яйца отметаны»; to spawn – нереститься, метать икру) and there is no longer need for them to live (и нет им больше нужды жить).

shiver [SIvq], measles [mJzlz], spawn [spLn]

"As I say, we were become a weak breed, we Whitefish. We sold our warm skins and furs for tobacco and whiskey and thin cotton things that left us shivering in the cold. And the coughing sickness came upon us, and men and women coughed and sweated through the long nights, and the hunters on trail spat blood upon the snow. And now one, and now another, bled swiftly from the mouth and died. And the women bore few children, and those they bore were weak and given to sickness. And other sicknesses came to us from the white men, the like of which we had never known and could not understand. Smallpox, likewise measles, have I heard these sicknesses named, and we died of them as die the salmon in the still eddies when in the fall their eggs are spawned and there is no longer need for them to live.

"And yet, and here be the strangeness of it (и, тем не менее, есть в этом неестественность), the white men come as the breath of death (белые люди приходят, как дыхание смерти); all their ways lead to death (все их обычаи/пути ведут к смерти), their nostrils are filled with it (их ноздри заполнены ею); and yet they do not die (и однако они не умирают). Theirs the whiskey, and tobacco, and short-haired dogs (/все это/ их – виски, табак и короткошерстные собаки); theirs the many sicknesses, the smallpox and measles, the coughing and mouth-bleeding (их = от них – то множество болезней, оспа и корь, кашель и кровотечение изо рта); theirs the white skin, and softness to the frost and storm (их = у них – белая кожа и изнеженность = незащищенность перед морозом и бурей); and theirs the pistols that shoot six times very swift and are worthless (и это их пистолеты, который стреляют шесть раз очень быстро и /в то же время/ никудышны). And yet they grow fat on their many ills, and prosper (и однако они жиреют при их многочисленных болезнях и процветают), and lay a heavy hand over all the world and tread mightily upon its peoples (и налагают тяжелую длань на весь мир, и мощно попирают его народы; to lay one’s hands on – завладеть чем-либо, прибрать к рукам что-либо; to tread – топтать, наступать; подавлять, давить). And their women, too, are soft as little babes (и их женщины тоже нежны, как маленькие дети), most breakable and never broken (очень хрупки, а никогда не ломаются), the mothers of men (матери мужчин). And out of all this softness, and sickness, and weakness (и из всей этой изнеженности, болезненности и слабости), come strength, and power, and authority (возникают сила, мощь и власть). They be gods, or devils (они боги или демоны), as the case may be (в зависимости от обстоятельств; case – случай; обстоятельство; дело). I do not know (я не знаю). What do I know (что я знаю), I, old Imber of the Whitefish (я, старый Имбер из /племени/ Белой Рыбы)? Only do I know (единственное, что я знаю) that they are past understanding (это то, что они за пределами понимания), these white men (эти белые люди), far-wanderers and fighters over the earth that they be (странники далеко = за тридевять земель и воители по всей земле, /которыми они являются/).