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

Автор книги: Джек Лондон

Соавторы: Илья Франк
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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

cough [kOf], tread [tred], devil [devl]

"And yet, and here be the strangeness of it, the white men come as the breath of death; all their ways lead to death, their nostrils are filled with it; and yet they do not die. Theirs the whiskey, and tobacco, and short-haired dogs; theirs the many sicknesses, the smallpox and measles, the coughing and mouth-bleeding; theirs the white skin, and softness to the frost and storm; and theirs the pistols that shoot six times very swift and are worthless. And yet they grow fat on their many ills, and prosper, and lay a heavy hand over all the world and tread mightily upon its peoples. And their women, too, are soft as little babes, most breakable and never broken, the mothers of men. And out of all this softness, and sickness, and weakness, come strength, and power, and authority. They be gods, or devils, as the case may be. I do not know. What do I know, I, old Imber of the Whitefish? Only do I know that they are past understanding, these white men, far-wanderers and fighters over the earth that they be.

"As I say, the meat in the forest became less and less (как я говорил, мяса в лесу становилось меньше и меньше). It be true, the white man's gun is most excellent and kills a long way off (правда, ружье белого человека превосходное и убивает издалека); but of what worth the gun (но какой толк от ружья; worth – цена, стоимость, ценность), when there is no meat to kill (когда нет мяса = дичи, чтобы убить)? When I was a boy on the Whitefish there was moose on every hill (когда я был мальчиком, на Белой Рыбе на каждом холме были лоси), and each year came the caribou uncountable (и каждый год приходили бесчисленные карибу). But now the hunter may take the trail ten days and not one moose gladden his eyes (а теперь охотник может охотиться десять дней, и ни один лось не порадует его глаз; trail – охота, преследование животного), while the caribou uncountable come no more at all (в то время, как несчетные карибу не приходят больше совсем). Small worth the gun, I say, killing a long way off (по-моему: «я говорю», невелика ценность ружья, убивающего с большого расстояния), when there be nothing to kill (когда нечего убить).

excellent ['eksqlqnt], caribou ['kxrIbH], uncountable ["An'kauntqbl]

"As I say, the meat in the forest became less and less. It be true, the white man's gun is most excellent and kills a long way off; but of what worth the gun, when there is no meat to kill? When I was a boy on the Whitefish there was moose on every hill, and each year came the caribou uncountable. But now the hunter may take the trail ten days and not one moose gladden his eyes, while the caribou uncountable come no more at all. Small worth the gun, I say, killing a long way off, when there be nothing to kill.

"And I, Imber, pondered upon these things (и я, Имбер, размышлял над этими фактами), watching the while the Whitefish, and the Pellys, and all the tribes of the land (наблюдая за тем, как тем временем Белая Рыба и пелли, и все племена края), perishing as perished the meat of the forest (гибнут, как погибла дичь в лесу). Long I pondered (долго я размышлял). I talked with the shamans and the old men who were wise (я беседовал с шаманами и стариками, которые были мудры = мудрыми стариками). I went apart that the sounds of the village might not disturb me (я уходил в отдаление, чтобы звуки поселка не мешали мне; apart – в стороне, в отдалении; в сторону), and I ate no meat (и я не ел мяса; to eat – есть, кушать) so that my belly should not press upon me and make me slow of eye and ear (так чтобы мой живот не давил на меня и не притупил мне взор и слух). I sat long and sleepless in the forest (я сидел долго без сна в лесу), wide-eyed for the sign (широко раскрытыми глазами /ловя/ знак), my ears patient and keen for the word that was to come (мои уши = мой слух был терпелив и остр, чтобы уловить слово, которое раздастся). And I wandered alone in the blackness of night to the river bank (и я прохаживался в одиночестве во мраке ночи к берегу реки), where was wind-moaning and sobbing of water (где стонал ветер и всхлипывала вода), and where I sought wisdom from the ghosts of old shamans in the trees and dead and gone (и где на деревьях = среди деревьев я искал мудрость у духов прежних шаманов, мертвых и исчезнувших; gone – умерший, ушедший /из жизни/; пропавший).

perish ['perIS], disturb [dIs'tWb], sign [saIn], ghost [gqust]

"And I, Imber, pondered upon these things, watching the while the Whitefish, and the Pellys, and all the tribes of the land, perishing as perished the meat of the forest. Long I pondered. I talked with the shamans and the old men who were wise. I went apart that the sounds of the village might not disturb me, and I ate no meat so that my belly should not press upon me and make me slow of eye and ear. I sat long and sleepless in the forest, wide-eyed for the sign, my ears patient and keen for the word that was to come. And I wandered alone in the blackness of night to the river bank, where was wind-moaning and sobbing of water, and where I sought wisdom from the ghosts of old shamans in the trees and dead and gone.

"And in the end, as in a vision (и, в конце концов, словно в видении), came to me the short-haired and detestable dogs (мне вспомнились короткошерстные и отвратительные собаки; to detest – ненавидеть, питать отвращение), and the way seemed plain (и способ показался простым). By the wisdom of Otsbaok (благодаря мудрости Отсбаока), my father and a strong man (моего отца и сильного человека), had the blood of our own wolf-dogs been kept clean (сохранилась чистой кровь наших собственных волкодавов), wherefore had they remained warm of hide and strong in the harness (вследствие чего у них осталась теплая шкура, и они остались выносливыми в упряжке; strong – крепкий, выносливый). So I returned to my village and made oration to the men (и вот я вернулся в поселок и обратился с речью к мужчинам). 'This be a tribe, these white men (эти белые люди, это – племя), I said. 'A very large tribe (очень большое племя), and doubtless there is no longer meat in their land (и, несомненно, в их краях нет больше мяса), and they are come among us to make a new land for themselves (и они пришли к нам, чтобы сделать себе новую страну). But they weaken us (но они ослабляют нас), and we die (и мы умираем). They are a very hungry folk (они очень алчный народ). Already has our meat gone from us (уже наше мясо ушло от нас), and it were well (и было бы правильно; well – справедливо, верно, правильно), if we would live (если мы хотим жить), that we deal by them as we have dealt by their dogs (чтобы мы поступили с ними так, как мы поступили с их собаками; to deal – обходиться, поступать; вести себя как-либо по отношению к кому-либо).

vision [vIZn], doubtless ['dautlIs], folk [fquk]

"And in the end, as in a vision, came to me the short-haired and detestable dogs, and the way seemed plain. By the wisdom of Otsbaok, my father and a strong man, had the blood of our own wolf-dogs been kept clean, wherefore had they remained warm of hide and strong in the harness. So I returned to my village and made oration to the men. `This be a tribe, these white men, I said. `A very large tribe, and doubtless there is no longer meat in their land, and they are come among us to make a new land for themselves. But they weaken us, and we die. They are a very hungry folk. Already has our meat gone from us, and it were well, if we would live, that we deal by them as we have dealt by their dogs.

"And further oration I made, counselling fight (и я произнес дальнейшую речь = и я продолжил речь, советуя воевать). And the men of the Whitefish listened (а мужчины Белой Рыбы слушали), and some said one thing (и одни сказали одно), and some another (а другие другое), and some spoke of other and worthless things (а некоторые говорили о других и ничтожных делах), and no man made brave talk of deeds and war (и ни один мужчина не высказался отважно о подвигах и войне). But while the young men were weak as water and afraid (но тогда как молодые мужчины были хилыми и трусливыми; weak as water – слабенький, хилый; малодушный), I watched that the old men sat silent (я наблюдал за тем, что старики сидят молча), and that in their eyes fires came and went (и что в их глазах появлялись и исчезали огоньки; to come and go – приходить и уходить; появляться и исчезать). And later, when the village slept and no one knew (и позже, когда селение заснуло, и никто не знал), I drew the old men away into the forest and made more talk (я увел стариков в лес и говорил еще). And now we were agreed (и теперь мы сошлись во взглядах; to agree – соглашаться; сходиться во взглядах), and we remembered the good young days (и мы вспомнили добрые дни юности), and the free land, and the times of plenty, and the gladness and sunshine (и свободную землю, и времена изобилия, и счастье, и солнечный свет); and we called ourselves brothers (и мы назвали друг друга братьями), and swore great secrecy, and a mighty oath (и поклялись /держать все/ в великой тайне и дали могучую клятву; to swear – клясться, присягать; to swear an oath – давать клятву) to cleanse the land of the evil breed that had come upon it (очистить землю от злого племени, которое пришло на нее). It be plain we were fools (понятно, мы были глупцами), but how were we to know (но откуда нам было знать), we old men of the Whitefish (нам, старикам Белой Рыбы)?

swore [swL], oath [quT], cleanse [klenz]

"And further oration I made, counselling fight. And the men of the Whitefish listened, and some said one thing, and some another, and some spoke of other and worthless things, and no man made brave talk of deeds and war. But while the young men were weak as water and afraid, I watched that the old men sat silent, and that in their eyes fires came and went. And later, when the village slept and no one knew, I drew the old men away into the forest and made more talk. And now we were agreed, and we remembered the good young days, and the free land, and the times of plenty, and the gladness and sunshine; and we called ourselves brothers, and swore great secrecy, and a mighty oath to cleanse the land of the evil breed that had come upon it. It be plain we were fools, but how were we to know, we old men of the Whitefish?

"And to hearten the others (и чтобы воодушевить остальных), I did the first deed (я совершил первый подвиг). I kept guard upon the Yukon (я караулил на Юконе; to keep – держать; хранить; защищать, охранять; guard – охрана, защита; караул, конвой, охрана) till the first canoe came down (пока по реке не пришло первое каноэ). In it were two white men (в нем было два белых человека), and when I stood upright upon the bank and raised my hand (и когда я встал прямо на берегу и поднял руку) they changed their course and drove in to me (они изменили курс и направились ко мне; to drive in – въехать). And as the man in the bow lifted his head, so (и когда мужчина на носу поднял голову, вот так), that he might know wherefore I wanted him (чтобы узнать, чего я хочу от него), my arrow sang through the air straight to his throat (моя стрела просвистела в воздухе прямо ему в горло; to sing – свистеть /о пуле, снаряде во время полета/), and he knew (и он узнал). The second man, who held paddle in the stern (второй мужчина, который держал весло на корме), had his rifle half to his shoulder (/уже/ имел = держал свое ружье на полпути к плечу) when the first of my three spear-casts smote him (когда первый из моих трех дротиков/метательных копий сразил его; to smite – поразить, сразить /напр., мечом/; поразить, убить, уничтожить).

"'These be the first (эти – первые), I said, when the old men had gathered to me (когда старики собрались ко мне = возле меня). 'Later we will bind together all the old men of all the tribes (позже мы объединим всех стариков всех племен; to bind together – объединять/ся/), and after that the young men who remain strong (а после этого молодых людей, которые останутся сильными), and the work will become easy (и дело станет легким; work – работа, труд; занятие, дело).

guard [gRd], bow [bau], straight [streIt]

"And to hearten the others, I did the first deed. I kept guard upon the Yukon till the first canoe came down. In it were two white men, and when I stood upright upon the bank and raised my hand they changed their course and drove in to me. And as the man in the bow lifted his head, so, that he might know wherefore I wanted him, my arrow sang through the air straight to his throat, and he knew. The second man, who held paddle in the stern, had his rifle half to his shoulder when the first of my three spear-casts smote him.

"`These be the first, I said, when the old men had gathered to me. `Later we will bind together all the old men of all the tribes, and after that the young men who remain strong, and the work will become easy.

"And then the two dead white men we cast into the river (а потом двух мертвых белых людей мы швырнули в реку; to cast – бросать, кидать, швырять). And of the canoe (а из каноэ), which was a very good canoe (которое было очень хорошим каноэ), we made a fire (мы устроили костер), and a fire, also, of the things within the canoe (а также костер из вещей в каноэ). But first we looked at the things (но сначала мы посмотрели на эти вещи), and they were pouches of leather which we cut open with our knives (и это были кожаные сумки, которые мы разрезали нашими ножами; to cut – резать, разрезать; open – открытый). And inside these pouches were many papers (а внутри этих сумок было много бумаг), like that from which thou has read, O Howkan (как та, с которой ты читал, о Хаукан), with markings on them (с пометками на них) which we marvelled at and could not understand (которым мы удивились и не могли понять). Now, I am become wise (теперь я поумнел; wise – мудрый, умудренный; знающий, компетентный, осведомленный, сведущий), and I know them for the speech of men as thou hast told me (и знаю, что они для разговора людей, как ты рассказал мне)."

canoe [kq'nH], leather ['leDq], pouch [pauC]

«And then the two dead white men we cast into the river. And of the canoe, which was a very good canoe, we made a fire, and a fire, also, of the things within the canoe. But first we looked at the things, and they were pouches of leather which we cut open with our knives. And inside these pouches were many papers, like that from which thou has read, O Howkan, with markings on them which we marvelled at and could not understand. Now, I am become wise, and I know them for the speech of men as thou hast told me.»

A whisper and buzz went around the courtroom (шепот и гудение пронеслись по залу суда) when Howkan finished interpreting the affair of the canoe (когда Хаукан закончил переводить дело с каноэ), and one man's voice spoke up (и громко и отчетливо проговорил голос одного мужчины; to speak up – говорить громко и отчетливо): "That was the lost 91 mail (это была пропавшая почта 91 года), Peter James and Delaney bringing it in and last spoken at Le Barge by Matthews going out (ее доставляли Питер Джеймс и Дилени, и в последний раз с ними говорил, отплывая, Мэттьюс в Ле-Барж; to bring in – вводить, вносить, приносить)." The clerk scratched steadily away (секретарь монотонно проскрипел пером дальше; to scratch – чиркать, черкать; нацарапать, набрасывать /письмо, рисунок/; скрипеть /о пере/), and another paragraph was added to the history of the North (и еще один параграф добавился к истории Севера).

affair [q'feq], steadily ['stedIlI], paragraph ['pxrqgrRf]

A whisper and buzz went around the courtroom when Howkan finished interpreting the affair of the canoe, and one man's voice spoke up: «That was the lost 91 mail, Peter James and Delaney bringing it in and last spoken at Le Barge by Matthews going out.» The clerk scratched steadily away, and another paragraph was added to the history of the North.

«There be little more (есть еще мало = осталось уже мало),» Imber went on slowly (неспешно продолжал Имбер). "It be there on the paper, the things we did (это там на бумаге, то, что мы совершили). We were old men (мы были стариками), and we did not understand (и мы не понимали). Even I, Imber, do not now understand (даже я, Имбер, не понимаю сейчас). Secretly we slew (тайно мы убивали), and continued to slay (и продолжали убивать), for with our years we were crafty (ибо благодаря нашим годам мы были хитроумны) and we had learned the swiftness of going without haste (и мы научились стремительности уходить без спешки = уходить стремительно, но без спешки). When white men came among us with black looks and rough words (когда белые люди пришли к нам со злыми взглядами и грубыми словами; black – злой, сердитый), and took away six of the young men with irons binding them helpless (и увели шестерых молодых мужчин в кандалах, сковавших их /и сделавших их/ беспомощными; to bind – лишать свободы, заковывать в кандалы, сажать в тюрьму, брать в плен), we knew we must slay wider and farther (мы поняли, что мы должны убивать в большем отдалении: «шире и дальше /от поселка/»). And one by one we old men departed up river and down to the unknown lands (и один за другим мы, старики, отправились вверх по реке и вниз по реке в неизвестные земли). It was a brave thing (это был смелый поступок). Old we were, and unafraid (хоть мы и были стары и бесстрашны), but the fear of far places is a terrible fear to men who are old (но боязнь перед далекими местами – это ужасная боязнь для людей = тех, кто стар).

secretly ['sJkrItlI], rough [rAf], fear [fIq]

«There be little more,» Imber went on slowly. "It be there on the paper, the things we did. We were old men, and we did not understand. Even I, Imber, do not now understand. Secretly we slew, and continued to slay, for with our years we were crafty and we had learned the swiftness of going without haste. When white men came among us with black looks and rough words, and took away six of the young men with irons binding them helpless, we knew we must slay wider and farther. And one by one we old men departed up river and down to the unknown lands. It was a brave thing. Old we were, and unafraid, but the fear of far places is a terrible fear to men who are old.

"So we slew, without haste and craftily (так мы и убивали, без спешки и коварно; craft – ремесло; ловкость; хитрость). On the Chilcoot and in the Delta we slew, from the passes to the sea (мы убивали на Чилкуте и в Дельте, от перевалов до моря), wherever the white men camped or broke their trails (где бы ни становились лагерем или ни прокладывали свои тропы белые люди; to break a trail – проложить тропу). It be true, they died (правда, они умирали), but it was without worth (но это было без толку; worth – цена, стоимость, ценность). Ever did they come over the mountains (все время они шли через горы), ever did they grow and grow (все время они росли и множились; to grow – расти, увеличиваться), while we, being old, became less and less (тогда как нас, которые были старыми = стариков, становилось меньше и меньше). I remember, by the Caribou Crossing, the camp of a white man (я помню у переправы Карибу лагерь одного белого человека). He was a very little white man (он был очень маленький белый человек), and three of the old men came upon him in his sleep (и трое стариков напали на него во сне). And the next day I came upon the four of them (а на следующий день я наткнулся на них четверых). The white man alone still breathed (лишь белый человек еще дышал), and there was breath in him to curse me once and well before he died (и в нем хватило дыхания, чтобы проклясть/обругать меня один раз и хорошенько, прежде чем он умер; well – хорошо, со знанием дела).

breathe [brJD], breath [breT], once [wAns]

"So we slew, without haste and craftily. On the Chilcoot and in the Delta we slew, from the passes to the sea, wherever the white men camped or broke their trails. It be true, they died, but it was without worth. Ever did they come over the mountains, ever did they grow and grow, while we, being old, became less and less. I remember, by the Caribou Crossing, the camp of a white man. He was a very little white man, and three of the old men came upon him in his sleep. And the next day I came upon the four of them. The white man alone still breathed, and there was breath in him to curse me once and well before he died.

"And so it went, now one old man, and now another (и так это пошло, то один старик, а то другой). Sometimes the word reached us long after of how they died (иногда до нас доходила весть о том, как они погибли, долгое время спустя; word – известие, сообщение), and sometimes it did not reach us (а порой она не доходила до нас). And the old men of the other tribes were weak and afraid (а старики других племен были слабы и трусливы), and would not join with us (и не хотели присоединяться к нам). As I say, one by one, till I alone was left (как я говорю, один за одним, пока не остался я один). I am Imber, of the Whitefish people (я Имбер из народа Белой Рыбы). My father was Otsbaok, a strong man (мой отец был Отсбаок, сильный человек). There are no Whitefish now (теперь нет Белой Рыбы). Of the old men I am the last (из стариков я последний). The young men and young women are gone away (молодые мужчины и молодые женщины ушли), some to live with the Pellys, some with the Salmons (некоторые жить с пелли, некоторые с Лососями), and more with the white men (а /еще/ больше – с белыми людьми). I am very old, and very tired (я очень стар и очень устал), and it being vain fighting the Law (и напрасно бороться с Законом), as thou sayest, Howkan (как говорил ты, Хаукан), I am come seeking the Law (я пришел искать Закон/Правосудие)."

reach [rJC], other ['ADq], fight [faIt]

«And so it went, now one old man, and now another. Sometimes the word reached us long after of how they died, and sometimes it did not reach us. And the old men of the other tribes were weak and afraid, and would not join with us. As I say, one by one, till I alone was left. I am Imber, of the Whitefish people. My father was Otsbaok, a strong man. There are no Whitefish now. Of the old men I am the last. The young men and young women are gone away, some to live with the Pellys, some with the Salmons, and more with the white men. I am very old, and very tired, and it being vain fighting the Law, as thou sayest, Howkan, I am come seeking the Law.»

«O Imber, thou art indeed a fool (о Имбер, ты действительно глупец),» said Howkan. But Imber was dreaming (но Имбер грезил). The square-browed judge likewise dreamed (лобастый судья тоже грезил), and all his race rose up before him in a mighty phantasmagoria (и вся его раса встала = предстала пред ним в могущественной фантасмагории) – his steel-shod, mail-clad race, the lawgiver and world-maker among the families of men (его защищенная сталью и одетая в броню раса, законодатель и творец империи среди племен людей; to shoe – защищать, обшивать; to clothe – одевать; world – народ, нация; мир, царство). He saw it dawn red-flickering across the dark forests and sullen seas (он видел, как она зачиналась мерцающая красным огоньком по темным лесам и грозным морям); he saw it blaze, bloody and red, to full and triumphant noon (он видел, как она блистала, кроваво-красная, становясь ярким и торжествующим полднем); and down the shaded slope he saw the blood-red sands dropping into night (и он видел, как вниз по затененному склону падают в ночь кроваво-красные пески). And through it all he observed the Law (и сквозь все это он наблюдал Закон), pitiless and potent (безжалостный и могучий), ever unswerving and ever ordaining (всегда непоколебимый и всегда предписывающий; to swerve – отклоняться от прямого пути), greater than the motes of men (громаднее соринок-людей; mote – пылинка, соринка) who fulfilled it or were crushed by it (которые исполняли его или были сокрушены им), even as it was greater than he (и хотя он = Закон был больше него), his heart speaking for softness (его сердце выступало за снисхождение; to speak – произносить речь, выступать /на собрании/; softness – мягкость; доброта; снисходительность; терпимость).

triumphant [traI'Amfqnt], observe [qb'zWv], ordain [L'deIn]

«O Imber, thou art indeed a fool,» said Howkan. But Imber was dreaming. The square-browed judge likewise dreamed, and all his race rose up before him in a mighty phantasmagoria – his steel-shod, mail-clad race, the lawgiver and world-maker among the families of men. He saw it dawn red-flickering across the dark forests and sullen seas; he saw it blaze, bloody and red, to full and triumphant noon; and down the shaded slope he saw the blood-red sands dropping into night. And through it all he observed the Law, pitiless and potent, ever unswerving and ever ordaining, greater than the motes of men who fulfilled it or were crushed by it, even as it was greater than he, his heart speaking for softness.