Текст книги "Английский язык с Дж. Р. Р. Толкиеном. Хоббит"

Автор книги: Джон Рональд Руэл Толкин

Соавторы: Илья Франк
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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 61 страниц) [доступный отрывок для чтения: 22 страниц]

“Dark!” he said without even scratching his head or putting on his thinking cap.

 
A box without hinges, key, or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid,
 

he asked to gain time, until he could think of a really hard one. This he thought a dreadfully easy chestnut, though he had not asked it in the usual words. But it proved a nasty poser for Gollum. He hissed to himself, and still he did not answer; he whispered and spluttered.

After some while Bilbo became impatient. “Well, what is it?” he said. “The answer’s not a kettle boiling over, as you seem to think from the noise you are making. ”

“Give us a chance (дай нам время; chance – случай, возможность, шанс); let it give us a chance (пусть он даст нам время), my preciouss-ss-ss (мой драгоценный). ”

“Well (ну), ” said Bilbo, after giving him a long chance (после того, как дал ему много времени), “what about your guess (как насчет твоей догадки)?”

But suddenly Gollum remembered (но внезапно Голлум вспомнил) thieving from nests long ago (о воровстве из гнезд, /что было/ так давно), and sitting under the river bank (и о том, как сидел под берегом реки) teaching his grandmother (и обучал свою бабушку), teaching his grandmother to suck (учил свою бабушку высасывать —) – “Eggses (яйцца)!” he hissed (прошипел он). “Eggses it is (это яйцца)!”

Then he asked (затем он загадал):

Alive without breath (живое без дыханья),

As cold as death (холодное, как смерть);

Never thirsty (никогда не испытывает жажду), ever drinking (/но/ всегда пьет),

All in mail (всё в броне) never clinking (/но/ никогда не звенит).

He also in his turn thought (он тоже, в свою очередь, думал) this was a dreadfully easy one (что это была ужасно легкая загадка), because he was always thinking of the answer (потому что он всегда думал об ответе). But he could not remember anything better at the moment (но он не мог вспомнить ничего лучше в этот момент), he was so flustered by the egg-question (он был так взволнован вопросом о яйцах). All the same (и тем не менее) it was a poser for poor Bilbo (это была трудная задачка для бедного Бильбо), who never had anything to do with the water (который никогда не имел дело с водой) if he could help it (если он мог этого избежать). I imagine you know the answer, of course (я предполагаю, что вы знаете ответ, конечно), or can guess it as easy as winking (или можете догадаться о нем, так же легко, как глазом моргнуть), since you are sitting comfortably at home (так как вы сидите, удобно устроившись дома) and have not the danger of being eaten (и никакая опасность быть съеденным) to disturb your thinking (не нарушает ход ваших мыслей). Bilbo sat and cleared his throat once or twice (Бильбо посидел и прочистил свое горло пару раз: «один или два раза»), but no answer came (но никакого ответа не последовало).

thieve [Ɵi: v] breath [breƟ] thirsty [ˈƟǝ: stɪ]

“Give us a chance; let it give us a chance, my preciouss-ss-ss. ” “Well, ” said Bilbo, after giving him a long chance, “what about your guess?”

But suddenly Gollum remembered thieving from nests long ago, and sitting under the river bank teaching his grandmother, teaching his grandmother to suck – “Eggses!” he hissed. “Eggses it is!” Then he asked:

 
“A live without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking. ”
 

He also in his turn thought this was a dreadfully easy one, because he was always thinking of the answer. But he could not remember anything better at the moment, he was so flustered by the egg-question. All the same it was a poser for poor Bilbo, who never had anything to do with the water if he could help it. I imagine you know the answer, of course, or can guess it as easy as winking, since you are sitting comfortably at home and have not the danger of being eaten to disturb your thinking. Bilbo sat and cleared his throat once or twice, but no answer came.

After a while (спустя какое-то время) Gollum began to hiss with pleasure to himself (Голлум начал шипеть с удовольствием сам себе): “Is it nice, my preciousss (а он вкусный, мой драгоценный; nice – хороший, приятный, аппетитный)? Is it juicy (а он сочный)? Is it scrumptiously crunchable (а можно ли им похрустеть первоклассно; to crunch – грызть с хрустом; scrumptious – великолепный, восхитительный, замечательный, первоклассный)?” He began to peer at Bilbo out of the darkness (он начал заглядываться на Бильбо из темноты).

“Half a moment (минуточку: «половинку мгновения»), ” said the hobbit shivering (сказал хоббит, поеживаясь). “I gave you a good long chance just now (я же давал тебе достаточно много времени, только что). ”

“It must make haste, haste (ему надо поторопиться, поторопиться)!” said Gollum, beginning to climb out of his boat (начиная выкарабкиваться из своей лодки) on to the shore (на берег) to get at Bilbo (чтобы добраться до Бильбо). But when he put his long webby foot in the water (но когда он опускал свою длинную перепончатую лапищу в воду), a fish jumped out (рыбка выпрыгнула /из нее/) in a fright (в испуге) and fell on Bilbo’s toes (и упала на ножки Бильбо).

“Ugh (тьфу)!” he said, “it is cold and clammy (она холодная и липкая)!” – and so he guessed (и тогда он догадался). “Fish (рыба)! Fish!” he cried (закричал он). “It is fish (это рыба)!”

juicy [ˈdʒu: sɪ] scrumptiously [ˈskrʌmpʃǝslɪ] crunchable [krʌntʃǝb (ǝ) l]

After a while Gollum began to hiss with pleasure to himself: “Is it nice, my preciousss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?” He began to peer at Bilbo out of the darkness.

“Half a moment, ” said the hobbit shivering. “I gave you a good long chance just now. ”

“It must make haste, haste!” said Gollum, beginning to climb out of his boat on to the shore to get at Bilbo. But when he put his long webby foot in the water, a fish jumped out in a fright and fell on Bilbo’s toes.

“Ugh!” he said, “it is cold and clammy!” – and so he guessed. “Fish! Fish!” he cried. “It is fish!”

Gollum was dreadfully disappointed (Голлум был ужасно разочарован); but Bilbo asked another riddle (но Бильбо загадал другую загадку) as quick as ever be could (так быстро, как он только мог), so that Gollum had to get back into his boat and think (так, что Голлуму пришлось вернуться в свою лодку и думать /над загадкой/).

No-legs lay on one-leg (безногий лежит на одноногом), two-legs sat near on three-legs (двуногий сидит рядом на трехногом), four-legs got some (четырехногий получил что-то).

It was not really the right time for this riddle (это было не очень то, на самом деле, подходящее время для этой загадки), but Bilbo was in a hurry (но Бильбо спешил). Gollum might have had some trouble guessing it (Голлум должно быть намучился бы, отгадывая ее; trouble – беспокойство, беда, затруднение), if he had asked it at another time (если бы он загадал ее в другое время). As it was (хотя), talking of fish (говоря о рыбе), “no-legs” was not so very difficult («безногий» оказалось не так уж очень сложно), and after that the rest was easy (и после этого остальное было легко).

“Fish on a little table (рыба на маленьком столике), man at table sitting on a stool (человек за столом, сидящий на табурете), the cat has the bones (и кошке достались кости) ” – that of course is the answer (это, конечно, ответ), and Gollum soon gave it (и Голлум вскоре дал его). Then he thought (потом он подумал) the time had come (что пришло время) to ask something hard and horrible (загадать нечто трудное и ужасное). This is what he said (вот что он сказал):

This thing all things devours (это существо все существа пожирает):

Birds (птиц), beasts (зверей), trees (деревья), flowers (цветы);

Gnaws iron (разъедает железо; to gnaw – грызть, глодать), bites steel (и крушит сталь; to bite – кусать, жалить);

Grinds hard stones to meal (мелет тяжелые камни в муку);

Slays king (разит короля; to slay – убивать, уничтожать, лишать жизни), ruins town (разрушает город),

And beats high mountain down (и разбивает/обрушивает высокую гору).

disappointed [ˌdɪsǝˈpɔɪntɪd] hurry [ˈhʌrɪ] devour [dɪˈvaʋǝ] grind [ɡraɪnd]

Gollum was dreadfully disappointed; but Bilbo asked another riddle as quick as ever be could, so that Gollum had to get back into his boat and think.

 
No-legs lay on one-leg,
two-legs sat near on three-legs,
four-legs got some.
 

It was not really the right time for this riddle, but Bilbo was in a hurry. Gollum might have had some trouble guessing it, if he had asked it at another time. As it was, talking of fish, “no-legs” was not so very difficult, and after that the rest was easy.

“Fish on a little table, man at table sitting on a stool, the cat has the bones” – that of course is the answer, and Gollum soon gave it. Then he thought the time had come to ask something hard and horrible. This is what he said:

 
This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.
 

Poor Bilbo sat in the dark (бедняжка Бильбо сидел в темноте) thinking of all the horrible names (думая обо всех ужасных именах) of all the giants and ogres (всех тех великанов и людоедов) he had ever heard told of in tales (о каких он когда-либо слышал в сказках), but not one of them had done all these things (но ни один из них не сделал все эти вещи). He had a feeling (у него было такое чувство) that the answer was quite different (что ответ был совершенно другим) and that he ought to know it (и что ему следовало бы знать его), but he could not think of it (но он не мог подумать что это было: «о нем»). He began to get frightened (он уже начал пугаться), and that is bad for thinking (а это плохо для размышлений). Gollum began to get out of his boat (Голлум начал вылезать из своей лодки). He flapped into the water (он шлепнулся в воду) and paddled to the bank (и стал медленно грести к берегу); Bilbo could see his eyes coming towards him (Бильбо мог видеть как его глаза приближаются к нему). His tongue seemed to stick in his mouth (его язык, казалось, прилип к горлу: «в его рту»); he wanted to shout out (он хотел закричать): “Give me more time (дай мне еще времени)! Give me time (дай мне время)!”

But all that came out (но все, что раздалось) with a sudden squeal was (с внезапным воплем, было):

“Time (время)! Time!”

Bilbo was saved by pure luck (Бильбо был спасен по чистому /= чистой воды/ везенью). For that of course was the answer (так как это, конечно, был ответ).

giant [ˈdʒaɪǝnt] ogre [ˈǝʋɡǝ] squeal [skwi: l]

Poor Bilbo sat in the dark thinking of all the horrible names of all the giants and ogres he had ever heard told of in tales, but not one of them had done all these things. He had a feeling that the answer was quite different and that he ought to know it, but he could not think of it. He began to get frightened, and that is bad for thinking. Gollum began to get out of his boat. He flapped into the water and paddled to the bank; Bilbo could see his eyes coming towards him. His tongue seemed to stick in his mouth; he wanted to shout out: “Give me more time! Give me time!” But all that came out with a sudden squeal was:

“Time! Time!”

Bilbo was saved by pure luck. For that of course was the answer.

Gollum was disappointed once more (Голлум был еще раз разочарован); and now he was getting angry (а теперь он еще и начинал сердиться), and also tired of the game (а также устал от игры). It had made him very hungry indeed (от нее он действительно проголодался). This time (на этот раз) he did not go back to the boat (он не вернулся в лодку). He sat down in the dark by Bilbo (он сел в темноте рядом с Бильбо). That made the hobbit most dreadfully uncomfortable (это заставило хоббита почувствовать себя более чем ужасно неуютно) and scattered his wits (и совершенно затуманило его разум; toscatter – разбрасывать, рассеивать).

“It’s got to ask uss a quesstion, my preciouss, yes, yess, yesss (он должен задать нам вопрос, мой драгоценный, да, да, да). Jusst one more quesstion to guess, yes, yess (только еще один вопрос угадать, да, да), ” said Gollum. But Bilbo simply could not think of any question (но Бильбо попросту не мог подумать ни о каком вопросе) with that nasty wet cold thing sitting next to him (когда это отвратительное, мокрое, холодное существо сидело рядом с ним), and pawing (и трогало его лапой) and poking him (и пихало его). He scratched himself (он царапал себя), he pinched himself (он щипал себя); still he could not think of anything (и все же он не мог не о чем подумать).

“Ask us (спрашивай нас)! ask us!” said Gollum.

hungry [ˈhʌŋɡrɪ] paw [pɔ: ] scattered [ˈskætǝd]

Gollum was disappointed once more; and now he was getting angry, and also tired of the game. It had made him very hungry indeed. This time he did not go back to the boat. He sat down in the dark by Bilbo. That made the hobbit most dreadfully uncomfortable and scattered his wits.

“It’s got to ask uss a quesstion, my preciouss, yes, yess, yesss. Jusst one more

quesstion to guess, yes, yess, ” said Gollum. But Bilbo simply could not think of any question with that nasty wet cold thing sitting next to him, and pawing and poking him. He scratched himself, he pinched himself; still he could not think of anything.

“Ask us! ask us!” said Gollum.

Bilbo pinched himself and slapped himself (Бильбо ущипнул себя и шлепнул себя); he gripped on his little sword (он крепко сжал свой маленький меч); he even felt in his pocket (и даже пошарил: «пощупал» в своем кармане) with his other hand (своей другой рукой). There he found the ring (там он нашел то самое колечко) he had picked up in the passage (что он подобрал в проходе) and forgotten about (и забыл о нем).

“What have I got in my pocket (что у меня в кармане)?” he said aloud (спросил он вслух). He was talking to himself (он говорил сам с собой), but Gollum thought it was a riddle (но Голлум подумал, что это была загадка), and he was frightfully upset (и он был ужасно расстроен).

“Not fair (не честно)! not fair!” he hissed (зашипел он). “It isn’t fair, my precious, is it (это не честно, мой драгоценный, так ведь), to ask us what it’s got in its nassty little pocketses (спрашивать нас, что же у него в его противных маленьких кармашках)?”

Bilbo seeing what had happened (Бильбо увидел, что произошло) and having nothing better to ask (и не имея ничего лучше чего спросить) stuck to his question (упорно повторил свой вопрос; tostick (stuck) tosmth – придерживаться чего-либо, быть верным чему-либо).

“What have I got in my pocket (что у меня в кармане)?” he said louder (сказал он громче).

“S-s-s-s-s (с-с-с-с-с), ” hissed Gollum (прошипел Голлум). “It must give us three guesseses (он должен дать нам три попытки; guess—догадка, предположение), my preciouss (мой драгоценный), three guesseses (три попытки). ”

“Very well (очень хорошо)! Guess away (отгадывай)!” said Bilbo. “Handses (руки)!” said Gollum.

“Wrong (неправильно), ” said Bilbo, who had luckily just taken his hand out again (который, к счастью, только что достал свою руку из /кармана/ снова). “Guess again (отгадывай снова)!”

pocket [ˈpɔkɪt] forgotten [fǝˈɡɔtn] fair [feǝ] luckily [ˈlʌkɪlɪ]

Bilbo pinched himself and slapped himself; he gripped on his little sword; he even felt in his pocket with his other hand. There he found the ring he had picked up in the passage and forgotten about.

“What have I got in my pocket?” he said aloud. He was talking to himself, but Gollum thought it was a riddle, and he was frightfully upset.

“Not fair! not fair!” he hissed. “It isn’t fair, my precious, is it, to ask us what it’s got in its nassty little pocketses?”

Bilbo seeing what had happened and having nothing better to ask stuck to his question.

“What have I got in my pocket?” he said louder. “S-s-s-s-s, ” hissed Gollum. “It must give us three guesseses, my preciouss, three guesseses. ”

“Very well! Guess away!” said Bilbo. “Handses!” said Gollum.

“Wrong, ” said Bilbo, who had luckily just taken his hand out again. “Guess again!”

“S-s-s-s-s (с-с-с-с), ” said Gollum more upset than ever (сказал Голлум, расстроенный больше, чем когда-либо; toupset—опрокидывать, переворачивать; расстраивать, огорчать). He thought of all the things (он подумал о всех вещах) he kept in his own pockets (которые он держал в своих собственных карманах): fishbones (рыбьи косточки), goblins’ teeth (зубы гоблинов), wet shells (мокрые раковины), a bit of bat-wing (клочок крыла летучей мыши), a sharp stone to sharpen his fangs on (острый камень для заточки на /нем/ его клыков), and other nasty things (и другие отвратительные вещи). He tried to think what other people kept in their pockets (он попытался подумать, что другие люди держат в своих карманах).

“Knife (нож)!” he said at last (сказал он наконец).

“Wrong (неверно)!” said Bilbo, who had lost his some time ago (который потерял свой некоторое время тому назад). “Last guess (последняя попытка)!” Now Gollum was in a much worse state (теперь Голлум был в гораздо более плохом состоянии) than when Bilbo had asked him the egg-question (чем когда Бильбо задал ему вопрос про яйца). He hissed and spluttered (он шипел и лопотал) and rocked himself backwards and forwards (и качался вперед и назад), and slapped his feet on the floor (и шлепал своими ногами по полу), and wriggled and squirmed (и извивался, и корчился); but still he did not dare to waste his last guess (и все же, он не осмеливался упустить свою последнюю отгадку; to waste – растрачивать, расходовать впустую).

fishbone [ˈfɪʃbǝʋn] batwing [ˈbætwɪŋ] knife [naɪf]

“S-s-s-s-s, ” said Gollum more upset than ever. He thought of all the things he kept in his own pockets: fishbones, goblins’ teeth, wet shells, a bit of bat – wing, a sharp stone to sharpen his fangs on, and other nasty things. He tried to think what other people kept in their pockets.

“Knife!” he said at last.

“Wrong!” said Bilbo, who had lost his some time ago. “Last guess!” Now Gollum was in a much worse state than when Bilbo had asked him the egg – question. He hissed and spluttered and rocked himself backwards and forwards, and slapped his feet on the floor, and wriggled and squirmed; but still he did not dare to waste his last guess.

“Come on (давай же)!” said Bilbo. “I am waiting (я жду)!” He tried to sound bold and cheerful (он постарался, чтобы его голос звучал храбро и бодро), but he did not feel at all sure (но он совсем не чувствовал уверенность) how the game was going to end (как же закончится эта игра), whether Gollum guessed right or not (угадает ли Голлум верно или нет).

“Time’s up (время вышло)!” he said (сказал он).

“String (веревка), or nothing (или ничего)!” shrieked Gollum (закричал Голлум), which was not quite fair (что не было совсем честно) – working in two guesses at once (высказывать сразу два предположения одновременно).

“Both wrong (обе /догадки/ неверны), ” cried Bilbo (закричал Бильбо) very much relieved (с огромным облегчением; to relieve – помогать, оказывать помощь, выручать); and he jumped at once to his feet (и он вскочил тут же на ноги), put his back to the nearest wall (прислонился спиной к ближайшей стене), and held out his little sword (и выставил вперед свой маленький меч). He knew, of course (он знал, конечно), that the riddle-game was sacred (что игра в загадки является священной) and of immense antiquity (и чрезвычайно древней: «неизмеримой древности»), and even wicked creatures were afraid to cheat (и даже злобные существа боялись мошенничать) when they played at it (когда они играли в нее). But he felt he could not trust this slimy thing (но он чувствовал, что он не может доверять этому склизкому существу) to keep any promise (что тот сдержит обещание) at a pinch (в трудную минуту). Any excuse would do for him (любая отговорка подойдет для него; excuse – извинение, оправдание) to slide out of it (чтобы ускользнуть от него /обещания/). And after all (и, в конце концов) that last question had not been a genuine riddle (этот последний вопрос, он не был настоящей загадкой) according to the ancient laws (согласно древним правилам; law – закон).

relieve [rɪˈli: v] jump [dʒʌmp] antiquity [ænˈtɪkwɪtɪ] ancient [ˈeɪnʃ (ǝ) nt]

“Come on!” said Bilbo. “I am waiting!” He tried to sound bold and cheerful, but he did not feel at all sure how the game was going to end, whether Gollum guessed right or not. “Time’s up!” he said.

“String, or nothing!” shrieked Gollum, which was not quite fair-working in two guesses at once.

“Both wrong, ” cried Bilbo very much relieved; and he jumped at once to his feet, put his back to the nearest wall, and held out his little sword. He knew, of course, that the riddle-game was sacred and of immense antiquity, and even wicked creatures were afraid to cheat when they played at it. But he felt he could not trust this slimy thing to keep any promise at a pinch. Any excuse would do for him to slide out of it. And after all that last question had not been a genuine riddle according to the ancient laws.

But at any rate (но, в любом случае; rate – норма, размер, ставка) Gollum did not at once attack him (Голлум не набросился на него тут же). He could see the sword in Bilbo’s hand (он видел меч в руке Бильбо). He sat still (он сидел не двигаясь), shivering and whispering (дрожа и шепча). At last Bilbo could wait no longer (наконец, Бильбо уже не мог больше ждать).

“Well (ну)?” he said. “What about your promise (как насчет твоего обещания)? I want to go (я хочу уйти). You must show me the way (ты должен показать мне дорогу). ”

“Did we say so, precious (мы что, так сказали, драгоценный)? Show the nassty little Baggins the way out, yes, yes (показать противному маленькому Бэггинсу дорогу отсюда, да, да). But what has it got in its pocketses, eh (но что у него в его кармашках, а)? Not string, precious, but not nothing (не веревка, драгоценный, но и не ничего). Oh no (о нет)! gollum (голлум)!”

“Never you mind (это тебя не касается), ” said Bilbo. “A promise is a promise (обещание есть обещание). ”

“Cross it is (а он сердитый), impatient (нетерпеливый), precious (драгоценный), ” hissed Gollum (прошипел Голлум). “But it must wait (но он должен подождать), yes it must (да, он должен). We can’t go up the tunnels so hasty (мы не можем отправиться в туннели так поспешно). We must go and get some things first, yes (мы должны пойти и взять кой-какие вещи сперва, да), things to help us (вещи, которые нам помогут). ”

“Well, hurry up (ну, поторопись)!” said Bilbo, relieved to think of Gollum going away (с облегчением подумав, что Голлум уйдет).

attack [ǝˈtæk] promise [ˈprɔmɪs] impatient [ɪmˈpeɪʃ (ǝ) nt]

But at any rate Gollum did not at once attack him. He could see the sword in Bilbo’s hand. He sat still, shivering and whispering. At last Bilbo could wait no longer.

“Well?” he said. “What about your promise? I want to go. You must show me the way. ”

“Did we say so, precious? Show the nassty little Baggins the way out, yes, yes. But what has it got in its pocketses, eh? Not string, precious, but not nothing. Oh no! gollum!”

“Never you mind, ” said Bilbo. “A promise is a promise. ”

“Cross it is, impatient, precious, ” hissed Gollum. “But it must wait, yes it must. We can’t go up the tunnels so hasty. We must go and get some things first, yes, things to help us. ”

“Well, hurry up!” said Bilbo, relieved to think of Gollum going away.

He thought (он подумал) he was just making an excuse (что он просто придумал отговорку) and did not mean to come back (и не собирается возвращаться). What was Gollum talking about (о чем таком говорил Голлум)? What useful thing (какие полезные вещи) could he keep out on the dark lake (могут храниться на темном озере)?

But he was wrong (но он ошибался). Gollum did mean to come back (Голлум именно и собирался вернуться). He was angry now and hungry (он теперь был сердитый и голодный).

And he was a miserable wicked creature (и он был несчастным злобным существом), and already he had a plan (и у него уже был план). Not far away was his island (не вдалеке был его остров), of which Bilbo knew nothing (о котором Бильбо ничего не знал), and there in his hiding-place (и там, в своем тайнике: «потайном месте») he kept a few wretched oddments (он хранил несколько несчастных разрозненных предметов), and one very beautiful thing (и одну очень прекрасную вещь), very beautiful (очень прекрасную), very wonderful (очень удивительную). He had a ring (у него было кольцо), a golden ring (золотое кольцо), a precious ring (драгоценное кольцо).

excuse [ɪkˈskju: s] island [ˈaɪlǝnd] oddments [ˈɔdmǝnts]

He thought he was just making an excuse and did not mean to come back. What was Gollum talking about? What useful thing could he keep out on the dark lake?

But he was wrong. Gollum did mean to come back. He was angry now and hungry.

And he was a miserable wicked creature, and already he had a plan. Not far away was his island, of which Bilbo knew nothing, and there in his hiding – place he kept a few wretched oddments, and one very beautiful thing, very beautiful, very wonderful. He had a ring, a golden ring, a precious ring.

“My birthday-present (подарок на мой день рождения)!” he whispered to himself (он шептал сам себе), as he had often done (как он часто делал) in the endless dark days (в эти бесконечные темные дни). “That’s what we wants now, yes (вот что нам сейчас нужно); we wants it (нам оно нужно)!” He wanted it (оно было ему нужно) because it was a ring of power (потому, что это было кольцо власти), and if you slipped that ring on your finger (и если надеть то кольцо на палец), you were invisible (то становишься невидимым); only in the full sunlight could you be seen (только при полном солнечном свете можно

было тебя увидеть), and then only by your shadow (и то только по твоей тени), and that would be shaky and faint (да и та была бы дрожащей и бледной).

“My birthday-present (подарок на мой день рождения)! It came to me on my birthday (оно попало ко мне на мой день рождения), my precious (мой драгоценный), ” So he had always said to himself (так он всегда говорил сам себе). But who knows how Gollum came by that present (но кто знает, как к Голлуму попал этот подарок), ages ago in the old days (давным-давно, в старые дни) when such rings were still at large in the world (когда такие кольца были в большом количестве во всем мире)? Perhaps even the Master who ruled them (возможно, что даже сам Мастер, который повелевал ими; master – хозяин, владелец, господин; to rule – управлять, править) could not have said (не мог бы этого сказать). Gollum used to wear it at first (по началу Голлум носил его постоянно), till it tired him (пока оно его не утомило); and then he kept it in a pouch (и затем он держал его в мешочке) next his skin (рядом с телом: «кожей»), till it galled him (пока он не натер кожу); and now usually he hid it in a hole (и теперь, он обычно прятал его в норе; to hide) in the rock on his island (в горе на его острове), and was always going back to look at it (и всегда возвращался, чтобы взглянуть на него). And still sometimes he put it on (и все же иногда он надевал его), when he could not bear to be parted from it any longer (когда он больше не мог выносить свою разлуку с ним; to part – разделять, отделять; расставаться), or when he was very, very, hungry (или когда он бывал очень, очень голоден), and tired of fish (и ему надоедала рыба).

birthday [ˈbǝ: Ɵd (e) ɪ] present [ˈprez (ǝ) nt] power [ˈpaʋǝ]

“My birthday-present!” he whispered to himself, as he had often done in the endless dark days. “That’s what we wants now, yes; we wants it!” He wanted it because it was a ring of power, and if you slipped that ring on your finger, you were invisible; only in the full sunlight could you be seen, and then only by your shadow, and that would be shaky and faint. “My birthday-present! It came to me on my birthday, my precious, ” So he had always said to himself. But who knows how Gollum came by that present, ages ago in the old days when such rings were still at large in the world? Perhaps even the Master who ruled them could not have said. Gollum used to wear it at first, till it tired him; and then he kept it in a pouch next his skin, till it galled him; and now usually he hid it in a hole in the rock on his island, and was always going back to look at it. And still sometimes he put it on, when he could not bear to be parted from it any longer, or when he was very, very, hungry, and tired of fish.

Then he would creep along dark passages (тогда он прокрадывался по темным проходам) looking for stray goblins (выискивая заблудившихся гоблинов). He might even venture into places (он даже отваживался /пробраться/ в те места) where the torches were lit (где были зажжены факелы) and made his eyes blink and smart (они /их свет/ ослепляли его глаза и щипали их; to smart – причинять жгучую боль); for he would be safe (так как он оставался в безопасности). Oh yes, quite safe (о да, совершенно в безопасности). No one would see him (никто не видел его), no one would notice him (никто не замечал его), till he had his fingers on their throat (до тех самых пор, пока его пальцы не оказывались на их горле). Only a few hours ago he had worn it (всего несколько часов назад он носил его = имел надетым на палец; to wear (wore, worn) – носить, иметь надетым), and caught a small goblin-imp (и поймал маленького бесенка-гоблина). How it squeaked (как он визжал)! He still had a bone or two left to gnaw (у него все еще осталась пара косточек, которые он мог поглодать), but he wanted something softer (но ему хотелось чего-то помягче).

“Quite safe, yes (совершенно в безопасности, да), ” he whispered to himself (прошептал он себе). “It won’t see us, will it, my precious (он не увидит нас, не так ли, мой драгоценный)? No (нет). It won’t see us (он не увидит нас), and its nassty little sword (и его противный маленький меч) will be useless (будет бесполезным), yes quite (да, совершенно). ”

creep [kri: p] venture [ˈventʃǝ] torch [tɔ: tʃ] imp [ɪmp] useless [ˈju: slɪs]

Then he would creep along dark passages looking for stray goblins. He might even venture into places where the torches were lit and made his eyes blink and smart; for he would be safe. Oh yes, quite safe. No one would see him, no one would notice him, till he had his fingers on their throat. Only a few hours ago he had worn it, and caught a small goblin-imp. How it squeaked! He still had a bone or two left to gnaw, but he wanted something softer.