Текст книги "Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы"

Автор книги: Уильям Моэм

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Текущая страница: 20 (всего у книги 23 страниц)

"Now drink, my friend (а теперь пейте, мой друг). Don’t let the nonsense I talk interfere with you (не обращайте внимания на мою болтовню: «не позволяйте вздору, /который/ я говорю, мешать вам»)."

He waved his thin hand towards the bottle (он махнул своей худой рукой на бутылку; towards– по направлению к), and the skipper finished what remained in his glass (и шкипер допил /то/, что оставалось в его стакане; to finish– заканчивать).

"You ain’t drinking nothin’ (/а/ вы не пьете ничего)," he said, reaching for the whisky (сказал он, беря виски; to reach for– доставать, тянуться за чем-либо).

"I am of a sober habit (у меня привычка не пить; sober– непьющий, трезвый)," smiled the Swede (улыбнулся швед). «I intoxicate myself in ways (я опьяняю себя /другими/ способами) which I fancy are more subtle (которые, я полагаю, более изысканны). But perhaps that is only vanity (но, может быть, это только тщеславие). Anyhow, the effects are more lasting (во всяком случае, эффект более длительный) and the results less deleterious (а результаты менее пагубны).»

"They say there’s a deal of cocaine taken in the States now (говорят, сейчас столько кокаина употребляют в Штатах; deal– некоторое количество; большое количество)," said the captain.

Neilson chuckled (Нилсон подавил смешок; chuckle– сдавленный/тихий смех).

"But I do not see a white man often (но я не /так/ часто вижу /здесь/ белых: «белого человека»)," he continued (продолжал он), "and for once I don’t think a drop of whisky can do me any harm (и за один раз, я не думаю, /что/ капля виски может причинить мне какой-либо вред)."

He poured himself out a little (он налил себе немного), added some soda, and took a sip (добавил немного содовой и сделал маленький глоток).

interfere ["Intq`fIq], subtle [sAtl], deleterious ["delI`tIqrIqs]

"We are foolish and sentimental and melodramatic at twenty-five, but if we weren’t perhaps we should be less wise at fifty.

«Now drink, my friend. Don’t let the nonsense I talk interfere with you.»

He waved his thin hand towards the bottle, and the skipper finished what remained in his glass.

«You ain’t drinking nothin’,» he said, reaching for the whisky.

«I am of a sober habit,» smiled the Swede. «I intoxicate myself in ways which I fancy are more subtle. But perhaps that is only vanity. Anyhow, the effects are more lasting and the results less deleterious.»

«They say there’s a deal of cocaine taken in the States now,» said the captain.

Neilson chuckled.

«But I do not see a white man often,» he continued, «and for once I don’t think a drop of whisky can do me any harm.»

He poured himself out a little, added some soda, and took a sip.

"And presently I found out (и вскоре я понял: «выяснил») why the spot had such an unearthly loveliness (почему это место обладало такой неземной красотой). Here love had tarried for a moment (здесь на миг задержалась любовь; moment – момент, мгновение) like a migrant bird that happens on a ship in mid-ocean (словно перелетная птица, которая случайно встречает корабль посреди океана) and for a little while folds its tired wings (и на короткое время складывает свои усталые крылья). The fragrance of a beautiful passion hovered over it (аромат прекрасной страсти парил над ним) like the fragrance of hawthorn in May in the meadows of my home (словно аромат боярышника в мае на лугах моей родины; home – дом, жилище; родина). It seems to me that the places where men have loved or suffered (мне кажется, что те места, где люди любили или страдали) keep about them always some faint aroma of something (сохраняют в себе всегда некий слабый аромат чего-то /такого/) that has not wholly died (что не до конца умерло; wholly – полностью). It is as though they had acquired a spiritual significance (это как будто бы они приобрели какую-то духовную значимость) which mysteriously affects those who pass (которая непостижимым образом влияет /на/ тех, кто проходит мимо). I wish I could make myself clear (хотел бы я смочь = если бы я только мог выразиться яснее)." He smiled a little (он слегка улыбнулся). «Though I cannot imagine (хотя я не могу себе представить) that if I did (что если б я и смог) you would understand (вы бы /меня/ поняли).»

He paused (он сделал паузу).

"I think this place was beautiful (я думаю, это место было красивым) because here for a period (потому что здесь на некоторое время) the ecstasy of love had invested it with beauty (восторг любви окутал его красотой)." And now he shrugged his shoulders (и тотчас же он пожал плечами). "But perhaps it is only (но, может быть, это просто) that my aesthetic sense is gratified (моему эстетическому чувству доставляет удовольствие) by the happy conjunction of young love and a suitable setting (удачное сочетание молодой любви и подходящей обстановки)."

unearthly [An`WTlI], fragrance [`freIgr(q)ns], meadow [`medqu]

«And presently I found out why the spot had such an unearthly loveliness. Here love had tarried for a moment like a migrant bird that happens on a ship in mid-ocean and for a little while folds its tired wings. The fragrance of a beautiful passion hovered over it like the fragrance of hawthorn in May in the meadows of my home. It seems to me that the places where men have loved or suffered keep about them always some faint aroma of something that has not wholly died. It is as though they had acquired a spiritual significance which mysteriously affects those who pass. I wish I could make myself clear.» He smiled a little. «Though I cannot imagine that if I did you would understand.»

He paused.

«I think this place was beautiful because here for a period the ecstasy of love had invested it with beauty.» And now he shrugged his shoulders. «But perhaps it is only that my aesthetic sense is gratified by the happy conjunction of young love and a suitable setting.»

Even a man less thick-witted than the skipper (даже человек менее глупый, чем шкипер) might have been forgiven (мог бы быть прощен) if he were bewildered by Neilson’s words (если бы слова Нилсона поставили его в тупик). For he seemed faintly to laugh at what he said (ибо, казалось, он /и сам/ почти смеялся над /тем/, что сказал; faintly – слабо, слегка). It was as though he spoke from emotion (это было /так/, как будто он говорил, /исходя/ из чувства) which his intellect found ridiculous (которое его разум находил нелепым/смешным). He had said himself that he was a sentimentalist (он сам сказал, что был сентиментальным человеком), and when sentimentality is joined with scepticism (а когда сентиментальность соединяется со скептицизмом) there is often the devil to pay (это часто грозит неприятностями; the devil to pay – /устойчивое выражение/грозящая неприятность, беда; затруднительное положение).

He was silent for an instant (он замолчал на мгновение) and looked at the captain with eyes (и посмотрел на капитана глазами) in which there was a sudden perplexity (в которых неожиданно мелькнуло: «было неожиданное» недоумение/растерянность).

"You know, I can’t help thinking (вы знаете, я не могу удержаться от мысли; tohelp– помогать; избегать, удерживать/ся/;to think– думать) that I’ve seen you before somewhere or other (что я видел вас раньше где-то)," he said.

"I couldn’t say as I remember you (а я не припоминаю вас: «я не мог бы сказать, что я помню вас»)," returned the skipper (возразил шкипер).

"I have a curious feeling (у меня /такое/ странное чувство) as though your face were familiar to me (как будто бы ваше лицо мне знакомо). It’s been puzzling me for some time (это мучило меня некоторое время; to puzzle– озадачивать; ставить в тупик). But I can’t situate my recollection in any place or at any time (но я не могу вспомнить, где и когда /я вас видел/: «но я не могу поместить свои воспоминания в какое бы то ни было место или время»)."

The skipper massively shrugged his heavy shoulders (шкипер тяжело пожал своими крупными плечами).

"It’s thirty years since I first come to the islands (/прошло уже/ тридцать лет, с тех пор как я впервые приехал на эти острова). A man can’t figure on (нельзя ожидать от человека: «человек не может рассчитывать») remembering all the folk he meets in a while like that (/что он будет/ помнить всех людей, /с которыми/ он встречается за /такой/ промежуток времени как этот)."

laugh [lRf], sentimentality ["sentImen`txlItI], folk [fquk]

Even a man less thick-witted than the skipper might have been forgiven if he were bewildered by Neilson’s words. For he seemed faintly to laugh at what he said. It was as though he spoke from emotion which his intellect found ridiculous. He had said himself that he was a sentimentalist, and when sentimentality is joined with scepticism there is often the devil to pay.

He was silent for an instant and looked at the captain with eyes in which there was a sudden perplexity.

«You know, I can’t help thinking that I’ve seen you before somewhere or other,» he said.

«I couldn’t say as I remember you,» returned the skipper.

«I have a curious feeling as though your face were familiar to me. It’s been puzzling me for some time. But I can’t situate my recollection in any place or at any time.»

The skipper massively shrugged his heavy shoulders.

«It’s thirty years since I first come to the islands. A man can’t figure on remembering all the folk he meets in a while like that.»

The Swede shook his head (швед /отрицательно/ покачал головой).

"You know how one sometimes has the feeling (вы знаете, как иногда охватывает чувство; one– один; также употребляется в неопределенно-личных предложениях) that a place one has never been to before (что какое-то место, /где/ никогда /не/ был раньше) is strangely familiar (странным образом знакомо /тебе/). That’s how I seem to see you (вот каким образом, кажется, я /и/ вижу вас)." He gave a whimsical smile (он странно улыбнулся;whimsical – причудливый). "Perhaps I knew you in some past existence (может быть, я знал вас в какой-нибудь прошлой жизни). Perhaps, perhaps you were the master of a galley in ancient Rome (может быть, вы были управляющим на галере в Древнем Риме; master – хозяин, владелец; господин;мастер) and I was a slave at the oar (а я был рабом у весла). Thirty years have you been here (вы тридцать лет /уже/ здесь)?"

"Every bit of thirty years (все тридцать лет до одного; every– каждый;bit– кусочек, небольшое количество)."

"I wonder if you knew a man called Red (интересно, знали ли вы человека по имени Рыжий)?"

"Red?"

"That is the only name I’ve ever known him by (только под этим именем я его всегда /и/ знал). I never knew him personally (я никогда /не/ знал его лично). I never even set eyes on him (я никогда даже /не/ видел его; to set– класть, ставить, размещать;eye– глаз; взгляд). And yet I seem to see him more clearly than many men (и все же, кажется, я вижу его более ясно, чем многих /других/ людей), my brothers, for instance (моих братьев, например), with whom I passed my daily life for many years (с которыми я проводил все дни: «мою ежедневную жизнь» в течение многих лет). He lives in my imagination with the distinctness of a Paolo Malatesta or a Romeo (он живет в моем воображении также ясно, как какой-нибудь Паоло Малатеста или Ромео; with– с;distinctness– отчетливость, ясность). But I daresay you have never read Dante or Shakespeare (но полагаю: «осмелюсь сказать», вы никогда /не/ читали Данте или Шекспира)?"

"I can’t say as I have (не могу сказать, чтоб читал)," said the captain.

whimsical [`wImzik(q)l], ancient [`eInS(q)nt], oar [L]

The Swede shook his head.

«You know how one sometimes has the feeling that a place one has never been to before is strangely familiar. That’s how I seem to see you.» He gave a whimsical smile. «Perhaps I knew you in some past existence. Perhaps, perhaps you were the master of a galley in ancient Rome and I was a slave at the oar. Thirty years have you been here?»

«Every bit of thirty years.»

«I wonder if you knew a man called Red?»

«Red?»

«That is the only name I’ve ever known him by. I never knew him personally. I never even set eyes on him. And yet I seem to see him more clearly than many men, my brothers, for instance, with whom I passed my daily life for many years. He lives in my imagination with the distinctness of a Paolo Malatesta or a Romeo. But I daresay you have never read Dante or Shakespeare?»

«I can’t say as I have,» said the captain.

Neilson, smoking a cigar, leaned back in his chair (Нилсон, куря сигару, откинулся на спинку кресла; to lean – наклоняться; back – назад) and looked vacantly at the ring of smoke (и смотрел безучастно на колечко из дыма) which floated in the still air (которое плыло в неподвижном воздухе). A smile played on his lips (на его губах играла улыбка), but his eyes were grave (но глаза были серьезны). Then he looked at the captain (потом он посмотрел на капитана). There was in his gross obesity something extraordinarily repellent (было в его чрезмерной тучности что-то чрезвычайно отталкивающее; gross – большой; толстый;грубый). He had the plethoric self-satisfaction of the very fat (он обладал тем безмерным самодовольством, /присущим/ очень толстым /людям/). It was an outrage (это было возмутительно; outrage – оскорбление; грубое нарушение; возмутительный случай, поступок). It set Neilson’s nerves on edge (это раздражало Нилсона: «ставило нервы на грань»). But the contrast between the man before him and the man he had in mind was pleasant (но контраст между человеком, /сидящим/ перед ним, и тем, кого он вспоминал, был приятным).

"It appears that Red was the most comely thing you ever saw (похоже, что Рыжий был самым привлекательным существом из когда-либо виденных; to appear– появляться; казаться). I’ve talked to quite a number of people who knew him in those days (я разговаривал со многими людьми, которые знали его в те дни), white men (с белыми), and they all agree that the first time you saw him (и все они сходятся в одном, что в первый раз, /как/ увидишь его) his beauty just took your breath away (его красота просто поражает: «отбирает твое дыхание»). They called him Red on account of his flaming hair (они называли его Рыжим из-за его огненных волос). It had a natural wave (они вились от природы) and he wore it long (и были: «и он носил их» длинными). It must have been of that wonderful colour (они, должно быть, были того удивительного цвета) that the pre-Raphaelites raved over (которым /так/ восторгались прерафаэлиты). I don’t think he was vain of it (я не думаю, что он тешил этим свое самолюбие; vain– тщеславный; самодовольный), he was much too ingenuous for that (он был уж слишком простодушен для этого), but no one could have blamed him if he had been (но никто и не смог бы осудить его, если б он и делал это). He was tall, six feet and an inch or two (он был высоким, шесть футов и один-два дюйма) – in the native house that used to stand here (в туземном жилище, которое раньше находилось: «стояло» здесь) was the mark of his height (была отметка его роста) cut with a knife on the central trunk that supported the roof (вырезанная ножом на центральном столбе: «стволе», который поддерживал крышу) – and he was made like a Greek god (и он был сложен: «сделан» как греческий бог), broad in the shoulders and thin in the flanks (широкий в плечах и с узкими бедрами: «худой по бокам»); he was like Apollo (он был словно Аполлон), with just that soft roundness which Praxiteles gave him (с той самой мягкой округлостью, которую Пракситель придал ему), and that suave, feminine grace (и той приятной, женственной грацией; suave– обходительный) which has in it something troubling and mysterious (в которой есть что-то волнующее и таинственное). His skin was dazzling white (его кожа была ослепительно белой), milky (молочной), like satin (шелковистой: «словно атлас»); his skin was like a woman’s (его кожа была как у женщины)."

appear [q`pIq], comely [`kAmlI], suave [swRv]

Neilson, smoking a cigar, leaned back in his chair and looked vacantly at the ring of smoke which floated in the still air. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes were grave. Then he looked at the captain. There was in his gross obesity something extraordinarily repellent. He had the plethoric self-satisfaction of the very fat. It was an outrage. It set Nelson’s nerves on edge. But the contrast between the man before him and the man he had in mind was pleasant.

«It appears that Red was the most comely thing you ever saw. I’ve talked to quite a number of people who knew him in those days, white men, and they all agree that the first time you saw him his beauty just took your breath away. They called him Red on account of his flaming hair. It had a natural wave and he wore it long. It must have been of that wonderful colour that the pre-Raphaelites raved over. I don’t think he was vain of it, he was much too ingenuous for that, but no one could have blamed him if he had been. He was tall, six feet and an inch or two – in the native house that used to stand here was the mark of his height cut with a knife on the central trunk that supported the roof – and he was made like a Greek god, broad in the shoulders and thin in the flanks; he was like Apollo, with just that soft roundness which Praxiteles gave him, and that suave, feminine grace which has in it something troubling and mysterious. His skin was dazzling white, milky, like satin; his skin was like a woman’s.»

"I had kind of a white skin myself when I was a kiddie (/да/ у меня самого была вроде как белая кожа, когда я был ребенком; kind of – что-то вроде)," said the skipper, with a twinkle in his bloodshot eyes (сказал шкипер, и его налитые кровью глаза сверкнули; with – с; twinkle – блеск).

But Neilson paid no attention to him (но Нилсон не обратил на него внимание). He was telling his story now (он сейчас рассказывал свою историю) and interruption made him impatient (и он не терпел заминок; to interrupt – обрывать; вмешиваться/в разговор и т. п./; to make – делать; impatient – нетерпеливый; нетерпимый).

"And his face was just as beautiful as his body (а лицо его было таким же красивым, как его тело). He had large blue eyes (у него были большие синие глаза), very dark (такие темные; very – очень), so that some say they were black (что некоторые /даже/ говорят, /что/ они были черными), and unlike most red-haired people (и в отличие от большинства рыжеволосых людей) he had dark eyebrows and long dark lashes (у него были темные брови и длинные темные ресницы). His features were perfectly regular (черты его лица были безукоризненно правильными) and his mouth was like a scarlet wound (а его рот был словно алая рана). He was twenty (ему было двадцать /лет/)."

On these words the Swede stopped with a certain sense of the dramatic (при этих словах швед сделал определенно драматическую паузу; to stop– останавливаться;certain– определенный; некий;sense– чувство; смысл). He took a sip of whisky (он сделал маленький глоток виски).

"He was unique (он был единственным в своем роде). There never was anyone more beautiful (никогда /не/ было человека: «кого-нибудь» красивее /его/). There was no more reason for him (для его появления: «для него» было не больше основания) than for a wonderful blossom to flower on a wild plant (чем для прекрасного цветка появиться: «расцвести» на дикорастущем растении). He was a happy accident of nature (он был счастливой случайностью природы).

interruption ["Intq`rApS(q)n], impatient [Im`peIS(q)nt], unique [jH`nJk]

«I had kind of a white skin myself when I was a kiddie,» said the skipper, with a twinkle in his bloodshot eyes.

But Neilson paid no attention to him. He was telling his story now and interruption made him impatient.

«And his face was just as beautiful as his body. He had large blue eyes, very dark, so that some say they were black, and unlike most red-haired people he had dark eyebrows and long dark lashes. His features were perfectly regular and his mouth was like a scarlet wound. He was twenty.»

On these words the Swede stopped with a certain sense of the dramatic. He took a sip of whisky.

"He was unique. There never was anyone more beautiful. There was no more reason for him than for a wonderful blossom to flower on a wild plant. He was a happy accident of nature.

"One day he landed at that cove (однажды он высадился в той бухте) into which you must have put this morning (в которую вы, должно быть, зашли сегодня утром; to put in – заходить в порт; вставать на рейде). He was an American sailor (он был американским матросом), and he had deserted from a man-of-war in Apia (и он дезертировал с военного корабля в Апии). He had induced some good-humoured native (он убедил какого-то добродушного туземца) to give him a passage on a cutter (подвезти его на катере; to give – давать; дарить; passage – проход; поездка/особенно по морю/) that happened to be sailing from Apia to Safoto (который как раз плыл из Апии в Сафото; to happen – случаться; случайно оказываться), and he had been put ashore here in a dugout (и здесь его отправили на берег в каком-то челноке; dugout – лодка, выдолбленная из бревна). I do not know why he deserted (я не знаю, почему он дезертировал). Perhaps life on a man-of-war with its restrictions irked him (может быть, жизнь на военном корабле с его ограничениями раздражала его), perhaps he was in trouble (может быть, у него были неприятности: «он был в беде»), and perhaps it was the South Seas and these romantic islands that got into his bones (а может быть, /просто/ Южные моря и эти романтические острова запали ему в душу: «проникли в его кости»). Every now and then (порой) they take a man strangely (они странным образом очаровывают человека; to take – брать; захватывать), and he finds himself like a fly in a spider’s web (и он оказывается /пойманным/ словно муха в паутине: «паучьей сети»). It may be that there was a softness of fibre in him (может быть, была в нем мягкость характера; fibre – фибра; склад характера), and these green hills with their soft airs (и эти зеленые холмы с их мягким климатом; air – воздух; атмосфера), this blue sea (это синее море), took the northern strength from him (забрали у него нордическую: «северную» силу) as Delilah took the Nazarite’s (как Далила забрала /силу/ Самсона; Nazarite – древний израильтянин, связанный определенными строгими религиозными обетами/обычно на ограниченное время/,среди тех троих, кто связал себя этими обетами на пожизненный срок, был Самсон). Anyhow, he wanted to hide himself (во всяком случае, он хотел скрыться), and he thought he would be safe in this secluded nook (и он думал, /что/ будет в безопасности в этом укромном уголке) till his ship had sailed from Samoa (до тех пор пока его корабль /не/ уплывет с Самоа).

ashore [q`SL], trouble [trAbl], fibre [`faIbq]

"One day he landed at that cove into which you must have put this morning. He was an American sailor, and he had deserted from a man-of-war in Apia. He had induced some good-humoured native to give him a passage on a cutter that happened to be sailing from Apia to Safoto, and he had been put ashore here in a dugout. I do not know why he deserted. Perhaps life on a man-of-war with its restrictions irked him, perhaps he was in trouble, and perhaps it was the South Seas and these romantic islands that got into his bones. Every now and then they take a man strangely, and he finds himself like a fly in a spider’s web. It may be that there was a softness of fibre in him, and these green hills with their soft airs, this blue sea, took the northern strength from him as Delilah took the Nazarite’s. Anyhow, he wanted to hide himself, and he thought he would be safe in this secluded nook till his ship had sailed from Samoa.

"There was a native hut at the cove (там была туземная хижина в этой бухте) and as he stood there (и пока он стоял там), wondering where exactly he should turn his steps (размышляя, куда именно ему направиться; to turn – поворачивать/ся/; step – шаг), a young girl came out and invited him to enter (какая-то молодая девушка вышла /из хижины/ и пригласила его войти). He knew scarcely two words of the native tongue (он знал от силы два слова на местном наречии; scarcely – едва, почти не) and she as little English (и она столь же мало по-английски). But he understood well enough (но он понял довольно хорошо) what her smiles meant (что означала ее улыбка), and her pretty gestures (и ее прелестные жесты), and he followed her (и он последовал /за/ ней). He sat down on a mat and she gave him slices of pineapple to eat (он сел на циновку, и она дала ему поесть ломтики ананаса). I can speak of Red only from hearsay (я могу говорить о Рыжем только с чужих слов), but I saw the girl three years after he first met her (но я видел эту девушку три года /спустя/, после /того как/ он впервые встретил ее), and she was scarcely nineteen then (и ей едва ли было девятнадцать тогда). You cannot imagine how exquisite she was (вы не можете представить себе, какой изящной она была). She had the passionate grace of the hibiscus and the rich colour (она обладала страстной грацией гибискуса и /у нее был/ румянец во всю щеку; rich– богатый; обильный;colour– цвет; цвет лица; румянец). She was rather tall (она была довольно высокой), slim (стройной), with the delicate features of her race (с тонкими чертами, присущими ее расе), and large eyes like pools of still water under the palm trees (и большими глазами, похожими на тихие заводи: «заводи с неподвижной водой» под пальмовыми деревьями); her hair, black and curling (ее волосы, черные и вьющиеся) fell down her back (ниспадали на спину), and she wore a wreath of scented flowers (и на ней был: «она носила» венок из благоухающих цветов). Her hands were lovely (ее руки были прелестны). They were so small (они были такие маленькие), so exquisitely formed (такой изящной формы), they gave your heart-strings a wrench (/что просто/ задевали струны твоей души: «сердечные струны»; to wrench– дергать). And in those days she laughed easily (и в те дни ее легко было рассмешить: «она смеялась легко»). Her smile was so delightful that it made your knees shake (ее улыбка была столь очаровательна, до дрожи в коленках: «что заставляла ваши колени трястись»). Her skin was like a field of ripe corn on a summer day (ее кожа была словно поле зрелой пшеницы летним днем). Good Heavens, how can I describe her (о Боже, как я могу описать ее)? She was too beautiful to be real (она была слишком красивой, чтобы быть реальной).

scarcely [`skFqslI], gesture [`GesCq], palm [pRm]

"There was a native hut at the cove and as he stood there, wondering where exactly he should turn his steps, a young girl came out and invited him to enter. He knew scarcely two words of the native tongue and she as little English. But he understood well enough what her smiles meant, and her pretty gestures, and he followed her. He sat down on a mat and she gave him slices of pineapple to eat. I can speak of Red only from hearsay, but I saw the girl three years after he first met her, and she was scarcely nineteen then. You cannot imagine how exquisite she was. She had the passionate grace of the hibiscus and the rich colour. She was rather tall, slim, with the delicate features of her race, and large eyes like pools of still water under the palm trees; her hair, black and curling, fell down her back, and she wore a wreath of scented flowers. Her hands were lovely. They were so small, so exquisitely formed, they gave your heart-strings a wrench. And in those days she laughed easily. Her smile was so delightful that it made your knees shake. Her skin was like a field of ripe corn on a summer day. Good Heavens, how can I describe her? She was too beautiful to be real.

"And these two young things (и эти два юных существа), she was sixteen and he was twenty (ей было шестнадцать, а ему двадцать), fell in love with one another at first sight (полюбили друг друга с первого взгляда; to fall – падать). That is the real love (то /была/ настоящая любовь), not the love that comes from sympathy (не та любовь, которая возникает: «происходит» из сочувствия/симпатии), common interests (общих интересов), or intellectual community (или схожести взглядов и убеждений; intellectual – интеллектуальный, мыслительный; community – общность), but love pure and simple (но любовь чистая и простая =в чистом виде). That is the love that Adam felt for Eve (это /такая/ любовь, которую Адам почувствовал к Еве) when he awoke and found her in the garden (когда он проснулся и нашел ее в саду) gazing at him with dewy eyes (смотрящей на него наивными глазами; to gaze – пристально глядеть, вглядываться; dewy – росистый; чистый, простодушный). That is the love that draws the beasts to one another (это /такая/ любовь, которая притягивает друг к другу животных), and the Gods (и богов). That is the love that makes the world a miracle (это /такая/ любовь, которая превращает мир в чудо). That is the love which gives life its pregnant meaning (это /такая/ любовь, которая придает жизни глубокий смысл; pregnant – беременная; содержательный). You have never heard of the wise, cynical French duke (вы никогда не слышали о мудром, циничном французском герцоге /де Ларошфуко/) who said that with two lovers (который сказал, что среди двух влюбленных) there is always one who loves and one who lets himself be loved (всегда есть тот, кто любит, и тот, кто позволяет себя любить); it is bitter truth to which most of us have to resign ourselves (это горькая правда, с которой большинству из нас приходится мириться); but now and then there are two who love (но порой находятся: «имеются» двое, которые любят) and two who let themselves be loved (и двое, которые позволяют себя любить). Then one might fancy (/и/ тогда можно было бы предположить; one – один; также употребляется вне определенно-личных предложениях) that the sun stands still (что солнце останавливается: «стоит неподвижно») as it stood when Joshua prayed to the God of Israel (как оно остановилось, когда Иисус Навин молился Богу Израиля).

community [kq`mjHnItI], dewy [`djHI], resign [rI`zaIn]

"And these two young things, she was sixteen and he was twenty, fell in love with one another at first sight. That is the real love, not the love that comes from sympathy, common interests, or intellectual community, but love pure and simple. That is the love that Adam felt for Eve when he awoke and found her in the garden gazing at him with dewy eyes. That is the love that draws the beasts to one another, and the Gods. That is the love that makes the world a miracle. That is the love which gives life its pregnant meaning. You have never heard of the wise, cynical French duke who said that with two lovers there is always one who loves and one who lets himself be loved; it is bitter truth to which most of us have to resign ourselves; but now and then there are two who love and two who let themselves be loved. Then one might fancy that the sun stands still as it stood when Joshua prayed to the God of Israel.