Английский с Оскаром Уайльдом. Кентервильское привидение / Oscar Wilde. The Canterville Ghost

Уайльд Оскар

The day had been warm and sunny; and, in the cool of the evening, the whole family went out to drive. They did not return home till nine o’clock, when they had a light supper. The conversation in no way turned upon ghosts, so there were not even those primary conditions of receptive expectations which so often precede the presentation of psychical phenomena.

The subjects discussed (обсуждались такие предметы), as I have since learned from Mr. Otis (как я позднее узнал от мистера Отиса; since – с тех пор), were merely such as form the ordinary conversation of cultured Americans of the better class (которые обычно составляют темы разговора образованных американцев высшего класса; merely – всего лишь), such as the immense superiority of Miss Fanny Davenport [9] over Sarah Bernhardt [10] as an actress (такие,

как значительное превосходство мисс Фанни Давенпорт над Сарой Бернар как актрисой); the difficulty of obtaining green corn, buckwheat cakes, and hominy, even in the best English houses (трудности получения незрелых кукурузных початков, лепешек с гречкой и мамалыги = то, что даже в лучших английских домах не подают кукурузы, лепешки с гречкой и мамалыгу; to obtain – добывать, приобретать); the importance of Boston in the development of the world-soul (значимость Бостона в развитии мирового духа); the advantages of the baggage-check system in railway travelling (преимущества введения системы багажных квитанций в железнодорожных поездках); and the sweetness of the New York accent as compared to the London drawl (и благозвучность нью-йоркского произношения по сравнению с лондонской манерой растягивать слова). No mention at all was made of the supernatural (никакого упоминания вовсе не было сделано относительно сверхъестественного), nor was Sir Simon de Canterville alluded to in any way (и никаких намеков относительно сэра Саймона де Кентервиля совсем не прозвучало; to allude – упоминать, ссылаться; намекать).

9

Fanny Davenport – Фанни Давенпорт, американская актриса (1850–1898).

10

Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923) – Сара Бернар, великая французская актриса.

The subjects discussed, as I have since learned from Mr. Otis, were merely such as form the ordinary conversation of cultured Americans of the better class, such as the immense superiority of Miss Fanny Davenport over Sarah Bernhardt as an actress; the difficulty of obtaining green corn, buckwheat cakes, and hominy, even in the best English houses; the importance of Boston in the development of the world-soul; the advantages of the baggage-check system in railway travelling; and the sweetness of the New York accent as compared to the London drawl. No mention at all was made of the supernatural, nor was Sir Simon de Canterville alluded to in any way.

At eleven o’clock the family retired (в одиннадцать часов семья отправилась спать), and by half-past all the lights were out (и к половине двенадцатого все огни были потушены). Some time after (некоторое время спустя), Mr. Otis was awakened by a curious noise in the corridor outside his room (был разбужен странным шумом в коридоре, за пределами его комнаты). It sounded like the clank of metal (он был похож на бряцанье металла; to sound like something – звучать как что-либо), and seemed to be coming nearer every moment (и, казалось, приближался с каждым моментом). He got up at once, struck a match (сразу же встал, зажег спичку; to get up; to strike) and looked at the time (и посмотрел на часы). It was exactly one o’clock (был ровно час ночи). He was quite calm (он был совершенно спокоен), and felt his pulse (и измерил свой пульс), which was not at all feverish (который вовсе не был учащен; feverish – лихорадочный; возбужденный). The strange noise still continued (странный шум все еще продолжался), and with it he heard distinctly the sound of footsteps (и одновременно с ним он отчетливо услышал звук шагов; to hear). He put on his slippers (он надел тапочки), took a small oblong phial out of his dressing-case (взял небольшой продолговатый пузырек из своего несессера), and opened the door (и открыл дверь).

At eleven o’clock the family retired, and by half-past all the lights were out. Some time after, Mr. Otis was awakened by a curious noise in the corridor, outside his room. It sounded like the clank of metal, and seemed to be coming nearer every moment. He got up at once, struck a match, and looked at the time. It was exactly one o’clock. He was quite calm, and felt his pulse, which was not at all feverish. The strange noise still continued, and with it he heard distinctly the sound of footsteps. He put on his slippers, took a small oblong phial out of his dressing-case, and opened the door.

Right in front of him he saw (прямо перед собой он увидел), in the wan moonlight (при тусклом свете луны), an old man of terrible aspect (старика совершенно ужасного вида). His eyes were as red burning coals (его глаза были красными, как горящие угли); long grey hair fell over his shoulders in matted coils (длинные седые волосы падали ему на плечи спутанными

космами); his garments, which were of antique cut (его одеяние, которое было старинного покроя), were soiled and ragged (было грязным и разорванным), and from his wrists and ankles hung heavy manacles and rusty gyves (и с его запястьев и лодыжек свисали тяжелые оковы и ржавые наручники; to hang – висеть; gyves – кандалы, оковы, узы).

Right in front of him he saw, in the wan moonlight, an old man of terrible aspect. His eyes were as red burning coals; long grey hair fell over his shoulders in matted coils; his garments, which were of antique cut, were soiled and ragged, and from his wrists and ankles hung heavy manacles and rusty gyves.

“I really must insist on your oiling those chains”

“My dear sir (мой дорогой сэр),” said Mr. Otis, “I really must insist on your oiling those chains (мне действительно приходится настаивать на смазывании этих цепей; must – должен), and have brought you for that purpose a small bottle of the Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator (и я принес вам для этой цели маленькую бутылочку машинного масла «Восходящее солнце демократии»; lubricator – смазочное средство, смазка; Tammany – независимая организация демократической партии в Нью-Йорке). It is said to be completely efficacious upon one application (говорят, оно абсолютно эффективно при разовом применении), and there are several testimonials to that effect on the wrapper from some of our most eminent native divines (и существует несколько подтверждений этому, /помещенных/ на упаковке и полученных от некоторых из наших наиболее выдающихся национальных священнослужителей). I shall leave it here for you by the bedroom candles (я оставлю ее здесь для вас у канделябра возле кровати; candles – свечи), and will be happy to supply you with more (и буду счастлив снабдить вас еще), should you require it (если вам оно понадобится).” With these words the United States Minister laid the bottle down on a marble table (с этими словами посол Соединенных Штатов поставил бутылочку на мраморный столик), and, closing his door, retired to rest (и, закрыв свою дверь, отправился спать).

“My dear sir,” said Mr. Otis, “I really must insist on your oiling those chains, and have brought you for that purpose a small bottle of the Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator. It is said to be completely efficacious upon one application, and there are several testimonials to that effect on the wrapper from some of our most eminent native divines. I shall leave it here for you by the bedroom candles, and will be happy to supply you with more, should you require it.” With these words the United States Minister laid the bottle down on a marble table, and, closing his door, retired to rest.

For a moment the Canterville ghost stood quite motionless in natural indignation (некоторое время Кентервильское привидение стояло не двигаясь в естественном возмущении); then, dashing the bottle violently upon the polished floor (затем, с силой швырнув бутылочку на натертый пол), he fled down the corridor, uttering hollow groans (оно выбежало в коридор, издавая глухие стоны; to flee – бежать, спасаться бегством), and emitting a ghastly green light (излучая отвратительный зеленый свет). Just, however, as he reached the top of the great oak staircase (однако, как только он достиг верха огромной лестницы из дубового дерева), a door was flung open (дверь распахнулась; to fling open – распахивать; to fling – бросать, швырять), two little white-robed figures appeared (появились две маленькие фигурки, одетое в белое; robe – широкая одежда) and a large pillow whizzed past his head (и большая подушка просвистела у него над головой)! There was evidently no time to be lost (было ясно, что нельзя было терять времени; to lose), so, hastily adopting the Fourth dimension of Space as a means of escape (поэтому, торопливо прибегнув к четвертому измерению пространства в качестве средства спасения), he vanished through the wainscoting (он исчез сквозь стенную панель), and the house became quite quiet (и в доме стало совершенно тихо; to become).

For a moment the Canterville ghost stood quite motionless in natural indignation; then, dashing the bottle violently upon the polished floor, he fled down the corridor, uttering hollow groans, and emitting a ghastly green light. Just, however, as he reached the top of the great oak staircase, a door was flung open, two little white-robed figures appeared, and a large pillow whizzed past his head! There was evidently no time to be lost, so, hastily adopting the Fourth dimension of Space as a means of escape, he vanished through the wainscoting, and the house became quite quiet.