Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса

Несен Ирина

denial [dI'naIl], hopelessness ['houplIsnIs], luminous ['lu: mInqs]

It was all Greek to me, but the more I begged her to explain the more positive became her denials of my request, and, so, in very hopelessness, I desisted.

Day had now given way to night and as we wandered along the great avenue lighted by the two moons of Barsoom, and with Earth looking down upon us out of her luminous green eye, it seemed that we were alone in the universe, and I, at least, was content that it should be so.

The chill of the Martian night was upon us (холод марсианской ночи опустился на нас), and removing my silks I threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris (и,

сняв свои шелка, я накинул их на плечи Дежи Торис). As my arm rested for an instant upon her (когда моя рука на секунду коснулась ее) I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my being (я почувствовал, как дрожь проходит через каждый фибр моего существа) such as contact with no other mortal had even produced (такая, какую никогда не вызывало соприкосновение ни с одним другим смертным); and it seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me (и мне показалось, что она слегка прислонилась ко мне), but of that I was not sure (но в этом я не был уверен). Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders (только я знал, что пока моя рука лежала на ее плече) longer than the act of adjusting the silk required (дольше, чем требовало действие по приведению в порядок шелков) she did not draw away (она не отодвинулась), nor did she speak (и ничего не сказала). And so, in silence (и так, в молчании), we walked the surface of a dying world (мы шли по поверхности умирающего мира), but in the breast of one of us at least (но в груди, по крайней мере, одного из нас) had been born that which is ever oldest, yet ever new (родилось то, что всегда является самым старым, и все же самым молодым).

I loved Dejah Thoris (я любил Дежу Торис). The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder (прикосновение моей руки к ее обнаженному плечу) had spoken to me in words I would not mistake (объяснило мне /все/ такими словами, в которых я не мог ошибиться), and I knew that I had loved her since the first moment (и я знал, что я любил ее с того первого мгновения) that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza of the dead city of Korad (когда мой взгляд встретился с ее в тот первый раз на площади мертвого города Корада).

remove [rI'mu: v], adjust [q'dZAst], mistake [mIs'teIk]

The chill of the Martian night was upon us, and removing my silks I threw them across the shoulders of Dejah Thoris. As my arm rested for an instant upon her I felt a thrill pass through every fiber of my being such as contact with no other mortal had even produced; and it seemed to me that she had leaned slightly toward me, but of that I was not sure. Only I knew that as my arm rested there across her shoulders longer than the act of adjusting the silk required she did not draw away, nor did she speak. And so, in silence, we walked the surface of a dying world, but in the breast of one of us at least had been born that which is ever oldest, yet ever new.

I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza of the dead city of Korad.

CHAPTER XIV

A DUEL TO THE DEATH (дуэль до смерти)

My first impulse was to tell her of my love (моим первым побуждением было сказать ей о моей любви), and then I thought of the helplessness of her position (а затем я подумал о ее беспомощном положении) wherein I alone could lighten the burdens of her captivity (при котором только я мог облегчить бремя ее плена), and protect her in my poor way (и защищать ее по мере моих скромных сил: «моим скромным способом») against the thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark (от тысяч врожденных врагов, с которыми ей придется столкнуться, когда мы прибудем в Тарк). I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow (я не мог рисковать и причинить ей дополнительную боль и печаль) by declaring a love which, in all probability, she did not return (объявив ей о любви, на которую она, по всей вероятности, не отвечала взаимностью; to return —

возвращать; отвечать тем же). Should I be so indiscreet (если бы я был настолько неблагоразумным; indiscreet — нескромный; опрометчивый), her position would be even more unbearable than now (ее положение стало бы еще более невыносимым, чем сейчас; to bear — носить; выносить, терпеть), and the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her helplessness (и мысль о том, что у нее может возникнуть чувство, что я пытаюсь воспользоваться ее беспомощностью), to influence her decision (чтобы повлиять на ее решение) was the final argument which sealed my lips (стала последним доводом, который наложил печать на мои уста).

hereditary [hI'redItrI], unbearable [An'beqrqbl], influence ['Influqns]

My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark. I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love which, in all probability, she did not return. Should I be so indiscreet, her position would be even more unbearable than now, and the thought that she might feel that I was taking advantage of her helplessness, to influence her decision was the final argument which sealed my lips.

"Why are you so quiet (почему ты молчишь; quiet — тихий, бесшумный; to be quiet — молчать, хранить молчание), Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would rather return to Sola and your quarters (может быть, ты предпочла бы вернуться к Соле и в свое жилье)."

"No," she murmured, "I am happy here (нет, — пробормотала она, — я счастлива здесь). I do not know why it is that I should always be happy and contented (я не знаю, почему так происходит, что я всегда чувствую себя счастливой и довольной; contented — довольный, удовлетворенный) when you, John Carter, a stranger, are with me (когда ты, Джон Картер, чужеземец, находишься рядом со мной); yet at such times it seems that I am safe (однако в такое время мне кажется, что я в безопасности) and that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's court (и что с тобой я скоро вернусь ко двору своего отца) and feel his strong arms about me (и почувствую, как его сильные руки обнимают меня) and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek (а также слезы и поцелуи моей матери на моих щеках)."

"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom (значит, и на Барсуме люди целуются)?" I asked, when she had explained the word she used (когда она объяснила /значение/ того слова, которое она употребила), in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning (в ответ на мой вопрос о его значении).

murmur ['mWmq], contented [kqn'tentId], inquiry [In'kwaIqrI]

"Why are you so quiet, Dejah Thoris?" I asked. "Possibly you would rather return to Sola and your quarters."

"No," she murmured, "I am happy here. I do not know why it is that I should always be happy and contented when you, John Carter, a stranger, are with me; yet at such times it seems that I am safe and that, with you, I shall soon return to my father's court and feel his strong arms about me and my mother's tears and kisses on my cheek."

"Do people kiss, then, upon Barsoom?" I asked, when she had explained the word she used, in answer to my inquiry as to its meaning.

"Parents, brothers, and sisters, yes (родители, братья и сестры — да); and," she added in a low, thoughtful tone, "lovers (и, — добавила она тихим, задумчивым голосом — влюбленные)."

"And you, Dejah Thoris, have parents and brothers and sisters (а у тебя, Дежа Торис, есть родители, братья и сестры)?"

"Yes."

"And a lover (а возлюбленный)?"

She was silent, nor could I venture to repeat the question (она молчала, и я не мог отважиться повторить вопрос).