Английский язык с Конан Дойлем. Этюд в багровых тонах
Шрифт:
wax [waeks], embrace [m'bres], usage ['ju:s]
"Brother Ferrier," he said, taking a seat, and eyeing the farmer keenly from under his light-coloured eyelashes, "the true believers have been good friends to you. We picked you up when you were starving in the desert, we shared our food with you, led you safe to the Chosen Valley, gave you a goodly share of land, and allowed you to wax rich under our protection. Is not this so?"
"It is so," answered John Ferrier.
"In return for all this we asked but one condition: that was, that you should embrace the true faith, and conform in every way to its usages. This you promised to do, and this, if common report says truly, you have neglected."
"And how have I neglected it (да
"Where are your wives?" asked Young, looking round him (где твои жены? — спросил Янг, оглядываясь). "Call them in, that I may greet them (позови их, чтобы я мог их поприветствовать)."
"It is true that I have not married (это правда, что я не женился)," Ferrier answered. "But women were few, and there were many who had better claims than I (но женщин было мало, а у многих было больше прав на них, чем у меня; claim — требование; притязание). I was not a lonely man (я не был одинок): I had my daughter to attend to my wants (моя дочь ухаживает за мной; to attend — заботиться; want — потребность)."
"It is of that daughter that I would speak to you," said the leader of the Mormons (вот об этой дочери я хотел поговорить с тобой, — сказал предводитель мормонов). "She has grown to be the flower of Utah (она превратилась в цветок Юты), and has found favour in the eyes of many who are high in the land (она пришлась по сердцу многим уважаемым людям: «кто имеет высокое положение в этой стране»; favour — расположение; благосклонность; to find favour in somebody's eyes — снискать чье-либо расположение, заслужить благосклонность, любовь кого-либо, понравиться; high — высокий по званию, положению, состоянию)."
John Ferrier groaned internally (Джон Феррьер внутренне застонал).
expostulation [ekspstju'len], [ksps'len],women ['wi:mn], flower ['flau]
"And how have I neglected it?" asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands in expostulation. "Have I not given to the common fund? Have I not attended at the Temple? Have I not ——?"
"Where are your wives?" asked Young, looking round him. "Call them in, that I may greet them."
"It is true that I have not married," Ferrier answered. "But women were few, and there were many who had better claims than I. I was not a lonely man: I had my daughter to attend to my wants."
"It is of that daughter that I would speak to you," said the leader of the Mormons. "She has grown to be the flower of Utah, and has found favour in the eyes of many who are high in the land."
John Ferrier groaned internally.
"There are stories of her which I would fain disbelieve (о ней рассказывают такое, чему: «есть истории о ней, которым» я охотно не поверю; fain — радостно; охотно)— stories that she is sealed to some Gentile (что она обручена с каким-то иноверцем; to seal — скреплять печатью, ставить печать; в церкви мормонов — скрепить навеки; Gentile — язычник). This must be the gossip of idle tongues (должно быть, это пустые сплетни: «сплетни праздных языков»). What is the thirteenth rule in the code of the sainted Joseph Smith (что сказано: «какова» тринадцатая заповедь в коде святого Джозефа Смита)? ‘Let every maiden of the true faith marry one of the elect (пусть каждая девушка истинной веры выйдет замуж за одного из избранных); for if she wed a Gentile, she commits a grievous sin (ибо если она выйдет
John Ferrier made no answer, but he played nervously with his riding-whip (Джон Феррьер не ответил, но нервно теребил в руках свой хлыст; to play — вертеть, крутить в руках).
"Upon this one point your whole faith shall be tested (этот пункт и будет испытанием всей твоей веры: «на этом одном пункте вся твоя вера будет испытана»)— so it has been decided in the Sacred Council of Four (так было решено на священном Совете четырех). The girl is young, and we would not have her wed grey hairs (девушка молода, и нам бы не хотелось, чтобы она вышла замуж за старца; grey — седой; hair — волос; grey hairs — седины), neither would we deprive her of all choice (и мы не хотим лишать ее всяческого выбора). We Elders have many heifers, but our children must also be provided (у нас, старейшин, много телок [17] , но о наших детях тоже нужно позаботиться; to provide — обеспечивать). Stangerson has a son (у Стенджерсона есть сын), and Drebber has a son (и у Дреббера есть сын), and either of them would gladly welcome your daughter to their house (и любой из них с радостью примет твою дочь в своем доме; to welcome — приветствовать; радушно принимать). Let her choose between them (пусть она выберет одного из них: «межу ними»). They are young and rich, and of the true faith (они молоды, богаты и придерживаются истинной веры). What say you to that (что ты скажешь на это)?"
17
Heber C. Kemball, in one of his sermons, alludes to his hundred wives under this endearing epithet (Хебер Ч. Кембол в одной из своих проповедей наградил этим ласкательным эпитетом своих сто жен; to allude — упоминать; ссылаться; to endear — заставить полюбить; внушить любовь).
idle [adl], tongue [t], elect ['lekt], Gentile ['ental], grievous ['ri:vs]
"There are stories of her which I would fain disbelieve — stories that she is sealed to some Gentile. This must be the gossip of idle tongues. What is the thirteenth rule in the code of the sainted Joseph Smith? `Let every maiden of the true faith marry one of the elect; for if she wed a Gentile, she commits a grievous sin.' This being so, it is impossible that you, who profess the holy creed, should suffer your daughter to violate it."
John Ferrier made no answer, but he played nervously with his riding-whip.
"Upon this one point your whole faith shall be tested — so it has been decided in the Sacred Council of Four. The girl is young, and we would not have her wed grey hairs, neither would we deprive her of all choice. We Elders have many heifers, but our children must also be provided. Stangerson has a son, and Drebber has a son, and either of them would gladly welcome your daughter to their house. Let her choose between them. They are young and rich, and of the true faith. What say you to that?"
Ferrier remained silent for some little time with his brows knitted (Феррьер помолчал: «оставался молчалив» какое-то время, насупив брови; to knit one's brows — нахмурить брови, насупиться).
"You will give us time," he said at last (дайте нам время, — наконец сказал он). "My daughter is very young — she is scarce of an age to marry (моя дочь очень молода — едва ли ее можно считать достигшей брачного возраста: «она едва ли возраста, чтобы вступать в брак»)."