Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)
Шрифт:
vouch [vaVC] sympathize ['sImpqTaIz] inconsequential [In" kOns'kwenS(q)l]
I accompanied theparty as a sort of secretary. Skinny vouched for me, he paid my fare, he sympathized by his action with my inconsequential life although when he spoke of it he disapproved.
A life like mine (мой образ жизни: «жизнь, похожая на мою») annoys most people (раздражает большинство людей); they go to their jobs every day (они идут на свои рабочие места: «работы» каждый день), attend to things (занимаются делами), give orders (отдают приказания), pummel typewriters (стучат по печатающим машинкам;to type (печатать) + writer (писатель)), and get two or three weeks off every year (и получают две или три недели отпуска каждый год; a week off — отпуск), and it vexes them (и это их раздражает) to see someone else (видеть кого-то еще) not bothering (не заботящегося; to bother —
pummel ['pAm(q)l] bother ['bODq] lecture ['lekCq]
A life like mine annoys most people;they go to their jobs every day, attend to things, giveorders, pummel typewriters, and get two or threeweeks off every year, and it vexes them to see someone else not bothering to do these things and yet getting away with it, not starving, being lucky as theycall it. Skinny, when I had broken off our engagement, lectured me about this, but still he took me to Africa knowing I should probably leave his unit within a few months.
We were there a few weeks (мы были там несколько недель) before we began inquiring for George (до того как мы начали наводить справки: «узнавать» о Джордже) who was farming (который занимался плантацией: «фермерством») about four hundred miles away to the north (в четырехстах милях к северу: «около четыре сотен миль к северу»; north — север). We had not told him of our plans (мы не сказали ему о наших планах).
"If we tell George (если мы скажем Джорджу) to expect us (ожидать нас) in his part of the world (в этих краях: «в его части мира») he'll come rushing (он прибежит сломя голову; to rush — мчаться, нестись) to pester us the first week (надоедая нам в первую же неделю; to pester — докучать). After all (в конце концов), we're going on business (мы же едем по делу; to go on business)," Skinny had said (сказал Скинни).
farming ['fQ: mIN] business ['bIznIs] pester ['pestq]
We were there a few weeks before we began inquiring for George who was farming about four hundred miles away to the north. We had not told him of our plans.
"If we tell George to expect us in his part of theworld he'll come rushing to pester us the first week. After all, we're going on business," Skinny had said.
Before we left (до нашего отъезда: «до того, как мы уехали») Kathleen told us (Кэтлин сказала нам), "Give George my love (передайте Джорджу сердечный привет от меня; to give smb love) and tell him not to send (и скажите ему, чтобы он не отправлял: «не отправлять») frantic cables (отчаянные телеграммы; a cable — провод, телеграмма) every time I don't answer his letters (каждый раз, когда я не отвечаю на его письма) right away (сразу, немедленно). Tell him (скажите ему) I'm busy in the hat-shop (что я занята в шляпном магазине) and being presented (и должна там постоянно находиться). You would think (можно подумать: «вы подумаете») he hadn't another friend in the world (у него нет никого в целом мире: «другого друга в мире») the way he carries on (судя по тому, как он себя ведет: «по манере /в которой/ он продолжает»)."
frantic ['frxntIk] present ['prez(q)nt] hatshop ['hxtSOp]
Before we left Kathleen told us, "Give George mylove and tell him not to send frantic cables every timeI don't answer his letters right away. Tell him I'mbusy in the hat-shop and being presented. You wouldthink he hadn't another friend in the world the wayhe carries on."
We had settled first (мы сперва расположились) at Fort Victoria (в Форт-Виктория), our nearest place (наше ближайшее место) of access (доступа) to the Zimbabwe ruins (к развалинам Зимбабве). There we made inquiries about George (там мы расспросили о Джордже: «мы сделали запросы о Джордже»). It was clear (стало понятно: «было ясно»; clear — прозрачный) he hadn't many friends (что у него не было много друзей). The older settlers (давние колонисты: «более старые»; to settle — поселиться) were the most tolerant (были более чем терпимы) about the half-caste woman (к женщине-метиске; half-cast — человек смешанной расы) he was living with (с которой он жил), as we found (как мы узнали: «обнаружили»), but they were furious (но они были в ярости; furious — бешеный) about his methods of raising tobacco (от его методов выращивания табака) which we learned (которые, как мы выяснили) were most unprofessional (были совершенно непрофессиональными) and in some mysterious way (и каким-то непостижимым образом) disloyal to the whites (предательскими по отношению к белым; (dis)loyal — (не)верный; the whites — белокожие).
settler ['setlq] tolerant ['tOl(q)rqnt] furious ['fjV(q)rIqs] disloyal [dIs'lOIql]
We had settled first at Fort Victoria, our nearestplace of access to the Zimbabwe ruins. There wemade inquiries about George. It was clear he hadn't many friends. The older settlers were the most tolerant about the half-caste woman he was living with, as we found, but they were furious about his methods of raising tobacco which we learned were most unprofessional and in some mysterious way disloyal to the whites.
We could never discover (никогда так и не узнали: «не смогли никогда обнаружить») how it was that (как случилось так, что) George's style (стиль Джорджа) of tobacco farming (в выращивании табака) gave the blacks (дал черным: the blacks — чернокожие) opinions about themselves («мнения о самих себе» = дал им повод гордиться собой), but that's what the older settlers claimed (но это именно то, что опытные колонисты заявляли). The newer immigrants thought (более поздние: «новые» иммигранты думали) he was unsociable (что он был необщительный; (un)sociable — (не)общительный) and, of course (конечно), his living with that nig (его жизнь с той негритянкой; nigger) made visiting impossible (делала любые посещения невозможными).
discover [dIs'kAvq] immigrant ['ImIgrqnt] unsociable [An'sqVS(q)b(q)l]
We could never discover how it was thatGeorge's style of tobacco farming gave the blacks opinions about themselves, but that's what the older settlers claimed. The newer immigrants thought he was unsociable and, of course, his living with that nig made visiting impossible.
I must say (я должна сказать) I was myself (я сама была) a bit off-put (слегка смущена; a bit — чуть-чуть) by this news (этими известиями) about the brown woman (о цветной: «коричневой, местной» женщине). I was brought up in a university town (я воспитывалась в университетском городе) to which came Indian, African, and Asiatic students (в который приезжали «индийские, африканские и азиатские» = студенты из Индии, Африки и Азии) in a variety of tints and hues (во всем разнообразии оттенков и цветов). I was brought up (я воспитывалась) to avoid them (/с мыслью/ избегать их) for reasons connected with (по причинам, связанным с) local reputation (местной репутацией) and God's ordinances (и божьими правилами). You cannot easily go against (трудно противиться тому: «вы не можете легко пойти против») what you were brought up to do (что в тебе воспитали: «что вас воспитали делать») unless you are a rebel by nature (если только ты не бунтарь по натуре).
variety [vq'raIqtI] hue [hju: ] ordinance ['O: dInqns]
I must say I was myself a bit off-put by this newsabout the brown woman. I was brought up in a university town to which came Indian, African, andAsiatic students in a variety of tints and hues. I wasbrought up to avoid them for reasons connected withlocal reputation and God's ordinances. You cannoteasily go against what you were brought up to dounless you are a rebel by nature.
Anyhow (в всяком случае), we visited George eventually (мы посетили Джорджа в конечном счете), taking advantage of the offer (воспользовавшись предложением; to take advantage of smth) of transport (подвезти: «транспорта») from some people (от /некоторых/ людей) bound north (направляющихся на север) in search of game (в поисках дичи = добычи; a game — игра; дичь). He had heard (он слышал; to hear) of our arrival (о нашем приезде; to arrive — прибывать) in Rhodesia (в Родезию) and though he was glad (и хотя он был рад), almost relieved (почти успокоен; to relieve — облегчать), to see us (видеть нас) he pursued a policy (он проводил политику; to pursue — преследовать) of sullenness (замкнутости; sullen — угрюмый) for the first hour (в первый час /встречи/).
advantage [qd'vQ: ntIG] pursue [pq'sju: ] policy ['pOlIsI]
Anyhow, we visited George eventually, takingadvantage of the offer of transport from some people bound north in search of game. He had heard of ourarrival in Rhodesia and though he was glad, almostrelieved, to see us he pursued a policy of sullenness for the first hour.
"We wanted to give you a surprise, George (мы хотели сделать: «дать» тебе сюрприз, Джордж).