Английский язык с Р. Э. Говардом
Шрифт:
mangy ['men], tousled [tauzld], forehead ['frd]
He blew a slobbery kiss in the air.
"I know lords in Shem who would trade the secret of the Elephant Tower for her," he said, returning to his ale.
A touch on his tunic sleeve made him turn his head, scowling at the interruption. He saw a tall, strongly made youth standing beside him. This person was as much out of place in that den as a grey wolf among mangy rats of the gutters. His cheap tunic could not conceal the hard, rangy lines of his powerful frame, the broad heavy shoulders, the massive chest, lean waist, and heavy arms. His skin was brown from outland suns, his eyes blue and smoldering; a shock of tousled black hair crowned his broad forehead. From his girdle hung a sword in a worn leather scabbard.
The Kothian involuntarily drew back (кофиец
"You spoke of the Elephant Tower (ты говорил о Слоновьей Башне)," said the stranger (сказал незнакомец), speaking Zamorian with an alien accent (разговаривая по-заморийски с чужеземным акцентом). "I've heard much of this tower; what is its secret (я много слышал об этой башне, в чем ее тайна)?"
The fellow's attitude did not seem threatening (поза парня не казалась угрожающей; attitude — позиция; поза), and the Kothian's courage was bolstered up by the ale and the evident approval of his audience (а смелость кофийца была приободрена элем и несомненным одобрением его аудитории; to bolster up smb.'s courage — приободрить, оказать моральную поддержку кому-либо; bolster — валик под подушкой; подушечка /для сидения, облокачивания/; evident — явный; несомненный). He swelled with self-importance (он раздулся от самомнения; to swell — раздуваться; важничать).
"The secret of the Elephant Tower (тайна Слоновьей Башни)?" he exclaimed (воскликнул он). "Why any fool knows that Yara the priest dwells there with the great jewel (да ведь любой болван знает, что жрец Яра живет там с огромным драгоценным камнем; why — да ведь) men call the Elephant's Heart (который люди называют Сердцем Слона), that is the secret of his magic (который является секретом его магии)."
threaten [retn], courage ['kr], audience [':dns]
The Kothian involuntarily drew back; for the man was not one of any civilized race he knew.
"You spoke of the Elephant Tower," said the stranger, speaking Zamorian with an alien accent. "I've heard much of this tower; what is its secret?"
The fellow's attitude did not seem threatening, and the Kothian's courage was bolstered up by the ale and the evident approval of his audience. He swelled with self-importance.
"The secret of the Elephant Tower?" he exclaimed. "Why any fool knows that Yara the priest dwells there with the great jewel men call the Elephant's Heart, that is the secret of his magic."
The barbarian digested this for a space (варвар переваривал это какое-то время; to digest — классифицировать; переваривать; усваивать, продумывать;space — пространство; промежуток времени; срок).
"I have seen this tower (я видел эту башню)," he said. "It is set in a great garden above the level of the city, surrounded by high walls (она расположена в большом саду выше уровня города, окруженном высокими стенами). I have seen no guards (я не видел сторожей; guard — охрана; сторож). The walls would be easy to climb (взобраться на стены было бы легко). Why has not somebody stolen this secret gem (почему кто-нибудь не украл этот таинственный камень; to steal — красть)?"
The Kothian stared wide-mouthed at the other's simplicity (кофиец уставился, широко разинув рот, на простодушие второго = на юношу, поразившись его простодушию; to stare — пристально глядеть; уставиться;other — другой; второй /из двух, трех/), then burst into a roar of derisive mirth (потом захохотал от иронического веселья = потом разразился ироническим смехом; to burst — лопаться; разражаться /гневом, слезами и т. п./), in which the others joined (к которому присоединились остальные).
digest [da'est], guard [:d], climb [klam]
The barbarian digested this for a space.
"I have seen this tower," he said. "It is set in a great garden above the level of the city, surrounded by high walls. I have seen no guards. The walls would be easy to climb. Why has not somebody stolen this secret gem?"
The Kothian stared wide-mouthed at the other's simplicity, then burst into a roar of derisive mirth, in which the others joined.
"Harken to this heathen (послушайте этого дикаря; heathen — язычник; дикарь, варвар)!" he bellowed (прорычал он; to bellow — реветь; рычать). "He would steal the jewel of Yara (он похитил бы камень Яры)! — Harken, fellow (послушай, парень)," he said, turning portentously to the other (обратившись напыщенно к тому: «к другому»; portentous — зловещий; напыщенный), "I suppose you are some sort of a northern barbarian (я полагаю, ты какой-то северный варвар; some sort of — какой-то) —»
"I am a Cimmerian (я киммериец)," the outlander answered, in no friendly tone (ответил чужеземец недружелюбным тоном). The reply and the manner of it meant little to the Kothian (ответ и манера его мало значили для кофийца; to mean — намереваться; значить); of a kingdom that lay far to the south, on the borders of Shem (/будучи родом/ из королевства, которое простиралось далеко к югу, на границах с Шемом; to lie — лежать; располагаться; простираться), he knew only vaguely of the northern races (он имел лишь смутное понятие о северных народах; to know — знать; иметь представление).
heathen ['hi:dn], portentous [p:'tents], vague [ve]
"Harken to this heathen!" he bellowed. "He would steal the jewel of Yara! — Harken, fellow," he said, turning portentously to the other, "I suppose you are some sort of a northern barbarian-"
"I am a Cimmerian," the outlander answered, in no friendly tone. The reply and the manner of it meant little to the Kothian; of a kingdom that lay far to the south, on the borders of Shem, he knew only vaguely of the northern races.