Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы
Шрифт:
remorse [rI'mO: s], victim ['vIktIm], nightmare ['naItmeq], torture ['tO: tSq], encounter [In'kauntq], reticence ['retIs(q)ns]
It is generally accepted that murder is a shocking crime, and it is the murderer above all other criminals who is supposed to suffer remorse. His victim, we have been led to believe, haunts his dreams in horrifying nightmares, and the recollection of his dreadful deed tortures his waking hours. I could not miss the opportunity to inquire into the truth of this. I had no intention of insisting if I encountered reticence or distress, but I found in none of those with whom I talked any such thing.
Some said that in the same circumstances they would do as they had done before (некоторые говорили, что при тех же обстоятельствах они снова поступили бы так же /как они поступили до этого/). Determinists without knowing it (не
"When one’s young, one’s foolish (когда ты молод, ты глуп)," they said, with a careless gesture or a deprecating smile (говорили они, /сопровождая свои слова/ небрежным жестом или неодобрительной улыбкой; todeprecate— протестовать, выступать против, резко осуждать; преуменьшать, умалять).
circumstance ['sWkqmstxns, 'sWkqmstqns], determinist [dI'tWmInIst], ordain [O:'deIn], gesture ['dZestSq]
Some said that in the same circumstances they would do as they had done before. Determinists without knowing it, they seemed to look upon their action as ordained by a fate over which they had no control. Some appeared to think that their crime was committed by someone with whom they had no connection.
"When one’s young, one’s foolish," they said, with a careless gesture or a deprecating smile.
Others told me that if they had known what the punishment was they would suffer (другие говорили мне, что если бы они знали, каково наказание, которое им придется отбывать; to suffer — страдать; бытьнаказанным), they would certainly have held their hands (то они, конечно же, сдержались бы; to hold one's hand — воздержаться/отдействий/). I found in none any regret for the human being they had violently bereft of life (ни в одном я не встретил: «не обнаружил» ни малейшего сожаления о том человеке, которого они так жестоко лишили жизни; tobereave— лишать, отнимать). It seemed to me that they had no more feeling for the creature they had killed (мне казалось, что у них было не больше сочувствия к тому человеку, которого они убили; feeling— ощущение; сочувствие, симпатия;creature— создание, творение; человек) than if it had been a pig whose throat they had cut in the way of business (чем к свинье, чье горло они бы перерезали, работая /на бойне/; way— путь, дорога; образ действия;business— дело, специальность; работа; коммерческая деятельность).
punishment ['pAnISmqnt], bereft [bI'reft], creature ['kri: tSq]
Others told me that if they had known what the punishment was they would suffer, they would certainly have held their hands. I found in none any regret for the human being they had violently bereft of life. It seemed to me that they had no more feeling for the creature they had killed than if it had been a pig whose throat they had cut in the way of business.
Far from feeling pity for their victim (вовсе не испытывая чувства жалости: «/будучи/ далекими от того, чтобы испытывать чувство жалости» к своим жертвам), they were more inclined to feel anger (они были более склонны сердиться) because he had been the occasion of their imprisonment in that distant land (потому что они были причиной их заточения: «тюремного заключения» в этой далекой земле; occasion — случай; основание, причина). In only one man did I discern anything that might appropriately be called a conscience (только в одном человеке смог я разглядеть кое-что, что было бы уместным назвать совестью), and his story was so remarkable that I think it well worth narrating (и его история настолько удивительна, что, мне кажется, она вполне заслуживает того, чтобы ее рассказать; worth — стоящий, имеющийценность; заслуживающий, стоящий).
imprisonment [Im'prIz(q)nmqnt], appropriately [q'prquprIItlI], worth [wWT]
Far from feeling pity for their victim, they were more inclined to feel anger because he had been the occasion of their imprisonment in that distant land. In only one man did I discern anything that might appropriately be called a conscience, and his story was so remarkable that I think it well worth narrating.
For in this case it was, so far as I can understand (поскольку
pyjamas [pq'dZQ: mqz], uniform ['ju: nIfO: m], consequence ['kOnsIkwqns]
For in this case it was, so far as I can understand, remorse that was the motive of the crime. I noticed the man’s number, which was printed on the chest of the pink and white pyjamas of his prison uniform, but I have forgotten it. Anyhow it is of no consequence. I never knew his name. He did not offer to tell me and I did not like to ask it. I will call him Jean Charvin.
I met him on my first visit to the camp with the commandant (я встретил его во время своего первого визита в лагерь, вместе с начальником /тюрьмы/). We were walking through a courtyard round which were cells (мы шли по внутреннему двору, по периметру которого располагались камеры; cell — камера, отсек, секция; тюремнаякамера), not punishment cells (не камеры наказания), but individual cells which are given to well-behaved prisoners who ask for them (а одиночные камеры, которые предоставлялись тем узникам, которые себя хорошо вели, и если они сами просили о них; individual — личный, индивидуальный). They are sought after by those to whom the promiscuity of the dormitories is odious (их просят те, кому претит разношерстная /публика/ общих камер; to seek after — добиваться чего-либо; стремиться к чему-либо; promiscuity — разнородность, смешанность; odious — гнусный, отвратительный, ненавистный). Most of them were empty (большинство из них были пусты), for their occupants were engaged in the various employments (потому как их постояльцы были заняты на различных работах; occupant — житель, обитатель; to engage — нанимать; заниматься/чем-либо/).
courtyard ['kO: tjQ: d], well-behaved ["welbI'heIvd], promiscuity ["prOmI'skju: ItI], odious ['qudIqs]
I met him on my first visit to the camp with the commandant. We were walking through a courtyard round which were cells, not punishment cells, but individual cells which are given to well-behaved prisoners who ask for them. They are sought after by those to whom the promiscuity of the dormitories is odious. Most of them were empty, for their occupants were engaged in the various employments.
Jean Charvin was at work in his cell, writing at a small table, and the door was open (Жан Шарвен работал у себя в камере, дверь которой была открыта, /он/ писал за маленьким столиком). The commandant called him and he came out (начальник позвал его, и он вышел; to call — кричать; звать, позвать). I looked into the cell (я заглянул в камеру). It contained a fixed hammock, with a dingy mosquito-net (в ней находилась /надежно закрепленная/ подвесная полка с грязной противомоскитной сеткой; to contain — содержать; вмещать; dingy — тусклый; грязный, пропыленный); by the side of this was a small table on which were his bits and pieces (рядом с полкой располагался маленький столик, на котором лежали всякие предметы /обихода/; bit — кусок, кусочек; piece — кусок, часть; bits and pieces — всякаявсячина), a shaving-mop and a razor (помазок и бритва; to shave — бриться; mop — швабра), a hairbrush and two or three battered books (щетка для волос и две-три потрепанных книги).