Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы

Моэм Сомерсет Уильям

"I suppose so. I daresay some men would say she was very beautiful."

"Well, it's of no consequence. I don't think we need give her any more of our attention."

"What are you going to do, Isabel?" he asked then.

Isabel looked down at the hand which still bore the ring (она взглянула на свою руку, на которой все еще было кольцо; to bear — переносить; иметь, нести на себе) Edward had given her on their betrothal (которое Эдвард подарил ей на обручение).

"I wouldn't let Edward break our engagement (я

бы не позволила Эдварду разорвать нашу помолвку) because I thought it would be an incentive to him (потому что я считала, что она будет для него стимулом). I wanted to be an inspiration to him (я хотела быть для него источником вдохновения). I thought if anything could enable him to achieve success (я думала, что если что-то и могло дать ему возможность достигнуть успеха) it was the thought that I loved him (так это мысль, что я его люблю). I have done all I could (я сделала все возможное: «что могла»). It's hopeless (это безнадежно). It would only be weakness on my part not to recognize the facts (с моей стороны это было бы только слабостью — не признать этого). Poor Edward, he's nobody's enemy but his own (бедный Эдвард, он сам себе злейший враг: «он ничей враг, кроме как свой собственный»). He was a dear, nice fellow (он был славным, милым парнем), but there was something lacking in him (но в нем чего-то не хватало), I suppose it was backbone (полагаю, твердости характера; backbone— позвоночник; перен. сила воли). I hope he'll be happy (надеюсь, он будет счастлив)."

betrothal [bI'trqVD(q)l], incentive [In'sentIv], inspiration ["InspI'reIS(q)n], achieve [q'tSi: v], backbone ['bxkbqun]

Isabel looked down at the hand which still bore the ring Edward had given her on their betrothal.

"I wouldn't let Edward break our engagement because I thought it would be an incentive to him. I wanted to be an inspiration to him. I thought if anything could enable him to achieve success it was the thought that I loved him. I have done all I could. It's hopeless. It would only be weakness on my part not to recognize the facts. Poor Edward, he's nobody's enemy but his own. He was a dear, nice fellow, but there was something lacking in him, I suppose it was backbone. I hope he'll be happy."

She slipped the ring off her finger (она сняла кольцо с пальца; to slip — скользить; соскальзывать;снимать, стягивать) and placed it on the table (и положила его на стол). Bateman watched her with a heart beating so rapidly (Бейтман наблюдал за ней со столь быстро бьющимся сердцем) that he could hardly breathe (что он едва мог дышать).

"You're wonderful, Isabel, you're simply wonderful (ты удивительная, Изабелла, просто удивительная)."

She smiled, and standing up, held out her hand to him (она улыбнулась, и вставая, протянула ему свою руку).

"How can I ever thank you for what you've done for me (как я смогу отблагодарить тебя за то, что ты для меня сделал)?" she said. "You've done me a great service (ты оказал мне огромную услугу). I knew I could trust you (я знала, что могу доверять тебе)."

He took her hand and held it (он взял ее руку и удержал ее). She had never looked more beautiful (она

никогда не выглядела более красивой).

"Oh, Isabel, I would do so much more for you than that (о, Изабелла, я бы сделал для тебя гораздо больше /чем это/). You know that I only ask to be allowed to love and serve you (ты же знаешь, что все, чего я прошу — что бы ты позволила мне любить тебя и служить тебе)."

"You're so strong, Bateman (ты такой сильный, Бейтман)," she sighed (вздохнула она). "It gives me such a delicious feeling of confidence (это дает мне такое восхитительное чувство уверенности; confidence— доверие; уверенность)."

"Isabel, I adore you (Изабелла, я обожаю тебя)."

breathe [bri: D], wonderful ['wAndqf(q)l], sigh [saI], delicious [dI'lISqs]

She slipped the ring off her finger and placed it on the table. Bateman watched her with a heart beating so rapidly that he could hardly breathe.

"You're wonderful, Isabel, you're simply wonderful."

She smiled, and standing up, held out her hand to him.

"How can I ever thank you for what you've done for me?" she said. "You've done me a great service. I knew I could trust you."

He took her hand and held it. She had never looked more beautiful.

"Oh, Isabel, I would do so much more for you than that. You know that I only ask to be allowed to love and serve you."

"You're so strong, Bateman," she sighed. "It gives me such a delicious feeling of confidence."

"Isabel, I adore you."

He hardly knew how the inspiration had come to him (он едва мог понять, как к нему пришло вдохновение), but suddenly he clasped her in his arms (но внезапно он заключил ее в свои объятия; to clasp — застегивать/на пряжку/;пожимать, обнимать), and she, all unresisting, smiled into his eyes (и она, совершенно не сопротивляясь, улыбнулась, /глядя/ ему в глаза).

"Isabel, you know I wanted to marry you the very first day I saw you (Изабелла, ты знаешь, что я хотел жениться на тебе с того самого первого дня, когда я увидел тебя)," he cried passionately (страстно воскликнул он).

"Then why on earth didn't you ask me (тогда почему же ты не предложил мне)?" she replied (ответила она).

She loved him (она любила его). He could hardly believe it was true (он едва мог поверить, что это правда). She gave him her lovely lips to kiss (она подставила ему для поцелуя свои прекрасные губы).

inspiration ["InspI'reIS(q)n], clasp [klQ: sp], unresisting ["AnrI'zIstIN]

He hardly knew how the inspiration had come to him, but suddenly he clasped her in his arms, and she, all unresisting, smiled into his eyes.

"Isabel, you know I wanted to marry you the very first day I saw you," he cried passionately.

"Then why on earth didn't you ask me?" she replied.

She loved him. He could hardly believe it was true. She gave him her lovely lips to kiss.