Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы
Шрифт:
Cooper gave a short, grating laugh.
"I was born in Barbados and I was in Africa in the war. I don`t think there`s much about niggers that I don`t know."
"I know nothing," said Mr. Warburton acidly. "But we were not talking of them. We were talking of Malays."
"Aren`t they niggers?"
"You are very ignorant," replied Mr. Warburton.
He said no more.
On the first Sunday after Cooper`s arrival he asked him to dinner (в первое воскресенье после приезда Купера он пригласил его на обед; to ask — спрашивать, попросить; приглашать). He did everything ceremoniously, and though they had met on the previous day in the office (он соблюдал этикет: «делал все церемонно», и несмотря на то, что они встречались накануне в канцелярии; ceremonious — протокольный, подчиненный правилам церемонии;office — офис, контора, канцелярия) and later, on the Fort verandah where they drank a gin and bitters together at six o`clock (и
previous [`pri: vjqs], verandah [vq`rxndq], gratified [`grxtIfaI]
On the first Sunday after Cooper`s arrival he asked him to dinner. He did everything ceremoniously, and though they had met on the previous day in the office and later, on the Fort verandah where they drank a gin and bitters together at six o`clock, he sent a polite note across to the bungalow by a boy. Cooper, however unwillingly, came in evening dress and Mr. Warburton, though gratified that his wish was respected, noticed with disdain that the young man`s clothes were badly cut and his shirt ill-fitting. But Mr. Warburton was in a good temper that evening.
"By the way (кстати)," he said to him, as he shook hands (сказал он ему = Куперу, обмениваясь рукопожатием), "I`ve talked to my head-boy about finding you someone and he recommends his nephew (я говорил с моим старшим боем о том, чтобы подыскать вам кого-нибудь, и он рекомендует своего племянника). I`ve seen him and he seems a bright and willing lad (я видел его, и он кажется толковым и старательным юношей; bright— яркий; блестящий; подающий надежды, обнадеживающий /о человеке/; willing — готовый /сделать что-либо/; охотно делающий что-либо; исполнительный, старательный, усердный). Would you like to see him (вы хотели бы увидеть его)?"
"I don`t mind (я не против)."
"He`s waiting now (он ждет здесь: «сейчас»)."
nephew [`nevju:]
"By the way," he said to him, as he shook hands, "I`ve talked to my head-boy about finding you someone and he recommends his nephew. I`ve seen him and he seems a bright and willing lad. Would you like to see him?"
"I don`t mind."
"He`s waiting now."
Mr. Warburton called his boy and told him to send for his nephew (мистер Уорбертон позвал своего боя и сказал = велел ему послать за племянником). In a moment a tall, slender youth of twenty appeared (через минуту появился высокий, стройный юноша двадцати лет). He had large dark eyes and a good profile (у него были большие темные глаза и хороший/приятный профиль). He was very neat in his sarong, a little white coat, and a fez, without a tassel, of plum-coloured velvet (он был = выглядел очень опрятно в своем саронге, маленькой = короткой белой куртке и феске без кисточки, из вельвета сливового цвета; fez— феска /головной убор в форме усеченного конуса с кисточкой, который носят мужчины в странах Восточного Средиземноморья/). He answered to the name of Abas (его звали Абасом: «он отвечал на имя Абас»). Mr. Warburton looked on him with approval (мистер Уорбертон посмотрел на него с одобрением), and his manner insensibly softened as he spoke to him in fluent and idiomatic Malay (и его манеры: «поведение» постепенно смягчались, когда он заговорил с ним = с юношей на беглом и идиоматическом = правильном, естественном малайском языке, свободно и правильно; insensibly — незаметно, постепенно, неразличимо). He was inclined to be sarcastic with white people (он был склонен быть язвительным с белыми людьми), but with the Malays he had a happy mixture of condescension and kindliness (но с малайцами в нем счастливо сочетались снисходительность и доброта: «он имел счастливую смесь снисходительности и доброты»). He stood in the place of the Sultan (он был тут султаном: «стоял на месте султана»). He knew perfectly how to preserve his own dignity (он четко знал, как сохранить собственное достоинство), and at the same time put a native at his ease (и в то же время позволить туземцам чувствовать себя свободно/непринужденно: «поставить/поместить туземца в непринужденное состояние»).
tassel [txsl], approval [q`pru: vl], insensibly [In`sensqblI], condescension [kOndI`senSn]
Mr. Warburton called his boy and told him to send for his nephew. In a moment a tall, slender youth of twenty appeared. He had large dark eyes and a good profile. He was very neat in his sarong, a little white coat, and a fez, without a tassel, of plum-coloured velvet. He answered to the name of Abas. Mr. Warburton looked on him with approval, and his manner insensibly softened as he spoke to him in fluent and idiomatic Malay. He was inclined to be sarcastic with white people, but with the Malays he had a happy mixture of condescension and kindliness. He stood in the place of the Sultan. He knew perfectly how to preserve his own dignity, and at the same time put a native at his ease.
"Will he do (он
"Yes, I daresay he`s no more of a scoundrel than any of the rest of them (да, я полагаю, он не больший негодяй/мерзавец, чем остальные; rest— остаток)."
Mr. Warburton informed the boy that he was engaged, and dismissed him (мистер Уорбертон сообщил юноше, что его наняли, и отпустил его).
"You`re very lucky to get a boy like that (вам очень повезло получить такого боя, как этот)," he told Cooper (сказал он Куперу). "He belongs to a very good family (он принадлежит к очень хорошей семье). They came over from Malacca nearly a hundred years ago (они приехали = переехали с Малакки около сотни лет назад; to come over — приходить; приезжать)."
"I don`t much mind if the boy who cleans my shoes and brings me a drink when I want it has blue blood in his veins or not (мне не очень важно, есть ли у боя, который чистит мои туфли или приносит напиток, когда мне нужно, в венах голубая кровь, или нет). All I ask is that he should do what I tell him and look sharp about it (все, чего я прошу/требую — чтобы он делал/выполнял, что я скажу ему, и поживее; look sharp! — живей: «смотри остро»!)."
Mr. Warburton pursed his lips, but made no reply (мистер Уорбертон сжал губы, но ничего не ответил).
scoundrel [`skaundrql], engage [In`geIdZ]
"Will he do?" said Mr. Warburton, turning to Cooper.
"Yes, I daresay he`s no more of a scoundrel than any of the rest of them."
Mr. Warburton informed the boy that he was engaged, and dismissed him.
"You`re very lucky to get a boy like that," he told Cooper. "He belongs to a very good family. They came over from Malacca nearly a hundred years ago."
"I don`t much mind if the boy who cleans my shoes and brings me a drink when I want it has blue blood in his veins or not. All I ask is that he should do what I tell him and look sharp about it."
Mr. Warburton pursed his lips, but made no reply.
They went in to dinner (они перешли к обеду: «пошли обедать»). It was excellent, and the wine was good (он был превосходный, и вино было отличным). Its influence presently had its effect on them (оно: «его влияние» сразу же подействовало на них = на обоих; to have effect— иметь результат; подействовать), and they talked not only without acrimony, but even with friendliness (и они беседовали не только без язвительности/ехидства, но даже с дружелюбием). Mr. Warburton liked to do himself well, and on Sunday night he made it a habit to do himself even a little better than usual (мистер Уорбертон любил пожить хорошо/в свое удовольствие, а воскресные вечера он имел обыкновение проводить: «сделал это привычкой делать себе» даже лучше, чем обычно). He began to think he was unfair to Cooper (он начал думать, что был несправедлив к Куперу). Of course he was not a gentleman, but that was not his fault (конечно, он не был джентльменом, но это была не его вина), and when you got to know him it might be that he would turn out a very good fellow (и когда/если узнать: «вы узнаете» его /получше/, возможно, он окажется очень хорошим парнем). His faults, perhaps, were faults of manner (его недостатки, возможно, были ошибками воспитания; manner— манера, поведение;manners— хорошие манеры, воспитанность, умение себя вести). And he was certainly good at his work, quick, conscientious and thorough (и, безусловно, он хорошо работает: «хорош в работе», быстрый, добросовестный и тщательный). When they reached the dessert Mr. Warburton was feeling kindly disposed towards all mankind (когда они дошли/добрались до десерта, мистер Уорбертон чувствовал = стал благоприятно расположенным ко всему человечеству).
acrimony [`xkrImqnI], сonscientious [kOnSI'enSqs], thorough ['TArq]
They went in to dinner. It was excellent, and the wine was good. Its influence presently had its effect on them, and they talked not only without acrimony, but even with friendliness. Mr. Warburton liked to do himself well, and on Sunday night he made it a habit to do himself even a little better than usual. He began to think he was unfair to Cooper. Of course he was not a gentleman, but that was not his fault, and when you got to know him it might be that he would turn out a very good fellow. His faults, perhaps, were faults of manner. And he was certainly good at his work, quick, conscientious and thorough. When they reached the dessert Mr. Warburton was feeling kindly disposed towards all mankind.