Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

Франк Илья

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Her voice was low and tremulous and she threw back her head so that her neck was

like a white column. Her dйcolletй showed part of her small firm breasts and with

her hands she pressed them forward a little.

"You mustn't say that, you mustn't think that," he answered gently. "You've been

perfect always. I wouldn't have had you otherwise. Oh my dear, life is so short and

love is so transitory. The tragedy of life is that sometimes we get what we want.

Now that I look back on our long past together I know that you were wiser than I.

'What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape?' Don't you remember how it

goes? 'Never, never canst thou kiss, though winning near the goal — yet, do not

grieve; she cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss. For ever wilt thou love, and

she be fair!'"

("Idiotic (/какая/

глупость: «идиотский»).") "Such lovely lines (такие

прекрасные строки)," she sighed (она вздохнула). "Perhaps you're right

(возможно, ты прав). Heigh-ho."

He went on quoting (он продолжал цитировать). That was a trick of his (эту его

привычку) that Julia had always found somewhat tiresome (Джулия всегда

считала: «находила» немного утомительной).

"Ah, happy, happy boughs (о счастливые, счастливые ветви)! that cannot shed

(что не могут сбросить; to shed — зд. ронять листья, терять)

Your leaves (твою листву; a leaf — leaves), nor ever bid the Spring adieu (ни

попрощаться с Весной; to bid — /зд. ист./ объявлять, заявлять, adieu —

прощание);

And, happy melodist, unwearied (и счастливый певец: «мелодист»,

неутомимый),

For ever piping songs for ever new (вечно играет на свирели песенки, вечно

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новые; to pipe — играть на свирели, дудке)!..."

It gave Julia an opportunity to think (это дало Джулии возможность подумать).

She stared in the unlit fire (она уставилась на незажженный камин), her gaze

intent (ее пристальный взгляд сосредоточен), as though she were entranced by

the exquisite beauty of those words (как будто она была очарована изысканной

красотой тех слов; to entrance — приводить в восторг, состояние транса). It

was quite obvious (было совершенно очевидно) that he just hadn't understood

(что он просто не понял). It could hardly be wondered at (этому едва ли можно

было удивляться).

tiresome ['taIqsqm] bough [baV] unwearied [An'wI(q)rId]

exquisite [Ik'skwIzIt, 'ekskwIzIt]

("Idiotic.") "Such lovely lines," she sighed. "Perhaps you're right. Heigh-ho."

He went on quoting. That was a trick of his that Julia had always found somewhat

tiresome.

"Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring

adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new!..."

It gave Julia an opportunity to think. She stared in the unlit fire, her gaze intent, as

though she were entranced by the exquisite beauty of those words. It was quite

obvious that he just hadn't understood. It could hardly be wondered at.

She had been deaf to his passionate entreaties for twenty years (она

была глуха к

его страстным мольбам в течении двадцати лет), and it was very natural if he

had given up his quest as hopeless (и было совершенно естественным, если он

забросил свои искания как безнадежные; quest — поиски, /поэт./ предмет

поисков, поиски приключений в рыцарских романах). It was like Mount Everest

(это как с Эверестом: «было похоже на гору Эверест»); if those hardy

mountaineers (если те отважные альпинисты; hardy — выносливый, смелый,

безрассудный) who had tried for so long in vain to reach the summit (которые

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пытались так долго тщетно достичь вершины; in vain — напрасно,

безрезультатно) finally found an easy flight of steps that led to it (в конце

концов обнаружили доступную лесенку: «лестничный пролет»; easy —

легкий, нетрудный, доступный), they simply would not believe their eyes (они

просто не поверят своим глазам): they would think there was a catch in it (они

подумали бы, что в ней какой-то подвох; catch — захват, улов, /разг./

хитрость, ловушка). Julia felt that she must make herself a little plainer (Джулия