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

It was not till he had seen her two or three times (не раньше чем = только лишь когда он увиделся с ней два или три раза) that he induced her to speak (он побудил ее заговорить). Then it was only to ask him (и то лишь /для того/, чтобы спросить его) if he had seen in Apia a man called Red (видел ли он в Апии человека по имени Рыжий). Two years had passed since his disappearance (два года прошло со /дня/ его исчезновения), but it was plain that she still thought of him incessantly (но было ясно, что она все еще думала о нем постоянно).

insignificant ["InsIg`nIfIkqnt], appearance [q`pIqr(q)ns], Psyche [`saIki(:)]

But Neilson could not get the story out of his head. Perhaps because he was sick and weakly, the radiant health of Red appealed to his imagination. Himself an ugly man, insignificant of appearance, he prized very highly comeliness in others. He had never been passionately in love, and certainly he had never been passionately loved. The mutual attraction of those two young things gave him a singular delight. It had the ineffable beauty of the Absolute. He went again to the little hut by the creek. He had a gift for languages and an energetic mind, accustomed to work, and he had already given much time to the study of the local tongue. Old habit was strong in him and he was gathering together material for a paper on the Samoan speech. The old crone who shared the hut with Sally invited him to come in and sit down. She gave him kava to drink and cigarettes to smoke. She was glad to have someone to chat with and while she talked he looked at Sally. She reminded him of the Psyche in the museum at Naples. Her features had the same clear purity of line, and though she had borne a child she had still a virginal aspect.

It was not till he had seen her two or three times that he induced her to speak. Then it was only to ask him if he had seen in Apia a man called Red. Two years had passed since his disappearance, but it was plain that she still thought of him incessantly.

It did not take Neilson long to discover (это не заняло /у/ Нилсона много времени: «долго», чтобы понять: «обнаружить») that he was in love with her (что он был влюблен в нее). It was only by an effort of will now (теперь только усилием воли) that he prevented himself from going every day to the creek (он не давал себе каждый день ходить к речке; to prevent — предотвращать;не допускать), and when he was not with Sally his thoughts were (и когда он не был с Салли, его мысли были /с ней/). At first, looking upon himself as a dying man (поначалу, считая себя умирающим человеком), he asked only to look at her (ему было нужно только /лишь/ смотреть на нее; to ask — спрашивать; требовать/ся/), and occasionally hear her speak (и изредка слышать, /как/ она говорит), and his love gave him a wonderful happiness (и его любовь дарила ему удивительное счастье). He exulted in its purity (он радовался ее чистоте). He wanted nothing from her (он /не/ хотел от нее ничего) but the opportunity to weave around her graceful person (кроме возможности сплести вокруг ее грациозной особы) a web of beautiful fancies (паутину из красивых фантазий). But the open air (но свежий: «открытый» воздух), the equable temperature (постоянная температура /воздуха/; equable — ровный; без перепадов), the rest (покой/отдых), the simple fare (простая пища), began to have an unexpected effect on his health (начали оказывать неожиданный эффект на его здоровье). His temperature did not soar at night to such alarming heights (его температура не поднималась по ночам до таких тревожных высот), he coughed less and began to put on weight (он меньше кашлял и начал набирать вес); six months passed without his having a haemorrhage (шесть месяцев прошло, а у него не было кровоизлияния/ кровотечения; without — без); and on a sudden he saw the possibility that he might live (и вдруг он увидел вероятность /того/, что он сможет жить). He had studied his disease carefully (он тщательно изучил свою болезнь), and the hope dawned upon him (и у него появилась: «забрезжила над ним» надежда) that with great care he might arrest its course (что соблюдая особую осторожность, он мог бы приостановить ее течение; with — с; great — большой). It exhilarated him to look forward once more to the future (это воодушевило его опять с нетерпением ожидать будущего; to look forward — предвкушать; once more — еще раз). He made plans (он строил планы). It was evident that any active life was out of the question (было очевидно, что о любой активной жизни не могло быть и речи; out — вне; question — /обсуждаемый/вопрос), but he could live on the islands (но он мог бы жить на этих островах), and the small income he had (и тот небольшой доход, /который/ он имел), insufficient elsewhere (недостаточный где-либо в другом месте), would be ample to keep him (был бы достаточным, чтобы обеспечивать его /здесь/). He could grow coconuts (он мог бы выращивать кокосы = кокосовые пальмы); that would give him an occupation (это дало бы ему какое-то занятие); and he would send for his books and a piano (и он бы послал за своими книгами и роялем); but his quick mind saw that in all this (но его живой ум видел, что за всем этим) he was merely trying to conceal from himself the desire (он просто пытается скрыть от себя самого то желание) which obsessed him (которое овладело им).

cough [kOf], disease [dI`zJz], exhilarate [Ig`zIlqreIt]

It did not take Neilson long to discover that he was in love with her. It was only by an effort of will now that he prevented himself from going every day to the creek, and when he was not with Sally his thoughts were. At first, looking upon himself as a dying man, he asked only to look at her, and occasionally hear her speak, and his love gave him a wonderful happiness. He exulted in its purity. He wanted nothing from her but the opportunity to weave around her graceful person a web of beautiful fancies. But the open air, the equable temperature, the rest, the simple fare, began to have an unexpected effect on his health. His temperature did not soar at night to such alarming heights, he coughed less and began to put on weight; six months passed without his having a haemorrhage; and on a sudden he saw the possibility that he might live. He had studied his disease carefully, and the hope dawned upon him that with great care he might arrest its course. It exhilarated him to look forward once more to the future. He made plans. It was evident that any active life was out of the question, but he could live on the islands, and the small income he had, insufficient elsewhere, would be ample to keep him. He could grow coconuts; that would give him an occupation; and he would send for his books and a piano; but his quick mind saw that in all this he was merely trying to conceal from himself the desire which obsessed him.

He wanted Sally (ему нужна была Салли; to want— хотеть; нуждаться). He loved not only her beauty (он любил не только ее красоту), but that dim soul which he divined behind her suffering eyes (но /и/ ту неясную душу, которую он увидел: «угадал» за ее страдальческими глазами). He would intoxicate her with his passion (он бы опьянил ее своей страстью). In the end he would make her forget (в конце концов он бы заставил ее забыть). And in an ecstasy of surrender (и когда она сдастся; in — в; ecstasy — экстаз, исступленный восторг; to surrender — сдаваться; уступать) he fancied himself giving her too the happiness (он представлял себя дающим ей тоже то счастье) which he had thought never to know again (которое, /как/ он думал, /он/ никогда /не/ познает снова), but had now so miraculously achieved (но /которое он/ теперь таким чудесным образом обрел; to achieve — достичь; добиться).

He asked her to live with him (он попросил = предложил ей жить с ним). She refused (она отказалась). He had expected that (он ожидал этого) and did not let it depress him (и не дал: «не позволил» этому огорчить себя), for he was sure that sooner or later she would yield (ибо он был уверен, что рано или поздно она уступит). His love was irresistible (его любви невозможно было противостоять; to resist— сопротивляться). He told the old woman of his wishes (он рассказал старухе о своих желаниях), and found somewhat to his surprise (и обнаружил к некоторому своему удивлению) that she and the neighbours, long aware of them (что она и соседи /уже/ давно знали о них; aware— знающий, осведомленный), were strongly urging Sally to accept his offer (/и/ энергично убеждали Салли принять его предложение). After all, every native was glad to keep house for a white man (в конце концов, каждый туземец был рад вести хозяйство для какого-нибудь белого человека), and Neilson according to the standards of the island was a rich one (а Нилсон, по стандартам этого острова, был богатым белым; according to— в соответствии с; согласно). The trader with whom he boarded (торговец, у которого он проживал) went to her and told her not to be a fool (пошел к ней и сказал ей не быть дурой); such an opportunity would not come again (такой возможности больше не представится; again— опять), and after so long she could not still believe (и после стольких лет она не может все еще верить /в то/; long— длинный; долгий; долго) that Red would ever return (что Рыжий когда-нибудь вернется). The girl’s resistance only increased Neilson’s desire (сопротивление девушки только усиливало желание Нилсона), and what had been a very pure love (и /то/, что /раньше/ было такой чистой любовью) now became an agonising passion (стало = превратилось теперь в мучительную страсть). He was determined that nothing should stand in his way (он твердо решил, что ничто /не/ встанет на его пути; determined— решившийся; полный решимости). He gave Sally no peace (он не давал Салли покоя). At last, worn out by his persistence (наконец, уставшая от его настойчивости; to persist— упорствовать) and the persuasions, by turns pleading and angry (и этих уговоров, то умоляющих, то сердитых; to persuade— убеждать; склонять;by turns— по очереди), of everyone around her (/исходящих/ от каждого/всех вокруг нее), she consented (она согласилась).

miraculous [mI`rxkjulqs], irresistible ["IrI`zIstqbl], neighbour [`neIbq]

He wanted Sally. He loved not only her beauty, but that dim soul which he divined behind her suffering eyes. He would intoxicate her with his passion. In the end he would make her forget. And in an ecstasy of surrender he fancied himself giving her too the happiness which he had thought never to know again, but had now so miraculously achieved.

He asked her to live with him. She refused. He had expected that and did not let it depress him, for he was sure that sooner or later she would yield. His love was irresistible. He told the old woman of his wishes, and found somewhat to his surprise that she and the neighbours, long aware of them, were strongly urging Sally to accept his offer. After all, every native was glad to keep house for a white man, and Neilson according to the standards of the island was a rich one. The trader with whom he boarded went to her and told her not to be a fool; such an opportunity would not come again, and after so long she could not still believe that Red would ever return. The girl’s resistance only increased Neilson’s desire, and what had been a very pure love now became an agonising passion. He was determined that nothing should stand in his way. He gave Sally no peace. At last, worn out by his persistence and the persuasions, by turns pleading and angry, of everyone around her, she consented.

But the day after (но на следующий день), when exultant he went to see her (когда, ликующий, он пошел навестить ее) he found that in the night she had burnt down the hut (он обнаружил, что ночью она сожгла дотла ту хижину) in which she and Red had lived together (в которой она и Рыжий жили вместе). The old crone ran towards him full of angry abuse of Sally (старая карга бежала к нему, сердито ругая Салли: «полная сердитой ругани в адрес Салли»), but he waved her aside (но он отмахнулся от нее); it did not matter (это не имело значения); they would build a bungalow on the place where the hut had stood (они построят бунгало на том месте, где стояла хижина). A European house would really be more convenient (европейский дом был бы, в самом деле, удобнее) if he wanted to bring out a piano and a vast number of books (если он хотел вывезти = привезти сюда рояль и огромное количество книг).

And so the little wooden house was built (так и был построен маленький деревянный дом) in which he had now lived for many years (в котором он уже прожил много лет), and Sally became his wife (а Салли стала его женой). But after the first few weeks of rapture (но после первых нескольких недель восторга), during which he was satisfied with what she gave him (в течение которых он был доволен: «удовлетворен» тем, что она давала ему), he had known little happiness (он познал мало счастья). She had yielded to him, through weariness (она уступила ему, устав /сопротивляться/: «от усталости»), but she had only yielded what she set no store on (но она уступила только /то/, чему /не/ придавала никакого значения). The soul which he had dimly glimpsed escaped him (та душа, которую он неясно увидел мельком, ускользнула от него). He knew that she cared nothing for him (он знал, что она совсем не любит его; to care— заботиться; питать интерес, любовь;nothing— ничего; нисколько). She still loved Red (она все еще любила Рыжего), and all the time she was waiting for his return (и все время ждала его возвращения). At a sign from him (и если бы он только объявился: «при каком-нибудь знаке от него»), Neilson knew that (Нилсон знал это), notwithstanding his love (/то/ несмотря на его любовь), his tenderness (его нежность), his sympathy (его сочувствие), his generosity (его щедрость), she would leave him without a moment’s hesitation (она бы ушла от него без малейшего колебания; to leave — покидать; оставлять; moment — момент; мгновение). She would never give a thought to his distress (она бы никогда /даже и не/ подумала о его = причиненном ему горе).

escape [Is`keIp], notwithstanding ["nOtwIT`stxndIN], generosity ["Genq`rOsItI]

But the day after, when exultant he went to see her he found that in the night she had burnt down the hut in which she and Red had lived together. The old crone ran towards him full of angry abuse of Sally, but he waved her aside; it did not matter; they would build a bungalow on the place where the hut had stood. A European house would really be more convenient if he wanted to bring out a piano and a vast number of books.

And so the little wooden house was built in which he had now lived for many years, and Sally became his wife. But after the first few weeks of rapture, during which he was satisfied with what she gave him, he had known little happiness. She had yielded to him, through weariness, but she had only yielded what she set no store on. The soul which he had dimly glimpsed escaped him. He knew that she cared nothing for him. She still loved Red, and all the time she was waiting for his return. At a sign from him, Neilson knew that, notwithstanding his love, his tenderness, his sympathy, his generosity, she would leave him without a moment’s hesitation. She would never give a thought to his distress.