Oscar Wilde - The Canterville Ghost

perhaps [pə`hæps ] mention [men∫n ] memento [me`mentəυ ]

Perhaps I should mention that Virginia is very anxious that you should allow her to retain the box, as a memento of your unfortunate but misguided ancestor. As it is extremely old, and consequently a good deal out of repair, you may perhaps think fit to comply with her request. For my own part, I confess I am a good deal surprised to find a child of mine expressing sympathy with mediævalism in any form, and can only account for it by the fact that Virginia was born in one of your London suburbs shortly after Mrs. Otis had returned from a trip to Athens.”

Lord Canterville listened very gravely to the worthy Minister's speech (выслушал очень внимательно речь досточтимого посла; gravely — серьезно) , pulling his grey moustache now and then (время от времени потягивая себя за седые усы) to hide an involuntary smile (чтобы скрыть невольную улыбку) and when Mr. Otis had ended (и когда мистер Отис закончил) , he shook him cordially by the hand (он сердечно пожал ему руку) , and said: "My dear sir (мой дорогой сэр) , your charming little daughter rendered my unlucky ancestor, Sir Simon, a very important service (ваша очаровательная дочь оказала моему несчастному предку, сэру Саймону, очень важную услугу) , and I and my family are much indebted to her (и я, и моя семья в большом долгу перед ней; debt — долг) for her marvellous courage and pluck (за ее исключительное мужество и бесстрашие) .

moustache [məs`tα:∫ ] marvellous [`mα:vələs ] debt [det] courage [`kλridζ ]

Lord Canterville listened very gravely to the worthy Minister's speech, pulling his grey moustache now and then to hide an involuntary smile, and when Mr. Otis had ended, he shook him cordially by the hand, and said: "My dear sir, your charming little daughter rendered my unlucky ancestor, Sir Simon, a very important service, and I and my family are much indebted to her for her marvellous courage and pluck.

The jewels are clearly hers (драгоценности, без сомнения, принадлежат ей: «ясно/очевидно ее») , and, egad (и, ей-богу) , I believe that if I were heartless enough to take them from her (я полагаю, что если бы я был таким бессердечным и забрал бы их у нее) , the wicked old fellow would be out of his grave in a fortnight (грешный старик выбрался бы из могилы через две недели) , leading me the devil of a life (показав мне, где черти зимуют; devil of a life — «дьявольская жизнь»; devil — дьявол) . As for their being heirlooms (что касается их принадлежности к наследству; heirloom — фамильная собственность; фамильная ценность; heir — наследник) , nothing is an heirloom that is not so mentioned in a will or legal document (ничто не является наследством, что не указано в завещании или юридическом документе; to mention — упоминать) , and the existence of these jewels has been quite unknown (а о существовании этих драгоценностей ничего не было известно) . I assure you (я уверяю вас) I have no more claim on them than your butler (у меня не больше прав на них, чем у вашего дворецкого) , and when Miss Virginia grows up (и когда мисс Вирджиния подрастет) , I dare say (я смею сказать) , she will be pleased to have pretty things to wear (ей будет приятно носить хорошенькие вещицы) .

heartless [`hα:tlis ] fortnight [`fo:tnαit ] wear [wεə ]

The jewels are clearly hers, and, egad, I believe that if I were heartless enough to take them from her, the wicked old fellow would be out of his grave in a fortnight, leading me the devil of a life. As for their being heirlooms, nothing is an heirloom that is not so mentioned in a will or legal document, and the existence of these jewels has been quite unknown. I assure you I have no more claim on them than your butler, and when Miss Virginia grows up, I dare say she will be pleased to have pretty things to wear.

Besides, you forget (кроме того, вы забыли) Mr. Otis, that you took the furniture and the ghost at a valuation (что вы взяли привидение вместе с мебелью; valuation — оценка, определение ценности) , and anything that belonged to the ghost (и все, что принадлежало призраку) passed at once into your possession (перешло сразу же в вашу собственность) , as, whatever activity Sir Simon may have shown in the corridor at night (так как, какую бы деятельность сэр Саймон не проявлял в коридоре по ночам) in point of law he was really dead (с точки зрения закона он действительно мертв) and you acquired his property by purchase (и вы получили его собственность, купив ее; purchase — приобретение недвижимого имущества в собственность, покупка имущества) ."

possession [pə`ze∫n ] law [lo: ] acquire [ə`kwαiə ] purchase [` pə:t∫əs ]

Besides, you forget, Mr. Otis, that you took the furniture and the ghost at a valuation, and anything that belonged to the ghost passed at once into your possession, as, whatever activity Sir Simon may have shown in the corridor at night, in point of law he was really dead, and you acquired his property by purchase."

Mr. Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville's refusal (был очень расстроен отказом лорда Кентервиля) , and begged him to reconsider his decision (и умолял его изменить свое решение; to reconsider — пересматривать, обдумывать заново; to consider — рассматривать, обсуждать; взвешивать, обдумывать) , but the good-natured peer was quite firm (но добродушный пэр был совершенно непоколебим; firm — крепкий, прочный, твердый) , and finally induced the Minister to allow his daughter to retain the present the ghost had given her (и, наконец, заставил посла разрешить его дочери оставить себе подарок, который призрак дал ей) , and when, in the spring of 1890 (и когда, весной 1890 года) , the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen's first drawing-room (молодая герцогиня Чеширская была представлена в первой гостиной королевы) , on the occasion of her marriage (по поводу ее вступления в брак) , her jewels were the universal theme of admiration (ее драгоценности вызвали всеобщее восхищение; theme — тема) .

decision [di`siζn ] occasion [ə`keiζən ] marriage [`mæridζ ] theme [θi:m ]

Mr. Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville's refusal, and begged him to reconsider his decision, but the good-natured peer was quite firm, and finally induced the Minister to allow his daughter to retain the present the ghost had given her, and when, in the spring of 1890, the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen's first drawing-room on the occasion of her marriage, her jewels were the universal theme of admiration.

For Virginia received the coronet (так как Вирджиния получила диадему) , which is the reward of all good little American girls (которая является наградой всем хорошим маленьким американским девочкам) , and was married to her boy-lover as soon as he came of age (и вышла замуж за своего друга юных лет, как только он достиг совершеннолетия) . They were both so charming (они оба были так очаровательны) , and they loved each other so much (и они так сильно любили друг друга) , that every one was delighted at the match (что все были в восторге от этой пары) , except the old Marchioness of Dumbleton (за исключением старой маркизы Думбльтонской) , who had tried to catch the Duke for one of her seven unmarried daughters (которая пыталась подцепить герцога для одной из своих незамужних дочерей; to catch — поймать) , and had given no less than three expensive dinner-parties for that purpose (и дала не менее трех дорогих обедов для этой цели) , and, strange to say, Mr. Otis himself (и, как ни странно, самого мистера Отиса) .

coronet [`korənit ] reward [ri`wo:d ] age [eidζ ] purpose [`pə:pəs ]

For Virginia received the coronet, which is the reward of all good little American girls, and was married to her boy-lover as soon as he came of age. They were both so charming, and they loved each other so much, that every one was delighted at the match, except the old Marchioness of Dumbleton, who had tried to catch the Duke for one of her seven unmarried daughters, and had given no less than three expensive dinner-parties for that purpose, and, strange to say, Mr. Otis himself.