Эдгар Берроуз - Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса

withdraw [wID'drL], peaceful ['pi: sful], mission [mISn]

As the silence became painful I concluded to hazard a little conversation on my own part, as I had guessed that he was making overtures of peace. The throwing down of his weapons and the withdrawing of his troop before his advance toward me would have signified a peaceful mission anywhere on Earth, so why not, then, on Mars!

Placing my hand over my heart (положив руку на сердце) I bowed low to the Martian (я низко поклонился марсианину) and explained to him that while I did not understand his language (и объяснил ему, что, хотя я и не понимаю его языка), his actions spoke for the peace and friendship (его поступки говорят о мире и дружбе) that at the present moment were most dear to my heart (которые в настоящий момент чрезвычайно дороги моему сердцу). Of course I might have been a babbling brook (конечно, я мог быть /просто/ говорливым ручейком = говорить все, что угодно; to babble — болтать; brook — ручей ) for all the intelligence my speech carried to him (по всему тому смыслу, /который/ моя речь могла донести до него = мои слова были непонятны; intelligence — ум; сведения ), but he understood the action (но он понял действие) with which I immediately followed my words (которое немедленно последовало за моими словами).

friendship ['frendSIp], babbling ['bxblIN], immediately [I'mJdjqtlI]

Placing my hand over my heart I bowed low to the Martian and explained to him that while I did not understand his language, his actions spoke for the peace and friendship that at the present moment were most dear to my heart. Of course I might have been a babbling brook for all the intelligence my speech carried to him, but he understood the action with which I immediately followed my words.

Stretching my hand toward him (протянув руку к нему), I advanced and took the armlet from his open palm (я приблизился и взял браслет с его открытой ладони), clasping it about my arm above the elbow (и надел его на руку выше локтя), smiled at him and stood waiting (улыбнулся ему и остался стоять, выжидая). His wide mouth spread into an answering smile (его широкий рот растянулся в ответной улыбке), and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine (и он сжал одной из своих промежуточных рук мою; to lock — сжимать, стискивать ), we turned and walked back toward his mount (мы повернулись и направились назад к его верховому животному). At the same time he motioned his followers to advance (в то же время он сделал знак своим подчиненным приблизиться; to motion — показать жестом, знаком; follower — последователь; to follow smb. — следовать за кем-либо ). They started toward us on a wild run (они бросились к нам стремглав: «диким бегом»), but were checked by a signal from him (но были остановлены его сигналом; to check — останавливать, сдерживать ). Evidently he feared that were I to be really frightened again (очевидно, он опасался, что если я действительно испугаюсь вновь) I might jump entirely out of the landscape (то я совсем выпрыгну из пейзажа: «исчезну из поля зрения»).

advance [qd'vQ: ns], motion [mouSn], frighten [fraItn], landscape ['lxnskeIp]

Stretching my hand toward him, I advanced and took the armlet from his open palm, clasping it about my arm above the elbow, smiled at him and stood waiting. His wide mouth spread into an answering smile, and locking one of his intermediary arms in mine, we turned and walked back toward his mount. At the same time he motioned his followers to advance. They started toward us on a wild run, but were checked by a signal from him. Evidently he feared that were I to be really frightened again I might jump entirely out of the landscape.

He exchanged a few words with his men (он обменялся несколькими словами со своими людьми), motioned to me that I would ride behind one of them (показал знаком, чтобы я ехал позади одного из них), and then mounted his own animal (а затем сел верхом на свое собственное животное). The fellow designated reached down two or three hands (назначенный /для выполнения этой задачи/ тип протянул две или три руки; to designate — указывать; назначать /например, на должность/ ) and lifted me up behind him on the glossy back of his mount (и поднял меня вверх, /посадив/ сзади себя на сверкающую спину своего коня), where I hung on as best as I could by the belts and straps (где я цеплялся как только мог за ремни и перевязи; to hang on — держаться, уцепиться ) which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments (которыми крепилось оружие и украшения марсианина).

The entire cavalcade then turned (затем вся кавалькада повернула) and galloped away toward the range of hills in the distance (и понеслась галопом по направлению к гряде холмов, /видневшихся/ вдали).

reach [ri: tS], designate ['dezIgneIt], cavalcade ["kxvl'keId], distance ['dIst(q)ns]

He exchanged a few words with his men, motioned to me that I would ride behind one of them, and then mounted his own animal. The fellow designated reached down two or three hands and lifted me up behind him on the glossy back of his mount, where I hung on as best as I could by the belts and straps which held the Martian's weapons and ornaments.

The entire cavalcade then turned and galloped away toward the range of hills in the distance.

We had gone perhaps ten miles (мы проехали около десяти миль) when the ground began to rise very rapidly (когда поверхность земли стала повышаться очень быстро). We were, as I was later to learn (мы, как я узнал позже), nearing the edge of one of Mars' long-dead seas (приближались к берегу одного из марсианских давно высохших морей), in the bottom of which my encounter with the Martians had taken place (на дне которого состоялась моя встреча с марсианами).

perhaps [pq'hxps], rapid ['rxpId], near [nIq]

We had gone perhaps ten miles when the ground began to rise very rapidly. We were, as I was later to learn, nearing the edge of one of Mars' long-dead seas, in the bottom of which my encounter with the Martians had taken place.

In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains (вскоре мы достигли подножия гор), and after traversing a narrow gorge (и после того, как /мы/ пересекли узкое ущелье) came to an open valley (выехали на открытую долину), at the far extremity of which was a low table land (на дальнем конце которой было низкое плоскогорье; extremity — конец, край ) upon which I beheld an enormous city (на котором я увидел огромный город; to behold — смотреть, созерцать ). Toward this we galloped (и именно к нему мы помчались галопом), entering it by what appeared to be a ruined roadway (приближаясь к нему: «входя в него» по тому, что выглядело как разрушенная дорога) leading out from the city (ведущая от города), but only to the edge of the table land (но только до края плоскогорья), where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps (где она внезапно обрывалась, /переходя/ в лестницу из широких ступенек; flight — полет; лестничный пролет ).

traverse ['trxvWs], ruined ['rHInd], abruptly [q'brAptlI]

In a short time we gained the foot of the mountains, and after traversing a narrow gorge came to an open valley, at the far extremity of which was a low table land upon which I beheld an enormous city. Toward this we galloped, entering it by what appeared to be a ruined roadway leading out from the city, but only to the edge of the table land, where it ended abruptly in a flight of broad steps.

Upon closer observation I saw, as we passed them (при ближайшем рассмотрении я заметил, когда мы проезжали мимо них), that the buildings were deserted (что здания были покинуты; to desert — бросать, покидать; deserted — пустынный ), and while not greatly decayed (и хотя еще не сильно разрушились; to decay — ветшать, разрушаться ) had the appearance of not having been tenanted for years (выглядели так, как будто они были необитаемыми годами; to tenant — нанимать; жить; tenant — наниматель, арендатор, съемщик: «держатель» /фр./ ), possibly for ages (возможно, веками). Toward the center of the city was a large plaza (в центре: «к центру» города была большая площадь), and upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it (и на ней, и в зданиях, непосредственно окружающих ее) were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors (расположились лагерем девять или десять сотен существ той же породы, что и мои захватчики ; breed — порода ), for such I now considered them (так как именно так я теперь расценивал их; to consider — рассматривать; полагать, считать ) despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped (несмотря на учтивую манеру, с которой я был пойман в ловушку; suave — учтивый, обходительный; to trap — ставить капкан; заманивать в ловушку ).

observation ["Obzq'veISn], surrounding [sq'raundIN], suave [swRv]

Upon closer observation I saw, as we passed them, that the buildings were deserted, and while not greatly decayed had the appearance of not having been tenanted for years, possibly for ages. Toward the center of the city was a large plaza, and upon this and in the buildings immediately surrounding it were camped some nine or ten hundred creatures of the same breed as my captors, for such I now considered them despite the suave manner in which I had been trapped.