Джон Толкиен - Английский язык с Дж. Р. Р. Толкиеном. Хоббит

The old Master had come to a bad end (старый Глава Города плохо кончил). Bard had given him much gold for the help of the Lake-people (Бард отдал ему много золота, чтобы помочь Людям-с-Озера), but being of the kind that easily catches such disease (но так как он был из людей такого сорта, что легко подхватывают подобные болезни) he fell under the dragon-sickness (то он заболел драконьей болезнью; to fall under smth. — подвергаться чему-либо, испытать что-либо ), and took most of the gold (и забрал большую часть золота) and fled with it (и сбежал с ним), and died of starvation in the Waste (и умер от голода в Пустыне), deserted by his companions (покинутый своими товарищами).

memoir [ˈmemwɑ: ] extensive [ɪkˈstensɪv] refound [ri: ˈfaʋnd] disease [dɪˈzi: z]

One autumn evening some years afterwards Bilbo was sitting in his study writing his memoirs — he thought of calling them “There and Back Again, a Hobbit’s Holiday” — when there was a ring at the door. It was Gandalf and a dwarf; and the dwarf was actually Balin.

“Come in! Come in!” said Bilbo, and soon they were settled in chairs by the fire. If Balin noticed that Mr. Baggins’ waistcoat was more extensive (and had real gold buttons), Bilbo also noticed that Balin’s beard was several inches longer, and his jewelled belt was of great magnificence. They fell to talking of their times together, of course, and Bilbo asked how things were going in the lands of the Mountain. It seemed they were going very well. Bard had rebuilt the town in Dale and men had gathered to him from the Lake and from South and West, and all the valley had become tilled again and rich, and the desolation was now filled with birds and blossoms in spring and fruit and feasting in autumn. And Lake-town was refounded and was more prosperous than ever, and much wealth went up and down the Running River; and there was friendship in those parts between elves and dwarves and men. The old Master had come to a bad end. Bard had given him much gold for the help of the Lake-people, but being of the kind that easily catches such disease he fell under the dragon-sickness, and took most of the gold and fled with it, and died of starvation in the Waste, deserted by his companions.

“The new Master is of wiser kind (новый Глава более мудрый; wise — мудрый, умный, разумный ), ” said Balin, “and very popular (и очень популярен), for, of course, he gets most of the credit (так как, конечно же, он ставит себе в заслугу; to get credit for smth — приписывать себе честь чего-либо, ставить себе в заслугу что-либо; credit — вера, репутация, честь, заслуга ) for the present prosperity (нынешнее процветание). They are making songs (они слагают песни) which say that in his day the rivers run with gold (в которых говорится, что в его дни реки текут золотом). ”

“Then the prophecies of the old songs (тогда пророчества старых песен; prophecy — предсказание, пророчество, прорицание ) have turned out to be true (оказались правдой: «подтвердились»; toturnout—закончитьсяс определенным результатом, стать, сделаться, оказаться ), after a fashion (некоторым образом; fashion — образ, манера, вид, фасон, мода )!” said Bilbo.

“Of course (конечно)!” said Gandalf. “And why should not they prove true (а почему бы им и не сбыться; to prove true — подтвердиться )? Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies (конечно же, вы же не /можете/ не верить пророчествам), because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself (оттого, что сами приложили руку к тому, чтобы они подтвердились; to have a hand in smth. — участвовать в чем-либо )? You don’t really suppose (не полагаете же вы и в самом деле), do you (не так ли), that all your adventures and escapes (что все ваши приключения и /удачные/ побеги) were managed by mere luck (удавались просто по удаче; to manage — справляться, суметь сделать ), just for your sole benefit (исключительно ради вас; for the benefit of smb. — на благо, пользу кого-либо )? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins (вы очень хороший человек, мистер Бэггинс), and I am very fond of you (и я вас очень люблю); but you are only quite a little fellow (но вы всего лишь маленький человечек) in a wide world after all (в огромном мире, несмотря ни на что; after all — после, несмотря на, в конце концов, все же )!”

“Thank goodness (и слава Богу; goodness — доброта, великодушие, ценные качества )!” said Bilbo laughing (сказал Бильбо, смеясь), and handed him the tobacco-jar (и протянул ему табакерку; to hand — передавать, вручать; jar — банка, кувшин, сосуд ).

popular [ˈpɔpjʋlǝ] prophecy [ˈprɔfɪsɪ] disbelieve [ˌdɪsbɪˈli: v] tobacco [tǝˈbækǝʋ] jar [dʒɑ:]

“The new Master is of wiser kind, ” said Balin, “and very popular, for, of course, he gets most of the credit for the present prosperity. They are making songs which say that in his day the rivers run with gold. ” “Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out to be true, after a fashion!” said Bilbo.

“Of course!” said Gandalf. “And why should not they prove true? Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!”

“Thank goodness!” said Bilbo laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar.