In later years, Reading seems to have been regarded as a handy place to run down to, when matters were becoming unpleasant in London. Parliament generally rushed off to Reading whenever there was a plague on at Westminster; and, in 1625, the Law followed suit, and all the courts were held at Reading. It must have been worth while having a mere ordinary plague now and then in London to get rid of both the lawyers and the Parliament.

During the Parliamentary struggle, Reading was besieged by the Earl of Essex, and, a quarter of a century later, the Prince of Orange routed King James's troops there.

Henry I. lies buried at Reading, in the Benedictine abbey founded by him there, the ruins of which may still be seen; and, in this same abbey, great John of Gaunt was married to the Lady Blanche.

At Reading lock we came up with a steam launch, belonging to some friends of mine (у Рэдингского шлюза мы поравнялись с паровым баркасом, принадлежащим одним моим приятелям), and they towed us up to within about a mile of Streatley (и они буксировали нас до расстояния примерно в милю до Стритли = почти до Стритли). It is very delightful being towed up by a launch (очень приятно, когда вас тянет на буксире баркас). I prefer it myself to rowing (сам я предпочитаю это гребле). The run would have been more delightful still (поездка была бы еще приятнее; run — /за/бег; плавание, короткая поездка), if it had not been for a lot of wretched small boats (если бы не множество жалких маленьких лодочек) that were continually getting in the way of our launch (которые постоянно попадались на пути/мешали нашему баркасу), and, to avoid running down which, we had to be continually easing and stopping (и чтобы избежать потопления которых = чтобы не потопить их, нам приходилось все время замедлять ход и останавливаться; to run down — сбить, переехать; столкнуться; топить /в результате столкновения/). It is really most annoying, the manner in which these rowing boats get in the way of one's launch up the river (действительно очень раздражает манера, в которой эти гребные лодки мешают = привычка этих гребных лодок мешать движению парового баркаса на реке); something ought to be done to stop it (необходимо что-то сделать, чтобы остановить их).

And they are so confoundedly impertinent, too, over it (и они еще страшно нахальны /при этом/). You can whistle till you nearly burst your boiler before they will trouble themselves to hurry (можете = приходится свистеть, пока почти не взорвется котел, прежде чем они соблаговолят поторопиться). I would have one or two of them run down now and then (я бы топил пару лодок время от времени), if I had my way, just to teach them all a lesson (будь моя воля, просто чтобы преподать им всем урок).

impertinent [m'p:tnnt] trouble [trbl]

At Reading lock we came up with a steam launch, belonging to some friends of mine, and they towed us up to within about a mile of Streatley. It is very delightful being towed up by a launch. I prefer it myself to rowing. The run would have been more delightful still, if it had not been for a lot of wretched small boats that were continually getting in the way of our launch, and, to avoid running down which, we had to be continually easing and stopping. It is really most annoying, the manner in which these rowing boats get in the way of one's launch up the river; something ought to be done to stop it.

And they are so confoundedly impertinent, too, over it. You can whistle till you nearly burst your boiler before they will trouble themselves to hurry. I would have one or two of them run down now and then, if I had my way, just to teach them all a lesson.