Английский для смелых. Истории о духах и привидениях / Great Ghost Stories

‘I, sir, paused, investigated, believed (я, сэр, колебался, исследовал, поверил; pause – пауза, перерыв; замешательство, колебания), and was not ashamed to state my convictions to the world (и не постыдился изложить миру свои убеждения; to state – заявлять; формулировать; излагать). I, too, was branded as a visionary (я тоже был заклеймен как мечтатель; visionary – мечтатель; выдумщик, фантазер), held up to ridicule by my contemporaries (выставлен на посмешище моими современниками; to hold up – выставлять, показывать; to ridicule – осмеивать; поднимать на смех), and hooted from that field of science in which I had laboured with honour during all the best years of my life (и был изгнан из той отрасли науки, в которой я пользуясь уважением/честно трудился на протяжении лучших лет своей жизни; hoot – крик совы; гиканье; to hoot – гикать, улюлюкать; прогонять, изгонять с гиканьем; honour – слава, почет, честь; почтение, уважение; благородство, честность). These things happened just three-and-twenty years ago (это случилось как раз двадцать три года назад). Since then, I have lived as you see me living now (с тех пор я живу так, как вы сейчас видите), and the world has forgotten me, as I have forgotten the world (а мир забыл меня, как я забыл мир; to forget). You have my history (вы знаете теперь мою историю).’

‘It is a very sad one (очень печальная история),’ I murmured, scarcely knowing what to answer (пробормотал я, едва представляя, что тут можно сказать; to know – знать; to answer – отвечать).

‘It is a very common one,’ he replied (вполне обычная история, – ответил он; very – очень). ‘I have only suffered for the truth (я только пострадал за правду), as many a better and wiser man has suffered before me (как многие лучше и мудрее /меня/ пострадали до меня).’

 He spoke with bitterness, and, having said thus, relapsed for some minutes into silence. Presently he raised his head from his hands, and added, with an altered voice and manner,

‘I, sir, paused, investigated, believed, and was not ashamed to state my convictions to the world. I, too, was branded as a visionary, held up to ridicule by my contemporaries, and hooted from that field of science in which I had laboured with honour during all the best years of my life. These things happened just three-and-twenty years ago. Since then, I have lived as you see me living now, and the world has forgotten me, as I have forgotten the world. You have my history.’

‘It is a very sad one,’ I murmured, scarcely knowing what to answer.

‘It is a very common one,’ he replied. ‘I have only suffered for the truth, as many a better and wiser man has suffered before me.’

He rose, as if desirous of ending the conversation (он поднялся, словно желая положить конец беседе; desirous of smth. – желающий, жаждущий /чего-либо/), and went over to the window (и подошел к окну).