Английский язык с Джеромом К. Джеромом. Трое в лодке, не считая собаки

Our feet were undoubtedly the leading article in that photograph (наши ноги, несомненно, были главной деталью на той фотографии; leading article — передовица, передовая статья). Indeed, very little else was to be seen (в самом деле, очень мало другого было видно). They filled up the foreground entirely (они полностью заполнили передний план). Behind them, you caught glimpses of the other boats, and bits of the surrounding scenery (за ними можно было разглядеть очертания других лодок и немного: «кусочки» окружающего пейзажа; to catch a glimpse of — увидеть на мгновение, мельком); but everything and everybody else in the lock looked so utterly insignificant and paltry compared with our feet (но все другое в этом шлюзе выглядело настолько незначительно и ничтожно по сравнению с нашими ногами; utterly — весьма, крайне, очень), that all the other people felt quite ashamed of themselves, and refused to subscribe to the picture (что все остальные почувствовали себя совсем пристыженными и отказались приобрести фотографию; to subscribe — жертвовать деньги, подписываться, приобретать по подписке).

machine [mǝˈʃi:n] scenery [ˈsi:nǝrɪ] paltry [ˈpɔ:ltrɪ]

We did not come out well in that photograph, George and I. Of course, as was to be expected, our luck ordained it, that the man should set his wretched machine in motion at the precise moment that we were both lying on our backs with a wild expression of "Where am I? and what is it?" on our faces, and our four feet waving madly in the air.

Our feet were undoubtedly the leading article in that photograph. Indeed, very little else was to be seen. They filled up the foreground entirely. Behind them, you caught glimpses of the other boats, and bits of the surrounding scenery; but everything and everybody else in the lock looked so utterly insignificant and paltry compared with our feet, that all the other people felt quite ashamed of themselves, and refused to subscribe to the picture.

The owner of one steam launch, who had bespoke six copies (владелец одного из паровых баркасов, который заказал шесть экземпляров; to bespeak — заказывать заранее), rescinded the order on seeing the negative (отменил заказ, увидев негатив). He said he would take them if anybody could show him his launch (сказал, что возьмет их, если кто-нибудь покажет ему его баркас), but nobody could (но никто не смог). It was somewhere behind George's right foot (он был где-то позади правой ноги Джорджа).

There was a good deal of unpleasantness over the business (с этим делом возникло много неприятностей). The photographer thought we ought to take a dozen copies each (фотограф считал, что мы должны взять по дюжине экземпляров каждый), seeing that the photo was about nine-tenths us, but we declined (видя, что снимок на девять десятых /состоит/ из нас, но мы отказались). We said we had no objection to being photo'd full-length (мы сказали, что не возражаем, чтобы нас снимали во весь рост), but we preferred being taken the right way up (но предпочитаем, чтобы нас фотографировали в правильном, вертикальном положении).

rescinded [rɪˈsɪndɪd] declined [dɪˈklaɪnd]

The owner of one steam launch, who had bespoke six copies, rescinded the order on seeing the negative. He said he would take them if anybody could show him his launch, but nobody could. It was somewhere behind George's right foot.

There was a good deal of unpleasantness over the business. The photographer thought we ought to take a dozen copies each, seeing that the photo was about nine-tenths us, but we declined. We said we had no objection to being photo'd full-length, but we preferred being taken the right way up.