Английский язык с Джонатаном Свифтом. Путешествия Гулливера

I could see a good deal of the countryside from the top of the hill. There were a lot of fields and a number of different crops. But it was the length of the grass that surprised me most. It was more than twenty feet high. I began to walk along what seemed to be a main road.

As soon as I began walking down this road (как только я начал идти по этой дороге = ступил на эту дорогу) I could no longer see the countryside on either side of me (я уже не мог видеть окрестностей ни с одной стороны; either — любой, каждый /из двух/; тот и другой; оба). Corn grew on both sides to a height of at least forty feet (хлеба по обеим сторонам /дороги/ росли = достигали в вышину не менее сорока футов; corn — зерно; зерновые хлеба; бобовые; злаки; to grow). It took me an hour to walk past the corn (мне потребовался час, чтобы пройти через все поле; past — мимо; за пределы /чего-л./), after which I came to a hedge (после чего я вышел к живой изгороди) and some very tall trees (с несколькими очень высоким деревьям). There was a stile in the hedge (у изгороди находились приступки; stile — ступеньки для перехода через забор или стену; перелаз; приступки /у изгороди/). The trees were so tall (деревья были такими большими) that I was quite unable to guess their height (что я совсем не мог определить их высоту; to guess — /у/гадать, догад/ыв/аться; приблизительно определять). The hedge seemed to be at least one hundred and twenty feet high (изгородь имела, по-видимому, не менее ста двадцати футов вышины).

height [haIt], unable [An'eIb(q)l], guess [ges]

As soon as I began walking down this road I could no longer see the countryside on either side of me. Corn grew on both sides to a height of at least forty feet. It took me an hour to walk past the corn, after which I came to a hedge and some very tall trees. There was a stile in the hedge. The trees were so tall that I was quite unable to guess their height. The hedge seemed to be at least one hundred and twenty feet high.

The stile had four steps (лестница /через изгородь/ имела четыре ступени) and a larger stone to cross over at the top (и камень большего размера сверху, через который нужно было перешагнуть; cross — крест; to cross /over smth./ — пересекать, переходить /через что-л./; over относится к stone). I could see (я понимал: «мог видеть/понять») that I would never be able to climb over it (что мне никогда не удастся перебраться через нее = эту лестницу). Each of the steps was taller than my own height (каждая из ступеней была выше моего роста) and the large stone on the top (а большой камень сверху) seemed to be about twenty feet high (имел, по-видимому, около двадцати футов вышины). I began to look for a gap in the hedge (я начал искать /какую-нибудь/ щель/дыру в изгороди) that I could climb through (сквозь которую я смог бы пролезть). Suddenly I saw a monster on the far side of the hedge coming towards the stile (вдруг на другой: «дальней» стороне изгороди я увидел исполина, идущего к лестнице). He was the same size as the one (он был такой же величины, как тот) I had seen in the sea chasing our boat (которого я видел в море гонящимся за лодкой). I have never in my life been so frightened (никогда в жизни я не был так напуган). I ran back and hid in the corn (я побежал назад и спрятался в хлебах; to hide). This monster was a man (чудовище это было мужчиной/человеком), as tall as a church spire (высотой с церковный шпиль).

hedge [heG], through [TrH], spire ['spaIq]

The stile had four steps and a larger stone to cross over at the top. I could see that I would never be able to climb over it. Each of the steps was taller than my own height and the large stone on the top seemed to be about twenty feet high. I began to look for a gap in the hedge that I could climb through. Suddenly I saw a monster on the far side of the hedge coming towards the stile. He was the same size as the one I had seen in the sea chasing our boat. I have never in my life been so frightened. I ran back and hid in the corn. This monster was a man, as tall as a church spire.