Английский язык с Джонатаном Свифтом. Путешествия Гулливера

It had been generally accepted that the correct way to take the top off an egg before eating it was by breaking the larger end. But the King's grandfather, when he was a boy, happened to cut one of his fingers while breaking the top off his egg in this usual way. So the boy's father, the Emperor, made a law ordering all his people to break their eggs at the smaller end.

The people hated this law so much (люди возненавидели этот закон так сильно = до такой степени) that it had caused six rebellions (что он стал причиной шести восстаний). One Emperor even lost his life (один император даже потерял жизнь) and another his crown (а другой — корону). Over the years (на протяжении многих лет), eleven thousand people had suffered death (одиннадцать тысяч человек пошли на казнь; to suffer — страдать; испытывать, претерпевать; to suffer death — подвергаться смертной казни) rather than break their eggs at the smaller end (лишь бы не разбивать яйца с острого конца; rather — лучше, охотнее, предпочтительнее). Many Big-Endians had left Lilliput and gone to live in Blefuscu (многие тупоконечники покинули Лилипутию и переселились: «отправились жить» в Блефуску). Hundreds of books had been written about this dispute (были написаны сотни книг, посвященных этому спору: «об этом споре»; to write). But the books written by the Big-Endians had been banned (но книги, написанные тупоконечниками, были запрещены).

rebellion [rI'beljqn], rather ['rRDq], live [lIv]

The people hated this law so much that it had caused six rebellions. One Emperor even lost his life and another his crown. Over the years, eleven thousand people had suffered death rather than break their eggs at the smaller end. Many Big-Endians had left Lilliput and gone to live in Blefuscu. Hundreds of books had been written about this dispute. But the books written by the Big-Endians had been banned.

The Big-Endians, who were welcomed in Blefuscu (тупоконечники, которые были радушно приняты в Блефуску), had gained so much support from their party at home (получили такую поддержку со стороны своих единомышленников на родине; party — сторона в сражении, споре; участник, соучастник; группа; политическая партия) that a bloody war had been going on between the two Empires for three years (что кровавая война между двумя = обеими империями продолжается /уже/ в течение трех лет; to go on — идти дальше; продолжать/ся/; длиться). During this time, the Lilliputians had lost forty ships (за это время лилипуты потеряли сорок крупных кораблей; ship — корабль; трехмачтовая шхуна) and many more smaller vessels (намного больше малых: «меньших» судов; vessel — сосуд; судно, корабль). They had also lost thirty thousand seamen and soldiers (также они лишились тридцати тысяч моряков и солдат). The damage received by the enemy was thought to be even greater (полагают, что ущерб, понесенный: «полученный» противником, еще больше/значительнее: «ущерб… считается еще более значительным»).

welcome ['welkqm], bloody ['blAdI], even ['Jv(q)n]

The Big-Endians, who were welcomed in Blefuscu, had gained so much support from their party at home that a bloody war had been going on between the two Empires for three years. During this time, the Lilliputians had lost forty ships and many more smaller vessels. They had also lost thirty thousand seamen and soldiers. The damage received by the enemy was thought to be even greater.