Английский язык с Джонатаном Свифтом. Путешествия Гулливера

They already had ladders at the walls of the apartment (к стенам покоев уже приставили лестницы). They also had plenty of buckets (также имелось много ведер; plenty — /из/обилие; множество), but the water was some distance away (но вода находилась на некотором удалении = довольно далеко). These buckets were about the size of a large thimble (ведра эти были величиной с большой наперсток). The people gave them to me as fast as they could (люди подавали их мне так быстро, как /только/ могли), but the flames were so strong (но пламя было так сильно) that they did little good (что толку от них было мало). I could easily have put out the fire with my coat (я мог бы легко затушить огонь/пожар своим кафтаном), but unfortunately I had left it behind in my hurry (но, к несчастью, я второпях его не надел: «оставил /дома/»; behind — сзади, позади). The situation was desperate (положение было отчаянное). The beautiful palace would surely have burnt to the ground (прекрасный дворец, несомненно, сгорел бы дотла: «до земли/основания»; beauty — красота) if I had not suddenly had an idea (если бы мне внезапно не пришла в голову /одна удачная/ мысль).

already [Ll'redI], easily ['JzIlI], beautiful ['bjHtIfVl]

They already had ladders at the walls of the apartment. They also had plenty of buckets, but the water was some distance away. These buckets were about the size of a large thimble. The people gave them to me as fast as they could, but the flames were so strong that they did little good. I could easily have put out the fire with my coat, but unfortunately I had left it behind in my hurry. The situation was desperate. The beautiful palace would surely have burnt to the ground if I had not suddenly had an idea.

During the evening (в продолжение вечера) I had been drinking a most delicious wine (я пил превосходнейшее вино; delicious — восхитительный, прелестный; очень вкусный, бесподобный). By the luckiest chance in the world I had not yet urinated (по счастливейшей случайности я еще /ни разу/ не помочился), so I relieved myself in such quantities (и потому сделал это /теперь/ в таком количестве; to relieve — облегчать, ослаблять; освобождать /от чего-л./) that in three minutes the fire was completely out (что в /какие-нибудь/ три минуты огонь был совершенно потушен; out — вне, снаружи; указывает на окончание, завершение, исчезновение чего-л.).

evening ['JvnIN], delicious [dI'lISqs], quantity ['kwOntItI]

During the evening I had been drinking a most delicious wine. By the luckiest chance in the world I had not yet urinated, so I relieved myself in such quantities that in three minutes the fire was completely out.

It was now daylight (между тем стало совсем светло; daylight — дневной свет; день, светлое время суток) and I returned to the house (и я возвратился домой) without waiting to be thanked by the Emperor (не ожидая благодарности от императора). Although I had done His Majesty a great service (хотя я оказал его величеству большую услугу), I didn't know what he would say to the way (я не знал, как он отнесется к способу: «что он скажет по поводу способа») in which I had performed it (каким она была оказана). It was against the law of the kingdom to urinate in the palace grounds (мочиться на территории дворца было нарушением законов государства: «было против закона»). I was comforted a little later on to hear (позднее меня немного успокоило сообщение; to comfort — подбадривать; утешать, успокаивать) that His Majesty would try to have me pardoned (/о том/, что его величество постарается сделать так, чтобы меня помиловали; to pardon — извинять, прощать; миловать).

urinate ['jVqrIneIt], comfort ['kAmfqt], hear [hIq]

It was now daylight and I returned to the house without waiting to be thanked by the Emperor. Although I had done His Majesty a great service, I didn't know what he would say to the way in which I had performed it. It was against the law of the kingdom to urinate in the palace grounds. I was comforted a little later on to hear that His Majesty would try to have me pardoned.