Английский язык с Энтони Хоупом. Узник Зенды / Anthony Hope. The Prisoner Of Zenda

“We’re all good trenchermen, we Elphbergs,” said he. “But what? – we’re eating dry! Wine, Josef! wine, man! Are we beasts, to eat without drinking? Are we cattle, Josef?”

At this reproof Josef hastened to load the table with bottles.

“Remember tomorrow!” said Fritz.

“Ay – tomorrow!” said old Sapt.

The King drained a bumper to his “Cousin Rudolf,” as he was gracious – or merry – enough to call me; and I drank its fellow to the “Elphberg Red,” whereat he laughed loudly.

Now, be the meat what it might, the wine we drank was beyond all price or praise, and we did it justice. Fritz ventured once to stay the King’s hand.

“What?” cried the King. “Remember you start before I do, Master Fritz – you must be more sparing by two hours than I.”

Fritz saw that I did not understand.

“The colonel and I,” he explained, “leave here at six (мы с полковником, – объяснил он, – выезжаем отсюда в шесть): we ride down to Zenda and return with the guard of honour (мы поскачем в Зенду и вернемся с почетным караулом) to fetch the King at eight (чтобы заехать за королем в восемь; to fetch – принести, привести; заезжать, заходить /за кем-л./), and then we all ride together to the station (а затем вместе направимся: «поедем верхом» к железнодорожной станции).”

“Hang that same guard!” growled Sapt (черт подери этот караул, – проворчал Сэпт; same – тот же самый; вышеупомянутый).

“Oh! it’s very civil of my brother to ask the honour for his regiment (о, это очень вежливо со стороны моего брата просить /оказать/ честь его полку),” said the King. “Come, cousin, you need not start early (ну же, кузен, вам не нужно вставать рано). Another bottle, man! (еще бутылку, парень)”

I had another bottle – or, rather, a part of one (я выпил еще бутылку, или, скорее, ее часть; to have – иметь, обладать; есть, пить), for the larger half travelled quickly down his Majesty’s throat (поскольку большая ее половина незамедлительно отправилась в глотку его величества; to travel – путешествовать; перемещаться; quickly – быстро, стремительно). Fritz gave up his attempts at persuasion (Фриц бросил свои попытки разубедить /его/; persuasion – убеждение): from persuading, he fell to being persuaded (из убеждающего он стал убеждаемым; to fall – падать; оказываться в каком-л. положении), and soon we were all of us as full of wine (и вскоре мы все так напились: «стали полны вином») as we had any right to be (как только могли: «как мы имели право быть»). The King began talking of what he would do in the future (король стал говорить о том, что он сделает в будущем; to begin – начинать), old Sapt of what he had done in the past (старина Сэпт – о том, что он сделал в прошлом), Fritz of some beautiful girl or other (Фриц – о какой-то прекрасной девушке или о чем-то еще), and I of the wonderful merits of the Elphberg dynasty (а я – об удивительных качествах династии Эльфбергов). We all talked at once (мы все говорили одновременно), and followed to the letter Sapt’s exhortation (и в точности последовали призыву Сэпта; to the letter – буквально, в точности) to let the morrow take care of itself (выбросить из головы все мысли о завтрашнем дне: «предоставить завтрашнему дню самому беспокоиться о себе»; to take care of – заботиться, беспокоиться).

“The colonel and I,” he explained, “leave here at six: we ride down to Zenda and return with the guard of honour to fetch the King at eight, and then we all ride together to the station.”

“Hang that same guard!” growled Sapt.

“Oh! it’s very civil of my brother to ask the honour for his regiment,” said the King. “Come, cousin, you need not start early. Another bottle, man!”

I had another bottle – or, rather, a part of one, for the larger half travelled quickly down his Majesty’s throat. Fritz gave up his attempts at persuasion: from persuading, he fell to being persuaded, and soon we were all of us as full of wine as we had any right to be. The King began talking of what he would do in the future, old Sapt of what he had done in the past, Fritz of some beautiful girl or other, and I of the wonderful merits of the Elphberg dynasty. We all talked at once, and followed to the letter Sapt’s exhortation to let the morrow take care of itself.

At last the King set down his glass and leant back in his chair (наконец король поставил свой стакан и откинулся в кресле; to lean).

“I have drunk enough (я выпил достаточно),” said he.

“Far be it from me to contradict the King (я вовсе не намерен возражать королю; far be it from me – я отнюдь не намерен; far – далеко, на большом расстоянии),” said I.