He tried to form words, but they would not come.
He had been drugged.
The woman had poisoned his food (женщина отравила его пищу).
Once again he had allowed himself to become a victim of the Mabden (снова он позволил себе стать жертвой мабденов). He rested his head on his arms (он положил голову на руки;
Corum dreamed again (Корум снова увидел сон).
He saw Castle Erorn as he had left it when he had first ridden out (он видел замок Эрорн /таким/, каким он покинул его, когда впервые выехал = отправился в путь). He saw his father's wise face speaking (он увидел мудрое лицо отца, говорившего /что-то/) and strained to hear the words, but could not (и напряг /слух/, чтобы услышать слова, но не смог;
The atmosphere was joyful (атмосфера была радостной/счастливой).
treatise ['tri:tz] mathematics [, mae'maetks] uncle [kl] atmosphere ['aetmsf]
The woman had poisoned his food.
Once again he had allowed himself to become a victim of the Mabden. He rested his head on his arms and fell, unwillingly, into a deep sleep.
Corum dreamed again.
He saw Castle Erorn as he had left it when he had first ridden out. He saw his father's wise face speaking and strained to hear the words, but could not. He saw his mother at work, writing her latest treatise on mathematics. He saw his sisters dancing to his uncle's new music.
The atmosphere was joyful.
But now he realised that he could not understand their activities (но теперь он осознал, что не может понять их занятий). They seemed strange and pointless to him (они = их занятия казались ему странными и бессмысленными). They were like children playing, unaware that a savage beast stalked them (они были, словно играющие дети, не подозревающие, что дикий/свирепый зверь подкрался к ним;
He tried to cry out — to warn them — but he had no voice (он попытался закричать — чтобы предупредить их — но у него не было голоса).
He saw fires begin to spring up in rooms (он видел, как огни = языки пламени начинают охватывать комнаты;
Now he saw his kinfolk again (теперь он увидел своих родных снова). They had become aware of the fires and were rushing to seek their source (они поняли, что /в замке/ пожар и бросились искать его источник;
savage ['saev] stalked [st:kt] presence ['prez ns] source [s:s]
But now he realised that he could not understand their activities. They seemed strange and pointless to him. They were like children playing, unaware that a savage beast stalked them.
He tried to cry out — to warn them — but he had no voice.
He saw fires begin to spring up in rooms — saw Mabden warriors who had entered the unprotected gates without the inhabitants being in the least aware of their presence. Laughing among themselves, the Mabden put the silk hangings and the furnishings to the torch.
Now he saw his kinfolk again. They had become aware of the fires and were rushing to seek their source.