Английский язык с М. Муркоком

Yet Corum and Rhalina, a man and a woman of alien species, hardly noticed the winter's brawling. They sang songs to each other and wrote simple sonnets concerning the depth and passion of their love. It was a madness that was upon them (if madness is that which denies certain fundamental realities) but it was a pleasant madness, a sweet madness. Yet madness it was.

When the worst of the winter had gone, but before spring elected to show herself, when there was still snow on the rocks below the castle and few birds sang in the grey skies above the bare and distant forests of the mainland; when the sea had exhausted itself and now washed sullen and dark around the cliffs, that was when the strange Mabden were seen riding out of the black trees in the late morning, their breath steaming and their horses stumbling on the icy ground, their harness and their arms rattling.

It was Beldan who saw them first (Белдан увидел их первым) as he went on to the battlements to stretch his legs (когда вышел на зубчатую стену размять свои ноги; battlements — зубчатая стена, стена с бойницами; to stretch legs — разминаться, разминать ноги; to stretch — тянуть/ся/, растягивать/ся/).

Beldan, the youth who had rescued Corum from the sea (Белдан, юноша, который спас Корума из моря), turned and went hastily back into the tower (развернулся и вернулся поспешно в башню) and began to run down the steps until a figure blocked his way laughing at him (побежал вниз по лестнице, пока какая-то фигура не преградила ему путь, смеясь /над ним/).

`The privy is above, Beldan, not below (уединение наверху, Белдан, а не внизу; privy — тайный, скрытый; укромный уголок)!

Beldan drew a breath and spoke slowly (Белдан сделал /глубокий/ вдох и заговорил медленно; to draw; to speak).

`I was on the way to your apartments, Prince Corum (я был на пути = направлялся к твоим покоям, принц Корум). I have seen them from the battlements (я видел их со стен). There is a large force (большое войско; force — сила; войска).

rescued ['reskju:d] hastily ['hestl] privy ['prv] apartments ['p:tmnts]

It was Beldan who saw them first as he went on to the battlements to stretch his legs.

Beldan, the youth who had rescued Corum from the sea, turned and went hastily back into the tower and began to run down the steps until a figure blocked his way laughing at him.

`The privy is above, Beldan, not below!

Beldan drew a breath and spoke slowly.

`I was on the way to your apartments, Prince Corum. I have seen them from the battlements. There is a large force.

Corum's face clouded and he seemed to be thinking a dozen thoughts at once (лицо Корума помрачнело, казалось, он обдумывал дюжину мыслей сразу; to cloud — покрывать/ся/ облаками, тучами; омрачать/ся/).

`Do you recognise the force (ты узнаешь это войско; to recognise — признавать; опознавать)? Who are they (кто они)? Mabden?

`Mabden, without doubt (мабдены, несомненно: «без сомнения»). I think they might be warriors of the Pony Tribes (думаю, они могут быть воинами = по-моему, это воины племен на пони).

`The folk against whom this Margravate was built (народ, против = для защиты от которого это маркграфство создано)?

`Aye (да). But they have not bothered us for a hundred years (но они не беспокоили нас /уже/ сотню лет).

Corum smiled grimly (Корум улыбнулся мрачно).

`Perhaps we all, in time, succumb to the ignorance that killed the Vadhagh (наверно, мы все со временем становимся жертвами неведения, которое погубило вадагов; to succumb — поддаваться, стать жертвой). Can we defend the castle, Beldan (мы сможем защитить замок, Белдан)?

clouded ['klaudd] dozen ['dz n] succumb [s'km] ignorance ['nrns]

Corum's face clouded and he seemed to be thinking a dozen thoughts at once.

`Do you recognise the force? Who are they? Mabden?

`Mabden, without doubt. I think they might be warriors of the Pony Tribes.

`The folk against whom this Margravate was built?

`Aye. But they have not bothered us for a hundred years.

Corum smiled grimly.

`Perhaps we all, in time, succumb to the ignorance that killed the Vadhagh. Can we defend the castle, Beldan?

`If it is a small force, Prince Corum (если это небольшое войско, принц Корум). The Pony Tribes are normally disunited (племена на пони обычно разобщены) and their warriors rarely move in bands of more than twenty or thirty (и их воины редко передвигаются в отрядах более двадцати-тридцати /человек/).

`And do you think it is a small force (ты думаешь, это маленькое войско)?

Beldan shook his head (Белдан покачал головой).

`No, Prince Corum, I fear it is a large one (нет, принц Корум, боюсь, это большое войско).