Английский язык с М. Муркоком

`It is (это так). And it is no escape (это не выход). Those who survive the passage through the Lion's Mouth do not survive what lies beyond it — the palace of Duke Arioch himself (те, кто уцелеют, /пройдя/ через Пасть Льва, не преодолеют того, что лежит за ней — дворец самого Герцога Ариоха; to survive — пережить, выдержать; остаться в живых, уцелеть).

beautiful ['bju:tf l] beyond [b'jnd]

`No. They attacked you. You defended yourselves. That is what that is. I speak of Duke Arioch and his whim — the whim that turned a beautiful land into this dreadful wasteland of eternal flame.

`You would be revenged, then, on Duke Arioch? Corum said.

`My people once numbered hundreds. One after the other I sent them through the Lion's Mouth to destroy the Knight of the Swords. None did so. None returned.

`What is the Lion's Mouth? Hanafax asked. `We heard it was the only escape from the Flamelands.

`It is. And it is no escape. Those who survive the passage through the Lion's Mouth do not survive what lies beyond it — the palace of Duke Arioch himself.

`Can none survive (/неужели/ никто не может выжить)?

The Blind Queen's face turned towards the rosy sky (лицо слепой королевы обратилось к розовому небу).

`Only a great hero, Prince in the Scarlet Robe (только великий герой, Принц в Алом Плаще). Only a great hero.

`Once the Vadhagh had no belief in heroes and such (когда-то вадаги не верили в героев и тому подобные /вещи/), Corum said bitterly (горько сказал Корум).

She nodded (она кивнула).

`I remember (я помню). But then they needed no beliefs of that kind (но тогда им не нужны были верования = не нужно было верить в такое).

Corum was silent for a moment (Корум помолчал минуту). Then he said:

`Where is the Lion's Mouth, queen (где находится Пасть Льва, королева)?

`I will lead you to it, Prince Corum (я отведу тебя к ней, принц Корум).

hero ['h ru] belief [b'li:f] queen [kwi:n]

`Can none survive?

The Blind Queen's face turned towards the rosy sky.

`Only a great hero, Prince in the Scarlet Robe. Only a great hero.

`Once the Vadhagh had no belief in heroes and such, Corum said bitterly.

She nodded.

`I remember. But then they needed no beliefs of that kind.

Corum was silent for a moment. Then he said:

`Where is the Lion's Mouth, queen?

`I will lead you to it, Prince Corum.

CHAPTER FIVE (глава пятая) Through the Lion's Mouth (через Пасть Льва)

The Queen gave them water from the cask that rested behind her saddle (королева дала им воды из бочонка, лежавшего позади ее седла; to rest — покоиться, лежать) and called up two of the lumbering mounts for Corum and Hanafax to ride (и подозвала двух неуклюжих животных, чтобы Корум и Ганафакс /могли/ ехать на них верхом). They climbed on to the beasts, clasped the reins (они вскарабкались на животных, схватили поводья), and then began to follow her over the black and green obsidian slabs, between the rivers of flame (затем последовали за ней по черным и зеленым обсидиановым плитам, между реками огня).

Though blind, she guided her beast skillfully, and she talked all the while of what had been here, what had grown there (несмотря на то, что она была слепой, королева умело управляла своим зверем и рассказывала все время о том, что было здесь, что росло там), as if she remembered every tree and flower that had once grown in her ruined land (словно помнила каждое дерево и цветок, которые когда-то росли в ее погубленной стране).

After a good space of time she stopped and pointed directly ahead (через большой промежуток времени = они ехали долго, она остановилась и указала прямо вперед; space — пространство; промежуток, интервал времени).

`What do you see there (что вы видите там)?

rein [ren] guided ['add] ruined ['ru:nd]

The Queen gave them water from the cask that rested behind her saddle and called up two of the lumbering mounts for Corum and Hanafax to ride. They climbed on to the beasts, clasped the reins, and then began to follow her over the black and green obsidian slabs, between the rivers of flame.

Though blind, she guided her beast skillfully, and she talked all the while of what had been here, what had grown there, as if she remembered every tree and flower that had once grown in her ruined land.

After a good space of time she stopped and pointed directly ahead.

`What do you see there?

Corum peered through the rippling smoke (Корум всмотрелся сквозь зыбкую дымку; to ripple — покрывать/ся/ рябью; колыхаться).

`It looks like a great rock (похоже на огромную скалу) …

`We will ride closer (подъедем ближе), she said.