Английский язык с М. Муркоком

The hall was suddenly alive with light again and the vast, fat figure Corum had originally seen was laughing on the floor, lying amidst filth, with the Mabden parasites peering from out of the hair beneath his arms, from his navel, from his ears.

`Ha, ha! You see, Corum, I am kind (видишь, Корум, я добрый)! I have let you have almost everything you desired of me (я позволил тебе получить почти все, что ты пожелал /получить/ от меня). You even have my heart (у тебя даже мое сердце)! But I cannot let you take it away from me, Corum (но я не могу позволить тебе забрать его у меня, Корум). Without my heart, I could not rule here (без сердца я не могу править здесь). I think I will restore it into this flesh of mine (думаю, я верну его обратно в эту мою плоть).

Corum's shoulders slumped (плечи Корума опустились; to slump — резко падать; горбиться, сутулиться).

`He has tricked us (он обманул нас), he said to his terrified Mabden companions (сказал он своим напуганным мабденским товарищам).

But one Mabden said.

`He has used you, Sir Vadhagh (он использовал тебя, сэр вадаг). He could never have taken his heart himself (он никогда бы сам не достал свое сердце). Did you not know that (разве ты этого не знал)?

`Ha, ha! You see, Corum, I am kind! I have let you have almost everything you desired of me. You even have my heart! But I cannot let you take it away from me, Corum. Without my heart, I could not rule here. I think I will restore it into this flesh of mine.

Corum's shoulders slumped.

`He has tricked us, he said to his terrified Mabden companions.

But one Mabden said.

`He has used you, Sir Vadhagh. He could never have taken his heart himself. Did you not know that?

Arioch laughed and his belly shook and Mabden fell to the floor (Ариох расхохотался, и его брюхо затряслось, а мабдены попадали на пол).

`True (верно)! True! You have done me a service, Prince Corum (ты оказал мне услугу, принц Корум). The heart of each Sword Ruler is kept in a place that is banned to him (сердце каждого Повелителя Мечей хранится в месте, недоступном для него; to ban — налагать запрет, запрещать), so that the others may know that he dwells only in his own domain and may travel to no other (чтобы остальные могли знать = быть уверены, что он пребывает лишь в своих владениях и не может перемещаться ни в какое другое), thus he cannot usurp some rival ruler's power (таким образом, он не может захватить власть какого-нибудь другого соперничающего правителя; to usurp — узурпировать, незаконно захватывать). But you, Corum, with your ancient blood, with your peculiar characteristics (но ты, Корум, с твоим древним происхождением, с твоими особенными чертами; blood — кровь; происхождение, род, родовитость), were able to do that which I am unable to do (сумел сделать то, что я не смог). Now I have my heart and I may extend my domain wherever I choose (теперь у меня есть мое сердце, и я могу расширить свои владения куда пожелаю). Or not, of course, if I choose not to (или не стану, конечно, если не захочу).

`Then I have helped you (значит, я помог тебе), Corum said bitterly (горько сказал Корум), `when I wished to hinder you (когда захотел помешать тебе; to hinder — мешать, препятствовать) …

usurp [ju:'z: p] ancient ['e nt] hinder ['hand]

Arioch laughed and his belly shook and Mabden fell to the floor.

`True! True! You have done me a service, Prince Corum. The heart of each Sword Ruler is kept in a place that is banned to him, so that the others may know that he dwells only in his own domain and may travel to no other, thus he cannot usurp some rival ruler's power. But you, Corum, with your ancient blood, with your peculiar characteristics, were able to do that which I am unable to do. Now I have my heart and I may extend my domain wherever I choose. Or not, of course, if I choose not to.

`Then I have helped you, Corum said bitterly, `when I wished to hinder you…

Arioch's laughter filled the hall (смех Ариоха заполнил зал).

`Yes. Exactly (именно). A fine joke, eh (прекрасная шутка, а)? Now, give me my heart, little Vadhagh (а теперь, отдай мне мое сердце, маленький вадаг).

Corum pressed his back to the wall and drew his blade (Корум прижался спиной к стене и вытащил клинок). He stood there with the Heart of Arioch in his left hand and his sword in his right (он стоял с сердцем Ариоха в левой руке, /держа/ меч в правой).

`I think I will die first, Arioch (думаю, я прежде умру, Ариох).

`As you please (как пожелаешь).

laughter ['l:ft] sword [s:d]

Arioch's laughter filled the hall.

`Yes. Exactly. A fine joke, eh? Now, give me my heart, little Vadhagh.

Corum pressed his back to the wall and drew his blade. He stood there with the Heart of Arioch in his left hand and his sword in his right.

`I think I will die first, Arioch.

`As you please.