Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий / Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper

That same day (в тот же самый день) several prisoners were brought in (несколько заключенных были привезены; to bring — приносить, привозить) to remain overnight (чтобы остаться на ночь), who were being conveyed (которых конвоировали), under guard (под стражей), to various places in the kingdom (в различные места в королевстве), to undergo punishment (чтобы подвергнуться наказанию) for crimes committed (за преступления совершенные). The king conversed with these (король поговорил с этими = с ними) — he had made it a point (он сделал это смыслом = он нарочно), from the beginning (с самого начала), to instruct himself (просвещать = просвещал себя) for the kingly office (для королевской должности) by questioning prisoners (расспрашивая узников) whenever the opportunity offered (когда ни представится возможность; to offer — предлагать) — and the tale of their woes (и рассказ об их бедах) wrung his heart (терзал его сердце; to wring — крутить, скручивать, выламывать; терзать). One of them (одна из них) was a poor half-witted woman (была бедная полоумная женщина) who had stolen a yard or two of cloth (которая украла ярд или два = ярд-другой ткани) from a weaver (у ткача) — she was to be hanged for it (она /должна/ была быть повешена за это; to hang — вешать). Another was a man (другой был человек) who had been accused (который был обвинен) of stealing a horse (в краже лошади; to steal — красть); he said the proof had failed (он сказал, что свидетельские показания провалились = не подтвердились), and he had imagined (и он вообразил) that he was safe from the halter (что он был в безопасности от веревки; safe — находящийся в безопасности); but no (но нет) — he was hardly free (он был едва свободен) before he was arraigned (прежде чем он был привлечен к суду; to arraign — привлекать к суду) for killing a deer (за убийство оленя) in the king's park (в королевском парке); this was proved (это было доказано; to prove — доказывать) against him (против него), and now he was on his way (и теперь он был на пути) to the gallows (на виселицу). There was a tradesman's apprentice (там был подмастерье ремесленника) whose case particularly distressed the king (чье дело особенно огорчило короля); this youth said (этот юнрша сказал) he found a hawk one evening (что он нашел ястреба одним вечером; to find — найти) that had escaped from its owner (который убежал от своего владельца), and he took it home with him (и он взял его домой с собой; to take — брать), imagining himself entitled to it (воображая себя имеющим на это право; to entitle — давать право); but the court convicted him (но суд признал его виновным) of stealing it (в краже его), and sentenced him to death (и приговорил его к смерти).

fought [fO:t], tumult [`tju:mAlt], arraign [ə`reın]

Now, by command, the masses parted and fell aside, and the king saw a spectacle that froze the marrow in his bones. Fagots had been piled about the two women, and a kneeling man was lighting them!

The women bowed their heads, and covered their faces with their hands; the yellow flames began to climb upward among the snapping and crackling fagots, and wreaths of blue smoke to stream away on the wind; the clergyman lifted his hands and began a prayer — just then two young girls came flying through the great gate, uttering piercing screams, and threw themselves upon the women at the stake. Instantly they were torn away by the officers, and one of them was kept in a tight grip, but the other broke loose, saying she would die with her mother; and before she could be stopped she had flung her arms about her mother's neck again. She was torn away once more, and with her gown on fire.