`After a few moments (спустя несколько мгновений) the captain of the guard (начальник стражников) dismissed the soldiers (отпустил/распустил солдат). They went back to the palace (они пошли назад во дворец), the eunuchs following slowly behind (евнухи последовали медленно /за ними/: «позади») and plucking the sweet mulberries from the trees (и срывали сладкие тутовые ягоды с деревьев) as they passed (пока они шли). Once the elder of the two turned round (один раз старший из двух /евнухов/ обернулся), and smiled at me with an evil smile (и улыбнулся мне зловещей улыбкой;
`Then the captain of the guard (затем начальник стражи) motioned me towards the entrance of the pavilion (жестом пригласил меня /пройти/ к входу в беседку;
mulberry ['mAlb(q)rI] motion ['mqVS(q)n] entrance ['entrqns]
`After a few moments the captain of the guard dismissed the soldiers. They went back to the palace, the eunuchs following slowly behind and plucking the sweet mulberries from the trees as they passed. Once the elder of the two turned round, and smiled at me with an evil smile.
`Then the captain of the guard motioned me towards the entrance of the pavilion. I walked on without trembling, and drawing the heavy curtain aside I entered in.
`The young Emperor was stretched (молодой Император лежал, вытянувшись;
`When the Emperor saw me (когда Император увидел меня;
couch [kaVtS] gerfalcon [dZq:'fO:lkqn] Nubian ['nju:bIqn]
mighty ['maItI] scimitar ['sImItq, -tQ:]
`The young Emperor was stretched on a couch of dyed lion skins, and a gerfalcon perched upon his wrist. Behind him stood a brass-turbaned Nubian, naked down to the waist, and with heavy earrings in his split ears. On a table by the side of the couch lay a mighty scimitar of steel.
`When the Emperor saw me he frowned, and said to me, "What is thy name? Knowest thou not that I am Emperor of this city?" But I made him no answer.