Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

"Some men can, perhaps, but not I." Edward sprang up now. "I tell you when I think of the life I led in the old days I am filled with horror," he cried violently. "I tremble with fear when I think of the danger I have escaped. I never knew I had a soul till I found it here. If I had remained a rich man I might have lost it for good and all."

"I don't know how you can say that," cried Bateman indignantly. "We often used to have discussions about it."

"Yes, I know. They were about as effectual as the discussions of deaf mutes about harmony. I shall never come back to Chicago, Bateman."

"And what about Isabel (а как же Изабелла)?"

Edward walked to the edge of the verandah (Эдвард дошел до края веранды) and leaning over looked intently at the blue magic of the night (и наклонившись над /оградой веранды/, стал пристально смотреть в волшебную синюю ночь). There was a slight smile on his face when he turned back to Bateman (когда он повернулся к Бейтману, на его лице была слабая улыбка).

"Isabel is infinitely too good for me (Изабелла бесконечно слишком хороша для меня). I admire her more than any woman I have ever known (я восхищаюсь ею больше, чем какой-либо другой женщиной, которую я когда-либо знал). She has a wonderful brain (она обладает замечательным умом) and she's as good as she's beautiful (и она так же добра, как и красива). I respect her energy and her ambition (я уважаю ее энергичность и честолюбие). She was born to make a success of life (она родилась, чтобы добиться успеха в жизни). I am entirely unworthy of her (я ее совершенно недостоин; unworthy— низкий, подлый; недостойный /чего-либо/)."

"She doesn't think so (она так не думает)."

"But you must tell her so, Bateman (но ты должен ей об этом сказать, Бейтман)."

"I?" cried Bateman. "I'm the last person who could ever do that (я — последний, кто мог бы это сделать; last— последний; самый неподходящий)."

Edward had his back to the vivid light of the moon (Эдвард стоял спиной к яркому лунному свету) and his face could not be seen (и лица его видно не было). Is it possible that he smiled again (неужели он снова улыбался: «возможно ли, что он снова улыбался»)?

verandah [vq'rxndq], infinitely ['InfInItlI], success [sqk'ses], entirely [In'taIqlI], unworthy [An'wWDI]

"And what about Isabel?"

Edward walked to the edge of the verandah and leaning over looked intently at the blue magic of the night. There was a slight smile on his face when he turned back to Bateman.

"Isabel is infinitely too good for me. I admire her more than any woman I have ever known. She has a wonderful brain and she's as good as she's beautiful. I respect her energy and her ambition. She was born to make a success of life. I am entirely unworthy of her."

"She doesn't think so."

"But you must tell her so, Bateman."

"I?» cried Bateman. "I'm the last person who could ever do that."

Edward had his back to the vivid light of the moon and his face could not be seen. Is it possible that he smiled again?

"It's no good your trying to conceal anything from her, Bateman (бесполезно пытаться скрыть от нее хоть что-нибудь, Бейтман). With her quick intelligence she'll turn you inside out in five minutes (с ее сообразительностью, она разоблачит тебя: «вывернет тебя наизнанку» за пять минут; quick — быстрый; смышленый, находчивый; intelligence — ум, интеллект). You'd better make a clean breast of it right away (тебе лучше немедленно и чистосердечно признаться во всем: «сделать чистую грудь сразу»)."