Английский с Г. К. Честертоном. Рассказы об отце Брауне / Gilbert Keith Chesterton. The Innocence of Father Brown

 “There is another picture, Flambeau,” said Brown in his more mystical undertone. “I can’t prove it; but I can do more – I can see it. There is a camp breaking up on the bare, torrid hills at morning, and Brazilian uniforms massed in blocks and columns to march. There is the red shirt and long black beard of Olivier, which blows as he stands, his broad-brimmed hat in his hand. He is saying farewell to the great enemy he is setting free – the simple, snow-headed English veteran, who thanks him in the name of his men. The English remnant stand behind at attention; beside them are stores and vehicles for the retreat. The drums roll; the Brazilians are moving; the English are still like statues. So they abide till the last hum and flash of the enemy have faded from the tropic horizon. Then they alter their postures all at once, like dead men coming to life; they turn their fifty faces upon the general – faces not to be forgotten.”

Flambeau gave a great jump (Фламбо подскочил). “Ah,” he cried, “you don’t mean (неужели вы хотите сказать) – ”

“Yes,” said Father Brown in a deep, moving voice (сказал отец Браун глубоким взволнованным голосом). “It was an English hand that put the rope round St. Clare’s neck (это была рука англичанина, которая накинула петлю на шею Сент-Клэра); I believe the hand that put the ring on his daughter’s finger (я полагаю, это та рука, которая надела кольцо на палец его дочери). They were English hands that dragged him up to the tree of shame (это были руки англичан, которые тащили его к дереву позора; to drag – тянуть, тащить; shame – стыд; позор; бесчестие); the hands of men that had adored him and followed him to victory (руки людей, которые почитали его и шли за ним к победе; to adore – обожать; поклоняться, почитать, преклоняться). And they were English souls (God pardon and endure us all!) who stared at him swinging in that foreign sun on the green gallows of palm (и это были англичане: «сердца англичан» (да простит и укрепит нас Господь!), которые смотрели, как генерал качался в лучах чужеземного солнца на зеленой пальме-виселице; soul – душа; сердце; to pardon – извинять, прощать; миловать; to endure – вынести, вытерпеть; выдержать; to swing – качать/ся/, раскачивать/ся/; gallows – виселица), and prayed in their hatred that he might drop off it into hell (и молились, полные ненависти, чтобы его душа попала в ад: «он провалился прямо в ад»; to drop – капать; бросать; сбрасывать; падать).”