Английский с улыбкой. Брет Гарт, Стивен Ликок. Дефективный детектив

Have ye not heard the gospel of Rhuddyidd the mighty? ’Force is everything! Gentleness won’t wash, courtesy is deceitful. Politeness is foreign. Be ye beaten that ye may beat. Pass the kick on.’”

But here he was interrupted by the appearance of three soldiers who were approaching the watering-place.

“Ye are now,” said the Moo Kow, “with the main guard. The first is Bleareyed, who carries a raven in a cage, which he has stolen from the wife of a deputy commissioner. He will paint the bird snow white and sell it as a dove to the same lady.

The second is Otherwise, who is dragging a small garden engine (второй – Залейглазиус, который тащит маленькую садовую поливалку; garden engine – переносная поливочная установка), of which he has despoiled a native gardener (которую отнял у садовника-туземца; to despoil – грабить, обирать; лишать /чего-л./), whom he has felled with a single blow (сбив его с ног одним ударом; to fell – свалить, заставить повалиться). The third is Mulledwiney, swinging a cut-glass decanter of sherry (третий – это Глинтвейни, размахивающий граненым графином с хересом; cut-glass – сделанный из граненого стекла) which he has just snatched from the table of his colonel (который он только что стащил со стола своего полковника). Mulledwiney and Otherwise will play the engine upon Bleareyed (Глинтвейни и Залейглазиус используют поливалку на Подшофе; to play /up/on – воспользоваться /чем-л./), who is suffering from heat apoplexy and djim-djams (который страдает от теплового удара и белой горячки; djim-djams /искаж./ = jim-jams).”

The three soldiers seated themselves in the pool (трое солдат уселись в озерцо).

The second is Otherwise, who is dragging a small garden engine, of which he has despoiled a native gardener, whom he has felled with a single blow. The third is Mulledwiney, swinging a cut-glass decanter of sherry which he has just snatched from the table of his colonel. Mulledwiney and Otherwise will play the engine upon Bleareyed, who is suffering from heat apoplexy and djim-djams.”

The three soldiers seated themselves in the pool.

“They are going to tell awful war stories now,” said the Moo Kow (а сейчас они собираются /начать/ рассказывать ужасные истории про войну), “stories that are large and strong (/этих/ историй не счесть, и они потрясающи; large – большой, крупный; многочисленный; strong – сильный; производящий впечатление)! Some people are shocked – others like ’em (некоторые люди /просто/ потрясены; другие – подобны им; ’em = them).”