Легкое чтение на английском языке. В. Скотт. Айвенго

The Templar translated the letter into French, "I, Wamba, the son of Witless, jester of the noble Cedric of Rotherwood, known as the Saxon, and I, Gurth, the son of Beowulph, the swineherd of Cedric, with the help of our allies, the good knight known as the Black Sluggard and the outlaw Locksley and his men, demand that our master Cedric the Saxon and the Lady Rowena and Athelstane of Coningsburgh, and also the Jew, Isaac of York, together with his daughter, Rebecca, and certain horses, mules and goods, be delivered to us within an hour of receiving this letter. If you fail to do this, we will attack and destroy your castle."

At first the knights were lost for words (сперва рыцари не могли произнести ни слова: «на находили слов»; to lose — терять; затерять, не находить), but then De Bracy burst out laughing (но потом де Браси расхохотался; to burst — лопаться, взрываться; разражаться /гневом, слезами и т.п./; to burst out — вспыхивать /о войне, эпидемии и т.п./; начать внезапно или бурно /что-либо делать/). The Templar joined in (тамплиер присоединился к нему), but Front-de-Boeuf looked impatiently at them (но Фрон-де-Бёф смотрел с беспокойством на них; impatient — нетерпеливый; раздраженный, беспокойный).

"These men would not have written so bravely (эти люди не стали бы писать так смело) if they did not have a lot of men to back them up (если бы у них не было много людей, поддерживающих их; to back up — поддерживать)," said Front-de-Boeuf. "There are a lot of outlaws out there in the forest (множество разбойников там, в лесу) who hate me (которые ненавидят меня). I've had as many arrows shot at me (в меня выпустили столько же стрел) as that target at Ashby (как в ту мишень в Эшби)!"

burst [bǝ:st], laughing ['lɑ:fɪŋ], impatiently [ɪm'peɪʃ(ə)ntlɪ], written [rɪtn]

At first the knights were lost for words, but then De Bracy burst out laughing. The Templar joined in, but Front-de-Boeuf looked impatiently at them.

"These men would not have written so bravely if they did not have a lot of men to back them up," said Front-de-Boeuf. "There are a lot of outlaws out there in the forest who hate me. I've had as many arrows shot at me as that target at Ashby!"

He turned to one of his guards (он повернулся к одному из своих стражников). "Have you seen how many men are gathered out there (ты видел, сколько: «как много» людей собралось там, снаружи; to gather — собирать/ся/ /о людях, животных и т.д./)?"

"There are at least two hundred men (там, по меньшей мере, двести человек)."

"Let us attack them (давайте нападем на них)," said the Templar. "One knight is enough for twenty such men (одного рыцаря достаточно на двадцать таких людей)."

"Enough, and too much (достаточно и даже слишком много)," said De Bracy. "I am almost ashamed to use my lance against them (мне почти что стыдно применять: «использовать» свое копье против них; shame — стыд; ashamed — пристыженный)."

gather ['ɡæðǝ], knight [naɪt], ashamed [ǝ'ʃeɪmd]

He turned to one of his guards. "Have you seen how many men are gathered out there?"

"There are at least two hundred men."

"Let us attack them," said the Templar. "One knight is enough for twenty such men."

"Enough, and too much," said De Bracy. "I am almost ashamed to use my lance against them."

"Send for help from your allies (отправьте /гонца/ к своим союзникам за помощью; help — поддержка, помощь, содействие)," said the Templar to Front-de-Boeuf.

"To whom should I write (кому же мне написать)? All my allies are in York (все мои союзники в Йорке)."

"Send a message to York (отправьте послание в Йорк)," said De Bracy.