Английский язык с Конан Дойлем. Этюд в багровых тонах - Arthur Conan Doyle

One fine morning, John Ferrier was about to set out to his wheatfields (одним прекрасным утром Джон Феррьер собирался было отправиться на поля пшеницы), when he heard the click of the latch, and, looking through the window (когда он услышал стук щеколды и, выглянув в окно), saw a stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged man coming up the pathway (увидел полного рыжеватого мужчину средних лет, идущего по тропинке к дому). His heart leapt to his mouth (у него душа ушла в пятки: «его сердце прыгнуло к нему в рот»; to leap — прыгать, скакать), for this was none other than the great Brigham Young himself (так как это был не кто иной, как сам великий Бригем Янг). Full of trepidation — for he knew that such a visit boded him little good (весь дрожа: «полный трепета», так как он знал, что такой визит сулил ему мало хорошего)— Ferrier ran to the door to greet the Mormon chief (Феррьер подбежал к двери, чтобы встретить вождя мормонов). The latter, however, received his salutations coldly (тот, однако, принял его приветствия холодно), and followed him with a stern face into the sitting-room (и с каменным лицом последовал за ним в гостиную; stern — строгий, суровый).

mind [maɪnd], society [sǝˈsaɪǝtɪ], sword [sɔ:d]

Fuller knowledge of the organization which produced such terrible results served to increase rather than to lessen the horror which it inspired in the minds of men. None knew who belonged to this ruthless society. The names of the participators in the deeds of blood and violence done under the name of religion were kept profoundly secret. The very friend to whom you communicated your misgivings as to the Prophet and his mission, might be one of those who would come forth at night with fire and sword to exact a terrible reparation. Hence every man feared his neighbour, and none spoke of the things which were nearest his heart.

One fine morning, John Ferrier was about to set out to his wheatfields, when he heard the click of the latch, and, looking through the window, saw a stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged man coming up the pathway. His heart leapt to his mouth, for this was none other than the great Brigham Young himself. Full of trepidation — for he knew that such a visit boded him little good — Ferrier ran to the door to greet the Mormon chief. The latter, however, received his salutations coldly, and followed him with a stern face into the sitting-room.

"Brother Ferrier," he said, taking a seat (брат Феррьер, — сказал он, усаживаясь), and eyeing the farmer keenly from under his light-coloured eyelashes (и окидывая фермера взглядом проницательных глаз из-под светлых ресниц; to eye — смотреть, пристально разглядывать), "the true believers have been good friends to you (приверженцы истинной веры были тебе хорошими друзьями). We picked you up when you were starving in the desert (мы подобрали тебя, когда ты умирал с голоду в пустыне), we shared our food with you (мы разделили с тобой свою пищу), led you safe to the Chosen Valley (в безопасности привели тебя в Долину избранных), gave you a goodly share of land (выделили тебе добрую долю земли), and allowed you to wax rich under our protection (и позволили тебе стать богатым под нашим покровительством; to wax — становиться, приходить в некоторое состояние). Is not this so (разве это не так)?"

"It is so (это так)," answered John Ferrier.

"In return for all this we asked but one condition (в качестве компенсации: «в возмещение» за все это мы выдвинули: «запросили» единственное условие): that was, that you should embrace the true faith, and conform in every way to its usages (а именно, что ты должен принять истинную веру и во всем следовать ее предписаниям; usage — обыкновение, обычай, традиция). This you promised to do (это ты обещал сделать), and this, if common report says truly, you have neglected (и этого, если правда то, что говорят о тебе: «если общая молва говорит правдиво», ты не сделал; to neglect — упускать, не делать нужного; не выполнять своего долга)."

wax [wæks], embrace [ɪmˈbreɪs], usage [ˈju:sɪʤ]

"Brother Ferrier," he said, taking a seat, and eyeing the farmer keenly from under his light-coloured eyelashes, "the true believers have been good friends to you. We picked you up when you were starving in the desert, we shared our food with you, led you safe to the Chosen Valley, gave you a goodly share of land, and allowed you to wax rich under our protection. Is not this so?"

"It is so," answered John Ferrier.

"In return for all this we asked but one condition: that was, that you should embrace the true faith, and conform in every way to its usages. This you promised to do, and this, if common report says truly, you have neglected."

"And how have I neglected it (да как же я этого не сделал)?" asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands in expostulation (спросил Феррьер, протестующее всплеснув руками; to throw out — выбрасывать; expostulation — увещевание, попытка разубедить, усовестить). "Have I not given to the common fund (разве я не вносил в общий фонд)? Have I not attended at the Temple (разве я не хожу в храм)? Have I not (разве я)——?"

"Where are your wives?" asked Young, looking round him (где твои жены? — спросил Янг, оглядываясь). "Call them in, that I may greet them (позови их, чтобы я мог их поприветствовать)."

"It is true that I have not married (это правда, что я не женился)," Ferrier answered. "But women were few, and there were many who had better claims than I (но женщин было мало, а у многих было больше прав на них, чем у меня; claim — требование; притязание). I was not a lonely man (я не был одинок): I had my daughter to attend to my wants (моя дочь ухаживает за мной; to attend — заботиться; want — потребность)."

"It is of that daughter that I would speak to you," said the leader of the Mormons (вот об этой дочери я хотел поговорить с тобой, — сказал предводитель мормонов). "She has grown to be the flower of Utah (она превратилась в цветок Юты), and has found favour in the eyes of many who are high in the land (она пришлась по сердцу многим уважаемым людям: «кто имеет высокое положение в этой стране»; favour — расположение; благосклонность; to find favour in somebody's eyes — снискать чье-либо расположение, заслужить благосклонность, любовь кого-либо, понравиться; high — высокий по званию, положению, состоянию)."

John Ferrier groaned internally (Джон Феррьер внутренне застонал).

expostulation [ekˌspɔstjuˈleɪʃ(ǝ)n], [ɪkˌspɔsʧǝˈleɪʃ(ǝ)n],women [ˈwi:mǝn], flower [ˈflauǝ]

"And how have I neglected it?" asked Ferrier, throwing out his hands in expostulation. "Have I not given to the common fund? Have I not attended at the Temple? Have I not ——?"

"Where are your wives?" asked Young, looking round him. "Call them in, that I may greet them."

"It is true that I have not married," Ferrier answered. "But women were few, and there were many who had better claims than I. I was not a lonely man: I had my daughter to attend to my wants."

"It is of that daughter that I would speak to you," said the leader of the Mormons. "She has grown to be the flower of Utah, and has found favour in the eyes of many who are high in the land."

John Ferrier groaned internally.

"There are stories of her which I would fain disbelieve (о ней рассказывают такое, чему: «есть истории о ней, которым» я охотно не поверю; fain — радостно; охотно)— stories that she is sealed to some Gentile (что она обручена с каким-то иноверцем; to seal — скреплять печатью, ставить печать; в церкви мормонов — скрепить навеки; Gentile — язычник). This must be the gossip of idle tongues (должно быть, это пустые сплетни: «сплетни праздных языков»). What is the thirteenth rule in the code of the sainted Joseph Smith (что сказано: «какова» тринадцатая заповедь в коде святого Джозефа Смита)? ‘Let every maiden of the true faith marry one of the elect (пусть каждая девушка истинной веры выйдет замуж за одного из избранных); for if she wed a Gentile, she commits a grievous sin (ибо если она выйдет замуж за иноверца, она совершит тяжкий грех).’ This being so, it is impossible that you, who profess the holy creed (и раз это так, не может быть, чтобы ты, кто исповедует святую веру), should suffer your daughter to violate it (позволил своей дочери отступиться от нее; to violate — нарушать, попирать, преступать)."

John Ferrier made no answer, but he played nervously with his riding-whip (Джон Феррьер не ответил, но нервно теребил в руках свой хлыст; to play — вертеть, крутить в руках).

"Upon this one point your whole faith shall be tested (этот пункт и будет испытанием всей твоей веры: «на этом одном пункте вся твоя вера будет испытана»)— so it has been decided in the Sacred Council of Four (так было решено на священном Совете четырех). The girl is young, and we would not have her wed grey hairs (девушка молода, и нам бы не хотелось, чтобы она вышла замуж за старца; grey — седой; hair — волос; grey hairs — седины), neither would we deprive her of all choice (и мы не хотим лишать ее всяческого выбора). We Elders have many heifers, but our children must also be provided (у нас, старейшин, много телок[17], но о наших детях тоже нужно позаботиться; to provide — обеспечивать). Stangerson has a son (у Стенджерсона есть сын), and Drebber has a son (и у Дреббера есть сын), and either of them would gladly welcome your daughter to their house (и любой из них с радостью примет твою дочь в своем доме; to welcome — приветствовать; радушно принимать). Let her choose between them (пусть она выберет одного из них: «межу ними»). They are young and rich, and of the true faith (они молоды, богаты и придерживаются истинной веры). What say you to that (что ты скажешь на это)?"

idle [aɪdl], tongue [tʌŋ], elect [ɪˈlekt], Gentile [ˈʤentaɪl], grievous [ˈɡri:vǝs]

"There are stories of her which I would fain disbelieve — stories that she is sealed to some Gentile. This must be the gossip of idle tongues. What is the thirteenth rule in the code of the sainted Joseph Smith? `Let every maiden of the true faith marry one of the elect; for if she wed a Gentile, she commits a grievous sin.' This being so, it is impossible that you, who profess the holy creed, should suffer your daughter to violate it."

John Ferrier made no answer, but he played nervously with his riding-whip.

"Upon this one point your whole faith shall be tested — so it has been decided in the Sacred Council of Four. The girl is young, and we would not have her wed grey hairs, neither would we deprive her of all choice. We Elders have many heifers, but our children must also be provided. Stangerson has a son, and Drebber has a son, and either of them would gladly welcome your daughter to their house. Let her choose between them. They are young and rich, and of the true faith. What say you to that?"

Ferrier remained silent for some little time with his brows knitted (Феррьер помолчал: «оставался молчалив» какое-то время, насупив брови; to knit one's brows — нахмурить брови, насупиться).