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Pity he had to wear those modern clothes! If he'd been dressed like Francis I 38 страница
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" Are you sure that boys of that age don't think more than we older people imagine?
It's a sort of puberty of the spirit and its results are often strange. "
" It seems so deceitful of Roger to have harboured thoughts like those all these
years and never breathed a word about them. He might have been accusing me. "
She gave a chuckle. " To tell you the truth, when Roger was talking to me I felt just
like Hamlet's mother. " Then with hardly a break: " I wonder if I'm too old to play
Hamlet? "
" Gertrude isn't a very good part, is it? "
Julia broke into a laugh of frank amusement.
" Don't be idiotic, Charles (не будь глупцом, Чарльз). I wouldn't play the Queen
(я не буду играть Королеву). I'd play Hamlet (я буду играть Гамлета). "
" D'you think it's suited to a woman (ты думаешь, что эта /роль/ подходит
женщине)? "
" Mrs. Siddons played it and so did Sarah Bernhardt (миссис Сиддонс играла ее и
Сара Бернар). It would set a seal on my career (это станет венцом: «поставит
печать на » моей карьеры), if you know what I mean (если ты понимаешь, что я
имею в виду). Of course there's the difficulty of the blank verse (конечно,
существует сложность — белый стих). "
" I have heard actors speak it so (я слышал как актеры произносят его, так) that
it was indistinguishable from prose (что он неразличим от прозы), " he answered
(ответил он).
" Yes, but that's not quite the same, is it (да, но это же не одно и тоже, так
ведь)? "
" Were you nice to Roger (ты была мила с Роджером)? "
She was surprised at his going back to that subject so suddenly (она была
удивлена тем, что он вернулся к этой теме так внезапно), but she returned to it
with a smile (но она вернулась к ней с улыбкой).
" Oh, charming (о, очаровательна). "
idiotic [" IdI'OtIk] verse [vq: s] indistinguishable [" IndI'stINgwISqb(q)l]
" Don't be idiotic, Charles. I wouldn't play the Queen. I'd play Hamlet. "
" D'you think it's suited to a woman? "
" Mrs. Siddons played it and so did Sarah Bernhardt. It would set a seal on my
career, if you know what I mean. Of course there's the difficulty of the blank
verse. "
" I have heard actors speak it so that it was indistinguishable from prose, " he
answered.
" Yes, but that's not quite the same, is it? "
" Were you nice to Roger? "
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She was surprised at his going back to that subject so suddenly, but she returned to
it with a smile.
" Oh, charming. "
" It's hard not to be impatient with the absurdity of the young (трудно не
раздражаться: «не быть нетерпеливой» на нелепость молодых); they tell us
that two and two make four as though it had never occurred to us (они говорят
нам, что два плюс два равняется четыре так, как будто это никогда и не
приходило нам в голову), and they're disappointed if we can't share their surprise
(и они разочарованы, если мы не можем разделить с ними их удивления)
when they have just discovered that a hen lays an egg (когда они только что
открыли, что курица откладывает яйца: «яйцо»). There's a lot of nonsense in
their ranting and raving (есть куча чепухи в их тирадах и несвязных речах:
«бреде»), but it's not all nonsense (но в них не все чепуха). One ought to
sympathize with them (следует сочувствовать им; one — в неопределенно-
личных предложениях); one ought to do one's best to understand (следует
стараться изо всех сил, чтобы понять их; to do one's best — сделать все
возможное, не щадить усилий). One has to remember (надо помнить) how
much has to be forgotten (как многое надо забыть) and how much has to be
learnt (и как многое надо узнать) when for the first time one faces life (когда в
первый раз встречаешься лицом к лицу с жизнью). It's not very easy to give up
one's ideals (не так уж легко отказаться от идеалов), and the brute facts of every
day are bitter pills to swallow (и жестокие факты каждого дня /жизни/ — это
горькие пилюли /которые надо проглотить/). The spiritual conflicts of
adolescence can be very severe (духовные конфликты юности: «отрочества»
могут быть очень жестокими: «суровыми») and one can do so little to resolve
them (и можно сделать так мало, чтобы разрешить их). It may be that in a year
or two (может случиться так, что через год или два) he'll lose sight of the clouds
of glory (он забудет об ореоле славы; cloud — облако, туча; to lose sight of —
потерять, упустить из виду) and accept the chain (и примет оковы: «цепь»). It
may be that he'll find what he's looking for (возможно, он найдет что он ищет),
if not in God, then in art (если не в Боге, так в искусстве). "
absurdity [qb'sq: dItI, qb'zq: dItI] adolescence [" xdq'les(q)ns] cloud [klaVd]
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" It's hard not to be impatient with the absurdity of the young; they tell us that two
and two make four as though it had never occurred to us, and they're disappointed
if we can't share their surprise when they have just discovered that a hen lays an
egg. There's a lot of nonsense in their ranting and raving, but it's not all nonsense.
One ought to sympathize with them; one ought to do one's best to understand. One
has to remember how much has to be forgotten and how much has to be learnt
when for the first time one faces life. It's not very easy to give up one's ideals, and
the brute facts of every day are bitter pills to swallow. The spiritual conflicts of
adolescence can be very severe and one can do so little to resolve them. It may be
that in a year or two he'll lose sight of the clouds of glory and accept the chain. It
may be that he'll find what he's looking for, if not in God, then in art. "
" I should hate him to be an actor (я бы очень не хотела, чтобы он стал актером;
to hate — ненавидеть, очень сожалеть) if that's what you mean (если ты это
имеешь в виду). "
" No, I don't think he'll fancy that (нет, я не думаю, что ему это понравится). "
" And of course he can't be a playwright (и, конечно, он не может быть
драматургом), he hasn't a sense of humour (у него нет чувства юмора). "
" I dare say he'll be quite content to go into the Foreign Office (я полагаю, он был
бы доволен, пойди он /на работу/ в министерство иностранных дел). It would
be an asset to him there (это было бы его преимуществом там). "
" What would you advise me to do (что ты посоветуешь мне сделать)? "
" Nothing (ничего). Let him be (оставь его в покое). That's probably the greatest
kindness you can do him (это, возможно, самая большая услуга: «доброта»,
которую ты можешь оказать: «сделать» ему). "
" But I can't help being worried about him (но я же не могу не переживать из-за
него). "
" You needn't be (тебе /совершенно/ не надо /волноваться/). Be hopeful
(надейся; hopeful — надеющийся, оптимистичный). You thought you'd only
given birth to an ugly duckling (ты думала, что ты просто родила уродливого
утенка; birth — рождение, роды, происхождение); perhaps he's going to turn
into a white-winged swan (возможно, он превратиться в белокрылого лебедя;
to turn — поворачивать, вращаться, to turn into smb. — превращаться в кого-
либо, становиться кем-либо). "
Charles was not giving Julia what she wanted (Чарльз не давал Джулии того,
чего она хотела). She had expected him to be more sympathetic (она ожидала от
него, что он будет более сочувственным).
duckling ['dAklIN] swan [swOn] sympathetic [" sImpq'TetIk]
" I should hate him to be an actor if that's what you mean. "
" No, I don't think he'll fancy that. "
" And of course he can't be a playwright, he hasn't a sense of humour. "
" I dare say he'll be quite content to go into the Foreign Office. It would be an asset
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to him there. "
" What would you advise me to do? "
" Nothing. Let him be. That's probably the greatest kindness you can do him. "
" But I can't help being worried about him. "
" You needn't be. Be hopeful. You thought you'd only given birth to an ugly
duckling; perhaps he's going to turn into a white-winged swan. "
Charles was not giving Julia what she wanted. She had expected him to be more
sympathetic.
" I suppose he's getting old, poor dear (я полагаю, что он старее, бедняжка), " she
reflected (размышляла она). " He's losing his grip of things (он утрачивает
контроль над происходящим: «вещам»; grip — схватывание, цепкость, зд.
власть, контроль). He must have been impotent for years (он, должно быть,
был импотентом долгие годы); I wonder it never struck me before (интересно,
что это никогда мне не пришло в голову раньше). "
She asked what the time was (она спросила сколько времени).
" I think I ought to go (я думаю, мне надо идти). I must get a long night's rest (я
должна хорошо отдохнуть: «получить долгий ночной отдых»). "
Julia slept well (Джулия спала хорошо) and when she awoke had at once a
feeling of exultation (и, когда она проснулась, почувствовала немедленно
ликование). Tonight was the first night (сегодня вечером была премьера). It
gave her a little thrill of pleasure to recollect (ей доставило некоторую нервную
дрожь удовольствия — вспомнить) that people had already been assembling at
the pit and gallery doors (что люди уже собирались у дверей партера и галерки;
pit — яма, шахта; зд. партер, особ. задние ряды) when she left the theatre after
the dress-rehearsal (когда она покидала театр после генеральной репетиции),
and now at ten in the morning (и теперь, в десять часов утра) there was probably
already a long queue (там была уже, возможно, длинная очередь).
" Lucky it's a fine day for them (какое счастье: «удачно», сегодня хорошая
погода /для них/), poor brutes (бедняжки). "
impotent ['Impqt(q)nt] exultation [" egzAl'teIS(q)n] queue [kju: ]
" I suppose he's getting old, poor dear, " she reflected. " He's losing his grip of
things. He must have been impotent for years; I wonder it never struck me before. "
She asked what the time was.
" I think I ought to go. I must get a long night's rest. "
Julia slept well and when she awoke had at once a feeling of exultation. Tonight
was the first night. It gave her a little thrill of pleasure to recollect that people had
already been assembling at the pit and gallery doors when she left the theatre after
the dress-rehearsal, and now at ten in the morning there was probably already a
long queue.
" Lucky it's a fine day for them, poor brutes. "
In bygone years (в прошедшие годы) she had been intolerably nervous (она
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бывала невыносимо нервной) before a first night (перед премьерой). She had
felt slightly sick all day (она чувствовала легкую тошноту целый день) and as
the hours passed (и, пока часы проходили) got into such a state (приходила в
такое состояние) that she almost thought she would have to leave the stage (что
она почти что думала, что ей придется оставить сцену). But by now (но к
настоящему времени), after having passed through the ordeal so many times
(после того, как /она/ прошла через эту пытку: «тяжелое испытание» так
много раз), she had acquired a certain nonchalance (она приобрела
определенную беззаботность). Throughout the early part of the day (в течение
утра: «ранней части дня») she felt only happy and mildly excited (она
чувствовала себя только счастливой и слегка: «мягко» возбужденной); it was
not till late in the afternoon that she began to feel ill at ease (и только поздно
днем: «это было не до того момента поздно днем» она начинала чувствовать
себя обеспокоенной/ей становилось не по себе). She grew silent (она
становилась молчаливой) and wanted to be left alone (и хотела остаться: «быть
оставленной» одной). She also grew irritable (она так же становилась
раздражительной), and Michael, having learnt from experience (и Майкл,
наученный опытом), took care to keep out of her way (особо заботился о том,
чтобы не путаться у нее под ногами: «держаться в стороне от ее дороги»).
Her hands and feet got cold (ее руки и ноги становились холодными) and by the
time she reached the theatre (и к тому времени, когда она приезжала в театр)
they were like lumps of ice (они были уже как глыбы льда). But still the
apprehension that filled her (но все же те предчувствия, что переполняли ее)
was not unpleasant (не были неприятными).
acquire [q'kwaIq] nonchalance ['nOnSqlqns] apprehension [" xprI'henS(q)n]
In bygone years she had been intolerably nervous before a first night. She had felt
slightly sick all day and as the hours passed got into such a state that she almost
thought she would have to leave the stage. But by now, after having passed
through the ordeal so many times, she had acquired a certain nonchalance.
Throughout the early part of the day she felt only happy and mildly excited; it was
not till late in the afternoon that she began to feel ill at ease. She grew silent and
wanted to be left alone. She also grew irritable, and Michael, having learnt from
experience, took care to keep out of her way. Her hands and feet got cold and by
the time she reached the theatre they were like lumps of ice. But still the
apprehension that filled her was not unpleasant.
Julia had nothing to do that morning (Джулии было нечего делать тем утром)
but go down to the Siddons for a word-rehearsal at noon (кроме как поехать в
«Сиддонс-театр» на читку: «словесную репетицию» в полдень), so she lay in
bed till late (и поэтому она лежала в кровати допоздна). Michael did not come
back to luncheon (Майкл не приехал назад к ланчу), having last things to do to
the sets (так как ему надо было сделать последние изменения в декорациях),
and she ate alone (и она покушала в одиночестве). Then she went to bed and for
an hour slept soundly (потом она легла в постель и в течение часа проспала
крепко). Her intention was to rest all the afternoon (она собиралась: «ее
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намерением было» отдохнуть до полудня); Miss Phillips was coming at six
(мисс Филлипс должна была прийти в шесть) to give her a light massage
(чтобы сделать ей легкий массаж), and by seven she wanted to be at the theatre
(и к семи часам она хотела быть в театре). But when she awoke (но, когда она
проснулась) she felt so much refreshed (она почувствовала себя настолько
отдохнувшей: «посвежевшей») that it irked her to stay in bed (что ее
раздражало оставаться в постели), so she made up her mind to get up and go for
a walk (и тогда она решила встать и пойти на прогулку). It was a fine, sunny
day (был прекрасный, солнечный день). Liking the town better than the country
(/поскольку ей/ нравился город больше, чем деревня) and streets more than
trees (и улицы больше, чем деревья), she did not go into the Park (она не пошла
в Гайд-парк), but sauntered round the neighbouring squares (но неторопливо
прогуливалась по близлежащим: «соседским» площадям), deserted at that time
of year (безлюдным: «пустынным» в это время года), idly looking at the houses
(лениво посматривая на дома), and thought how much she preferred her own to
any of them (и думала, насколько она предпочитала свой собственный /дом/
любому из них).
massage ['mxsQ: Z] irk [q: k] neighbouring ['neIb(q)rIN]
Julia had nothing to do that morning but go down to the Siddons for a word-
rehearsal at noon, so she lay in bed till late. Michael did not come back to
luncheon, having last things to do to the sets, and she ate alone. Then she went to
bed and for an hour slept soundly. Her intention was to rest all the afternoon; Miss
Phillips was coming at six to give her a light massage, and by seven she wanted to
be at the theatre. But when she awoke she felt so much refreshed that it irked her to
stay in bed, so she made up her mind to get up and go for a walk. It was a fine,
sunny day. Liking the town better than the country and streets more than trees, she
did not go into the Park, but sauntered round the neighbouring squares, deserted at
that time of year, idly looking at the houses, and thought how much she preferred
her own to any of them.
She felt at ease and light-hearted (она чувствовала себя свободно и беззаботно).
Then she thought it time to go home (затем она подумала, что самое время идти
домой). She had just reached the corner of Stanhope Place (она как раз достигал
угла Стэнхоуп-плейс) when she heard her name called in a voice that she could
not but recognize (когда она услышала свое имя, произнесенное: «названное»
голосом, который она не могла не узнать).
" Julia. "
She turned round (она обернулась: «повернулась кругом») and Tom, his face all
smiles, caught her up (и Том, с лицом, расплывшимся в улыбке: «его лицо —
сплошные улыбки», догнал ее; to catch (caught) up — подхватить; нагнать).
She had not seen him since her return from France (она не видела его с того
самого момента, как она вернулась: «с ее возвращения» из Франции). He was
very smart in a neat grey suit (он был очень элегантен в аккуратном сером
костюме) and a brown hat (и коричневой шляпе). He was tanned by the sun (он
загорел от солнца).
" I thought you were away (я думала, что тебя нет в городе: «ты
отсутствуешь»). "
" I came back on Monday (я вернулся в понедельник). I didn't ring up (я не
позвонил) because I knew you were busy with the final rehearsals (из-за того, что
я знал, что ты занята последними репетициями). I'm coming tonight (я приду
сегодня /на премьеру/); Michael gave me a stall (Майкл дал мне /билет/ на
место в партере). "
" Oh, I'm glad (о, я рада). "
recognize ['rekqgnaIz] tanned [txnd] tonight [tq'naIt]
She felt at ease and light-hearted. Then she thought it time to go home. She had
just reached the corner of Stanhope Place when she heard her name called in a
voice that she could not but recognize.
" Julia. "
She turned round and Tom, his face all smiles, caught her up. She had not seen him
since her return from France. He was very smart in a neat grey suit and a brown
hat. He was tanned by the sun.
" I thought you were away. "
" I came back on Monday. I didn't ring up because I knew you were busy with the
final rehearsals. I'm coming tonight; Michael gave me a stall. "
" Oh, I'm glad. "
It was plain (было ясно) that he was delighted to see her (что он был счастлив
видеть ее). His face was eager (его лицо было энергичным; eager — страстно
желающий, жаждущий /о человеке/; интенсивный, напряженный;
энергичный, активный /о желании, взгляде, жесте и т. п. /) and his eyes shone
(и его глаза сияли). She was pleased to discover (она была рада обнаружить)
that the sight of him excited no emotion in her (что его вид не вызвал в ней
никаких эмоций). She wondered as they went on talking (она раздумывала, пока
они продолжали говорить) what there was in him (что было в нем такого) that
had ever so deeply affected her (что когда-то так глубоко волновало ее).
" What on earth are you wandering about like this for (за чем же ты бродишь
здесь вот так вот)? "
" I've been for a stroll (я была на прогулке). I was just going in to tea (я уже
собиралась войти в дом к чаю). "
" Come and have tea with me (пойдем, выпьешь чаю со мной). "
His flat was just round the corner (его квартира была как раз за углом). Indeed
he had caught sight of her (на самом деле он заметил ее) just as he was going
down the mews to get to it (как раз, когда он спустился мимо конюшен, чтобы
попасть в квартиру).
" How is it you're back so early (как это так получилось, что ты вернулся так
рано)? "
earth [q: T] round [raVnd] mews [mju: z]
It was plain that he was delighted to see her. His face was eager and his eyes
shone. She was pleased to discover that the sight of him excited no emotion in her.
She wondered as they went on talking what there was in him that had ever so
deeply affected her.
" What on earth are you wandering about like this for? "
" I've been for a stroll. I was just going in to tea. "
" Come and have tea with me. "
His flat was just round the corner. Indeed he had caught sight of her just as he was
going down the mews to get to it.
" How is it you're back so early? "
" Oh, there's nothing much on (о, ничего особенного не происходит; on — зд.
указывает на наличие или наступление действия или процесса) at the office
just now (в конторе /именно/ сейчас). You know, one of our partners died a
couple of months ago (знаешь ли, один из наших компаньонов: «партнеров»
умер пару месяцев назад), and I'm getting a bigger share (и у меня теперь будет
большая доля: «я получаю больший пай»). It means I shall be able to keep on
the flat after all (это означает, что я смогу содержать квартиру и дальше, в
конце концов; to keep on — продолжать делать что-либо). Michael was jolly
decent about it (Майкл был ужасно порядочным на этот счет: «об этом»; jolly
— веселый, /эмоц. -усил. / замечательный, огромный), he said I could stay on
rent free till things got better (он сказал, что я могу продолжать жить /в
квартире/ без арендной платы до тех пор, пока дела не улучшатся; to stay —
оставаться, не уходить, free — свободный, незанятый, бесплатный). I hated
the idea of turning out (мне ненавистна была идея убраться от сюда; to turn out
— зд. уходить, отправляться). Do come (заходи же; to do — зд.
употребляется с глаголом для его усиления). I'd love to make you a cup of tea
(я с удовольствием приготовлю тебе чашку чая). "
He rattled on so vivaciously (он болтал без умолку так оживленно; to rattle —
трещать, грохотать) that Julia was amused (что Джулия была изумлена).
You would never have thought to listen to him (никто ни за что бы не подумал,
слушая его) that there had ever been anything between them (что когда-то что-то
было между ними). He seemed perfectly unembarrassed (он казался
совершенно непринужденным).
" All right (хорошо). But I can only stay a minute (но я смогу остаться только на
минутку). "
" O. K. "
share [Seq] vivacious [vI'veISqs] unembarrassed [" AnIm'bxrqst]
" Oh, there's nothing much on at the office just now. You know, one of our partners
died a couple of months ago, and I'm getting a bigger share. It means I shall be
able to keep on the flat after all. Michael was jolly decent about it, he said I could
stay on rent free till things got better. I hated the idea of turning out. Do come. I'd
love to make you a cup of tea. "
He rattled on so vivaciously that Julia was amused. You would never have thought
to listen to him that there had ever been anything between them. He seemed
perfectly unembarrassed.
" All right. But I can only stay a minute. "
" O. K. "
They turned into the mews (они свернули к гаражам: «конюшне») and she
preceded him up the narrow staircase (и она шла впереди него вверх по узкой
лестнице).
" You toddle along to the sitting-room (ты проходи в гостиную; to toddle —
ковылять, бродить) and I'll put the water on to boil (и я поставлю воду на
огонь: «на кипение»). "
She went in and sat down (она зашла и присела). She looked round the room (она
оглядывала комнату) that had been the scene of so many emotions for her
(которая была местом: «сценой» для такого большого /числа/ душевных
волнений: «эмоций» для нее). Nothing was changed (ничего не изменилось).
Her photograph stood in its old place (ее фотография стояла на своем старом
месте), but on the chimney piece was a large photograph also of Avice Crichton
(но на каминной полке была также большая фотография Эвис Крайтон). On it
was written for Tom from Avice (на ней было написано «Тому от Эвис»). Julia
took everything in (Джулия все приметила; to take in — зд. смотреть, видеть).
The room might have been a set in which she had once acted (эта комната могла
бы быть декорацией, в которой она однажды играла); it was vaguely familiar
(она была слегка знакомой), but no longer meant anything to her (но больше
ничего не значила для нее; no longer — уже не, больше не, long — длинный,
долгий). The love that had consumed her then (любовь, что пожирала ее тогда;
to consume — истреблять, потреблять, съедать), the jealousy she had stifled
(ревность, которую она подавляла; to stifle — душить), the ecstasy of surrender
(восторг сдачи: «капитуляции»), it had no more reality (были не более
реальными: «это имело не больше реальности») than one of the innumerable
parts (чем одна из тех бесчисленных ролей) she had played in the past (что она
сыграла в прошлом).
precede [prI'si: d] toddle ['tOdl] consume [kqn'sju: m] ecstasy ['ekstqsI]
They turned into the mews and she preceded him up the narrow staircase.
" You toddle along to the sitting-room and I'll put the water on to boil. "
She went in and sat down. She looked round the room that had been the scene of so
many emotions for her. Nothing was changed. Her photograph stood in its old
place, but on the chimney piece was a large photograph also of Avice Crichton. On
it was written for Tom from Avice. Julia took everything in. The room might have
been a set in which she had once acted; it was vaguely familiar, but no longer
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