4

I would like to tell the reader a little about the countryside (я бы хотел немного рассказать читателю о местности) which surrounded the city I was living in (окружающей город, в котором я жил; in относится к the city). I saw a good deal of it (я повидал довольно большую ее часть), since I always went with the King and Queen on their journeys (так как всегда сопровождал короля и королеву в их поездках) and I often went into the city with Glumdalclitch (и часто отправлялся в город с Глюмдалклич).

As far as I could judge (насколько я мог судить), Brobdingnag is about six thousand miles long (имеет около шести тысяч миль в длину) and between three and five thousand miles wide (и от трех до пяти тысяч миль в ширину). This vast mass of land must be joined to north-west America (это обширное пространство земли, по-видимому, соединено с северо-западом Америки: «с северо-западной Америкой»). European geographers are quite wrong (европейские географы совершенно неправы) in thinking that there is no land mass between Japan and California (полагая, что между Японией и Калифорнией нет никакой земли).

 I would like to tell the reader a little about the countryside which surrounded the city I was living in. I saw a good deal of it, since I always went with the King and Queen on their journeys and I often went into the city with Glumdalclitch.

As far as I could judge, Brobdingnag is about six thousand miles long and between three and five thousand miles wide. This vast mass of land must be joined to north-west America. European geographers are quite wrong in thinking that there is no land mass between Japan and California.

The country is a peninsula (страна /эта/ есть полуостров) surrounded on three sides by the ocean (окруженный с трех сторон океаном). There are very high mountains to the north (на севере расположены очень высокие горы). Nobody in the kingdom knows (никто в королевстве не знает) whether these mountains or the regions beyond them are inhabited (обитаемы ли эти горы или = и области за их пределами; to inhabit – жить, обитать; населять, заселять), since there are volcanoes in them (так как в них = в горах находятся вулканы).

There is no seaport in the kingdom (в королевстве нет ни одного морского порта), although a lot of ships and smaller boats sail the large rivers (несмотря на то, что по крупным рекам плавает множество кораблей и малых судов). The parts of the coast (/те/ части побережья) into which the rivers flow (в которые = куда текут реки = где реки впадают в море) are full of sharp and pointed rocks (полны = усеяны острыми скалами; sharp – острый; pointed – заостренный, остроконечный). These people therefore have no trade with the rest of the world (таким образом, эти люди не имеют торговых сношений с остальным миром).

 The country is a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the ocean. There are very high mountains to the north. Nobody in the kingdom knows whether these mountains or the regions beyond them are inhabited, since there are volcanoes in them.

There is no seaport in the kingdom, although a lot of ships and smaller boats sail the large rivers. The parts of the coast into which the rivers flow are full of sharp and pointed rocks. These people therefore have no trade with the rest of the world.

There is a good deal of fine fishing in the rivers (в реках много и успешно занимаются рыболовством). The salt-water fish, however, are the same size as those in Europe (морская же рыба такой же величины, как и в Европе; salt – соль) and are considered too small to be worth catching (и считается слишком мелкой для того, чтобы ее ловить: «быть заслуживающей ловли»). This is probably the only land area in the world (вероятно, это единственная территория в мире) where plants and animals of such extraordinary size are to be found (где можно найти/встретить = существуют растения и животные такой необычайной величины). I leave it to the scholars to explain this fact (объяснить этот факт я предоставляю ученым).

The country seems to have a large population (страна имеет, по-видимому, большое население). It has fifty-one cities (в ней есть пятьдесят один большой город) and almost a hundred walled towns (и почти сто городов-крепостей; walled – окруженный /крепостной/ стеной, валом), as well as a great number of small towns and villages (а также большое число маленьких городков и деревень). The city of Lorbrulgrud is built on both sides of a river (город Лорбрулгруд построен = расположен по обоим берегам реки) and has more than eighty thousand houses (и имеет больше/свыше восьмидесяти тысяч домов).

 There is a good deal of fine fishing in the rivers. The salt-water fish, however, are the same size as those in Europe and are considered too small to be worth catching. This is probably the only land area in the world where plants and animals of such extraordinary size are to be found. I leave it to the scholars to explain this fact.

The country seems to have a large population. It has fifty-one cities and almost a hundred walled towns, as well as a great number of small towns and villages. The city of Lorbrulgrud is built on both sides of a river and has more than eighty thousand houses.

The King’s palace is not a building as such (королевский дворец – не одно определенное: «здание как таковое»). It is a number of buildings (это несколько зданий) surrounded by a wall seven miles long (окруженных стеной длиною в семь миль). We used to go outside the walls of the palace and into the city quite often (мы весьма часто выходили/выезжали за дворцовую стену и в город; used to используется при описании событий, которые регулярно происходили в прошлом; иметь обыкновение, обычно). Glumdalclitch had been given a coach (для Глюмдалклич была предоставлена карета). She and her teacher used to take me with them (она и ее учительница/гувернантка брали меня с собой) on their shopping trips to the city (в своих поездках за покупками в город; shop – лавка, магазин; to shop – ходить по магазинам, делать покупки). I always travelled in my box (я всегда путешествовал/ездил в своем ящике), from which I had a clear view through the windows (из которого я имел ясный = хороший обзор через окна). If I asked her, Glumdalclitch would take me out (если я просил, Глюмдалклич вынимала меня /оттуда/) and hold me in her hand (и держала в руке).

 The King’s palace is not a building as such. It is a number of buildings surrounded by a wall seven miles long. We used to go outside the walls of the palace and into the city quite often. Glumdalclitch had been given a coach. She and her teacher used to take me with them on their shopping trips to the city. I always travelled in my box, from which I had a clear view through the windows. If I asked her, Glumdalclitch would take me out and hold me in her hand.

The most hateful sight in the whole city (самое отвратительное зрелище во всем городе) was the poor beggars (представляли из себя нищие: «бедные попрошайки»). They would sometimes come right up to the coach to beg (иногда они подходили просить подаяния к самой карете) while we stopped outside a shop (когда мы останавливались у магазина). I couldn’t stand the sight of the sores on their skin (я не выносил вида язв на их коже; to stand – стоять; устоять; выдерживать, выносить, терпеть). In some cases (у некоторых: «в некоторых случаях»), there were holes so large (отверстия /язв/ были такие большие) that my body could have fitted into them (что мое тело могло бы /целиком/ в них поместиться; to fit – быть впору, в самый раз; умещаться, помещаться, входить). But what I hated most of all (но что я ненавидел больше всего) was the sight of lice crawling on their clothes (/так это/ вид вшей, ползавших по их одежде; lice – мн. ч. от louse). I could see the legs and noses of these lice quite clearly (я совершенно отчетливо мог видеть ноги/лапы и носы/морды этих вшей).

 The most hateful sight in the whole city was the poor beggars. They would sometimes come right up to the coach to beg while we stopped outside a shop. I couldn’t stand the sight of the sores on their skin. In some cases, there were holes so large that my body could have fitted into them. But what I hated most of all was the sight of lice crawling on their clothes. I could see the legs and noses of these lice quite clearly.

Apart from the box I was usually carried in (кроме ящика, в котором меня обыкновенно носили), the Queen had a smaller box made for me (королева приказала сделать для меня ящик поменьше). This travelling box was square (/этот/ ящик для поездок был квадратный), with a window in each of three sides (в трех его стенках было проделано по окну: «с окном в каждой из трех стен»). Each window had iron wire fitted to the outside (каждое окно было защищено снаружи железной проволокой: «имело железную проволоку, прилаженную снаружи»). There was no window on the fourth side (окна не было в четвертой стене) where two strong hooks were fixed to the outside (где = к которой снаружи были прикреплены два прочных крюка), with room to pass a leather belt through (так, чтобы через них можно было просунуть кожаный ремень: «с местом /достаточным для того/ чтобы просунуть…»). The person who carried me (лицо, бравшее меня с собой) wore my box on his or her belt (носило ящик у себя на поясе).

 Apart from the box I was usually carried in, the Queen had a smaller box made for me. This travelling box was square, with a window in each of three sides. Each window had iron wire fitted to the outside. There was no window on the fourth side where two strong hooks were fixed to the outside, with room to pass a leather belt through. The person who carried me wore my box on his or her belt.

In this way, on longer journeys (таким образом, в дальних поездках) I could ride with a servant on horseback (я мог ехать со слугою верхом на лошади). My box rested on a cushion in front of the rider (мой ящик стоял на подушке перед седоком; to rest – отдыхать; покоиться, лежать). All the furniture in this travelling box was neatly screwed to the floor (вся мебель в этом ящике для путешествий была крепко привинчена к полу; neat – четкий, ясный; аккуратный; хорошо сделанный, тщательный; screw – винт, шуруп). It was comfortable enough for someone used to sailing at sea (для человека, привыкшего к плаваниям по морю, он был достаточно комфортабелен). I could also see a good deal of the countryside through my windows on the three sides (к тому же через окна в трех стенах я мог обозревать значительную часть местности).

 In this way, on longer journeys I could ride with a servant on horseback. My box rested on a cushion in front of the rider. All the furniture in this travelling box was neatly screwed to the floor. It was comfortable enough for someone used to sailing at sea. I could also see a good deal of the countryside through my windows on the three sides.

I had a great desire to see the main temple (я имел большое желание = мне очень хотелось увидеть главный храм), which I had heard was the highest building in the land (который, /как/ я слышал, был самым высоким зданием в стране). My little nurse took me there one day (однажды моя нянюшка отвезла меня туда), but I was very disappointed at the sight (но я был очень разочарован /его/ видом). It was no more than three thousand feet high (в нем было не более трех тысяч футов высоты), which was not so spectacular (что не так /уж/ достойно удивления; spectacular – производящий глубокое впечатление; впечатляющий; эффектный) given the difference in size (если принять во внимание разницу в росте; given – данный; /предлог/ при наличии; с учетом, принимая во внимание) between these people and us Europeans (между этими людьми и нами, европейцами). It was a beautiful building, however (тем не менее, это было красивое здание). It was made of stone (оно было построено из камня) and had walls that were a hundred feet thick (и имело стены толщиной в сто футов). But there were other buildings and rooms (но были другие здания и помещения) that did impress me by their size (которые в самом деле поразили меня своими размерами; did использовано для усиления; to impress – делать отпечаток; чеканить; штамповать; производить впечатление, поражать). I doubt that the reader would believe me (сомневаюсь, что читатель поверил бы мне), if I described the King’s kitchen (если бы я стал описывать королевскую кухню) or the size of the pots and kettles (или размеры горшков и котлов) and the enormous joints of meat (и громадные куски мяса; joint – соединение; стык; сустав, сочленение; часть разрубленной туши /особенно для жарения, запекания/; окорок, нога, лопатка и т. п.) that were roasted there (которые там жарились).

 I had a great desire to see the main temple, which I had heard was the highest building in the land. My little nurse took me there one day, but I was very disappointed at the sight. It was no more than three thousand feet high, which was not so spectacular given the difference in size between these people and us Europeans. It was a beautiful building, however. It was made of stone and had walls that were a hundred feet thick. But there were other buildings and rooms that did impress me by their size. I doubt that the reader would believe me, if I described the King’s kitchen or the size of the pots and kettles and the enormous joints of meat that were roasted there.

The King of Brobdingnag, however, might well feel (с другой стороны, король Бробдингнага вполне мог бы посчитать; to feel – ощупывать, осязать; чувствовать, ощущать; полагать, считать, быть убежденным) that I’d told too little about the size of his land (что я слишком мало рассказал о величине его страны). So perhaps I should also mention (так что мне, пожалуй, стоит упомянуть) the most splendid sight I saw (о самом блистательном/величественном зрелище, какое я видел) during my time there (во время моего пребывания там). That was the sight of the King’s Guard (это было зрелище королевской гвардии; guard – охрана, защита; караул, конвой, стража; гвардия). There were five hundred horses and riders (/в ней/ было пятьсот лошадей с наездниками), each horse between fifty-four and sixty feet high (каждая лошадь ростом от пятидесяти четырех до шестидесяти футов).

 The King of Brobdingnag, however, might well feel that I’d told too little about the size of his land. So perhaps I should also mention the most splendid sight I saw during my time there. That was the sight of the King’s Guard. There were five hundred horses and riders, each horse between fifty-four and sixty feet high.