Джек Лондон. Мартин Иден. Учим английский, читая мировую классику

Елизавета Хундаева

Учебное пособие содержит фрагмент (семь глав) из текста классического романа американского писателя Джека Лондона «Мартин Иден» на английском языке. Действие романа происходит в начале XX века в Окленде (Калифорния, США). Приведены переводы некоторых слов и выражений на русском языке. Предназначено школьникам, студентам, аспирантам и лицам, интересующимся классической литературой и изучающим английский язык.

Chapter I

The one opened the door with a latch-key (ключ от входной двери; ключ от американского замка; отмычка) and went in, followed (следовать, идти за) by a young fellow who awkwardly (неуклюже, неловко; нескладно) removed (снимать) his cap. He wore (носить) rough (грубый) clothes that smacked of (пахнуть, отдавать) the sea, and he was manifestly (явно) out of place (не в своей тарелке) in the spacious (просторный) hall in which he found himself. He did not know what to do with his cap, and was stuffing (заталкивать) it into his coat pocket when the other (другой, второй) took it from him. The act was done quietly (спокойно) and naturally (естественно), and the awkward (неловкий) young fellow appreciated (оценивать) it. «He understands,» was his thought. «He’ll see me through (поддерживать) all right.»

He walked at the other’s heels (по пятам другого) with a swing (качание; колебание) to his shoulders, and his legs spread (расходиться) unwittingly (невольно, непреднамеренно; нечаянно), as if the level floors were tilting up (наклоняться; опрокидываться) and sinking down (опускаться, снижаться, падать) to the heave (подъём, поднятие) and lunge (ныряние, погружение) of the sea. The wide rooms seemed too narrow for his rolling (покачающийся) gait (походка), and to himself he was in terror (ужас) lest (чтобы не) his broad shoulders should collide (сталкиваться) with the doorways or sweep (сметать, смахивать) the bric-a-brac (безделушки; старинные вещи) from the low mantel (каминная полка). He recoiled (отскочить, отпрянуть, отшатнуться) from side to side between the various objects and multiplied (увеличивать) the hazards (опасность) that in reality lodged (засесть, застрять) only in his mind (ум, голова). Between a grand (большой, величественный) piano and a centre-table piled (заставлять) high with books was space (место, пространство) for a half a dozen (дюжина, десяток) to walk abreast (впереди), yet he essayed (пытаться, пробовать) it with trepidation (трепет, дрожь). His heavy arms hung (висеть) loosely (широко; неточно, неопределённо) at his sides. He did not know what to do with those arms and hands, and when, to his excited (взволнованный) vision (видение, образ, представление), one arm seemed liable (склонный) to brush against (слегка коснуться, задеть) the books on the table, he lurched (кренить (ся) away like a frightened (испуганный) horse, barely (едва) missing (промахнуться) the piano stool. He watched the easy walk (лёгкая походка) of the other in front of him, and for the first time realized (осознавать) that his walk was different from that of other men. He experienced (испытывать) a momentary (кратковременный, преходящий) pang (приступ) of shame (стыд) that he should walk so uncouthly (неуклюжий, неловкий, неотесанный). The sweat (пот) burst (выступить) through the skin of his forehead (лоб) in tiny (крошечный) beads (бусинка), and he paused (остановиться, помедлить) and mopped (вытирать) his bronzed face with his handkerchief (носовой платок).

«Hold on (Подожди минутку), Arthur, my boy,» he said, attempting (пытаться) to mask his anxiety (скрыть волнение) with facetious (шутливый; комический) utterance (высказывание). «This is too much all at once for yours (для Вашего покорного слуги) truly. Give me a chance to get my nerve. You know I didn’t want to come, an’ I guess your fam’ly ain’t hankerin’ (страстно желать, очень хотеть, жаждать) to see me neither.»

«That’s all right,» was the reassuring (ободряющий) answer. «You mustn’t be frightened (пугаться) at us. We’re just homely (простой) people — Hello, there’s a letter for me.»

He stepped (шагнуть) back to the table, tore open (открыть) the envelope, and began to read, giving the stranger (незнакомец) an opportunity to recover himself (придти в себя). And the stranger understood and appreciated (оценивать). His was the gift (дар, подарок) of sympathy (сочувствие), understanding; and beneath (под) his alarmed (встревоженный) exterior (внешнее проявление) that sympathetic (сочувствующий) process went on. He mopped (вытирать) his forehead dry and glanced (бросить взгляд) about him with a controlled (контролируемый, управляемый) face, though in the eyes there was an expression such as wild (дикий) animals betray (предавать) when they fear (бояться) the trap (капкан). He was surrounded (окруженный) by the unknown (неизвестный), apprehensive (встревоженный; предчувствующий недоброе) of what might happen (произойти, случиться), ignorant of (не знать, не ведать) what he should do, aware (осознающий) that he walked and bore himself (вести себя) awkwardly (неловно), fearful (полный страха) that every attribute (признак) and power (сила) of him was similarly (подобным образом) afflicted (поражать; беспокоить). He was keenly sensitive (чувствительный), hopelessly (безнадежно) self-conscious (стеснительный, легко смущающийся), and the amused glance (взгляд) that the other stole (бросить украдкой) privily (незаметно, тайно) at him over the top of the letter burned into him (врезаться в память) like a dagger-thrust (удар ножа). He saw the glance, but he gave no sign (не показать виду), for (так как) among the things he had learned (среди того, чему он научился) was discipline. Also, that dagger-thrust went to his pride. He cursed (ругать, проклинать) himself for having come, and at the same time resolved (решить) that, happen what would (что бы ни случилось), having come (поскольку он пришел), he would carry it through (он должен пройти через это). The lines of his face hardened (стать тверже), and into his eyes came a fighting light (в его взгляде появился свет борьбы). He looked about more unconcernedly (с меньшим волнением), sharply observant (наблюдательный), every detail of the pretty interior registering itself on his brain (при этом каждая деталь красивого убранства отпечатывалась у него в мозгу). His eyes were wide apart (широко раскрытый); nothing in their field of vision (поле зрения) escaped (ускользать); and as they drank in (впитывать в себя) the beauty before them the fighting light (свет борьбы) died out (угасать, умирать) and a warm glow (блеск, свет) took its place (занять место).

He was responsive (восприимчивый, чувствительный) to beauty, and here was cause (причина) to respond.

An oil painting (картина) caught (захватывать; зацеплять) and held (держать, удерживать) him. A heavy surf (прибой) thundered (греметь) and burst over an outjutting (выпирающийся) rock (скала); lowering storm-clouds (грозовое облако) covered the sky; and, outside the line of surf (прибой), a pilot-schooner (шхуна, судно), close-hauled (идущий в крутой бейдевинд), heeled (крениться) over till every detail of her deck (палуба) was visible (видимый), was surging (вибрировать, вздыматься) along against (на фоне) a stormy (бурный, штормовый) sunset (закат солнца) sky. There was beauty, and it drew (притягивать) him irresistibly (недержимо). He forgot his awkward (неуклюжий) walk (походка) and came closer to the painting (картина), very close. The beauty faded out (постепенно исчезать) of the canvas (полотно). His face expressed his bepuzzlement (замешательство; смущение). He stared at (уставиться; пытливо всматриваться) what seemed a careless (небрежный, беспечный) daub (мазок) of paint (краска), then stepped away (отступить, сделать шаг назад). Immediately (немедленно, внезапно) all the beauty flashed back (вернуться) into the canvas (полотно). «A trick (трюк, проделка) picture,» was his thought, as he dismissed (выбрасывать из головы, прогонять от себя) it, though in the midst (среди) of the multitudinous (многочисленный) impressions he was receiving he found time to feel a prod [тычок; толчок] of indignation [возмущение] that so much beauty should be sacrificed (пожертвовать) to make a trick (трюк). He did not know painting (живопись). He had been brought up (быть воспитанным на) on chromos (хромолитография) and lithographs that were always definite (определенный) and sharp (определённый, отчётливый), near or far. He had seen oil paintings, it was true, in the show windows (витрина) of shops, but the glass of the windows had prevented (мешать, препятствовать) his eager (жаждущий) eyes from approaching (приближаться) too near.

He glanced (бросить взгляд; взглянуть мельком) around at his friend reading the letter and saw the books on the table. Into his eyes leaped (прыгать) a wistfulness (тоска) and a yearning (сильное желание; острая тоска) as promptly (быстро) as the yearning (сильное желание) leaps into the eyes of a starving (голодный) man at sight (при виде) of food (пища). An impulsive (импульсивный, вспыльчивый, легко возбудимый) stride (шаг), with one lurch (крен) to right and left of the shoulders, brought him to the table, where he began affectionately (нежно, с любовью) handling (перебирать) the books. He glanced at the titles and the authors’ names, read fragments (отрывок) of text, caressing (гладить) the volumes with his eyes and hands, and, once (однажды), recognized (узнать) a book he had read. For the rest (что касается остальных), they were strange books and strange authors. He chanced (случайно наткнуться) upon a volume (том) of Swinburne and began reading steadily, forgetful of (забыв о) where he was, his face glowing (при этом лицо его светилось, было озарено неким светом). Twice (дважды) he closed the book on his forefinger (указательный палец) to look at the name of the author. Swinburne (Суинберн)! he would (непременно) remember that name. That fellow (парень) had eyes, and he had certainly seen color and flashing (вспыхивающий, светящийся) light. But who was Swinburne? Was he dead (умерший) a hundred years or so (примерно), like (как) most (большинство) of the poets? Or was he alive (живой) still (ещё), and writing? He turned to the title-page (заглавный лист)… yes, he had written other books; well, he would go to the free library the first thing in the morning (первым делом утром) and try to get hold of (найти) some of Swinburne’s stuff. He went back to the text and lost himself. He did not notice that a young woman had entered the room. The first he knew was when he heard Arthur’s voice saying: — «Ruth, this is Mr. Eden.»

The book was closed on his forefinger (указательный палец), and before he turned he was thrilling (испытывать трепет; сильно волноваться) to the first new impression (впечатление), which was not of the girl, but of her brother’s words. Under that muscled (мускулистый) body of his he was a mass of quivering (дрожащий, трепещущий) sensibilities (чуткость, душевная чувствительность). At the slightest (малейший) impact (влияние) of the outside world (внешний мир) upon his consciousness (сознание), his thoughts, sympathies, and emotions leapt and played like lambent (сверкающий) flame (пламя). He was extraordinarily (чрезвычайно) receptive (восприимчивый) and responsive (отзывчивый), while his imagination, pitched (вознёсшееся) high, was ever at work establishing (устанавливать) relations of likeness (сходство) and difference (отличие). «Mr. Eden,» was what he had thrilled to (испытывать восторг) — he who had been called «Eden,» or «Martin Eden,» or just «Martin,» all his life. And «MISTER!» It was certainly going some (было неплохо), was his internal (внутренний) comment (замечание). His mind seemed to turn, on the instant, into a vast camera obscura (камера обскура), and he saw arrayed (расставлять) around his consciousness (сознание) endless pictures from his life, of stoke-holes (устье топки) and forecastles (бак; полубак; носовой кубрик), camps (лагерь, стан) and beaches, jails (тюрьма) and boozing (выпивка, попойка) — kens (круг знаний), fever (лихорадка) — hospitals and slum (трущобы) streets, wherein the thread (нить) of association was the fashion in which he had been addressed in those various (разный) situations.

And then he turned and saw the girl. The phantasmagoria (фантасмагория) of his brain vanished (исчезать) at sight of her (при видеп её). She was a pale (бледный), ethereal creature (эфирное существо), with wide, spiritual (божественный) blue eyes and a wealth (богатство) of golden hair. He did not know how she was dressed, except (за исключеним того, что) that the dress was as wonderful as she. He likened (сравнить) her to a pale (бледный) gold flower upon a slender (стройный) stem (стебель). No, she was a spirit (дух), a divinity (божество), a goddess (богиня); such sublimated (сублимированный) beauty was not of the earth (земля). Or perhaps the books were right, and there were many such as she in the upper walks (верхние слои) of life.

She might well be sung (воспевать) by that chap (парень), Swinburne. Perhaps he had had somebody like her (как она) in mind (голова, разум, воображение) when he painted (писать, рисовать) that girl, Iseult ([i’zult] Изулт, Изольда), in the book there on the table. All this plethora (изобилие, избыток) of sight (зрение), and feeling, and thought occurred (приходить на ум) on the instant (тотчас, немедленно). There was no pause of the realities wherein he moved. He saw her hand coming out to his (он увидел, как её рука потянулась к его руке), and she looked him straight (прямо) in the eyes as she shook (пожать) hands, frankly (откровенно говоря), like (как) a man. The women he had known did not shake hands that way (так, таким образом).

For that matter (по правде говоря), most of them did not shake hands at all. A flood (поток) of associations, visions (видение) of various ways (способ; то, как) he had made the acquaintance of (знакомиться с) women, rushed (проноситься) into his mind and threatened (грозить, угрожать) to swamp (наводнять) it. But he shook them aside and looked at her. Never had he seen such a woman. The women he had known! Immediately, beside her, on

either hand (по обе стороны от неё), ranged (выстраивать в ряд) the women he had known. For an eternal (вечный) second he stood in the midst (посреди) of a portrait gallery, wherein she occupied the central place, while about her were limned (изображать; описывать) many women, all to be weighed (взвешивать) and measured (измерять) by a fleeting (скорый; стремительный) glance (взгляд), herself the unit of weight and measure. He saw the weak (слабый) and sickly (болезненный) faces of the girls of the factories, and the simpering (жеманная), boisterous (громкоголосый, шумный) girls from the south of Market. There were women of the cattle camps, and swarthy (смуглый; тёмный) cigarette-smoking women of Old Mexico. These, in turn, were crowded out (вытеснять) by Japanese women, doll-like (куклоподобный), stepping mincingly (жеманно, манерно, чопорно) on wooden clogs (сабо); by Eurasians, delicate featured (с тонкими чертами лица), stamped with degeneracy (отмеченный печатью вырождение, дегенерации); by full-bodied (пышнотелый) South-Sea-Island women, flower-crowned (с короной из цветов на голове) and brown-skinned (тёмнокожий). All these were blotted out (вытеснять) by a grotesque and terrible nightmare (ночной кошмар) brood — frowsy (затхлый выводок), shuffling (шаркающий) creatures from the pavements (мостовой) of Whitechapel, gin-bloated (обрюзгший; оплывший; раздувшийся) hags (ведьма, карга) of the stews (бордель), and all the vast hell’s following of harpies (гарпия), vile-mouthed (с ужасной речью) and filthy (отвратительный), that under the guise (под видом) of monstrous (чудовищный) female form (в хенском обличьи) prey (хищник) upon sailors, the scrapings (оскрёбка) of the ports, the scum (тина) and slime (липкий ил; тина; муть) of the human pit (дно).

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.