Читаем Английский язык с Дж. Р. Р. Толкиеном. Хоббит полностью

Now these were fair words and true, if proudly and grimly spoken; and Bilbo thought that Thorin would at once admit what justice was in them. He did not, of course, expect that any one would remember that it was he who discovered all by himself the dragon’s weak spot; and that was just as well, for no one ever did. But also he did not reckon with the power that gold has upon which a dragon has long brooded, nor with dwarvish hearts. Long hours in the past days Thorin had spent in the treasury, and the lust of it was heavy on him. Though he had hunted chiefly for the Arkenstone, yet he had an eye for many another wonderful thing that was lying there, about which were wound old memories of the labours and the sorrows of his race.

“You put your worst cause last and in the chief place, ” Thorin answered. “To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life or home. The treasure was not his that his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay — in due time. But nothing will we give, not even a loaf’s worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves.

“It is in my mind to ask (мне в голову /пришла мысль/ спросить) what share of their inheritance (какую долю их наследства) you would have paid to our kindred (ты бы заплатил нашим родственникам; topay (paid) — платить, уплачивать), had you found the hoard unguarded (если бы обнаружил сокровище/клад, никем не охраняемым; to guard — охранять, сторожить, караулить) and us slain (и нас убитыми). ”

“A just question (справедливый вопрос; just — справедливый, заслуженный, обоснованный), ” replied Bard (ответил Бард; to reply — отвечать). “But you are not dead (но вы не умерли: «не мертвые/погибшие»), and we are not robbers (а мы не воры). Moreover (более того) the wealthy may have pity beyond right (богатые могли бы просто пожалеть: «проявить/иметь жалость», вне всякого права; pity — жалость, сострадание, сожаление) on the needy that befriended them (тех бедняков, что отнеслись к ним дружески; theneedy — нуждающиеся, бедные, бедствующие; friend—друг; tobefriend — относиться дружески, способствовать, помогать) when they were in want (когда они были в нужде; to be in want of smth. — испытывать потребность в чем-либо). And still my other claims (и все же, мои остальные требования) remain unanswered (остаются без ответа: «неотвеченными»). ”

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