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

They could all get into boats for all he cared. There he could have fine sport hunting them, or they could stop till they starved. Let them try to get to land and he would be ready. Soon he would set all the shoreland woods ablaze and wither every field and pasture. Just now he was enjoying the sport of town — baiting more than he had enjoyed anything for years. But there was still a company of archers that held their ground among the burning houses. Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whose friends had accused him of prophesying floods and poisoned fish, though they knew his worth and courage. He was a descendant in long line of Girion, Lord of Dale, whose wife and child had escaped down the Running River from the ruin long ago. Now he shot with a great yew bow, till all his arrows but one were spent. The flames were near him. His companions were leaving him. He bent his bow for the last time. Suddenly out of the dark something fluttered to his shoulder. He started — but it was only an old thrush. Unafraid it perched by his ear and it brought him news. Marvelling he found he could understand its tongue, for he was of the race of Dale.

“Wait (подожди)! Wait!” it said to him (сказал ему /дрозд/). “The moon is rising (восходит луна). Look for the hollow of the left breast (ищи впадину на его левой груди; to look for — искать что-либо) as he flies and turns above you (когда он пролетает и кружит: «поворачивает» над тобой)!” And while Bard paused in wonder (и пока Бард застыл от изумления; to pause — делать паузу, перерыв, задержаться, медлить, задуматься) it told him of tidings up in the Mountain (дрозд рассказал ему о тех происшествиях высоко в Горе; tidings — книжн. известия, уст. случай) and of all that it had heard (и обо всем, что он слышал). Then Bard drew his bow-string to his ear (затем Бард натянул тетиву лука до самого уха: «к своему уху»). The dragon was circling back (дракон возвращался, кружась), flying low (летел он низко), and as he came (и пока он приближался) the moon rose above the eastern shore (луна взошла над восточным берегом) and silvered his great wings (и посеребрила его огромные крылья).

“Arrow (стрела)!” said the bowman (сказал лучник; bow — лук /оружие/; bowman — стрелок из лука, лучник). “Black arrow (черная стрела)! I have saved you to the last (я приберег тебя напоследок; to save — спасать; экономить, откладывать). You have never failed me (ты меня никогда не подводила) and always I have recovered you (и всегда я обретал тебя вновь). I had you from my father (я получил тебя от своего отца) and he from of old (а он — от своих предков; of old — прежде, очень давно). If ever you came (если ты действительно когда-то вышла) from the forges of the true king under the Mountain (из кузниц настоящего Короля под Горой), go now and speed well (лети же сейчас и мчись хорошо = и да сопутствует тебе удача; to speed (sped) — двигаться поспешно; мчаться)!”