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

unceasingly [ʌnˈsi: sɪŋlɪ] finch [fɪntʃ] carrion [ˈkærɪǝn]

Now we will return to Bilbo and the dwarves. All night one of them had watched, but when morning came they had not heard or seen any sign of danger. But ever more thickly the birds were gathering. Their companies came flying from the South; and the crows that still lived about the Mountain were wheeling and crying unceasingly above.

“Something strange is happening, ” said Thorin. “The time has gone for the autumn wanderings; and these are birds that dwell always in the land; there are starlings and flocks of finches; and far off there are many carrion birds as if a battle were afoot!”

Suddenly Bilbo pointed: “There is that old thrush again!” he cried. “He seems to have escaped, when Smaug smashed the mountain-side, but I don’t suppose the snails have!”

Sure enough the old thrush was there (и точно, там сидел старый дрозд; sure enough — действительно, конечно, на самом деле), and as Bilbo pointed (и, как Бильбо и указал), he flew towards them (он подлетел к ним) and perched on a stone near by (и взгромоздился на камень рядом с ними). Then he fluttered his wings (затем он затрепыхал крыльями) and sang (и запел); then he cocked his head on one side (затем он склонил голову на один бок), as if to listen (словно прислушивался: «словно чтобы прислушаться»); and again he sang (и снова запел), and again he listened (и снова слушал).

“I believe (я уверен) he is trying to tell us something (что он пытается нам что-то сказать), ” said Balin; “but I cannot follow the speech of such birds (но я не могу уследить за речью таких птиц; to follow — следовать, сопровождать; понимать, внимательно следить /за ходом мысли, словами/), it is very quick and difficult (она уж больно быстрая и трудная). Can you make it out, Baggins (вы можете ее разобрать, Бэггинс; to make out — составлять, разобрать (ся), понять)?”

“Not very well (не очень хорошо), ” said Bilbo (as a matter of fact (на самом-то деле), he could make nothing of it at all (он вообще не мог ничего разобрать)); “but the old fellow seems very excited (но старичок: «старый парень», кажется, очень взволнован). ”

“I only wish he was a raven (как бы мне хотелось: «я только хотел бы», чтобы он был вуроном; raven — ворон, тот, кто накликает беду, каркает как ворон)!” said Balin.

“I thought you did not like them (а я думал, что они вам не нравятся)! You seemed very shy of them (вы, казалось, сторонились их; shy — застенчивый, пугливый; to be shy of smb., smth. — бояться, сторониться кого-либо, чего — либо), when we came this way before (когда мы шли по этому пути раньше). ”

speech [spi: tʃ] difficult [ˈdɪfɪk (ǝ) lt] raven [ˈreɪv (ǝ) n]

Sure enough the old thrush was there, and as Bilbo pointed, he flew towards them and perched on a stone near by. Then he fluttered his wings and sang; then he cocked his head on one side, as if to listen; and again he sang, and again he listened.

“I believe he is trying to tell us something, ” said Balin; “but I cannot follow the speech of such birds, it is very quick and difficult. Can you make it out, Baggins?”

“Not very well, ” said Bilbo (as a matter of fact, he could make nothing of it at all); “but the old fellow seems very excited. ”

“I only wish he was a raven!” said Balin.