Читаем Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса полностью

etiquette ['etIket], choice [tSOIs], entirely [In'taIqlI]

I did not need a manual of green Martian etiquette to know what reply to make, for, in fact, I was so wild with anger that I could scarcely refrain from drawing my pistol and shooting him down for the brute he was; but he stood waiting with drawn long-sword, and my only choice was to draw my own and meet him in fair fight with his choice of weapons or a lesser one.

This latter alternative is always permissible, therefore I could have used my short-sword, my dagger, my hatchet, or my fists had I wished, and been entirely within my rights, but I could not use firearms or a spear while he held only his long-sword.

I chose the same weapon he had drawn (я выбрал то же оружие, которое он обнажил) because I knew he prided himself upon his ability with it (так как я знал, что он гордится своим мастерством владения им), and I wished, if I worsted him at all (и я хотел, если я вообще смогу победить его; to worst — победить, нанести поражение), to do it with his own weapon (сделать это его же оружием). The fight that followed was a long one (битва, которая за этим последовала, была долгой) and delayed the resumption of the march for an hour (и отложила возобновление похода на час). The entire community surrounded us (все племя окружило нас), leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter for our battle (оставив чистое пространство в сто футов диаметром для нашего сражения).

worst [wWst], resumption [rI'zAmpS(q)n]

I chose the same weapon he had drawn because I knew he prided himself upon his ability with it, and I wished, if I worsted him at all, to do it with his own weapon. The fight that followed was a long one and delayed the resumption of the march for an hour. The entire community surrounded us, leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter for our battle.

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