Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий / Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper

The woman was mightily puzzled; but she did not give up. As she proceeded with her cooking, she set herself to contriving devices to surprise the boy into betraying his real secret. She talked about cattle — he showed no concern; then about sheep — the same result — so her guess that he had been a shepherd boy was an error; she talked about mills; and about weavers, tinkers, smiths, trades and tradesmen of all sorts; and about Bedlam, and jails, and charitable retreats; but no matter, she was baffled at all points. Not altogether, either; for she argued that she had narrowed the thing down to domestic service. Yes, she was sure she was on the right track now — he must have been a house-servant. So she led up to that. But the result was discouraging. The subject of sweeping appeared to weary him; fire-building failed to stir him; scrubbing and scouring awoke no enthusiasm. Then the goodwife touched, with a perishing hope, and rather as a matter of form, upon the subject of cooking. To her surprise, and her vast delight, the king's face lighted at once! Ah, she had hunted him down at last, she thought; and she was right proud, too, of the devious shrewdness and tact which had accomplished it.

Her tired tongue (ее уставший язык) got a chance to rest now (получил шанс = возможность отдохнуть теперь; to get — получать); for the king's (ибо /язык/ короля), inspired by gnawing hunger (вдохновленный грызущим голодом) and the fragrant smells (и душистыми запахами) that came from the sputtering pots and pans (которые исходили от бурлящих горшков и сковород), turned itself loose (развязался: «обратил = сделал себя свободным»; loose — развязанный) and delivered itself up (и сдался = и расщедрился) to such an eloquent dissertation (на столь красноречивое рассуждение) upon certain toothsome dishes (о некоторых лакомых блюдах), that within three minutes the woman said to herself (что в три минуты женщина сказала себе), 'Of a truth I was right (поистине я была права) — he hath holpen in a kitchen (он помогал на кухне; holpen — устар. форма от to help — помогать)!' Then he broadened his bill of fare (затем он расширил свое меню: «список кушаний»), and discussed it with such appreciation and animation (и обсуждал его с таким пониманием и воодушевлением), that the goodwife said to herself (что хозяйка сказала себе), 'Good lack (Боже мой — устар.)! how can he know so many dishes (как может он знать так много блюд), and so fine ones withal (да таких утонченных к тому же)? For these belong only upon the tables of the rich and great (ведь им место только на столах богатых и великих; to belong — принадлежать, быть «своим»). Ah, now I see (ах, теперь я вижу = понимаю)! ragged outcast as he is (оборванный изгой как он есть = хоть он и оборванный изгой), he must have served in the palace (он, должно быть, служил во дворце) before his reason went astray (прежде чем его ум сбился с пути; astray — заблудившись); yes, he must have helped in the very kitchen of the king himself (да, он, должно быть, помогал аж в кухне самого короля; very — сам)! I will test him (я испытаю его).'

Full of eagerness to prove her sagacity (полная рвения доказать свою проницательность), she told the king to mind the cooking a moment (она сказала королю присмотреть за готовкой; to tell — сказать) — hinting that he might manufacture and add a dish or two (намекая, что он мог бы изготовить и добавить блюдо-другое: «блюдо или два»), if he chose (если бы он выбрал = захотел; to choose — выбирать) — then she went out of the room (затем она вышла вон из кухни) and gave her children a sign to follow after (и подала своим детям знак следовать за /ней/). The king muttered (король пробормотал):