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

Whilst he lay there (пока он лежал там; to lie — лежать) benumbed with terror (оцепеневший от ужаса), dreadful tidings (страшные известия) were speeding through the palace (распространялись по дворцу). The whisper (шепот), for it was whispered always (так как это всегда передавалось шепотом: «было прошептано всегда»), flew from menial to menial (пронесся от слуги к слуге), from lord to lady (от господ к дамам), down all the long corridors (по всем коридорам), from story to story (c этажа на этаж), from saloon to saloon (из залы в залу), 'The prince hath gone mad (принц сошел с ума), the prince hath gone mad!' Soon every saloon, every marble hall (скоро каждая зала, мраморный холл), had its groups of glittering lords and ladies (имела свои группы блистательных господ и дам), and other groups of dazzling lesser folk (и другие группы ослепительных людей более низкого звания; lesser — меньший), talking earnestly together in whispers (говорящих серьезно вместе шепотом), and every face had in it dismay (и каждое лицо имело /выражение/ испуга). Presently (через некоторое время) a splendid official (величественный чиновник) came marching by these groups (прошел мимо этих групп), making solemn proclamation (делая торжественное объявление):

'IN THE NAME OF THE KING (именем короля)

Let none listen to this false (пусть никто не слушает эту лживую) and foolish matter (и глупую весть), upon pain of death (под страхом смерти; pain — боль), nor discuss the same (и не обсуждает ее; same — то(т) же), nor carry it abroad (и не выносит за пределы /дворца/). In the name of the king (именем короля)!'

The whisperings ceased (шепот прекратился) as suddenly (так внезапно) as if the whisperers had been stricken dumb (как будто шептавшие внезапно онемели).

Soon there was a general buzz (вскоре раздалось всеобщий гул /голосов/) along the corridors (вдоль коридоров), of (о) 'The prince (принц)! See, the prince comes (смотрите, принц идет)!'

tongue [tAŋ], benumb [bı`nAm], death [deθ]

He said:

'Oh, they mock at me! They will go and tell. Oh! why came I here to cast away my life?'

He walked up and down the floor, filled with nameless fears, listening, starting at every trifling sound. Presently the door swung open, and a silken page said:

'The Lady Jane Grey.'

The door closed, and a sweet young girl, richly clad, bounded toward him.

But she stopped suddenly, and said in a distressed voice:

'Oh, what aileth thee, my lord?'

Tom's breath was nearly failing him; but he made shift to stammer out:

'Ah, be merciful, thou! In sooth I am no lord, but only poor Tom Canty of Offal Court in the city. Prithee let me see the prince, and he will of his grace restore to me my rags, and let me hence unhurt. Oh, be thou merciful, and save me!'

By this time the boy was on his knees, and supplicating with his eyes and uplifted hands as well as with his tongue. The young girl seemed horror-stricken. She cried out:

'Oh, my lord, on thy knees? and to me!'

Then she fled away in fright; and Tom, smitten with despair, sank down, murmuring:

'There is no help, there is no hope. Now will they come and take me.'