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

So Miles started on his quest. Hour after hour he tramped through back alleys and squalid streets, seeking groups and crowds, and finding no end of them, but never any sign of the boy. This greatly surprised him, but did not discourage him. To his notion, there was nothing the matter with his plan of campaign; the only miscalculation about it was that the campaign was becoming a lengthy one, whereas he had expected it to be short.

When daylight arrived at last, he had made many a mile, and canvassed many a crowd, but the only result was that he was tolerably tired, rather hungry, and very sleepy. He wanted some breakfast, but there was no way to get it. To beg for it did not occur to him; as to pawning his sword, he would as soon have thought of parting with his honor; he could spare some of his clothes — yes, but one could as easily find a customer for a disease as for such clothes.

At noon he was still tramping (в полдень он все еще бродил) — among the rabble (среди сброда) which followed after the royal procession now (который следовал за королевской процессией теперь); for he argued (ибо он рассудил) that this regal display (что это королевское выступление) would attract his little lunatic powerfully (привлекло бы его маленького безумца мощно). He followed the pageant (он следовал за процессией) through all its devious windings (по всем ее хитроумным изгибам) about London (по Лондону), and all the way to Westminster and the Abbey (и вплоть до Вестминстера и Аббатства). He drifted here and there (он бродил здесь и там) among the multitudes (среди толп) that were massed in the vicinity (которые скапливались поблизости) for a weary long time (в течение изматывающего долгого времени), baffled and perplexed (сбитый с толку и озадаченный), and finally wandered off (и наконец забрел далеко: «убрел прочь») thinking, and trying to contrive some way (думая и пытаясь выдумать какой-нибудь способ) to better his plan of campaign (улучшить свой план кампании). By and by (мало-помалу), when he came to himself (когда он пришел к себе = в себя) out of his musings (из своих размышлений), he discovered that the town was far behind him (он обнаружил, что город оказался далеко за ним) and that the day was growing old (и что день становился старым = клонился к закату). He was near the river (он был близ реки), and in the country (и в сельской местности); it was a region of fine rural seats (это был район роскошных деревенских усадеб) — not the sort of district (не такой сорт местности) to welcome clothes like his (чтобы радушно принять одежду вроде его = как у него).

It was not at all cold (не было совсем холодно); so he stretched himself (так что он растянулся) on the ground in the lee of a hedge (на земле под сенью изгороди; lee — укрытие, подветренная сторона) to rest and think (чтобы отдохнуть и подумать). Drowsiness presently began (сонливость вскоре начала; to begin — начать) to settle upon his senses (оседать на его чувства); the faint and far-off boom of cannon (слабый и отдаленный залп пушки) was wafted to his ear (был донесен до его уха), and he said to himself (и он сказал себе), 'The new king is crowned (новый король коронован),' and straightway fell asleep (и сразу же заснул: «упал спящим»; to fall — падать). He had not slept or rested, before (он не спал и не отдыхал прежде; to sleep — спать), for more than thirty hours (в течение больше чем тридцати часов). He did not wake again (он не проснулся снова) until near the middle of the next morning (до почти середины следующего утра).