Английский язык с П. Треверс. Мэри Поппинс / P. L. Travers: Mary Poppins

“Look where you’re going, can’t you?” he shouted, as something bumped into Jane. She turned quickly and gave a little frightened start as she beheld an enormous Lion. The eyes of the Lion brightened as he saw her.

“Oh, I say — ” he began. “I didn’t know it was you! This place is so crowded tonight and I’m in such a hurry to see the humans fed I’m afraid I didn’t look where I was going. Coming along? You oughtn’t to miss it, you know — ”

“Perhaps,” said Jane politely, “you’d show us the way.” She was a little uncertain of the Lion, but he seemed kindly enough. “And after all,” she thought, “everything is topsyturvy tonight.”

“Dee-lighted!” said the Lion in rather a mincing voice, and he offered her his arm. She took it, but to be on the safe side she kept Michael beside her. He was such a round, fat little boy, and after all, she thought, lions are lions —

“Does my mane look nice?” asked the Lion as they moved off. “I had it curled for the occasion.”

Jane looked at it. She could see that it had been carefully oiled and combed into ringlets.

“Very,” she said. “But — isn’t it rather odd for a lion to care about such things? I thought — ”

“What (что)! My dear young lady (моя дорогая юная леди), the Lion, as you know (лев, как вы знаете), is the King of the Beasts (царь зверей). He has to remember his position (он должен помнить о своем положении). And I (а я), personally (лично), am not likely to forget it (конечно же, не забываю этого; likely — вероятный, возможный; notlikely — конечно, нет /обычно в ответ на вопрос/). I believe a lion should always look his best (я полагаю, что лев должен всегда выглядеть наилучшим образом: «выглядеть свое лучшее») no matter where he is (не важно = независимо /от того/, где он находится). This way (вот сюда).”

And with a graceful wave of his forepaw he pointed towards the Big Cat House (и с грациозным взмахом своей передней лапы он указал в направлении дома большой кошки) and ushered them in at the entrance (и проводил их ко входу; usher — швейцар; консьерж; привратник; tousher — провожать, сопровождать; вводить /in/).

Jane and Michael caught their breaths at the sight that met their eyes (Джейн и Майкл затаили дыхание от зрелища, которое предстало перед их глазами: «встретило их глаза»). The great hall was thronged with animals (большой холл был переполнен животными; throng — толпа, толчея). Some were leaning over the long bar (некоторые склонились над длинным парапетом) that separated them from the cages (который отделял их от клеток), some were standing on the seats (некоторые стояли на сидениях) that rose in tiers opposite (которые поднимались рядами напротив; tier — ряд; ярус). There were panthers and leopards (здесь были пантеры и леопарды), wolves (волки), tigers and antelopes (тигры и антилопы); monkeys and hedgehogs (обезьяны и ежи; hedgehog — еж; /амер./ дикобраз), wombats (вомбаты), mountain goats and giraffes (горные козлы и жирафы); and an enormous group composed entirely of kittiwakes and vultures (и огромная группа, состоящая полностью из моевок и грифов).

“Splendid, isn’t it (великолепно, не правда ли)?” said the Lion proudly (сказал Лев гордо). “Just like the dear old jungle days (прямо как в старые добрые времена джунглей). But come along (но поторопимся) — we must get good places (мы должны занять хорошие места).”

And he pushed his way through the crowd crying (и он проталкивал себе дорогу сквозь толпу, крича), “Gangway (дорогу: «проход»), gangway (дорогу)!” and dragging Jane and Michael after him (и волоча Джейн и Майкла за собой). Presently (некоторое время спустя), through a little clearing in the middle of the hall (сквозь небольшое свободное место в середине холла), they were able to get a glimpse of the cages (они смогли уловить вид клеток: «получить проблеск клеток»).

forepaw [fO:pO:] gangway ['gæŋweI] ushered ['A∫qd]

“What! My dear young lady, the Lion, as you know, is the King of the Beasts. He has to remember his position. And I, personally, am not likely to forget it. I believe a lion should always look his best no matter where he is. This way.”

And with a graceful wave of his forepaw he pointed towards the Big Cat House and ushered them in at the entrance.

Jane and Michael caught their breaths at the sight that met their eyes. The great hall was thronged with animals. Some were leaning over the long bar that separated them from the cages, some were standing on the seats that rose in tiers opposite. There were panthers and leopards, wolves, tigers and antelopes; monkeys and hedgehogs, wombats, mountain goats and giraffes; and an enormous group composed entirely of kittiwakes and vultures.

“Splendid, isn’t it?” said the Lion proudly. “Just like the dear old jungle days. But come along — we must get good places.”