Английский язык с Р. Э. Говардом

The fisherman climbed over the debris and peered in, and what he saw brought a grunt from him. Within the ruined dome, surrounded by stone dust and bits of broken masonry, lay a man on a golden block. He was clad in a sort of skirt and a shagreen girdle. His black hair, which fell in a square mane to his massive shoulders, was confined about his temples by a narrow gold band. On his bare, muscular breast lay a curious dagger with a jeweled pommel, a shagreen-bound hilt, and a broad, crescent blade. It was much like the knife the fisherman wore at his hip, but it lacked the serrated edge and was made with infinitely greater skill.

The fisherman lusted for the weapon (рыбак страстно возжелал это оружие; to lust for — страстно, сильно желать). The man, of course, was dead (мужчина, несомненно, был мертв); had been dead for many centuries (был мертв уже много столетий). This dome was his tomb (это величественное здание было его могилой). The fisherman did not wonder (рыбак не задался вопросом; to wonder — удивляться; интересоваться) by what art the ancients had preserved the body in such a vivid likeness of life (каким искусством древние люди сохранили тело в таком живом подобии жизни), which kept the muscular limbs full and unshrunken (которое сохранило мускулистые конечности полными = плотными и несморщенными; to keep — держать; сохранять), the dark flesh vital (а смуглую плоть — полной жизни; dark — темный; смуглый;vital — жизненный; полный жизни). The dull brain of the Yuetshi had room only for his desire for the knife with its delicate, waving lines along the dully gleaming blade (в тупом мозге юэтшийца было место лишь для его вожделения к ножу с его изящными, волнистыми линиями вдоль тускло мерцающего лезвия; room — комната; место, пространство; desire — желание; вожделение, жажда; dull — тупой; тусклый).

weapon ['wepn], tomb [tu:m], ancient ['ennt]

The fisherman lusted for the weapon. The man, of course, was dead; had been dead for many centuries. This dome was his tomb. The fisherman did not wonder by what art the ancients had preserved the body in such a vivid likeness of life, which kept the muscular limbs full and unshrunken, the dark flesh vital. The dull brain of the Yuetshi had room only for his desire for the knife with its delicate, waving lines along the dully gleaming blade.