Английский язык с Р. Киплингом. Истории просто так

‘To a nice working blackish-brownish colour (на приятный рабочий черновато-коричневый цвет), with a little purple in it (с небольшим /вкраплением/ пурпура в него), and touches of slaty-blue (и оттенков аспидно-синего цвета; slaty — синевато-серый, цвета сланца, аспидный). It will be the very thing for hiding in hollows and behind trees (это будет как раз то, что надо, для того чтобы прятаться в ложбинах и за деревьями).’

change [CeInG], tremendously [trI'mendqslI], behind [bI'haInd]

‘Well, calling names won’t catch dinner,’ said the Ethiopian. ‘The long and the little of it is that we don’t match our backgrounds. I’m going to take Baviaan’s advice. He told me I ought to change; and as I’ve nothing to change except my skin I’m going to change that.’

‘What to?’ said the Leopard, tremendously excited.

‘To a nice working blackish-brownish colour, with a little purple in it, and touches of slaty-blue. It will be the very thing for hiding in hollows and behind trees.’

So he changed his skin then and there (и он изменил свою кожу тут и там), and the Leopard was more excited than ever (а Леопард еще больше разволновался); he had never seen a man change his skin before (он никогда прежде не видел, чтобы человек менял свою кожу; before — прежде).

‘But what about me (а как насчет меня)?’ he said (спросил он), when the Ethiopian had worked his last little finger into his fine new black skin (когда Эфиоп всунул свой последний мизинчик в свою прекрасную новую черную кожу).

‘You take Baviaan’s advice too (ты тоже последуй совету Павиана). He told you to go into spots (он велел тебе пойти поиграть в пятнашки[49]).’

excited [Ik'saItId], finger ['fINgq], before [bI'fL]

So he changed his skin then and there, and the Leopard was more excited than ever; he had never seen a man change his skin before.

‘But what about me?’ he said, when the Ethiopian had worked his last little finger into his fine new black skin.

‘You take Baviaan’s advice too. He told you to go into spots.’

‘So I did (я так и сделал),’ said the Leopard (сказал Леопард). ‘I went into other spots as fast as I could (я устремился в другие места со всех ног). I went into this spot with you (я отправился в это место с тобой), and a lot of good it has done me (и мне это принесло кучу пользы[50]).’

‘Oh,’ said the Ethiopian (ах, — сказал Эфиоп), ‘Baviaan didn’t mean spots in South Africa (Павиан не имел в виду места[51] в Южной Африке). He meant spots on your skin (он имел в виду пятна[52] на твоей шкуре; to mean — подразумевать, иметь в виду).’

‘What’s the use of that (какой в этом прок)?’ said the Leopard (спросил Леопард).

‘Think of Giraffe (вспомни Жирафа),’ said the Ethiopian (сказал Эфиоп). ‘Or if you prefer stripes (или же если ты предпочитаешь полоски), think of Zebra (вспомни Зебру). They find their spots and stripes give them perfect satisfaction (они считают, что их пятна и полоски дают им полное удовлетворение = полностью удовлетворяют их).’

South [sauT], use [jHs], prefer [prI'fW]

‘So I did,’ said the Leopard. ‘I went into other spots as fast as I could. I went into this spot with you, and a lot of good it has done me.’

‘Oh,’ said the Ethiopian, ‘Baviaan didn’t mean spots in South Africa. He meant spots on your skin.’

‘What’s the use of that?’ said the Leopard.

‘Think of Giraffe,’ said the Ethiopian. ‘Or if you prefer stripes, think of Zebra. They find their spots and stripes give them perfect satisfaction.’

‘Umm,’ said the Leopard (хм, — сказал Леопард). ‘I wouldn’t look like Zebra — not for ever so (я не хотел бы быть похожим на Зебру — не навсегда во всяком случае).’