Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children by James Baldwin

Вид материала

Подобный материал:

1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ... 19

I EXPLORE MY CAVE FURTHER (я исследую мою пещеру дальше)

THE next day I brought out with me six big candles (на следующий день в вынес с собой шесть больших свечей).

For you must know that I was a candle maker (так как вы должны знать, что я был создателем свечей = делал свечи) as well as a baker (равно как и пекарем). Indeed, I made very good candles of goats' tallow, using some bits of old ropes for the wicks (в самом деле, я делал очень хорошие свечи из сала коз, использую куски веревки для фитилей).

As I have just said, I took six candles with me, for I had made up my mind to learn more about the cave I had found (как я только что сказал, я взял шесть свечей собой, так как я решил узнать больше о пещере, которую я нашел).

I lit two of the candles (зажег две свечи; to light — зажигать), and went in (зашел внутрь). The poor old goat was dead (бедная старая коза была мертва), and it was no easy work to dig a hole right there and bury him (было не легкой работой выкопать дыры прямо там и похоронить ее).

After this unpleasant task was done (после того как это неприятное задание было сделано), I went into the back part of the cave (я пошел в заднюю часть пещеры). The flame of the candles lighted up the darkness (пламя свечей осветило темноту), and I could see quite plainly (мог видеть довольно сносно).

The narrow passage of which I have told you was no less than thirty feet long (узкий проход, о котором я рассказал вам, был не меньше 30 футов длиной). In one place it was so low that I had to creep through on all fours (в одном месте он был таким низким, что мне пришлось ползти на четырех = на четвереньках).

But no sooner was I through this low place than I found myself in a splendid chamber (но как только я прошел это низкое место, я обнаружил себя великолепной комнате). It was large enough to shelter a hundred men (она была достаточно большой, чтобы укрыть 100 человек).

Indeed, it seemed like the great hall of some old English castle (в самом деле, она казалось /похожей/ на большой холл старого английского замка). I had never seen anything so grand (я никогда не видел ничего такого величественного).

The roof was at least twenty feet high (крыша была, по крайне мере, 20 футов высотой). The light from my two candles shone upon the walls and made it look as though covered with thousand of bright stars (свет моих двух свечей освещал стены и заставлял их выглядеть, как будто они покрыты тысячей ярких звезд).

Whether these were diamonds (были ли это бриллианты), or gold (золото), or some other precious things (ценные вещи = ценности), I did not know, and in fact I never learned (и на самом деле никогда и не узнал).

The floor was dry and level (пол был сухим и ровным). It was covered with white sand (был покрыт белым песком), which was very clean (который был очень чистым).

I was delighted (рад, в восторге). No better or safer storehouse could I have wished (лучшего или более безопасного склада я не мог и желать).

When I had looked at the room on every side and found that it was really the end of the cave (когда я осмотрел комнаты с каждой стороны и обнаружил, что это действительно был конец пещеры), I went out and hurried back to my castle (вышел и поспешил обратно в замок).

I found that I still had about sixty pounds of powder (все еще имел почти 60 фунтов пороха). This was the first thing that I carried to my new cavern (это было первое, что я принес в мою новую пещеру). I took thither also the lead (взял туда также свинец) that I had for making bullets (который я имел для изготовления пуль) and small shot (и маленькой дроби).

I felt now like one of the wonderful elves that you read about (чувствовал себя, как один из тех прекрасных эльфов, о которых вы читаете). They live, as you know, in rocks and in caves where none can get at them (они живут, как вы знаете, в скалах и пещерах, где никто не может достать их = добраться до них); and they have hidden treasures of gold and precious stones (спрятанные сокровища золота и ценных камней).

What if a hundred savages should hunt me (что если 100 дикарей погонятся за мной; to hunt — охотиться, травить, гнать)? They could not come near me here (они не смогут приблизиться ко мне здесь). I was safe from all foes (был в безопасности от всех врагов).

I fitted the cave up with whatever was needed to make it comfortable (я оборудовал пещеру всем, что было необходимо, чтобы сделать ее удобной для жизни).

If the worst came to the worst (если бы случилось самое страшное; the worst — худшее), I meant to live there (я намеревался жить там). And yet I did not wish to be obliged to do this (но все же я не желал быть вынужденным делать это).

When everything was safe and snug (удобно, уютно), I laid some green branches over the entrance and went back to my castle (я уложил несколько зеленых веток над входом и пошел обратно в замок).

I was very glad when I sat down in my old kitchen again. For, after all, no other place was so much like home (так как, после всего = в конце концов, нет места лучше дома).

I had now been twenty-three years on this island (пробыл на острове 23 года). If it had not been for fear of savages (если бы не страх перед дикарями), I would have been the happiest man in the world (я был бы самым счастливым человеком в мире).

During all those years I had been very busy (в течение всех этих лет я был очень занят). I did not work all the time, as you know (я не работал все время, как вы знаете), but I amused myself in various ways (развлекал себя разными способами).

I spent much time with Poll, the parrot (проводил много времени с попугаем). He soon learned to talk so well that it was a pleasure to hear him (он вскоре научился говорить т ак хорошо, что было удовольствием слушать его).

My dog had been my best friend and companion (мой пес был моим лучшим другом и спутником, товарищем). He lived for sixteen years (прожил 16 лет), and then died of old age (затем умер из-за старости).

As for my cats, the woods were full of them (что касается моих кошек, леса были полны ими). All ran wild except the two that I kept in my castle (все стали дикими, за исключением двух, которых я держал в замке). These were good mousers and fine pets (ловцами мышей и хорошими любимцами /домашними животными/).

I had also several tame fowls (прирученных птиц). These I had caught near the seashore when they were young (этих я поймал у берега, когда они были молодыми). I cut their wing feathers short (обрезал их перья на крыльях коротко) and taught them to eat from my hand (научил их есть с моей руки).

I never knew what kind of birds they were (я так и не узнал, что это были за птицы), but they were large, almost as large as chickens (почти такими же крупными, как цыплята). They lived among the hedge trees in front of my castle (они жили среди деревьев живой изгороди перед моим замком).

They made their nests there (вили там гнезда) and kept me well supplied with eggs (держали меня хорошо обеспеченным яйцами = постоянно обеспечивали меня яйцами). I did not need to keep any other poultry (домашнюю птицу).

Thus I lived very pleasantly in my island home (таким образом я жил очень вольготно в моем островном доме). I would have been content to live there always if I could have felt safe from savages (я был бы согласен: «доволен» жить там всегда, если бы я мог чувствовать себя в безопасности от дикарей).

forward ['fo:wəd] moon ['mu:n] except [ιk'sept]

I EXPLORE MY CAVE FURTHER

THE next day I brought out with me six big candles.

For you must know that I was a candle maker as well as a baker. Indeed, I made very good candles of goats' tallow, using some bits of old ropes for the wicks. As I have just said, I took six candles with me, for I had made up my mind to learn more about the cave I had found.

I lit two of the candles, and went in. The poor old goat was dead, and it was no easy work to dig a hole right there and bury him.

After this unpleasant task was done, I went into the back part of the cave. The flame of the candles lighted up the darkness, and I could see quite plainly.

The narrow passage of which I have told you was no less than thirty feet long. In one place it was so low that I had to creep through on all fours.

But no sooner was I through this low place than I found myself in a splendid chamber. It was large enough to shelter a hundred men.

Indeed, it seemed like the great hall of some old English castle. I had never seen anything so grand.

The roof was at least twenty feet high. The light from my two candles shone upon the walls and made it look as though covered with thousand of bright stars.

Whether these were diamonds, or gold, or some other precious things, I did not know, and in fact I never learned.

The floor was dry and level. It was covered with white sand, which was very clean.

I was delighted. No better or safer storehouse could I have wished.

When I had looked at the room on every side and found that it was really the end of the cave, I went out and hurried back to my castle.

I found that I still had about sixty pounds of powder. This was the first thing that I carried to my new cavern. I took thither also the lead that I had for making bullets and small shot.

I felt now like one of the wonderful elves that you read about. They live, as you know, in rocks and in caves where none can get at them; and they have hidden treasures of gold and precious stones.

What if a hundred savages should hunt me? They could not come near me here. I was safe from all foes.

I fitted the cave up with whatever was needed to make it comfortable.

If the worst came to the worst, I meant to live there. And yet I did not wish to be obliged to do this.

When everything was safe and snug, I laid some green branches over the entrance and went back to my castle.

I was very glad when I sat down in my old kitchen again. For, after all, no other place was so much like home.

I had now been twenty-three years on this island. If it had not been for fear of savages, I would have been the happiest man in the world.

During all those years I had been very busy. I did not work all the time, as you know, but I amused myself in various ways.

I spent much time with Poll, the parrot. He soon learned to talk so well that it was a pleasure to hear him.

My dog had been my best friend and companion. He lived for sixteen years, and then died of old age.

As for my cats, the woods were full of them. All ran wild except the two that I kept in my castle. These were good mousers and fine pets.

I had also several tame fowls. These I had caught near the seashore when they were young. I cut their wing feathers short and taught them to eat from my hand.

I never knew what kind of birds they were, but they were large, almost as large as chickens. They lived among the hedge trees in front of my castle.

They made their nests there and kept me well supplied with eggs. I did not need to keep any other poultry.

Thus I lived very pleasantly in my island home. I would have been content to live there always if I could have felt safe from savages.

I SEE SAVAGES (я вижу дикарей)

EARLY one morning (рано утром) in harvest time (во время сбора урожая) I went out to my grain fields to cut down some barley (я выходил в мои зерновые поля срезать ячмень = собирать ячмень). The days were so very hot that it was pleasanter to rise before daylight (эти дни были такими жаркими, что было приятнее встать до восхода) and do the heavier part of my work before the sun was high (и сделать самую тяжелую часть моей работы прежде, чем солнце будет высоко).

On this morning of which I am telling you (тем утром, о котором я говорю вам), I started out while it was still quite dark (вышел в путь, когда еще было довольно темно). I had been to the fields so often that I could have found the way with my eyes shut (я бывал в полях так часто, что мог бы найти путь с закрытыми глазами).

As I went along (пока я шел), I was surprised to see a light far over toward my side of the island (я был удивлен увидеть огонек вдалеке ближе к моей стороне острова). I stopped and looked. It was plainly the light of a blazing fire (это был явно свет сверкающего огня).

Who could have built a fire there (кто мог бы развести огонь там)?

Surely none but savages (определенно никто, кроме дикарей).

I was so much surprised (так удивлен) that I stood still and wondered (стоял как вкопанный и задумался).

What if those savages should find my grain fields (что если дикари найдут мои зерновые поля)?

They would know at once that somebody had planted them (они сразу узнают = поймут, что кто-то их посадил), and they would never rest till they should find me (не успокоятся, пока не найдут меня).

I could now see the blaze quite plainly (довольно ясно, отчетливо). As the day dawned (рассветал), I could also see the smoke rising above the trees (дым, поднимающийся над деревьями). The fire was not more than two miles away (огонь был не более чем в двух милях).

I hurried back to my castle as fast as I could run (поспешил обратно так быстро, как только мог бежать). I made everything on the outside of it look as wild as possible (я сделал все снаружи его /чтобы/ выглядело так дико, как возможно).

I climbed over the wall and pulled up the ladder after me (я перелез через забор и затащил лестницу за собой).

I loaded all my cannon (зарядил все мои пушки), as I called the guns (как я называл ружья), that I had placed in the wall (которые установил в стене). I put everything in order for a siege (привел все в порядок, как надо для осады).

Then I waited to see if any enemy would come near (я «ждал увидеть» если враг приблизится = стал ждать приближения противника).

Two hours, three hours passed (прошли), and there was no sight nor sound that was at all uncommon (не было ни вида, ни звука, который был бы необычен). I began to wonder if, after all, the fire had been kindled by some accident (я начал задаваться вопросом, был ли = может быть, в конце концов, огонь разведен каким-то случаем = случайно; accident — /несчастный/ случай) and not by strange men (а не чужаками).

At last I could wait no longer (наконец не мог больше ждать). I set up my ladder against the side of the rock and climbed up to a flat place above my castle (я поставил лестницу к склону скалы и залез на плоское место над замком). I pulled the ladder up after me and then mounted to another landing (и затем взобрался на другую площадку). I pulled it up a second time (во второй раз), and it now reached to the top of the great rock (она теперь достигала верхушки большой скалы).

Here was the place I called my lookout (смотровой площадкой).

Very carefully I climbed up (очень осторожно я взобрался). I laid myself down upon the rock and through my spyglass looked over toward the place where I had seen the fire (я лег на скале и через подзорную трубу посмотрел на место, где я видел огонь).

I could still see the smoke (я все еще мог видеть дым). Yes, and I could see some naked savages sitting around a small fire (несколько обнаженных дикарей, сидящих вокруг маленького костра).

I counted them (посчитал их), and made out that there were no fewer than nine of the wretches (и вычислил, что там было не менее девяти этих убогих; wretch — жалкий человек; негодяй).

They surely did not need a fire to warm themselves by (им уж определенно не нужен был огонь, чтобы греться возле него), for the day was very hot (так как день был очень знойным). No doubt they were cooking something (без сомнения, они готовили что-то). Perhaps they were cannibals and were getting ready for one of their horrible feasts (возможно, они были каннибалами и готовились к одному из своих ужасных пиров).

On the beach not far from them I saw the two canoes in which they had arrived (на которых они прибыли).

The tide was now at its lowest (отлив был сейчас в своей самой низкой точке). When it returned and floated the canoes, they would probably go away (когда прилив вернется и поднимет каноэ, они, возможно, уплывут).

This thought made me feel much easier (эта мысль заставила меня чувствовать гораздо спокойнее = в некоторой мере успокоила меня), for I was sure they would not wander far inland (так как я был уверен, что они не забредут далеко внутрь острова).

I waited and watched till the tide was again at the flood (я ждал и наблюдал пока пока прилив не вернулся; the flood — подъем воды, прилив; поток; наводнение).

Then I saw them all get into the boats and paddle away (затем я увидел, как они все уселись в лодки и погребли прочь). They seemed to be going around to the other side of the island (они, казалось, собирались идти вокруг /острова/ на другую сторону острова = обогнуть остров).

I could now breathe freely again (опять дышать свободно). As soon as they were well gone, I armed myself and hurried across the land to see if I could get another sight of them (вооружился и поспешил через местность посмотреть, мог бы я поймать другой вид их = увидеть их вновь).

I carried two guns on my shoulder, two pistols in my belt (пистолета за поясом), and a big sword at my side (шпагу сбоку). You would have been frightened, had you seen me (вы были бы испуганы, если бы увидели меня).

It was a long, hard walk (долгая, трудная прогулка = путь). But by and by (постепенно) I came to the hill (к холму) that overlooked the farther shore of the island.

This I climbed. I scanned sea and land with my spyglass (осмотрел море и землю через подзорную трубу).

Yes, there were the two canoes coming slowly around the coast (было два каноэ, медленно огибающих побережье).

But what was my surprise to see three other boats put off from a cove near by and hasten around to meet them (каково было мое удивление, когда я увидел увидел, как три других лодки снялись из бухты рядом и поспешили им навстречу)!

It seemed, then, that another party of savages had been feasting at the very spot (значит, видимо другая партия дикарей имела пир на том же месте; to seem — казаться) where I had seen the first footprint in the sand (где я видел первый отпечаток ноги на песке).

I watched the canoes until all five were far out to sea (я наблюдал за каноэ, пока все пять не были далеко в море), on their way to the low-lying shore in the distant west (на своем пути к низкому берегу на отдаленном западе).

Then I went down to the place where the savages had been feasting.

What a dreadful sight met my eyes (какое ужасное зрелище встретило мои глаза)! The sand was covered with blood and bones (песок был покрыт кровью и костями). No doubt some poor captive had been killed there and eaten (бедный пленник был убит здесь и съеден).

I made up my mind (принял решение) that if any other savages should ever come to my island for such a feast, I would not let them enjoy it (не позволю им наслаждаться им).

I gathered up the bones and buried them in the sand (собрал кости и похоронил: «закопал» их в песке). Then I went slowly and sadly (медленно и печально) back to my castle.

After that I never felt quite safe at any time (после этого я никогда не чувствовал себе достаточно безопасно в любое время). I dared not fire a gun (не решался стрелять из ружья); I dared not build a fire (разводить огонь); I dared not walk far from home.

While awake (бодрствуя), I was always planning how to escape the savages (избежать дикарей). While asleep (во сне), I was always dreaming of dreadful things (мне всегда снились ужасные вещи).

Yet days and months passed by (проходили), and still no other savages came (пока дни и месяцы проходили, и все еще никакие другие дикари не прибывали).

greeting ['gri:tιη] possess [pə'zes] message ['mesιʤ]

I SEE SAVAGES

EARLY one morning in harvest time I went out to my grain fields to cut down some barley. The days were so very hot that it was pleasanter to rise before daylight and do the heavier part of my work before the sun was high. On this morning of which I am telling you, I started out while it was still quite dark. I had been to the fields so often that I could have found the way with my eyes shut.

As I went along, I was surprised to see a light far over toward my side of the island. I stopped and looked. It was plainly the light of a blazing fire.

Who could have built a fire there?

Surely none but savages.

I was so much surprised that I stood still and wondered.

What if those savages should find my grain fields?

They would know at once that somebody had planted them, and they would never rest till they should find me.

I could now see the blaze quite plainly. As the day dawned, I could also see the smoke rising above the trees. The fire was not more than two miles away.

I hurried back to my castle as fast as I could run. I made everything on the outside of it look as wild as possible.

I climbed over the wall and pulled up the ladder after me.

I loaded all my cannon, as I called the guns, that I had placed in the wall. I put everything in order for a siege.

Then I waited to see if any enemy would come near.

Two hours, three hours passed, and there was no sight nor sound that was at all uncommon. I began to wonder if, after all, the fire had been kindled by some accident and not by strange men.

At last I could wait no longer. I set up my ladder against the side of the rock and climbed up to a flat place above my castle. I pulled the ladder up after me and then mounted to another landing. I pulled it up a second time, and it now reached to the top of the great rock.

Here was the place I called my lookout.

Very carefully I climbed up. I laid myself down upon the rock and through my spyglass looked over toward the place where I had seen the fire.

I could still see the smoke. Yes, and I could see some naked savages sitting around a small fire.

I counted them, and made out that there were no fewer than nine of the wretches.

They surely did not need a fire to warm themselves by, for the day was very hot. No doubt they were cooking something. Perhaps they were cannibals and were getting ready for one of their horrible feasts.

On the beach not far from them I saw the two canoes in which they had arrived.

The tide was now at its lowest. When it returned and floated the canoes, they would probably go away.

This thought made me feel much easier, for I was sure they would not wander far inland.

I waited and watched till the tide was again at the flood.

Then I saw them all get into the boats and paddle away. They seemed to be going around to the other side of the island.

I could now breathe freely again. As soon as they were well gone, I armed myself and hurried across the land to see if I could get another sight of them.

I carried two guns on my shoulder, two pistols in my belt, and a big sword at my side. You would have been frightened, had you seen me.

It was a long, hard walk. But by and by I came to the hill that overlooked the farther shore of the island.

This I climbed. I scanned sea and land with my spyglass.

Yes, there were the two canoes coming slowly around the coast.

But what was my surprise to see three other boats put off from a cove near by and hasten around to meet them!

It seemed, then, that another party of savages had been feasting at the very spot where I had seen the first footprint in the sand.

I watched the canoes until all five were far out to sea, on their way to the low-lying shore in the distant west.

Then I went down to the place where the savages had been feasting.

What a dreadful sight met my eyes! The sand was covered with blood and bones. No doubt some poor captive had been killed there and eaten.

I made up my mind that if any other savages should ever come to my island for such a feast, I would not let them enjoy it.

I gathered up the bones and buried them in the sand. Then I went slowly and sadly back to my castle.

After that I never felt quite safe at any time. I dared not fire a gun; I dared not build a fire; I dared not walk far from home.

While awake, I was always planning how to escape the savages. While asleep, I was always dreaming of dreadful things.

Yet days and months passed by, and still no other savages came.

Blog

Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children by James Baldwin