Incapable [In`keIpqb(q)l], admire [qd`maIq], despise [dIs`paIz], care [keq], breath [breT]

"Nay," said Matcham, "I would 'a' saved us both, good Dick, for I can swim."

"Can ye so?" cried Dick, with open eyes. It was the one manly accomplishment of which he was himself incapable. In the order of the things that he admired, next to having killed a man in single fight came swimming. "Well," he said, "here is a lesson to despise no man. I promised to care for you as far as Holywood, and, by the rood, Jack, y' are more capable to care for me."

"Well, Dick, we're friends now," said Matcham.

"Nay, I never was unfriends," answered Dick. "Y' are a brave lad in your way, albeit something of a milksop, too. I never met your like before this day. But, prithee, fetch back your breath, and let us on. Here is no place for chatter."

"My foot hurts shrewdly," said Matcham (моя нога сильно болит, — сказал Мэтчем; shrewd — пронизывающий, сильный, жестокий /о ветре, погоде/; резкий, острый /о боли/).

"Nay, I had forgot your foot," returned Dick (ах да, я забыл про твою ногу, — ответил Дик; to forget — забывать). "Well, we must go the gentlier (что ж, мы должны идти потише; gentle — тихий, спокойный). I would I knew rightly where we were (хотел бы я, чтобы я знал = знать точно, где мы). I have clean lost the path (я совершенно потерял тропинку); yet that may be for the better, too (хотя это может быть и к лучшему; too — тоже, к тому же, с другой стороны). An they watch the ferry (если они наблюдают за переправой), they watch the path, belike, as well (они наблюдают за тропинкой, похоже, тоже). I would Sir Daniel were back with two score men (хотел бы я, чтобы сэр Дэниел вернулся с сорока людьми; back — назад, to be back — вернуться); he would sweep me these rascals as the wind sweeps leaves (он бы смел этих мерзавцев, как ветер метет листья). Come, Jack, lean ye on my shoulder, ye poor shrew (давай, Джек, обопрись на мое плечо, бедняжка; shrew — землеройка /насекомоядное млекопитающее, похожее на мышь/). Nay, y' are not tall enough (у-у, да ты ростом не вышел: «недостаточно высок»). What age are ye, for a wager (какого ты возраста = сколько тебе, на пари)? — twelve (двенадцать)?"

"Nay, I am sixteen," said Matcham (нет, мне шестнадцать, — сказал Мэтчем).

"Y' are poorly grown to height, then," answered Dick (тогда ты плохо вырос, — ответил Дик; height — высота; рост). "But take my hand (но возьми мою руку = меня за руку). We shall go softly, never fear (мы пойдем тихонько, не бойся). I owe you a life (я обязан тебе жизнью); I am a good repayer, Jack, of good or evil (я хороший плательщик, Джек, — добра или зла)."

They began to go forward up the slope (они начали идти вперед, вверх по склону).

path [pQ:T], height [haIt]

"My foot hurts shrewdly," said Matcham.

"Nay, I had forgot your foot," returned Dick. "Well, we must go the gentlier. I would I knew rightly where we were. I have clean lost the path; yet that may be for the better, too. An they watch the ferry, they watch the path, belike, as well. I would Sir Daniel were back with two score men; he would sweep me these rascals as the wind sweeps leaves. Come, Jack, lean ye on my shoulder, ye poor shrew. Nay, y' are not tall enough. What age are ye, for a wager? — twelve?"

"Nay, I am sixteen," said Matcham.

"Y' are poorly grown to height, then," answered Dick. "But take my hand. We shall go softly, never fear. I owe you a life; I am a good repayer, Jack, of good or evil."

They began to go forward up the slope.

"We must hit the road, early or late," continued Dick (мы должны рано или поздно выйти на дорогу, — продолжал Дик; to hit — бить; /to hit on/ находить; напасть, натолкнуться); "and then for a fresh start (и затем — снова в путь; fresh — свежий; start — начало). By the mass! but y' 'ave a rickety hand, Jack (клянусь мессой! у тебя слабенькая рука, Джек; rickety — рахитичный; неустойчивый, шаткий). If I had a hand like that (если бы у меня была такая рука: «как эта»), I would think shame (я бы стыдился; to think — думать; shame — стыд). I tell you," he went on, with a sudden chuckle (я скажу тебе, — продолжил он с внезапным смешком; to go on — продолжать), "I swear by the mass (клянусь мессой; to swear — клясться) I believe Hugh Ferryman took you for a maid (я думаю, Хью-перевозчик принял тебя за девицу; to take — брать)."

"Nay, never!" cried the other, colouring high (нет, не может быть: «никогда»! — воскликнул Мэтчем, сильно покраснев; high — высоко, сильно).

"A' did, though, for a wager!" Dick exclaimed (сделал = принял, бьюсь об заклад! — воскликнул Дик; wager — заклад, пари). "Small blame to him (он в этом не виноват: «маленькая вина ему»). Ye look liker maid than man (ты выглядишь похожее /на/ девицу, чем на мужчину); and I tell you more (и я тебе больше скажу) — y' are a strange-looking rogue for a boy (как мальчик — ты странно выглядящий плутишка); but for a hussy, Jack, ye would be right fair (но как девчонка, Джек, ты был бы прямо хорош) — ye would (ты /был/ бы). Ye would be well favoured for a wench (как девушка, ты бы /всем/ нравился: «был бы любим»)."

"Well," said Matcham, "ye know right well that I am none (ну, — сказал Мэтчем, — ты знаешь очень хорошо, что я не /девушка/)."

"Nay, I know that (я знаю это); I do but jest," said Dick (я только шучу, — сказал Дик). "Ye'll be a man before your mother, Jack (ты будешь мужчиной перед своей матерью, Джек). What cheer, my bully (да что там, дорогой мой)! Ye shall strike shrewd strokes (ты будешь наносить разящие удары). Now, which, I marvel, of you or me (а кто из нас, интересно; which — который; to marvel — интересоваться, удивляться), shall be first knighted, Jack (будет первым посвящен в рыцари, Джек)? for knighted I shall be, or die for 't (ибо я буду посвящен в рыцари, или умру за это = до смерти хочу стать). 'Sir Richard Shelton, Knight': it soundeth bravely («сэр Ричард Шелтон, рыцарь» — звучит превосходно). But 'Sir John Matcham' soundeth not amiss (но и «Сэр Джон Мэтчем» звучит не дурно; amiss — неправильно, неверно; плохо, дурно).”

continue [kqn`tInjV:], fair [feq], favour [`feIvq]

"We must hit the road, early or late," continued Dick; "and then for a fresh start. By the mass! but y' 'ave a rickety hand, Jack. If I had a hand like that, I would think shame. I tell you," he went on, with a sudden chuckle, "I swear by the mass I believe Hugh Ferryman took you for a maid."

"Nay, never!" cried the other, colouring high.

"A' did, though, for a wager!" Dick exclaimed. "Small blame to him. Ye look liker maid than man; and I tell you more — y' are a strange-looking rogue for a boy; but for a hussy, Jack, ye would be right fair — ye would. Ye would be well favoured for a wench."

"Well," said Matcham, "ye know right well that I am none."

"Nay, I know that; I do but jest," said Dick. "Ye'll be a man before your mother, Jack. What cheer, my bully! Ye shall strike shrewd strokes. Now, which, I marvel, of you or me, shall be first knighted, Jack? for knighted I shall be, or die for 't. 'Sir Richard Shelton, Knight': it soundeth bravely. But 'Sir John Matcham' soundeth not amiss."

"Prithee, Dick, stop till I drink (пожалуйста, Дик, остановись = подожди, пока я попью)," said the other, pausing where a little clear spring welled out of the slope into a gravelled basin (сказал тот, останавливаясь /там/, где маленький чистый ключ бил из склона /и попадал/ в каменистый водоем) no bigger than a pocket (/размером/ не больше, чем карман). "And O, Dick, if I might come by anything to eat (и о, Дик, если бы я только мог найти что-нибудь поесть; to come by smth. — найти, достать что-л.)! — my very heart aches with hunger (аж сердце болит от голода; very — самый)."

"Why, fool, did ye not eat at Kettley?" asked Dick (почему, дурачок, ты не поел в Кэттли? — спросил Дик).

"I had made a vow (я дал обет) — it was a sin I had been led into," stammered Matcham (это из-за греха, в который меня вовлекли; to lead — вести); "but now, if it were but dry bread (но теперь, /даже/ если бы это была всего лишь корка хлеба: «сухой хлеб»), I would eat it greedily (я бы съел ее жадно; greed — жадность)."

"Sit ye, then, and eat," said Dick (садись тогда и поешь, — сказал Дик), "while that I scout a little forward for the road (пока я схожу на разведку немного вперед в поисках дороги; to scout — разведывать)." And he took a wallet from his girdle (и он снял дорожную сумку с пояса; to take — брать), wherein were bread and pieces of dry bacon (где был хлеб и куски вяленой свинины), and, while Matcham fell heartily to (и, пока Мэтчем с жаром принялся /за еду/; heart — сердце; to fall to — приняться за что-л.: «упасть к»), struck farther forth among the trees (пустился дальше в путь среди деревьев; to strike — ударять; направиться; far — далеко; farther — дальше; forth — вперед).

pause [pO:z], ache [eIk], girdle [gq:dl]

"Prithee, Dick, stop till I drink," said the other, pausing where a little clear spring welled out of the slope into a gravelled basin no bigger than a pocket. "And O, Dick, if I might come by anything to eat! — my very heart aches with hunger."

"Why, fool, did ye not eat at Kettley?" asked Dick.

"I had made a vow — it was a sin I had been led into," stammered Matcham; "but now, if it were but dry bread, I would eat it greedily."

"Sit ye, then, and eat," said Dick, "while that I scout a little forward for the road." And he took a wallet from his girdle, wherein were bread and pieces of dry bacon, and, while Matcham fell heartily to, struck farther forth among the trees.

A little beyond there was a dip in the ground (немного в отдалении был откос/яма в земле = овражек), where a streamlet soaked among dead leaves (где ручеек струился среди увядших листьев; dead — мертвый); and beyond that, again, the trees were better grown and stood wider (а еще /дальше/ за ним деревья росли лучше и стояли просторнее; again — опять/-таки/; better — лучше; to grow — расти; to stand — стоять), and oak and beech began to take the place of willow and elm (и дубы и буки начали занимать место ив и вязов = сменять ивы и вязы). The continued tossing and pouring of the wind among the leaves (продолжающееся веяние и разливание ветра среди листьев) sufficiently concealed the sounds of his footsteps on the mast (достаточно скрывало звуки его шагов по желудям); it was for the ear (это было для уха) what a moonless night is to the eye (/тем же/, что безлунная ночь — глазу); but for all that Dick went cautiously (но несмотря на все это Дик шел осторожно; caution — осторожность), slipping from one big trunk to another (легко скользя от одного большого ствола к другому), and looking sharply about him as he went (и оглядываясь пристально вокруг: «вокруг себя, пока он шел»). Suddenly a doe passed like a shadow (вдруг лань пробежала, как тень) through the underwood in front of him (через подлесок перед ним; front — передняя часть), and he paused, disgusted at the chance (и он приостановился, огорченный этим случаем/риском). This part of the wood had been certainly deserted (этот уголок леса был точно пустынным), but now that the poor deer had run (но теперь, когда какая-то несчастная лань пробежала; to run — бежать), she was like a messenger he should have sent before him (она была как гонец, /которого/ бы он послал вперед; to send — посылать) to announce his coming (чтобы объявить о его приближении); and instead of pushing farther (и вместо того, чтобы идти дальше; to push — толкать, продвигать/ся/), he turned him to the nearest well-grown tree (он повернулся к ближайшему крепкому: «хорошо выросшему» дереву; to grow — расти), and rapidly began to climb (и быстро начал взбираться /на него/).

beyond [bI`Ond], pour [pO:], cautiously [`kO:SqslI], announce [q`naVns], instead [In`sted], push [pVS]

A little beyond there was a dip in the ground, where a streamlet soaked among dead leaves; and beyond that, again, the trees were better grown and stood wider, and oak and beech began to take the place of willow and elm. The continued tossing and pouring of the wind among the leaves sufficiently concealed the sounds of his footsteps on the mast; it was for the ear what a moonless night is to the eye; but for all that Dick went cautiously, slipping from one big trunk to another, and looking sharply about him as he went. Suddenly a doe passed like a shadow through the underwood in front of him, and he paused, disgusted at the chance. This part of the wood had been certainly deserted, but now that the poor deer had run, she was like a messenger he should have sent before him to announce his coming; and instead of pushing farther, he turned him to the nearest well-grown tree, and rapidly began to climb.

Luck had served him well (удача улыбнулась ему: «послужила ему хорошо»). The oak on which he had mounted (дуб, на который он взобрался) was one of the tallest in that quarter of the wood (был один из самых высоких в этой части леса; tall — высокий), and easily out-topped its neighbours by a fathom and a half (и легко превосходил своих соседей/возвышался над своими соседями на /добрых/ три ярда; fathom — два ярда; half — половина; top — верхушка); and when Dick had clambered into the topmost fork (и когда Дик вскарабкался на верхний сук: «вилка, развилина, ответвление») and clung there (и прицепился там = к нему; to cling — прильнуть), swinging dizzily in the great wind (раскачиваясь на сильном ветру; dizzily — головокружительно), he saw behind him the whole fenny plain (он увидел за собой всю болотистую равнину) as far as Kettley (до самого Кэттли: «так далеко как Кэттли»), and the Till wandering among woody islets (и Тилл, вьющуюся среди лесистых островков), and in front of him (а перед собой), the white line of high-road winding through the forest (белую ленту большой дороги, вьющуюся через лес). The boat had been righted (лодка была выправлена = ее перевернули) — it was even now midway on the ferry (она уже была на середине переправы). Beyond that there was no sign of man (помимо этого не было признаков человека), nor aught moving but the wind (ничего движущегося, кроме ветра; aught — уст. нечто). He was about to descend (он собирался спуститься; about — около; to be about to do smth. — быть готовым что-л. сделать), when, taking a last view (когда, в последний раз посмотрев: «беря последний вид»), his eye lit upon a string of moving points about the middle of the fen (его глаз натолкнулся на череду движущихся точек примерно в середине болота; to light upon — натолкнуться). Plainly a small troop was threading the causeway (очевидно /было/, /что/ небольшой отряд шагал по тропинке), and that at a good pace (и к тому же хорошим шагом = быстро); and this gave him some concern (и это причинило ему некоторое беспокойство; to give — давать) as he shinned vigorously down the trunk (пока он слезал живо по стволу; to shin — карабкаться, лазить; vigorous — сильный, энергичный; решительный) and returned across the wood for his companion (и возвращался через лес к своему товарищу).

oak [qVk], wind (ветер) [wInd], wind (виться) [waInd], thread [Tred], concern [kqn`sq:n], companion [kqm`pxnjqn], vigorous [`vIgqrqs]

Luck had served him well. The oak on which he had mounted was one of the tallest in that quarter of the wood, and easily out-topped its neighbours by a fathom and a half; and when Dick had clambered into the topmost fork and clung there, swinging dizzily in the great wind, he saw behind him the whole fenny plain as far as Kettley, and the Till wandering among woody islets, and in front of him, the white line of high-road winding through the forest. The boat had been righted — it was even now midway on the ferry. Beyond that there was no sign of man, nor aught moving but the wind. He was about to descend, when, taking a last view, his eye lit upon a string of moving points about the middle of the fen. Plainly a small troop was threading the causeway, and that at a good pace; and this gave him some concern as he shinned vigorously down the trunk and returned across the wood for his companion.