One day the Queen held me on her hand (однажды королева держала меня на руке) while she was looking in a mirror (когда смотрелась в зеркало). I was able to see both of us at the same time (я имел возможность видеть нас обоих одновременно) and the difference in our sizes seemed so ridiculous (и разница наших размеров казалась такой смешной)! I really began to imagine (я в самом деле начал думать; to imagine — воображать, представлять себе; полагать, думать) I had grown smaller than my usual size (что стал меньше своего обычного роста). I could quite see that I might laugh (я вполне допускал, что мог бы рассмеяться; to see — смотреть, видеть; понимать, сознавать; представить себе, вообразить) if I suddenly saw a number of English lords and ladies (если бы увидел вдруг нескольких английских лордов и леди), all my size (всех моего роста), dressed up in their finest clothes (разряженных в свои самые элегантные костюмы), bowing to each other (кланяющихся друг другу) and acting in a courtly manner (и проявляющих изысканные манеры; to act — действовать, поступать; вести себя; courtly — куртуазный, вежливый, учтивый; изысканный, аристократический /как при дворе/).
enormous [ɪ'nɔ:məs], possession [pə'zeʃ(ə)n], ridiculous [rɪ'dɪkjʋləs]
I felt very hurt by the King's words at the time. Later, I was able to see what had amused him. After several months, I got used to the enormous size of these people and of all their possessions.
One day the Queen held me on her hand while she was looking in a mirror. I was able to see both of us at the same time and the difference in our sizes seemed so ridiculous! I really began to imagine I had grown smaller than my usual size. I could quite see that I might laugh if I suddenly saw a number of English lords and ladies, all my size, dressed up in their finest clothes, bowing to each other and acting in a courtly manner.
However, nobody at Court annoyed me as much as the Queen's dwarf (но никто при дворе не досаждал/докучал мне так сильно, как карлик королевы). Every time he passed me (всякий раз, проходя мимо меня), he would draw himself up to his full height (он вытягивался во весь рост) and make some silly remark about my size (и делал какое-нибудь глупое замечание по поводу моей величины). He came up behind me one day at dinner (однажды за обедом он подошел ко мне сзади) while Glumdalclitch was at the far side of the room (когда Глюмдалклич находилась на другом конце комнаты), picked me up (схватил меня) and dropped me into a bowl of cream (и бросил в чашку/миску со сливками). The Queen got such a fright (королева так испугалась: «получила такой испуг») she didn't know what to do (что не знала, что делать). Glumdalclitch came running over (бросилась /ко мне/; over указывает на движение через что-л., на противоположную сторону) and soon got me out of the bowl (и скоро вытащила меня из чашки). I was put to bed (меня уложили в постель), having swallowed several pints of cream (так как я успел проглотить несколько пинт сливок). Soon afterwards (вскоре после этого) the Queen gave the dwarf away to a lady of high rank (королева подарила карлика одной знатной даме: «даме высокого положения»; to give away — отдавать; дарить), and to my great relief (и к моему великому удовольствию; relief — облегчение, утешение) I never saw him again (я его больше: «никогда снова» не видел).
annoy [ə'nɔɪ], pass [pɑ:s], swallow ['swɔləʋ]
However, nobody at Court annoyed me as much as the Queen's dwarf. Every time he passed me, he would draw himself up to his full height and make some silly remark about my size. He came up behind me one day at dinner while Glumdalclitch was at the far side of the room, picked me up and dropped me into a bowl of cream. The Queen got such a fright she didn't know what to do. Glumdalclitch came running over and soon got me out of the bowl. I was put to bed, having swallowed several pints of cream. Soon afterwards the Queen gave the dwarf away to a lady of high rank, and to my great relief I never saw him again.
Once the dwarf had gone (с уходом карлика), the only creatures that annoyed me at Court (единственными существами, беспокоившими меня при дворе) were the flies and wasps (остались мухи и осы). The Queen was puzzled by this (королева недоумевала по этому поводу) and she asked me one day (и спросила меня однажды) whether everybody from my country was as fearful as I (все ли мои соотечественники такие же боязливые/пугливые, как я: «всякий ли из моей страны такой…»). These insects were as big as birds (эти насекомые были величиной с птиц) and I really hated their buzzing around my ears (и я ужасно ненавидел их жужжание = как они жужжали вокруг моих ушей; really — действительно; в самом деле; по-настоящему; очень, крайне, чрезвычайно) while I ate (пока я ел). They often landed on my food (они часто садились на мою еду) or flew away with it (или улетали вместе с ней; to fly).
wasp [wɔsp], fearful ['fɪəfʋl], flew [flu:]
Once the dwarf had gone, the only creatures that annoyed me at Court were the flies and wasps. The Queen was puzzled by this and she asked me one day whether everybody from my country was as fearful as I. These insects were as big as birds and I really hated their buzzing around my ears while I ate. They often landed on my food or flew away with it.
More than twenty wasps came into my box one day (больше двадцати ос залетели однажды в мой ящик) while I was having my breakfast (когда я завтракал: «имел завтрак»). The humming noise was louder than bagpipes (/их/ жужжание/гудение было: «жужжащий/гудящий шум был» громче /игры/ волынки/волынок; bag — мешок; сумка; pipe — труба; дудка) and I was terrified of being stung (и я ужасно боялся быть ужаленным; to terrify — ужасать; вселять ужас, страх; to sting). I drew my sword (я вынул /из ножен/ саблю) and killed four of them (убил четырех из них), shutting my window (закрыв = и закрыл окно) when the rest had flown away (когда остальные улетели; to fly). I drew out their stings (я вытащил их = у них жала) and found that they were as sharp as needles (и обнаружил, что они остры, как иголки) and an inch and a half long (и имеют полтора дюйма в длину). I kept the four stings (/все/ четыре жала я сохранил). Much later (много позже), when I returned to England (когда я возвратился в Англию), I gave three of them to Gresham College (я отдал три из них в Грешам-Колледж). I kept the fourth for myself (четвертое я оставил себе).
breakfast ['brekfəst], bagpipes ['bæɡpaɪps], terrify ['terɪfaɪ]
More than twenty wasps came into my box one day while I was having my breakfast. The humming noise was louder than bagpipes and I was terrified of being stung. I drew my sword and killed four of them, shutting my window when the rest had flown away. I drew out their stings and found that they were as sharp as needles and an inch and a half long. I kept the four stings. Much later, when I returned to England, I gave three of them to Gresham College. I kept the fourth for myself.
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