(что сплавило изначальное название поместья в причудливом и двусмысленном наименовании «Дом Ашеров») – an appellation which seemed to include, in the minds of the peasantry who used it, both the family and the family mansion (наименовании, которое, казалось, включало в себя – в умах крестьянства, которое использовало его, – как семью, так и семейное гнездо; to seem – казаться; both – оба; both… and – и…, и; mansion – дом, особняк).
It was this deficiency, I considered, while running over in thought the perfect keeping of the character of the premises with the accredited character of the people, and while speculating upon the possible influence which the one, in the long lapse of centuries, might have exercised upon the other – it was this deficiency, perhaps, of collateral issue, and the consequent undeviating transmission, from sire to son, of the patrimony with the name, which had, at length, so identified the two as to merge the original title of the estate in the quaint and equivocal appellation of the “House of Usher” – an appellation which seemed to include, in the minds of the peasantry who used it, both the family and the family mansion.
I have said that the sole effect of my somewhat childish experiment (я говорил, что единственный результат моего несколько детского эксперимента) – that of looking down within the tarn (с заглядыванием вниз в пруд; tarn – каровое озеро, маленькое горное озеро) – had been to deepen the first singular impression (был – углубить первое странное впечатление). There can be no doubt that the consciousness of the rapid increase of my superstition (не может быть сомнения, что осознание быстрого роста моего суеверного чувства) – for why should I not so term it (ибо почему бы мне не назвать его так)? – served mainly to accelerate the increase itself (послужило главным образом /тому, чтобы/ ускорить сам этот рост). Such, I have long known, is the paradoxical law of all sentiments having terror as a basis (таков, я давно знаю, парадоксальный закон всех чувств, имеющих страх в качестве основы).
I have said that the sole effect of my somewhat childish experiment – that of looking down within the tarn – had been to deepen the first singular impression. There can be no doubt that the consciousness of the rapid increase of my superstition – for why should I not so term it? – served mainly to accelerate the increase itself. Such, I have long known, is the paradoxical law of all sentiments having terror as a basis.
And it might have been for this reason only (и могло быть по этой лишь причине), that, when I again uplifted my eyes to the house itself, from its image in the pool (что когда я снова поднял глаза на сам дом от его образа = отражения в пруду), there grew in my mind a strange fancy (в моем уме выросла = зародилась странная фантазия) – a fancy so ridiculous, indeed (фантазия, поистине, столь нелепая), that I but mention it to show the vivid force of the sensations which oppressed me (что я упоминаю ее лишь для того, чтобы показать живую силу ощущений, которые охватили меня; but – но; только, лишь; to oppress – подавлять, охватывать).
And it might have been for this reason only, that, when I again uplifted my eyes to the house itself, from its image in the pool, there grew in my mind a strange fancy – a fancy so ridiculous, indeed, that I but mention it to show the vivid force of the sensations which oppressed me.
I had so worked upon my imagination as really to believe (я так /усердно/ поработал над своим воображением, чтобы впрямь поверить) that about the whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity (что вокруг всего дома и поместья повисла атмосфера, особая = принадлежащая им и их непосредственному окружению; to hang – висеть) – an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven (атмосфера, которая не имела родства с воздухом небес), but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn (но которая исходила от гниющих деревьев, и серой стены, и тихого пруда; to reek – дымить, куриться; вонять; up – вверх) – a pestilent and mystic vapour (пагубный и таинственный пар), dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued (смутный, застойный, едва различимый и свинцово окрашенный; hue – краска, оттенок, тон, цвет).
I had so worked upon my imagination as really to believe that about the whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity – an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn – a pestilent and mystic vapour, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued.
Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream (стряхнув с души то, что, должно быть, было грезой), I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building (я осмотрел более тщательно реальную наружность здания). Its principal feature seemed to be that of an excessive antiquity (его главная черта, казалось, была /черта/ глубокой древности; excessive – превышающий, сильный). The discoloration of ages had been great (обесцвечивание годов = временем было большим). Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior (мельчайшие грибки покрывали весь экстерьер; to overspread – простираться, распространяться; накрывать, покрывать), hanging in a fine tangled web-work from the eaves (свисая тончайшей переплетенной паутиной с карнизов). Yet all this was apart from any extraordinary dilapidation (и все же это все было далеко от какой-либо необычайной ветхости; apart – врозь, отдельно).
Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building. Its principal feature seemed to be that of an excessive antiquity. The discoloration of ages had been great. Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior, hanging in a fine tangled web-work from the eaves. Yet all this was apart from any extraordinary dilapidation.
No portion of the masonry had fallen (никакая часть каменной кладки не обвалилась; to fall – падать); and there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts (и, казалось, было дикое = сильное несоответствие между ее все еще совершенной прилаженностью частей), and the crumbling condition of the individual stones (и крошащимся состоянием отдельных камней). In this there was much that reminded me of the specious totality of old wood-work (в этом было многое, что напомнило мне об обманчивой целости: «совокупности» старых деревянных изделий) which has rotted for long years in some neglected vault (которые гнили долгие годы в каком-нибудь заброшенном подвале), with no disturbance from the breath of the external air (без беспокойства = воздействия дыхания внешнего воздуха).
No portion of the masonry had fallen; and there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts, and the crumbling condition of the individual stones. In this there was much that reminded me of the specious totality of old wood-work which has rotted for long years in some neglected vault, with no disturbance from the breath of the external air.
Beyond this indication of extensive decay, however (помимо этого признака сильного разрушения, однако), the fabric gave little token of instability (здание давало = показывало мало признаков шаткости). Perhaps the eye of a scrutinising observer might have discovered a barely perceptible fissure (возможно, глаз внимательного наблюдателя мог бы обнаружить едва заметную трещину), which, extending from the roof of the building in front (которая, протягиваясь от крыши здания на фасаде), made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction (шла: «делала свой путь» вниз по стене зигзагом; direction – направление), until it became lost in the sullen waters of the tarn (пока не терялась в мрачных водах пруда: «пока не становилась потерянной»; to become – становиться; to lose – терять; lost – потерянный).
Beyond this indication of extensive decay, however, the fabric gave little token of instability. Perhaps the eye of a scrutinising observer might have discovered a barely perceptible fissure, which, extending from the roof of the building in front, made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction, until it became lost in the sullen waters of the tarn.
Noticing these things, I rode over a short causeway to the house (заметив = осмотрев все эти вещи, я подъехал по короткой дорожке к дому; to ride). A servant in waiting took my horse (слуга в ожидании взял = слуга дома принял мою лошадь), and I entered the Gothic archway of the hall (и я вошел через готический арочный вход в зал). A valet, of stealthy step, thence conducted me, in silence, through many dark and intricate passages (лакей, с крадущейся походкой, оттуда вел меня, в молчании, по многим темным и запутанным коридорам) in my progress to the studio of his master (в моем пути в кабинет его хозяина).
Noticing these things, I rode over a short causeway to the house. A servant in waiting took my horse, and I entered the Gothic archway of the hall. A valet, of stealthy step, thence conducted me, in silence, through many dark and intricate passages in my progress to the studio of his master.