After about three weeks, an offer of peace came from Blefuscu. Six ambassadors arrived, accompanied by about five hundred people. Their arrival was very grand and very fitting to the importance of their business. These ambassadors, who had been told privately that I wished to be their friend, came to visit me.
They complimented me on my bravery and my generosity (они высказали восхищение моей храбростью и великодушием) and invited me to their kingdom (и пригласили меня посетить их королевство). They also asked to see some examples of my strength (они также попросили показать им: «увидеть» несколько примеров моей силы). I entertained them for some time (я позабавил их в течение некоторого времени), to their great satisfaction and surprise (к их большому удовольствию и удивлению; satisfaction — удовлетворение; удовлетворенность; удовольствие, радость). I asked them to give my best wishes to their Emperor (я попросил их = послов передать мои наилучшие пожелания их императору), whom I wanted to meet before returning to my own country (которого я намереваюсь посетить перед возвращением в мое отечество; to meet — встречать; встречаться, видеться).
generosity [‘dʒenə'rɔsɪtɪ], example [ɪɡ'zɑ:mp(ə)l], strength [streŋθ]
They complimented me on my bravery and my generosity and invited me to their kingdom. They also asked to see some examples of my strength. I entertained them for some time, to their great satisfaction and surprise. I asked them to give my best wishes to their Emperor, whom I wanted to meet before returning to my own country.
The next time I met the Emperor of Lilliput (когда я в следующий раз встречался с императором Лилипутии; to meet), I asked his permission to visit Blefuscu (я попросил его разрешения посетить = на посещение Блефуску). He gave it very coldly (он дал /мне/ его очень холодно). He had heard about my meeting with the ambassadors (он слышал о моей встрече с послами), and clearly didn't like the idea of my being friendly with his enemies (и ему явно не нравились мои дружеские отношения с его врагами: «не нравилась мысль о моих дружеских отношениях…»; idea — идея; мысль; мысленный образ; представление; впечатление; to be friendly with smb. — быть в дружеских отношениях с кем-л.).
coldly ['kəʋldlɪ], heard [hə:d], clearly ['klɪəlɪ]
The next time I met the Emperor of Lilliput, I asked his permission to visit Blefuscu. He gave it very coldly. He had heard about my meeting with the ambassadors, and clearly didn't like the idea of my being friendly with his enemies.
Soon after that, I had a chance (вскоре после этого мне представился случай; chance — случайность; неожиданное событие, случай; шанс, возможность) to do His Majesty a great service (оказать его величеству большую услугу). At least, so I thought at the time (по крайней мере, мне тогда так казалось: «так я думал в /то/ время»). I was woken up suddenly at midnight (/как-то раз/ в полночь я был внезапно разбужен; to wake up) by the cries of hundreds of people at my door (криками сотен людей у моей двери). I heard the word "burglum" (я услышал слово "бурглум") being repeated again and again (повторяемое снова и снова). Some members of the Emperor's Court (несколько придворных: «членов/представителей императорского двора») pushed through the crowd (протиснулись сквозь толпу; to push — толкать; пихать; проталкиваться, протискиваться) and begged me to come to the palace (и умоляли меня прийти во дворец). Her Imperial Majesty's apartment was on fire (покои ее императорского величества были в огне)!
I got up and went immediately (я немедленно встал и пошел /туда/). Orders were given to the crowd (толпе были даны распоряжения = было приказано) to clear the way for me (очистить для меня дорогу). The moon was shining (светила луна),so I was able to get to the palace quickly (поэтому = и я смог быстро добраться до дворца) without stepping on any people (ни на кого не наступив).
chance [ʧɑ:ns], service ['sɜːvɪs], imperial [ɪm'pɪərɪəl]
Soon after that, I had a chance to do His Majesty a great service. At least, so I thought at the time. I was woken up suddenly at midnight by the cries of hundreds of people at my door. I heard the word "burglum" being repeated again and again. Some members of the Emperor's Court pushed through the crowd and begged me to come to the palace. Her Imperial Majesty's apartment was on fire!
I got up and went immediately. Orders were given to the crowd to clear the way for me. The moon was shining, so I was able to get to the palace quickly without stepping on any people.
They already had ladders at the walls of the apartment (к стенам покоев уже приставили лестницы). They also had plenty of buckets (также имелось много ведер; plenty — /из/обилие; множество), but the water was some distance away (но вода находилась на некотором удалении = довольно далеко). These buckets were about the size of a large thimble (ведра эти были величиной с большой наперсток). The people gave them to me as fast as they could (люди подавали их мне так быстро, как /только/ могли), but the flames were so strong (но пламя было так сильно) that they did little good (что толку от них было мало). I could easily have put out the fire with my coat (я мог бы легко затушить огонь/пожар своим кафтаном), but unfortunately I had left it behind in my hurry (но, к несчастью, я второпях его не надел: «оставил /дома/»; behind — сзади, позади). The situation was desperate (положение было отчаянное). The beautiful palace would surely have burnt to the ground (прекрасный дворец, несомненно, сгорел бы дотла: «до земли/основания»; beauty — красота) if I had not suddenly had an idea (если бы мне внезапно не пришла в голову /одна удачная/ мысль).
already [ɔ:l'redɪ], easily ['i:zɪlɪ], beautiful ['bju:tɪfʋl]
They already had ladders at the walls of the apartment. They also had plenty of buckets, but the water was some distance away. These buckets were about the size of a large thimble. The people gave them to me as fast as they could, but the flames were so strong that they did little good. I could easily have put out the fire with my coat, but unfortunately I had left it behind in my hurry. The situation was desperate. The beautiful palace would surely have burnt to the ground if I had not suddenly had an idea.
During the evening (в продолжение вечера) I had been drinking a most delicious wine (я пил превосходнейшее вино; delicious — восхитительный, прелестный; очень вкусный, бесподобный). By the luckiest chance in the world I had not yet urinated (по счастливейшей случайности я еще /ни разу/ не помочился), so I relieved myself in such quantities (и потому сделал это /теперь/ в таком количестве; to relieve — облегчать, ослаблять; освобождать /от чего-л./) that in three minutes the fire was completely out (что в /какие-нибудь/ три минуты огонь был совершенно потушен; out — вне, снаружи; указывает на окончание, завершение, исчезновение чего-л.).
evening ['i:vnɪŋ], delicious [dɪ'lɪʃəs], quantity ['kwɔntɪtɪ]
During the evening I had been drinking a most delicious wine. By the luckiest chance in the world I had not yet urinated, so I relieved myself in such quantities that in three minutes the fire was completely out.
It was now daylight (между тем стало совсем светло; daylight — дневной свет; день, светлое время суток) and I returned to the house (и я возвратился домой) without waiting to be thanked by the Emperor (не ожидая благодарности от императора). Although I had done His Majesty a great service (хотя я оказал его величеству большую услугу), I didn't know what he would say to the way (я не знал, как он отнесется к способу: «что он скажет по поводу способа») in which I had performed it (каким она была оказана). It was against the law of the kingdom to urinate in the palace grounds (мочиться на территории дворца было нарушением законов государства: «было против закона»). I was comforted a little later on to hear (позднее меня немного успокоило сообщение; to comfort — подбадривать; утешать, успокаивать) that His Majesty would try to have me pardoned (/о том/, что его величество постарается сделать так, чтобы меня помиловали; to pardon — извинять, прощать; миловать).
urinate ['juərɪneɪt], comfort ['kʌmfət], hear [hɪə]
It was now daylight and I returned to the house without waiting to be thanked by the Emperor. Although I had done His Majesty a great service, I didn't know what he would say to the way in which I had performed it. It was against the law of the kingdom to urinate in the palace grounds. I was comforted a little later on to hear that His Majesty would try to have me pardoned.
I was told, privately (мне конфиденциально сообщили), that the Empress was horrified at what I had done (что императрица была возмущена тем, что я сделал = моим поступком; to horrify — ужасать; шокировать, возмущать) and had moved to the side of the courtyard furthest away (и переселилась в апартаменты, расположенные в самой отдаленной части внутреннего двора: «в часть внутреннего двора, наиболее удаленную»). She had also decided (кроме того, она решила) that the damaged buildings should never be repaired for her use (не ремонтировать/восстанавливать для себя поврежденные здания: «что поврежденные здания не должны ремонтироваться для ее пользования»;