The Canterville Ghost - Oscar Wilde

possession [pə`ze∫n] law [lo:] acquire [ə`kwαiə] purchase [`pə:t∫əs]

Besides, you forget, Mr. Otis, that you took the furniture and the ghost at a valuation, and anything that belonged to the ghost passed at once into your possession, as, whatever activity Sir Simon may have shown in the corridor at night, in point of law he was really dead, and you acquired his property by purchase."

Mr. Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville's refusal (был очень расстроен отказом лорда Кентервиля), and begged him to reconsider his decision (и умолял его изменить свое решение; to reconsider — пересматривать, обдумывать заново; to consider — рассматривать, обсуждать; взвешивать, обдумывать), but the good-natured peer was quite firm (но добродушный пэр был совершенно непоколебим; firm — крепкий, прочный, твердый), and finally induced the Minister to allow his daughter to retain the present the ghost had given her (и, наконец, заставил посла разрешить его дочери оставить себе подарок, который призрак дал ей), and when, in the spring of 1890 (и когда, весной 1890 года) , the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen's first drawing-room (молодая герцогиня Чеширская была представлена в первой гостиной королевы), on the occasion of her marriage (по поводу ее вступления в брак), her jewels were the universal theme of admiration (ее драгоценности вызвали всеобщее восхищение; theme — тема).

decision [di`siζn] occasion [ə`keiζən] marriage [`mæridζ] theme [θi:m]

Mr. Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville's refusal, and begged him to reconsider his decision, but the good-natured peer was quite firm, and finally induced the Minister to allow his daughter to retain the present the ghost had given her, and when, in the spring of 1890, the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen's first drawing-room on the occasion of her marriage, her jewels were the universal theme of admiration.

For Virginia received the coronet (так как Вирджиния получила диадему), which is the reward of all good little American girls (которая является наградой всем хорошим маленьким американским девочкам), and was married to her boy-lover as soon as he came of age (и вышла замуж за своего друга юных лет, как только он достиг совершеннолетия). They were both so charming (они оба были так очаровательны), and they loved each other so much (и они так сильно любили друг друга), that every one was delighted at the match (что все были в восторге от этой пары), except the old Marchioness of Dumbleton (за исключением старой маркизы Думбльтонской), who had tried to catch the Duke for one of her seven unmarried daughters (которая пыталась подцепить герцога для одной из своих незамужних дочерей; to catch — поймать), and had given no less than three expensive dinner-parties for that purpose (и дала не менее трех дорогих обедов для этой цели), and, strange to say, Mr. Otis himself (и, как ни странно, самого мистера Отиса).

coronet [`korənit] reward [ri`wo:d] age [eidζ] purpose [`pə:pəs]

For Virginia received the coronet, which is the reward of all good little American girls, and was married to her boy-lover as soon as he came of age. They were both so charming, and they loved each other so much, that every one was delighted at the match, except the old Marchioness of Dumbleton, who had tried to catch the Duke for one of her seven unmarried daughters, and had given no less than three expensive dinner-parties for that purpose, and, strange to say, Mr. Otis himself.

Mr. Otis was extremely fond of the young Duke personally (сам: «лично» очень любил молодого герцога) , but, theoretically (но теоретически), he objected to titles (он был против титулов), and, to use his own words (и, используя его собственные слова), "was not without apprehension (побаивался; apprehension — опасение, мрачное предчувствие) lest, amid the enervating influences of a pleasure-loving aristocracy (что под влиянием действующей ему на нервы любящей праздность аристократии; lest — чтобы не, как бы не; что /после глаголов и фраз, обозначающих опасение: вводит дополнение, обозначающее событие, которого опасаются/) true principles of Republican simplicity should be forgotten (подлинно республиканская простота могла быть забыта)." His objections, however, were completely overruled (однако его возражения были полностью отвергнуты; to overrule — брать верх, одержать победу отклонять, отказывать; отменять /чье-л. решение/; отвергать; to rule — властвовать), and I believe (и я полагаю) that when he walked up the aisle of St. George's, Hanover Square (что когда он шел вдоль прохода церкви Святого Джорджа на Ганновер Сквер; aisle — боковой неф храма; придел; проход /между рядами в церкви/), with his daughter leaning on his arm (с дочерью, опирающейся на его руку), there was not a prouder man in the whole length and breadth of England (во всей Англии не было более гордого человека; length — длина; breadth — ширина).

personally [`pə:sənəli] theoretically [θiə`retikəli] apprehension ["æpri`hen∫n] aisle [ail]

Mr. Otis was extremely fond of the young Duke personally, but, theoretically, he objected to titles, and, to use his own words, "was not without apprehension lest, amid the enervating influences of a pleasure-loving aristocracy, the true principles of Republican simplicity should be forgotten." His objections, however, were completely overruled, and I believe that when he walked up the aisle of St. George's, Hanover Square, with his daughter leaning on his arm, there was not a prouder man in the whole length and breadth of England.

The Duke and Duchess (герцог и герцогиня), after the honeymoon was over (после того, как прошел их медовый месяц), went down to Canterville Chase (вернулись в Кентервиль Чейз), and on the day after their arrival (и в день своего прибытия) they walked over in the afternoon to the lonely churchyard by the pine-woods (они пошли после полудня к безлюдному кладбищу возле соснового леса). There had been a great deal of difficulty at first (сначала было очень трудно) about the inscription on Sir Simon's tombstone (выбрать надпись для надгробного камня сэра Саймона; tomb — могила; надгробие), but finally it had been decided (но, в конце концов, было решено) to engrave on it simply the initials of the old gentleman's name (просто выгравировать на нем инициалы старого джентльмена), and the verse from the library window (и стихотворение с окна библиотеки).

honeymoon [`hλnimu:n] arrival [ə`rαivəl] tombstone [`tu:mstəυn]

The Duke and Duchess, after the honeymoon was over, went down to Canterville Chase, and on the day after their arrival they walked over in the afternoon to the lonely churchyard by the pine-woods. There had been a great deal of difficulty at first about the inscription on Sir Simon's tombstone, but finally it had been decided to engrave on it simply the initials of the old gentleman's name, and the verse from the library window.

The Duchess had brought with her some lovely roses (герцогиня принесла с собой красивые розы), which she strewed upon the grave (которыми она усыпала могилу: «которые она рассыпала на могиле»), and after they had stood by it for some time (и после того, как они постояли возле нее некоторое время) they strolled into the ruined chancel of the old abbey (они зашли в разрушенный алтарь старого аббатства; to stroll — прогуливаться, бродить, гулять /обычно медленно, праздно/). There the Duchess sat down on a fallen pillar (там герцогиня села на поваленную колонну), while her husband lay at her feet smoking a cigarette (в то время как ее муж лег возле ее ног, куря сигарету) and looking up at her beautiful eyes (и глядя в ее прекрасные глаза). Suddenly he threw his cigarette away (внезапно он отшвырнул сигарету; to throw away), took hold of her hand (взял ее за руку; to take hold of smth. — взяться за что-л., схватить что-л.), and said to her (и сказал ей), "Virginia, a wife should have no secrets from her husband (жена не должна иметь секретов от мужа)."

strew [stru:] stroll [strəυl] chancel [`t∫λnsəl]

The Duchess had brought with her some lovely roses, which she strewed upon the grave, and after they had stood by it for some time they strolled into the ruined chancel of the old abbey. There the Duchess sat down on a fallen pillar, while her husband lay at her feet smoking a cigarette and looking up at her beautiful eyes. Suddenly he threw his cigarette away, took hold of her hand, and said to her, "Virginia, a wife should have no secrets from her husband."

"Dear Cecil (дорогой Сесиль)! I have no secrets from you (у меня нет от тебя секретов)."

"Yes, you have (нет, есть)," he answered, smiling (ответил он, улыбаясь), "you have never told me (ты никогда не рассказывала мне) what happened to you (что случилось с тобой) when you were locked up with the ghost (когда ты была наедине: «заперта» с призраком)."

"I have never told any one (я никому не рассказывала), Cecil," said Virginia, gravely (серьезно).

"I know that (я это знаю), but you might tell me (но ты могла бы рассказать мне)."

dear [diə] know [nəυ]

"Dear Cecil! I have no secrets from you."

"Yes, you have," he answered, smiling, "you have never told me what happened to you when you were locked up with the ghost."

"I have never told any one, Cecil," said Virginia, gravely.

"I know that, but you might tell me."

"Please don't ask me (пожалуйста, не спрашивай меня), Cecil, I cannot tell you (я не могу рассказать тебе). Poor Sir Simon (бедный сэр Саймон)! I owe him a great deal (я многим обязана ему). Yes, don't laugh (да, не смейся), Cecil, I really do (это действительно так). He made me see what Life is (он дал мне увидеть/ понять, что такое Жизнь), and what Death signifies (и что значит Смерть), and why Love is stronger than both (и почему Любовь сильнее, чем они /обе/)."