The Canterville Ghost - Oscar Wilde

glare [glεə] fury [`fjυəri] accomplishment [ə`kompli∫mənt]

The ghost glared at her in fury, and began at once to make preparations for turning himself into a large black dog, an accomplishment for which he was justly renowned, and to which the family doctor always attributed the permanent idiocy of Lord Canterville's uncle, the Hon. Thomas Horton. The sound of approaching footsteps, however, made him hesitate in his fell purpose, so he contented himself with becoming faintly phosphorescent, and vanished with a deep churchyard groan, just as the twins had come up to him.

On reaching his room (дойдя до своей комнаты) he entirely broke down (он почувствовал себя полностью разбитым; to break down — сломаться, выйти из строя; не выдержать, потерять самообладание), and became a prey to the most violent agitation (и стал жертвой исключительно тяжелого волнения). The vulgarity of the twins (вульгарность близнецов), and the gross materialism of Mrs. Otis (и грубый материализм миссис Отис), were naturally extremely annoying (были, естественно, исключительно раздражающими; to annoy — досаждать; раздражать), but what really distressed him most (но что на самом деле расстроило его больше всего) was that he had been unable to wear the suit of mail (было то, что он не был способен носить доспехи). He had hoped (он надеялся) that even modern Americans would be thrilled (что даже современные американцы будут поражены) by the sight of a Spectre in armour (видом привидения в рыцарских доспехах), if for no more sensible reason (если не по более разумной причине), at least out of respect for their natural poet Longfellow (то, по крайней мере, из-за уважения к их национальному поэту Лонгфелло {Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807 — 1882)— американский поэт; в тексте содержится намек на балладу Лонгфелло “The Skeleton in Armor” из сборника “The Ballads and Other Poems” (1842)}), over whose graceful and attractive poetry (над чьими изящными и привлекательными стихами) he himself had whiled away many a weary hour (он провел много скучающих = праздных часов; weary — усталый, изнуренный, утомленный; утомительный, скучный) when the Cantervilles were up in town (когда Кентервили находились в городе).

agitation ["ædζi`tei∫n] spectre [`spektə] weary [`wiəri]

On reaching his room he entirely broke down, and became a prey to the most violent agitation. The vulgarity of the twins, and the gross materialism of Mrs. Otis, were naturally extremely annoying, but what really distressed him most was that he had been unable to wear the suit of mail. He had hoped that even modern Americans would be thrilled by the sight of a Spectre in armour, if for no more sensible reason, at least out of respect for their natural poet Longfellow, over whose graceful and attractive poetry he himself had whiled away many a weary hour when the Cantervilles were up in town.

Besides it was his own suit (кроме того, это были его собственные доспехи). He had worn it with great success at the Kenilworth tournament (он надевал их с большим успехом на турнире в Кенилуорте {Kenilworth — Кенилуорт, старинный город в Уорикшире; известен развалинами замка XII в.; замок и события, происходившие в Кенилуорте в конце XVI века, легли в основу романа Вальтера Скотта “Kenilworth” (1821)}; to wear — носить /об одежде/), and had been highly complemented on it by no less a person than the Virgin Queen herself (и получил на нем лестные отзывы не от кого-нибудь, а от самой королевы-девственницы {Virgin Queen — королева-девственница; так называли Елизавету I (1533 — 1603)}). Yet when he had put it on (и все же, когда он надел их; to put on), he had been completely overpowered by the weight of the huge breastplate and steel casque (он не смог выдержать веса огромного нагрудника и стального шлема: «был совершенно побежден/сломлен весом…»; to overpower — преодолевать, побеждать, одолевать, подчинять), and had fallen heavily on the stone pavement (и упал, сильно ударившись о каменный пол: «тяжело упал на каменный пол»), barking both his knees severely, and bruising the knuckles of his right hand (сильно ободрав оба колена и разбив суставы пальцев правой руки; bark — кора; to bark — сдирать кору /с дерева/; разг. сдирать кожу; to bruise — ставить синяки; ушибать).

success [sək`ses] tournament [`tυənəmənt] virgin [`və:dζin] bruise [bru:z]

Besides it was his own suit. He had worn it with great success at the Kenilworth tournament, and had been highly complemented on it by no less a person than the Virgin Queen herself. Yet when he had put it on, he had been completely overpowered by the weight of the huge breastplate and steel casque, and had fallen heavily on the stone pavement, barking both his knees severely, and bruising the knuckles of his right hand.

For some days after this (в течение нескольких дней после этого) he was extremely ill (он был очень болен; extremely — крайне) and hardly stirred out of his room at all (и почти не выходил из своей комнаты; to stir — шевелиться; двигаться), except to keep the blood-stain in proper repair (за исключением того, чтобы поддерживать пятно крови в должном состоянии; repair — починка, ремонт). However, by taking great care of himself, he recovered (однако, приложив большие усилия в уходе за собой, он поправился; to take care of smb. — ухаживать за кем-либо /больным/), and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the United States Minister and his family (и решил сделать третью попытку напугать посла и его семью). He selected Friday, August 17th, for his appearance (для своего появления он выбрал пятницу, 17 августа), and spent most of that day in looking over his wardrobe (и провел большую часть этого дня, осматривая свой гардероб; to spend — тратить, расходовать; проводить /о времени/), ultimately deciding in favour of a large slouched hat with a red feather (наконец сделав свой выбор в пользу большой шляпы с опущенными полями и красным пером; to decide — решать(ся), принимать решение; to slouch — сутулиться, горбиться; опускаться, свисать /о полях шляпы/),a winding-sheet frilled at the wrists and neck (савана, присобранного у запястьев и на шее), and a rusty dagger (и ржавого кинжала; rust — ржавчина).

repair [ri`pεə] recover [ri`kλvə] wardrobe [`wo:drəυb]

For some days after this he was extremely ill and hardly stirred out of his room at all, except to keep the blood-stain in proper repair. However, by taking great care of himself, he recovered, and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the United States Minister and his family. He selected Friday, August 17th, for his appearance, and spent most of that day in looking over his wardrobe, ultimately deciding in favour of a large slouched hat with a red feather, a winding-sheet frilled at the wrists and neck, and a rusty dagger.

Towards evening a violent storm of rain came on (к вечеру разыгралась страшная буря; to come on — появляться; разразиться), and the wind was so high (и ветер был таким сильным) that all the windows and doors in the old house shook and rattled (что все окна и двери в старом доме тряслись и трещали; to shake). In fact, it was just such weather as he loved (на самом деле, это была как раз такая погода, которую он любил). His plan of action was this (его план действий был таким). He was to make his way quietly to Washington Otis's room (он должен был тихонько подойти к комнате Вашингтона Отиса), gibber at him from the foot of the bed (пробормотать что-то невнятное у подножия кровати), and stab himself three times in the throat (и вонзить себе в горло кинжал три раза) to the sound of low music (под звуки тихой музыки). He bore Washington a special grudge (он особенно был обижен на Вашингтона; to bear smb. a grudge — иметь зуб на кого-либо: «нести кому-либо недовольство, злобу, обиду»), being quite aware (будучи совершенно уверен), that it was he who was in the habit of removing the famous Canterville blood-stain by means of Pinkerton's Paragon Detergent (что это он имел привычку уничтожать знаменитое кентервильское пятно крови с помощью моющего средства «Идеал» Пинкертона).

violent [`vaiələnt] quietly [`kwaiətli] aware [ə`wεə]

Towards evening a violent storm of rain came on, and the wind was so high that all the windows and doors in the old house shook and rattled. In fact, it was just such weather as he loved. His plan of action was this. He was to make his way quietly to Washington Otis's room, gibber at him from the foot of the bed, and stab himself three times in the throat to the sound of low music. He bore Washington a special grudge, being quite aware that it was he who was in the habit of removing the famous Canterville blood-stain by means of Pinkerton's Paragon Detergent.

Having reduced the reckless and foolhardy youth to a condition of abject terror (доведя опрометчивого и безрассудного юношу до состояния крайнего ужаса), he was then to proceed to the room occupied by the United States Minister and his wife (он должен был затем проследовать к комнате, которую занимали посол и его жена), and there to place a clammy hand on Mrs. Otis's forehead (и там положить холодную руку на лоб миссис Отис; clammy — клейкий, липкий; холодный и влажный на ощупь /о коже/), while he hissed into her trembling husband's ear the awful secrets of the charnel-house (в то время как он рассказывал бы свистящим шепотом на ухо дрожащему мужу ужасные секреты склепа; to hiss — шипеть; свистеть; to tremble — дрожать). With regard to little Virginia (по отношению к маленькой Вирджинии), had not quite made up his mind (он еще не совсем пришел к решению; to make up one’s mind — принять решение: «настроить собственный разум»). She had never insulted him in any way (она никогда не оскорбляла его никаким образом), and was pretty and gentle (и была хорошенькой и кроткой).

forehead [`forid] ear [iə] insult [in`sλlt]

Having reduced the reckless and foolhardy youth to a condition of abject terror, he was then to proceed to the room occupied by the United States Minister and his wife, and there to place a clammy hand on Mrs. Otis's forehead, while he hissed into her trembling husband's ear the awful secrets of the charnel-house. With regard to little Virginia, he had not quite made up his mind. She had never insulted him in any way, and was pretty and gentle.