PREFACE (Предисловие)
I will set down a tale (я изложу историю; to set down — класть) as it was told to me by one (как она была рассказана мне одним (человеком), who had it of his father (кто услышал ее от своего отца; to have — иметь, получать), which latter (которую последний /т. е. отец/) had it of his father (получил ее от своего отца), this last (этот последний) having in like manner had it of his father (в такой же манере получивший ее от своего отца) — and so on (и так далее), back and still back (назад и еще назад /в историю/), three hundred years and more (триста лет и больше), the fathers were transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it (отцы передавали ее сыновьям и таким образом сохраняли ее).
It may be history, it may be only legend, a tradition (это может быть история, это может быть лишь легенда, традиция). It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it could have happened (это могло произойти, могло не произойти: но это могло произойти; to happen — случаться). It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days (может быть, что мудрые и ученые верили в нее в старые дни = давние времена); it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it (может быть, что только неученые и простые = простаки любили ее и верили в нее).
transmit [trænz`mıt], tradition [trə`dıS(ə)n], learned [`lə:nıd]
I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of his father, this last having in like manner had it of his father — and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it.
It may be history, it may be only legend, a tradition.
It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it could have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.CHAPTER I (Глава первая)
IN the ancient city of London (в древнем городе Лондоне), on a certain autumn day (в один осенний день; certain — некоторый, определенный) in the second quarter of the sixteenth century (во второй четверти шестнадцатого века), a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty (мальчик был рожден в бедной семье по фамилии Кэнти), who did not want him (которая не хотела его).
On the same day another English child (в тот же день другой английский ребенок) was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor (родился в богатой семье по фамилии Тюдор), who did want him (которая хотела его). All England wanted him too (вся Англия хотела его тоже). England had so longed for him (так хотела его; to long for smth — страстно желать чего-либо), and hoped for him (надеялась на него), and prayed God for him (и молила Бога за него), that (что), now that he was really come (сейчас, когда он действительно пришел), the people went nearly mad for joy (люди почти сошли с ума от радости; to go mad — сойти с ума).