Брэм Стокер – Дракула: метод параллельного погружения (страница 17)
You come to me not alone as agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, of Exeter, to tell me all about my new estate in London. You shall, I trust, rest here with me awhile, so that by our talking I may learn the English intonation; and I would that you tell me when I make error, even of the smallest, in my speaking. I am sorry that I had to be away so long to-day; but you will, I know, forgive one who has so many important affairs in hand.”
Of course I said all I could about being willing, (Разумеется, я сказал всё, что мог, выражая готовность;
“You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, (“Вы можете ходить куда угодно в замке,) except where the doors are locked, (кроме тех мест, где двери заперты,) where of course you will not wish to go. (куда, конечно, вы не станете стремиться попасть.) There is reason that all things are as they are, (Есть причина, по которой всё устроено так, как устроено,) and did you see with my eyes (и если бы вы видели моими глазами,) and know with my knowledge, (и знали моими знаниями,) you would perhaps better understand.” (вы, возможно, лучше бы поняли.”) I said I was sure of this, (Я сказал, что уверен в этом,) and then he went on:— (и тогда он продолжил:)
Of course I said all I could about being willing, and asked if I might come into that room when I chose. He answered: “Yes, certainly,” and added:—
“You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, except where the doors are locked, where of course you will not wish to go. There is reason that all things are as they are, and did you see with my eyes and know with my knowledge, you would perhaps better understand.” I said I was sure of this, and then he went on:—
“We are in Transylvania; (“Мы находимся в Трансильвании,) and Transylvania is not England. (и Трансильвания — это не Англия.) Our ways are not your ways, (Наши обычаи — не ваши обычаи,) and there shall be to you many strange things. (и вам встретится много странного.) Nay, from what you have told me of your experiences already, (Нет, судя по тому, что вы уже рассказали мне о своих впечатлениях,) you know something of what strange things there may be.” (вы уже знаете кое-что о том, какие странные вещи могут случаться.)
“We are in Transylvania; and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange things. Nay, from what you have told me of your experiences already, you know something of what strange things there may be.”
This led to much conversation; (Это привело к долгой беседе;
This led to much conversation; and as it was evident that he wanted to talk, if only for talking’s sake, I asked him many questions regarding things that had already happened to me or come within my notice. Sometimes he sheered off the subject, or turned the conversation by pretending not to understand; but generally he answered all I asked most frankly. Then as time went on, and I had got somewhat bolder, I asked him of some of the strange things of the preceding night, as, for instance, why the coachman went to the places where he had seen the blue flames.
He then explained to me (Тогда он объяснил мне,) that it was commonly believed (что существует распространённое поверье,) that on a certain night of the year— (что в определённую ночь года —) last night, in fact, (а именно прошлой ночью,) when all evil spirits are supposed to have unchecked sway— (когда считается, что все злые духи имеют неограниченную власть;
He then explained to me that it was commonly believed that on a certain night of the year—last night, in fact, when all evil spirits are supposed to have unchecked sway—a blue flame is seen over any place where treasure has been concealed.
“That treasure has been hidden,” he went on, (“То, что клады были спрятаны, — продолжал он,) “in the region through which you came last night, (в местности, через которую вы ехали прошлой ночью,) there can be but little doubt; (в этом едва ли можно сомневаться;) for it was the ground fought over for centuries (ибо это земля, за которую столетиями сражались) by the Wallachian, the Saxon, and the Turk. (валахи, саксы и турки.) Why, there is hardly a foot of soil in all this region (Ведь в этой всей местности едва ли найдётся хоть пядь земли,) that has not been enriched by the blood of men, (которая не была бы обогащена кровью людей,) patriots or invaders. (патриотов или захватчиков;
“That treasure has been hidden,” he went on, “in the region through which you came last night, there can be but little doubt; for it was the ground fought over for centuries by the Wallachian, the Saxon, and the Turk. Why, there is hardly a foot of soil in all this region that has not been enriched by the blood of men, patriots or invaders. In old days there were stirring times, when the Austrian and the Hungarian came up in hordes, and the patriots went out to meet them—men and women, the aged and the children too—and waited their coming on the rocks above the passes, that they might sweep destruction on them with their artificial avalanches. When the invader was triumphant he found but little, for whatever there was had been sheltered in the friendly soil.”
“But how,” said I, (“Но как же,” — сказал я,) “can it have remained so long undiscovered, (“как это могло оставаться столь долго неоткрытым,) when there is a sure index to it (когда существует надёжный указатель на него;
“But how,” said I, “can it have remained so long undiscovered, when there is a sure index to it if men will but take the trouble to look?” The Count smiled, and as his lips ran back over his gums, the long, sharp, canine teeth showed out strangely; he answered:—
“Because your peasant is at heart a coward and a fool! (“Потому что ваш крестьянин в глубине души трус и глупец!;