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.

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).

Mere acquaintances (едва знакомые люди; acquaintance — знакомство, знакомый) hugged and kissed each other and cried (обнимали и целовали друг друга и плакали). Everybody took a holiday (каждый взял выходной; to take — брать), and high and low (и высокий и низкий), rich and poor (богатый и бедный), feasted and danced and sang (пировали и танцевали и пели), and got very mellow (и стали очень добродушными); and they kept this up for days and nights together (и они продолжали это день и ночь вместе: «в течение дней и ночей»; to keep up — не прекращать, не меняться). By day (днем), London was a sight to see (был зрелищем (которое стоит) увидеть), with gay banners (с веселыми стягами) waving from every balcony and housetop (развевающимися с каждого балкона и кровли; house — дом; top — верхушка, вершина), and splendid pageants marching along (и прекрасными процессиями марширующими; along — вдоль, мимо).

By night (ночью), it was again a sight to see (он был опять зрелищем (которое стоит) увидеть), with its great bonfires at every corner (со своими огромными кострами на каждом углу), and its troops of revelers making merry around them (и его ватагами гуляк, веселившимися вокруг них; to make — делать, merry — веселый).

There was no talk (не было никаких разговоров) in all England but of (во всей Англии кроме (как) о) the new baby (новом = новорожденном младенце), Edward Tudor (Эдварде Тюдоре), Prince of Wales (принце Уэльском), who lay (лежал, to lie — лежать) lapped (завернутый) in silks and satins (в шелка и атласы = в шелк и атлас), unconscious (не ведающий: «бессознательный») of all this fuss (обо всей этой суете), and not knowing (и не знающий) that great lords and ladies (что великие лорды и леди) were tending him (нянчили его) and watching over him (и смотрели за ним) — and not caring (и не имея до этого никакого дела: «не заботясь»), either (также).

But there was no talk about the other baby (но не было разговоров о другом малыше), Tom Canty (Томе Кэнти), lapped in his poor rags (завернутом в свои бедные лохмотья), except among the family of paupers (кроме (как) в семье бедняков; among — среди) whom he had just come to trouble with his presence (кого = которых он только что пришел беспокоить своим присутствием).

trouble [trAbl], certain [`sə:t(ə)n], quarter [`kwO:tə], acquaintance [ə`kweıntəns]

IN the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him.

On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy.

Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this up for days and nights together. By day, London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, and splendid pageants marching along.

By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revelers making merry around them.

There was no talk in all England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him — and not caring, either.

But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.