Дуэль: метод параллельного погружения

A duel, whether regarded as a ceremony in the cult of honour, or even when reduced in its moral essence to a form of manly sport, demands a perfect singleness of intention, a homicidal austerity of mood. On the other hand, this vivid concern for his future had not a bad effect inasmuch as it began to rouse the anger of Lieut. D’Hubert. Some seventy seconds had elapsed since they had crossed blades, and Lieut. D’Hubert had to break ground again in order to avoid impaling his reckless adversary like a beetle for a cabinet of specimens. The result was that misapprehending the motive, Lieut. Feraud with a triumphant sort of snarl pressed his attack.

“This enraged animal will have me against the wall directly,” thought Lieut. D’Hubert. («Этот разъярённый зверь сейчас загонит меня к стене», – подумал лейтенант Д’Юбер; enraged animal – разъярённый зверь; against the wall – прижатым к стене; directly – вскоре, вот-вот) He imagined himself much closer to the house than he was, (Он вообразил, что находится гораздо ближе к дому, чем на самом деле; imagine oneself – вообразить себя; much closer – гораздо ближе) and he dared not turn his head; (и он не осмеливался повернуть голову; dare not – не осмеливаться; turn one’s head – повернуть голову) it seemed to him that he was keeping his adversary off with his eyes rather more than with his point. (ему казалось, что он удерживает противника взглядом не меньше, чем остриём; keep off – удерживать на расстоянии; with his eyes – взглядом; point – острие шпаги) Lieut. Feraud crouched and bounded with a fierce tigerish agility (лейтенант Феро пригибался и прыгал с яростной, тигриной ловкостью; crouch – пригибаться; bound – прыгать; tigerish agility – тигриная ловкость) fit to trouble the stoutest heart. (достаточной, чтобы встревожить самое стойкое сердце; stoutest heart – самое храброе сердце)

“This enraged animal will have me against the wall directly,” thought Lieut. D’Hubert. He imagined himself much closer to the house than he was, and he dared not turn his head; it seemed to him that he was keeping his adversary off with his eyes rather more than with his point. Lieut. Feraud crouched and bounded with a fierce tigerish agility fit to trouble the stoutest heart.

But what was more appalling than the fury of a wild beast, (Но то, что было страшнее ярости дикого зверя; appalling – ужасающий; fury – ярость) accomplishing in all innocence of heart a natural function, (совершающего с невинностью в сердце естественный инстинкт; innocence of heart – невинность сердца; natural function – естественное действие, функция) was the fixity of savage purpose man alone is capable of displaying. (– это неотступная дикость намерения, на которую способен только человек; fixity of purpose – неизменность, твёрдость намерения; savage – дикарский, яростный) Lieut. D’Hubert, in the midst of his worldly preoccupations, perceived it at last. (Лейтенант Д’Юбер, посреди своих мирских забот, наконец это понял; in the midst of – посреди; perceive – осознать, понять) It was an absurd and damaging affair to be drawn into, (Это было нелепое и опасное дело, в которое он был втянут; damaging affair – пагубное, опасное дело; to be drawn into – быть втянутым) but whatever silly intention the fellow had started with, (но какой бы глупой ни была первоначальная цель его противника; silly intention – глупое намерение) it was clear enough that by this time he meant to kill—nothing less. (было совершенно ясно, что теперь тот намерен убить – и ничем меньшим не удовлетворится; mean to kill – намереваться убить; nothing less – ничем меньшим) He meant it with an intensity of will utterly beyond the inferior faculties of a tiger. (Он хотел этого с такой силой воли, какой вовсе не обладает даже тигр; intensity of will – сила воли; utterly beyond – далеко превосходящая; inferior faculties – низшие способности)

But what was more appalling than the fury of a wild beast, accomplishing in all innocence of heart a natural function, was the fixity of savage purpose man alone is capable of displaying. Lieut. D ‘Hubert in the midst of his worldly preoccupations perceived it at last. It was an absurd and damaging affair to be drawn into, but whatever silly intention the fellow had started with, it was clear enough that by this time he meant to kill—nothing less. He meant it with an intensity of will utterly beyond the inferior faculties of a tiger.

As is the case with constitutionally brave men, (Как это обычно бывает с людьми, от природы храбрыми; constitutionally – по природе, от природы.) the full view of the danger interested Lieut. D’Hubert. (Полное осознание опасности заинтересовало лейтенанта Д’Юбера.) And directly he got properly interested, (И как только он по-настоящему заинтересовался,) the length of his arm and the coolness of his head told in his favour. (Длина его руки и хладнокровие ума сыграли ему на руку; told in his favour – сыграли ему на руку.) It was the turn of Lieut. Feraud to recoil, (Настала очередь лейтенанта Феро отступить; recoil – отпрянуть, отступить.) with a bloodcurdling grunt of baffled rage. (С леденящим кровь воплем обескураженной ярости; bloodcurdling – леденящий кровь; baffled – обескураженный.) He made a swift feint, (Он сделал быстрый финт; feint – ложное движение.) and then rushed straight forward. (А затем бросился прямо вперёд.)

As is the case with constitutionally brave men, the full view of the danger interested Lieut. D’Hubert. And directly he got properly interested, the length of his arm and the coolness of his head told in his favour. It was the turn of Lieut. Feraud to recoil, with a bloodcurdling grunt of baffled rage. He made a swift feint, and then rushed straight forward.

“Ah! you would, would you?” («А! вот ты как, да?» – подумал он; would you – выражение раздражённого вызова.) Lieut. D’Hubert exclaimed, mentally. (воскликнул про себя лейтенант Д’Юбер.) The combat had lasted nearly two minutes, (Сражение продолжалось почти две минуты,) time enough for any man to get embittered, apart from the merits of the quarrel. (времени более чем достаточно, чтобы любой человек озлобился, независимо от сути самой ссоры; get embittered – озлобиться; merits – достоинства, суть дела.) And all at once it was over. (И вдруг всё закончилось.) Trying to close breast to breast under his adversary’s guard, (Пытаясь сблизиться грудь к груди под защитой противника; breast to breast – грудь к груди.) Lieut. Feraud received a slash on his shortened arm. (Лейтенант Феро получил рубящий удар по сокращённой руке; slash – рубящий удар.) He did not feel it in the least, (Он нисколько этого не почувствовал,) but it checked his rush, (но удар остановил его порыв.) and his feet slipping on the gravel he fell backwards with great violence. (И, поскользнувшись на гравии, он с большой силой упал навзничь.) The shock jarred his boiling brain into the perfect quietude of insensibility. (От удара его кипящий мозг перешёл в полное спокойствие бессознательности; quietude – спокойствие; insensibility – потеря чувств.) Simultaneously with his fall the pretty servant-girl shrieked; (Одновременно с его падением красивая служанка вскрикнула; shriek – пронзительно вскрикнуть.) but the old maiden lady at the window ceased her scolding, (но старая девица у окна прекратила своё брюзжание; scolding – брань, ворчание.) and began to cross herself piously. (и начала благочестиво креститься; piously – набожно.)

“Ah! you would, would you?” Lieut. D’Hubert exclaimed, mentally. The combat had lasted nearly two minutes, time enough for any man to get embittered, apart from the merits of the quarrel. And all at once it was over. Trying to close breast to breast under his adversary’s guard Lieut. Feraud received a slash on his shortened arm. He did not feel it in the least, but it checked his rush, and his feet slipping on the gravel he fell backwards with great violence. The shock jarred his boiling brain into the perfect quietude of insensibility. Simultaneously with his fall the pretty servant-girl shrieked; but the old maiden lady at the window ceased her scolding, and began to cross herself piously.

Beholding his adversary stretched out perfectly still, his face to the sky, (Увидев противника, распростёртого без движения, лицом к небу; beholding – созерцая, видя; stretched out – распростёртого.) Lieut. D’Hubert thought he had killed him outright. (Лейтенант Д’Юбер подумал, что убил его на месте; outright – сразу, мгновенно.) The impression of having slashed hard enough to cut his man clean in two abode with him for a while (Ощущение, что он нанёс настолько сильный удар, что мог разрубить человека надвое, оставалось с ним некоторое время; abode – оставалось, пребывало.) in an exaggerated memory of the right good-will he had put into the blow. (в преувеличенном воспоминании о той решимости, с которой он нанёс удар; good-will – доброжелательность, готовность, решимость.) He dropped on his knees hastily by the side of the prostrate body. (Он поспешно опустился на колени рядом с распростёртым телом; prostrate – распростёртый, поверженный.) Discovering that not even the arm was severed, (Обнаружив, что даже рука не была отрублена; severed – отсечена, отрублена,) a slight sense of disappointment mingled with the feeling of relief. (лёгкое разочарование смешалось с чувством облегчения; mingled – смешалось.) The fellow deserved the worst. (Парень заслужил худшее.) But truly he did not want the death of that sinner. (Но, по правде говоря, он не желал смерти этому грешнику.) The affair was ugly enough as it stood, (Дело и без того выглядело достаточно некрасиво; ugly – неприятный, некрасивый,) and Lieut. D’Hubert addressed himself at once to the task of stopping the bleeding. (и лейтенант Д’Юбер сразу занялся задачей остановить кровотечение; addressed himself to – принялся за, занялся.)

Beholding his adversary stretched out perfectly still, his face to the sky, Lieut. D’Hubert thought he had killed him outright. The impression of having slashed hard enough to cut his man clean in two abode with him for a while in an exaggerated memory of the right good-will he had put into the blow. He dropped on his knees hastily by the side of the prostrate body. Discovering that not even the arm was severed, a slight sense of disappointment mingled with the feeling of relief. The fellow deserved the worst. But truly he did not want the death of that sinner. The affair was ugly enough as it stood, and Lieut. D’Hubert addressed himself at once to the task of stopping the bleeding.

In this task it was his fate to be ridiculously impeded by the pretty maid. (В этом деле ему суждено было быть нелепо стеснённым красивой служанкой; impeded – стеснённый, мешаемый.) Rending the air with screams of horror, (Раздирая воздух криками ужаса; rending – раздирающий,) she attacked him from behind (она напала на него сзади,) and, twining her fingers in his hair, tugged back at his head. (и, вплетая пальцы в его волосы, потянула его голову назад; twining – переплетая; tugged – дёрнула, потянула.) Why she should choose to hinder him at this precise moment (Почему она решила помешать ему именно в этот момент; hinder – мешать,) he could not in the least understand. (он совершенно не мог понять.) He did not try. (Он и не пытался.) It was all like a very wicked and harassing dream. (Всё это было похоже на злой и мучительный сон; wicked – злой; harassing – изнуряющий, мучительный.) Twice to save himself from being pulled over (Дважды, чтобы не быть поваленным,) he had to rise and fling her off. (ему приходилось вставать и отбрасывать её прочь; fling off – отшвырнуть.) He did this stoically, without a word, (Он делал это стоически, не говоря ни слова; stoically – стойко, невозмутимо,) kneeling down again at once to go on with his work. (снова становился на колени, чтобы продолжить своё дело.) But the third time, his work being done, (Но в третий раз, когда работа была закончена,) he seized her and held her arms pinned to her body. (он схватил её и прижал руки к телу; pinned – прижатые.) Her cap was half off, (Её чепец наполовину слетел,) her face was red, (лицо покраснело,) her eyes blazed with crazy boldness. (глаза сверкали безумной дерзостью; blazed – сверкали, пылали.) He looked mildly into them (Он спокойно смотрел ей в глаза,) while she called him a wretch, a traitor, and a murderer many times in succession. (пока она называла его подлецом, предателем и убийцей снова и снова; wretch – негодяй, подлец; in succession – подряд, один за другим.)

In this task it was his fate to be ridiculously impeded by the pretty maid. Rending the air with screams of horror, she attacked him from behind and, twining her fingers in his hair, tugged back at his head. Why she should choose to hinder him at this precise moment he could not in the least understand. He did not try. It was all like a very wicked and harassing dream. Twice to save himself from being pulled over he had to rise and fling her off. He did this stoically, without a word, kneeling down again at once to go on with his work. But the third time, his work being done, he seized her and held her arms pinned to her body. Her cap was half off, her face was red, her eyes blazed with crazy boldness. He looked mildly into them while she called him a wretch, a traitor, and a murderer many times in succession.

This did not annoy him so much (Это раздражало его не столько,) as the conviction that she had managed to scratch his face abundantly. (сколько убеждение, что она успела изрядно расцарапать ему лицо; scratch – царапать; abundantly – обильно, сильно.) Ridicule would be added to the scandal of the story. (К скандалу этой истории прибавится ещё и насмешка; ridicule – насмешка, осмеяние.) He imagined the adorned tale making its way through the garrison of the town, (Он воображал, как приукрашенный рассказ распространяется по гарнизону города; adorned – приукрашенный,) through the whole army on the frontier, (по всей армии на границе,) with every possible distortion of motive and sentiment and circumstance, (с всяческим искажением мотивов, чувств и обстоятельств; distortion – искажение,) spreading a doubt upon the sanity of his conduct and the distinction of his taste (внушая сомнения в здравости его поведения и изысканности вкуса; sanity – здравомыслие; distinction – утончённость, изысканность,) even to the very ears of his honourable family. (даже доходя до ушей его почтенной семьи; honourable – почтенный.) It was all very well for that fellow Feraud, (Для этого парня Феро всё было не так страшно; fellow – парень,) who had no connections, no family to speak of, (у которого не было связей, семьи, о которой стоило бы говорить,) and no quality but courage, (и никакого достоинства, кроме храбрости,) which, anyhow, was a matter of course, (которая, впрочем, считалась делом само собой разумеющимся; a matter of course – нечто само собой разумеющееся,) and possessed by every single trooper in the whole mass of French cavalry. (и имелась у каждого рядового солдата во всей массе французской кавалерии.) Still holding down the arms of the girl in a strong grip, (Всё ещё удерживая руки девушки крепкой хваткой; grip – захват, хватка,) Lieut. D’Hubert glanced over his shoulder. (лейтенант Д’Юбер оглянулся через плечо.) Lieut. Feraud had opened his eyes. (Лейтенант Феро открыл глаза.) He did not move. (Он не шевельнулся.) Like a man just waking from a deep sleep (Как человек, только что пробуждающийся от глубокого сна,) he stared without any expression at the evening sky. (он без всякого выражения смотрел на вечернее небо; stared – уставился.)

This did not annoy him so much as the conviction that she had managed to scratch his face abundantly. Ridicule would be added to the scandal of the story. He imagined the adorned tale making its way through the garrison of the town, through the whole army on the frontier, with every possible distortion of motive and sentiment and circumstance, spreading a doubt upon the sanity of his conduct and the distinction of his taste even to the very ears of his honourable family. It was all very well for that fellow Feraud, who had no connections, no family to speak of, and no quality but courage, which, anyhow, was a matter of course, and possessed by every single trooper in the whole mass of French cavalry. Still holding down the arms of the girl in a strong grip, Lieut. D’Hubert glanced over his shoulder. Lieut. Feraud had opened his eyes. He did not move. Like a man just waking from a deep sleep he stared without any expression at the evening sky.

Lieut. D’Hubert’s urgent shouts to the old gardener produced no effect (Отчаянные крики лейтенанта Д’Юбера, обращённые к старику-садовнику, не принесли никакого результата; urgent – настойчивый, отчаянный.) —not so much as to make him shut his toothless mouth. (– даже не заставили его закрыть беззубый рот.) Then he remembered that the man was stone deaf. (Тут он вспомнил, что старик был глух как пень; stone deaf – совершенно глухой.) All that time the girl struggled, (Всё это время девушка сопротивлялась,) not with maidenly coyness, (и вовсе не с девичьей застенчивостью; maidenly coyness – девичья стыдливость,) but like a pretty, dumb fury, (а как красивая, безмолвная фурия; fury – яростная женщина, фурия,) kicking his shins now and then. (время от времени пинала его по голеням; shins – голени.) He continued to hold her as if in a vice, (Он продолжал держать её, словно в тисках; vice – тиски,) his instinct telling him that were he to let her go she would fly at his eyes. (и инстинкт подсказывал ему, что если он отпустит её, она бросится ему на глаза.) But he was greatly humiliated by his position. (Но он чувствовал себя крайне униженным своим положением; humiliated – униженный.) At last she gave up. (Наконец она сдалась.) She was more exhausted than appeased, he feared. (Он боялся, что она скорее выдохлась, чем успокоилась; appeased – усмирённая, умиротворённая.) Nevertheless, he attempted to get out of this wicked dream by way of negotiation. (Тем не менее он попытался выбраться из этого злого сна с помощью переговоров; by way of – посредством; negotiation – переговоры.)

Lieut. D’Hubert’s urgent shouts to the old gardener produced no effect—not so much as to make him shut his toothless mouth. Then he remembered that the man was stone deaf. All that time the girl struggled, not with maidenly coyness, but like a pretty, dumb fury, kicking his shins now and then. He continued to hold her as if in a vice, his instinct telling him that were he to let her go she would fly at his eyes. But he was greatly humiliated by his position. At last she gave up. She was more exhausted than appeased, he feared. Nevertheless, he attempted to get out of this wicked dream by way of negotiation.

“Listen to me,” he said, as calmly as he could. («Послушай меня», – сказал он как можно спокойнее.) “Will you promise to run for a surgeon if I let you go?” («Ты пообещаешь побежать за хирургом, если я тебя отпущу?»; surgeon – хирург.)

With real affliction he heard her declare (С настоящим огорчением он услышал, как она заявила; affliction – печаль, огорчение,) that she would do nothing of the kind. (что она ничего подобного делать не собирается.) On the contrary, her sobbed out intention was to remain in the garden, (Напротив, всхлипывая, она заявила, что намерена остаться в саду; sobbed out – выговорила сквозь рыдания,) and fight tooth and nail for the protection of the vanquished man. (и сражаться изо всех сил за защиту поверженного человека; tooth and nail – изо всех сил, отчаянно; vanquished – побеждённый.) This was shocking. (Это было возмутительно; shocking – поразительно, возмутительно.)

“Listen to me,” he said, as calmly as he could. “Will you promise to run for a surgeon if I let you go?”

With real affliction he heard her declare that she would do nothing of the kind. On the contrary, her sobbed out intention was to remain in the garden, and fight tooth and nail for the protection of the vanquished man. This was shocking.

“My dear child!” («Моё дорогое дитя!»; —) he cried in despair, (– воскликнул он в отчаянии; despair – отчаяние) “is it possible that you think me capable of murdering a wounded adversary? («разве возможно, что ты думаешь, будто я способен убить раненого противника?»; adversary – противник) Is it. . . . («Разве это…»; —) Be quiet, you little wild cat, you!” («Успокойся, ты маленькая дикая кошка, ну!»; wild cat – своенравная, буйная женщина)

They struggled. (Они боролись; struggled – боролись) A thick, drowsy voice said behind him, (За его спиной прозвучал густой, вялый голос; drowsy – вялый, сонный) “What are you after with that girl?” («Что ты замышляешь с этой девушкой?»; —)

“My dear child!” he cried in despair, “is it possible that you think me capable of murdering a wounded adversary? Is it. . . . Be quiet, you little wild cat, you!”

They struggled. A thick, drowsy voice said behind him, “What are you after with that girl?”

Lieut. Feraud had raised himself on his good arm. (Лейтенант Феро приподнялся, опираясь на здоровую руку.) He was looking sleepily at his other arm, (Он сонно смотрел на другую руку,) at the mess of blood on his uniform, (на беспорядочные пятна крови на мундире; mess – беспорядок, грязь,) at a small red pool on the ground, (на маленькую лужицу крови на земле; pool – лужица,) at his sabre lying a foot away on the path. (на свою саблю, лежащую в футе от него на дорожке; sabre – сабля.) Then he laid himself down gently again (Потом он снова осторожно лёг,) to think it all out, (чтобы всё обдумать,) as far as a thundering headache would permit of mental operations. (насколько громоподобная головная боль позволяла вести мыслительные операции; thundering – оглушительный, грохочущий; mental operations – мыслительные действия.)