The moon was shining in a broad silver crescent. He held up the map and the white light shone through it.

“What is this?” he said. “There are moon-letters here, beside the plain runes which say ‘five feet high the door and three may walk abreast.’ “

“What are moon-letters?” asked the hobbit full of excitement. He loved maps, as I have told you before; and he also liked runes and letters and cunning handwriting, though when he wrote himself it was a bit thin and spidery.

“Moon-letters are rune-letters, but you cannot see them,” said Elrond, “not when you look straight at them. They can only be seen when the moon shines behind them, and what is more, with the more cunning sort it must be a moon of the same shape and season as the day when they were written. The dwarves invented them and wrote them with silver pens, as your friends could tell you. These must have been written on a midsummer’s eve in a crescent moon, a long while ago.”

 

“What do they say (что же они говорят)?” asked Gandalf and Thorin together (спросили Гэндальф и Торин вместе), a bit vexed perhaps (возможно, слегка раздосадованные; to vex — досаждать, раздражать; возмущать, сердить) that even Elrond should have found this out first (что именно Элронд обнаружил эти /буквы/ первым), though really (хотя, на самом деле) there had not been a chance before (шанса раньше не представлялось), and there would not have been another (и не было бы и другого) until goodness knows when (до неизвестно каких пор; goodness — доброта, ценные качества; зд. заменяет слово God — Бог /чтобы не употреблять его всуе/).

“Stand by the grey stone (стой у серого камня) when the thrush knocks (когда застучит дрозд),” read Elrond (прочитал Элронд), “and the setting sun (и заходящее солнце) with the last light of Durin’s Day (последним лучом света Дьюриного Дня) will shine upon the key-hole (озарит замочную скважину).”

“Durin (Дьюрин), Durin!” said Thorin (сказал Торин). “He was the father of the fathers (он был прародителем родоначальников) of the eldest race of Dwarves (древнейшего рода Гномов), the Longbeards (Длиннобородых), and my first ancestor (и мой первый предок): I am his heir (я его наследник).”

“Then what is Durin’s Day (тогда, что же это за Дьюрин день)?” asked Elrond (спросил Элронд).

“The first day of the dwarves’ New Year (первый день Нового Года гномов),” said Thorin, “is as all should know (это, как все должны знать) the first day of the last moon of Autumn (первый день последней луны Осени) on the threshold of Winter (на пороге Зимы). We still call it Durin’s Day (мы все еще называем его Дьюриным Днем) when the last moon of Autumn (когда последняя луна Осени) and the sun (и солнце) are in the sky together (находятся на небе вместе). But this will not help us much (но это нам не очень поможет), I fear (я боюсь), for it passes our skill in these days (потому как за пределом наших умений в эти дни; to pass — проходить; превосходить) to guess when such a time (предугадать, когда такое время) will come again (наступит снова).”

 

vex [veks] chance [tSQ:ns] thrush [TrAS]

 

“What do they say?” asked Gandalf and Thorin together, a bit vexed perhaps that even Elrond should have found this out first, though really there had not been a chance before, and there would not have been another until goodness knows when.

“Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks,” read Elrond, “and the setting sun with the last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the key-hole.”

“Durin, Durin!” said Thorin. “He was the father of the fathers of the eldest race of Dwarves, the Longbeards, and my first ancestor: I am his heir.”

“Then what is Durin’s Day?” asked Elrond.

“The first day of the dwarves’ New Year,” said Thorin, “is as all should know the first, day of the last moon of Autumn on the threshold of Winter. We still call it Durin’s Day when the last moon of Autumn and the sun are in the sky together. But this will not help us much, I fear, for it passes our skill in these days to guess when such a time will come again.”

 

“That remains to be seen (это мы еще посмотрим; to remain — оставаться),” said Gandalf. “Is there any more writing (есть там еще какие-либо письмена)?”

“None to be seen by this moon (никаких больше не видно при этой луне),” said Elrond, and he gave the map back to Thorin (и он отдал карту обратно Торину); and then they went down to the water (и тогда они пошли к воде) to see the elves (посмотреть, как эльфы) dance and sing upon the midsummer’s eve (танцуют и поют в день накануне летнего солнцестояния).

The next morning was a midsummer’s morning (следующее утро было утром дня летнего солнцестояния) as fair and fresh as could be dreamed (такое ясное и свежее, о каком только можно было мечтать): blue sky (синее небо) and never a cloud (и ни облачка), and the sun dancing on the water (и солнечные /блики/ танцевали на воде). Now they rode away (в тот момент они отправились в путь: «ускакали прочь»; to ride (rode, ridden) — ездить верхом, скакать) amid songs of farewell (среди прощальных песен) and good speed (и пожеланий успеха; speed — скорость, быстрота; /арх./ удача, выгода), with their hearts ready for more adventure (с сердцами, готовыми к дальнейшим приключениям), and with a knowledge of the road (и со знанием дороги) they must follow (которой они должны следовать) over the Misty Mountains (за Мглистыми Горами) to the land beyond (к стране, /лежащей/ за ними).

 

remain [rI'meIn] farewell [feq'wel] beyond [bI'jOnd]

 

“That remains to be seen,” said Gandalf. “Is there any more writing?”

“None to be seen by this moon,” said Elrond, and he gave the map back to Thorin; and then they went down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer’s eve.

The next morning was a midsummer’s morning as fair and fresh as could be dreamed: blue sky and never a cloud, and the sun dancing on the water. Now they rode away amid songs of farewell and good speed, with their hearts ready for more adventure, and with a knowledge of the road they must follow over the Misty Mountains to the land beyond.

 

Chapter 4

Over Hill and Under Hill

(Глава 4. Через холм и под холмом)

There were many paths (было много тропинок) that led up into those mountains (которые вели вверх по этим горам), and many passes over them (и много проходов /что вели/ сквозь них). But most of the paths were cheats (но большинство из тропок были обманками; cheat — мошенничество, жульничество) and deceptions (и иллюзиями) and led nowhere (и вели в никуда) or to bad ends (или в тупик: «к плохим концам»); and most of the passes (и большая часть из проходов) were infested by evil things (кишмя кишели злобными тварями; to infest — кишеть; наводнять, заполнять) and dreadful dangers (и ужасными опасностями). The dwarves and the hobbit (гномы и хоббит), helped by the wise advice of Elrond (с помощью мудрого совета Элронда) and the knowledge and memory of Gandalf (и /благодаря/ знаниям и памяти Гэндальфа), took the right road to the right pass (выбрали правильную дорогу к правильному проходу).

Long days (в течение долгих дней) after they had climbed out of the valley (после того, как они вскарабкались из долины) and left the Last Homely House miles behind (и оставили Последнее Домашнее Жилище в милях = далеко позади себя), they were still going up and up and up (они все еще забирались вверх, вверх и вверх). It was a hard path (это была тяжелая тропа) and a dangerous path (и опасная тропа), a crooked way (кривая дорожка) and a lonely (и одинокая = безлюдная) and a long (и длинная). Now they could look back (теперь они могли оглянуться назад) over the lands they had left (на те земли, что они оставили), laid out behind them (что лежали за ними) far below (далеко внизу). Far, far away in the West (далеко, далеко на Западе), where things were blue and faint (где все выглядело: «вещи были» голубоватым и неясным), Bilbo knew there lay his own country (Бильбо знал, что там лежала его собственная страна) of safe and comfortable things (/полная/ безопасных и удобных вещей), and his little hobbit-hole (и /где была/ его собственная хоббитовская нора). He shivered (он поежился). It was getting bitter cold up here (становилось ужасно холодно здесь, наверху; bitter — горький; мучительный, резкий), and the wind came shrill among the rocks (и пронзительный ветер дул между скалами). Boulders, too, at times (валуны, к тому же, время от времени) came galloping down the mountain-sides (быстро неслись вниз по склонам горы), let loose by midday sun upon the snow (вырвавшиеся, благодаря полуденному солнцу, из снега; to let loose — выпускать, освобождать; loose — свободный; непривязанный, неприкрепленный), and passed among them (и проносились между них) (which was lucky (что было удачно)), or over their heads (или над их головами) (which was alarming (что было тревожным; alarm — боевая тревога, сигнал тревоги; to alarm — поднять тревогу, дать сигнал тревоги)).

 

dangerous ['deIndZqrqs] shiver ['SIvq] boulder ['bqVldq]

 

There were many paths that led up into those mountains, and many passes over them. But most of the paths were cheats and deceptions and led nowhere or to bad ends; and most of the passes were infested by evil things and dreadful dangers. The dwarves and the hobbit, helped by the wise advice of Elrond and the knowledge and memory of Gandalf, took the right road to the right pass.

Long days after they had climbed out of the valley and left the Last Homely House miles behind, they were still going up and up and up. It was a hard path and a dangerous path, a crooked way and a lonely and a long. Now they could look back over the lands they had left, laid out behind them far below. Far, far away in the West, where things were blue and faint, Bilbo knew there lay his own country of safe and comfortable things, and his little hobbit-hole. He shivered. It was getting bitter cold up here, and the wind came shrill among the rocks. Boulders, too, at times came galloping down the mountain-sides, let loose by midday sun upon the snow, and passed among them (which was lucky), or over their heads (which was alarming).

 

The nights were comfortless and chill (ночи были неуютными и холодными), and they did not dare to sing (и они не осмеливались петь) or talk too loud (или разговаривать слишком громко), for the echoes were uncanny (так как эхо было жутким), and the silence seemed to dislike being broken (и тишине, как казалось не нравилось, когда ее нарушали) — except by the noise of water (кроме как шумом воды) and the wail of wind (или завываниями ветра) and the crack of stone (или треском камней).

“The summer is getting on (лето продолжается) down below (там, внизу),” thought Bilbo (думал Бильбо), “and haymaking is going on (и сенокос продолжается; hay — сено) and picnics (и пикники). They will be harvesting and blackberrying (все: «они» уже будут убирать урожай и собирать ягоды; blackberry — ежевика, диал. черная смородина; harvest — урожай), before we even begin to go down the other side (до того, как мы даже начнем спускаться с другой стороны) at this rate (если так будет продолжаться; rate — норма, размер).”

And the others were thinking equally gloomy thoughts (и другие думали такие же мрачные мысли), although when they had said good-bye to Elrond (хотя, когда они попрощались с Элрондом) in the high hope of a midsummer morning (в больших надеждах утра дня летнего солнцестояния; high — высокий), they had spoken gaily (они весело говорили) of the passage of the mountains (о проходе через горы), and of riding swift (и о быстрой скачке) across the lands beyond (через земли, лежащие за ними).

 

harvesting ['hQ:vIstIN] haymaking ['heImeIkIN] blackberry ['blxkb(q)rI]

 

The nights were comfortless and chill, and they did not dare to sing or talk too loud, for the echoes were uncanny, and the silence seemed to dislike being broken-except by the noise of water and the wail of wind and the crack of stone. “The summer is getting on down below,” thought Bilbo, “and haymaking is going on and picnics. They will be harvesting and blackberrying, before we even begin to go down the other side at this rate.” And the others were thinking equally gloomy thoughts, although when they had said good-bye to Elrond in the high hope of a midsummer morning, they had spoken gaily of the passage of the mountains, and of riding swift across the lands beyond.

 

They had thought of coming to the secret door (они думали о том, как они дойдут до секретной двери) in the Lonely Mountain (в Одинокой Горе), perhaps that very next first moon of Autumn (возможно, той самой следующей первой луной осени) — “and perhaps it will be Durin’s Day (и возможно, это будет Дьюрин День)” they had said (сказали они). Only Gandalf had shaken his head (только Гэндальф покачал /своей/ головой) and said nothing (и не сказал ничего). Dwarves had not passed that way (Гномы не ходили этим путем) for many years (уже многие годы), but Gandalf had (но Гэндальф /ходил/), and he knew (и он знал) how evil and danger had grown (как зло и опасность выросли) and thriven in the Wild (и расцвели в Диком Краю; to thrive (throve/thrived, thriven) — благоденствовать, преуспевать, процветать), since the dragons had driven men from the lands (с тех времен, когда драконы выгнали людей с этих земель; to drive (drove, driven) — водить, везти, ехать), and the goblins had spread in secret (и гоблины расселились: «распространились» /здесь/ тайно) after the battle of the Mines of Moria (после битвы у Рудников Мории). Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf (даже добрые планы таких мудрых волшебников, как Гэндальф) and of good friends like Elrond (и таких добрых друзей, как Элронд) go astray sometimes (сбиваются иногда с пути) when you are off on dangerous adventures (когда отправляешься в опасные приключения) over the Edge of the Wild (за Краем Дикого Края); and Gandalf was a wise enough wizard to know it (и Гэндальф был достаточно мудрым волшебником, чтобы знать это).

 

lonely ['lqVnlI] autumn ['O:tqm] thriven ['TrIv(q)n]

 

They had thought of coming to the secret door in the Lonely Mountain, perhaps that very next first moon of Autumn — “and perhaps it will be Durin’s Day” they had said. Only Gandalf had shaken his head and said nothing. Dwarves had not passed that way for many years, but Gandalf had, and he knew how evil and danger had grown and thriven in the Wild, since the dragons had driven men from the lands, and the goblins had spread in secret after the battle of the Mines of Moria. Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf and of good friends like Elrond go astray sometimes when you are off on dangerous adventures over the Edge of the Wild; and Gandalf was a wise enough wizard to know it.

 

He knew (он знал) that something unexpected might happen (что что-то неожиданное могло случиться), and he hardly dared to hope (и он вряд ли смел надеяться) that they would pass without fearful adventure (что они смогут перейти без ужасающих приключений) over those great tall mountains (через те великие высокие горы) with lonely peaks (с одинокими вершинами: «пиками») and valleys where no king ruled (и долины, в которых не правил никакой король). They did not (они и не смогли). All was well (все было хорошо), until one day they met a thunderstorm (до тех пор, пока однажды они не попали в грозу) — more than a thunderstorm (больше, чем в грозу), a thunder-battle (а просто какую-то бурю; thunder — гром; battle — битва, сражение). You know (вы же знаете) how terrific (какой ужасающей) a really big thunderstorm can be (действительно большая гроза может быть) down in the land (внизу, на земле) and in a river-valley (и в долине реки); especially at times (особенно в то время) when two great thunderstorms meet and clash (когда две огромные грозы встречаются и сталкиваются /друг с другом/). More terrible still (тем не менее, еще более ужасны) are thunder and lightning in the mountains at night (гром и молния в горах, ночью), when storms come up from East and West (когда бури приходят с Востока и Запада) and make war (и устраивают войну).

 

unexpected [AnIk'spektId] thunder-storm ['TAndqstO:m] lightning ['laItnIN]

 

He knew that something unexpected might happen, and he hardly dared to hope that they would pass without fearful adventure over those great tall mountains with lonely peaks and valleys where no king ruled. They did not. All was well, until one day they met a thunderstorm — more than a thunderstorm, a thunder-battle. You know how terrific a really big thunderstorm can be down in the land and in a river-valley; especially at times when two great thunderstorms meet and clash. More terrible still are thunder and lightning in the mountains at night, when storms come up from East and West and make war.

 

The lightning splinters on the peaks (молнии раскалываются о /горные/ вершины), and rocks shiver (и горы сотрясаются), and great crashes split the air (и мощные сотрясения раскалывают воздух; crash — грохот, треск) and go rolling and tumbling (и катятся и кувыркаются) into every cave and hollow (в каждую пещеру и низину); and the darkness is filled with overwhelming noise (и темнота наполнена всеподавляющим шумом; to overwhelm — /уст./ переворачивать кверх ногами; подавлять, сокрушать, разбивать) and sudden light (и внезапными /вспышками/ света). Bilbo had never seen or imagined anything of the kind (Бильбо никогда раньше не видел и не мог себе представить ничего подобного). They were high up in a narrow place (они были высоко, на узком пространстве), with a dreadful fall (с ужасным обрывом) into a dim valley (в сумеречную долину) at one side of them (с одной стороны от них). There they were sheltering (там они скрывались) under a hanging rock (под нависающей горой) for the night (на ночь), and he lay beneath a blanket (и он лежал под одеялом) and shook from head to toe (и дрожал с головы до пят: «до пальцев ног»). When he peeped out (когда он вглядывался) in the lightning-flashes (во вспышки молний), he saw (он видел) that across the valley (что по всей долине) the stone-giants were out (вышли каменные великаны) and were hurling rocks at one another (и швыряли камни друг в друга) for a game (в качестве игры), and catching them (и ловили их), and tossing them down (и бросали их вниз) into the darkness (в темноту) where they smashed among the trees far below (где они разбивались вдребезги среди деревьев там, глубоко внизу), or splintered into little bits with a bang (или раскалывались на мелкие кусочки с треском).

 

overwhelming [qVvq'welmIN] giant ['dZaIqnt] hurling ['hq:lIN]

 

The lightning splinters on the peaks, and rocks shiver, and great crashes split the air and go rolling and tumbling into every cave and hollow; and the darkness is filled with overwhelming noise and sudden light. Bilbo had never seen or imagined anything of the kind. They were high up in a narrow place, with a dreadful fall into a dim valley at one side of them. There they were sheltering under a hanging rock for the night, and he lay beneath a blanket and shook from head to toe. When he peeped out in the lightning-flashes, he saw that across the valley the stone-giants were out and were hurling rocks at one another for a game, and catching them, and tossing them down into the darkness where they smashed among the trees far below, or splintered into little bits with a bang.

 

Then came a wind and a rain (затем поднялся ветер и дождь), and the wind whipped the rain and the hail about in every direction (и ветер хлестал дождем и градом во всех направлениях), so that an overhanging rock (так, что нависающая гора) was no protection at all (совсем и не была защитой). Soon they were getting drenched (вскоре они все промокли насквозь) and their ponies were standing (и их пони стояли) with their heads down (с опущенными головами) and their tails between their legs (и хвостами между ног = поджав хвосты), and some of them were whinnying with fright (и некоторые из них тихо ржали от испуга). They could hear the giants guffawing (они могли слышать, как великаны грубо хохотали) and shouting all over the mountainsides (и кричали по всем склонам горы).

“This won’t do at all (так совсем не пойдет)!” said Thorin. “If we don’t get blown off (если нас и не сдует; to blow (blew, blown) — дуть) or drowned (или не затопит), or struck by lightning (или не ударит молнией), we shall be picked up by some giant (то нас подхватит какой-нибудь великан: «мы будем подхвачены…») and kicked sky-high for a football (и пнет нас ногой в самое небо заместо футбольного мяча).”

 

drench [drentS] whinny ['wInI] fright [fraIt] guffaw [gq'fO:]

 

Then came a wind and a rain, and the wind whipped the rain and the hail about in every direction, so that an overhanging rock was no protection at all. Soon they were getting drenched and their ponies were standing with their heads down and their tails between their legs, and some of them were whinnying with fright. They could hear the giants guffawing and shouting all over the mountainsides.

“This won’t do at all!” said Thorin. “If we don’t get blown off or drowned, or struck by lightning, we shall be picked up by some giant and kicked sky-high for a football.”

 

“Well (ну), if you know of anywhere better (если вы знаете о каком-нибудь лучшем месте), take us there (отведите нас туда)!” said Gandalf, who was feeling very grumpy (который был очень раздражен; to feel — зд. глагол связка в составном именном сказуемом: быть в каком-либо состоянии), and was far from happy (и был сам далеко не счастлив) about the giants himself (из-за великанов сам). The end of their argument was (концом их спора было то) that they sent Fill and Kili (что они отправили Фили и Кили) to look for a better shelter (поискать лучшего убежища). They had very sharp eyes (у них было очень острое зрение), and being the youngest of the dwarves (и из-за того, что они были самыми молодыми из гномов) by some fifty years (примерно на пятьдесят лет) they usually got these sort of jobs (им обычно и доставалась работа такого типа) (when everybody could see (когда все убедились: «смогли увидеть») that it was absolutely no use sending Bilbo (что было совершенно бесполезно посылать Бильбо)). There is nothing like looking (нет ничего лучше, чем посмотреть), if you want to find something (если надо что-то найти) (or so Thorin said to the young dwarves (или так сказал Торин молодым гномам)). You certainly usually find something (ты обязательно обычно находишь что-либо), if you look (если ты посмотришь), but it is not always quite the something you were after (но не всегда это именно то, что ты искал; to be after smth. — стремиться завладеть чем-либо). So it proved on this occasion (так оно и оказалось в этом случае; to prove — доказывать).

 

grumpy ['grAmpI] youngest ['jANgIst] occasion [q'keIZ(q)n]

 

“Well, if you know of anywhere better, take us there!” said Gandalf, who was feeling very grumpy, and was far from happy about the giants himself. The end of their argument was that they sent Fill and Kili to look for a better shelter. They had very sharp eyes, and being the youngest of the dwarves by some fifty years they usually got these sort of jobs (when everybody could see that it was absolutely no use sending Bilbo). There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something (or so Thorin said to the young dwarves). You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after. So it proved on this occasion.

 

Soon Fili and Kili came crawling back (вскоре Фили и Кили вернулись, крадучись, назад), holding on to the rocks in the wind (прижимаясь к горам на ветру).

“We have found a dry cave (мы нашли сухую пещеру),” they said (сказали они), “not far round the next corner (не далеко за следующим углом); and ponies and all could get inside (и пони, и все /мы/ сможем попасть внутрь).”

“Have you thoroughly explored it (вы ее тщательно исследовали)?” said the wizard (сказал волшебник), who knew (который знал) that caves up in the mountains (что пещеры высоко в горах) were seldom unoccupied (редко оставались незанятыми).

“Yes, yes!” they said (сказали они), though everybody knew (хотя все знали) they could not have been long about it (что они не могли бы находиться в ней долго); they had come back too quick (они вернулись назад слишком быстро). “It isn’t all that big (она не такая уж большая), and it does not go far back (и она не такая уж глубокая: «она не идет далеко внутрь /назад/»).”

That, of course, is the dangerous part about caves (это, конечно же, самый опасный аспект в пещерах): you don’t know (что никогда не знаешь) how far they go back, sometimes (насколько глубоко они идут, иногда), or where a passage behind may lead to (или куда может вести проход за ней), or what is waiting for you inside (или что ожидает внутри). But now Fili and Kili’s news seemed good enough (но сейчас новость /принесенная/ Фили и Кили казалась достаточно хорошей). So they all got up (и, таким образом, они все поднялись) and prepared to move (и приготовились двинуться /туда/). The wind was howling (ветер завывал) and the thunder still growling (и гром все еще грохотал), and they had a business getting themselves and their ponies along (и им пришлось приложить достаточно усилий, что бы им самим и их пони двинуться /с места/; business — /зд. уст./ занятость, усердие).

 

crawling ['krO:lIN] pony ['pqVnI] thoroughly ['TArqlI] explored [Ik'splO:d]

 

Soon Fili and Kili came crawling back, holding on to the rocks in the wind. “We have found a dry cave,” they said, “not far round the next corner; and ponies and all could get inside.”

“Have you thoroughly explored it?” said the wizard, who knew that caves up in the mountains were seldom unoccupied.

“Yes, yes!” they said, though everybody knew they could not have been long about it; they had come back too quick. “It isn’t all that big, and it does not go far back.”

That, of course, is the dangerous part about caves: you don’t know how far they go back, sometimes, or where a passage behind may lead to, or what is waiting for you inside. But now Fili and Kili’s news seemed good enough. So they all got up and prepared to move. The wind was howling and the thunder still growling, and they had a business getting themselves and their ponies along.

 

Still it was not very far to go (в то же время, идти было не очень далеко), and before long (и вскоре) they came to a big rock (они подошли к большой скале) standing out into the path (выступающей на тропинку). If you stepped behind (если шагнуть за /нее/), you found a low arch (можно обнаружить низкую арку) in the side of the mountain (в поверхности горы). There was just room (там было как раз достаточно места) to get the ponies through (чтобы провести пони) with a squeeze (с трудом; squeeze — сжатие, теснота, давка), when they had been unpacked and unsaddled (когда они были разгружены и расседланы). As they passed under the arch (когда они прошли под аркой), it was good to hear the wind and the rain outside (то оказалось приятно: «хорошо» слышать ветер и дождь снаружи) instead of all about them (вместо того, чтобы слышать /их/ вокруг себя), and to feel safe from the giants (и /было приятно/ чувствовать себя в безопасности от великанов) and their rocks (и их скал). But the wizard was taking no risks (но волшебник не собирался рисковать). He lit up his wand (он зажег свой жезл/свою волшебную палочку) — as he did that day in Bilbo’s dining-room (как он сделал это в тот день в столовой Бильбо) that seemed so long ago (что казалось было так давно), if you remember (если вы помните), and by its light (и в ее свете) they explored the cave from end to end (они обследовали пещеру от одного конца до другого).

 

arch [Q:tS] squeeze [skwi:z] unsaddle [An'sxdl]

 

Still it was not very far to go, and before long they came to a big rock standing out into the path. If you stepped behind, you found a low arch in the side of the mountain. There was just room to get the ponies through with a squeeze, when they had been unpacked and unsaddled. As they passed under the arch, it was good to hear the wind and the rain outside instead of all about them, and to feel safe from the giants and their rocks. But the wizard was taking no risks. He lit up his wand — as he did that day in Bilbo’s dining-room that seemed so long ago, if you remember, and by its light they explored the cave from end to end.

 

It seemed quite a fair size (она казалась достаточно большого размера), but not too large and mysterious (но не очень уж большой и таинственной). It had a dry floor (у нее был сухой пол) and some comfortable nooks (и несколько уютных укромных уголков). At one end there was room for the ponies (в одном конце было /достаточно/ места для пони); and there they stood (и там они и стояли) (mighty glad of the change (чрезвычайно довольные этой перемене)) steaming (взмыленные; to steam — дымиться, испускать пар; steam — пар), and champing in their nosebags (и громко жевали /траву/ из своих торб; nose — нос; bag — сумка). Oin and Gloin wanted to light a fire at the door (Ойн и Глойн хотели разжечь огонь у двери) to dry their clothes (чтобы высушить свою одежду), but Gandalf would not hear of it (но Гэндальф и слушать об этом не хотел). So they spread out their wet things on the floor (и тогда они разложили свою мокрую одежду на полу), and got dry ones out of their bundles (и достали сухую одежду из своих узелков); then they made their blankets comfortable (затем они поудобнее разложили свои одеяла), got out their pipes (достали свои /курительные/ трубки) and blew smoke rings (и выдували колечки дыма), which Gandalf turned into different colours (которые Гэндальф раскрашивал в различные цвета; to turn — поворачивать, вращать, менять) and set dancing up by the roof (и заставлял танцевать их вверх, к крыше) to amuse them (чтобы развлечь их). They talked and talked (они разговаривали и разговаривали), and forgot about the storm (и забыли о грозе; to forget), and discussed what each would do (и обсуждали, что каждый из них будет делать) with his share of the treasure (со своей долей сокровищ) (when they got it (когда они добудут его), which at the moment did not seem so impossible (что в этот момент не казалось таким уж невозможным)); and so they dropped off to sleep (и так они заснули) one by one (один за другим).

 

mysterious [mI'stI(q)rIqs] champ [tSxmp] bundle ['bAndl]

 

It seemed quite a fair size, but not too large and mysterious. It had a dry floor and some comfortable nooks. At one end there was room for the ponies; and there they stood (mighty glad of the change) steaming, and champing in their nosebags. Oin and Gloin wanted to light a fire at the door to dry their clothes, but Gandalf would not hear of it. So they spread out their wet things on the floor, and got dry ones out of their bundles; then they made their blankets comfortable, got out their pipes and blew smoke rings, which Gandalf turned into different colours and set dancing up by the roof to amuse them. They talked and talked, and forgot about the storm, and discussed what each would do with his share of the treasure (when they got it, which at the moment did not seem so impossible); and so they dropped off to sleep one by one.

 

And that was the last time (и это оказался последний раз) that they used the ponies (когда они воспользовались пони), packages (тюками), baggages (багажом), tools (инструментами) and paraphernalia (и личными вещами) that they had brought with them (которые они привезли с собой). It turned out a good thing (это оказалось хорошим делом) that night (той ночью) that they had brought little Bilbo with them (что они взяли с собой маленького Бильбо), after all (в конце-то концов). For somehow (так как почему-то), he could not go to sleep (он не мог заснуть) for a long while (очень долго); and when he did sleep (и когда он, наконец, уснул), he had very nasty dreams (у него были очень мерзкие сны). He dreamed (ему снилось) that a crack in the wall at the back of the cave (что трещина в стене в задней части пещеры) got bigger and bigger (становилась все больше и больше), and opened wider and wider (и открывалась все шире и шире), and he was very afraid (и он был очень испуган) but could not call out (но не мог закричать) or do anything (или сделать что-нибудь) but lie and look (просто лежал и смотрел). Then he dreamed (затем ему приснилось) that the floor of the cave was giving way (что пол пещеры рушился: «поддавался»), and he was slipping (и он скользил), beginning to fall down, down (начиная падать куда-то вниз, вниз), goodness knows where to (Бог знает куда; goodness — доброта, великодушие /вместо god — «Бог», чтобы не употреблять это слово всуе/). At that he woke up (на этом он проснулся; to wake up) with a horrible start (с ужасным вздрагиванием), and found that part of his dream was true (и неожиданно для себя обнаружил, что часть его сна была правдой). A crack had opened at the back of the cave (трещина открылась на задней стороне пещеры), and was already a wide passage (и превратилась уже в широкий проход). He was just in time to see (он проснулся: «был» как раз во время, чтобы /успеть/ заметить) the last of the ponies’ tails (как хвосты последних пони) disappearing into it (исчезают в нем). Of course he gave a very loud yell (конечно же, он издал очень громкий пронзительный крик; yell — пронзительный крик), as loud a yell as a hobbit can give (такой пронзительный крик, которым только может закричать хоббит), which is surprising for their size (который удивителен для их роста).

 

paraphernalia [pxrqfq'neIlIq] afraid [q'freId] disappear ["dIsq'pIq] yell [jel]

 

And that was the last time that they used the ponies, packages, baggages, tools and paraphernalia that they had brought with them. It turned out a good thing that night that they had brought little Bilbo with them, after all. For somehow, he could not go to sleep for a long while; and when he did sleep, he had very nasty dreams. He dreamed that a crack in the wall at the back of the cave got bigger and bigger, and opened wider and wider, and he was very afraid but could not call out or do anything but lie and look. Then he dreamed that the floor of the cave was giving way, and he was slipping — beginning to fall down, down, goodness knows where to. At that he woke up with a horrible start, and found that part of his dream was true. A crack had opened at the back of the cave, and was already a wide passage. He was just in time to see the last of the ponies’ tails disappearing into it. Of course he gave a very loud yell, as loud a yell as a hobbit can give, which is surprising for their size.

 

Out jumped the goblins (оттуда выпрыгнули гоблины), big goblins (большие гоблины), great ugly-looking goblins (огромные, отвратительно выглядящие гоблины), lots of goblins (кучи гоблинов), before you could say rocks and blocks (в один момент: «до того, как ты смог бы сказать ‘скалы и глыбы’»). There were six to each dwarf, at least (было по шесть /гоблинов/ на каждого гнома, по меньшей мере), and two even for Bilbo (и даже двое для Бильбо); and they were all grabbed (и их всех быстро схватили) and carried through the crack (и унесли сквозь пролом), before you could say tinder and flint (также в один момент; tinder — сухое гнилое дерево; flint — кремень). But not Gandalf (но не Гэндальфа). Bilbo’s yell had done that much good (вопль Бильбо сделал хотя бы это доброе дело). It had wakened him up wide (он совершенно разбудил его; wide — широко, настежь) in a splintered second (за какую-то долю секунды; to splinter — расщеплять), and when goblins came to grab him (и когда гоблины подошли, чтобы сцапать его), there was a terrible flash like lightning in the cave (в пещере случилась ужасная вспышка, похожая на молнию), a smell like gunpowder (запахло /как/ черным порохом; gun — пушка; powder — порошок; порох), and several of them fell dead (и несколько из них упали замертво).

 

ugly ['AglI] tinder ['tIndq] splinter ['splIntq]

 

Out jumped the goblins, big goblins, great ugly-looking goblins, lots of goblins, before you could say rocks and blocks. There were six to each dwarf, at least, and two even for Bilbo; and they were all grabbed and carried through the crack, before you could say tinder and flint. But not Gandalf. Bilbo’s yell had done that much good. It had wakened him up wide in a splintered second, and when goblins came to grab him, there was a terrible flash like lightning in the cave, a smell like gunpowder, and several of them fell dead.

 

The crack closed with a snap (расщелина захлопнулась с лязгом), and Bilbo and the dwarves were on the wrong side of it (и Бильбо и гномы все были на неправильной стороне от нее)! Where was Gandalf (где же был Гэндальф)? Of that (об этом) neither they (ни они) nor the goblins (ни гоблины) had any idea (не имели ни малейшего представления), and the goblins did not wait to find out (и гоблины не стали ждать, чтобы выяснить это). It was deep, deep, dark (было очень: «глубоко», очень темно), such as only goblins (так /темно/, что только гоблины) that have taken to living in the heart of the mountains (которые привыкли к жизни в самом сердце гор) can see through (могут видеть: «могут видеть сквозь»). The passages there (проходы, которые были там) were crossed and tangled (скрещивались и переплетались: «были перекрещены и переплетены») in all directions (во всех направлениях), but the goblins knew their way (но гоблины знали свою дорогу), as well as you do to the nearest post-office (так же, как вы знаете /дорогу/ к ближайшей почте) and the way went down and down (и путь вел все ниже и ниже), and it was most horribly stuffy (и там было ужасно душно). The goblins were very rough (гоблины были очень грубы), and pinched unmercifully (щипались безжалостно; mercy — милосердие; жалость), and chuckled and laughed (и фыркали, и смеялись) in their horrible stony voices (своими ужасными каменными голосами); and Bilbo was more unhappy (и Бильбо был еще более несчастен) even than when the troll (даже чем тогда, когда тролль) had picked him up by his toes (подхватил его за ноги). He wished again and again (он мечтал снова и снова) for his nice bright hobbit-hole (о своей милой яркой хоббитовской норе). Not for the last time (и не в последний раз).

Now there came a glimmer of a red light (вскоре там появился слабый проблеск красного огня) before them (перед ними). The goblins began to sing (гоблины начали петь), or croak (или хрипеть), keeping time (выдерживая темп) with the flap of their flat feet on the stone (пошлепыванием своими плоскими ногами по камню), and shaking their prisoners as well (а также потрясая своими пленниками; prisoner — заключенный, арестант).

 

neither … nor ['neIDq'nO:] stuffy ['stAfI] unmerciful [An'mq:sIf(q)l]

 

The crack closed with a snap, and Bilbo and the dwarves were on the wrong side of it! Where was Gandalf? Of that neither they nor the goblins had any idea, and the goblins did not wait to find out. It was deep, deep, dark, such as only goblins that have taken to living in the heart of the mountains can see through. The passages there were crossed and tangled in all directions, but the goblins knew their way, as well as you do to the nearest post-office and the way went down and down, and it was most horribly stuffy. The goblins were very rough, and pinched unmercifully, and chuckled and laughed in their horrible stony voices; and Bilbo was more unhappy even than when the troll had picked him up by his toes. He wished again and again for his nice bright hobbit-hole. Not for the last time.