Английский язык с Джеком Лондоном. В далекой стране (рассказы)

Nature did not care (природа безразлична: «не заботилась, не волновалась»). To life she set one task, gave one law (жизни она поставила одну задачу, дала один закон; to give — дарить, давать, вручать). To perpetuate was the task of life, its law was death (/навсегда/ сохраняться было задачей жизни, ее законом была смерть). A maiden was a good creature to look upon (девушка была хорошим созданием /для того, чтобы/ смотреть /на нее/), full-breasted and strong (полногрудой и сильной), with spring to her step and light in her eyes (с живостью/энергичностью в походке и светом в глазах). But her task was yet before her (но ее задача была еще впереди: «перед ней»). The light in her eyes brightened (свет в ее глазах разгорается), her step quickened (ее походка убыстряется), she was now bold with the young men (она была то смелая с юношами), now timid (то робкая), and she gave them of her own unrest (и она передавала им свое собственное волнение; rest — покой; unrest — беспокойство

). And ever she grew fairer and yet fairer to look upon (и постоянно она становилась красивее и еще красивее, /чтобы/ смотреть на нее = на вид), till some hunter (пока какой-нибудь охотник), able no longer to withhold himself (не способный более сдерживаться), took her to his lodge to cook and toil for him and to become the mother of his children (брал ее в свой вигвам, /чтобы/ готовить и трудиться для него, и стать матерью его детей). And with the coming of her offspring her looks left her (и с приходом ее отпрыска/ребенка красота покидала ее; look — вид, внешность, облик). Her limbs dragged and shuffled (ее конечности волочились и шаркали), her eyes dimmed and bleared (ее глаза тускнели и затуманивались), and only the little children found joy against the withered cheek of the old squaw by the fire (и только маленькие дети находили радость у морщинистой щеки этой старой скво; squaw — скво, индианка

). Her task was done (ее задача была выполнена). But a little while (но скоро; in a little while — скоро), on the first pinch of famine or the first long trail (при первой атаке голода или первом длинном переходе; to pinch — щипать; pinch — щипок; сжатие, сужение; крайняя нужда; стесненное положение

), and she would be left (и она будет оставлена), even as he had been left (точно так, как он был оставлен = как оставили его), in the snow, with a little pile of wood (в снегу, с маленькой кучкой дров). Such was the law (таков был закон).

maiden [meIdn], perpetuate [pq'peCueIt], withered ['wIDqd], squaw [skwL]

Nature did not care. To life she set one task, gave one law. To perpetuate was the task of life, its law was death. A maiden was a good creature to look upon, full-breasted and strong, with spring to her step and light in her eyes. But her task was yet before her. The light in her eyes brightened, her step quickened, she was now bold with the young men, now timid, and she gave them of her own unrest. And ever she grew fairer and yet fairer to look upon, till some hunter, able no longer to withhold himself, took her to his lodge to cook and toil for him and to become the mother of his children. And with the coming of her offspring her looks left her. Her limbs dragged and shuffled, her eyes dimmed and bleared, and only the little children found joy against the withered cheek of the old squaw by the fire. Her task was done. But a little while, on the first pinch of famine or the first long trail, and she would be left, even as he had been left, in the snow, with a little pile of wood. Such was the law.