Английский с Г. К. Честертоном. Рассказы об отце Брауне

 He has been closeted with old Colonel Clancy; but is more often seen talking to the major. Indeed, the major is somewhat prominent in this soldier’s narrative; a lean, dark-haired man, apparently, of the name of Murray – a north of Ireland man and a Puritan. There are continual jests about the contrast between this Ulsterman’s austerity and the conviviality of Colonel Clancy. There is also some joke about the Vulture wearing bright-coloured clothes.

“But all these levities are scattered by what may well be called the note of a bugle (но все это легкомыслие улетучивается при первых сигналах тревоги; levity – ветреность, легкомыслие, несерьезность; to scatter – разбрасывать; рассеиваться; bugle – охотничий рог; горн, сигнальная труба

). Behind the English camp and almost parallel to the river ran one of the few great roads of that district (позади английского лагеря, почти параллельно реке, проходила одна из немногочисленных больших дорог /в том районе/; to run). Westward the road curved round towards the river, which it crossed by the bridge before mentioned

(на западе дорога сворачивала к реке, пересекая ее по мосту, о котором упоминалось ранее; to mention – упоминать; ссылаться). To the east the road swept backwards into the wilds (к востоку дорога снова углублялась в дикие лесные заросли; to sweep

), and some two miles along it was the next English outpost (и через две мили дальше располагался следующий английский аванпост). From this direction there came along the road that evening a glitter and clatter of light cavalry (именно оттуда: «из того направления» в тот вечер по дороге двигалась легкая кавалерия: «блеск /оружия/ и шум легкой кавалерии»; glitter – яркий блеск; сверкание; clatter – стук; лязг; грохот; громыхание

), in which even the simple diarist could recognise with astonishment the general with his staff (и даже обычный автор дневника догадался с удивлением, что едет генерал со своим штабом; astonishment – изумление, удивление; to astonish – удивлять).

 “But all these levities are scattered by what may well be called the note of a bugle. Behind the English camp and almost parallel to the river ran one of the few great roads of that district. Westward the road curved round towards the river, which it crossed by the bridge before mentioned. To the east the road swept backwards into the wilds, and some two miles along it was the next English outpost. From this direction there came along the road that evening a glitter and clatter of light cavalry, in which even the simple diarist could recognise with astonishment the general with his staff.