Another figure stood in his place (другая фигура стояла на его месте;
The other figure was beautiful and looked upon Corum with a kind of haughty affection (другая фигура была красивой и смотрела на Корума со своего рода высокомерной привязанностью). He was dressed all in black and silver (он был одет во все черное и серебряное), with a miniature version of the black sword at his side (с миниатюрным вариантом черного меча на боку). His expression was quizzical (выражение /лица/ было насмешливым). He smiled (он улыбнулся). He was the quintessence of evil (он был квинтэссенцией = воплощением зла).
`Who are you? Corum gasped.
`I am Duke Arioch, your master (я — герцог Ариох, твой хозяин). I am the Lord of Hell, a Noble of the Realm of Chaos, the Knight of the Swords (я Владыка Преисподней, Князь Царства Хаоса, Рыцарь Мечей;
`So you are my enemy (значит, ты мой враг). The other form was not your true form (другое обличие не было твоим истинным /обличием/)!
haughty [`hLtI] quintessence [kwIn`tes (q) ns] Realm [relm]
Another figure stood in his place. All the Mabden were gone.
The other figure was beautiful and looked upon Corum with a kind of haughty affection. He was dressed all in black and silver, with a miniature version of the black sword at his side. His expression was quizzical. He smiled. He was the quintessence of evil.
`Who are you? Corum gasped.
`I am Duke Arioch, your master. I am the Lord of Hell, a Noble of the Realm of Chaos, the Knight of the Swords. I am your enemy.
`So you are my enemy. The other form was not your true form!
`I am anything you please, Prince Corum (я /могу быть/ всем, чем ты захочешь, принц Корум). What does «true» mean in this context (что значит «истинный» в данном случае)? I can be anything I choose — or anything you choose, if you prefer (я могу быть всем, чем пожелаю — или чем ты пожелаешь, если хочешь;
`Were your ambitions ever thus (твои стремления всегда были такими)?
`What? What? Ever? No, I think not (нет, думаю нет). Not when I was embattled with those Lords of Law who ruled this plane before (/по крайней мере/ не тогда, когда я воевал с теми Владыками Закона, что правили этой плоскостью раньше;
peace [pJs] drama [`drRmq] require [rI`kwaIq]
`I am anything you please, Prince Corum. What does «true» mean in this context? I can be anything I choose — or anything you choose, if you prefer. Consider me evil and I will don the appearance of evil. Consider me good — and I will take on a form that fits the part. I care not. My only wish is to exist in peace, you see. To while away my time. And if you wish to play a drama, some game of your own devising, I will play it until it begins to bore me.
`Were your ambitions ever thus?
`What? What? Ever? No, I think not. Not when I was embattled with those Lords of Law who ruled this plane before. But now I have won, why, I deserve what I fought for. Do not all beings require the same?
Corum nodded (кивнул).
`I suppose they do (полагаю, да).
`Well (итак), Arioch smiled. `What now, little Corum of the Vadhagh (что теперь, маленький Корум из /племени/ вадагов)? You must be destroyed soon, you know (ты должен быть уничтожен вскоре, видишь ли). For my peace of mind, you understand, that is all (для моего /душевного/ спокойствия, понимаешь, вот и все). You have done well to reach my Court (ты правильно поступил, что добрался до моего двора). I will give you hospitality as a reward and then, at some stage, I will flick you away (я окажу тебе радушный прием в качестве награды, а потом, в какой-то момент, я прихлопну тебя;
Corum glowered (Корум сердито посмотрел /на него/).
hospitality [, hOspI`txlItI] reward [rI`wLd] glower [`glauq]
Corum nodded.
`I suppose they do.
`Well, Arioch smiled. `What now, little Corum of the Vadhagh? You must be destroyed soon, you know. For my peace of mind, you understand, that is all. You have done well to reach my Court. I will give you hospitality as a reward and then, at some stage, I will flick you away. You know why now.
Corum glowered.
`I will not be «flicked» away, Duke Arioch (я не буду «прихлопнутым», герцог Ариох). Why should I be (почему я должен быть)?
Arioch raised a hand to his beautiful face and he yawned (Ариох поднял руку к своему красивому лицу и зевнул).
`Why should you not be (а почему нет)? Now. What can I do to entertain you (что я могу сделать, чтобы развлечь тебя)?
Corum hesitated (Корум колебался). Then he said:
`Will you show me all your castle (ты не покажешь мне весь свой замок)? I have never seen anything so huge (никогда не видел ничего столь огромного).
Arioch raised an eyebrow (Ариох поднял бровь). `If that is all (если это все) …?
`All for the moment (все на данную минуту = пока все).
Arioch smiled.
yawned [jLnd] hesitated [`hezIteItId] eyebrow [`aIbrau]
`I will not be «flicked» away, Duke Arioch. Why should I be?
Arioch raised a hand to his beautiful face and he yawned.
`Why should you not be? Now. What can I do to entertain you?
Corum hesitated. Then he said: