will understand that the Gods who simply (теперь ты понимаешь, что боги, которые просто) — Shool spread his hands (Шул раскинул руки) — `popped into existence — who exist only through some cosmic fluke — why, they resent me (вдруг возникли — которые существуют только по какой-то космической случайности — и я им не нравлюсь;
`I am no «God», Prince Shool (я не «бог», принц Шул). In fact, until recently, I had no belief in gods, either (по сути, до недавнего времени я не верил в богов также = вообще).
fluke [flHk] resent [rI`zent] jealous [`Gelqs] enemy [`enqmI] recently [`rJs (q) ntlI] belief [bI`lJf]
By my own mind and my own skill I have become, in short, a God. Perhaps not the most powerful of Gods — but that will come eventually. Now you will understand that the Gods who simply' — Shool spread his hands — `popped into existence — who exist only through some cosmic fluke — why, they resent me. They refuse to acknowledge my Godhood. They are jealous. They would like to have done with me for I disturb their self-esteem. The Knight of the Swords is my enemy. He wishes me dead. So, you see, we have much in common, Master Corum.
`I am no «God», Prince Shool. In fact, until recently, I had no belief in gods, either.
`The fact that you are not a God, Master Corum, is evident from your obtuseness (то, что ты не бог, господин Корум, очевидно из твоей глупости;
obtuseness [qb`tjHsnIs] anachronism [q`nxkrqnIzm] eradicated [I`rxdIkeItId]
`The fact that you are not a God, Master Corum, is evident from your obtuseness. That is not what I meant. What I did mean was this — we are both the last representatives of races whom, for reasons of their own, the Sword Rulers decided to destroy. We are both, in their eyes, anachronisms which must be eradicated. As they replaced my folk with the Vadhagh and the Nhadragh, so they are replacing the Vadhagh and the Nhadragh with the Mabden. A similar degeneration is taking place in your people — forgive me if I associate you with the Nhadragh — as it did in mine. Like me, you have attempted to resist this, to fight against it. I chose science — you chose the sword. I will leave it to you to decide which was the wisest choice…
`You seem somewhat petty for a God (ты выглядишь несколько мелковато/незначительно для бога), Corum said, losing his patience (сказал Корум, теряя терпение). `Now…
`I am a petty God at the moment (я незначительный бог в настоящий момент). You will find me more lordly and benign when I achieve the position of a greater God (ты найдешь меня = я стану более величественным и милостивым, когда займу место более могущественного бога;
`Nothing you have done so far seems to indicate your friendship (ничего, /из того, что/ ты сделал до сих пор, не указывает на твою дружбу).
`I said fellow feeling, not friendship (я сказал симпатия, а не дружба). I assure you, Master Corum, I could destroy you in an instant — and your lady, too (уверяю тебя, господин Корум, я мог бы уничтожить тебя в одно мгновение — и твою даму сердца тоже).
patience [`peIS (q) ns] benign [bI`naIn] achieve [q`CJv] instant [`Instqnt]
`You seem somewhat petty for a God, Corum said, losing his patience. `Now…
`I am a petty God at the moment. You will find me more lordly and benign when I achieve the position of a greater God. Will you let me continue, Master Corum? Can you not understand that I have acted, so far, out of fellow feeling for you.
`Nothing you have done so far seems to indicate your friendship.
`I said fellow feeling, not friendship. I assure you, Master Corum, I could destroy you in an instant — and your lady, too.
`I would feel more patience if I knew you had released her from that dreadful bargain she made (я испытывал бы больше терпения, если бы знал, что ты освободил ее от той ужасной сделки, которую она заключила) and brought her here so that I could see for myself that she still lived and is capable of being saved (и привел ее сюда, чтобы я мог сам убедиться, что она по-прежнему жива и ее можно сберечь).
`You will have to take my word (тебе придется поверить мне на слово).
`Then destroy me (тогда /лучше/ уничтожь меня).
Prince Shool got up (поднялся). His gestures were the testy gestures of a very old man (его телодвижения были раздражительными движениями глубокого старика: «очень старого человека»). They did not match the youthful body at all and made the sight of him even more obscene (они вообще не соответствовали юношескому телу и делали его вид еще более непристойным).
`You should have greater respect for me, Master Corum (тебе следовало бы больше уважать меня: «иметь большее уважение ко мне», господин Корум).
capable [`keIpqb (q) l] youthful [`jHTf (q) l] obscene [qb`sJn]
`I would feel more patience if I knew you had released her from that dreadful bargain she made and brought her here so that I could see for myself that she still lived and is capable of being saved.
`You will have to take my word.
`Then destroy me.
Prince Shool got up. His gestures were the testy gestures of a very old man. They did not match the youthful body at all and made the sight of him even more obscene.