Короткий английский текст для практики чтения и перевода.
Of all the sciences which interested the sons of men, none had such an attraction for the learned professor von Baumgarten as psychology and the relation between mind and matter. For many years there was one question which especially interested the Professor. A hundred times a day he asked himself whether it was possible for the human spirit to exist apart from the body for some time and then to return to it again. There were many things which made him believe that it was possible for mind to exist apart from matter. At last it occurred to him that by a daring and original experiment the question could be definitely decided.
Shortly after the time when the idea of the experiment came to his head Professor was walking home after a long day in the laboratory, when he met a crowd of noisy students who had just come out of a beer-house. At the head of them, half-drunk, was young Fritz von Hartmann.
“Hey! My worthy master,” he said, taking the old man by the sleeve. “There is something that I have to say to you, and it is easier for me to say it now, when the good beer is humming in my head, than at another time.”
“What is it, Fritz?” the psychologist asked, looking at him in surprise.
“I know, Professor, that you want to do some wonderful experiment in which you hope to take a man’s soul out of his body, and then to put it back again. Is it so?”
“It is true, Fritz.”
“And don’t you think, my dear sir, that you may have some difficulties in finding someone on whom to try this? Suppose, that the soul went out and wouldn ‘t come back. Who will take the risk?”
“But, Fritz,” cried out the Professor, “I had relied upon your assistance. I am sure you will not desert me.”
“Then listen,” said Fritz solemnly. “If you give your word that after this experiment I may have the hand of your daughter, then I agree to assist you; but if not, I shall have nothing to do with it. These are my terms.”
“And what would my daughter say to this?” the Professor exclaimed after a pause of astonishment.
“She would be happy,” the young man replied. “We love each other.”
“Then she will be yours,” the psychologist said with determination, “for you are a nice man and one of the best students that I have ever known – of course, when you are not under the influence of alcohol.
It will be a great experiment, Fritz. The best men of science from all South Germany will be there.”
“I shall be punctual,” the student said briefly. And so the two parted.
| Of all the sciences which interested the sons of men, none had such an attraction for the learned professor von Baumgarten as psychology and the relation between mind and matter. | Из всех наук, которые интересовали детей человечества, ничто так не привлекало ученого профессора из Баумгартена, как психология и связь духа и материи. | |
| For many years there was one question which especially interested the Professor. A hundred times a day he asked himself whether it was possible for the human spirit to exist apart from the body for some time and then to return to it again. | В течение многих лет существовал один вопрос, который особенно интересовал профессора. Сто раз на дню он вопрошал себя, можно ли было человеческому духу существовать отдельно от тела какое-то время и потом вернуться назад. | |
| There were many things which made him believe that it was possible for mind to exist apart from matter. At last it occurred to him that by a daring and original experiment the question could be definitely decided. | Были несколько вещей, которые заставляли его верить, что было возможным духу существовать отдельно от материи. Наконец ему пришла в голову идея, что смелый и оригинальный эксперимент может окончательно разрешить этот вопрос. | |
| Shortly after the time when the idea of the experiment came to his head Professor was walking home after a long day in the laboratory, when he met a crowd of noisy students who had just come out of a beer-house. At the head of them, half-drunk, was young Fritz von Hartmann. | Вскоре после того как идея эксперимента пришла ему в голову, профессор шел домой после продолжительного дня в лаборатории, когда он встретил толпу шумных студентов, которые только что вышли из пивной. Во главе их, наполовину пьяный, шел молодой Фриц фон Хартманн. | |
| “Hey! My worthy master,” he said, taking the old man by the sleeve. “There is something that I have to say to you, and it is easier for me to say it now, when the good beer is humming in my head, than at another time.” | “Эй! Достопочтенный учитель”, – воскликнул он, беря престарелого мужчину за руку. “Я должен вам кое-что сказать, и для меня проще сказать это сейчас, когда доброе пиво бурлит в моей голове, чем в другое время”. | |
| “What is it, Fritz?” the psychologist asked, looking at him in surprise. “I know, Professor, that you want to do some wonderful experiment in which you hope to take a man’s soul out of his body, and then to put it back again. Is it so?” |
“Что же это, Фриц?” – спросил психолог, удивленно смотря на него. “Я знаю, профессор, что вы хотите провести кое-какой удивительный эксперимент, в котором вы желаете изъять душу человека из его тела и потом вернуть ее обратно. Это так?” | |
| “It is true, Fritz.” “And don’t you think, my dear sir, that you may have some difficulties in finding someone on whom to try this? Suppose, that the soul went out and wouldn ‘t come back. Who will take the risk?” |
“Это так, Фриц”. “Не думаете ли вы, мой дорогой сэр, что для вас может оказаться трудным найти кого-либо для испытания? Допустим, душа вышла и не вернулась. Кто пойдет на такой риск?” |
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| “But, Fritz,” cried out the Professor, “I had relied upon your assistance. I am sure you will not desert me.” | “Но Фриц”, – воскликнул профессор. – “Я полагался на вашу помощь. Я уверен, что вы не покинете меня.” | |
| “Then listen,” said Fritz solemnly. “If you give your word that after this experiment I may have the hand of your daughter, then I agree to assist you; but if not, I shall have nothing to do with it. These are my terms.” | “Тогда послушайте”, – серьезным образом произнес Фриц. “Если вы дадите слово, что после этого эксперимента я смогу получить руку вашей дочери, тогда я соглашусь помочь вам; если нет, то я не буду иметь с этим ничего общего. Это мои условия.” | |
| “And what would my daughter say to this?” the Professor exclaimed after a pause of astonishment. “She would be happy,” the young man replied. “We love each other.” |
“А что на это сказала бы моя дочь?” – воскликнул профессор, на мгновение потеряв дар речи от удивления. “Она была бы счастлива”, – ответил молодой человек. “Мы любим друг друга”. |
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| “Then she will be yours,” the psychologist said with determination, “for you are a nice man and one of the best students that I have ever known – of course, when you are not under the influence of alcohol. It will be a great experiment, Fritz. The best men of science from all South Germany will be there.” | “Тогда она будет вашей”, – решительно ответил психолог, – “ибо вы замечательный человек и один из лучших студентов, которых я когда-либо знал, если вы, конечно, не под влиянием алкоголя. Это будет великий эксперимент, Фриц. Лучшие научные мужи со всей южной Германии будут там”. | |
| “I shall be punctual,” the student said briefly. And so the two parted. | “Я буду пунктуален”, – коротко ответил студент. И таким образом они разошлись. | |
After ” The Great Keinplatz Experiment” by A. Conan-Doyle
