Analytical reading-Part 18

From The Open Boat

By Stephen Crane

                The correspondent arrived in water that reached only to his waist, but his condition did not enable him to stand for more than a moment. Each wave knocked him into a heap, and the undertow pulled at him.

                Then he saw the man that had been running and undressing, and running, come bounding into the water. He dragged ashore the cook, and then waded towards the captain, but the captain waved him away, and sent him to the correspondent. He was naked, naked as a tree in winter, but a halo was about his head, and he shone like a saint. He gave a strong pull, and a long drag, and a bully heave at the correspondent’s hand. The correspondent, schooled in the minor formulae, said: “Thanks, old man.” But suddenly the man cried: “Go.”

                In the shallows, face downward, lay the oiler. His forehead touched sand that was periodically, between each wave, clear of the sea.

                The correspondent did not know all that transpired afterward. When he achieved safe ground he fell, striking the ground with each particular part of his body. It was if he had dropped from a roof, but the thud was grateful to him.

                It seems that instantly the beach was populated with men with blankets, clothes, and flasks, and women with coffee-pots and all the remedies sacred to their minds. The welcome of the land to the men from the sea was warm and generous, but a still and dripping shape was carried slowly up the beach, and the land’s welcome for it could only be the different and sinister hospitality of the grave. When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea’s voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters.

Notes and comments:

The water reaches his waist/knees/neck. = He is wading waist-deep/knee-deep/neck-deep.

Each wave knocked him into a heap.

I knocked him flat.—Съборих го на земята.

Three buildings knocked together…—три сгради, скалъпени в една…

I knocked his folly out of him.—Избих безразсъдството от главата му.

a knocker—чукче на врата

a hop—скок-подскок

a jump—подскок

a leap—скок

a spring—отскок

a bound—прескок

to skip

to bounce

to gambol Þ подскачам, подрипвам

to frisk

to caper

to romp

hop, skip and jump—трикратен скок (спорт)

to motion s.b. nearer—повиквам някого с ръка

to motion s.b. away—отпращам някого с ръка

to thrust—тиквам

to lunge—блъсвам

to hurl—запращам

to push—бутам

to shove—тласкам

to drive—подкарвам

to pull—дърпам

to tug (at) —тегля

to heave—издърпвам

to draw—мъкна

to drag—тътря

to tow—влача

to aspire—стремя се към, домогвам се към

to inspire—1) вдъхновявам; 2) вдишвам

to perspire—потя се (дишам през кожата)

to transpire—случвам се

“Talent is five percent inspiration and ninety-five percent perspiration.” (Emerson)

sounds

clang (of metal)—силен метален звън

clank (metal & wood)—тракане (на вериги), дрънчене

click (same but fainter sound)—тракане, щракане

clap (the hands)—пляскане (с ръце)

flap (loose soft tissue)—плясък (с криле), пърхане, пляскане

flip (finger on light object)—лек удар, перване

flop (soft object falls on the floor)—плясване, цопване, тупване

flip-flop (soft footfalls as of slippers)—шляп-шляп

splash (water)—плискане, плисък, пръскане

thud (dull heavy fall)—тъп/глух звук, тупване (от падане на тежко тяло)

to tow a boat—влача лодка на буксир или с въже по пътека

a towhead—удобно място за привързване на лодка към брега

a towline—буксирно въже

an undertow¾подмолен въртоп

a towpath¾крайречна пътека за влачене на лодки

the thud was grateful to him¾he heard the thud with gratification

The beach was populated with holiday-makers.—Плажът беше претъпкан с почиващи.

The hole was alive with snakes.—Дупката гъмжеше от змии.

Myriads of stars were in the sky.—Множество звезди блестяха на небето.

A large host of enemies fell upon him from all sides.—Куп врагове го нападнаха от всички страни.