Analytical reading-Part 28

Oscar Wilde

From Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime

When Lord Arthur woke it was twelve o’clock, and the midday sun was streaming through the curtains of his room. After breakfast, he flung himself down on a divan, and lit a cigarette. Now as Lord Arthur looked at the large photograph of Sybil, he was filled with the terrible pity that is born of love. What happiness could there be for them, when at any moment he might be called upon to carry out the awful prophecy written in his hand? The marriage must be postponed, at all costs. He recognized clearly where his duty lay, and was fully conscious of the fact that he had no right to marry until he had committed the murder. But done it must be first, and the sooner the better for both.

                The only question that seemed to trouble him was, who, to make away with. Not being a man of genius he had no enemies. He accordingly made out a list of his friends and relatives on a sheet of note-paper, and after careful consideration, decided in favour of Lady Clementina Beauchamp, a dear old lady who lived in Curson Street, and was his own second cousin by his mother’s side. Feeling that any delay would be unfair to Sybil, he determined to make his arrangements at once.

                The first thing, he sent a cheque to Mr. Septimus Podgers and then sent Sybil a beautiful basket of narcissi. On arriving at the club he went straight to the library and ordered a book on Toxicology. He had fully decided that poison was the best means to adopt in this troublesome business.

                He was a great deal puzzled at the technical terms used in the books, and had begun to regret that he had not paid more attention to his classics in Oxford, when in one of the volumes he found a very interesting and complete account of the properties of aconitine written in fairly clear English.

Notes and comments:

midday—пладне, обед

midnight—полунощ

midway-насред път, на средата

midsummer—средата на лятото (21 юни)

middle-aged—на средна възраст

middle-of-the-road—неустановен, колеблив, неутрален

middleweight—от средна категория (за боксьор)

halfwit—малоумен (тъпоумен, слабоумен) човек, идиот

half-caste—метис

halfbrother—доведен (заварен, природен) брат

semi-educated—полуобразован

semicircle-полукръг

semi-official paper-официоз

demigod-полубог

demijohn-дамаджана

demilune-сърповиден

demi-mondaine-жена с леко поведение, лека жена

More examples of the “mid–“ pattern:

The wolf checked in midspring. = Вълкът спря насред скок.

The plane exploded in midflight. = Самолетът експлодира във въздуха.

The current is strongest in midstream. = Течението е най-силно в талвега.

He began writing in his midforties. = Той прописа, когато започваше да прехвърля четирийсетте.

to recognize-1) to know (somebody on seeing him) = познавам, разпознавам; 2) to admit (a truth) = признавам, приемам

to recognize a nation—признавам нация

to extend diplomatic recognition to a country-официално признавам държава

recognition—разпознаване; признаване, приемане

cognizant of-aware of = осведомен, информиран, сведущ, знаещ

cognate words—език. сродни думи

reconnoitre—разузнавам, проучвам

connoisseur—познавач, любител

reconnaissance—разузнаване

to make away with-to do away with-to liquidate-to annihilate-to eliminate-to abolish = убивам, ликвидирам, унищожавам, елиминирам

to emit Þ emission

to remit Þ remission

to admit Þ admittance, admission

to permit Þ permission

to commit (to commit a crime; to be committed to a cause)

to submit Þ submission

to omit Þ omission

to have serious commitments/obligations—имам сериозни задължения/ангажименти

Mark the analogous formation in:

detain Þ detainee

abstain Þ abstainee

commit Þ committee

accordingly Þ He has to act accordingly. = Той трябва да действа съответно.

respectively Þ He is well-travelled and well-read, respectively. = Той е пътувал много и съответно чел.

respective Þ He meets his friends in his respective serene or blue moods.

corresponding Þ In translating idiomatic speech it is best to seek the corresponding colloquialism in the other language.

in accordance with-in conformity with-in harmony with-in compliance with = в съответствие с

to act on one’s own accord-действам по самоинициатива

to achieve full accord of views-постигам пълно съгласуване на становищата

fairly (positive connotation)-for pleasant things Þ Mediterranean winter is fairly mild.

rather (negative connotation)-for unpleasant things Þ The continental climate is on the whole rather severe.