Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don’t look like mutton again tomorrow, ” said one of the trolls.

Never a blinking bit of manflesh have we had for long enough, ” said a second. “What the ‘ell William was a-thinkin’ of to bring us into these parts at all, beats me — and the drink runnin’ short, what’s more, ” he said jogging the elbow of William, who was taking a pull at his jug. William choked.

“Shut yer mouth!” he said as soon as he could. “Yer can’t expect folk to stop here for ever just to be et by you and Bert. You’ve et a village and a half between yer, since we come down from the mountains. How much more d’yer want? And time’s been up our way, when yer’d have said ‘thank yer Bill’ for a nice bit o’ fat valley mutton like what this is. ”

He took a big bite (он откусил большой кусок) off a sheep’s leg (от бараньей ноги) he was toasting (которую он поджаривал на огне), and wiped his lips on his sleeve (и вытер свои губы рукавом: «о свой рукав»).

Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that (да, я боюсь, что тролли именно так и ведут себя), even those with only one head each (даже те, у которых только по одной голове /на каждого/). After hearing all this (услышав все это; after — после) Bilbo ought to have done something (Бильбо должен был сделать что-то) at once (немедленно). Either he should have gone back quietly (либо ему следовало отправится тихо назад) and warned his friends (и предупредить своих друзей) that there were three fair-sized trolls (что три довольно больших тролля были) at hand (рядом) in a nasty mood (в отвратительном настроении), quite likely to try toasted dwarf (весьма вероятно /желающие/ попробовать поджаренного гнома), or even pony (или даже пони), for a change (для разнообразия;change — перемена, изменение); or else he should have done (или же он должен был совершить) a bit of good quick burgling (изрядное и быстрое вооруженное нападение). A really first-class (действительно первоклассный) and legendary burglar (и легендарный взломщик) would at this point have picked the trolls’ pockets (на этом месте залез бы в карманы троллей; to pick — выбирать, поднимать, вынимать) — it is nearly always worthwhile (это почти всегда того стоит; worthwhile — дающий результат: «стоящий времени») if you can manage it (если ты можешь это осуществить) —, pinched the very mutton off the spite (стащил бы всю баранину с вертела; very — зд. тот самый, именно тот), purloined the beer (похитил бы пиво), and walked off (и удалился) without their noticing him (а они бы его не заметили: «без того, чтобы они его заметили»). Others more practical (другие, более практичные /взломщики/) but with less professional pride (но /обладающие/ меньшей профессиональной гордостью) would perhaps have stuck a dagger (возможно, вкололи бы кинжал) into each of them (в каждого из них) before they observed it (до того, как они заметили бы его). Then the night could have been spent cheerily (тогда и ночь можно было бы провести весело).

quietly [ˈkwaɪǝtlɪ] warn [wɔ: n] worthwhile [wǝ: Ɵˈwaɪl] purloin [pǝ: ˈlɔɪn, ˈpǝ: lɔɪn] cheer [tʃɪǝ]

He took a big bite off a sheep’s leg he was toasting, and wiped his lips on his sleeve.

Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each. After hearing all this Bilbo ought to have done something at once. Either he should have gone back quietly and warned his friends that there were three fair-sized trolls at hand in a nasty mood, quite likely to try toasted dwarf, or even pony, for a change; or else he should have done a bit of good quick burgling. A really first-class and legendary burglar would at this point have picked the trolls’ pockets — it is nearly always worthwhile if you can manage it —, pinched the very mutton off the spite, purloined the beer, and walked off without their noticing him. Others more practical but with less professional pride would perhaps have stuck a dagger into each of them before they observed it. Then the night could have been spent cheerily.

Bilbo knew it (Бильбо знал это). He had read of a good many things (он прочитал об очень многих вещах) he had never seen or done (которых он никогда раньше не видел или не делал). He was very much alarmed (он был очень сильно встревожен), as well as disgusted (так же как и чувствовал отвращение); he wished himself a hundred miles away (как бы ему хотелось оказаться за сотни миль от сюда), and yet (и все же) — and yet somehow (и все же, почему-то) he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company (он не мог отправиться прямо назад к Торину и Компании) empty-handed (с пустыми руками). So he stood (поэтому он стоял) and hesitated in the shadows (и медлил в тени). Of the various burglarious proceedings (из всех различных воровских процедур) he had heard of (о которых он слышал) picking the trolls’ pockets (обчистить карманы троллей) seemed the least difficult (казалось ему наименее трудной), so at last (и поэтому, наконец) he crept behind a tree (он подполз за дерево) just behind William (как раз за Вильямом).

Bert and Tom went off to the barrel (Берт и Том ушли к бочке). William was having another drink (Вильям пил следующую порцию напитка). Then Bilbo plucked up courage (затем Бильбо набрался храбрости; to pluck — собирать, срывать) and put his little hand (и положил свою маленькую руку) in William’s enormous pocket (в огромный карман Вильяма). There was a purse in it (в нем был кошель), as big as a bag to Bilbo (для Бильбо он был такой же большой, как сумка).

“Ha (ага)!” thought he warming to his new work (подумал он, входя во вкус своей новой работы; towarm—греть, нагревать; почувствовать симпатию) as he lifted it carefully out (в то время, когда он осторожно вытаскивал кошель), “this is a beginning (вот оно, начало)!”

It was (так оно и было)! Trolls’ purses are the mischief (кошельки троллей всегда с какой-нибудь озорной проделкой), and this was no exception (и этот не был исключением).

“ ‘Ere, ‘oo are you (эй, ты кто такой; ‘ere = here; ‘oo = who)?” it squeaked (пропищал он), as it left the pocket (как только он покинул карман); and William turned round at once (и Вильям тут же обернулся) and grabbed Bilbo by the neck (и быстро схватил Бильбо за шею), before he could duck behind the tree (до того, как он смог нырнуть за дерево).

alarmed [ǝˈlɑ: md] disgusted [dɪsˈɡʌstɪd] hesitate [ˈhezɪteɪt] burglarious [bǝ: ˈɡle (ǝ) rɪǝs] courage [ˈkʌrɪdʒ] purse [pǝ: s]

Bilbo knew it. He had read of a good many things he had never seen or done. He was very much alarmed, as well as disgusted; he wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet — and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company empty-handed. So he stood and hesitated in the shadows. Of the various burglarious proceedings he had heard of picking the trolls’ pockets seemed the least difficult, so at last he crept behind a tree just behind William.