There was a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm called Smaug.

One day he flew up into the air and came south. The first we heard of it was a noise like a hurricane coming from the North, and the pine-trees on the Mountain creaking and cracking in the wind. Some of the dwarves who happened to be outside (I was one luckily — a fine adventurous lad in those days, always wandering about, and it saved my life that day) well, from a good way off we saw the dragon settle on our mountain in a spout of flame. Then he came down the slopes and when he reached the woods they all went up in fire. By that time all the bells were ringing in Dale and the warriors were arming. The dwarves rushed out of their great gate; but there was the dragon waiting for them. None escaped that way. The river rushed up in steam and a fog fell on Dale, and in the fog the dragon came on them and destroyed most of the warriors — the usual unhappy story, it was only too common in those days.

Then he went back (затем он направился назад) and crept in through the Front Gate (и заполз /на Гору/ через Главные Ворота) and routed out all the halls (и уничтожил всех, кто был в залах; to rout — разбивать наголову, обращать в бегство), and lanes (и переулках), and tunnels (и туннелях), alleys (аллеях), cellars (подвалах), mansions (особняках) and passages (и проходах). After that (после этого) there were no dwarves left alive inside (больше не осталось живых гномов внутри /Горы/), and he took all their wealth for himself (и он забрал себе все их богатство). Probably (возможно), for that is the dragons’ way (из-за того, что именно так принято у драконов; way — зд. уклад, обычай, привычка), he has piled it all up (он сложил это все вместе) in a great heap (в огромную кучу) far inside (/где-то/ глубоко внутри /Горы/), and sleeps on it for a bed (и спит на ней, как на кровати). Later he used to crawl out (позднее он бывало выползал) of the great gate (из главных ворот) and come by night to Dale (и добирался до ночам до Дейла), and carry away people (и уносил людей), especially maidens (особенно девиц), to eat (чтобы съесть их), until Dale was ruined (до тех пор, пока Дейл не превратился в руины), and all the people dead or gone (и все люди не вымерли или ушли). What goes on there now (что происходит там сейчас) I don’t know for certain (я не знаю наверняка), but I don’t suppose (но я не думаю) anyone lives nearer to the Mountain (что кто-нибудь живет ближе к Горе) than the far edge (чем у дальнего края) of the Long Lake now-a-days (Длинного Озера в наши дни).

rout [raʋt] mansion [ˈmænʃ (ǝ) n] ruin [ˈru: ɪn]

Then he went back and crept in through the Front Gate and routed out all the halls, and lanes, and tunnels, alleys, cellars, mansions and passages. After that there were no dwarves left alive inside, and he took all their wealth for himself. Probably, for that is the dragons’ way, he has piled it all up in a great heap far inside, and sleeps on it for a bed. Later he used to crawl out of the great gate and come by night to Dale, and carry away people, especially maidens, to eat, until Dale was ruined, and all the people dead or gone. What goes on there now I don’t know for certain, but I don’t suppose anyone lives nearer to the Mountain than the far edge of the Long Lake now-a-days.

“The few of us (те немногие из нас) that were well outside (что были снаружи) sat and wept in hiding (сидели и рыдали в укрытии), and cursed Smaug (и проклинали Смауга); and there we were unexpectedly joined (и там к нам неожиданно присоединились) by my father and my grandfather (мой отец и мой дед) with singed beards (с опаленными бородами). They looked very grim (они выглядели очень мрачными/суровыми) but they said very little (но говорили они очень мало). When I asked how they had got away (когда я спросил, как они выбрались), they told me to hold my tongue (они велели мне придержать мой язык), and said that one day in the proper time (и сказали, что однажды, в нужное время) I should know (я узнаю). After that we went away (и после этого мы ушли), and we have had to earn our livings (и нам пришлось зарабатывать себе на жизнь; living — средства к существованию) as best we could (в меру своих сил) up and down the lands (по всем землям; up and down — вверх и вниз, туда и сюда, везде), often enough (достаточно часто) sinking as low as blacksmith-work (опускаясь так низко, чтобы заниматься ремеслом кузнеца) or even coalmining (или даже добычей угля; coal — уголь). But we have never forgotten (но мы так никогда и не забыли) our stolen treasure (о нашем украденном сокровище). And even now (и даже теперь), when I will allow (когда я признаю; to allow — позволять, допускать) we have a good bit laid by (что у нас отложено достаточно) and are not so badly off (и мы не так уж и плохо обеспечены) ” — here Thorin stroked the gold chain (при этих словах: «здесь» Торин погладил золотую цепь) round his neck (на: «вокруг» своей шее) — “we still mean to get it back (мы все еще хотим вернуть его; to mean — намереваться; подразумевать), and to bring our curses home to Smaug (и привести наши проклятия Смаугу в действие; to bring smth. home to smb. — втолковать кому-либо что-либо) — if we can (если мы сможем).

curse [kǝ: s] singe [sɪndʒ] tongue [tʌŋ] coal-mining [ˈkǝʋlmaɪnɪŋ]

The few of us that were well outside sat and wept in hiding, and cursed Smaug; and there we were unexpectedly joined by my father and my grandfather with singed beards. They looked very grim but they said very little. When I asked how they had got away, they told me to hold my tongue, and said that one day in the proper time I should know. After that we went away, and we have had to earn our livings as best we could up and down the lands, often enough sinking as low as blacksmith-work or even coalmining. But we have never forgotten our stolen treasure. And even now, when I will allow we have a good bit laid by and are not so badly off” — here Thorin stroked the gold chain round his neck — “we still mean to get it back, and to bring our curses home to Smaug — if we can.

“I have often wondered (я частенько размышлял) about my father’s and my grandfather’s escape (о бегстве своего отца и деда). I see now (теперь я вижу) they must have had a private Side-door (что, должно быть, у них был свой личный Черный Ход) which only they knew about (о котором только они и знали). But apparently they made a map (но очевидно, что они сделали карту), and I should like to know (и мне хотелось бы узнать) how Gandalf got hold of it (как Гэндальфу удалось овладеть ей), and why it did not come down to me (и почему это она не перешла ко мне), the rightful heir (законному наследнику; right — право). ”

“I did not ‘get hold of it, ’ (я вовсе не "овладел ею") I was given it (мне ее передали), ” said the wizard (сказал волшебник). “Your grandfather Thror was killed (ваш дед Трор был убит), you remember (как вы помните), in the mines of Moria (в копях Мории) by Azog the Goblin (Азогом Гоблином) —“

“Curse his name, yes (будь проклято его имя, да), ” said Thorin.

“And Thrain your father (и Трейн, ваш отец) went away on the twenty-first of April (ушел двадцать первого апреля), a hundred years ago (уж сто лет как тому назад) last Thursday (/как раз как исполнилось/ в прошлый четверг), and has never been seen by you since (и вы его больше не видели с тех пор) —“

“True, true (правда, правда), ” said Thorin. escape [ɪˈskeɪp] private [ˈpraɪvɪt] heir [eǝ]

“I have often wondered about my father’s and my grandfather’s escape. I see now they must have had a private Side-door which only they knew about. But apparently they made a map, and I should like to know how Gandalf got hold of it, and why it did not come down to me, the rightful heir. ”