Kitabı oku: «The Picture of Dorian Gray. B1 / Портрет Дориана Грея»

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© Темурян К. Т., адаптация текста, словарь, упражнения, 2024
© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2024

Chapter I

The studio was filled with the rich scent of roses, and the light summer wind brought in the fragrance of flowers from the garden. Lord Henry Wotton, lying on a sofa, could see the honey-coloured blossoms and the shadows of birds on the silk curtains. It reminded him of Japanese art. The buzzing of bees and the distantroar of London added to the atmosphere.

In the centre of the room, there was a full-length portrait of a young man of extraordinary beauty. Basil Hallward, the artist, looked at his work with pleasure and pride for his skill, and then closed his eyes. He looked like he was trying to capture a dream. Lord Henry praised the portrait and suggested it be sent to the Grosvenor Gallery, not the overcrowded Academy. Basil, however, refused to exhibit it, “I have put too much of myself into it,” he explained.

Lord Henry found this odd and teased Basil about his vanity: he compared Basil's ordinary appearance with the beauty of the young man in the portrait.

“I do not wish to be like him. People who are better than others – physically or intellectually – always suffer more,” Basil said. He feared for the fate of himself, Lord Henry, and the subject of his painting, Dorian Gray.

Lord Henry was intrigued by the name. Basil did not want to speak about it. He liked secrecy, because it added mystery and romance to life. Lord Henry, who also enjoyed secrecy – in his own marriage – found this amusing. Despite Basil's serious tone, Lord Henry's cynical comments lightened the mood, and the two men moved to the garden.

Before leaving, Lord Henry once again asked Basil for the real reason he wouldn't exhibit the portrait. Basil confessed that every portrait painted with feeling reveals more about the artist than the subject. He feared that the world would see his soul in the portrait. Lord Henry laughed.

Basil shared the story of his first meeting with Dorian Gray. “It was a party, where I felt an immediate and intense connection, as if Dorian's presence would control my life and art. This sensation was both exciting and terrifying. I realised that Dorian's personality influenced my work profoundly. It gave me a new artistic vision.”

Lord Henry was fascinated by Basil's obsession. “I must meet Dorian Gray,” he insisted. Basil warned that while Dorian Gray was a mere inspiration for him, he feared the world would not understand. However, Lord Henry remained sceptical. “Artists often put their emotions into their work. The public's reaction shouldn't discourage you from displaying your best piece.”

“Dorian Gray has become essential to my happiness and artistry,” Basil admitted, “though his thoughtless actions sometimes hurt me”. Lord Henry spoke about the fading nature of beauty, suggesting that Basil might eventually grow tired of Dorian.

Basil did not agree. He was adamant that Dorian's influence would always be significant to him. Cynically, Lord Henry remarked that true understanding of love's tragedies comes from being faithless, not faithful. The men continued their conversation.

“Mr. Dorian Gray is in the studio, sir,” the butler announced. “You must introduce me now,” Lord Henry insisted.

Glossary

adamant ['ædəmənt] – adj непреклонный

add to [æd tə] – v усиливать

amusing [ə'mju:zɪŋ] – adj забавный

announce [ə'naʊns] – v объявлять

artistry ['ɑ:tɪstri] – n мастерство

blossom ['blɒs(ə)m] – n цветок

butler ['bʌtlə(r)] – n дворецкий

buzzing ['bʌzɪŋ] – n жужжание

capture ['kæptʃə(r)] – v поймать

confess [kən'fes] – v признаваться

cynical ['sɪnɪk(ə)l] – adj циничный

discourage [dɪ'skʌrɪdʒ] – v отбивать охоту

display [dɪ'spleɪ] – v выставлять (для показа)

distant ['dɪst(ə)nt] – adj далекий

exhibit [ɪɡ'zɪbɪt] – v выставлять

extraordinary [ɪk'strɔ:d(ə)n(ə)ri] – adj необыкновенный, невероятный

fading ['feɪdɪŋ] – adj угасающий

fascinated ['fæsɪneɪtɪd] – adj увлеченный

fate [feɪt] – n судьба, участь

fragrance ['freɪɡrəns] – n аромат

insist [ɪn'sɪst] – v настаивать

intense [ɪn'tens] – adj интенсивный

intrigued ['ɪntrɪɡd] – adj заинтересованный

introduce [,ɪntrə'dju:s] – v знакомить

mere [mɪə(r)] – adj всего лишь

obsession [əb'seʃ(ə)n] – n одержимость

pleasure ['pleʒə(r)] – n удовольствие

praise [preɪz] – v хвалить

presence ['prez(ə)ns] – n присутствие

pride [praɪd] – n гордость

profoundly [prə'faʊndlɪ] – adv глубоко, серьезно

remark [rɪ'mɑ:k] – v замечать, отмечать

reveal [rɪ'vi:l] – v раскрывать

roar [rɔ:(r)] – n рев, рычание

scent [sent] – n запах

sceptical ['skeptɪk(ə)l] – adj скептический

sensation [sen'seɪʃ(ə)n] – n ощущение

significant [sɪɡ'nɪfɪk(ə)nt] – adj важный

soul [səʊl] – n душа

tease [ti:z] – v дразнить

terrifying ['tɛrɪfʌɪɪŋ] – adj ужасающий

thoughtless ['θɔ:tləs] – adj эгоистичный

vanity ['vænəti] – n тщеславие

vision ['vɪʒ(ə)n] – n мечта, образ

Chapter II

Lord Henry and Basil found Dorian Gray at the piano, flipping through Schumann's “Forest Scenes”. Dorian asked Basil to lend him those, so that he could learn to play this charming music.

“It depends on how well you will sit for the portrait today,” Basil joked. Dorian started complaining about sitting for the portrait, but when he saw Lord Henry, he blushed and apologised for not realising Basil had company.

Basil introduced Lord Henry as an old friend from Oxford. Lord Henry observed Dorian's remarkable beauty and youthfulness. For Lord Henry, these characteristics inspired trust and admiration. Dorian was friends with many famous philanthropists. Lord Henry joked that Dorian was too charming for charity. Basil was busy with his painting preparations, and politely asked Lord Henry to leave so he could finish the portrait in peace. However, Dorian insisted Lord Henry stay, as he found Basil's silence while painting tiresome.

Lord Henry stayed, lounging on the sofa. He continued his speech as Dorian was posing. “There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral from the scientific point of view, because it leads the person away from their own soul,” he spoke, confusing Dorian, “and true fulfilment comes from embracing one's desires. That is the only way to overcome them.”

“Stop!” Dorian screamed, “you bewilder me. I don't know what to say. There is some answer to you, but I cannot find it. Don't speak. Let me think. Or, rather, let me try not to think.”

Lord Henry knew when to stop talking. He let Dorian stand there, fascinated and confused. The idea that he could miss out on life's pleasures by following conventionalmoralsdisturbed Dorian. He felt as if a new, thrilling yet terrifying point of view had been opened to him.

Basil was engrossed in painting. Eventually, he noticed Dorian's discomfort caused by standing for so long, and invited everyone to take a break in the garden. There, Dorian continued to reflect on Lord Henry's ideas, and confessed that he didn't feel young.

“Some day, when you are old and ugly, when there are wrinkles on your forehead, you will understand. Your beauty will leave you together with your youth, and your life will grow bitter and dreadful. You will regret not being brave enough to enjoy your temptations.”

Dorian remained silent with his eyes wide open. Basil appeared, and invited everyone back in. Returning to the studio, Dorian viewed his finished portrait and was astonished by its beauty. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck him. He was astounded by the contrast the portrait would have with his future, aging self. “If only it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! I would give my soul!” Dorian cried desperately.

Lord Henry and Basil were taken aback by Dorian's intensity. Basil tried to comfort him, but Dorian felt a deep envy towards the unchanging beauty of the portrait. He kept moaning about inevitable aging, and declared that he would give anything to stay as young and beautiful as he was in the picture.

Lord Henry blamed Basil for this. Although this portrait was his finest work, Basil decided to resolve the problem by destroying the painting. “Don't!” Dorian shouted, “it would be murder!”

Dorian begged Basil to let him have the portrait, but Basil had already agreed to that a long time ago. He invited Dorian to stay for dinner, but Dorian chose to go to the theatre with Lord Henry instead, making Basil feel displeased.

Glossary

admiration [,ædmə'reɪʃ(ə)n] – n восхищение

apologise [ə'pɒlədʒaɪz] – v извиняться

astonished [ə'stɒnɪʃt] – adj удивленный

astounded [ə'staʊndɪd] – adj удивленный

beg [beɡ] – v умолять

bewilder [bɪ'wɪldə(r)] – v сбивать с толку,

приводить в замешательство

blame [bleɪm] – v винить

characteristic [,kærəktə'rɪstɪk] – n черта, особенность

charity ['tʃærɪti] – n благотворительность

charming ['tʃɑ:mɪŋ] – adj обаятельный, очаровательный

comfort ['kʌmfət] – v утешать

confess [kən'fes] – v признаваться

conventional [kən'venʃ(ə)n(ə)l] – adj традиционный

declare [dɪ'kleə(r)] – v объявлять, заявлять

desire [dɪ'zaɪə(r)] – n желание

desperately ['dɛsp(ə)rətlɪ] – adv отчаянно

displeased [dɪs'pli:zd] – adj недовольный

disturb [dɪ'stɜ:b] – v беспокоить

dreadful ['dredf(ə)l] – adj ужасный, страшный

embrace [ɪm'breɪs] – v принимать

engrossed [ɪn'ɡrəʊst] – adj поглощенный, занятый чем-либо

flip through [flɪp θru:] – v листать

inevitable [ɪ'nevɪtəb(ə)l] – adj неизбежный

influence ['ɪnfluəns] – n влияние

intensity [ɪn'tɛnsɪti] – n сила, интенсивность

lounge [laʊndʒ] – v сидеть вразвалку

miss out on [mɪs aʊt ɒn] – v упускать

moan [məʊn] – v жаловаться

moral ['mɒrəl] – n мораль

murder ['mɜ:də(r)] – n убийство

observe [əb'zɜ:v] – v наблюдать

overcome (overcame, overcome) [,əʊvə'kʌm] – v преодолевать

philanthropist [fɪ'lænθrəpɪst] – n филантроп

pose [pəʊz] – v позировать

rather ['rɑ:ðə(r)] – adv точнее

reflect on [rɪ'flekt ɒn] – v размышлять (над)

remarkable [rɪ'mɑ:kəbl] – adj удивительный

resolve [rɪ'zɒlv] – v решать (проблему)

scream [skri:m] – v кричать, вопить

self [self] – n личность

silence ['saɪləns] – n тишина

strike (struck, struck) [straɪk] – v приходить в голову, осенять

take (sb) aback [teɪk ə'bæk] – v ошеломлять, застать врасплох

temptation [temp'teɪʃ(ə)n] – n соблазн, искушение

trust [trʌst] – n доверие

wrinkle ['rɪŋkl] – n морщина

Chapter III

The next day, at half past noon, Lord Henry Wotton walked to Albany to visit his uncle, Lord Fermor. Lord Fermor was an old bachelor. Most people believed he was selfish, but his social circle appreciated his generosity. His father had been an ambassador in Madrid but retired early. Lord Fermor, who was his secretary, retired too, and focused on the aristocratic art of doing nothing. He had two houses but lived in chambers and ate at his club. He was involved in politics, but criticised his own party. He was a hero for his valet, and a terror for his relatives.

When Lord Henry entered the room, his uncle was reading the newspaper. Lord Fermor believed Lord Henry had come to him for money, and they both laughed. Lord Henry revealed he, in fact, wanted information about a young man named Dorian Gray, or his mother, Lady Margaret Devereux. Lord Fermor reminisced about Lady Margaret's life: she was a beautiful girl who ran away with a penniless soldier. Their marriage soon ended tragically, as her husband died in a duel. There were many rumours suggesting this duel was arranged by Margaret's father. Margaret died shortly after, leaving behind her son, Dorian.

Lord Henry left for lunch at Aunt Agatha's. Lord Fermor asked him to remind Agatha not to send him any more charity cheques. “I'll try,” Lord Henry promised, “but you know, gene-rous people have no humanity in them.”

On his way to Aunt Agatha's house, Lord Henry couldn't stop thinking about Dorian's tragic past. He arrived late, finding Dorian among the guests. Apart from him, there were gentlemen, duchesses, members of the Parliament and many other friends of Aunt Agatha's, who were all discussing America and Americans. Lord Henry let himself make a few jokes, which other guests did not enjoy, reprimanding him in front of his aunt.

“How mean you are!” Aunt Agatha exclaimed, tired of their lengthy arguments, “Harry, why don't you persuade Mr. Dorian Gray to continue playing music?”

The guests continued their discussions. They spoke about the weather in England, science, and their responsibilities. One of the duchesses blushed, and felt embarrassed about it.

“A blush is very becoming,” Lord Henry comforted her.

“Only when you are young,” the duchess concluded, and Lord Henry continued expressing his philosophicalviews, entertaining the guests. He charmed all his listeners. Dorian Gray's gaze was fixed on him. He sat at the table, motionless, as if he was under a spell. His smile grew wider and his eyes got darker.

Mr. Erskine, a cultured old gentleman, invited Lord Henry to visit his home for further discussions, intrigued by his views on life and pleasure. The lunch came to an end with the ladies departing and Mr. Erskine once again inviting Lord Henry, promising engaging conversations.

As Lord Henry was leaving Aunt Agatha's house to go to the park, Dorian Gray appeared next to him, touching him on his arm. “Can I come with you?” He asked. Lord Henry did not mind. However, he remembered that Dorian had already promised to visit Basil.

“I feel I must come with you,” Dorian stated.