They were so frightened when they saw me that they leaped out of their ships and swam ashore. There were no less than thirty thousand people watching me from the shore. I fastened a hook to the hole at the prow of each ship and tied all the cords together at the end.
While I was busy doing this (пока я проделывал это: «был занят, делая это»), the enemy fired several thousand arrows (неприятель выпустил /в меня/ несколько тысяч стрел). Many of them stuck in my hands and face (многие из них воткнулись мне в руки и лицо; to stick —втыкать, вонзать; торчать). I was very worried about my eyes (я очень беспокоился/боялся за глаза), which would certainly have been injured (которым наверняка был бы причинен вред; to injure — ранить, причинить травму, вред) if I had not remembered the pair of spectacles in my private pocket (если бы я не вспомнил об очках в своем секретном кармане).
busy ['bɪzɪ], eyes [aɪz], injure [‘ɪndʒə]
While I was busy doing this, the enemy fired several thousand arrows. Many of them stuck in my hands and face. I was very worried about my eyes, which would certainly have been injured if I had not remembered the pair of spectacles in my private pocket.
Having fastened all the hooks (приладив все крючки), I took the knot at the other end of the ropes (я взялся за узел на другом конце веревок), and began to pull (и начал тащить). Not one ship would move (ни один корабль не двинулся /с места/; would здесь выражает упорство, настойчивость: «никак не хотел двинуться»). They were all held fast by their anchors (все они крепко держались на якорях: «удерживались якорями»). I then cut the anchor ropes with my knife (тогда я обрезал якорные канаты ножом). Taking the knot once more (снова: «еще раз» взяв /в руку/ узел), I was able to pull fifty of the enemy's largest warships quite easily (я легко потащил за собою пятьдесят самых крупных неприятельских военных кораблей; quite — вполне, совершенно).
knot [nɔt], fast [fɑ:st], once [wʌns]
Having fastened all the hooks, I took the knot at the other end of the ropes, and began to pull. Not one ship would move. They were all held fast by their anchors. I then cut the anchor ropes with my knife. Taking the knot once more, I was able to pull fifty of the enemy's largest warships quite easily.
The Blefuscudians were confused and surprised at first (блефускуанцы сначала растерялись от изумления: «были растеряны и удивлены/изумлены»;
