Vital [`vaIt(q)l], flaw [flL], recently [`rJsqntlI]

The men behind him formed the vital flaw in the general defence; and it was upon these that Dick turned, charging at the head of his men. So vigorous was the attack, that the Lancastrian archers gave ground and staggered, and, at last, breaking their ranks, began to crowd back into the houses from which they had so recently and so vaingloriously sallied.

Meanwhile the men from the market-place had swarmed across the undefended barricade, and fell on hotly upon the other side; and Dick must once again face about, and proceed to drive them back. Once again the spirit of his men prevailed; they cleared the street in a triumphant style, but even as they did so the others issued again out of the houses, and took them, a third time, upon the rear.

The Yorkists began to be scattered (йоркистов начали рассеивать); several times Dick found himself alone among his foes (несколько раз Дик оказывался: «находил себя» один среди врагов) and plying his bright sword for life (орудуя своим ярким мечом ради /спасения/ своей жизни); several times he was conscious of a hurt (несколько он раз он замечал рану = что его ранили). And meanwhile the fight swayed to and fro in the street (а тем временем битва в улочке шла с переменным успехом: «качалась туда и обратно»; to and fro — взад и вперед; туда и сюда) without determinate result (без определенного результата).

Suddenly Dick was aware of a great trumpeting (вдруг Дик услышал громкие звуки трубы) about the outskirts of the town (на окраинах города). The war-cry of York began to be rolled up to heaven (боевой клич Йорка вознесся к небесам), as by many and triumphant voices (словно /произносимый/ многочисленными и ликующими голосами). And at the same time the men in front of him began to give ground rapidly (в то же время люди перед ним начали быстро отступать: «отдавать землю»), streaming out of the street and back upon the market-place (выбегая из улочки назад на рыночную площадь). Some one gave the word to fly (кто-то произнес слово «Бежим!»; to fly — лететь; спасаться бегством). Trumpets were blown distractedly (трубы ревели безумно: «в них дули»; to blow — дуть), some for a rally (одни /трубили/ сбор), some to charge (некоторые — наступление). It was plain that a great blow had been struck (стало ясно, что был нанесен мощный удар; to strike — ударять), and the Lancastrians were thrown, at least for the moment, into full disorder (и ланкастерцы были повергнуты, по крайней мере, на время, в полное смятение; to throw — бросать), and some degree of panic (и, до некоторой степени, в панику).

several [`sev(q)rql], conscious [`kOnSqs], determinate [dI`tWmInqt], panic [`pxnIk]

The Yorkists began to be scattered; several times Dick found himself alone among his foes and plying his bright sword for life; several times he was conscious of a hurt. And meanwhile the fight swayed to and fro in the street without determinate result.

Suddenly Dick was aware of a great trumpeting about the outskirts of the town. The war-cry of York began to be rolled up to heaven, as by many and triumphant voices. And at the same time the men in front of him began to give ground rapidly, streaming out of the street and back upon the market-place. Some one gave the word to fly. Trumpets were blown distractedly, some for a rally, some to charge. It was plain that a great blow had been struck, and the Lancastrians were thrown, at least for the moment, into full disorder, and some degree of panic.

And then, like a theatre trick (и затем, как в театре: «театральный трюк»), there followed the last act of Shoreby Battle (последовал последний акт битвы при Шорби). The men in front of Richard turned tail (люди перед Ричардом развернулись: «повернули хвост»), like a dog that has been whistled home (как собака, которую свистом призвали домой: «присвистели»), and fled like the wind (и убежали, как ветер; to flee — спасаться бегством). At the same moment there came through the market-place a storm of horsemen (в тот же момент через рыночную площадь пронеслась буря из всадников), fleeing and pursuing (бегущих и преследующих), the Lancastrians turning back to strike with the sword (ланкастерцы /при этом/ разворачивались, чтобы ударить мечом), the Yorkists riding them down at the point of the lance (йоркисты настигали их концом копья).

theatre [`TIqtq]

And then, like a theatre trick, there followed the last act of Shoreby Battle. The men in front of Richard turned tail, like a dog that has been whistled home, and fled like the wind. At the same moment there came through the market-place a storm of horsemen, fleeing and pursuing, the Lancastrians turning back to strike with the sword, the Yorkists riding them down at the point of the lance.

Conspicuous in the mellay, Dick beheld the Crookback (заметного в гуще битвы, Дик увидел Горбуна; to behold — увидеть). He was already giving a foretaste of that furious valour (он уже показывал задатки той яростной отваги: «давал предвкушение») and skill to cut his way across the ranks of war (и умения пробиться: «прорезать свой путь» сквозь ряды), which, years afterwards upon the field of Bosworth (которых, годы спустя, на поле Босуорта), and when he was stained with crimes (когда он /уже/ был запятнан злодеяниями), almost sufficed to change the fortunes of the day (почти хватило, чтобы изменить удачу в тот день = переманить удачу на свою сторону) and the destiny of the English throne (и /изменить/ судьбу английского трона). Evading (уклоняясь /от ударов/), striking (нанося удары), riding down (топча /павших/), he so forced and so manoeuvred his strong horse (он так подчинял /своего коня/ и управлял своим сильным конем), so aptly defended himself (так ловко защищался), and so liberally scattered death to his opponents (и так щедро расточал смерть своим противникам), that he was now far ahead of the foremost of his knights (что он оставил далеко позади первейших своих рыцарей: «был далеко впереди»), hewing his way, with the truncheon of a bloody sword (прокладывая себе путь рукояткой окровавленного меча), to where Lord Risingham was rallying the bravest (туда, где лорд Райзингем собирал /вокруг себя/ храбрейших). A moment more and they had met (еще секунда — и они встретились; to meet — встретиться); the tall, splendid, and famous warrior (высокий, блистательный и прославленный воин) against the deformed and sickly boy (против уродливого, болезненного юноши).

conspicuous [kqn`spIkjVqs], suffice [sq`faIs], manoeuvre [mq`nHvq], hew [hjH], truncheon [`trAnCqn], bloody [`blAdI], sword [sLd]

Conspicuous in the mellay, Dick beheld the Crookback. He was already giving a foretaste of that furious valour and skill to cut his way across the ranks of war, which, years afterwards upon the field of Bosworth, and when he was stained with crimes, almost sufficed to change the fortunes of the day and the destiny of the English throne. Evading, striking, riding down, he so forced and so manoeuvred his strong horse, so aptly defended himself, and so liberally scattered death to his opponents, that he was now far ahead of the foremost of his knights, hewing his way, with the truncheon of a bloody sword, to where Lord Risingham was rallying the bravest. A moment more and they had met; the tall, splendid, and famous warrior against the deformed and sickly boy.

Yet Shelton had never a doubt of the result (и все же у Шелтона ни разу не появилось сомнения в исходе /боя/); and when the fight next opened for a moment (и когда ряды на мгновение разомкнулись: «битва раскрылась»), the figure of the earl had disappeared (фигура графа исчезла); but still, in the first of the danger, Crookback Dick was launching his big horse (но все еще, в первых рядах боя: «опасности» Горбун Дик гнал своего коня /в гущу сражения/) and plying the truncheon of his sword (и орудовал рукоятью меча).

Thus, by Shelton's courage (так, благодаря храбрости Шелтона) in holding the mouth of the street against the first attack (при удержании входа на улочку против первой атаки), and by the opportune arrival of his seven hundred reinforcements (и благодаря своевременному появлению подкрепления из семисот /человек/), the lad, who was afterwards to be handed down to the execration of posterity under the name of Richard III. (юноша, о котором впоследствии рассказывали к отвращению последующих поколений под именем Ричарда Третьего), had won his first considerable fight (выиграл свое первое важное сражение; to win — выиграть).

execration [eksI`kreIS(q)n], posterity [pOs`terqtI], III. = third [TWd]

Yet Shelton had never a doubt of the result; and when the fight next opened for a moment, the figure of the earl had disappeared; but still, in the first of the danger, Crookback Dick was launching his big horse and plying the truncheon of his sword.

Thus, by Shelton's courage in holding the mouth of the street against the first attack, and by the opportune arrival of his seven hundred reinforcements, the lad, who was afterwards to be handed down to the execration of posterity under the name of Richard III., had won his first considerable fight.