The Tower of London

1. Whoever comes to London is eager to see the Tower of London, the scene of nearly 900 years of England’s history. The Tower has in the past been a fortress, a palace and a prison. It was William the Conqueror who began building the Tower for the purpose of protecting the city, other monarchs made additions in later centuries.

2. The Tower comprises several towers: the Jewel Tower, the White Tower, in which the Kings of England held their Court, and others. Though kings were born, lived and were married there, it happened also that kings and queens were murdered in the Tower. Some terrible deeds of which we read in the history of England took place in this grim old Tower. It was said that whoever held the keys to the Tower, held the keys to the kingdom. It is impossible in a few lines even to mention the historical events connected with the Tower of London. One of the Towers is called the Bloody Tower, being believed to be the scene of the murder of Edward V and his brother, the Duke of York, Queen Anne Boleyn, the Princess Elisabeth (afterwards Queen Elisabeth I) and many other persons of high rank passed under the arch of the Traitors’ Gate on their way to prison or the scaffold.

3. Now the Tower is a museum and houses the Crown jewels and other treasures. The Ceremony of the Keys which is centuries old takes place every night at 10 p.m. Five minutes before the hour the Chief Warder and an escort of four approach the gates. The sentry calls out: “Halt, who comes there?”

“The keys.”

“Whose keys?”

“Queen Elisabeth’s keys.”

“Advance Queen Elisabeth’s keys. All is well.”

4. All towers are locked and the keys are finally carried by the Chief Warder to the Queen’s House where they are secured for the night.

5. Now the only inhabitants of the Tower are ravens. There is a legend that the Tower will fall if it loses its ravens. Therefore, the birds with clipped wings are carefully guarded.

Notes:

1. William the Conqueror [‘kоŋkэrэ] – Вильгельм Завоеватель, герцог Нормандский, под предводительством которого в 1066 г. норманны завоевали Англию, стал английским королем Вильгельмом I (William I) 1028 – 1087 гг.

2. The Jewel Tower – Башня сокровищ

3. The Bloody Tower – Кровавая башня

4. Edward V and his brother, the Duke of York – Эдвард V (1470 – 1483) и его брат герцог Йорский (Эдвард V после смерти отца Эдварда IV унаследовал трон в возрасте 13 лет, но его дядя Ричард, герцог Глочестерский, назначенный регентом, заключил его и его брата герцога Йорского в Тауэр, где они были умерщвлены. Герцог Глочестерский был коронован как Ричард III.)

5. Queen Anne Boleyn – королева Анна Болейн (1507 – 1536), вторая жена короля Генриха VIII, была казнена

6. Queen Elisabeth I – королева Елизавета I (1533 – 1603), дочь Анны Болейн и Генриха VIII. Во время правления своей сестры Марии была заключена в Тауэр. После смерти сестры она была коронована и правила страной в течение 45 лет.

7. the Traitors’ Gate – «Ворота изменников», главные «водные ворота» со стороны реки Темзы; через них в Тауэр привозили узников

8. the Ceremony of the Keys – церемония передачи ключей

9. the Chief Ward – старший страж

Дата добавления: 2015-08-17