The Prisoner of Zenda Mr.

Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 3 01021566627

Chapter 3
A Merry Evening with a Distant Relative ‫سهرة سعيدة مع قريب من بعيد‬
• Johann’s generosity disarmed Rassendyll’s Prejudice:
‫كرم يوهان أزال تحامل راسندل ضده‬
- Rassendyll might not be prejudiced against ‫ متحامل ضد‬the duke's keeper
(Johann) because he disliked his complexion.
- Even if Rassendyll had been prejudiced against Johann, Johann’s most
civil ‫ مهذب‬and obliging ‫ كريم‬conduct ‫تصرف‬/‫ سلوك‬next morning would have
disarmed ‫ هدأ‬him.
- Johann told Rassendyll that a sister of his who had married a well-to-do
tradesman ‫ تاجر ثرى‬and lived in the capital, had invited him to occupy a
room in her house. He had gladly accepted, but now found that his
duties would not permit of his absence. ‫واجباته لن تسمح له بالغياب عن زندا‬
- Johann begged ‫ توسل ل‬Rassendyll to take his place. Rassendyll accepted
his offer without a moment's hesitation. ‫بدون تردد‬
- Johann went off to telegraph to his sister, while Rassendyll packed up
and prepared to take the next train.
- But Rassendyll still hankered after ‫ تشوق إلى‬the forest and the hunting
lodge, and when the younger daughter of the inn’s owner told him that
he could, by walking ten miles or so through the forest, hit the railway at
a roadside station, he decided to send his luggage ‫ أمتعته‬direct to the
address which Johann had given, take his walk, and follow to Strelsau
himself.
- Johann had gone off and was not aware of the change in Rassendyll’s
plans. ‫رحل يوهان دون أن يعلم بتغيير خطة راسندل‬
- As its only effect was to delay Rassendyll’s arrival at Johann’s sister's for
a few hours, there was no reason for troubling to inform Johann of it.
Doubtless the good lady (Johann’s sister) would waste no anxiety on
Rassendyll’s account. ‫ال شك أن أخت يوهان لن تقلق بشأن تأخر راسندل‬

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• On the way to the station:

- Half an hour's leisurely walking ‫ مشى متمهل‬brought Rassendyll to the
Castle.

• The Castle of Zenda:

The old castle and the chateau (An ideal residence))‫القلعة القديمة والقصر (سكن مثالي‬
- It had been a fortress ‫ حصن‬in old days.
- The ancient keep ‫ برج القلعة القديم‬was still in good preservation ‫فى حالة‬
‫ جيدة‬and very imposing. ‫ عالى‬/‫مهيب‬
- Behind the keep stood another portion of the original castle.
- A deep and broad moat ‫خندق مائي‬ran ran all round the old buildings.
- The moat separated the old buildings (the castle) from a handsome
modern chateau‫ قصر‬, erected ‫ شيد‬by the last king, and now forming
the country residence‫ منزل ريفى‬of the Duke of Strelsau.
- The old and the new portions were connected by a drawbridge ‫جسر‬
‫متحرك‬, and this indirect mode of access‫ طريقة دخول‬formed the only
passage between the old building and the outer world.
- But leading to the modern chateau there was a broad and handsome
avenue. ‫طريق واسع وجميل‬
- It was an ideal residence: When "Black Michael" desired company
‫احتاج إلى الصحبة‬, he could dwell ‫ يقيم‬in his chateau; if a fit of
misanthropy ‫ فترة من كراهية البشر‬seized him, he had merely to cross the
bridge and draw it up after him (it ran on rollers), ‫يتحرك ببكرات‬
and nothing short of a regiment ‫ ال شىء أقل من كتيبة‬and a train of
artillery ‫ فوج من المدفعية‬could fetch him out. ‫يستطيع أن يخرجه‬
• In the forest of Zenda:
- Rassendyll went on his way, glad that poor Black Michael, though he
could not have the throne or the princess, had, at least, as fine a
residence as any prince in Europe.
▪ The forest:
- Soon he entered the forest, and walked on for an hour or more in its
cool sombre shade ‫قاتم‬/‫ ظل شديد‬. The great trees enlaced ‫ المس‬with one
another over his head, and the sunshine stole through in patches as
bright as diamonds, and hardly bigger.

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- He was enchanted with ‫مفتون ب‬/‫ مسحور‬the place, and, finding a felled
tree-trunk ‫ جذع شجرة مقطوع‬, propped ‫ سند‬his back against it, and
stretching his legs out gave himself up to undisturbed
contemplation ‫ تأمل هادىء‬of the solemn beauty ‫ جمال مهيب‬of the woods
and to the comfort of a good cigar. And when the cigar was finished
and had had inhaled ‫ استنشق‬as much beauty as he could, he went off
into the most delightful sleep, regardless of his train to Strelsau and
of the fast-waning afternoon. ‫فترة ظهيرة سريعة من كثرة الجمال بالغابة‬
- To remember a train in such a spot would have been rank sacrilege.
‫تدنيس للمقدسات‬
▪ A pleasant dream: ‫حلم جميل‬
- Rassendyll fell to dreaming that he was married to the Princess Flavia
and dwelt ‫ عاشوا‬in the Castle of Zenda, and beguiled ‫ لهى‬whole days with
his love in the glades of the forest ‫— فى أرجاء الغابة‬which made a very
pleasant dream.
- He was just impressing ‫ يطبع‬a fervent kiss ‫ قبلة حارة‬on the charming lips
of the princess, when he heard (and the voice seemed at first a part of
the dream) someone exclaim ‫ يصيح‬, in rough strident ‫ حاد‬tones: "Why,
the devil's in it! Shave him, and he'd be the King!"
- The idea seemed whimsical ‫غير منطقية‬/‫ غريبة‬enough for a dream: by the
sacrifice of ‫ التضحية ب‬his heavy moustache and carefully pointed
imperial ‫ لحية‬, he was to be transformed into a monarch! ‫يتحول إلى ملك‬
▪ Realizing that what he heard was not part of the dream,
Rassendyll awoke:
- Rassendyll was about to kiss the princess again, when he arrived (very
reluctantly ‫ ) بتردد‬at the conclusion ‫ استتنتاج‬that I was awake.
- He opened his eyes, and found two men regarding him ‫ يتفحصونه‬with
much curiosity. ‫بفضول كبير‬
- Both wore shooting costumes ‫ مالبس صيد‬and carried guns.
▪ Sapt:
- One was rather short and very stoutly built ‫ قوى البنية‬, with a big bullet-
shaped head ‫ برأس كبير مدبب‬, a bristly grey moustache ‫ شارب رمادى خشن‬,
and small pale blue eyes, a trifle bloodshot. ‫عينين زرقاوين محمرتين قليال‬

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▪ Fritz:
- The other was a slender ‫ نحيل‬young fellow, of middle height, dark in
complexion ‫ ذو بشرة داكنة‬, and bearing himself with grace and distinction.
‫تبدو عليه رغد العيش والتميز‬

▪ Physiognomy‫( الفراسة‬Judging a person by their appearance)

- Rassendyll set the one down (SAPT) as an old soldier: the other (FRITZ)
for a gentleman accustomed to ‫ معتاد على‬move in good society, but not
unused to military life either. ‫ولكن معتاد على الحياة العسكرية أيضا‬
- It turned out ‫ اتضخ‬afterwards ‫ فيما بعد‬that Rassendyll’s guess was a good
one.
▪ Getting acquainted: ‫التعرف‬
- Sapt approached ‫ اقترب من‬Rassendyll, surveying ‫ متفحصا‬his six feet two
inches of stature. ‫قامة‬
- Sapt told Fritz that Rassendyll was the height, too.
- Sapt asked Rassendyll about his name, but Rassendyll told him as they
had taken the first step in the acquaintance ‫ التعرف‬, they should give him
a lead in the matter of names. ‫يجب أن يبادروا بقول اسماءهم‬
- Fritz stepped forward with a pleasant smile and told Rassendyll their
names. He also told him they were both in the service of the King of
Ruritania.
- Rassendyll bowed ‫ انحنى‬, bearing his head ‫ كاشفا رأسه‬, and told them that
he was Rudolf Rassendyll, a traveller from England; and once for a year
or two he held a commission from her Majesty the Queen. ‫كان فى خدمة‬
‫جاللة الملكة‬
- Fritz told Rassendyll that they were all brethren of the sword ‫اخوة فى‬
‫العسكرية‬, then.
- Then, a gleam of intelligence ‫ لمحة ذكاء‬flitted ‫ حلقت‬across Sapt’s face, and
asked Rassendyll if he was of the Burlesdons, to which Rassendyll
replied that his brother was then Lord Burlesdon.
▪ Feeling uncomfortable because of Sapt’s embarrassing
remarks:
- Sapt, pointing to Rassendyll’s uncovered poll ‫ رأس عارية‬, told Rassendyll
that his head betrayed him‫كشفته‬/‫ فضحته‬and asked Fritz if he knew the
story.

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- Fritz glanced apologetically‫ ألقى نظرة اعتذار‬at Rassendyll. He felt a

delicacy ‫ ضعف‬which Rassendyll’s sister-in-law (Rose) would have
admired.
- To put him at his ease ‫ كى يطمئنه‬, Rassendyll remarked with a smile that
the story was known there as well as among the Rassendylls.
- But Sapt continued his bad remarks, telling Rassendyll that if he stayed
there, the deuce a man ‫ ال يوجد رجل‬in all Ruritania would doubt of it—or a
woman either.
- Rassendyll began to feel uncomfortable. Had he realized ‫لو كان قد أدرك‬
what a very plainly written pedigree ‫شجرة العائلة‬/‫ نسب‬he carried about
with him, he should have thought long before he visited Ruritania.
However, he was in for it then.
▪ Two Rudolfs, almost identical twins:
- At this moment a ringing voice sounded from the wood behind us:
"Fritz, Fritz! where are you, man?"
- Fritz started and said hastily ‫ بسرعة‬that it was the King.
- As Rassendyll looked at the King, he uttered ‫ نطق‬an astonished cry; and
the King, seeing Rassendyll, drew back ‫ رجع للخلف‬in sudden wonder.
(Why?)
▪ Minor distinctions between the two Rudolfs:
Although the likeness ‫ التشابه‬was certainly astonishing ‫ مدهش‬,
striking‫ ملفت للنظر‬, salient ‫ ملحوظ‬, wonderful, there were some
points of difference:
- Rassendyll had hair on his face; he had a mustache and an imperial ‫ لحية‬.
However, the King was shaved. ‫حليق‬
- The King lacked less than half an inch of height.
- The King had a manner of conscious dignity ‫مهابة‬/‫ هيبة‬which his position
gave him.
- The King's face was slightly more fleshy ‫ ممتلئا قليال‬than Rassendyll’s; the
oval of its contour ‫ تدويرة الوجه‬more pronounced. ‫أكثر وضوحا‬
- The King’s mouth lacked something of the firmness (or obstinacy) ‫حزم‬
which was to be gathered from Rassendylls close-shutting lips.
▪ Both Rudolfs astonished:
- For an instant they both stood motionless, looking at one another.
- Then Rassendyll bared his head again and bowed respectfully.

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- Bewildered ‫مرتبكا‬/‫ مذهوال‬, the King asked Sapt who that gentleman was.
- Rassendyll was about to answer, when Colonel Sapt stepped between
the King and him, and began to talk to his Majesty in a low growl. ‫تذمر‬
- The King towered over Sapt, and, as he listened, his eyes now and again
sought Rassendyll’s.
- Rassendyll looked at the King long and carefully.
- The King burst into the merriest fit of irrepressible laughter ‫ ضحك ال يقاوم‬.
Then he cried, "Well met, cousin!"
- He stepped up to Rassendyll, clapping him on the back, and laughing
still. "You must forgive me if I was taken aback ‫ فوجئت‬. A man doesn't
expect to see double ‫ شبيهه‬at this time of day, eh, Fritz?"
- "I must pray pardon ‫ سامحنى‬, sire, for my presumption ‫ وقاحة‬," said
Rassendyll. "I trust it will not forfeit ‫ ينتقص من‬your Majesty's favour." ‫قدر‬
‫جاللتك‬
- "By Heaven! you'll always enjoy the King's countenance ‫وجه الملك‬," the
King laughed, "whether I like it or not; and, sir, I shall very gladly add to
it what services I can. Where are you travelling to?"
- Rassendyll replied, "To Strelsau, sire—to the coronation."
▪ A happy-go-lucky King and wise friends:
- "Fritz, Fritz!" the King cried, "a thousand crowns ‫ ألف من العملة‬for a sight
of brother Michael's face when he sees a pair of us!"
- "Seriously," observed Fritz von Tarlenheim, "I question Mr. Rassendyll's
wisdom ‫ أشك فى حكمة السيد راسندل‬in visiting Strelsau just now."
- The King lit a cigarette and asked Sapt’s opinion.
- Sapt supported Fritz’s opinion.
▪ A generous King:
- Rassendyll told the King that he would leave Ruritania that day.
- The King refused and insisted that Rassendyll would dine with him that
night.
- Reminding the King of the coronation, Fritz told the King that they
would dine sparingly ‫ يتعشون باعتدال‬that night.
- The King replied negatively, "Not we—with our new cousin for a guest!"
- Fritz shrugged his shoulders. ‫هز فريتز كتفيه‬
- The King asked Rassendyll about his first name, to which Rassendyll
replied it was his Majesty’s.

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- The King said that showed the Rassendylls weren’t ashamed of ‫مستعرين‬
‫ من‬the Elphbergs. (Why should they be ashamed?)
- The King asked Rassendyll to accompany ‫ يصطحب‬him to the hunting
lodge ‫ كوخ الصيد‬where he was staying then. (Whose hunting
lodge was it?)

• A merry evening at the hunting lodge:

- They walked for more than half an hour, and the King smoked cigarettes
and chattered incessantly ‫ثرثر بدون توقف‬. He was full of interest in
Rassendyll’s family, laughed heartily when Rassendyll told him of the
portraits with Elphberg hair in their galleries, and yet more heartily
when he heard that Rassendyll’s expedition ‫ رحلة‬to Ruritania was a
secret one.
- The King said, "You have to visit your disreputable cousin ‫ابن عمك سيئ‬
‫ السمعة‬on the sly ‫ خلسة‬, have you?"
▪ The hunting lodge:
- It was a small and rude ‫ متواضع‬hunting-lodge.
- It was a one-storey ‫ مكون من طابق واحد‬building, a sort of bungalow. ‫عشة‬
- It was built entirely of wood.
▪ People at the hunting lodge:
1- Josef, the King’s servant: He was a little man in a plain
livery. ‫يرتدى مالبس عادية‬
2- Johann’s mother, a servant of Black Michael and the mother
of Johann, the Duke’s keeper. She was a fat elderly woman.
▪ A plentiful ‫ وفيرة‬meal and wine:
- During the meal, the King told Rassendyll that they the Elphbergs were
all good trenchermen. ‫يحبون الطعام‬/ ‫أكيلة‬
- The King asked Josef for wine. He reproached ‫ وبخ‬him and told him that
they were not beasts ‫ بهائم‬or cattle ‫ مواشى‬to eat without wine.
- The wine they drank was beyond all price or praise ‫فوق الوصف‬, and they
did it justice. ‫أعطوها حقها من الشراب‬
- When Fritz ventured ‫ تجرأ أن‬to stay ‫ يمنع‬the King’s hand, the King said
that they ( Fritz and Sapt) would start before he did and that they had to
be more sparing by two hours before him. ‫يمتنعوا عن االكل والشرب قبله بساعتين‬
- Fritz explained to Rassendyll that they ( Fritz and Sapt) would leave the
hunting lodge at six: They would ride down to Zenda and return with

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the guard of honour ‫ تشريفة‬to fetch ‫ يحضر‬the King at eight, and then they
would all ride together to the station.
- The happy-go-lucky King )‫ الملك المتساهل (ضاربها طبنجة ههههه‬said it was very
civil of his brother to ask the honour for his regiment.
- Fritz gave up his attempts at persuasion: from persuading, he fell to
being persuaded, and soon they were all full of wine.
- The King began talking of what he would do in the future, old Sapt of
what he had done in the past, Fritz of some beautiful girl or other, and
Rassendyll of the wonderful merits ‫ فضل‬of the Elphberg dynasty. ‫ساللة‬
‫حاكمة‬
- At last the King set down his glass, leant back in his chair, and said he
had drunk enough.
• Black Michael’s wicked plan:
- Josef came and set before the King a marvellous ‫ رائع‬old wicker-covered
flagon. ‫إبريق (زجاجة خمر) قديم مغطى بالخوص‬
- Josef told the King that Duke of Strelsau bade him ‫ أمره‬set that wine
before the King, when the King was weary of ‫ فرغ من‬all other wines, and
pray the King to drink, for the love that he bore his brother.
- The bottle was opened, and Josef filled the King's glass.
- The King tasted it. Then, with a solemnity ‫ باحتفالية‬born of the hour and
his own condition, he looked round on us: "Gentlemen, my friends—
Rudolf, my cousin ('tis a scandalous story ‫ قصة مخزية‬, Rudolf, on my
honour!), everything is yours to the half of Ruritania. But ask me not for
a single drop of this divine bottle ‫مقدسة‬/‫ زجاجة إلهية‬, which I will drink to
the health of that—that sly knave‫الوغد الماكر‬, my brother, Black Michael."
- And the King seized the bottle and turned it over his mouth, and
drained ‫ شربها للنهاية‬it and flung it ‫ طرحها أرضا‬from him, and laid his head
on his arms on the table.

➢ Questions:
1- Rassendyll thought Johann disliked his complexion, so Rassendyll might be
prejudiced against him. However, Johann’s civil and obliging conduct
disarmed Rassendyll. Explain.
2- Rassendyll didn’t like to tell people about his plans, for which he had his
own reasons. Explain.
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3- Rassendyll decided to change his plans and walk to the station on his way
to Strelsau. How did this affect the rest of the story?
4- Describe the castle of Zenda. What role did it play in the novel?
5- Describe the forest in Zenda. What role did it play in the novel?
6- Describe the hunting lodge. What role did it play in the novel?
7- The castle of Zenda was an ideal residence. Comment.
8- In the novel the Prisoner of Zenda, Rassendyll changed his plans more than
once, which had great consequences. Explain.
9- Fate played an important role in the novel the Prisoner of Zenda. Illustrate.
10- Rassendyll loved Princess Flavia before meeting her. Explain.
11- Three newly acquainted men in the forest were brethren of the sword.
Explain.
12- Who were the two men that awoke Rassendyll in the forest. Why were
they astonished? How did their characters reveal themselves to Rassendyll
from the beginning?
13- Rassendyll could judge a person by their appearance. Explain.
14- Had Rassendyll realized what a very plainly written pedigree he carried
about with him, he should have thought long before he visited Ruritania.
Explain.
15- Although the two Rudolfs were like almost identical twins, there were
some minor distinctions. Illustrate.
16- Why were the two Rudolfs astonished when they met?
17- Why did the two Rudolfs apologize to each other?
18- The happy-go-lucky character of the King was a mixed blessing. Explain.
19- During Rassendyll’s journey from Burlesdon to the hunting lodge,
Rassendyll met some people. Describe each person he met briefly.
20- Why did the King think the Rassendylls weren’t ashamed of the
Elphbergs?

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21- Describe the King’s character, based on what happened on the night of the
coronation.
22- What was Black Michael’s wicked plan? How did the King help him
achieve his plan?

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