The Capitoline Venus

(the beginning is on p. 139)

CHAPTER V (Scene - A Roman Cafe)

One of a group of American gentlemen reads and translates from the weekly edition of an Italian newspaper for foreigners as follows:

" WONDERFUL DISCOVERY! - Some six months ago Signor John Smitthe, an American gentleman now some years a resident of Rome, purchased for a trifle a small piece of ground in the Campagna from the owner, a bankrupt rela­tive of the Princess Borghese. Mr Smitthe afterwards had the piece of ground transferred to a poor American artist named George Arnold, explaining that

Part 2

he did it as payment and satisfaction for damage accidentally done by him long ago upon some property belonging to Signor Arnold, and further observed that as additional satisfaction he would improve the ground for Signor A., at his own expense. Four weeks ago, while making some necessary excavations, Signor Smitthe unearthed the most remarkable ancient statue that has ever been add­ed to the art treasures of Rome. It was an exquisite figure of a woman, and though sadly stained by the soil and the mould of ages, no eye can look un­moved upon its ravishing beauty. The nose, the left leg from the knee down, an ear, and also the toes of the right foot and two fingers of one of the hands were gone, but otherwise the noble figure was in a remarkable state of preservation. The government appointed a commission of art critics, antiquaries and cardi­nals to assess its value and determine the remuneration that must go to the owner of the ground in which it was found. The whole affair was kept a profound secret until last night, when they decided unanimously that the statue was a Venus, and the work of some unknown but sublimely gifted artists of the third century before Christ. They consider it the most faultless work of art the world has any knowledge of.

At midnight they held a final conference and decided that the Venus was worth ten million francs! In accordance with Roman law the government, be­ing half owner of all works of art found in Italy, the State can do nothing but pay five million francs to Mr Arnold and take permanent possession of the beautiful statue. This morning the Venus will be removed to the Capitol, there to remain, and at noon the commission will hand Signor Arnold five million francs in gold due to him."

Chorus of Voices: " Luck! Incredible! "

Another Voice: " Gentlemen, I propose that we immediately form an Ameri­can joint-stock company for the purchase of lands and excavations of statues here, with proper connections in Wall Street."

All: " Agreed."

CHAPTER VI (Scene - The Roman Capitol Ten Years Later)

" Dearest Mary, this is the most celebrated statue in the world. It is the Ca-pitoline Venus you've heard so much about. How strange it seems - this place! The day I last stood here ten happy years ago, I wasn't a rich man. I didn't have a cent. And yet I had a good deal to do with making Rome the owner of this grand­est work of ancient art the world contains."

" And oh, Georgy, how divinely beautiful she is! "

" Ah, yes - but nothing to what she used to be before that blessed John Smith broke her leg and battered her nose. Ingenious Smith - gifted Smith - noble Smith! Author of all our bliss! Listen! Do you know what that cough means? Mary, little Johnny is coughing! Will you never learn to take care of the children?! "

Unit six

THE END

The Capitoline Venus is still in the Capitol of Rome and is still the most charming and most illustrious work of ancient art the world can boast of. But if you ever happen to stand before it and go into the usual ecstasies over it, don't permit this true and secret story of its origin to mar your bliss.

Names

Campagna [ksem'painja]

Princess Borghese [, prm'ses bor'geze]

Signor ['si: njo: ]

New Words

as follows следующее

resident f'rezidant] n житель

purchase ['p3: tfss] у покупать, п покупка

trifle [traifl] n мелочь, пустяк

transfer [traens'f3: ] v передавать

observe [gb'z3: v] v заметить, отметить, сказать

treasure ['tre33] n сокровище

exquisite [iks'kwizit] ad/изысканный, совершенный

soil [soil] n земля, почва

mould [msuld] n плесень

ravishing ['rsevijin] adj восхитительный

antiquary faentikwan] n антиквар

assess [a'ses] v оценивать

remuneration [п.ггушпэ'гаГэп] п вознаграждение, оплата, компенсация

profound [prs'faund] ad/абсолютный, полный

unanimously [jui'nsenimssli] adv единогласно

sublimely [sg'blaimli] adv безупречно, безукоризненно

in accordance with в соответствии

blessed [blest] adj достойный преклонения, святой

ingenious [m'cbbnias] adj изобретательный, искусный

bliss n блаженство, счастье

cough [kDf] n кашель

to cough v кашлять

illustrious [I'Ustriss] adj знаменитый, известный, прославленный boast [bsust] 1/хвастать(ся), гордиться mar [ma: ] (/испортить, омрачить

Part 2

Questions for discussion.

1. How many of the American gentlemen in the cafe were able to read the
newspaper article?

2. Who, do you think, gave the information to the journalists?

3. Was the journalist American, British, Russian or Italian?

4. How do you understand the words: "... for damage accidentally done
by him long ago upon some property belonging to Signor Arnold...
and... that as additional satisfaction he would improve the ground for
Signor A., at his own expense? "

5. Was the commission appointed by the Italian government to examine
the statue sufficiently knowledgeable to do the job? Give your opinion
and your reasons.

6. Do you think Mary understood every word her husband said about the
statue and his friend John?

7. The story is written in the form of a play, isn't it? How many characters
are there in this play? Can you describe them?

8. What is the difference between humour and satire? In your opinion, is
The Capitoline Venus a humourous story or a satire?

9. Do you agree that the story illustrates the famous saying " The end
justifies the means"? Give your reasons.

EXERCISES

!. Find English equivalents in the text for the following (you may think of better Russian translations).

1....а затем передал этот участок земли бедному американскому
художнику по имени Джордж Арнольд, объяснив свой дар тем,
что это является возмещением ущерба, давным-давно случай­
но нанесенного им собственности, принадлежащей синьору Ар­
нольду...

2. Это была изумительной красоты фигура женщины, и, хотя земля и
плесень веков оставили на ней свои печальные следы, глаз нельзя
оторвать от ее восхитительной красоты.

3....но в остальном благородная статуя прекрасно сохранилась.

4. Все это дело хранилось в строжайшей тайне до вчерашнего вече­
ра, когда они пришли к единогласному мнению...

5. В соответствии с законами Рима, правительство является вла­
дельцем половины стоимости всех произведений искусства, най­
денных в Италии, и поэтому государству ничего не остается сде­
лать, кроме как заплатить...

Unit six

6. Сегодня утром Венера будет перемещена в Капитолийский музей,
с тем чтобы остаться там навсегда, а в полдень синьору Арнольду
будут переданы причитающиеся ему пять миллионов франков зо­
лотом.

7....я предлагаю немедленно организовать совместное предприятие
для покупки земель и добычи статуй здесь (в Италии) с соответ­
ствующими деловыми связями на Уолл-стрит.

8. Но все же я сделал немало для того, чтобы Рим стал владельцем
самого величайшего произведения древнего искусства в мире.

9. Но если вам когда-нибудь придется стоять перед ней и безумно
восхищаться ею, как делали, делают и будут делать все вокруг, не
позволяйте этой тайной, но правдивой истории ее происхожде­
ния омрачить ваш восторг.

VOCABULARY

2. Read and translate these sentences into Russian so as to have a better idea of how these words can be used.

purchase v, n

1. The museum is trying to raise money to purchase (= buy) a painting by
Van Gogh.

2. Except under clearly defined circumstances it is illegal in Britain for a
company to purchase its own shares.

3. A house is the most expensive purchase that most people ever make.

trifle n, v

1. I wonder why you get upset by every trifle.

2. It's a trifle difficult, but I'll try to find out all about it as soon as
possible.

3. (at table): Could I have a trifle (a bit / a little) less?

4. £ 100 is a mere trifle for him.

5. I don't advise you to trifle with his feelings, dear! He's not a man to be
trifled with.

transfer ['traensf3: ] n, transfer [trasns'fs: ] v

1. He transferred some of his money to his wife's account.

2. We can transfer the class to Tuesday if you don't mind.

3. I hear you're transferring to another team. Your transfer to a club abroad
will, no doubt, be a shock to your British fans.

4. The office will be transferred to another building.

5. New technology will speed up the transfer of information.

Part 2

observe v, observation n, observer n, observatory n

1. The verb to observe has the following meanings:

a) to watch (esp. scientifically)

b) to notice

c) to say / remark

d) to keep (rules, customs, traditions, silence).

2. The role of scientists is to observe the world, not to try to control it.

3. He spent a year in Africa, observing the behaviour of animals in different
situations.

4. The suspect was observed leaving the house.

5. The conference was attended by 200 delegates and by political
observers from 30 countries.

6. " I've always found the old man's advice extremely useful, " he
observed.

7. We all agree that law and order must be observed, don't we?

8. The book is full of interesting observations on the nature of musical
composition.

9. May I make an observation (= remark)?

10. When you are in London, don't fail to visit the Greenwich Observatory!

treasure n, v

1. While making the excavations they found treasure beyond their wildest
dreams.

2. You must all have read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

3. The museum houses some of the most priceless art treasures in the
world.

4. Thank you for this gift. I'll treasure it.

5. A treasure trove is money, gold or other valuable objects found hidden
usually in the ground and whose owner is unknown.

exquisite adj

1. The room we found ourselves was furnished in exquisite taste. 2.1 admire her exquisite manners.

3. The surgeon worked with exquisite care.

4. Among the museum's latest acquisitions there were some exquisite
ancient vases.

ravishing adj

1. Mary was a ravishing sight in her wedding dress.

2. She was considered a ravishing beauty by her contemporaries.

3. They make absolutely ravishing dishes at that restaurant.

Unit six

assess v, assessment n

syn. evaluate v, evaluation n

1. To assess' means 'to judge or decide' the amount, value, quality or
importance of something.

2. His property was assessed at £ 100.000.

3. They managed to assess the situation, and acted accordingly.

4. It's too easy to assess the long-term consequences of the latest
events.

5. Whose fault is it that the assessments of possible production costs
were hopelessly inaccurate?

6. The insurers will have to assess the damage caused by the fire.

7. The flood damage was assessed at $300, 000.

8. Examinations are not the only means to assess someone's ability.

profound adj

1.1 was amazed at his profound knowledge of Russian history.

2. When the rescuers had found the mountain climbers some of them
were in a state of profound shock.

3. Global warming has a profound impact on the world's climate.

Don't mix up!

in accordance with - в (точном) соответствии с (условиями, зако­ном и т. д.) according to как сказано, как указано...