Text №3 «The Illness of the Duke»
Words for the text:
- convinced — убежденный (to convince — убеждать)
- indulgent — избалованный
- give way — уступить
- former — бывший
- wet to the bone — промокший до нитки (досл. до костей)
- worsen — ухудшаться
- overcome — преодолеть
- refuse — отказаться
- fever — лихорадка
- be unable — быть не в состоянии
The Duke caught a heavy cold. Convinced that he was much stronger than his apathetic, indulgent brothers, he decided not to give way to his illness. Former soldier, he went out for long sea walks, often coming back wet to the bone. He spent his free time preparing for returning to Amorbach, their German home. His letter to his friend, in which he asked him to buy horses for carriges, was the last. His cold worsened. He was very sick but tried to overcome his illness by ignoring it. He refused to allow his wife to cancel a dinner party planned for that evening. The same night he fell into a deep fever and the next morning was unable to get out of bed.