naty писал(а):Вспомянем классику, отсутствует в ит. переводе. В англ., кажется, тоже:
Насчет английского вы ошибаетесь:
"Well, God rest her soul," said Bezenchuk. "So the old lady's passed away. Old ladies pass away... or they depart this life. It depends who she is. Yours, for instance, was small and plump, so she passed away. But if it's one who's a bit bigger and thinner, then they say she has departed this life.... "
"What do you mean 'they say'? Who says?"
"We say. The undertakers. Now you, for instance. You're distinguished-lookin' and tall, though a bit on the thin side. If you should die, God forbid, they'll say you popped off. But a tradesman, who belonged to the former merchants' guild, would breathe his last. And if it's someone of lower status, say a caretaker, or a peasant, we say he has croaked or gone west. But when the high-ups die, say a railway conductor or someone in administration, they say he has kicked the bucket. They say: 'You know our boss has kicked the bucket, don't you?' "
Shocked by this curious classification of human mortality, Ippolit Matveyevich asked:
"And what will the undertakers say about you when you die?"
"I'm small fry. They'll say, 'Bezenchuk's gone', and nothin' more."
P.S. Кстати, вы не обратили внимания на дату исходного сообщения. Автор давно уже должен был написать и защитить диплом.:)