He had rigged his harpoon long before and its coil of light rope was in a round basket and the end was made fast to the bitt in the bow

The fish was coming in on his circle now calm and beautiful looking and only his great tail moving. The old man pulled on him all that he could to bring him closer. For just a moment the fish turned a little on his side. Then he straightened himself and began another circle.

"I moved him," the old man said. "I moved him then."

He felt faint again now (он опять почувствовал слабость) but he held on the great fish all the strain that he could (но он держал огромную рыбу изо всех сил). I moved him, he thought. Maybe this time I can get him over (может быть, на этот раз я смогу перевернуть ее на спину). Pull, hands (тяните, руки), he thought. Hold up, legs (держитесь, ноги). Last for me, head (послужи мне, голова: «держись для меня…»). Last for me. You never went (ты никогда меня не подводила: «не уходила»). This time I'll pull him over (на этот раз я переверну ее).

But when he put all of his effort on (но когда он приложил все свое усилие), starting it well out before the fish came alongside (начав еще до того, как рыба приблизилась) and pulling with all his strength (и подтягивая изо всех своих сил: «со всей своей силой»), the fish pulled part way over (рыба слегка завалилась; part way /= part of the way, partly/— частично) and then righted himself and swam away (а затем выпрямилась и уплыла прочь).

"Fish," the old man said. "Fish, you are going to have to die anyway (тебе все равно придется умереть). Do you have to kill me too (ты и меня должна убить)?"

That way nothing is accomplished (так ничего не выйдет: «таким образом ничего не будет совершено/достигнуто»; to accomplish — совершать, достигать), he thought. His mouth was too dry to speak (во рту было слишком сухо, чтобы говорить) but he could not reach for the water now (но он не мог дотянуться сейчас до воды). I must get him alongside this time (я должен подтянуть ее поближе на этот раз), he thought. I am not good for many more turns (я не настолько хорошо себя чувствую, чтобы выдержать еще много кругов = надолго меня не хватит). Yes you are (нет, хватит), he told himself. You're good for ever (тебя хватит навсегда/навеки).

He felt faint again now but he held on the great fish all the strain that he could. I moved him, he thought. Maybe this time I can get him over. Pull, hands, he thought. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. Last for me. You never went/ This time I'll pull him over.

But when he put all of his effort on, starting it well out before the fish came alongside and pulling with all his strength, the fish pulled part way over and then righted himself and swam away.

"Fish," the old man said. "Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?"

That way nothing is accomplished, he thought. His mouth was too dry to speak but he could not reach for the water now. I must get him alongside this time, he thought. I am not good for many more turns. Yes you are, he told himself. You're good for ever.

On the next turn, he nearly had him (на следующем круге ему практически удалось достать ее). But again the fish righted himself and swam slowly away (но рыба снова выпрямилась и медленно уплыла).

You are killing me, fish (ты убиваешь меня, рыба), the old man thought. But you have a right to (но у тебя есть на это право). Never have I seen a greater (никогда я не видел более великой), or more beautiful (или более красивой), or a calmer (или более спокойной) or more noble thing than you (или более благородной рыбы, чем ты), brother. Come on and kill me (давай, убей меня). I do not care who kills who (мне все равно, кто кого убьет).

Now you are getting confused in the head (теперь у тебя в голове мутится; to confuse — запутывать, сбивать с толку), he thought. You must keep your head clear (ты должен держать голову ясной). Keep your head clear and know how to suffer like a man (и умей переносить страдания, как мужчина). Or a fish (или как рыба), he thought.

"Clear up, head (проясняйся, голова)," he said in a voice he could hardly hear (сказал он голосом, который едва мог слышать). "Clear up."

Twice more it was the same on the turns (еще два круга все было по-прежнему).