Принц и нищий
Foo-foo the First
Thenallflungthemselvesupontheirkneesabouthimandsentupachorusofironicalwailings,andmockingsupplications,whilsttheyswabbedtheireyeswiththeirsoiledandraggedsleevesandaprons—
"Begracioustous,OsweetKing!"
"Tramplenotuponthybeseechingworms,OnobleMajesty!"
"Pitythyslaves,andcomfortthemwitharoyalkick!"
"Cheerusandwarmuswiththygraciousrays,Oflamingsunofsovereignty!"
"Sanctifythegroundwiththetouchofthyfoot,thatwemayeatthedirtandbeennobled!"
"Deigntospituponus,OSire,thatourchildren’schildrenmaytellofthyprincelycondescension,andbeproudandhappyforever!"
Butthehumoroustinkermadethe‘hit’oftheeveningandcarriedoffthehonours.Kneeling,hepretendedtokisstheKing’sfoot,andwasindignantlyspurned;whereuponhewentaboutbeggingforaragtopasteovertheplaceuponhisfacewhichhadbeentouchedbythefoot,sayingitmustbepreservedfromcontactwiththevulgarair,andthatheshouldmakehisfortunebygoingonthehighwayandexposingittoviewattherateofahundredshillingsasight.Hemadehimselfsokillinglyfunnythathewastheenvyandadmirationofthewholemangyrabble.
Tearsofshameandindignationstoodinthelittlemonarch’seyes;andthethoughtinhisheartwas,"HadIofferedthemadeepwrongtheycouldnotbemorecruel—yethaveIprofferednoughtbuttodothemakindness—anditisthustheyusemeforit!"
