Принц и нищий
The Prince with the Tramps
TheKingwascordiallyashamedofhimselfforhavinggottenallthatfrightandmiseryoutofsopaltryamatterasaslumberingcalf;butheneednothavefeltsoaboutit,foritwasnotthecalfthatfrightenedhim,butadreadfulnon-existentsomethingwhichthecalfstoodfor;andanyotherboy,inthoseoldsuperstitioustimes,wouldhaveactedandsufferedjustashehaddone.
TheKingwasnotonlydelightedtofindthatthecreaturewasonlyacalf,butdelightedtohavethecalf’scompany;forhehadbeenfeelingsolonesomeandfriendlessthatthecompanyandcomradeshipofeventhishumbleanimalwerewelcome.Andhehadbeensobuffeted,sorudelyentreatedbyhisownkind,thatitwasarealcomforttohimtofeelthathewasatlastinthesocietyofafellow-creaturethathadatleastasoftheartandagentlespirit,whateverloftierattributesmightbelacking.Soheresolvedtowaiverankandmakefriendswiththecalf.
Whilestrokingitssleekwarmback—foritlaynearhimandwithineasyreach—itoccurredtohimthatthiscalfmightbeutilisedinmorewaysthanone.Whereuponhere-arrangedhisbed,spreadingitdownclosetothecalf;thenhecuddledhimselfuptothecalf’sback,drewthecoversupoverhimselfandhisfriend,andinaminuteortwowasaswarmandcomfortableashehadeverbeeninthedownycouchesoftheregalpalaceofWestminster.
Pleasantthoughtscameatonce;lifetookonacheerfullerseeming
