Принц и нищий
The Prince with the peasants
Hertiredtonguegotachancetorest,now;fortheKing’s,inspiredbygnawinghungerandthefragrantsmellsthatcamefromthesputteringpotsandpans,turneditselflooseanddelivereditselfuptosuchaneloquentdissertationuponcertaintoothsomedishes,thatwithinthreeminutesthewomansaidtoherself,"OfatruthIwasright—hehathholpeninakitchen!"Thenhebroadenedhisbilloffare,anddiscusseditwithsuchappreciationandanimation,thatthegoodwifesaidtoherself,"Goodlack!howcanheknowsomanydishes,andsofineoneswithal?Forthesebelongonlyuponthetablesoftherichandgreat.Ah,nowIsee!raggedoutcastasheis,hemusthaveservedinthepalacebeforehisreasonwentastray;yes,hemusthavehelpedintheverykitchenoftheKinghimself!Iwilltesthim."
Fullofeagernesstoprovehersagacity,shetoldtheKingtomindthecookingamoment—hintingthathemightmanufactureandaddadishortwo,ifhechose;thenshewentoutoftheroomandgaveherchildrenasigntofollowafter.TheKingmuttered—
"AnotherEnglishkinghadacommissionliketothis,inabygonetime—itisnothingagainstmydignitytoundertakeanofficewhichthegreatAlfredstoopedtoassume.ButIwilltrytobetterservemytrustthanhe;forheletthecakesburn."
Theintentwasgood,buttheperformancewasnotanswerabletoit,forthisKing,liketheotherone,soonfellintodeepthinkingsconcerninghisvastaffairs,andthesamecalamityresulted—thecookerygotburned.
