Принц и нищий
The Prince and the hermit
Thoushaltprayhere;thoushaltstudytheBook;thoushaltmeditateuponthefolliesanddelusionsofthisworld,anduponthesublimitiesoftheworldtocome;thoushaltfeeduponcrustsandherbs,andscourgethybodywithwhips,daily,tothepurifyingofthysoul.Thoushaltwearahairshirtnextthyskin;thoushaltdrinkwateronly;andthoushaltbeatpeace;yes,whollyatpeace;forwhosocomestoseektheeshallgohiswayagain,baffled;heshallnotfindthee,heshallnotmolestthee."
Theoldman,stillpacingbackandforth,ceasedtospeakaloud,andbegantomutter.TheKingseizedthisopportunitytostatehiscase;andhediditwithaneloquenceinspiredbyuneasinessandapprehension.Butthehermitwentonmuttering,andgavenoheed.Andstillmuttering,heapproachedtheKingandsaidimpressively—
"‘Sh!Iwilltellyouasecret!"Hebentdowntoimpartit,butcheckedhimself,andassumedalisteningattitude.Afteramomentortwohewentontiptoetothewindow-opening,puthisheadout,andpeeredaroundinthegloaming,thencametiptoeingbackagain,puthisfaceclosedowntotheKing’s,andwhispered—
"Iamanarchangel!"
TheKingstartedviolently,andsaidtohimself,"WouldGodIwerewiththeoutlawsagain;forlo,nowamItheprisonerofamadman!"Hisapprehensionswereheightened,andtheyshowedplainlyinhisface.
