Принц и нищий
The Prince and the hermit
Iwastolditfromheaveninadream,twentyyearsago;ah,yes,Iwastobepope!—andIshouldhavebeenpope,forHeavenhadsaidit—buttheKingdissolvedmyreligioushouse,andI,poorobscureunfriendedmonk,wascasthomelessupontheworld,robbedofmymightydestiny!"Herehebegantomumbleagain,andbeathisforeheadinfutilerage,withhisfist;nowandthenarticulatingavenomouscurse,andnowandthenapathetic"WhereforeIamnoughtbutanarchangel—Ithatshouldhavebeenpope!"
Sohewenton,foranhour,whilstthepoorlittleKingsatandsuffered.Thenallatoncetheoldman’sfrenzydeparted,andhebecameallgentleness.Hisvoicesoftened,hecamedownoutofhisclouds,andfelltoprattlingalongsosimplyandsohumanly,thathesoonwontheKing’sheartcompletely.Theolddevoteemovedtheboynearertothefireandmadehimcomfortable;doctoredhissmallbruisesandabrasionswithadeftandtenderhand;andthensetaboutpreparingandcookingasupper—chattingpleasantlyallthetime,andoccasionallystrokingthelad’scheekorpattinghishead,insuchagentlycaressingwaythatinalittlewhileallthefearandrepulsioninspiredbythearchangelwerechangedtoreverenceandaffectionfortheman.
