Принц и нищий
The Prince and the hermit
Hewentstealthilyabouttheplace,seekinghereandthereforsomething;nowandthenhaltingtolisten,nowandthenjerkinghisheadaroundandcastingaquickglancetowardthebed;andalwaysmuttering,alwaysmumblingtohimself.Atlasthefoundwhatheseemedtowant—arustyoldbutcherknifeandawhetstone.Thenhecrepttohisplacebythefire,sathimselfdown,andbegantowhettheknifesoftlyonthestone,stillmuttering,mumbling,ejaculating.Thewindssighedaroundthelonelyplace,themysteriousvoicesofthenightfloatedbyoutofthedistances.Theshiningeyesofventuresomemiceandratspeeredoutattheoldmanfromcracksandcoverts,buthewentonwithhiswork,rapt,absorbed,andnotednoneofthesethings.
Atlongintervalshedrewhisthumbalongtheedgeofhisknife,andnoddedhisheadwithsatisfaction."Itgrowssharper,"hesaid;"yes,itgrowssharper."
Hetooknonoteoftheflightoftime,butworkedtranquillyon,entertaininghimselfwithhisthoughts,whichbrokeoutoccasionallyinarticulatespeech—
"Hisfatherwroughtusevil,hedestroyedus—andisgonedownintotheeternalfires!Yes,downintotheeternalfires!Heescapedus—butitwasGod’swill,yesitwasGod’swill,wemustnotrepine.
