Принц и нищий
In Prison
Theprisonersentereditthroughamassivearchwayofmasonry,andwereplacedinfile,standing,withtheirbacksagainstthewall.Aropewasstretchedinfrontofthem,andtheywerealsoguardedbytheirofficers.Itwasachillandloweringmorning,andalightsnowwhichhadfallenduringthenightwhitenedthegreatemptyspaceandaddedtothegeneraldismalnessofitsaspect.Nowandthenawintrywindshiveredthroughtheplaceandsentthesnoweddyinghitherandthither.
Inthecentreofthecourtstoodtwowomen,chainedtoposts.AglanceshowedtheKingthatthesewerehisgoodfriends.Heshuddered,andsaidtohimself,"Alack,theyarenotgonefree,asIhadthought.Tothinkthatsuchastheseshouldknowthelash!—inEngland!Ay,there’stheshameofit—notinHeathennesse,ChristianEngland!Theywillbescourged;andI,whomtheyhavecomfortedandkindlyentreated,mustlookonandseethegreatwrongdone;itisstrange,sostrange,thatI,theverysourceofpowerinthisbroadrealm,amhelplesstoprotectthem.Butletthesemiscreantslookwelltothemselves,forthereisadaycomingwhenIwillrequireofthemaheavyreckoningforthiswork.Foreveryblowtheystrikenow,theyshallfeelahundredthen."
Agreatgateswungopen,andacrowdofcitizenspouredin.Theyflockedaroundthetwowomen,andhidthemfromtheKing’sview.Aclergymanenteredandpassedthroughthecrowd,andhealsowashidden.
