Принц и нищий
Tom as a Patrician
"Godrequitethymercy,OmyKing,andsavetheelongtoblessthyland!"Thenspringingup,heturnedajoyfulfacetowardthetwolordsinwaiting,andexclaimed,"Thouheard’stit!Iamnottodie:theKinghathsaidit!"Therewasnomovement,savethatallbowedwithgraverespect;butnoonespoke.Hehesitated,alittleconfused,thenturnedtimidlytowardtheKing,saying,"Imaygonow?"
"Go?Surely,ifthoudesirest.Butwhynottarryyetalittle?Whitherwould’stgo?"
Tomdroppedhiseyes,andansweredhumbly—
"PeradventureImistook;butIdidthinkmefree,andsowasImovedtoseekagainthekennelwhereIwasbornandbredtomisery,yetwhichharbourethmymotherandmysisters,andsoishometome;whereasthesepompsandsplendourswhereuntoIamnotused—oh,pleaseyou,sir,toletmego!"
TheKingwassilentandthoughtfulawhile,andhisfacebetrayedagrowingdistressanduneasiness.Presentlyhesaid,withsomethingofhopeinhisvoice—
"Perchanceheisbutmaduponthisonestrain,andhathhiswitsunmarredastouchethothermatter.Godsenditmaybeso!Wewillmaketrial."
ThenheaskedTomaquestioninLatin,andTomansweredhimlamelyinthesametongue.Thelordsanddoctorsmanifestedtheirgratificationalso.TheKingsaid—
"‘Twasnotaccordingtohisschoolingandability,butshoweththathismindisbutdiseased,notstrickenfatally.Howsayyou,sir?"
