Принц и нищий
At Guildhall
TheboldstrangercaughtupthePrinceinhisarms,andwassoonfarawayfromdangerandthemultitude.
ReturnwewithintheGuildhall.Suddenly,highabovethejubilantroarandthunderoftherevel,broketheclearpealofabugle-note.Therewasinstantsilence—adeephush;thenasinglevoicerose—thatofthemessengerfromthepalace—andbegantopipeforthaproclamation,thewholemultitudestandinglistening.
Theclosingwords,solemnlypronounced,were—
"TheKingisdead!"
Thegreatassemblagebenttheirheadsupontheirbreastswithoneaccord;remainedso,inprofoundsilence,afewmoments;thenallsankupontheirkneesinabody,stretchedouttheirhandstowardTom,andamightyshoutburstforththatseemedtoshakethebuilding—
"LonglivetheKing!"
PoorTom’sdazedeyeswanderedabroadoverthisstupefyingspectacle,andfinallyresteddreamilyuponthekneelingprincessesbesidehim,amoment,thenupontheEarlofHertford.Asuddenpurposedawnedinhisface.Hesaid,inalowtone,atLordHertford’sear—
"Answermetruly,onthyfaithandhonour!UtteredIhereacommand,thewhichnonebutakingmightholdprivilegeandprerogativetoutter,wouldsuchcommandmentbeobeyed,andnoneriseuptosaymenay?"
"None,myliege,inalltheserealms.InthypersonbidesthemajestyofEngland.Thouarttheking—thywordislaw."
