Принц и нищий
The Prince and his Deliverer
Nearfourhundredyearsago,asyourgraceknoweth,therebeingillbloodbetwixtJohn,KingofEngland,andtheKingofFrance,itwasdecreedthattwochampionsshouldfighttogetherinthelists,andsosettlethedisputebywhatiscalledthearbitramentofGod.Thesetwokings,andtheSpanishking,beingassembledtowitnessandjudgetheconflict,theFrenchchampionappeared;butsoredoubtablewashe,thatourEnglishknightsrefusedtomeasureweaponswithhim.Sothematter,whichwasaweightyone,wasliketogoagainsttheEnglishmonarchbydefault.NowintheTowerlaytheLorddeCourcy,themightiestarminEngland,strippedofhishonoursandpossessions,andwastingwithlongcaptivity.Appealwasmadetohim;hegaveassent,andcamefortharrayedforbattle;butnosoonerdidtheFrenchmanglimpsehishugeframeandhearhisfamousnamebuthefledaway,andtheFrenchking’scausewaslost.KingJohnrestoredDeCourcy’stitlesandpossessions,andsaid,‘Namethywishandthoushalthaveit,thoughitcostmehalfmykingdom;’whereatDeCourcy,kneeling,asIdonow,madeanswer,‘This,then,Iask,myliege;thatIandmysuccessorsmayhaveandholdtheprivilegeofremainingcoveredinthepresenceofthekingsofEngland,henceforthwhilethethroneshalllast.’
