Принц и нищий
Le Roi est mort — vive le Roi
’Tismeetandnecessarythatwetakeasmallerhouseandsettheservantsatlarge,siththeybeofnovaluebuttomakedelay,andtroubleonewithofficesthatharassthespiritandshamethesoul,theymisbecominganybutadoll,thathathnorbrainsnorhandstohelpitselfwithal.Iremembermeofasmallhousethatstandethoveragainstthefish-market,byBillingsgate—"
AsharppressureuponTom’sarmstoppedhisfoolishtongueandsentablushtohisface;butnocountenancetherebetrayedanysignthatthisstrangespeechhadbeenremarkedorgivenconcern.
AsecretarymadereportthatforasmuchasthelateKinghadprovidedinhiswillforconferringtheducaldegreeupontheEarlofHertfordandraisinghisbrother,SirThomasSeymour,tothepeerage,andlikewiseHertford’ssontoanearldom,togetherwithsimilaraggrandisementstoothergreatservantsoftheCrown,theCouncilhadresolvedtoholdasittingonthe16thofFebruaryforthedeliveringandconfirmingofthesehonours,andthatmeantime,thelateKingnothavinggranted,inwriting,estatessuitabletothesupportofthesedignities,theCouncil,knowinghisprivatewishesinthatregard,hadthoughtpropertogranttoSeymour‘500poundlands,’andtoHertford’sson‘800poundlands,and300poundofthenextbishop’slandswhichshouldfallvacant,’—hispresentMajestybeingwilling.
