Принц і жебрак

           Ihavenotforgottheday,neitherthehour;byreasonthatanhourafter,uponthestrokeofeleven,IdidgetahidingbythehandofGammerCantywhichwasofsogoodlyandadmiredseveritythatallthatwentbeforeorfollowedafteritwerebutfondlingsandcaressesbycomparison."

           Tomnoworderedthatthewomanandthegirlberemovedfromthepresenceforalittletime;thenaddressedhimselftotheunder-sheriff,saying—

           "Goodsir,whatisthisman’soffence?"

           Theofficerknelt,andanswered—

           "SopleaseyourMajesty,hehathtakenthelifeofasubjectbypoison."

           Tom’scompassionfortheprisoner,andadmirationofhimasthedaringrescuerofadrowningboy,experiencedamostdamagingshock.

           "Thethingwasprovenuponhim?"heasked.

           "Mostclearly,sire."

           Tomsighed,andsaid—

           "Takehimaway—hehathearnedhisdeath.’Tisapity,forhewasabraveheart—na—na,Imeanhehaththelookofit!"

           Theprisonerclaspedhishandstogetherwithsuddenenergy,andwrungthemdespairingly,atthesametimeappealingimploringlytothe‘King’inbrokenandterrifiedphrases—

           "OmylordtheKing,an’thoucanstpitythelost,havepityuponme!Iaminnocent—neitherhaththatwherewithIamchargedbeenmorethanbutlamelyproved—yetIspeaknotofthat;thejudgmentisgoneforthagainstmeandmaynotsufferalteration;yetinmineextremityIbegaboon,formydoomismorethanIcanbear.