Принц і жебрак

           Ibeggedagain—begged,foracrust,andgotthestocksandlostanear—see,herebidesthestump;Ibeggedagain,andhereisthestumpoftheothertokeepmemindedofit.AndstillIbeggedagain,andwassoldforaslave—hereonmycheekunderthisstain,ifIwasheditoff,yemightseetheredSthebranding-ironleftthere!Aslave!Doyouunderstandthatword?AnEnglishslave!—thatishethatstandsbeforeye.Ihaverunfrommymaster,andwhenIamfound—theheavycurseofheavenfallonthelawofthelandthathathcommandedit!—Ishallhang!"

           Aringingvoicecamethroughthemurkyair—

           "Thoushaltnot!—andthisdaytheendofthatlawiscome!"

           Allturned,andsawthefantasticfigureofthelittleKingapproachinghurriedly;asitemergedintothelightandwasclearlyrevealed,ageneralexplosionofinquiriesbrokeout—

           "Whoisit?Whatisit?Whoartthou,manikin?"

           Theboystoodunconfusedinthemidstofallthosesurprisedandquestioningeyes,andansweredwithprincelydignity—

           "IamEdward,KingofEngland."

           Awildburstoflaughterfollowed,partlyofderisionandpartlyofdelightintheexcellenceofthejoke.TheKingwasstung.Hesaidsharply—

           "Yemannerlessvagrants,isthisyourrecognitionoftheroyalboonIhavepromised?"

           Hesaidmore,withangryvoiceandexcitedgesture,butitwaslostinawhirlwindoflaughterandmockingexclamations.