Принц і жебрак
In Prison
Boththegirlsscreamedcontinually,andfoughtforfreedom;butsuddenlythistumultwasdrownedunderavolleyofheart-piercingshrieksofmortalagony—theKingglancedfromthefranticgirlstothestake,thenturnedawayandleanedhisashenfaceagainstthewall,andlookednomore.Hesaid,"ThatwhichIhaveseen,inthatonelittlemoment,willnevergooutfrommymemory,butwillabidethere;andIshallseeitallthedays,anddreamofitallthenights,tillIdie.WouldGodIhadbeenblind!"
HendonwaswatchingtheKing.Hesaidtohimself,withsatisfaction,"Hisdisordermendeth;hehathchanged,andgrowethgentler.Ifhehadfollowedhiswont,hewouldhavestormedatthesevarlets,andsaidhewasKing,andcommandedthatthewomenbeturnedlooseunscathed.Soonhisdelusionwillpassawayandbeforgotten,andhispoormindwillbewholeagain.Godspeedtheday!"
Thatsamedayseveralprisonerswerebroughtintoremainovernight,whowerebeingconveyed,underguard,tovariousplacesinthekingdom,toundergopunishmentforcrimescommitted.TheKingconversedwiththese—hehadmadeitapoint,fromthebeginning,toinstructhimselfforthekinglyofficebyquestioningprisonerswhenevertheopportunityoffered—andthetaleoftheirwoeswrunghisheart.Oneofthemwasapoorhalf-wittedwomanwhohadstolenayardortwoofclothfromaweaver—shewastobehangedforit.
