Принц і жебрак
The sacrifice
This,togetherwithhisredeemingtheboybytakinghisstripesforhim,compelledtherespectofeventhatforlornanddegradedmobthatwasgatheredthere;anditsgibesandhootingsdiedaway,andnosoundremainedbutthesoundofthefallingblows.Thestillnessthatpervadedtheplace,whenHendonfoundhimselfoncemoreinthestocks,wasinstrongcontrastwiththeinsultingclamourwhichhadprevailedtheresolittleawhilebefore.TheKingcamesoftlytoHendon’sside,andwhisperedinhisear—
"Kingscannotennoblethee,thougood,greatsoul,forOnewhoishigherthankingshathdonethatforthee;butakingcanconfirmthynobilitytomen."Hepickedupthescourgefromtheground,touchedHendon’sbleedingshoulderslightlywithit,andwhispered,"EdwardofEnglanddubstheeEarl!"
Hendonwastouched.Thewaterwelledtohiseyes,yetatthesametimethegrislyhumourofthesituationandcircumstancessounderminedhisgravitythatitwasallhecoulddotokeepsomesignofhisinwardmirthfromshowingoutside.Tobesuddenlyhoisted,nakedandgory,fromthecommonstockstotheAlpinealtitudeandsplendourofanEarldom,seemedtohimthelastpossibilityinthelineofthegrotesque.Hesaidtohimself,"NowamIfinelytinselled,indeed!Thespectre-knightoftheKingdomofDreamsandShadowsisbecomeaspectre-earl—adizzyflightforacallowwing!An’thisgoon,Ishallpresentlybehunglikeaverymaypolewithfantasticgaudsandmake-believehonours
