Принц і жебрак
Tom as a Patrician
Greatnobleswalkeduponeachsideofhim,makinghimleanuponthem,andsosteadyhissteps.Behindhimfollowedthecourt-physiciansandsomeservants.
PresentlyTomfoundhimselfinanobleapartmentofthepalaceandheardthedoorclosebehindhim.Aroundhimstoodthosewhohadcomewithhim.Beforehim,atalittledistance,reclinedaverylargeandveryfatman,withawide,pulpyface,andasternexpression.Hislargeheadwasverygrey;andhiswhiskers,whichheworeonlyaroundhisface,likeaframe,weregreyalso.Hisclothingwasofrichstuff,butold,andslightlyfrayedinplaces.Oneofhisswollenlegshadapillowunderit,andwaswrappedinbandages.Therewassilencenow;andtherewasnoheadtherebutwasbentinreverence,exceptthisman’s.Thisstern-countenancedinvalidwasthedreadHenryVIII.Hesaid—andhisfacegrewgentleashebegantospeak—
"Hownow,mylordEdward,myprince?Hastbeenmindedtocozenme,thegoodKingthyfather,wholoveththee,andkindlyuseththee,withasorryjest?"
PoorTomwaslistening,aswellashisdazedfacultieswouldlethim,tothebeginningofthisspeech;butwhenthewords‘me,thegoodKing’felluponhisear,hisfaceblanched,andhedroppedasinstantlyuponhiskneesasifashothadbroughthimthere.Liftinguphishands,heexclaimed—
"ThoutheKing?ThenamIundoneindeed!"
ThisspeechseemedtostuntheKing.Hiseyeswanderedfromfacetofaceaimlessly,thenrested,bewildered,upontheboybeforehim.Thenhesaidinatoneofdeepdisappointment—