Принц і жебрак
Tom as a Patrician
"Alack,Ihadbelievedtherumourdisproportionedtothetruth;butIfearme‘tisnotso."Hebreathedaheavysigh,andsaidinagentlevoice,"Cometothyfather,child:thouartnotwell."
Tomwasassistedtohisfeet,andapproachedtheMajestyofEngland,humbleandtrembling.TheKingtookthefrightenedfacebetweenhishands,andgazedearnestlyandlovinglyintoitawhile,asifseekingsomegratefulsignofreturningreasonthere,thenpressedthecurlyheadagainsthisbreast,andpattedittenderly.Presentlyhesaid—
"Dostnotknowthyfather,child?Breaknotmineoldheart;saythouknow’stme.Thoudostknowme,dostthounot?"
"Yea:thouartmydreadlordtheKing,whomGodpreserve!"
"True,true—thatiswell—becomforted,tremblenotso;thereisnoneherewouldhurtthee;thereisnoneherebutlovesthee.Thouartbetternow;thyilldreampasseth—is’tnotso?Thouwiltnotmiscallthyselfagain,astheysaythoudidstalittlewhileagone?"
"Ipraytheeofthygracebelieveme,Ididbutspeakthetruth,mostdreadlord;forIamthemeanestamongthysubjects,beingapauperborn,and‘tisbyasoremischanceandaccidentIamhere,albeitIwasthereinnothingblameful.Iambutyoungtodie,andthoucanstsavemewithonelittleword.Ohspeakit,sir!"
"Die?Talknotso,sweetprince—peace,peace,tothytroubledheart—thoushaltnotdie!"
Tomdroppeduponhiskneeswithagladcry—