Принц і жебрак

           "Godrequitethymercy,OmyKing,andsavetheelongtoblessthyland!"Thenspringingup,heturnedajoyfulfacetowardthetwolordsinwaiting,andexclaimed,"Thouheard’stit!Iamnottodie:theKinghathsaidit!"Therewasnomovement,savethatallbowedwithgraverespect;butnoonespoke.Hehesitated,alittleconfused,thenturnedtimidlytowardtheKing,saying,"Imaygonow?"

           "Go?Surely,ifthoudesirest.Butwhynottarryyetalittle?Whitherwould’stgo?"

           Tomdroppedhiseyes,andansweredhumbly—

           "PeradventureImistook;butIdidthinkmefree,andsowasImovedtoseekagainthekennelwhereIwasbornandbredtomisery,yetwhichharbourethmymotherandmysisters,andsoishometome;whereasthesepompsandsplendourswhereuntoIamnotused—oh,pleaseyou,sir,toletmego!"

           TheKingwassilentandthoughtfulawhile,andhisfacebetrayedagrowingdistressanduneasiness.Presentlyhesaid,withsomethingofhopeinhisvoice—

           "Perchanceheisbutmaduponthisonestrain,andhathhiswitsunmarredastouchethothermatter.Godsenditmaybeso!Wewillmaketrial."

           ThenheaskedTomaquestioninLatin,andTomansweredhimlamelyinthesametongue.Thelordsanddoctorsmanifestedtheirgratificationalso.TheKingsaid—

           "‘Twasnotaccordingtohisschoolingandability,butshoweththathismindisbutdiseased,notstrickenfatally.Howsayyou,sir?"