отведут меня во дворец) and prove that I am none of theirs (и докажут, что я не из их /числа/), but the true prince (но истинный принц), and I shall have mine own again (и я получу свое собственное опять = обратно).' And now and then his mind reverted (и сейчас и тогда = все время его мысли возвращались; mind — сознание) to his treatment (к обращению с ним = к тому, как с ним обращались) by those rude Christ's Hospital boys (этими грубыми мальчишками из Дома Христа), and he said (и он сказал), 'When I am king (когда я стану королем), they shall not have bread and shelter only (они будут иметь не только хлеб и кров; only — только), but also teachings out of books (он также учение из книг); for a full belly (так как полный живот) is little worth (немногого стоит) where the mind is starved (где = если ум голодает), and the heart (как и сердце). I will keep this diligently in my remembrance (я буду хранить это прилежно в моей памяти), that this day's lesson be not lost upon me (чтобы урок этого дня не не был потерян = потрачен зря на меня; to lose — терять), and my people suffer thereby (и мои люди (бы не) страдали от этого); for learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity (ибо учение смягчает сердце и сеет доброту и милосердие; softeneth и breedeth — устар. вместо softens и breeds; to breed — разводить, вскармливать)'.
native [`neıtıv], reverence [`revərəns], instead [ın`sted]
The boys stopped their play and flocked about the prince, who said with native dignity:
'Good lads, say to your master that Edward Prince of Wales desireth speech with him.'
A great shout went up at this, and one rude fellow said:
'Marry, art thou his grace's messenger, beggar?' The prince's face flushed with anger, and his ready hand flew to his hip, but there was nothing there. There was a storm of laughter, and one boy said:
'Didst mark that? He fancied he had a sword — belike he is the prince himself.'
This sally brought more laughter. Poor Edward drew himself up proudly and said:
'I am the prince; and it ill beseemeth you that feed upon the king my father's bounty to use me so.'
This was vastly enjoyed, as the laughter testified. The youth who had first spoken shouted to his comrades:
'Ho, swine, slaves, pensioners of his grace's princely father, where be your manners? Down on your marrow bones, all of ye, and do reverence to his kingly port and royal rags!'
With boisterous mirth they dropped upon their knees in a body and did mock homage to their prey. The prince spurned the nearest boy with his foot, and said fiercely:
'Take thou that, till the morrow come and I build thee a gibbet!'
Ah, but this was not a joke — this was going beyond fun. The laughter ceased on the instant and fury took its place. A dozen shouted:
'Hale him forth! To the horse-pond, to the horse-pond! Where be the dogs? Ho, there, Lion! ho, Fangs!'
Then followed such a thing as England had never seen before — the sacred person of the heir to the throne rudely buffeted by plebeian hands, and set upon and torn by dogs.
As night drew to a close that day, the prince found himself far down in the close-built portion of the city. His body was bruised, his hands were bleeding, and his rags were all besmirched with mud. He wandered on and on, and grew more and more bewildered, and so tired and faint he could hardly drag one foot after the other. He had ceased to ask questions of any one, since they brought him only insult instead of information. He kept muttering to himself, 'Offal Court — that is the name; if I can but find it before my strength is wholly spent and I drop, then am I saved — for his people will take me to the palace and prove that I am none of theirs, but the true prince, and I shall have mine own again.' And now and then his mind reverted to his treatment by those rude Christ's Hospital boys, and he said, 'When I am king, they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books; for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved, and the heart. I will keep this diligently in my remembrance, that this day's lesson be not lost upon me, and my people suffer thereby; for learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity.'
The lights began to twinkle (огни начали мигать; to begin — начинать), it came on to rain (полил дождь; to come — приходить), the wind rose (ветер поднялся; to rise — подниматься), and a raw and gusty night set in (и промозглая и ветреная ночь наступила; to set in — начинаться, наступать; gust — порыв ветра). The houseless prince (лишенный крова принц), the homeless heir to the throne of England (бездомный наследник престола Англии), still moved on (все еще двигался дальше), drifting deeper into the maze of squalid alleys (забредая глубже в лабиринт убогих переулков) where the swarming hives (где кишащие ульи) of poverty and misery (бедности и горя) were massed together (были собраны вместе).
Suddenly a great drunken ruffian (вдруг большой пьяный хулиган/негодяй) collared him (схватил его за воротник; collar — воротник) and said (и сказал):
'Out to this time of night again (на улице: «снаружи» до этого часа снова), and hast not brought a farthing home (и не принес ни фартинга домой), I warrant me (ручаюсь)! If it be so (если это так), an’ I do not break all the bones in thy lean body (и я не переломаю все кости в твоем тощем теле), then am I not John Canty, but some other (тогда я не Джон Кэнти, а кто-то другой).'
The prince twisted himself loose (принц вывернулся; loose — свободный), unconsciously brushed his profaned shoulder (неосознанно потер свое оскверненное плечо), and eagerly said (и сказал с чувством):
'Oh, art his father (о, ты его отец), truly (истинно)? Sweet heaven grant it be so (дай Бог: «небеса да дадут» чтобы это было так) — then wilt thou fetch him away (тогда уведешь ты его прочь) and restore me (и вернешь (на место) меня)!'
'His father (его отец)? I know not what thou mean'st (я не знаю, что ты имеешь в виду); I but know I am thy father (я только знаю /что/ я твой отец), as thou shalt soon have cause to (как тебе вскоре представится случай) —'
'Oh, jest not (о, не шути — устар. вместо don’t jest), palter not (не лукавь; to palter — изворачиваться; ухищряться; кривить душой; плутовать, хитрить), delay not (не медли)! — I am worn (я измотан; to wear — носить (одежду); снашиваться; изнурять), I am wounded (я изранен), I can bear no more (я не могу вынести больше). Take me to the king my father (возьми = отведи меня к королю, моему отцу), and he will make thee rich beyond thy wildest dreams (и он сделает тебя богатым, как ты не смел и мечтать: «за пределами твоих самых необузданных мечтаний»; wild — дикий). Believe me, man (поверь мне, (добрый) человек), believe me (поверь мне)! I speak no lie (я не говорю ложь), but only the truth (но только правду)! — put forth thy hand (протяни свою руку) and save me (и спаси меня)! I am indeed the Prince of Wales (я действительно принц Уэльский)!'
The man stared down (человек уставился вниз), stupefied (ошеломленный; to stupefy — притуплять; ошеломлять), upon the lad (на паренька), then shook his head and muttered (затем покачал головой и пробормотал; to shake — трясти):
'Gone stark mad as any Tom o' Bedlam (сошел совсем с ума, как какой-нибудь Том из Бедлама; to go mad — сойти с ума)!' — then collared him once more (затем схватил его за воротник еще раз), and said with a coarse laugh (и сказал с грубым смехом) and an oath (и проклятьем), 'But mad or no mad (но безумен ты или не безумен), I and thy Gammer Canty (я и твоя бабка Кэнти) will soon find where the soft places in thy bones lie (пересчитаем тебе ребра: «скоро найдем, где мягкие места в твоих костях лежат»), or I'm no true man (или я не честный человек)!'
With this (с этим = на этом) he dragged (он потащил) the frantic and struggling prince away (обезумевшего и борящегося принца прочь), and disappeared up a front court (и исчез в переднем дворе) followed by a delighted and noisy swarm of human vermin (провожаемый веселящейся и шумной толпой сброда: «человеческих паразитов»; vermin — паразиты (насекомые); вредители).
misery [`mızərı], loose [lu:s], wound [wund], stupefy [`stju:pıfaı]
The lights began to twinkle, it came on to rain, the wind rose, and a raw and gusty night set in. The houseless prince, the homeless heir to the throne of England, still moved on, drifting deeper into the maze of squalid alleys where the swarming hives of poverty and misery were massed together.
Suddenly a great drunken ruffian collared him and said:
'Out to this time of night again, and hast not brought a farthing home, I warrant me! If it be so, an’ I do not break all the bones in thy lean body, then am I not John Canty, but some other.'
The prince twisted himself loose, unconsciously brushed his profaned shoulder, and eagerly said:
'Oh, art his father, truly? Sweet heaven grant it be so — then wilt thou fetch him away and restore me!'
'His father? I know not what thou mean'st; I but know I am thy father, as thou shalt soon have cause to —'
'Oh, jest not, palter not, delay not! — I am worn, I am wounded, I can bear no more. Take me to the king my father, and he will make thee rich beyond thy wildest dreams. Believe me, man, believe me! I speak no lie, but only the truth! — put forth thy hand and save me! I am indeed the Prince of Wales!'
The man stared down, stupefied, upon the lad, then shook his head and muttered:
'Gone stark mad as any Tom o' Bedlam!' — then collared him once more, and said with a coarse laugh and an oath, 'But mad or no mad, I and thy Gammer Canty will soon find where the soft places in thy bones lie, or I'm no true man!'