Mark Twain: Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий (Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper)

The proud and happy Tom Canty rose (гордый и счастливый Том Кэнти встал; to rise — встать) and kissed the king's hand (и поцеловал руку королю), and was conducted from the presence (и был уведен от его величества). He did not waste any time (он не потратил зря никакого времени), but flew to his mother (но кинулся к своей матери; to fly — летать), to tell her and Nan and Bet all about it (рассказать ей и Нэн и Бет все об этом) and get them to help him (и убедить/заставить их помочь ему) enjoy the great news (насладиться великой новостью = разделить с ними радость).

allegiance [ə`li:Gəns], wrath [ra:θ], governor [`gAv(ə)nə]

Two persons, who, through delay, had only arrived from the country during this morning, and had now been in this room only five minutes, stood listening to these words and looking at the king, then at the scarecrow, then at the king again, in a sort of torpid bewilderment. These were Sir Hugh and the Lady Edith. But the new earl did not see them. He was still staring at the monarch, in a dazed way, and muttering:

'Oh, body o' me! This my pauper! This my lunatic! This is he whom I would show what grandeur was, in my house of seventy rooms and seven and twenty servants! This is he who had never known aught but rags for raiment, kicks for comfort, and offal for diet! This is he whom I adopted and would make respectable! Would God I had a bag to hide my head in!'

Then his manners suddenly came back to him, and he dropped upon his knees, with his hands between the king's, and swore allegiance and did homage for his lands and titles. Then he rose and stood respectfully aside, a mark still for all eyes — and much envy, too.

Now the king discovered Sir Hugh, and spoke out, with wrathful voice and kindling eye:

'Strip this robber of his false show and stolen estates, and put him under lock and key till I have need of him.'

The late Sir Hugh was led away.

There was a stir at the other end of the room now; the assemblage fell apart, and Tom Canty, quaintly but richly clothed, marched down, between these living walls, preceded by an usher. He knelt before the king, who said:

'I have learned the story of these past few weeks, and am well pleased with thee. Thou hast governed the realm with right royal gentleness and mercy. Thou hast found thy mother and thy sisters again? Good; they shall be cared for — and thy father shall hang, if thou desire it and the law consent. Know, all ye that hear my voice, that from this day, they that abide in the shelter of Christ's Hospital and share the king's bounty, shall have their minds and hearts fed, as well as their baser parts; and this boy shall dwell there, and hold the chief place in its honorable body of governors, during life. And for that he hath been a king, it is meet that other than common observance shall be his due; wherefore, note this his dress of state, for by it he shall be known, and none shall copy it; and wheresoever he shall come, it shall remind the people that he hath been royal, in his time, and none shall deny him his due of reverence or fail to give him salutation. He hath the throne's protection, he hath the crown's support, he shall be known and called by the honorable title of the King's Ward.'

The proud and happy Tom Canty rose and kissed the king's hand, and was conducted from the presence. He did not waste any time, but flew to his mother, to tell her and Nan and Bet all about it and get them to help him enjoy the great news.

WHEN the mysteries (когда загадки) were all cleared up (были все прояснены), it came out (вышло наружу = выяснилось; to come — приходить), by confession of Hugh Hendon (по признанию Хью Хендона), that his wife had repudiated Miles (что его жена отреклась от Майлса) by his command (по его приказу) that day at Hendon Hall (в тот день в Хендон-холле) — a command assisted and supported (по приказу, поддержанному; to assist — помогать; to support — поддерживать) by the perfectly trustworthy promise (совершенно правдоподобным обещанием) that if she did not deny (что если бы она не отрицала) that he was Miles Hendon (что он Майлс Хендон), and stand firmly to it (и стояла бы твердо на этом), he would have her life (он бы взял ее жизнь = лишил бы ее жизни); whereupon she said take it (на что она сказала — бери ее), she did not value it (она не ценила ее) — and she would not repudiate Miles (и она бы не стала отвергать Майлса); then her husband said (тогда ее муж сказал) he would spare her life (что он пощадит ее жизнь), but have Miles assassinated (но прикажет убить Майлса)! This was a different matter (это было другое дело); so she gave her word and kept it (так что она дала свое слово и сдержала его; to give — давать; to keep — держать, хранить).

Hugh was not prosecuted (Хью не был судим) for his threats (за свои угрозы) or for stealing his brother's estates and title (или за кражу владений и титула своего брата; to steal — красть), because the wife and brother (потому что жена и брат) would not testify against him (не хотели свидетельствовать против него) — and the former (а первой = жене) would not have been allowed to do it (не было бы позволено сделать это), even if she had wanted to (даже если бы она хотела). Hugh deserted his wife (Хью оставил свою жену) and went over to the continent (и сбежал на континент; to go over — сбегать), where he presently died (где он вскоре умер); and by and by the Earl of Kent married his relict (и через некоторое время граф Кентский женился на его вдове). There were grand times and rejoicings at Hendon village (были великие времена и радости в деревне Хендон) when the couple paid their first visit to the Hall (когда эта пара заплатила = нанесла свой первый визит в Холл; to pay — платить).

Tom Canty's father was never heard of again (об отце Тома Кэнти больше никогда не слышали: «отец Тома Кэнти не был никогда слышан о снова»; to hear — слышать).

The king sought out the farmer (король разыскал фермера; to seek out — отыскать) who had been branded and sold as a slave (который был заклеймен и продан как раб; to sell — продавать), and reclaimed him from his evil life (и вытащил его из его злой жизни) with the Ruffler's gang (в шайке атамана), and put him in the way of a comfortable livelihood (и поставил его на путь спокойного дохода; to put — ставить, класть).