Принц и нищий
The Prince with the peasants
Itwasamightyrelieftohimtopourouthistroubleswheretheywouldnotbescoffedatordoubted;sohetoldhistalewithfeeling,forgettingevenhishungerforthetime;anditwasreceivedwiththedeepestandtenderestsympathybythegentlelittlemaids.Butwhenhegotdowntohislatestexperiencesandtheylearnedhowlonghehadbeenwithoutfood,theycuthimshortandhurriedhimawaytothefarmhousetofindabreakfastforhim.
TheKingwascheerfulandhappynow,andsaidtohimself,"WhenIamcometomineownagain,Iwillalwayshonourlittlechildren,rememberinghowthatthesetrustedmeandbelievedinmeinmytimeoftrouble;whilsttheythatwereolder,andthoughtthemselveswiser,mockedatmeandheldmeforaliar."
Thechildren’smotherreceivedtheKingkindly,andwasfullofpity;forhisforlornconditionandapparentlycrazedintellecttouchedherwomanlyheart.Shewasawidow,andratherpoor;consequentlyshehadseentroubleenoughtoenablehertofeelfortheunfortunate.Sheimaginedthatthedementedboyhadwanderedawayfromhisfriendsorkeepers;soshetriedtofindoutwhencehehadcome,inorderthatshemighttakemeasurestoreturnhim;butallherreferencestoneighbouringtownsandvillages,andallherinquiriesinthesamelinewentfornothing—theboy’sface,andhisanswers,too,showedthatthethingsshewastalkingofwerenotfamiliartohim.
