Принц и нищий
Tom receives instructions
DostnotrecallhowthattheoldBaronMarley,beingmad,forgotthefavourofhisowncountenancethathehadknownforsixtyyears,andhelditwasanother’s;nay,evenclaimedhewasthesonofMaryMagdalene,andthathisheadwasmadeofSpanishglass;and,soothtosay,hesufferednonetotouchit,lestbymischancesomeheedlesshandmightshiverit?Givethymisgivingseasement,goodmylord.Thisistheveryprince—Iknowhimwell—andsoonwillbethyking;itmayadvantagetheetobearthisinmind,andmoredwelluponitthantheother."
Aftersomefurthertalk,inwhichtheLordSt.Johncovereduphismistakeaswellashecouldbyrepeatedproteststhathisfaithwasthoroughlygroundednow,andcouldnotbeassailedbydoubtsagain,theLordHertfordrelievedhisfellow-keeper,andsatdowntokeepwatchandwardalone.Hewassoondeepinmeditation,andevidentlythelongerhethought,themorehewasbothered.By-and-byhebegantopacethefloorandmutter.
"Tush,hemustbetheprince!Willanybeinallthelandmaintaintherecanbetwo,notofonebloodandbirth,somarvellouslytwinned?Andevenwereitso,‘twereyetastrangermiraclethatchanceshouldcasttheoneintotheother’splace.Nay,‘tisfolly,folly,folly!"
Presentlyhesaid—
"Nowwereheimpostorandcalledhimselfprince,lookyouthatwouldbenatural;thatwouldbereasonable.Butlivedeveranimpostoryet,who,beingcalledprincebytheking,princebythecourt,princebyall,deniedhisdignityandpleadedagainsthisexaltation?No!BythesoulofSt.Swithin,no!Thisisthetrueprince,gonemad!"
