Принц и нищий
Le Roi est mort — vive le Roi
Thouartagoodlad,andadeserving;thydistressesshallend,forthedayofthyrewardiscome.Dighereeveryseventhday,andthoushaltfindalwaysthesametreasure,twelvebrightnewpennies.Tellnone—keepthesecret."
Thenthedwarfvanished,andTomflewtoOffalCourtwithhisprize,sayingtohimself,"EverynightwillIgivemyfatherapenny;hewillthinkIbeggedit,itwillgladhisheart,andIshallnomorebebeaten.Onepennyeveryweekthegoodpriestthatteachethmeshallhave;mother,Nan,andBettheotherfour.Webedonewithhungerandrags,now,donewithfearsandfretsandsavageusage."
Inhisdreamhereachedhissordidhomealloutofbreath,butwitheyesdancingwithgratefulenthusiasm;castfourofhispenniesintohismother’slapandcriedout—
"Theyareforthee!—allofthem,everyone!—fortheeandNanandBet—andhonestlycomeby,notbeggednorstolen!"
Thehappyandastonishedmotherstrainedhimtoherbreastandexclaimed—
"Itwaxethlate—mayitpleaseyourMajestytorise?"
Ah!thatwasnottheanswerhewasexpecting.Thedreamhadsnappedasunder—hewasawake.
Heopenedhiseyes—therichlycladFirstLordoftheBedchamberwaskneelingbyhiscouch.Thegladnessofthelyingdreamfadedaway—thepoorboyrecognisedthathewasstillacaptiveandaking.Theroomwasfilledwithcourtiersclothedinpurplemantles—themourningcolour—andwithnobleservantsofthemonarch.Tomsatupinbedandgazedoutfromtheheavysilkencurtainsuponthisfinecompany.
