Hendon made no outcry (Хендон не издал ни крика) under the scourge (под плетью), but bore the heavy blows (но сносил тяжелые удары; to bear — носить) with soldierly fortitude (с солдатской стойкостью). This (это), together with his redeeming the boy (вместе с его освобождением мальчика) by taking his stripes for him (принятием его порки ради него), compelled the respect (вызвало уважение) of even that forlorn and degraded mob (даже той жалкой и низкой толпы) that was gathered there (которая была собрана там); and its gibes and hootings died away (а ее насмешки и улюлюканья исчезли: «умерли прочь»), and no sound remained (и никакой звук не остался) but the sound of the falling blows (кроме звука обрушивающихся ударов). The stillness that pervaded the place (безмолвие, которое наполнило это место) when Hendon found himself (когда Хендон оказался: «нашел себя»; to find — найти) once more in the stocks (снова в колодках), was in strong contrast (была в сильном контрасте = контрастировало) with the insulting clamour (с оскорбительным гамом) which had prevailed there (который преобладал там) so little a while before (такое малое время прежде = так незадолго до того). The king came softly to Hendon's side (король подошел тихо к Хендону; to come — приходить; side — сторона, бок), and whispered in his ear (и прошептал ему на ухо):
'Kings cannot ennoble thee (короли не могут сделать тебя благородным), thou good, great soul (ты, добрая, великая душа), for One who is higher than kings (ибо Один = Тот, Кто выше, чем короли) hath done that for thee (сделал это для тебя); but a king can confirm thy nobility to men (но король может подтвердить твое благородство перед людьми).' He picked up the scourge from the ground (он подобрал плеть с земли), touched Hendon's bleeding shoulders lightly with it (коснулся кровоточащих плеч Хендона ею), and whispered (и прошептал), 'Edward of England (Эдуард Английский) dubs thee earl (дает тебе титул графа; to dub — проивзодить, давать титул, давать прозвище)!'
paralyze [`pærəlaız], magnanimous [mæg`nænıməs], weigh [weı]
The king was seized. He did not even struggle, so paralyzed was he with the mere thought of the monstrous outrage that was proposed to be inflicted upon his sacred person. History was already defiled with the record of the scourging of an English king with whips — it was an intolerable reflection that he must furnish a duplicate of that shameful page. He was in the toils, there was no help for him; he must either take this punishment or beg for its remission. Hard conditions; he would take the stripes — a king might do that, but a king could not beg.
But meantime, Miles Hendon was resolving the difficulty. 'Let the child go,' said he; 'ye heartless dogs, do ye not see how young and frail he is? Let him go — I will take his lashes.'
'Marry, a good thought — and thanks for it,' said Sir Hugh, his face lighting with a sardonic satisfaction. 'Let the little beggar go, and give this fellow a dozen in his place — an honest dozen, well laid on.' The king was in the act of entering a fierce protest, but Sir Hugh silenced him with the potent remark, 'Yes, speak up, do, and free thy mind — only, mark ye, that for each word you utter he shall get six strokes the more.'
Hendon was removed from the stocks, and his back laid bare; and while the lash was applied the poor little king turned away his face and allowed unroyal tears to channel his cheeks unchecked. 'Ah, brave good heart,' he said to himself, 'this loyal deed shall never perish out of my memory. I will not forget it — and neither shall they!' he added, with passion. While he mused, his appreciation of Hendon's magnanimous conduct grew to greater and still greater dimensions in his mind, and so also did his gratefulness for it. Presently he said to himself, 'Who saves his prince from wounds and possible death — and this he did for me — performs high service; but it is little — it is nothing! — oh, less than nothing! — when 'tis weighed against the act of him who saves his prince from SHAME!'
Hendon made no outcry under the scourge, but bore the heavy blows with soldierly fortitude. This, together with his redeeming the boy by taking his stripes for him, compelled the respect of even that forlorn and degraded mob that was gathered there; and its gibes and hootings died away, and no sound remained but the sound of the falling blows. The stillness that pervaded the place when Hendon found himself once more in the stocks, was in strong contrast with the insulting clamour which had prevailed there so little a while before. The king came softly to Hendon's side, and whispered in his ear:
'Kings cannot ennoble thee, thou good, great soul, for One who is higher than kings hath done that for thee; but a king can confirm thy nobility to men.' He picked up the scourge from the ground, touched Hendon's bleeding shoulders lightly with it, and whispered, 'Edward of England dubs thee earl!'
Hendon was touched (Хендон был тронут). The water welled to his eyes (вода = слезы хлынули к его глазам), yet at the same time (и в то же время) the grisly humor of the situation (мрачный юмор ситуации) and circumstances (и обстоятельств) so undermined his gravity (так подорвали его серьезность) that it was all he could do (что это было все, что он мог сделать) to keep some sign of his inward mirth (чтобы удержать какой-либо признак его внутреннего веселья) from showing outside (от показывания наружу). To be suddenly hoisted (быть внезапно вознесенным), naked and gory (раздетым и окровавленным), from the common stocks (из обычных колодок) to the Alpine altitude and splendor (на альпийскую высоту и великолепие) of an earldom (графского звания), seemed to him the last possibility (казалось ему последней возможностью) in the line of the grotesque (в череде гротеска). He said to himself (он сказал себе), 'Now am I finely tinseled, indeed (теперь я отменно украшен, действительно; to tinsel — украшать мишурой)! The specter-knight (призрачный рыцарь) of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows (Королевства сновидений и теней) is become a specter-earl (стал призрачным графом)! — a dizzy flight (головокружительный взлет) for a callow wing (для неоперившегося крыла)! An this go on (если так пойдет: «это продолжится»; to go on — продолжаться: «идти дальше»), I shall presently be hung (я скоро буду увешан; to hang — висеть, повесить) like a very May-pole (как майский шест) with fantastic gauds (фантастическими безделушками) and make-believe honors (и выдуманными почестями). But I shall value them (но я буду ценить их), all valueless as they are (все ничего не стоящие как они есть = хоть они ничего и не стоят), for the love that doth bestow them (ради любви, которая дарует их). Better these poor mock dignities (лучше эти жалкие потешные звания) of mine (мои), that come unasked (которые приходят непрошеными) from a clean hand (из чистой руки) and a right spirit (и правильного духа), than real ones (чем настоящие /звания/) bought by servility (купленные сервильностью; to buy — купить) from grudging and interested power (у завистливой и корыстной власти).'
The dreaded Sir Hugh (грозный сэр Хью; to dread — страшиться) wheeled his horse about (развернул своего коня; to wheel — поворачивать), and, as he spurred away (и, пока он пришпоривал /коня/ прочь), the living wall divided silently (живая стена расступилась безмолвно) to let him pass (чтобы дать ему пройти), and as silently closed together again (и так же безмолвно сомкнулась вместе снова). And so remained (и так осталась); nobody went so far as to venture (никто не пошел так далеко, чтобы отважиться на) a remark in favor of the prisoner (замечание в пользу узника), or in compliment to him (или в похвалу ему); but no matter (но /это не имело/ никакого значения), the absence of abuse (отсутствие оскорблений) was a sufficient homage (было достаточным почитанием) in itself (само по себе). A late comer (один поздно пришедший) who was not posted (который не был осведомлен) as to the present circumstances (о настоящих обстоятельствах), and who delivered a sneer (произнес издевательство) at the 'impostor' (в адрес «самозванца») and was in the act (и был в действии = собирался) of following it (сопроводить его) with a dead cat (дохлой кошкой), was promptly knocked down (был живо сбит с ног; to knock — стучать) and kicked out (и выкинут; to kick — бить, пинать), without any words (без каких-либо слов), and then the deep quiet (и тогда глубокая тишина) resumed sway (возобновила господство = возобладала) once more (снова).