idol [`aid(ə)l], menial [`mi:nıəl], beneath [bı`ni:θ]

In Fenchurch Street a 'fair child, in costly apparel,' stood on a stage to welcome his majesty to the city. The last verse of his greeting was in these words:

Welcome, O King! as much as hearts can think;

Welcome again, as much as tongue can tell —

Welcome to joyous tongues, and hearts that will not shrink;

God thee preserve, we pray, and wish thee ever well.

The people burst forth in a glad shout, repeating with one voice what the child had said. Tom Canty gazed abroad over the surging sea of eager faces, and his heart swelled with exultation; and he felt that the one thing worth living for in this world was to be a king, and a nation's idol. Presently he caught sight, at a distance, of a couple of his ragged Offal Court comrades — one of them the lord high admiral in his late mimic court, the other the first lord of the bedchamber in the same pretentious fiction; and his pride swelled higher than ever. Oh, if they could only recognize him now! What unspeakable glory it would be, if they could recognize him, and realize that the derided mock king of the slums and back alleys was become a real king, with illustrious dukes and princes for his humble menials, and the English world at his feet! But he had to deny himself, and choke down his desire, for such a recognition might cost more than it would come to; so he turned away his head, and left the two soiled lads to go on with their shoutings and glad adulations, unsuspicious of whom it was they were lavishing them upon.

Every now and then rose the cry, 'A largess! a largess!' and Tom responded by scattering a handful of bright new coins abroad for the multitude to scramble for.

The chronicler says, 'At the upper end of Gracechurch Street, before the sign of the Eagle, the city had erected a gorgeous arch, beneath which was a stage, which stretched from one side of the street to the other. This was a historical pageant, representing the king's immediate progenitors. There sat Elizabeth of York in the midst of an immense white rose, whose petals formed elaborate furbelows around her; by her side was Henry VII, issuing out of a vast red rose, disposed in the same manner; the hands of the royal pair were locked together, and the wedding-ring ostentatiously displayed. From the red and white roses proceeded a stem, which reached up to a second stage, occupied by Henry VIII, issuing from a red-and-white rose, with the effigy of the new king's mother, Jane Seymour, represented by his side. One branch sprang from this pair, which mounted to a third stage, where sat the effigy of Edward VI himself, enthroned in royal majesty; and the whole pageant was framed with wreaths of roses, red and white.'

This quaint and gaudy spectacle (это необычное и пышное зрелище) so wrought upon the rejoicing people (так подействовало на радующихся людей; wrought — устар. от to work — работать), that their acclamations utterly smothered (что их восклицания совершенно заглушили; to smother — душить, замять) the small voice of the child (маленький = слабый голос ребенка) whose business it was (чьим делом было) to explain the thing (разъяснить эту вещь = картину) in eulogistic rhymes (в хвалебных стихах). But Tom Canty was not sorry (но Том Кэнти не жалел об этом: «не был сожалеющим»); for this loyal uproar (ибо этот верноподданный гам) was sweeter music to him than any poetry (был сладчайшей музыкой для него, чем любая поэзия), no matter (неважно: «никакого значения») what its quality might be (каким его качество могло быть). Whithersoever Tom turned (куда бы Том не обратил) his happy young face (свое счастливое юное лицо), the people recognized the exactness (люди признавали точность) of his effigy's likeness to himself (сходства его статуи с ним самим), the flesh-and-blood counterpart (двойником из плоти и крови); and new whirlwinds of applause burst forth (и новые вихри аплодисментов взорвались; to burst forth: «взорваться вперед»).

The great pageant (великая процессия) moved on (двигалась дальше), and still on (и еще дальше), under one triumphal arch (под одной триумфальной аркой) after another (за другой), and past a bewildering succession (и мимо изумительной череды) of spectacular and symbolical tableaux (захватывающих и символических картин), each of which typified (каждая из которых олицетворяла) and exalted some virtue (и превозносила какую-либо добродетель), or talent, or merit (или талант, или заслугу), of the little king's (маленького короля). 'Throughout the whole of Cheapside (по всему Чипсайду), from every penthouse and window (с каждого навеса и окна), hung banners and streamers (свисали знамена и вымпелы; to hang — висеть); and the richest carpets (и богатейшие ковры), stuffs (материи), and cloth-of-gold (и золотая парча) tapestried the streets (устилали улицы) — specimens of the great wealth (образчики великого богатства) of the stores within (запасов внутри /этих домов/); and the splendor of this thoroughfare (и великолепие этой улицы; thoroughfare — оживленная улица; главная артерия /города/, главная дорога) was equaled in the other streets (было воспроизведено на других улицах; to equal — уравнять), and in some even surpassed (а в некоторых даже превзойдено).'

'And all these wonders and these marvels (и все эти диковины и эти чудеса) are to welcome me (/должны/ приветствовать меня) — me (меня)!' murmured Tom Canty (пробормотал Том Кэнти).

The mock king's cheeks (щеки потешного короля) were flushed with excitement (раскраснелись от возбуждения), his eyes were flashing (его глаза сверкали), his senses swam in a delirium of pleasure (его чувства купались в исступлении удовольствия; to swim — плавать). At this point (в этот момент), just as he was raising his hand (прямо когда он поднимал свою руку) to fling another rich largess (чтобы бросить еще одну богатую милостыню), he caught sight (он поймал вид = заметил) of a pale, astounded face (бледное, изумленное лицо) which was strained forward out of the second rank of the crowd (которое было вытянуто вперед из второго ряда толпы), its intense eyes riveted upon him (его напряженные глаза прикованные к нему). A sickening consternation (тошнотворное оцепенение) struck through him (пронзило его; to strike through: «ударить через»); he recognized his mother (он узнал свою мать)! and up flew his hand (и вверх взлетела его рука; to fly — лететь), palm outward (ладонью наружу), before his eyes (перед его глазами) — that old involuntary gesture (этот старый непроизвольный жест), born of a forgotten episode (рожденный из забытого эпизода; to bear — рождать; to forget — забывать), and perpetuated by habit (и увековеченный привычкой). In an instant more (в следующий момент: «в момент больше») she had torn her way (она пробила себе путь; to tear — рвать) out of the press (из давки), and past the guards (и мимо стражников), and was at his side (и подбежала к нему: «и была у его бока»). She embraced his leg (она обхватила его ногу), she covered it with kisses (она покрыла ее поцелуями), she cried (она закричала), 'O, my child (о, мое дитя), my darling (мой дорогой)!' lifting toward him a face (поднимая к нему лицо) that was transfigured with joy and love (которое было преображенное радостью и любовью). The same instant (в то же мгновение) an officer of the King's Guard (офицер из королевской стражи) snatched her away (отхватил ее прочь = оттащил ее) with a curse (с проклятьем), and sent her reeling back (и послал ее катящейся назад) whence she came (откуда она пришла) with a vigorous impulse from his strong arm (энергичным толчком его сильной руки). The words (слова) 'I do not know you, woman (я не знаю вас, женщина)!' were falling from Tom Canty's lips (падали с губ Тома Кэнти) when this piteous thing occurred (когда эта достойная сожаления случилась); but it smote him (но это поразило его; to smite — ударять) to the heart (в самое сердце) to see her treated so (увидеть, что с ней так обращаются; to treat — обращаться); and as she turned (и когда она повернулась) for a last glimpse of him (для последнего взгляда на него), whilst the crowd was swallowing her from his sight (пока толпа поглощала ее из его вида), she seemed so wounded (она казалась такой уязвленной), so broken-hearted (такой убитой горем: «с разбитым сердцем»), that a shame fell upon him (что стыд напал на него; to fall — падать) which consumed his pride to ashes (который истребил его гордость в пепел), and withered his stolen royalty (и засушило = помрачило его украденное королевское положение). His grandeurs were stricken valueless (его великолепия стали не имеющими ценности; to strike — бить; value — ценность); they seemed to fall away from him (они, казалось, отвалились от него; to seem — казаться) like rotten rags (как гнилые лохмотья; to rot — гнить).