'For a jest, my prince (для шутки, мой король), we did exchange garments (мы обменялись одеждами). Then we stood before a mirror (затем мы встали перед зеркалом; to stand — стоять); and so alike were we (и так похожи мы были) that both said it seemed (что оба сказали, что показалось) as if there had been no change made (будто не было никакой перемены совершено) — yes, you remember that (да, ты помнишь это). Then you noticed (потом ты заметил) that the soldier had hurt my hand (что солдат повредил мою руку) — look (взгляни)! here it is (вот она), I cannot yet even write with it (я не могу еще даже писать ей), the fingers are so stiff (пальцы такие негибкие). At this your Highness sprang up (при этом ваше высочество вскочили), vowing vengeance (давая обет отмщения) upon that soldier (этому солдату), and ran toward the door (и побежали к двери; to run — бежать) — you passed a table (вы пробежали мимо стола) — that thing you call the Seal (та вещь, которую вы называете Печатью) lay on that table (лежала на том столе; to lie — лежать) — you snatched it up (вы подхватили ее: «схватили вверх») and looked eagerly about (и осмотрелись напряженно: «усердно» вокруг), as if for a place (как будто в поисках места) to hide it (чтобы спрятать ее) — your eye caught sight of (ваш взор поймал вид = увидел; to catch — ловить) —'

'There, 'tis sufficient (вот, этого достаточно)! — and the dear God be thanked (и добрый Бог да будет возблагодарен)!' exclaimed the ragged claimant (воскликнул оборванный претендент), in a mighty excitement (в сильном возбуждении). 'Go, my good St. John (иди, милорд Сент-Джон) — in an arm-piece of the Milanese armor (в рукавице миланского панциря) that hangs on the wall (что висит на стене), thou'lt find the Seal (ты найдешь Печать)!'

'Right, my king (верно, мой король)! Right (верно)!' cried Tom Canty (вскричал Том Кэнти); 'now the scepter of England is thine own (теперь скипетр Англии твой собственный); and it were better for him (и было бы лучше для него = для того) that would dispute it (кто вздумал бы оспорить это) that he had been born dumb (чтобы он родился немым)! Go, my Lord St. John (иди, милорд Сент-Джон), give thy feet wings (дай своим ногам крылья)!'

brow [brau], elusive [ı`lu:sıv], vengeance [`venGəns]

A silence ensued, undisturbed by a movement or a whisper, and all eyes were fixed upon the new-comer, who stood, with bent head and corrugated brow, groping in his memory among a thronging multitude of valueless recollections for one single little elusive fact, which found, would seat him upon a throne — unfound, would leave him as he was, for good and all — a pauper and an outcast. Moment after moment passed — the moments built themselves into minutes — still the boy struggled silently on, and gave no sign. But at last he heaved a sigh, shook his head slowly, and said, with a trembling lip and in a despondent voice:

'I call the scene back — all of it — but the Seal hath no place in it.' He paused, then looked up, and said with gentle dignity, 'My lords and gentlemen, if ye will rob your rightful sovereign of his own for lack of this evidence which he is not able to furnish, I may not stay ye, being powerless. But —'

'O folly, O madness, my king!' cried Tom Canty, in a panic, 'wait! — think! Do not give up! — the cause is not lost! Nor shall be, neither! List to what I say — follow every word — I am going to bring that morning back again, every hap just as it happened. We talked — I told you of my sisters, Nan and Bet — ah, yes, you remember that; and about mine old grandma — and the rough games of the lads of Offal Court — yes, you remember these things also; very well, follow me still, you shall recall everything. You gave me food and drink, and did with princely courtesy send away the servants, so that my low breeding might not shame me before them — ah, yes, this also you remember.'

As Tom checked off his details, and the other boy nodded his head in recognition of them, the great audience and the officials stared in puzzled wonderment; the tale sounded like true history, yet how could this impossible conjunction between a prince and a beggar boy have come about? Never was a company of people so perplexed, so interested, and so stupefied, before.

'For a jest, my prince, we did exchange garments. Then we stood before a mirror; and so alike were we that both said it seemed as if there had been no change made — yes, you remember that. Then you noticed that the soldier had hurt my hand — look! here it is, I cannot yet even write with it, the fingers are so stiff. At this your Highness sprang up, vowing vengeance upon that soldier, and ran toward the door — you passed a table — that thing you call the Seal lay on that table — you snatched it up and looked eagerly about, as if for a place to hide it — your eye caught sight of —'

'There, 'tis sufficient! — and the dear God be thanked!' exclaimed the ragged claimant, in a mighty excitement. 'Go, my good St. John — in an arm-piece of the Milanese armor that hangs on the wall, thou'lt find the Seal!'

'Right, my king! right!' cried Tom Canty; 'now the scepter of England is thine own; and it were better for him that would dispute it that he had been born dumb! Go, my Lord St. John, give thy feet wings!'

The whole assemblage (целое = все собрание) was on its feet now (было на своих ногах = вскочило на ноги сейчас), and well-nigh (и почти: «хорошенько-близко») out of its mind with uneasiness (без ума: «из ума» от беспокойства), apprehension (испуга), and consuming excitement (и снедающего возбуждения). On the floor and on the platform (на полу и на помосте) a deafening buzz (оглушающий гул) of frantic conversation burst forth (эмоционального разговора раздался: «прорвался»; to burst forth — прорваться: «взорваться вперед»), and for some time (и какое-то время) nobody knew anything (никто не знал чего-либо; to know — знать) or heard anything (ни слышал чего-либо; to hear — слышать) or was interested in anything (ни был заинтересован в чем-либо) but what his neighbor (кроме /того/, что его сосед) was shouting into his ear (кричал ему в ухо), or he was shouting into his neighbor's ear (или он кричал в ухо своего соседа). Time (время) — nobody knew (никто не знал) how much of it (сколько его) — swept by unheeded and unnoted (проносилось незамечаемое и незамеченное; to sweep by — проноситься мимо). At last a sudden hush (наконец внезапное молчание) fell upon the house (пало на здание), and in the same moment (и в тот же момент) St. John appeared upon the platform (Сент-Джон появился на помосте) and held the Great Seal aloft in his hand (и держал Великую Печать высоко в своей руке; to hold — держать). Then such a shout went up (затем такой крик поднялся; to go up — подняться: «идти вверх»)!

'Long live the true king (да здравствует истинный король)!'

For five minutes the air quaked (в течение пяти минут воздух содрогался) with shouts and the crash of musical instruments (от криков и грохота музыкальных инструментов), and was white with a storm of waving handkerchiefs (и был белым от бури развевающихся платков); and through it all (и все это время: «через это все») a ragged lad (оборванный мальчуган), the most conspicuous figure in England (самая заметная фигура в Англии), stood, flushed (стоял, покрасневший; to stand — стоять) and happy and proud (и счастливый, и гордый), in the center of the spacious platform (в центре этого просторного помоста), with the great vassals of the kingdom (с великими вассалами королевства) kneeling around him (коленопреклоненными вокруг него).

Then all rose (затем все встали; to rise — вставать), and Tom Canty cried out (и Том Кэнти прокричал):

'Now, O my king (теперь, о, мой король), take these regal garments back (возьми эти королевские одежды назад), and give poor Tom, thy servant (и отдай бедному Тому, твоему слуге), his shreds and remnants again (его лохмотья и обрезки опять).'