'Learn ye all, ladies, lords and gentlemen (узнайте вы все, леди, лорды и джентльмены), that this is my trusty and well-beloved servant Miles Hendon (что это мой доверенный и возлюбленный слуга Майлс Хендон), who interposed his good sword (который вмешался: «вставил между» своим добрым мечом) and saved his prince from bodily harm (и спас своего принца от телесного вреда) and possible death (и возможной смерти) — and for this he is a knight (и за это он — рыцарь), by the king's voice (по голосу = решению короля). Also learn (также знайте), that for a higher service (что за еще более высокую службу), in that (/заключающуюся/ в том, что) he saved his sovereign stripes and shame (он спас своего суверена от порки и позора), taking these upon himself (приняв их на себя), he is a peer of England (он — пэр Англии), Earl of Kent (граф Кентский), and shall have gold and lands (и получит золото и земли) meet for the dignity (соответствующие этому титулу). More (более того) — the privilege which he hath just exercised (привилегия, которой он только что воспользовался; to exercise — осуществить, проявить) is his by royal grant (его = принадлежит ему по королевского дару); for we have ordained (ибо мы предписали) that the chiefs of his line (чтобы главы его рода) shall have and hold the right (имели и удерживали право) to sit in the presence of the majesty of England henceforth (сидеть в присутствии величества = короля Англии с сего времени), age after age (век за веком), so long as the crown shall endure (так долго, как корона будет длиться). Molest him not (не досаждайте ему).'

judgment [`GAGmənt], vigor [`vıgə], clown [klaun]

He hurried away, leaving the prisoner in the grip of the halberdiers.

'Now is my evil luck ended at last,' muttered Hendon, 'for I shall dangle at a rope's end for a certainty, by reason of that bit of writing. And what will become of my poor lad! — ah, only the good God knoweth.'

By and by he saw the officer coming again, in a great hurry; so he plucked his courage together, purposing to meet his trouble as became a man. The officer ordered the men to loose the prisoner and return his sword to him; then bowed respectfully, and said:

'Please you, sir, to follow me.'

Hendon followed, saying to himself, 'An I were not travelling to death and judgment, and so must needs economize in sin, I would throttle this knave for his mock courtesy.'

The two traversed a populous court, and arrived at the grand entrance of the palace, where the officer, with another bow, delivered Hendon into the hands of a gorgeous official, who received him with profound respect and led him forward through a great hall, lined on both sides with rows of splendid flunkies (who made reverential obeisance as the two passed along, but fell into death-throes of silent laughter at our stately scarecrow the moment his back was turned), and up a broad staircase, among flocks of fine folk, and finally conducted him to a vast room, clove a passage for him through the assembled nobility of England, then made a bow, reminded him to take his hat off, and left him standing in the middle of the room, a mark for all eyes, for plenty of indignant frowns, and for a sufficiency of amused and derisive smiles.

Miles Hendon was entirely bewildered. There sat the young king, under a canopy of state, five steps away, with his head bent down and aside, speaking with a sort of human bird of paradise — a duke, maybe; Hendon observed to himself that it was hard enough to be sentenced to death in the full vigor of life, without having this peculiarly public humiliation added. He wished the king would hurry about it — some of the gaudy people near by were becoming pretty offensive. At this moment the king raised his head slightly and Hendon caught a good view of his face. The sight nearly took his breath away! He stood gazing at the fair young face like one transfixed; then presently ejaculated:

'Lo, the lord of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows on his throne!'

He muttered some broken sentences, still gazing and marveling; then turned his eyes around and about, scanning the gorgeous throng and the splendid saloon, murmuring, 'But these are real — verily these are real — surely it is not a dream.'

He stared at the king again — and thought, 'Is it a dream?... or is he the veritable sovereign of England, and not the friendless poor Tom o' Bedlam I took him for — who shall solve me this riddle?'

A sudden idea flashed in his eye, and he strode to the wall, gathered up a chair, brought it back, planted it on the floor, and sat down in it!

A buzz of indignation broke out, a rough hand was laid upon him, and a voice exclaimed:

'Up, thou mannerless clown! — wouldst sit in the presence of the king?'

The disturbance attracted his majesty's attention, who stretched forth his hand and cried out:

'Touch him not, it is his right!'

The throng fell back, stupefied. The king went on:

'Learn ye all, ladies, lords and gentlemen, that this is my trusty and well-beloved servant, Miles Hendon, who interposed his good sword and saved his prince from bodily harm and possible death — and for this he is a knight, by the king's voice. Also learn, that for a higher service, in that he saved his sovereign stripes and shame, taking these upon himself, he is a peer of England, Earl of Kent, and shall have gold and lands meet for the dignity. More — the privilege which he hath just exercised is his by royal grant; for we have ordained that the chiefs of his line shall have and hold the right to sit in the presence of the majesty of England henceforth, age after age, so long as the crown shall endure. Molest him not.'

Two persons (два человека), who, through delay (которые, из-за задержки; through — через), had only arrived from the country during this morning (только лишь прибыли из деревни в течение этого утра), and had now been in this room only five minutes (и теперь были в этой комнате только пять минут), stood listening to these words (стояли, слушая эти слова) and looking at the king (и глядя на короля), then at the scarecrow (затем на пугало), then at the king again (затем на короля снова), in a sort of torpid bewilderment (в оцепенелом удивлении). These were Sir Hugh and the Lady Edith (это были сэр Хью и леди Эдит). But the new earl did not see them (но новый граф не видел их). He was still staring at the monarch (он все еще глядел на монарха), in a dazed way (пораженно), and muttering (и бормоча):

'Oh, body o' me (о, Боже мой)! This my pauper (это мой нищий)! This my lunatic (это мой безумец)! This is he whom I would show (это он = тот, кому я хотел показать) what grandeur was (что такое великолепие), in my house of seventy rooms (в моем доме с семидесятью комнатами) and seven and twenty servants (и двадцатью семью слугами)! This is he who had never known aught (это он = тот, который никогда не знал ничего: «чего-либо») but rags for raiment (кроме лохмотьев в качестве одеяния), kicks for comfort (пинков в качестве ласки), and offal for diet (и отбросов в качестве пропитания)! This is he whom I adopted (это он = тот, кого я принял, как сына) and would make respectable (и хотел сделать приличным)! Would God (пожелал бы Бог) I had a bag (чтобы у меня был мешок) to hide my head in (чтобы спрятать мою голову в /нем/)!'

Then his manners suddenly came back to him (затем его манеры внезапно пришли назад = вернулись к нему; to come — приходить), and he dropped upon his knees (и он упал на колени), with his hands between the king's (со своими руками между /рук/ короля), and swore allegiance (и поклялся в верности; to swear — клясться) and did homage (и поблагодарил: «сделал почтение») for his lands and titles (за свои земли и титулы). Then he rose (затем он поднялся; to rise — подниматься) and stood respectfully aside (и встал уважительно в стороне; to stand — стоять), a mark still for all eyes (мишень все еще для всех глаз) — and much envy, too (и для большой зависти также).