'True, indeed (верно, действительно). I had not thought of that (я не подумал об этом). I will consider of her punishment (я подумаю о ее наказании). Is thy father kind to thee (твой отец добр к тебе)?'

'Not more than Gammer Canty, sir (не больше старухи Кэнти, сэр).'

'Fathers be alike, mayhap (отцы одинаковы, возможно (устар.)). Mine hath not a doll's temper (мой не имеет кукольного = мягкого характера; hath — вместо has). He smiteth with a heavy hand (бьет тяжелой рукой; smiteth вместо smites; to smite — бить), yet spareth me (но щадит меня; to spare — щадить, экономить); he spareth me not always with his tongue, though, sooth to say (он не всегда щадит меня своим языком, однако, правду говоря = ругает). How doth thy mother use thee (как твоя мать обращается с тобой)?'

'She is good, sir (она добра, сэр), and giveth me neither sorrow nor pain (и не дает = причиняет мне ни скорби, ни боли) of any sort (какого-либо рода). And Nan and Bet are like to her in this (и Нэн и Бет похожи на нее в этом).'

'How old be these (сколько им лет)?'

'Fifteen, an it please you, sir (пятнадцать, с вашего позволения, сэр).'

'The Lady Elizabeth, my sister, is fourteen (леди Элизабет, моей сестре, 14) and the Lady Jane Grey, my cousin (а леди Джейн Грей, моя кузина), is of mine own age (моего возраста), and comely and gracious withal (и миловидная и грациозная к тому же); but my sister the Lady Mary, with her gloomy mien and — (но моя сестра леди Мэри, со своей мрачной миной и) Look you (слушай: «смотри ты»): do thy sisters forbid (запрещают ли твои сестры) their servants (своим слугам) to smile (улыбаться), lest the sin destroy their souls (чтобы грех не разрушил их души; lest — чтобы не)?'

'They (они)? Oh, dost think, sir (о, думаешь ли ты, сэр), that they have servants (что у них есть слуги)?'

The little prince contemplated (маленький принц разглядывал) the little pauper (маленького нищего) gravely (серьезно) a moment (минутку), then said (затем сказал):

'And prithee (а прошу /сказать/), why not (почему нет)? Who helpeth them undress at night (кто помогает им раздеваться вечером: «ночью»)? who attireth them when they rise (кто наряжает их, когда они встают)?'

'None (никто) о, sir (о, сэр). Wouldst have them (хотели бы вы (чтобы они) = знайте, что они) take off their garment (снимают свою одежду), and sleep without (и спят без /одежды/) — like the beasts (как звери)?'

'Their garment (свою одежду)! Have they but one (неужели у них только одно /платье/)?'

'Ah, good your worship (ах, ваша милость), what would they do with more (что бы они делали с большим (количеством одежды); more — больше)? Truly (истинно), they have not two bodies each (они не имеют по два тела каждая).'

interfere [ıntə`fıə], encounter [ın`kauntə], precious [`preSəs]

The soldiers presented arms with their halberds, opened the gates, and presented again as the little Prince of Poverty passed in, in his fluttering rags, to join hands with the Prince of Limitless Plenty. Edward Tudor said:

'Thou lookest tired and hungry; thou'st been treated ill. Come with me.'

Half a dozen attendants sprang forward to — I don't know what; interfere, no doubt. But they were waved aside with a right royal gesture, and they stopped stock still where they were like so many statues. Edward took Tom to a rich apartment in the palace, which he called his cabinet. By his command a repast was brought such as Tom had never encountered before except in books. The prince, with princely delicacy and breeding, sent away the servants, so that his humble guest might not be embarrassed by their critical presence; then he sat near by, and asked questions while Tom ate.

'What is thy name, lad?'

'Tom Canty, an it please thee, sir.'

''Tis an odd one. Where dost live?'

'In the city, please thee, sir. Offal Court, out of Pudding Lane.'

'Offal Court! Truly, 'tis another odd one. Hast parents?'

'Parents have I, sir, and a grandam likewise that is but indifferently precious to me, God forgive me if it be offense to say it — also twin sisters, Nan and Bet.'

'Then is thy grandam not overkind to thee, I take it.'

'Neither to any other is she, so please your worship. She hath a wicked heart, and worketh evil all her days.'

'Doth she mistreat thee?'

'There be times that she stayeth her hand, being asleep or overcome with drink; but when she hath her judgment clear again, she maketh it up to me with goodly beatings.'

A fierce look came into the little prince's eyes, and he cried out:

'What! Beatings?'

'O, indeed, yes, please you, sir.'

'Beatings! — and thou so frail and little. Hark ye: before the night come, she shall hie her to the Tower. The king my father —'

'In sooth, you forget, sir, her low degree. The Tower is for the great alone.'

'True, indeed. I had not thought of that. I will consider of her punishment. Is thy father kind to thee?'

'Not more than Gammer Canty, sir.'

'Fathers be alike, mayhap. Mine hath not a doll's temper. He smiteth with a heavy hand, yet spareth me; he spareth me not always with his tongue, though, sooth to say. How doth thy mother use thee?'

'She is good, sir, and giveth me neither sorrow nor pain of any sort. And Nan and Bet are like to her in this.'

'How old be these?'

'Fifteen, an it please you, sir.'

'The Lady Elizabeth, my sister, is fourteen and the Lady Jane Grey, my cousin, is of mine own age, and comely and gracious withal; but my sister the Lady Mary, with her gloomy mien and — Look you: do thy sisters forbid their servants to smile, lest the sin destroy their souls?'

'They? Oh, dost think, sir, that they have servants?'

The little prince contemplated the little pauper gravely a moment, then said:

'And prithee, why not? Who helpeth them undress at night? who attireth them when they rise?'

'None, sir. Wouldst have them take off their garment, and sleep without — like the beasts?'

'Their garment! Have they but one?'

'Ah, good your worship, what would they do with more? Truly, they have not two bodies each.'

'It is a quaint and marvelous thought (это странная и удивительная мысль)! Thy pardon (прости: «твое прощение»), I had not meant (я не имел в виду = не хотел) to laugh (смеяться). But thy good Nan and thy Bet shall have raiment (но твои добрые Нэн и твоя Бет будут иметь одеяния) and lackeys (и лакеев) enow (достаточно; вместо enough), and that soon, too (и это будет скоро; soon — скоро; too — тоже): my cofferer shall look to it (мой казначей присмотрит за этим). No, thank me not (нет, не благодари меня); 'tis nothing (это ничего; ‘tis = it is — это есть). Thou speakest well (ты говоришь хорошо); thou hast an easy grace in it (ты обладаешь легким = природным изяществом в этом). Art learned (ты обучен наукам; art — ты есть, устар. вместо are)?'

'I know not if I am or not, sir (я не знаю, так это или нет). The good priest (добрый священник) that is called Father Andrew (которого зовут отец Эндрю) taught me (научил меня), of his kindness (по своей доброте), from his books (по своим книгам: «из своих книг»).'

'Know'st thou the Latin (знаешь ли ты латынь)?'

'But scantily, sir (только немного, сэр), I doubt (я сомневаюсь).'

'Learn it, lad (выучи ее, паренек): 'tis hard (это тяжело) only at first (только поначалу). The Greek is harder (греческий сложнее); but neither these nor any tongues else, I think (но ни эти, ни какие другие языки, я думаю), are hard to the Lady Elizabeth and my cousin (/не/ сложны для леди Элизабет и моей кузины). Thou shouldst (тебе стоит) hear those damsels (услышать этих девиц) at it (при этом = как они говорят)! But tell me of thy Offal Court (но расскажи мне о своем Тупике Отбросов). Hast thou a pleasant life there (ведешь ли ты приятную жизнь там)?'