writhe [raıð], miracle [`mırəkl], opposite [`opəzıt]

Then immediately Hugo began to moan, and groan, and roll his eyes, and reel and totter about; and when the stranger was close at hand, down he sprawled before him, with a shriek, and began to writhe and wallow in the dirt, in seeming agony.

'O dear, O dear!' cried the benevolent stranger. 'Oh, poor soul, poor soul, how he doth suffer! There — let me help thee up.'

'O, noble sir, forbear, and God love you for a princely gentleman — but it giveth me cruel pain to touch me when I am taken so. My brother there will tell your worship how I am racked with anguish when these fits be upon me. A penny, dear sir, a penny, to buy a little food; then leave me to my sorrows.'

'A penny! thou shalt have three, thou hapless creature' — and he fumbled in his pocket with nervous haste and got them out. 'There, poor lad, take them, and most welcome. Now come hither, my boy, and help me carry thy stricken brother to yon house, where —'

'I am not his brother,' said the king, interrupting.

'What! not his brother?'

'Oh, hear him!' groaned Hugo, then privately ground his teeth. 'He denies his own brother — and he with one foot in the grave!'

'Boy, thou art indeed hard of heart, if this is thy brother. For shame! — and he scarce able to move hand or foot. If he is not thy brother, who is he, then?'

'A beggar and a thief! He has got your money and has picked your pocket likewise. An thou wouldst do a healing miracle, lay thy staff over his shoulders and trust Providence for the rest.'

But Hugo did not tarry for the miracle. In a moment he was up and off like the wind, the gentleman following after and raising the hue and cry lustily as he went. The king, breathing deep gratitude to Heaven for his own release, fled in the opposite direction and did not slacken his pace until he was out of harm's reach. He took the first road that offered, and soon put the village behind him. He hurried along, as briskly as he could, during several hours, keeping a nervous watch over his shoulder for pursuit; but his fears left him at last, and a grateful sense of security took their place. He recognized now that he was hungry; and also very tired. So he halted at a farmhouse; but when he was about to speak, he was cut short and driven rudely away. His clothes were against him.

He wandered on, wounded and indignant, and was resolved to put himself in the way of light treatment no more. But hunger is pride's master; so as the evening drew near, he made an attempt at another farmhouse; but here he fared worse than before; for he was called hard names and was promised arrest as a vagrant except he moved on promptly.

The night came on (ночь наступила; to come on — наступать), chilly and overcast (холодная и облачная); and still the footsore monarch labored slowly on (и все еще со стертыми ногами монарх с трудом продвигался дальше; to labour — /тяжело/ работать). He was obliged to keep moving (он был вынужден продолжать двигаться), for every time he sat down to rest (ибо каждый раз, когда он садился, чтобы передохнуть; to sit down — садиться) he was soon penetrated to the bone with the cold (он бывал скоро пронизан до костей холодом). All his sensations and experiences (все его ощущения и переживания), as he moved through the solemn gloom (пока он двигался сквозь мрачную тьму) and the empty vastness of the night (и пустой простор ночи), were new and strange to him (были новы и странны для него). At intervals he heard voices approach (через интервалы = время от времени он слышал, как какие-то голоса приближались), pass by, and fade into silence (проходили мимо и затухали в тишину); and as he saw nothing more of the bodies they belonged to (и так как он не видел ничего больше от тел, которым они принадлежали) than a sort of formless drifting blur (нежели некое бесформенное перемещающееся пятно), there was something spectral and uncanny about it all (было что-то призрачное и жуткое во всем этом) that made him shudder (что заставляло его вздрагивать). Occasionally (иногда) he caught the twinkle of a light (он улавливал мерцание света; to catch — ловить) — always far away (всегда далеко), apparently (очевидно) — almost in another world (почти в другом мире); if he heard the tinkle (если он слышал треньканье; to hear — слышать) of a sheep's bell (овечьего колокольчика), it was vague (это было смутно), distant (удаленно), indistinct (неясно); the muffled lowing of the herds (приглушенное мычание стад) floated to him on the night wind (прилетало к нему на ночном ветре) in vanishing cadences (в исчезающих звуках), a mournful sound (заунывный звук); now and then came the complaining howl of a dog (сейчас и тогда = время от времени раздавался жалобный вой собаки) over viewless expanses of field and forest (над незримыми просторами полей и лесов); all sounds were remote (все звуки были далеки); they made the little king feel (они заставили маленького короля почувствовать) that all life and activity were far removed from him (что вся жизнь и энергия были далеко убраны от него), and that he stood solitary (и что он стоял одиноко; to stand — стоять), companionless (лишенный товарищей = без друзей), in the center of a measureless solitude (в центре безграничного одиночества).

He stumbled along (он ковылял вперед), through the gruesome fascinations (через ужасные чары) of this new experience (этого нового опыта), startled occasionally (пугаемый иногда) by the soft rustling (тихим шелестом) of the dry leaves overhead (сухих листьев над головой), so like human whispers (так похоже на человеческие перешептывания) they seemed to sound (они казались звучать = они, казалось, звучат); and by and by (и вскоре) he came suddenly upon the freckled light (он набрел внезапно на пятнистый свет) of a tin lantern (жестяного фонаря) near at hand (близко у руки = совсем рядом). He stepped back into the shadows (он отступил назад в тени) and waited (и ждал = стал ждать). The lantern stood by the open door of a barn (фонарь стоял у открытой двери сарая). The king waited some time (король выждал некоторое время) — there was no sound (не было никакого звука), and nobody stirring (и никого шевелящегося; to stir). He got so cold (он сделался таким холодным = так замерз; to get — становиться), standing still (стоя неподвижно), and the hospitable barn looked so enticing (а гостеприимный сарай выглядел так заманчиво), that at last he resolved (что наконец он решился) to risk everything and enter (рискнуть всем и войти). He started swiftly and stealthily (он тронулся поспешно и украдкой), and just as he was crossing the threshold (и прямо когда он пересекал порог) he heard voices behind him (он услышал голоса позади себя; to hear — слышать). He darted behind a cask (он кинулся за бочку), within the barn (в сарай), and stooped down (и склонился вниз = согнулся). Two farm laborers (два батрака: «фермерских работника») came in (вошли внутрь), bringing the lantern with them (внеся фонарь с собой), and fell to work (и принялись за работу; to fall — падать), talking meanwhile (говоря тем временем). Whilst they moved about with the light (пока они двигались вокруг с лампой), the king made good use of his eyes (король сделал хорошее применение из своих глаз = хорошенько огляделся) and took the bearings (и взял направление, азимут = приметил направление) of what seemed to be a good-sized stall (к тому, что казалось хорошего размера стойлом) at the further end of the place (в дальнем углу помещения), purposing to grope his way to it (нацелившись нащупать себе путь к нему) when he should be left to himself (когда он будет оставлен к себе = останется один). He also noted the position of a pile of horse-blankets (он также заметил местоположение груды попон), midway of the route (на середине дороги), with the intent to levy upon them (с намерением завладеть ими) for the service of the crown of England (на службу короне Англии) for one night (на одну ночь).