It was a good, tight argument (это был хороший, непроницаемый = неоспоримый довод), without a leak in it anywhere (без единой протечки в нем где-либо = без единого слабого места); and it left Prissy's half-doubts not a leg to stand on (и он не оставил полусомнениям Присси ни одной ноги, чтобы стоять на /ней/ = разнес их в пух и прах). She considered a moment (она поразмышляла минутку), then put the king upon his honor (затем положилась на честность короля: «поставила королю на его честь») with the simple remark (простым замечанием):

'If thou art truly the king (если ты воистину король), then I believe thee (тогда я верю тебе).'

'I am truly the king (я воистину король).'

bosom [`buzəm], minutely [maı`nju:tlı], spread [spred]

WHEN the king awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cozy bed for itself in his bosom. Being disturbed now, it scampered away. The boy smiled, and said, 'Poor fool, why so fearful? I am as forlorn as thou. 'Twould be a shame in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless. Moreover, I owe you thanks for a good omen; for when a king has fallen so low that the very rats do make a bed of him, it surely meaneth that his fortunes be upon the turn, since it is plain he can no lower go.'

He got up and stepped out of the stall, and just then he heard the sound of children's voices. The barn door opened and a couple of little girls came in. As soon as they saw him their talking and laughing ceased, and they stopped and stood still, gazing at him with strong curiosity; they presently began to whisper together, then they approached nearer, and stopped again to gaze and whisper. By and by they gathered courage and began to discuss him aloud. One said:

'He hath a comely face.'

The other added:

'And pretty hair.'

'But is ill clothed enow.'

'And how starved he looketh.'

They came still nearer, sidling shyly around and about him, examining him minutely from all points, as if he were some strange new kind of animal; but warily and watchfully the while, as if they half feared he might be a sort of animal that would bite, upon occasion. Finally they halted before him, holding each other's hands for protection, and took a good satisfying stare with their innocent eyes; then one of them plucked up all her courage and inquired with honest directness:

'Who art thou, boy?'

'I am the king,' was the grave answer.

The children gave a little start, and their eyes spread themselves wide open and remained so during a speechless half-minute. Then curiosity broke the silence:

'The king? What king?'

'The king of England.'

The children looked at each other — then at him — then at each other again — wonderingly, perplexedly — then one said:

'Didst hear him, Margery? — he saith he is the king. Can that be true?'

'How can it be else but true, Prissy? Would he say a lie? For look you, Prissy, an it were not true, it would be a lie. It surely would be. Now think on't. For all things that be not true, be lies — thou canst make naught else out of it.'

It was a good, tight argument, without a leak in it anywhere; and it left Prissy's half-doubts not a leg to stand on. She considered a moment, then put the king upon his honor with the simple remark:

'If thou art truly the king, then I believe thee.'

'I am truly the king.'

This settled the matter (это уладило вопрос). His majesty's royalty was accepted (королевский статус его величества был принят) without further question or discussion (без дальнейших расспросов и обсуждения), and the two little girls began at once to inquire (и две маленькие девочки начали сразу же выспрашивать) into how he came to be where he was (о том, как он дошел до того, чтобы оказаться там, где он был), and how he came to be so unroyally clad (и как он дошел до того, чтобы быть так не по-королевски одетым), and whither he was bound (и куда он собирался; bound — намеревающийся), and all about his affairs (и все о его делах). It was a mighty relief to him (это было великим облегчением для него) to pour out his troubles (излить свои несчастья) where they would not be scoffed at or doubted (где они не были бы высмеяны или подвергнуты сомнениям; to scoff at — смеяться над; to doubt — сомневаться); so he told his tale with feeling (так что он рассказал свою историю с чувством; to tell — рассказывать), forgetting even his hunger for the time (забыв даже свой голод на время); and it was received with the deepest and tenderest sympathy (и она была принята с глубочайшим и нежнейшим сочувствием) by the gentle little maids (кроткими маленькими девами). But when he got down to his latest experiences (но когда он принялся за свои последние переживания; to get down — засесть за что-то) and they learned how long he had been without food (и они узнали, как долго он был без еды; to be — быть), they cut him short (они прервали его; to cut — резать; short — короткий) and hurried him away to the farmhouse (и поторопили его прочь к фермерскому дому) to find a breakfast for him (чтобы найти завтрак для него).

The king was cheerful and happy now (король был бодрый и веселый теперь), and said to himself (и сказал себе), 'When I am come to mine own again (когда я приду к своему собственному снова = вернусь к своему положению), I will always honor little children (я всегда буду чтить маленьких детей), remembering how that these trusted me (помня, как вот эти доверились мне) and believed in me in my time of trouble (и поверили в меня в мое время бед); whilst they that were older (в то время как те, кто были старше), and thought themselves wiser (и полагали себя мудрее), mocked at me (смеялись надо мной) and held me for a liar (и держали меня за лгуна = считали меня лгуном; to hold).'

The children's mother received the king kindly (мать детей приняла короля доброжелательно), and was full of pity (и была полна жалости); for his forlorn condition (так как его жалкое состояние) and apparently crazed intellect (и очевидно поврежденный ум) touched her womanly heart (тронули ее женское сердце). She was a widow (она была вдовой), and rather poor (и весьма бедной); consequently she had seen trouble enough to enable her (следовательно, она видала бед достаточно, чтобы сделать ее способной) to feel for the unfortunate (сочувствовать злосчастным). She imagined (она вообразила) that the demented boy (что помешавшийся мальчик) had wandered away from his friends or keepers (отбился от своих друзей и опекунов); so she tried to find out (так что она попыталась выяснить) whence he had come (откуда он пришел), in order that she might take measures to return him (с целью, чтобы она могла принять меры, чтобы вернуть его); but all her references to neighbouring towns and villages (но все ее упоминания соседних городов и деревень), and all her inquiries in the same line (и все ее расспросы в этом же направлении), went for nothing (ушли ни за что = пропали впустую) — the boy's face (лицо мальчика), and his answers, too (и его ответы тоже), showed that the things she was talking of (показывали, что вещи, о которых она говорила) were not familiar to him (не были знакомы ему). He spoke earnestly and simply (он говорил серьезно и просто; to speak — говорить) about court matters (о придворных делах); and broke down (и всплакнул; to break down — ломать(ся), терять самообладание), more than once (больше чем раз), when speaking of the late king 'his father' (говоря о покойном короле «своем отце»); but whenever the conversation changed to baser topics (но когда бы разговор ни менялся = переходил на более простые темы), he lost interest and became silent (он терял интерес и становился молчаливым; to lose — терять; to become — становиться).