Английский язык с Марком Твеном. Принц и нищий / Mark Twain. The Prince and the Pauper

'Oh, prithee (о, пожалуйста), no more (не надо больше), my lord (милорд), I cannot bear it (я не могу выносить это)!' cried Tom (вскричал Том), covering his eyes with his hands (закрывая свои глаза руками) to shut out the picture (чтобы не пускать = заглушить картинку). 'I beseech your good lordship (я прошу Вашу светлость) that order be taken (чтобы меры были приняты) to change this law (изменить этот закон) — oh, let no more poor creatures be visited with its tortures (о, пусть больше бедные создания не будут постигаемы его пытками = их не будут так жестоко карать).'

The earl's face showed profound ratification (лицо графа выказало глубокое одобрение), for he was a man of merciful and generous impulses (ибо он был человеком милосердных и великодушных побуждений) — a thing not very common with his class in that fierce age (вещь, не очень обычная для его класса = для людей его положения в тот лютый век).

He said (он сказал):

'These your grace's noble words have sealed its doom (эти благородные слова Вашего величества вынесли окончательный приговор; seal — печать; to seal — скреплять печатью; doom — рок, судьба; /смертный/ приговор). History will remember it to the honor of your royal house (история запомнит это к чести вашего королевского дома).'

The under-sheriff was about (помощник шерифа был готов) to remove his prisoner (убрать = увести своего заключенного/пленника); Tom gave him a sign to wait (Том дал ему знак подождать; to give — давать); then he said (затем он сказал):

'Good sir (добрый сэр), I would look into this matter further (я бы хотел расследовать это дело дальше = тщательнее). The man has said his deed was but lamely proved (этот человек сказал, что его поступок был только плохо доказан). Tell me what thou knowest (расскажи мне, чтó ты знаешь).'

amazed [ə`meızd], degree [dı`gri:], prisoner [`prız(ə)nə]

Tom was amazed. This was not the outcome he had looked for.

'Odds my life, a strange boon! Was it not the fate intended thee?'

'Oh, good my liege, not so! It is ordered that I be boiled alive!'

The hideous surprise of these words almost made Tom spring from his chair. As soon as he could recover his wits he cried out:

'Have thy wish, poor soul! an thou had poisoned a hundred men thou shouldst not suffer so miserable a death.'

The prisoner bowed his face to the ground and burst into passionate expressions of gratitude — ending with:

'If ever thou shouldst know misfortune — which God forbid! — may thy goodness to me this day be remembered and requited!'

Tom turned to the Earl of Hertford, and said:

'My lord, is it believable that there was warrant for this man's ferocious doom?'

'It is the law, your grace — for poisoners. In Germany coiners be boiled to death in oil — not cast in of a sudden, but by a rope let down into the oil by degrees, and slowly; first the feet, then the legs, then —'

'Oh, prithee, no more, my lord, I cannot bear it!' cried Tom, covering his eyes with his hands to shut out the picture. 'I beseech your good lordship that order be taken to change this law — oh, let no more poor creatures be visited with its tortures.'

The earl's face showed profound ratification, for he was a man of merciful and generous impulses — a thing not very common with his class in that fierce age.

He said:

'These your grace's noble words have sealed its doom. History will remember it to the honor of your royal house.'