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

The title 'took' at once, every throat responded, and a roaring shout sent up, of:

'Long live Foo-foo the First, king of the Mooncalves!' followed by hootings, cat-calls, and peals of laughter.

'Hale him forth, and crown him!'

'Robe him!'

'Scepter him!'

'Throne him!'

These and twenty other cries broke out at once; and almost before the poor little victim could draw a breath he was crowned with a tin basin, robed in a tattered blanket, throned upon a barrel, and sceptered with tinker's soldering-iron. Then all flung themselves upon their knees about him and sent up a chorus of ironical wailings, and mocking supplications, while they swabbed their eyes with their soiled and ragged sleeves and aprons:

'Be gracious to us, O sweet king!'

'Trample not upon thy beseeching worms, O noble majesty!'

'Pity thy slaves, and comfort them with a royal kick!'

'Cheer us and warm us with thy gracious rays, O flaming sun of sovereignty!'

'Sanctify the ground with the touch of thy foot, that we may eat the dirt and be ennobled!'

'Deign to spit upon us, O sire, that our children's children may tell of thy princely condescension, and be proud and happy forever!'

But the humorous tinker made the 'hit' of the evening and carried off the honors. Kneeling, he pretended to kiss the king's foot, and was indignantly spurned; whereupon he went about begging for a rag to paste over the place upon his face which had been touched by the foot, saying it must be preserved from contact with the vulgar air, and that he should make his fortune by going on the highway and exposing it to view at the rate of a hundred shillings a sight. He made himself so killingly funny that he was the envy and admiration of the whole mangy rabble.

Tears of shame and indignation stood in the little monarch's eyes; and the thought in his heart was, 'Had I offered them a deep wrong they could not be more cruel — yet have I proffered naught but to do them a kindness — and it is thus they use me for it!'

CHAPTER XVIII (Глава восемнадцатая)

The Prince with the Tramps (Принц с бродягами)

THE troop of vagabonds (отряд бродяг) turned out at early dawn (выдвинулся на ранней заре), and set forward on their march (и отправился в свой поход). There was a lowering sky overhead (было хмурое небо над головой; to lower — спускаться, опускаться), sloppy ground under foot (слякотная земля под ногами; slop — жидкая грязь; слякоть), and a winter chill in the air (и зимний морозец в воздухе). All gaiety was gone from the company (вся веселость ушла из компании; to go — (у)ходить; gay — веселый, радостный; беззаботный, беспечный /о человеке/); some were sullen and silent (некоторые были угрюмы и молчаливы), some were irritable and petulant (некоторые были раздражительны и обидчивы), none were gentle-humored (никто не был в мягком настроении), all were thirsty (все были жаждущими = хотели пить; thirst — жажда).