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

After a while the weather grew milder, and the clouds lifted somewhat. The troop ceased to shiver, and their spirits began to improve. They grew more and more cheerful, and finally began to chaff each other and insult passengers along the highway. This showed that they were awaking to an appreciation of life and its joys once more. The dread in which their sort was held was apparent in the fact that everybody gave them the road, and took their ribald insolences meekly, without venturing to talk back. They snatched linen from the hedges, occasionally, in full view of the owners, who made no protest, but only seemed grateful that they did not take the hedges, too.

By and by they invaded a small farmhouse and made themselves at home while the trembling farmer and his people swept the larder clean to furnish a breakfast for them. They chucked the housewife and her daughters under the chin while receiving the food from their hands, and made coarse jests about them, accompanied with insulting epithets and bursts of horse-laughter. They threw bones and vegetables at the farmer and his sons, kept them dodging all the time, and applauded uproariously when a good hit was made. They ended by buttering the head of one of the daughters who resented some of their familiarities. When they took their leave they threatened to come back and burn the house over the heads of the family if any report of their doings got to the ears of the authorities.

About noon (около полудня), after a long and weary tramp (после долгого и утомительного перехода), the gang came to a halt (шайка остановилась: «пришла к остановке») behind a hedge (за изгородью) on the outskirts of a considerable village (в окрестностях большой деревни; considerable — значительный, заслуживающий внимания; большой, немалый). An hour was allowed for rest (час был отведен на сон; to allow — позволять), then the crew scattered themselves abroad (затем компания разбрелась в стороны; to scatter — разбрасывать, рассеять(ся)) to enter the village at different points (чтобы войти в деревню в разных местах) to ply their various trades (чтобы заняться своими разными ремеслами). 'Jack' was sent with Hugo («Джек» был послан с Хьюго; to send — посылать). They wandered hither and thither (они бродили туда и сюда) for some time (некоторое время), Hugo watching for opportunities (Хьюго — ищущий возможностей) to do a stroke of business (чтобы совершить какое-нибудь дело; stroke — удар, усилие, ход) but finding none (но не находящий ни одной) — so he finally said (так что он наконец сказал):

'I see naught to steal (я не виду ничего, чтобы украсть); it is a paltry place (это жалкое местечко). Wherefore we will beg (в виду чего мы будем просить подаяния).'

'We, forsooth (мы, конечно)! Follow thy trade (следуй своему ремеслу) — it befits thee (оно подходит тебе). But I will not beg (но я не буду попрошайничать).'

'Thou'lt not beg (ты не будешь попрошайничать)!' exclaimed Hugo (воскликнул Хьюго), eying the king with surprise (разглядывая короля с удивлением). 'Prithee, since when hast thou reformed (пожалуйста, с каких пор ты переменился; when — когда)?'

'What dost thou mean (что ты имеешь в виду)?'

'Mean (имею в виду)? Hast thou not begged (разве ты не попрошайничал) the streets of London all thy life (по улицам Лондона всю твою жизнь)?'

'I (я)? Thou idiot (ты идиот = сдурел)!'