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

'Learn it, lad: 'tis hard only at first. The Greek is harder; but neither these nor any tongues else, I think, are hard to the Lady Elizabeth and my cousin. Thou shouldst hear those damsels at it! But tell me of thy Offal Court. Hast thou a pleasant life there?'

'In truth, yes, so please you, sir, save when one is hungry. There be Punch-and-Judy shows, and monkeys — oh, such antic creatures! and so bravely dressed! — and there be plays wherein they that play do shout and fight till all are slain, and 'tis so fine to see, and costeth but a farthing — albeit 'tis main hard to get the farthing, please your worship.'

'Tell me more.'

'We lads of Offal Court do strive against each other with the cudgel, like to the fashion of the 'prentices, sometimes.'

The prince's eyes flashed. Said he:

'Marry, that would I not mislike. Tell me more.'

'We strive in races, sir, to see who of us shall be fleetest.'

'That would I like also. Speak on.'

'In summer, sir, we wade and swim in the canals and in the river, and each doth duck his neighbor, and spatter him with water, and dive and shout and tumble and —'

''Twould be worth my father's kingdom but to enjoy it once! Prithee go on.'

'We dance and sing about the Maypole in Cheapside; we play in the sand, each covering his neighbor up; and times we make mud pastry — oh, the lovely mud, it hath not its like for delightfulness in all the world! — we do fairly wallow in the mud, sir, saving your worship's presence.'

'Oh, prithee, say no more, 'tis glorious! If that I could but clothe me in raiment like to thine, and strip my feet, and revel in the mud once, just once, with none to rebuke me or forbid, meseemeth I could forego the crown!'

'And if that I could clothe me once (а если бы я мог облачить себя один раз), sweet sir (милый сир), as thou art clad (как вы одеты) — just once (только разок) —'

'Oho (ого), wouldst like it (тебе бы это понравилось)? Then so shall it be (тогда так и будет). Doff thy rags (снимай твои лохмотья), and don (и надевай) these splendors (эти красоты), lad (парень)! It is a brief happiness (это короткое счастье), but will be not less keen for that (но (оно) не будет менее острым от этого). We will have it while we may (мы будем обладать им, пока можем), and change again (и поменяемся снова) before any come to molest (прежде чем кто-нибудь придет = начнет приставать/досаждать).'

A few minutes later (несколькими минутами позже) the little Prince of Wales was garlanded (маленький принц Уэльский был облачен) with Tom's fluttering odds and ends (в развевающееся тряпье Тома), and the little Prince of Pauperdom (а маленький принц Царства бедноты) was tricked out (был выряжен) in the gaudy plumage of royalty (в яркий наряд члена королевской фамилии). The two went (двое пошли) and stood side by side (и встали бок о бок) before a great mirror (перед большим зеркалом), and lo (и глянь-ка), a miracle (чудо): there did not seem to have been any change made (казалось, не произошло никакой перемены)! They stared at each other (они уставились друг на друга), then at the glass (потом на зеркало), then at each other again (потом друг на друга снова). At last the puzzled princeling said (наконец озадаченный принц сказал):

'What dost thou make of this? (что ты об этом думаешь: «что ты делаешь из этого»)'