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

Hendon was touched. The water welled to his eyes, yet at the same time the grisly humor of the situation and circumstances so undermined his gravity that it was all he could do to keep some sign of his inward mirth from showing outside. To be suddenly hoisted, naked and gory, from the common stocks to the Alpine altitude and splendor of an earldom, seemed to him the last possibility in the line of the grotesque. He said to himself, 'Now am I finely tinseled, indeed! The specter-knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows is become a specter-earl! — a dizzy flight for a callow wing! An this go on, I shall presently be hung like a very May-pole with fantastic gauds and make-believe honors. But I shall value them, all valueless as they are, for the love that doth bestow them. Better these poor mock dignities of mine, that come unasked from a clean hand and a right spirit, than real ones bought by servility from grudging and interested power.'

The dreaded Sir Hugh wheeled his horse about, and, as he spurred away, the living wall divided silently to let him pass, and as silently closed together again. And so remained; nobody went so far as to venture a remark in favor of the prisoner, or in compliment to him; but no matter, the absence of abuse was a sufficient homage in itself. A late comer who was not posted as to the present circumstances, and who delivered a sneer at the 'impostor' and was in the act of following it with a dead cat, was promptly knocked down and kicked out, without any words, and then the deep quiet resumed sway once more.

CHAPTER XXIX (Глава двадцать девятая)

To London (В Лондон)

WHEN Hendon's term of service (когда срок отбывания наказания Хендона; term — срок) in the stocks (в колодках) was finished (был окончен), he was released (он был отпущен) and ordered (и получил приказ; to order — приказывать) to quit the region (покинуть эту местность) and come back no more (и не возвращаться больше: «приходить назад не больше»). His sword was restored to him (его меч был возвращен ему), and also his mule and his donkey (а также его мул и его осел). He mounted and rode off (он взобрался и уехал прочь; to ride — ездить верхом), followed by the king (сопровождаемый королем), the crowd opening (толпа раскрывшаяся = причем толпа расступилась) with quiet respectfulness (с молчаливым уважением) to let them pass (чтобы дать им пройти), and then dispersing (и затем разошлась) when they were gone (когда они ушли).