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

'I will despatch the business right willingly, fair sir.'

'Then say Miles Hendon, son of Sir Richard, is here without — I shall be greatly bounden to you, my good lad.'

The boy looked disappointed — 'the king did not name him so,' he said to himself — 'but it mattereth not, this is his twin brother, and can give his majesty news of t'other Sir-Odds-and-Ends, I warrant.' So he said to Miles, 'Step in there a moment, good sir, and wait till I bring you word.'

Hendon retired to the place indicated — it was a recess sunk in the palace wall, with a stone bench in it — a shelter for sentinels in bad weather. He had hardly seated himself when some halberdiers, in charge of an officer, passed by. The officer saw him, halted his men, and commanded Hendon to come forth. He obeyed, and was promptly arrested as a suspicious character prowling within the precincts of the palace. Things began to look ugly. Poor Miles was going to explain, but the officer roughly silenced him, and ordered his men to disarm him and search him.

'God of his mercy grant that they find somewhat,' said poor Miles; 'I have searched enow, and failed, yet is my need greater than theirs.'

Nothing was found but a document. The officer tore it open, and Hendon smiled when he recognized the 'pot-hooks' made by his lost little friend that black day at Hendon Hall. The officer's face grew dark as he read the English paragraph, and Miles blenched to the opposite color as he listened.

'Another new claimant of the crown!' cried the officer. 'Verily they breed like rabbits to-day. Seize the rascal, men, and see ye keep him fast while I convey this precious paper within and send it to the king.

He hurried away (он поспешил прочь), leaving the prisoner in the grip (оставив пленника в хватке = в руках) of the halberdiers (алебардщиков).

'Now is my evil luck ended at last (теперь моя злая удача = судьба закончена наконец),' muttered Hendon (пробормотал Хендон), 'for I shall dangle at a rope's end (ибо я буду болтаться на конце веревки) for a certainty (определенно), by reason of that bit of writing (по причине этого письмеца; bit — кусочек; writing — писание). And what will become of my poor lad (а что станет с моим бедным мальчиком)! — ah, only the good God knoweth (ах, только добрый Бог знает).'

By and by (вскоре) he saw the officer coming again (он увидел офицера, приходящего снова; to see — видеть), in a great hurry (в великой спешке); so he plucked his courage together (так что он собрал /все/ свое мужество; together — вместе), purposing to meet his trouble (намереваясь встретить свою беду) as became a man (как подобало человеку; to become — подобать). The officer ordered the men to loose the prisoner (офицер приказал солдатам отпустить пленника) and return his sword to him (и вернуть его меч ему); then bowed respectfully (затем поклонился почтительно), and said (и сказал):

'Please you, sir (соблаговолите, сэр), to follow me (последовать за мной).'

Hendon followed, saying to himself (Хендон последовал, говоря себе), 'An I were not travelling to death and judgment (если бы я не шествовал к смерти и судилищу), and so must needs economize in sin (и поэтому должен непременно экономить на грехах = совершать их поменьше), I would throttle this knave (я бы придушил этого мерзавца) for his mock courtesy (за его издевательскую любезность).'