hurriedly [`hAr?dl?], whirlwind [`w?:lw?nd], crew [kru:]

A ringing voice came through the murky air:

'Thou shalt not! — and this day the end of that law is come!'

All turned, and saw the fantastic figure of the little king approaching hurriedly; as it emerged into the light and was clearly revealed, a general explosion of inquiries broke out:

'Who is it ? What is it? Who art thou, manikin?'

The boy stood unconfused in the midst of all those surprised and questioning eyes, and answered with princely dignity:

'I am Edward, king of England.'

A wild burst of laughter followed, partly of derision and partly of delight in the excellence of the joke. The king was stung. He said sharply:

'Ye mannerless vagrants, is this your recognition of the royal boon I have promised?'

He said more, with angry voice and excited gesture, but it was lost in a whirlwind of laughter and mocking exclamations. 'John Hobbs' made several attempts to make himself heard above the din, and at last succeeded — saying:

'Mates, he is my son, a dreamer, a fool, and stark mad — mind him not — he thinketh he is the king.'

'I am the king,' said Edward, turning toward him, 'as thou shalt know to thy cost, in good time. Thou hast confessed a murder — thou shalt swing for it.'

'Thou'lt betray me! — thou? An I get my hands upon thee —'

'Tut-tut!' said the burly Ruffler, interposing in time to save the king, and emphasizing this service by knocking Hobbs down with his fist, 'hast respect for neither kings nor Rufflers? An thou insult my presence so again, I'll hang thee up myself.' Then he said to his majesty, 'Thou must make no threats against thy mates, lad; and thou must guard thy tongue from saying evil of them elsewhere. Be king, if it please thy mad humor, but be not harmful in it. Sink the title thou hast uttered — 'tis treason; we be bad men, in some few trifling ways, but none among us is so base as to be traitor to his king; we be loving and loyal hearts, in that regard. Note if I speak truth. Now — all together: "Long live Edward, King of England!"'

'LONG LIVE EDWARD, KING OF ENGLAND!'

The response came with such a thunder-gust from the motley crew that the crazy building vibrated to the sound. The little king's face lighted with pleasure for an instant, and he slightly inclined his head and said with grave simplicity:

'I thank you, my good people.'

This unexpected result threw the company into convulsions of merriment. When something like quiet was presently come again, the Ruffler said, firmly, but with an accent of good nature:

'Drop it, boy, 'tis not wise, nor well. Humor thy fancy, if thou must, but choose some other title.'

A tinker (один бродячий ремесленник) shrieked out a suggestion (прокричал предложение):

'Foo-foo the First, king of the Mooncalves (Фу-Фу Первый, король дурачков)!'

The title 'took' at once (этот титул «взял» = понравился сразу; to take — брать), every throat responded (каждая глотка ответила), and a roaring shout sent up (и ревущий крик раздался; to send up — взрывать), of (= а именно):

'Long live Foo-foo the First, king of the Mooncalves (да здравствует Фу-фу Первый, король дурачков)!' followed (следуемый = за которым последовали) by hootings, cat-calls, and peals of laughter (улюлюканье, кошачий вой и раскаты хохота).

'Hale him forth (тащите его вперед), and crown him (и коронуйте его)!'

'Robe him (одеть его)!'

'Scepter him (дать ему скипетр)!'

'Throne him (посадить на трон)!'

These and twenty other cries broke out at once (эти и двадцать других криков раздались сразу; to break out — раздаваться); and almost before the poor little victim could draw a breath (и почти прежде, чем бедная маленькая жертва смогла вдохнуть: «втянуть дыхание» = в мгновение ока) he was crowned with a tin basin (он был коронован оловянным тазом), robed in a tattered blanket (облачен в потрепанное одеяло), throned upon a barrel (усажен /как на трон/ на бочку), and sceptered (и наделен скипетром) with tinker's soldering-iron (паяльником лудильщика). Then all flung themselves upon their knees about him (затем все бросились на колени вокруг него; to fling — бросать) and sent up a chorus of ironical wailings (и вознесли хор ироничных ироничных воплей; to send — посылать), and mocking supplications (и издевательских молений), while they swabbed their eyes with their soiled and ragged sleeves and aprons (пока они вытирали свои глаза своими засаленными и рваными рукавами и передниками):

'Be gracious to us (будь милостив к нам), O sweet king (о, любезный король)!'

'Trample not upon thy beseeching worms (не попирай твоих молящих червей), O noble majesty (о, благородное Величество)!'

'Pity thy slaves (пожалей твоих рабов), and comfort them with a royal kick (и осчастливь их королевским пинком)!'

'Cheer us (ободри нас) and warm us with thy gracious rays (и согрей нас твоими милостивыми лучами), O flaming sun of sovereignty (о, пылающее солнце самодержавия)!'

'Sanctify the ground with the touch of thy foot (освяти землю прикосновением твоей стопы), that we may eat the dirt and be ennobled (чтобы мы могли есть эту грязь и быть облагороженными)!'

'Deign to spit upon us, O sire (соизволь плюнуть на нас, о сир), that our children's children may tell (чтобы дети наших детей могли рассказывать) of thy princely condescension (о твоей княжеской снисходительности = милосердии), and be proud and happy forever (и быть гордыми и счастливыми навсегда)!'

But the humorous tinker (но остроумный ремесленник) made the 'hit' of the evening (сделал = стал гвоздем вечера) and carried off the honors (и унес прочь = выиграл почести). Kneeling (коленопреклоненный), he pretended (он сделал вид) to kiss the king's foot (целовать = что целует ногу короля), and was indignantly spurned (и был с презрением пнут); whereupon (после чего) he went about begging for a rag to paste (он ходил вокруг, прося тряпку, чтобы обвязать = которую он мог бы повязать; to go — ходить) over the place upon his face (на том месте на его лице) which had been touched by the foot (которое было задето ногой), saying it must be preserved from contact with the vulgar air (говоря, что оно должно быть сохранено охранять от контакта с общим воздухом), and that he should make his fortune (и что он должен составить свое состояние) by going on the highway (пойдя на большую дорогу) and exposing it to view (и выставляя его на обозрение) at the rate of a hundred shillings a sight (по цене 100 шиллингов на взгляд). He made himself so killingly funny (он сделал себя столь убийственно смешным) that he was the envy and admiration (что он был предметом зависти и восхищения) of the whole mangy rabble (всего паршивого сброда).

Tears of shame and indignation (слезы стыда и негодования) stood in the little monarch's eyes (стояли в глазах маленького монарха; to stand — стоять); and the thought in his heart was (и мысль в его сердце была), 'Had I offered them a deep wrong (если бы я принес им тяжкое зло = если бы я их тяжко обидел) they could not be more cruel (они не могли бы быть более жестокими) — yet have I proffered naught (а я не предложил им ничего) but to do them a kindness (кроме как совершить им благодеяние) — and it is thus they use me for it (и вот как они обращаются со мной за это)!'

scepter [`sept?], condescension [kOnd?`senS(?)n], preserve [pr?`z?:v]

A tinker shrieked out a suggestion:

'Foo-foo the First, king of the Mooncalves!'

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