limb [l?m], Satan [`se?t(?)n], impatient [?m`pe?S?nt]

'Marry, 'tis done — a goodly piece of work, too, and wrought with expedition. Now will I wake him, apparel him, pour for him, feed him, and then will we hie us to the mart by the Tabard inn in Southwark and — be pleased to rise, my liege! — he answereth not — what ho, my liege! — of a truth must I profane his sacred person with a touch, sith his slumber is deaf to speech. What!'

He threw back the covers — the boy was gone!

He stared about him in speechless astonishment for a moment; noticed for the first time that his ward's ragged raiment was also missing, then he began to rage and storm, and shout for the inn-keeper. At that moment a servant entered with the breakfast.

'Explain, thou limb of Satan, or thy time is come! 'roared the man of war, and made so savage a spring toward the waiter that this latter could not find his tongue, for the instant, for fright and surprise. 'Where is the boy?'

In disjointed and trembling syllables the man gave the information desired.

'You were hardly gone from the place, your worship, when a youth came running and said it was your worship's will that the boy come to you straight, at the bridge-end on the Southwark side. I brought him thither; and when he woke the lad and gave his message, the lad did grumble some little for being disturbed 'so early,' as he called it, but straightway trussed on his rags and went with the youth, only saying it had been better manners that your worship came yourself, not sent a stranger — and so —'

'And so thou'rt a fool! — a fool, and easily cozened — hang all thy breed! Yet mayhap no hurt is done. Possibly no harm is meant the boy. I will go fetch him. Make the table ready. Stay! the coverings of the bed were disposed as if one lay beneath them — happened that by accident?'

'I know not, good your worship. I saw the youth meddle with them- he that came for the boy.'

'Thousand deaths! 'twas done to deceive me — 'tis plain 'twas done to gain time. Hark ye! Was that youth alone?'

'All alone, your worship.'

'Art sure?'

'Sure, your worship.'

'Collect thy scattered wits — bethink thee — take time, man.' After a moment's thought, the servant said:

'When he came, none came with him; but now I remember me that as the two stepped into the throng of the Bridge, a ruffian-looking man plunged out from some near place; and just as he was joining them —'

'What then? — out with it!' thundered the impatient Hendon, interrupting.

'Just then the crowd lapped them up and closed them in, and I saw no more, being called by my master, who was in a rage because a joint that the scrivener had ordered was forgot, though I take all the saints to witness that to blame me for that miscarriage were like holding the unborn babe to judgment for sins com —'

'Out of my sight, idiot! Thy prating drives me mad! Hold! whither art flying? Canst not bide still an instant? Went they toward Southwark?'

'Even so, your worship — for, as I said before, as to that detestable joint, the babe unborn is no whit more blameless than —'

'Art here yet! And prating still? Vanish, lest I throttle thee!' The servitor vanished. Hendon followed after him, passed him, and plunged down the stairs two steps at a stride, muttering, ''Tis that scurvy villain that claimed he was his son. I have lost thee, my poor little mad master — it is a bitter thought — and I had come to love thee so! No! by book and bell, not lost! Not lost, for I will ransack the land till I find thee again. Poor child, yonder is his breakfast — and mine, but I have no hunger now — so, let the rats have it — speed, speed! that is the word!' As he wormed his swift way through the noisy multitudes upon the Bridge, he several times said to himself — clinging to the thought as if it were a particularly pleasing one: 'He grumbled but he went — he went, yes, because he thought Miles Hendon asked it, sweet lad — he would ne'er have done it for another, I know it well!'

TOWARD daylight of the same morning (ближе к дню того самого утра), Tom Canty stirred out of a heavy sleep (Том Кэнти проснулся из тяжелого сна; to stir — шевелить(ся); двигать(ся)) and opened his eyes in the dark (и открыл свои глаза в темноте). He lay silent a few moments (он лежал молча несколько секунд; to lie — лежать), trying to analyze his confused thoughts and impressions (стараясь разобраться в своих смешанных мыслях и впечатлениях), and get some sort of meaning out of them (и добыть какое-нибудь значение из них), then suddenly he burst out (затем вдруг он разразился) in a rapturous but guarded voice (восторженным, но сдержанным голосом):

'I see it all, I see it all (я вижу = понимаю это все)! Now God be thanked (вот Господь да будет возблагодарен), I am, indeed, awake at last (я действительно проснулся наконец)! Come, joy (приди, радость)! vanish, sorrow (исчезни, печаль)! Ho, Nan! Bet (эй, Нэн! Бет)! kick off your straw (скиньте свою солому) and hie ye hither to my side (и спешите сюда, ко мне), till I do pour into your unbelieving ears (пока я не изолью в ваши неверящие уши) the wildest madcap dream (самый дикий безрассудный сон) that ever the spirits of night did conjure up (который когда-либо духи ночи вызывали в воображении) to astonish the soul of man withal (чтобы поразить душу человека этим)!... Ho, Nan, I say! Bet (эй, Нэн, я говорю, Бет)!'...

A dim form appeared (тусклая фигура появилась) at his side (рядом с ним: «у его бока»), and a voice said (и какой-то голос сказал):

'Wilt deign to deliver thy commands (ты снизойдешь, чтобы отдать твои приказы; to deign — снизойти)?'

'Commands (приказы)?.. Oh, woe is me (о, горе мне), I know thy voice (я знаю твой голос)! Speak, thou (говори) — who am I (кто я)?'

'Thou (ты)? In sooth, yesternight (поистине, вчерашней ночью) wert thou the Prince of Wales (был ты принцем Уэльским), to-day art thou my most gracious liege (сегодня ты мой милостивый властелин), Edward, king of England (Эдуард, король Англии).'

Tom buried his head among his pillows (Том зарыл свою голову в подушки; among — посреди), murmuring plaintively (бормоча жалобно):

'Alack, it was no dream (увы, это был не сон)! Go to thy rest (иди к твоему отдыху = отдыхай), sweet sir (милый, сэр) — leave me to my sorrows (оставь меня моим печалям).'

Tom slept again (Том заснул снова), and after a time he had this pleasant dream (и спустя некоторое время он увидел этот = следующий приятный сон). He thought it was summer and he was playing (он думал, что стояло лето и он играл), all alone (совсем один), in the fair meadow (на красивом лугу) called Goodman's Fields (называемом Поля Гудмена), when a dwarf only a foot high (когда карлик высотой всего лишь в фут), with long red whiskers and a humped back (с длинными рыжими усами и горбатой спиной), appeared to him suddenly (показался ему внезапно) and said (и сказал), 'Dig, by that stump (копай у этого пня).' He did so (он сделал так), and found twelve bright new pennies (и нашел двенадцать блестящих новеньких пенни; to find — находить) — wonderful riches (удивительные сокровища)! Yet this was not the best of it (и это было не самое лучшее); for the dwarf said (ибо карлик сказал):

'I know thee (я знаю тебя). Thou art a good lad and deserving (ты хороший мальчик и достойный); thy distresses (твои беды) shall end (закончатся), for the day of thy reward is come (ибо день твоего вознаграждения пришел). Dig here every seventh day (копай здесь каждый седьмой день), and thou shalt find always the same treasure (и ты найдешь всегда то же самое сокровище), twelve bright new pennies (двенадцать ярких новых пенсов). Tell none — keep the secret (не говори никому — храни эту тайну).'