'Of a surety thou must remember me, my lord. I am thy whipping-boy.

'My whipping-boy?'

'The same, your grace, I am Humphrey — Humphrey Marlow.'

Tom perceived that here was some one whom his keepers ought to have told him about. The situation was delicate. What should he do? — pretend he knew this lad, and then betray, by his every utterance, that he had never heard of him before? No, that would not do. An idea came to his relief: accidents like this might be likely to happen with some frequency, now that business urgencies would often call Hertford and St. John from his side, they being members of the council of executors; therefore perhaps it would be well to strike out a plan himself to meet the requirements of such emergencies. Yes, that would be a wise course — he would practise on this boy, and see what sort of success he might achieve. So he stroked his brow, perplexedly, a moment or two, and presently said:

'Now I seem to remember thee somewhat — but my wit is clogged and dim with suffering —'

'Alack, my poor master!' ejaculated the whipping-boy, with feeling; adding, to himself, 'In truth 'tis as they said — his mind is gone — alas, poor soul! But misfortune catch me, how am I forgetting! they said one must not seem to observe that aught is wrong with him.'

''Tis strange how my memory doth wanton with me these days (это странно, как = какие шутки моя память играет со мной в эти дни; to wanton — резвиться, забавляться),' said Tom (сказал Том). 'But mind it not (но не обращай на это внимания) — I mend apace (я поправляюсь быстро) — a little clue (маленький ключ) doth often serve (обычно служит) to bring me back again the things and names which had escaped me (чтобы принести мне обратно вещи и имена, которые от меня убежали = которые я забыл). (And not they, only, forsooth (и не их только, поистине), but e'en such (но даже такие; e’en вместо even — даже) as I ne'er heard before (о которых я никогда не слыхал прежде; to hear — слышать) — as this lad shall see (как этот мальчик увидит).) Give thy business speech (говори о твоем деле: «дай твою деловую речь»).'

''Tis matter of small weight (это дело малого веса = важности), my liege (мой господин), yet will I touch upon it (и все же коснусь я его), an it please your grace (если это порадует вашу милость). Two days gone by (два дня прошедшие = тому назад), when your majesty faulted thrice in your Greek (когда ваше величество ошиблись трижды в вашем греческом) — in the morning lessons (на утренних занятиях) — dost remember it (ты помнишь это)?'

'Ye-e-s- methinks I do (да-а-а-а-а, мне кажется, я вспоминаю). (It is not much of a lie (это не такая уж большая ложь) — if I had meddled with the Greek at all (если бы я связался с греческим вообще), I had not faulted simply thrice (я бы допустил ошибку не просто трижды), but forty times (а 40 раз). Yes, I do recall it now (да, я действительно вспоминаю это теперь) — go on (продолжай: «иди дальше»).'

''The master (учитель), being wroth (будучи разгневанным) with what he termed such slovenly and doltish work (тем, что он назвал такой неопрятной и тупой работой), did promise (пообещал: «сделал пообещать») that he would soundly whip me for it (что он хорошенько высечет меня за это) — and (и) —'

'Whip thee (высечет тебя)!' said Tom (сказал Том), astonished out of his presence of mind (пораженный до глубины души: «из его присутствия сознания»). 'Why should he whip thee for faults of mine (почему должен он сечь тебя за мои ошибки; mine — мой)?'

'Ah, your grace forgetteth again (ах, ваша милость забывает снова). He always scourgeth me (он всегда сечет меня), when thou dost fail (когда ты проваливаешься) in thy lessons (на твоих уроках).'

'True, true (верно, верно) — I had forgot (я забыл; to forget — забывать). Thou teachest me in private (ты учишь меня наедине) — then if I fail (потом, если я провалюсь), he argueth that thy office was lamely done, and (он утверждает, что твоя работа была плохо сделана и…) —'

'Oh, my liege, what words are these (о, мой господин, что это за слова)? I, the humblest of thy servants (я, ничтожнейший из твоих слуг), presume to teach thee (осмеливаюсь учит тебя)!'

'Then where is thy blame (тогда где = в чем твоя вина)? What riddle is this (что это за загадка)? Am I in truth gone mad (действительно ли я сошел с ума; to go mad — становиться сумасшедшим), or is it thou (или это ты)? Explain — speak out (объясни — скажи).'

'But, good your majesty (но, ваше величество), there's naught that needeth simplifying (нет ничего, что нуждается в упрощении = подробном объяснении). None may visit the sacred person of the Prince of Wales with blows (никто не может карать священную особу принца Уэльского ударами); wherefore when he faulteth (по каковой причине, когда он делает ошибки), 'tis I that take them (это я, кто принимает их = побои); and meet it is and right (и подобающе это есть и правильно), for that it is mine office (ибо это моя служба) and my livelihood (и мой источник пропитания).

Tom stared at the tranquil boy (Том уставился на спокойного мальчика), observing to himself (говоря себе), 'Lo, it is a wonderful thing (гляди-ка, это удивительная вещь) — a most strange and curious trade (весьма странное и любопытное ремесло); I marvel they have not hired a boy (я удивляюсь, что они не наняли мальчика; to hire — нанимать) to take my combings and my dressings for me (чтобы принимать мои расчесывания и одевания за меня = чтобы их расчесывали и одевали за меня) — would heaven they would (если бы небо велело им сделать это)! — an they will do this thing (если они сделают эту вещь), I will take my lashings in mine own person (я приму свою порку своей собственной персоной), giving thanks to God for the change (вознося благодарения Богу за такую перемену).'

escape [?s`ke?p], private [`pra?v?t], combing [`kqum??]

''Tis strange how my memory doth wanton with me these

days,' said Tom. 'But mind it not — I mend apace — a little clue doth often serve to bring me back again the things and names which had escaped me. (And not they, only, forsooth, but e'en such as I ne'er heard before — as this lad shall see.) Give thy business speech.'

''Tis matter of small weight, my liege, yet will I touch upon it, an it please your grace. Two days gone by, when your majesty faulted thrice in your Greek — in the morning lessons — dost remember it?'

'Ye-e-s- methinks I do. (It is not much of a lie — an I had meddled with the Greek at all, I had not faulted simply thrice, but forty times). Yes, I do recall it now — go on.'

'The master, being wroth with what he termed such slovenly and doltish work, did promise that he would soundly whip me for it — and —'

'Whip thee!' said Tom, astonished out of his presence of mind. 'Why should he whip thee for faults of mine?'

'Ah, your grace forgetteth again. He always scourgeth me, when thou dost fail in thy lessons.'

'True, true — I had forgot. Thou teachest me in private- then if I fail, he argueth that thy office was lamely done, and —'

'Oh, my liege, what words are these? I, the humblest of thy servants, presume to teach thee!'

'Then where is thy blame? What riddle is this? Am I in truth gone mad, or is it thou? Explain- speak out.'

'But, good your majesty, there's naught that needeth simplifying. None may visit the sacred person of the Prince of Wales with blows; wherefore when he faulteth, 'tis I that take them; and meet it is and right, for that it is mine office and my livelihood.'

Tom stared at the tranquil boy, observing to himself, 'Lo, it is a wonderful thing — a most strange and curious trade; I marvel they have not hired a boy to take my combings and my dressings for me — would heaven they would! — an they will do this thing, I will take my lashings in mine own person, giving thanks to God for the change.'