'Thou'rt a gentle comforter, sweet lady,' said Tom, gratefully, 'and my heart moveth me to thank thee for't, and I may be so bold.'

Once the giddy little Lady Jane fired a simple Greek phrase at Tom. The Princess Elizabeth's quick eye saw by the serene blankness of the target's front that the shaft was overshot; so she tranquilly delivered a return volley of sounding Greek on Tom's behalf, and then straightway changed the talk to other matters.

Time wore on pleasantly, and likewise smoothly, on the whole. Snags and sand-bars grew less and less frequent, and Tom grew more and more at his ease, seeing that all were so lovingly bent upon helping him and overlooking his mistakes. When it came out that the little ladies were to accompany him to the Lord Mayor's banquet in the evening, his heart gave a bound of relief and delight, for he felt that he should not be friendless now, among that multitude of strangers, whereas, an hour earlier, the idea of their going with him would have been an insupportable terror to him.

Tom's guardian angels, the two lords, had had less comfort in the interview than the other parties to it. They felt much as if they were piloting a great ship through a dangerous channel; they were on the alert constantly, and found their office no child's play. Wherefore, at last, when the ladies' visit was drawing to a close and the Lord Guilford Dudley was announced, they not only felt that their charge had been sufficiently taxed for the present, but also that they themselves were not in the best condition to take their ship back and make their anxious voyage all over again. So they respectfully advised Tom to excuse himself, which he was very glad to do, although a slight shade of disappointment might have been observed upon my Lady Jane's face when she heard the splendid stripling denied admittance.

There was a pause now (теперь настала пауза), a sort of waiting silence (что-то вроде ожидающего молчания) which Tom could not understand (которое Том не мог понять). He glanced at Lord Hertford (он взглянул на лорда Хартфорда), who gave him a sign (который подал ему знак) — but he failed to understand that also (но он не смог понять его тоже; to fail — не суметь что-то сделать, провалиться). The ready Elizabeth came to the rescue (готовая Элизабет пришла на помощь) with her usual easy grace (со своим обычным тактом). She made reverence and said (она поклонилась и сказала):

'Have we leave (имеем ли мы позволение) of the prince's grace my brother (от его милости принца, нашего брата) to go (идти)?'

Tom said (Том сказал):

'Indeed (действительно), your ladyships can have (ваши милости могут получить) whatsoever of me they will (что угодно от меня, что они захотят = все, что они хотят от меня), for the asking (за просьбу); yet would I rather give them any other thing (и все же скорее я дал бы им любую другую вещь) that in my poor power lieth (которая будет в моих слабых силах; lieth — устар. вместо lies от to lie — лежать) than leave to take the light and blessing of their presence hence (чем позволение забрать свет и благословение их присутствия отсюда = позволение уйти). Give ye good den (дайте вам хорошее укрытие = прощайте), and God be with ye (и Господь да пребудет с вами; ye — устар. вместо you)!' Then he smiled inwardly (затем он улыбнулся внутренне) at the thought (при мысли), ''tis not for naught (не напрасно; naught — ничто) I have dwelt (я жил; to dwell — проживать) but among princes in my reading (только среди принцев в моем чтении), and taught my tongue some slight trick (и научил свой язык некоторым тонким трюкам) of their broidered and gracious speech (их цветистой и любезной речи) withal (этим = таким образом)!'

When the illustrious maidens were gone (когда блистательные девушки ушли), Tom turned wearily to his keepers and said (Том повернулся устало к своим стражам и сказал):

'May it please your lordships (будут ли так любезны ваши светлости) to grant me leave (дать мне позволение) to go into some corner (пойти в какой-нибудь уголок) and rest me (и отдохнуть: «упокоить меня»)!'

Lord Hertford said (лорд Хартфорд сказал):

'So please your highness (как угодно вашему высочеству), it is for you to command (это вам пристало приказывать: «это есть для вас приказывать»), it is for us to obey (а нам пристало повиноваться). That thou shouldst rest (чтобы ты отдохнул), is indeed a needful thing (есть действительно надобная вещь), since thou must journey to the city presently (ибо ты должен отправиться в город вскоре).'

He touched a bell (он тронул колокольчик) and a page appeared (и появился паж), who was ordered (которому было приказано) to desire the presence of Sir William Herbert (желать присутствия = просить сэра Уильяма Герберта). This gentleman came straightway (этот джентльмен пришел тотчас), and conducted Tom to an inner apartment (и провел Тома во внутренние покои). Tom's first movement there (первым движением Тома там) was to reach (было потянуться) for a cup of water (за кружкой воды); but a silk-and-velvet servitor (но слуга, одетый в шелк и бархат) seized it (схватил ее), dropped upon one knee (рухнул на одно колено), and offered it to him (и предложил ее ему) on a golden salver (на золотом подносе).

Next (затем), the tired captive sat down (усталый пленник сел; to sit — сидеть; to sit down = садиться: «сесть вниз») and was going to take off his buskins (и собирался снять свои башмаки), timidly asking leave with his eye (робко прося разрешения взглядом: «глазом»), but another silk-and-velvet discomforter (но другой шелково-бархатный нарушитель спокойствия) went down upon his knees (опустился на колени) and took the office (и взял на себя это дело: «обязанность») from him (от него). He made two or three further efforts (он сделал еще два или три дальнейших усилия) to help himself (помочь себе = справиться самостоятельно), but being promptly forestalled each time (но будучи быстро опережен каждый раз), he finally gave up (он наконец сдался; to give up — сдаваться), with a sigh of resignation (со вздохом покорности) and a murmured (и сказанными под нос словами; to murmur — бормотать) 'Beshrew me (будь я проклят; to beshrew — проклинать), but I marvel they (но я удивляюсь (что) они) do not require to breathe for me also (не требуют дышать за меня также)!' Slippered (в шлепанцах; slippers — шлепанцы), and wrapped in a sumptuous robe (и закутанный в роскошное платье), he laid himself down at last to rest (он улегся наконец, чтобы отдохнуть; to lay down — класть, ложиться), but not to sleep (но не чтобы спать), for his head was too full of thoughts (так как его голова была слишком полна мыслями) and the room too full of people (а комната слишком полна людей). He could not dismiss the former (он не мог отогнать первые [т.е. мысли]), so they stayed (так что они остались); he did not know enough to dismiss the latter (он не умел достаточно, чтобы распустить последних [т.е. людей]), so they stayed also (так что они остались тоже), to his vast regret (к его большому сожалению) — and theirs (и их /сожалению/).

rescue [`reskju:], inwardly [`ınwədlı], gracious [`greıSəs]

There was a pause now, a sort of waiting silence which Tom could not understand. He glanced at Lord Hertford, who gave him a sign — but he failed to understand that also. The ready Elizabeth came to the rescue with her usual easy grace. She made reverence and said:

'Have we leave of the prince's grace my brother to go?'

Tom said:

'Indeed, your ladyships can have whatsoever of me they will, for the asking; yet would I rather give them any other thing that in my poor power lieth, than leave to take the light and blessing of their presence hence. Give ye good den, and God be with ye!' Then he smiled inwardly at the thought, ''tis not for naught I have dwelt but among princes in my reading, and taught my tongue some slight trick of their broidered and gracious speech withal!'