After some further talk (после дальнейшего разговора), in which the Lord St. John covered up his mistake (в котором лорд Сент-Джон покрыл свою ошибку = вину) as well as he could (так хорошо, как он (только) мог) by repeated protests (повторенными = частыми заявлениями) that his faith was thoroughly grounded now (что его вера была основательна укоренена = упрочена), and could not be assailed by doubts again (и не могла быть атакована сомнениями снова; to assail — нападать), the Lord Hertford relieved his fellow-keeper (лорд Хартфорд отпустил своего товарища-хранителя), and sat down to keep watch and ward alone (и сел сторожить: «держать наблюдение и опеку» один). He was soon deep in meditation (он погрузился скоро глубоко в раздумья). And evidently the longer he thought (и, очевидно, чем дольше он думал; to think — думать), the more he was bothered (тем больше он был обеспокоен). By and by he began to pace the floor and mutter (вскоре он начал измерять шагами пол и бормотать; to begin — начинать; to pace — шагать).

'Tush, he must be the prince (тьфу, он должен быть принцем = он наверняка принц)! Will any he in all the land maintain there can be two (будет ли кто-либо в стране утверждать, что могут быть двое; to maintain — поддерживать, утверждать), not of one blood and birth (не от одной крови и рождения = не родственники), so marvelously twinned (так чудесно похожие; twin — близнец)? And even were it so (и даже будь это так), 'twere yet a stranger miracle that chance should cast the one into the other's place (это было бы еще более странным чудом, чтобы случай поставил одного на место другого; ‘twere = it were; stranger — более странный; to cast — бросать). Nay, 'tis folly, folly, folly (нет, это чушь, чушь, чушь)!'

Presently he said (спустя некоторое время он сказал):

'Now were he impostor (так, будь он самозванцем) and called himself prince (и называл бы себя принцем), look you that would be natural (глянь-ка, это было бы естественно); that would be reasonable (это было бы логично). But lived ever an impostor yet (но жил ли когда-нибудь еще самозванец), who, being called prince by the king (который, будучи назван принцем королем), prince by the court (принцем — двором), prince by all (принцем — всеми), denied his dignity (отрицал бы свое высокое положение) and pleaded against his exaltation (умолял бы /отказать ему в/ возвеличивании; against — против)? No (нет)! By the soul of St. Swithin, no (/клянусь/ душой св. Свитина, нет)! This is the true prince, gone mad (это истинный принц, сошедший с ума = ставший безумным; to go — идти, становиться)!'

treason [`tri:zən], advantage [əd`va:ntıdʒ], thought [θO:t]

Tom's departure had left his two noble guardians alone. They mused awhile, with much headshaking and walking the floor, then Lord St. John said:

'Plainly, what dost thou think?'

'Plainly, then, this. The king is near his end, my nephew is mad, mad will mount the throne, and mad remain. God protect England, since she will need it!'

'Verily it promiseth so, indeed. But... have you no misgivings as to... as to...'

The speaker hesitated, and finally stopped. He evidently felt that he was upon delicate ground. Lord Hertford stopped before him, looked into his face with a clear, frank eye, and said:

'Speak on — there is none to hear but me. Misgivings as to what?'

'I am loath to word the thing that is in my mind, and thou so near to him in blood, my lord. But craving pardon if I do offend, seemeth it not strange that madness could so change his port and manner! — not but that his port and speech are princely still, but that they differ in one unweighty trifle or another, from what his custom was aforetime. Seemeth it not strange that madness should filch from his memory his father's very lineaments; the customs and observances that are his due from such as be about him; and, leaving him his Latin, strip him of his Greek and French? My lord, be not offended, but ease my mind of its disquiet and receive my grateful thanks. It haunteth me, his saying he was not the prince, and so —'

'Peace, my lord, thou utterest treason! Hast forgot the king's command? Remember I am party to thy crime, if I but listen.'

St. John paled, and hastened to say:

'I was in fault, I do confess it. Betray me not, grant me this grace out of thy courtesy, and I will neither think nor speak of this thing more. Deal not hardly with me, sir, else am I ruined.'

'I am content, my lord. So thou offend not again, here or in the ears of others, it shall be as though thou hadst not spoken. But thou needst not have misgivings. He is my sister's son; are not his voice, his face, his form, familiar to me from his cradle? Madness can do all the odd conflicting things thou seest in him, and more. Dost not recall how that the old Baron Marley, being mad, forgot the favor of his own countenance that he had known for sixty years, and held it was another's; nay, even claimed he was the son of Mary Magdalene, and that his head was made of Spanish glass; and sooth to say, he suffered none to touch it, lest by mischance some heedless hand might shiver it. Give thy misgivings easement, good my lord. This is the very prince, I know him well — and soon will be thy king; it may advantage thee to bear this in mind and more dwell upon it than the other.'

After some further talk, in which the Lord St. John covered up his mistake as well as he could by repeated protests that his faith was thoroughly grounded now, and could not be assailed by doubts again, the Lord Hertford relieved his fellow-keeper, and sat down to keep watch and ward alone. He was soon deep in meditation. And evidently the longer he thought, the more he was bothered. By and by he began to pace the floor and mutter.

'Tush, he must be the prince! Will any he in all the land maintain there can be two, not of one blood and birth, so marvelously twinned? And even were it so, 'twere yet a stranger miracle that chance should cast the one into the other's place. Nay, 'tis folly, folly, folly!'

Presently he said:

'Now were he impostor and called himself prince, look you that would be natural; that would be reasonable. But lived ever an impostor yet, who, being called prince by the king, prince by the court, prince by all, denied his dignity and pleaded against his exaltation? No! By the soul of St. Swithin, no! This is the true prince, gone mad!'

SOMEWHAT after one in the afternoon (вскоре после часа дня), Tom resignedly underwent the ordeal of being dressed for dinner (Том покорно прошел испытание одеванием к ужину). He found himself as finely clothed as before (он нашел себя столь же прекрасно одетым, как прежде), but everything different (но все другое), everything changed (все измененное), from his ruff to his stockings (от рюша до чулок). He was presently conducted with much state to a spacious and ornate apartment (его вскоре отвели с большой торжественностью в просторную и изысканно украшенную комнату), where a table was already set for one (где уже был накрыт стол на одного; to set — устанавливать). Its furniture (ее мебель = мебель в этой комнате) was all of massy gold (была вся из массивного золота), and beautified with designs (и украшена узорами) which well-nigh made it priceless (которые почти делали ее бесценной; nigh — близко, устар.), since they were the work of Benvenuto (так как они были работой Бенвенуто). The room was half filled (комната была наполовину заполнена) with noble servitors (благородными = вельможными слугами). A chaplain said grace (капеллан прочитал молитву), and Tom was about to fall to (и Том был готов приняться за дело), for hunger had long been constitutional with him (ибо голод долго был неотъемлемой частью его), but was interrupted by my lord the Earl of Berkeley (но был остановлен милордом графом Беркли; to interrupt — прерывать, мешать, вмешиваться), who fastened a napkin about his neck (который повязал салфетку вокруг его шеи); for the great post of Diaperers to the Prince of Wales (ибо высокий пост Подвязывателей салфеток Принцу Уэльскому; diaper — салфетка) was hereditary in this nobleman's family (был наследственным в семье этого дворянина). Tom's cupbearer was present (виночерпий Тома был рядом; present — присутствующий), and forestalled all his attempts to help himself to wine (и предупреждал все его попытки налить себе самому вина). The Taster (отведыватель; to taste — пробовать еду, напитки) to his Highness the Prince of Wales (Его Высочеству Принцу Уэльскому) was there also (был там тоже), prepared to taste any suspicious dish (готовый попробовать любое подозрительное блюдо) upon requirement (по требованию; to require — требовать), and run the risk of being poisoned (и рискнуть быть отравленным; to run — бежать, управлять; to poison — отравить). He was only an ornamental appendage at this time (он был только декоративным придатком в то время), and was seldom called to exercise his function (и редко призывался исполнять свои обязанности); but there had been times (но бывали времена), not many generations past (не много поколений назад), when the office of taster (когда должность отведывателя) had its perils (имела свои опасности), and was not a grandeur to be desired (и не была желательным высоким положением; to desire — желать). Why they did not use a dog or a plumber seems strange (почему они не использовали собаку или паяльщика/водопроводчика кажется странным); but all the ways of royalty (но все пути королевской власти) are strange (странны). My Lord d'Arcy, First Groom of the Chamber (милорд д’Арси, первый камердинер), was there (был там), to do goodness knows what (чтобы делать Бог знает что); but there he was (но там он был) — let that suffice (и этого достаточно). The Lord Chief Butler (главный дворецкий) was there (был там), and stood behind Tom's chair overseeing the solemnities (и стоял за стулом Тома, наблюдая за церемониалом), under command of the Lord Great Steward and the Lord Head Cook (под началом лорда главного распорядителя и лорда главного повара), who stood near (которые стояли поблизости). Tom had three hundred and eighty-four servants besides these (у Тома было 384 слуги кроме этих); but they were not all in that room, of course (но они были не все в той комнате, конечно), nor the quarter of them (и даже не четверть их); neither was Tom aware yet that they existed (и Том даже не знал еще, что они существовали).