The prince and the pauper twilight in english. Book «The Prince and the Pauper»

Mark Twain / Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper / The Prince and the Pauper. Book to read in English

To Those good-mannered and agreeable children Susie and Clara Clemens this book is affectionately inscribed by their father.

The quality of mercy … is twice bless'd;

It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes; 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown.

Merchant of Venice

Comments and Dictionary by E. G. Tigonen

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which the latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father – and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

The Birth of the Prince and the Pauper

In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty , who did not want him. On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy. Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this up for days and nights together. By day, London was a sight to see , with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, and splendid pageants marching along. By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revellers making merry around them. There was no talk in all England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, of all this fuss unconscious, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him – and not caring, either. But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.

Tom's Early Life

Let us skip a number of years.

London was fifteen hundred years old, and was a great town - for that day. It had a hundred thousand inhabitants - some think double as many. The streets were very narrow, and crooked, and dirty, especially in the part where Tom Canty lived, which was not far from London Bridge . The houses were of wood, with the second story projecting over the first, and the third sticking its elbows out beyond the second. The higher the houses grew, the broader they grew. They were skeletons of strong criss-cross beams, with solid material between, coated with plaster. The beams were painted red or blue or black, according to the owner's taste, and this gave the houses a very picturesque look. The windows were small, glazed with little diamond-shaped panes, and they opened outward, on hinges, like doors.

The house which Tom's father lived in was up a foul little pocket called Offal Court, out of Pudding Lane. It was small, decayed, and rickety, but it was packed full of wretchedly poor families. Canty's tribe occupied a room on the third floor. The mother and father had a sort of bedstead in the corner; but Tom, his grandmother, and his two sisters, Bet and Nan, were not restricted – they had all the floor to themselves, and might sleep where they chose. There were the remains of a blanket or two, and some bundles of ancient and dirty straw, but these could not rightly be called beds, for they were not organized; they were kicked into a general pile, mornings, and selections made from the mass at night, for service.

Bet and Nan were fifteen years old—twins. They were good-hearted girls, unclean, clothed in rags, and profoundly ignorant. Their mother was like them. But the father and the grandmother were a couple of fiends. They got drunk whenever they could; then they fought each other or anybody else who came in the way; they cursed and swore always, drunk or sober; John Canty was a thief, and his mother a beggar. They made beggars of the children, but failed to make thieves of them. Among, but not of, the dreadful rabble that inhabited the house, was a good old priest whom the King had turned out of house and home with a pension of a few farthings, and he used to get the children aside and teach them right ways secretly. Father Andrew also taught Tom a little Latin, and how to read and write; and would have done the same with the girls, but they were afraid of the jeers of their friends, who could not have endured such a queer accomplishment in them.

All Offal Court was just such another hive as Canty's house. Drunkenness, riot and brawling were the order, there, every night and nearly all night long. Broken heads were as common as hunger in that place. Yet little Tom was not happy. He had a hard time of it, but did not know it. It was the sort of time that all the Offal Court boys had, therefore he supposed it was the correct and comfortable thing. When he came home empty-handed at night, he knew his father would curse him and thrash him first, and that when he was done the awful grandmother would do it all over again and improve on it; and that away in the night his starving mother would slip to him stealthily with any miserable scrap or crust she had been able to save for him by going hungry herself, notwithstanding she was often caught in that sort of treason and soundly beaten for it by her husband.

No, Tom's life went along well enough, especially in summer. He only begged just enough to save himself, for the laws against mendicancy were stringent, and the penalties heavy; so he put in a good deal of his time listening to good Father Andrew’s charming old tales and legends about giants and fairies, dwarfs and genii, and enchanted castles, and gorgeous kings and princes. His head grew to be full of these wonderful things, and many a night as he lay in the dark on his scant and offensive straw, tired, hungry, and smarting from a thrashing, he unleashed his imagination and soon forgot his aches and pains in delicious picturings to himself of the charmed life of a petted prince in a regal palace. One desire came in time to haunt him day and night: it was to see a real prince, with his own eyes. He spoke of it once to some of his Offal Court comrades; but they jeered him and scoffed him so unmercifully that he was glad to keep his dream to himself after that.

He often read the priest's old books and got him to explain and enlarge upon them. His dreamings and readings worked certain changes in him, by-and-by. His dream-people were so fine that he grew to lament his shabby clothing and his dirt, and to wish to be clean and better clad. He went on playing in the mud just the same, and enjoying it, too; but, instead of splashing around in the Thames solely for the fun of it, he began to find an added value in it because of the washings and cleansings it afforded.

"Prince and the Pauper" (The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain)

Plot (from Wikipedia):

The book takes place in London in 1547, when a poor boy named Tom Canty, suffering from his father's beatings, enters the royal palace and changes clothes with Prince Edward, who is remarkably similar to him.

Throughout the book, Edward, once on the street, learns the lack of rights of the lower strata of English society. He watches the cruel executions of women, goes to prison and is subjected to a comic coronation by robbers. He swears, upon becoming king, to rectify the state of affairs and rule over his subjects with mercifulness and generosity. Meanwhile, Tom, who has remained in the palace, is trying to master the court rites and manners. His ignorance of the basics of etiquette is explained by the fact that he has lost his memory and, perhaps, even goes crazy.

At the decisive moment, when Tom should inherit the throne after the death of Henry VIII, Edward appears at the court and, in confirmation of his rights to the crown, points to the location of the missing Great Seal of the kingdom (Tom ignorantly chopped nuts with it). He becomes king, and Tom gets a place in his retinue.

Rated the book

My second book, fully listened to in audio format, which I do not regret. Mark Twain has a lot of little details that I used to miss in my rush to unfold a fascinating plot as soon as possible. However, here I have an excuse - the last time I read "The Prince and the Pauper" at a very young age, when I had no time for satire.

It's amazing - the true American Mark Twain writes a work in the entourage of the English tradition and does not inhabit it with knights on bicycles and merchants in chain mail. Although this is understandable. If we talk about freedom and humanism, then it is on the example of an inveterate society. For example, one where there are still rulers not by mind and heart, but only by blood. While the blood of all people is absolutely the same, no matter how much you let it out, it will still be fifty shades of red, not blue.

I think that the plot of "The Prince and the Pauper" is already known to everyone without snotty, where he just did not exaggerate. Two boys, similar to each other, switch places. And if at first it seems funny to them: one can finally eat enough, and the second can play enough, then things don’t go so smoothly at all. Although, whatever one may say, it is easier to be a prince than mere mortals. And yet, the bluebloods have a lot of unpleasant moments.

The novel deftly beats mossy and conservative views on the world, and at the same time spits poison in the direction of empty traditions. Indeed, what kind of regalia is the Great Seal of the Kingdom? What is so sacred and great about her? An ignorant person can easily take it for an incomprehensible heavy contraption, for example, for a paperweight. Or a nut beater. All its "greatness", as well as the divine chosenness of monarchs, superstitions and other nonsense - only in their heads.

One of those mastrids that would not interfere with anyone. And unlike the boring "Yankees from Connecticut ..." - it goes quite cheerfully.

Rated the book

If we discard excessive realism and not find fault with some inconsistencies, then the story turned out to be very interesting. Well, in the end, this is a fairy tale and the events in the book are fabulous.

On one beautiful day - for one and terrible for another - two babies were born. Two boys. Only for one, life in this world was desired and long-awaited, and for the other, it was painful and cruel. The first was a prince, the second was a beggar.
Years passed, the boys grew up and were surprisingly similar to each other. And then one day this similarity played a cruel joke on them, on the day when they had to change places ...

Mark Twain tells a very exciting story about the adventures of the two main characters. The prince, of course, decently got it, but it was his path that was the most interesting. I liked the ending, I liked Tom's act, although, to be honest, I expected the opposite from him. Miles Hendon also conquered me with his wisdom and responsiveness, in whose person the prince found a protector.
But still, one detail haunts me - how, well, kaa-ak, the people who surrounded the two boys all their lives could not notice the substitution ???

Rated the book

The world is badly arranged: kings should test their laws from time to time and learn mercy.

This quote just touched my heart. It was, is and will be relevant at any time. It concerns not only kings, but also any rulers, any person who has any kind of power over others. And this also applies to those who blindly follow other people's instructions, not realizing that perhaps tomorrow it is he who will have to experience the consequences of these same instructions.

I underestimated this wonderful book. It seemed to me like a little children's fairy tale, and now, having plunged into the world of King Edward VI and England of those times, having felt the life of the common people and the chic of royal life on every cell of my body, I know for sure that it was not in vain that she fell into my hands. It is much deeper than the first and main storyline: the exchange of clothes between the prince and the beggar. She shows how stupid and blind people can be, but she also says that in a crowd of scoundrels one can always find an outstretched helping hand from a brave, kind, honest person. It brings to light all the cruelty of some rulers and their "executors". How easy it is to burn people at the stake, pull them up on a rope, cut off their ears and burn a brand on their skin, knowing that nothing will happen to you for this. The accused did not even have the right to acquittal. What disgusting, dimensionless and unnecessary cruelty! For what? I knew all this before, but "The Prince and the Pauper" raised a storm of indignation in my soul.

Great book! It's a must read!

PREFACE

I will set down a tale (I will tell the story; to set down - put) as it was told to me by one (as it was told to me by one (person), who had it of his father (who heard it from his father; to have - to have, to receive), which latter (which is the last / i.e. father /) had it of his father (received it from his father), this last (this last) having in like manner had it of his father ( who received it from his father in the same manner) - and so on (and so on), back and still back (back and back / into history /), three hundred years and more (three hundred years and more), the fathers were transmitting it to the sons and so protecting it (fathers passed it on to their sons and thus preserved it).

It may be history, it may be only legend, a tradition (it may be history, it may only be legend, tradition). It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it could have happened (it could have happened, it might not have happened: but it could have happened; to happen - happen). It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it

transmit, tradition, learned [`lə:nıd]

I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which the latter had it of his father, this last having in like manner had it of his father - and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it.

It may be history, it may be only legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it could have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.

CHAPTER I

The Birth of the Prince and the Pauper (Birth of the Prince and the Pauper)

IN the ancient city of London (in the ancient city of London), on a certain autumn day (on one autumn day; certain - some, certain) in the second quarter of the sixteenth century (in the second quarter of the sixteenth century), a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty (the boy was born into a poor family named Canty), who did not want him (who did not want him).

On the same day another English child (on the same day another English child) was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor (born in a rich family named Tudor), who did want him (who wanted him). All England wanted him too (all England wanted him too). England had so longed for him (so wanted him; to long for smth - passionately desire something), and hoped for him (hoped for him), and prayed God for him (and prayed to God for him), that (what) , now that he was really come (now that he really came), the people went nearly mad for joy (people almost went crazy with joy; to go mad - go crazy).

Mere acquaintances (barely familiar people; acquaintance - acquaintance, acquaintance) hugged and kissed each other and cried (hugged and kissed each other and cried). Everybody took a holiday (everyone took a day off; to take - take), and high and low (both high and low), rich and poor (rich and poor), feasted and danced and sang (feasted and danced and sang), and got very mellow (and became very good-natured); and they kept this up for days and nights together (and they continued this day and night together: “during days and nights”; to keep up - do not stop, do not change). By day (in the afternoon), London was a sight to see (was a sight (which is worth) to see), with gay banners (with cheerful banners) waving from every balcony and housetop (fluttering from every balcony and roof; house - house; top - top, top), and splendid pageants marching along (and beautiful processions marching; along - along, past).

By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revelers making merry around them (and his bands of revelers who had fun around them; to make - do, merry - cheerful).

There was no talk (there was no talk) in all England but of (in all of England except (as) about) the new baby (new = newborn baby), Edward Tudor (Edward Tudor), Prince of Wales (Prince of Wales), who lay (lay, to lie - lie) lapped (wrapped) in silks and satins (in silks and satins = in silk and satin), unconscious (not knowing: “unconscious”) of all this fuss (about all this fuss), and not knowing (and not knowing) that great lords and ladies (that great lords and ladies) were tending him (nursed him) and watching over him (and looked after him) - and not caring (and not having anything to do with it: "not caring"), either (also).

But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers in a poor family; among - among) whom he had just come to trouble with his presence (whom = whom he had just come to disturb with his presence).

trouble, certain [`sə:t(ə)n], quarter [`kwO:tə], acquaintance [ə`kweıntəns]

IN the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him.

On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy.

Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this up for days and nights together. By day, London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, and splendid pageants marching along.

By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revelers making merry around them.

There was no talk in all England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him - and not caring, either.

But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.

CHAPTER II (Chapter Two)

Tom's Early Life (Tom's early life)

LET us skip a number of years

London was fifteen hundred years old (London was fifteen hundred years old), and was a great town (and was a huge city) - for that day (for that day = time). It had a hundred thousand inhabitants (he had a hundred thousand inhabitants) - some think double as many (some think (that) twice as many: “twice as many”). The streets (streets) were very narrow (were very narrow), and crooked (and crooked), and dirty (and dirty), especially in the part where (especially in the part where) Tom Canty lived (Tom Canty lived), which was not far from (which was not far from) London Bridge (London Bridge).

The houses were of wood (the houses were made of wood), with the second story projecting over the first (with the second floor protruding above the first), and the third sticking its elbows out beyond the second (and the third sticking its elbows over the second; beyond - outside, beyond). The higher the houses grew (the higher the houses became; to grow - grow), the broader (the wider) they grew (they became). They were skeletons of strong crisscross beams (they were skeletons of strong crosswise beams), with solid material between (with solid material between / them /), coated with plaster (covered with plaster). The beams were painted red (the beams were painted red) or blue (or blue) or black (or black), according to the owner's taste (according to the taste of the owner; owner - owner; to own - own), and this gave the houses a very picturesque look (and this gave the houses a very picturesque look).The windows were small (the windows were small), glazed with little diamond-shaped panes (glazed with small diamond-shaped glasses; diamond - diamond, diamond; shape - shape) and they opened outward (and they opened forward = outward), on hinges (on hinges), like doors (like doors).

The book The Prince and the Pauper in English involves readers in the life of medieval England, telling the story of two boys - a beggar and a prince. The manual with parallel translation is intended for independent study of a foreign language by schoolchildren of grades 10-11 in schools, gymnasiums and lyceums.

The book is based on the story of the famous children's writer Mark Twain "The Prince and the Pauper". This is the story of two boys who, by chance, changed places and plunged into a life completely unknown to each of them. The text is adapted for learning English, improving reading and grammar skills, and speaking. The manual features a convenient parallel translation, which makes learning more effective and allows you to immediately learn the meaning of new words and expressions.

The book is intended for independent summer reading, learning a foreign language by schoolchildren in grades 10-11. Adaptation of the text by G.K. Magidson-Stepanova, assignments and exercises by A.E. Khabenskaya.

Book «The Prince and the Pauper». K. "The Prince and the Pauper" in English - description of the book

The "English Club" series offers a new book "The Prince and the Pauper" for learning a foreign language and consolidating the acquired knowledge. This is an adaptation of the famous story by Mark Twain, which tells about the adventures of two English boys - a beggar and a prince, who decided to switch places. By chance, a beggar in expensive clothes remains in the palace, and the prince, dressed in rags, finds himself on the streets of medieval London with the simplest Englishmen. The boy meets a variety of people - a beggar mother, street beggars, a wise priest.

The book in English is adapted for learning a foreign language in grades 10-11 of schools or gymnasiums. The text is distinguished by convenient parallel translation and comments, which facilitates its perception. The British translation of texts corresponds to Russian, at the end of each chapter there are tasks and exercises that reinforce the skills of grammar, reading and studying lexical material. At the end of the book is supplied with a detailed dictionary with new dictionaries and expressions.

The manual is left according to the method of I. Frank, which facilitates the study of the language and makes it more exciting for the student. The story is interesting not only for children, but also for students of faculties where English is studied, but it is not a priority direction. You can download the book for students aged 12-15 who already have basic knowledge and need to develop and deepen it. To test knowledge at the end of the book there are answers to tasks and exercises that are also used for self-control.