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A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court | Mark Twain | |
The Yankee And The King Travel Incognito |
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"Pardon, my king, but it's no time for ceremony -- jump! Jump to your feet -- some quality are coming!" "Is that a marvel? Let them come." "But my liege! You must not be seen sitting. Rise! -- and stand in humble posture while they pass. You are a peasant, you know." "True -- I had forgot it, so lost was I in planning of a huge war with Gaul" -- he was up by this time, but a farm could have got up quicker, if there was any kind of a boom in real estate -- "and right-so a thought came randoming overthwart this majestic dream the which --" "A humbler attitude, my lord the king -- and quick! Duck your head! -- more! -- still more! -- droop it!" He did his honest best, but lord, it was no great things. He looked as humble as the leaning tower at Pisa. It is the most you could say of it. Indeed, it was such a thundering poor success that it raised wondering scowls all along the line, and a gorgeous flunkey at the tail end of it raised his whip; but I jumped in time and was under it when it fell; and under cover of the volley of coarse laughter which followed, I spoke up sharply and warned the king to take no notice. He mastered himself for the moment, but it was a sore tax; he wanted to eat up the procession. I said: "It would end our adventures at the very start; and we, being without weapons, could do nothing with that armed gang. If we are going to succeed in our emprise, we must not only look the peasant but act the peasant." |
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A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court Mark Twain |
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