He kept muttering to himself, 'Offal Court-
that is the name; if I can but find it before my strength is wholly
spent and I drop, then am I saved- for his people will take me to
the palace and prove that I am none of theirs, but the true prince,
and I shall have mine own again.' And now and then his mind reverted
to his treatment by those rude Christ's Hospital boys, and he said,
'When I am king, they shall not have bread and shelter only, but
also teachings out of books; for a full belly is little worth where
the mind is starved, and the heart. I will keep this diligently in
my remembrance, that this day's lesson be not lost upon me, and my
people suffer thereby; for learning softeneth the heart and breedeth
gentleness and charity.'*(2)
The lights began to twinkle, it came on to rain, the wind rose,
and a raw and gusty night set in. The houseless prince, the homeless
heir to the throne of England, still moved on, drifting deeper into
the maze of squalid alleys where the swarming hives of poverty and
misery were massed together.
Suddenly a great drunken ruffian collared him and said:
'Out to this time of night again, and hast not brought a
farthing home, I warrant me! If it be so, an I do not break all the
bones in thy lean body, then am I not John Canty, but some other.'
The prince twisted himself loose, unconsciously brushed his
profaned shoulder, and eagerly said:
'Oh, art his father, truly? Sweet heaven grant it be so- then wilt
thou fetch him away and restore me!'
'His father? I know not what thou mean'st; I but know I am thy
father, as thou shalt soon have cause to-'
'Oh, jest not, palter not, delay not!- I am worn, I am wounded,
I can bear no more.
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