# Quote — Mark Twain, The Prince and the Pauper

> "Mates, he is my son, a dreamer, a fool, and stark mad—mind him not—he thinketh he is the King."
>
> "I am the King," said Edward, turning toward him, "as thou shalt know to thy cost, in good time. Thou hast confessed a murder—thou shalt swing for it."
>
> "Thou'lt betray me?—thou? An' I get my hands upon thee—"
>
> "Tut-tut!" said the burley Ruffler, interposing in time to save the King, and emphasising this service by knocking Hobbs down with his fist, "hast respect for neither Kings nor Rufflers? An' thou insult my presence so again, I'll hang thee up myself." Then he said to his Majesty, "Thou must make no threats against thy mates, lad; and thou must guard thy tongue from saying evil of them elsewhere. Be King, if it please thy mad humour, but be not harmful in it. Sink the title thou hast uttered—'tis treason; we be bad men in some few trifling ways, but none among us is so base as to be traitor to his King; we be loving and loyal hearts, in that regard. Note if I speak truth. Now—all together: 'Long live Edward, King of England!'"
>
> "LONG LIVE EDWARD, KING OF ENGLAND!"
>
> The response came with such a thundergust from the motley crew that the crazy building vibrated to the sound. The little King's face lighted with pleasure for an instant, and he slightly inclined his head, and said with grave simplicity—
>
> "I thank you, my good people."
>
> This unexpected result threw the company into convulsions of merriment.

- Author: [Mark Twain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain.md)
- Book: [The Prince and the Pauper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-prince-and-the-pauper.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Prince_and_the_Pauper#Quotes) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-prince-and-the-pauper/mates-he-is-my-son

## More from this book

> "Let the child go," said he; "ye heartless dogs, do ye not see how young and frail he is? Let him go—I will take his lashes."

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-prince-and-the-pauper/let-the-child.md)

> The distant dogs howled, the melancholy kine complained, and the winds went on raging, whilst furious sheets of rain drove along the roof; but the Majesty of England slept on, undisturbed, and the calf did the same, it being a simple creature, and not easily troubled by storms or embarrassed by sleeping with a king.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-prince-and-the-pauper/the-distant-dogs.md)

> "Rise, Sir Miles Hendon, Knight," said the King, gravely—giving the accolade with Hendon's sword—"rise, and seat thyself. Thy petition is granted. Whilst England remains, and the crown continues, the privilege shall not lapse."

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/the-prince-and-the-pauper/rise-sir-miles.md)