Двенадцать лет рабства

           Suchdeprivationscouldnotbeurgedatthescalesinextenuationofanylackofweight,orinthecornfieldfornothoeingwiththeusualrapidity. Thewhippingswerejustassevereasifwehadgoneforthinthemorning,strengthenedandinvigoratedbyanight’srepose. Indeed,aftersuchfranticrevels,hewasalwaysmoresourandsavagethanbefore,punishingforslightercauses,andusingthewhipwithincreasedandmorevindictiveenergy. 

           TenyearsItoiledforthatmanwithoutreward. Tenyearsofmyincessantlaborhascontributedtoincreasethebulkofhispossessions. TenyearsIwascompelledtoaddresshimwithdown-casteyesanduncoveredhead—intheattitudeandlanguageofaslave. Iamindebtedtohimfornothing,saveundeservedabuseandstripes. 

           Beyondthereachofhisinhumanthong,andstandingonthesoilofthefreeStatewhereIwasborn,thanksbetoHeaven,Icanraisemyheadoncemoreamongmen. IcanspeakofthewrongsIhavesuffered,andofthosewhoinflictedthem,withupraisedeyes. ButIhavenodesiretospeakofhimoranyotheroneotherwisethantruthfully. YettospeaktruthfullyofEdwinEppswouldbetosay—heisamaninwhoseheartthequalityofkindnessorofjusticeisnotfound. Arough,rudeenergy,unitedwithanuncultivatedmindandanavariciousspirit,arehisprominentcharacteristics. Heisknownasa"niggerbreaker,"distinguishedforhisfacultyofsubduingthespiritoftheslave,andpridinghimselfuponhisreputationinthisrespect,asajockeyboastsofhisskillinmanagingarefractoryhorse.