Дванадцять років рабства

Chapter 13

           "Dance,youddniggers,dance,"Eppswouldshout. 

           Thentheremustbenohaltingordelay,nosloworlanguidmovements;allmustbebrisk,andlively,andalert. "Upanddown,heelandtoe,andawaywego,"wastheorderofthehour. Epps’portlyformmingledwiththoseofhisduskyslaves,movingrapidlythroughallthemazesofthedance. 

           Usuallyhiswhipwasinhishand,readytofallabouttheearsofthepresumptuousthrall,whodaredtorestamoment,orevenstoptocatchhisbreath. Whenhewashimselfexhausted,therewouldbeabriefcessation,butitwouldbeverybrief. Withaslash,andcrack,andflourishofthewhip,hewouldshoutagain, "Dance,niggers,dance,"andawaytheywouldgooncemore,pell-mell,whileIspurredbyanoccasionalsharptouchofthelash,satinacorner,extractingfrommyviolinamarvelousquick-steppingtune. Themistressoftenupbraidedhim,declaringshewouldreturntoherfather’shouseatCheneyville; nevertheless,thereweretimesshecouldnotrestrainaburstoflaughter,onwitnessinghisuproariouspranks. Frequently,wewerethusdetaineduntilalmostmorning. Bentwithexcessivetoilactuallysufferingforalittlerefreshingrest,andfeelingratherasifwecouldcastourselvesupontheearthandweep,manyanightinthehouseofEdwinEppshavehisunhappyslavesbeenmadetodanceandlaugh. 

           Notwithstandingthesedeprivationsinordertogratifythewhimofanunreasonablemaster,wehadtobeinthefieldassoonasitwaslight,andduringthedayperformtheordinaryandaccustomedtask. 

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