Дванадцять років рабства

           "Dance,youd—dniggers,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. Bentwithexcessivetoil—actuallysufferingforalittlerefreshingrest,andfeelingratherasifwecouldcastourselvesupontheearthandweep,manyanightinthehouseofEdwinEppshavehisunhappyslavesbeenmadetodanceandlaugh. 

           Notwithstandingthesedeprivationsinordertogratifythewhimofanunreasonablemaster,wehadtobeinthefieldassoonasitwaslight,andduringthedayperformtheordinaryandaccustomedtask.