Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 15
Thisiscalled"patting,"accompaniedwithoneofthoseunmeaningsongs,composedratherforitsadaptationtoacertaintuneormeasure,thanforthepurposeofexpressinganydistinctidea. Thepattingisperformedbystrikingthehandsontheknees,thenstrikingthehandstogether,thenstrikingtherightshoulderwithonehand,theleftwiththeother—allthewhilekeepingtimewiththefeet,andsinging,perhaps,thissong:
"Harper’screekandroarin’ribber,
Thar,mydear,we’llliveforebber;
Denwe’llgotodeInginnation,
AllIwantindiscreation,
Isprettylittlewifeandbigplantation.
Chorus.Updatoakanddowndatribber,
Twooverseersandonelittlenigger."
Or,ifthesewordsarenotadaptedtothetunecalledfor,itmaybethat"OldHogEye"is—arathersolemnandstartlingspecimenofversification,not,however,tobeappreciatedunlessheardattheSouth. Itrunnethasfollows:
"Who’sbeenheresinceI’vebeengone?
Prettylittlegalwidajoseyon.
HogEye!
OldHogEye,
AndHoseytoo!
NeverseedelikesinceIwasborn,
Herecomealittlegalwidajoseyon.
HogEye!
OldHogEye!
AndHoseytoo!"
Or,maybethefollowing,perhaps,equallynonsensical,butfullofmelody,nevertheless,asitflowsfromthenegro’smouth:
"EboDickandJurdan’sJo,
Themtwoniggersstolemyyo’.
Chorus.HopJimalong,
WalkJimalong,
TalkJimalong,"&c.
OldblackDan,asblackastar,
Hedamgladhewasnotdar.
HopJimalong,"&c.