Дванадцять років рабства

           Asshestoodthere,cladinherrichapparel,herfaceanimatedwithpleasure,IthoughtIhadneverlookeduponahumanbeinghalfsobeautiful. Idwellwithdelightuponthedescriptionofthisfairandgentlelady,notonlybecausesheinspiredmewithemotionsofgratitudeandadmiration,butbecauseIwouldhavethereaderunderstandthatallslave-ownersonBayouBœufarenotlikeEpps,orTibeats,orJimBurns. Occasionallycanbefound,rarelyitmaybe,indeed,agoodmanlikeWilliamFord,oranangelofkindnesslikeyoungMistressMcCoy. 

           TuesdayconcludedthethreeholidaysEppsyearlyallowedus. Onmywayhome,Wednesdaymorning,whilepassingtheplantationofWilliamPierce,thatgentlemanhailedme,sayinghehadreceivedalinefromEpps,broughtdownbyWilliamVarnell,permittinghimtodetainmeforthepurposeofplayingforhisslavesthatnight. ItwasthelasttimeIwasdestinedtowitnessaslavedanceontheshoresofBayouBœuf. ThepartyatPierce’scontinuedtheirjollificationuntilbroaddaylight,whenIreturnedtomymaster’shouse,somewhatweariedwiththelossofrest,butrejoicinginthepossessionofnumerousbitsandpicayunes,whichthewhites,whowerepleasedwithmymusicalperformances,hadcontributed. 

           OnSaturdaymorning,forthefirsttimeinyears,Ioversleptmyself. Iwasfrightenedoncomingoutofthecabintofindtheslaveswerealreadyinthefield. Theyhadprecededmesomefifteenminutes. Leavingmydinnerandwater-gourd,IhurriedafterthemasfastasIcouldmove.