Двенадцать лет рабства

           Suchanideaasinsurrection,however,isnotnewamongtheenslavedpopulationofBayouBœuf. MorethanonceIhavejoinedinseriousconsultation,whenthesubjecthasbeendiscussed,andtherehavebeentimeswhenawordfrommewouldhaveplacedhundredsofmyfellow-bondsmeninanattitudeofdefiance. Withoutarmsorammunition,orevenwiththem,Isawsuchastepwouldresultincertaindefeat,disasteranddeath,andalwaysraisedmyvoiceagainstit. 

           DuringtheMexicanwarIwellremembertheextravaganthopesthatwereexcited. Thenewsofvictoryfilledthegreathousewithrejoicing,butproducedonlysorrowanddisappointmentinthecabin. Inmyopinion—andIhavehadopportunitytoknowsomethingofthefeelingofwhichIspeak—therearenotfiftyslavesontheshoresofBayouBœuf,butwouldhailwithunmeasureddelighttheapproachofaninvadingarmy. 

           Theyaredeceivedwhoflatterthemselvesthattheignorantanddebasedslavehasnoconceptionofthemagnitudeofhiswrongs. Theyaredeceivedwhoimaginethathearisesfromhisknees,withbacklaceratedandbleeding,cherishingonlyaspiritofmeeknessandforgiveness. Adaymaycome—itwillcome,ifhisprayerisheard—aterribledayofvengeance,whenthemasterinhisturnwillcryinvainformercy.