Двенадцать лет рабства

           ThereIstillstoodinthenoon-tidesun,groaningwithpain. FromlongbeforedaylightIhadnoteatenamorsel. Iwasgrowingfaintfrompain,andthirst,andhunger. Onceonly,intheveryhottestportionoftheday,Rachel,halffearfulshewasactingcontrarytotheoverseer’swishes,venturedtome,andheldacupofwatertomylips. Thehumblecreatureneverknew,norcouldshecomprehendifshehadheardthem,theblessingsIinvokeduponher,forthatbalmydraught. Shecouldonlysay, "Oh,Platt,howIdopityyou,"andthenhastenedbacktoherlaborsinthekitchen. 

           Neverdidthesunmovesoslowlythroughtheheavens—neverdiditshowerdownsuchferventandfieryrays,asitdidthatday. Atleast,soitappearedtome. Whatmymeditationswere—theinnumerablethoughtsthatthrongedthroughmydistractedbrain—Iwillnotattempttogiveexpressionto. Sufficeittosay,duringthewholelongdayIcamenottotheconclusion,evenonce,thatthesouthernslave,fed,clothed,whippedandprotectedbyhismaster,ishappierthanthefreecoloredcitizenoftheNorth. TothatconclusionIhaveneversincearrived. Therearemany,however,evenintheNorthernStates,benevolentandwell-disposedmen,whowillpronouncemyopinionerroneous,andgravelyproceedtosubstantiatetheassertionwithanargument. Alas!theyhaveneverdrunk,asIhave,fromthebittercupofslavery. Justatsunsetmyheartleapedwithunboundedjoy,asFordcameridingintotheyard,hishorsecoveredwithfoam. Chapinmethimatthedoor,andafterconversingashorttime,hewalkeddirectlytome.