UNRESTRAINED PASSION—APPARENT TENDERNESS—OLD MASTER A MAN OF
TROUBLE—CUSTOM OF MUTTERING TO HIMSELF—NECESSITY OF BEING AWARE OF
BASE AND SELFISH ATTEMPT TO BREAK UP A COURTSHIP—A HARROWING SCENE.
Although my old master—Capt. Anthony—gave me at first, (as the reader will have already seen) very little attention, and although that little was of a remarkably5 mild and gentle description, a few months only were sufficient to convince me that mildness and gentleness were not the prevailing6 or governing traits of his character. These excellent qualities were displayed only occasionally. He could, when it suited him, appear to be literally7 insensible to the claims of humanity, when appealed to by the helpless against an aggressor, and he could himself commit outrages8, deep, dark and nameless. Yet he was not by nature worse than other men. Had he been brought up in a free state, surrounded by the just restraints of free society—restraints which are necessary to the freedom of all its members, alike and equally—Capt. Anthony might have been as humane9 a man, and every way as respectable, as many who now oppose the slave system; certainly as humane and respectable as are members of society generally. The slaveholder, as well as the slave, is the victim of the slave[62] system. A man’s character greatly takes its hue10 and shape from the form and color of things about him. Under the whole heavens there is no relation more unfavorable to the development of honorable character, than that sustained by the slaveholder to the slave. Reason is imprisoned11 here, and passions run wild. Like the fires of the prairie, once lighted, they are at the mercy of every wind, and must burn, till they have consumed all that is combustible12 within their remorseless grasp. Capt. Anthony could be kind, and, at times, he even showed an affectionate disposition13. Could the reader have seen him gently leading me by the hand—as he sometimes did—patting me on the head, speaking to me in soft, caressing14 tones and calling me his “little Indian boy,” he would have deemed him a kind old man, and really, almost fatherly. But the pleasant moods of a slaveholder are remarkably brittle15; they are easily snapped; they neither come often, nor remain long. His temper is subjected to perpetual trials; but, since these trials are never borne patiently, they add nothing to his natural stock of patience.
Old master very early impressed me with the idea that he was an unhappy man. Even to my child’s eye, he wore a troubled, and at times, a haggard aspect. His strange movements excited my curiosity, and awakened16 my compassion17. He seldom walked alone without muttering to himself; and he occasionally stormed about, as if defying an army of invisible foes18. “He would do this, that, and the other; he’d be d—d if he did not,”—was the usual form of his threats. Most of his leisure was spent in walking, cursing and gesticulating, like one possessed19 by a demon20. Most evidently, he was a wretched man, at war with his own soul, and with all the world around him. To be overheard by the children, disturbed him very little. He made no more of our presence, than of that of the ducks and geese which he met on the green. He little thought that the little black urchins21 around him, could see, through those vocal22 crevices23, the very secrets of his heart. Slaveholders ever underrate the intelligence with which[63] they have to grapple. I really understood the old man’s mutterings, attitudes and gestures, about as well as he did himself. But slaveholders never encourage that kind of communication, with the slaves, by which they might learn to measure the depths of his knowledge. Ignorance is a high virtue24 in a human chattel25; and as the master studies to keep the slave ignorant, the slave is cunning enough to make the master think he succeeds. The slave fully26 appreciates the saying, “where ignorance is bliss27, ‘tis folly28 to be wise.” When old master’s gestures were violent, ending with a threatening shake of the head, and a sharp snap of his middle finger and thumb, I deemed it wise to keep at a respectable distance from him; for, at such times, trifling29 faults stood, in his eyes, as momentous30 offenses31; and, having both the power and the disposition, the victim had only to be near him to catch the punishment, deserved or undeserved.
One of the first circumstances that opened my eyes to the cruelty and wickedness of slavery, and the heartlessness of my old master, was the refusal of the latter to interpose his authority, to protect and shield a young woman, who had been most cruelly abused and beaten by his overseer in Tuckahoe. This overseer—a Mr. Plummer—was a man like most of his class, little better than a human brute32; and, in addition to his general profligacy33 and repulsive34 coarseness, the creature was a miserable35 drunkard. He was, probably, employed by my old master, less on account of the excellence36 of his services, than for the cheap rate at which they could be obtained. He was not fit to have the management of a drove of mules37. In a fit of drunken madness, he committed the outrage which brought the young woman in question down to my old master’s for protection. This young woman was the daughter of Milly, an own aunt of mine. The poor girl, on arriving at our house, presented a pitiable appearance. She had left in haste, and without preparation; and, probably, without the knowledge of Mr. Plummer. She had traveled twelve miles, bare-footed, bare-necked and bare-headed. Her neck and shoulders[64] were covered with scars, newly made; and not content with marring her neck and shoulders, with the cowhide, the cowardly brute had dealt her a blow on the head with a hickory club, which cut a horrible gash38, and left her face literally covered with blood. In this condition, the poor young woman came down, to implore39 protection at the hands of my old master. I expected to see him boil over with rage at the revolting deed, and to hear him fill the air with curses upon the brutual Plummer; but I was disappointed. He sternly told her, in an angry tone, he “believed she deserved every bit of it,” and, if she did not go home instantly, he would himself take the remaining skin from her neck and back. Thus was the poor girl compelled to return, without redress40, and perhaps to receive an additional flogging for daring to appeal to old master against the overseer.
Old master seemed furious at the thought of being troubled by such complaints. I did not, at that time, understand the philosophy of his treatment of my cousin. It was stern, unnatural41, violent. Had the man no bowels42 of compassion? Was he dead to all sense of humanity? No. I think I now understand it. This treatment is a part of the system, rather than a part of the man. Were slaveholders to listen to complaints of this sort against the overseers, the luxury of owning large numbers of slaves, would be impossible. It would do away with the office of overseer, entirely43; or, in other words, it would convert the master himself into an overseer. It would occasion great loss of time and labor44, leaving the overseer in fetters45, and without the necessary power to secure obedience46 to his orders. A privilege so dangerous as that of appeal, is, therefore, strictly47 prohibited; and any one exercising it, runs a fearful hazard. Nevertheless, when a slave has nerve enough to exercise it, and boldly approaches his master, with a well-founded complaint against an overseer, though he may be repulsed48, and may even have that of which he complains repeated at the time, and, though he may be beaten by his master, as well as by the overseer, for his temerity49, in the end the[65] policy of complaining is, generally, vindicated50 by the relaxed rigor51 of the overseer’s treatment. The latter becomes more careful, and less disposed to use the lash52 upon such slaves thereafter. It is with this final result in view, rather than with any expectation of immediate53 good, that the outraged54 slave is induced to meet his master with a complaint. The overseer very naturally dislikes to have the ear of the master disturbed by complaints; and, either upon this consideration, or upon advice and warning privately55 given him by his employers, he generally modifies the rigor of his rule, after an outbreak of the kind to which I have been referring.
Howsoever the slaveholder may allow himself to act toward his slave, and, whatever cruelty he may deem it wise, for example’s sake, or for the gratification of his humor, to inflict56, he cannot, in the absence of all provocation57, look with pleasure upon the bleeding wounds of a defenseless slave-woman. When he drives her from his presence without redress, or the hope of redress, he acts, generally, from motives58 of policy, rather than from a hardened nature, or from innate59 brutality60. Yet, let but his own temper be stirred, his own passions get loose, and the slave-owner will go far beyond the overseer in cruelty. He will convince the slave that his wrath is far more terrible and boundless61, and vastly more to be dreaded62, than that of the underling overseer. What may have been mechanically and heartlessly done by the overseer, is now done with a will. The man who now wields63 the lash is irresponsible. He may, if he pleases, cripple or kill, without fear of consequences; except in so far as it may concern profit or loss. To a man of violent temper—as my old master was—this was but a very slender and inefficient64 restraint. I have seen him in a tempest of passion, such as I have just described—a passion into which entered all the bitter ingredients of pride, hatred65, envy, jealousy66, and the thrist(sic) for revenge.
The circumstances which I am about to narrate67, and which gave rise to this fearful tempest of passion, are not singular nor[66] isolated68 in slave life, but are common in every slaveholding community in which I have lived. They are incidental to the relation of master and slave, and exist in all sections of slave-holding countries.
The reader will have noticed that, in enumerating69 the names of the slaves who lived with my old master, Esther is mentioned. This was a young woman who possessed that which is ever a curse to the slave-girl; namely—personal beauty. She was tall, well formed, and made a fine appearance. The daughters of Col. Lloyd could scarcely surpass her in personal charms. Esther was courted by Ned Roberts, and he was as fine looking a young man, as she was a woman. He was the son of a favorite slave of Col. Lloyd. Some slaveholders would have been glad to promote the marriage of two such persons; but, for some reason or other, my old master took it upon him to break up the growing intimacy70 between Esther and Edward. He strictly ordered her to quit the company of said Roberts, telling her that he would punish her severely71 if he ever found her again in Edward’s company. This unnatural and heartless order was, of course, broken. A woman’s love is not to be annihilated72 by the peremptory73 command of any one, whose breath is in his nostrils74. It was impossible to keep Edward and Esther apart. Meet they would, and meet they did. Had old master been a man of honor and purity, his motives, in this matter, might have been viewed more favorably. As it was, his motives were as abhorrent75, as his methods were foolish and contemptible76. It was too evident that he was not concerned for the girl’s welfare. It is one of the damning characteristics of the slave system, that it robs its victims of every earthly incentive77 to a holy life. The fear of God, and the hope of heaven, are found sufficient to sustain many slave-women, amidst the snares78 and dangers of their strange lot; but, this side of God and heaven, a slave-woman is at the mercy of the power, caprice and passion of her owner. Slavery provides no means for the honorable continuance of the race. Marriage as imposing79 obligations on the parties to it—has no[67] existence here, except in such hearts as are purer and higher than the standard morality around them. It is one of the consolations80 of my life, that I know of many honorable instances of persons who maintained their honor, where all around was corrupt81.
Esther was evidently much attached to Edward, and abhorred82—as she had reason to do—the tyrannical and base behavior of old master. Edward was young, and fine looking, and he loved and courted her. He might have been her husband, in the high sense just alluded83 to; but WHO and what was this old master? His attentions were plainly brutal and selfish, and it was as natural that Esther should loathe84 him, as that she should love Edward. Abhorred and circumvented85 as he was, old master, having the power, very easily took revenge. I happened to see this exhibition of his rage and cruelty toward Esther. The time selected was singular. It was early in the morning, when all besides was still, and before any of the family, in the house or kitchen, had left their beds. I saw but few of the shocking preliminaries, for the cruel work had begun before I awoke. I was probably awakened by the shrieks86 and piteous cries of poor Esther. My sleeping place was on the floor of a little, rough closet, which opened into the kitchen; and through the cracks of its unplaned boards, I could distinctly see and hear what was going on, without being seen by old master. Esther’s wrists were firmly tied, and the twisted rope was fastened to a strong staple87 in a heavy wooden joist above, near the fireplace. Here she stood, on a bench, her arms tightly drawn88 over her breast. Her back and shoulders were bare to the waist. Behind her stood old master, with cowskin in hand, preparing his barbarous work with all manner of harsh, coarse, and tantalizing89 epithets90. The screams of his victim were most piercing. He was cruelly deliberate, and protracted91 the torture, as one who was delighted with the scene. Again and again he drew the hateful whip through his hand, adjusting it with a view of dealing92 the most pain-giving blow. Poor Esther had never yet been severely whipped, and her shoulders[68] were plump and tender. Each blow, vigorously laid on, brought screams as well as blood. “Have mercy; Oh! have mercy” she cried; “I won’t do so no more;” but her piercing cries seemed only to increase his fury. His answers to them are too coarse and blasphemous93 to be produced here. The whole scene, with all its attendants, was revolting and shocking, to the last degree; and when the motives of this brutal castigation94 are considered,—language has no power to convey a just sense of its awful criminality. After laying on some thirty or forty stripes, old master untied95 his suffering victim, and let her get down. She could scarcely stand, when untied. From my heart I pitied her, and—child though I was—the outrage kindled96 in me a feeling far from peaceful; but I was hushed, terrified, stunned97, and could do nothing, and the fate of Esther might be mine next. The scene here described was often repeated in the case of poor Esther, and her life, as I knew it, was one of wretchedness.
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1
obtuseness
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| 感觉迟钝 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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3
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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5
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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6
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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11
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
combustible
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| a. 易燃的,可燃的; n. 易燃物,可燃物 | |
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13
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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14
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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15
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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16
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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19
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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20
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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urchins
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| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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23
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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chattel
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| n.动产；奴隶 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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27
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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28
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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29
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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30
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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31
offenses
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| n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势 | |
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32
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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profligacy
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| n.放荡，不检点，肆意挥霍 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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40
redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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41
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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42
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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45
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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47
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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48
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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49
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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50
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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51
rigor
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| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
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52
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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53
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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54
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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55
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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56
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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57
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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58
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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59
innate
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| adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的 | |
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60
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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61
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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62
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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63
wields
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的第三人称单数 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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64
inefficient
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| adj.效率低的，无效的 | |
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65
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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66
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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67
narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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68
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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69
enumerating
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的现在分词 ) | |
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70
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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71
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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75
abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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snares
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| n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 )；圈套；诱人遭受失败（丢脸、损失等）的东西；诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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consolations
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| n.安慰，慰问( consolation的名词复数 )；起安慰作用的人（或事物） | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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loathe
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| v.厌恶，嫌恶 | |
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circumvented
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| v.设法克服或避免（某事物），回避( circumvent的过去式和过去分词 )；绕过，绕行，绕道旅行 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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90
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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castigation
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| n.申斥，强烈反对 | |
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95
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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