Лучшие романы сестер Бронте / The best of the Brontë sisters

“Nothing now; I am neither afraid nor unhappy.”

“Then you have been both?”

“Rather: but I’ll tell you all about it by-and-bye, sir; and I daresay you will only laugh at me for my pains.”

“I’ll laugh at you heartily when to-morrow is past; till then I dare not: my prize is not certain. This is you, who have been as slippery as an eel this last month, and as thorny as a briar-rose? I could not lay a finger anywhere but I was pricked; and now I seem to have gathered up a stray lamb in my arms. You wandered out of the fold to seek your shepherd, did you, Jane?”

“I wanted you: but don’t boast. Here we are at Thornfield: now let me get down.”

He landed me on the pavement. As John took his horse, and he followed me into the hall, he told me to make haste and put something dry on, and then return to him in the library; and he stopped me, as I made for the staircase, to extort a promise that I would not be long: nor was I long; in five minutes I rejoined him. I found him at supper.

“Take a seat and bear me company, Jane: please God, it is the last meal but one you will eat at Thornfield Hall for a long time.”

I sat down near him, but told him I could not eat. “Is it because you have the prospect of a journey before you, Jane? Is it the thoughts of going to London that takes away your appetite?”

“I cannot see my prospects clearly to-night, sir; and I hardly know what thoughts I have in my head. Everything in life seems unreal.”

“Except me: I am substantial enough – touch me.”

“You, sir, are the most phantom-like of all: you are a mere dream.”

He held out his hand, laughing. “Is that a dream?” said he, placing it close to my eyes. He had a rounded, muscular, and vigorous hand, as well as a long, strong arm.

“Yes; though I touch it, it is a dream,” said I, as I put it down from before my face. “Sir, have you finished supper?”

“Yes, Jane.”

I rang the bell and ordered away the tray. When we were again alone, I stirred the fire, and then took a low seat at my master’s knee.

“It is near midnight,” I said.

“Yes: but remember, Jane, you promised to wake with me the night before my wedding.”

“I did; and I will keep my promise, for an hour or two at least: I have no wish to go to bed.”

“Are all your arrangements complete?”

“All, sir.”

“And on my part likewise,” he returned, “I have settled everything; and we shall leave Thornfield to-morrow, within half-an-hour after our return from church.”

“Very well, sir.”

“With what an extraordinary smile you uttered that word – ‘very well,’ Jane! What a bright spot of colour you have on each cheek! and how strangely your eyes glitter! Are you well?”

“I believe I am.”

“Believe! What is the matter? Tell me what you feel.”

“I could not, sir: no words could tell you what I feel. I wish this present hour would never end: who knows with what fate the next may come charged?”

“This is hypochondria, Jane. You have been over-excited, or over-fatigued.”

“Do you, sir, feel calm and happy?”

“Calm? – no: but happy – to the heart’s core.”

I looked up at him to read the signs of bliss in his face: it was ardent and flushed.

“Give me your confidence, Jane,” he said: “relieve your mind of any weight that oppresses it, by imparting it to me. What do you fear? – that I shall not prove a good husband?”

“It is the idea farthest from my thoughts.”

“Are you apprehensive of the new sphere you are about to enter? – of the new life into which you are passing?”

“No.”

“You puzzle me, Jane: your look and tone of sorrowful audacity perplex and pain me. I want an explanation.”

“Then, sir, listen. You were from home last night?”

“I was: I know that; and you hinted a while ago at something which had happened in my absence: – nothing, probably, of consequence; but, in short, it has disturbed you. Let me hear it. Mrs. Fairfax has said something, perhaps? or you have overheard the servants talk? – your sensitive self-respect has been wounded?”

“No, sir.” It struck twelve – I waited till the time-piece had concluded its silver chime, and the clock its hoarse, vibrating stroke, and then I proceeded.

“All day yesterday I was very busy, and very happy in my ceaseless bustle; for I am not, as you seem to think, troubled by any haunting fears about the new sphere, et cetera: I think it a glorious thing to have the hope of living with you, because I love you. No, sir, don’t caress me now – let me talk undisturbed. Yesterday I trusted well in Providence, and believed that events were working together for your good and mine: it was a fine day, if you recollect – the calmness of the air and sky forbade apprehensions respecting your safety or comfort on your journey. I walked a little while on the pavement after tea, thinking of you; and I beheld you in imagination so near me, I scarcely missed your actual presence. I thought of the life that lay before me – your life, sir – an existence more expansive and stirring than my own: as much more so as the depths of the sea to which the brook runs are than the shallows of its own strait channel. I wondered why moralists call this world a dreary wilderness: for me it blossomed like a rose. Just at sunset, the air turned cold and the sky cloudy: I went in, Sophie called me upstairs to look at my wedding-dress, which they had just brought; and under it in the box I found your present – the veil which, in your princely extravagance, you sent for from London: resolved, I suppose, since I would not have jewels, to cheat me into accepting something as costly. I smiled as I unfolded it, and devised how I would tease you about your aristocratic tastes, and your efforts to masque your plebeian bride in the attributes of a peeress. I thought how I would carry down to you the square of unembroidered blond I had myself prepared as a covering for my low-born head, and ask if that was not good enough for a woman who could bring her husband neither fortune, beauty, nor connections. I saw plainly how you would look; and heard your impetuous republican answers, and your haughty disavowal of any necessity on your part to augment your wealth, or elevate your standing, by marrying either a purse or a coronet.”

“How well you read me, you witch!” interposed Mr. Rochester: “but what did you find in the veil besides its embroidery? Did you find poison, or a dagger, that you look so mournful now?”

“No, no, sir; besides the delicacy and richness of the fabric, I found nothing save Fairfax Rochester’s pride; and that did not scare me, because I am used to the sight of the demon. But, sir, as it grew dark, the wind rose: it blew yesterday evening, not as it blows now – wild and high – but ‘with a sullen, moaning sound’[101] far more eerie. I wished you were at home. I came into this room, and the sight of the empty chair and fireless hearth chilled me. For some time after I went to bed, I could not sleep – a sense of anxious excitement distressed me. The gale still rising, seemed to my ear to muffle a mournful under-sound; whether in the house or abroad I could not at first tell, but it recurred, doubtful yet doleful at every lull; at last I made out it must be some dog howling at a distance. I was glad when it ceased. On sleeping, I continued in dreams the idea of a dark and gusty night. I continued also the wish to be with you, and experienced a strange, regretful consciousness of some barrier dividing us. During all my first sleep, I was following the windings of an unknown road; total obscurity environed me; rain pelted me; I was burdened with the charge of a little child: a very small creature, too young and feeble to walk, and which shivered in my cold arms, and wailed piteously in my ear. I thought, sir, that you were on the road a long way before me; and I strained every nerve to overtake you, and made effort on effort to utter your name and entreat you to stop – but my movements were fettered, and my voice still died away inarticulate; while you, I felt, withdrew farther and farther every moment.”

“And these dreams weigh on your spirits now, Jane, when I am close to you? Little nervous subject! Forget visionary woe, and think only of real happiness! You say you love me, Janet: yes – I will not forget that; and you cannot deny it. Those words did not die inarticulate on your lips. I heard them clear and soft: a thought too solemn perhaps, but sweet as music – ‘I think it is a glorious thing to have the hope of living with you, Edward, because I love you.’ Do you love me, Jane? – repeat it.”

“I do, sir – I do, with my whole heart.”

“Well,” he said, after some minutes’ silence, “it is strange; but that sentence has penetrated my breast painfully. Why? I think because you said it with such an earnest, religious energy, and because your upward gaze at me now is the very sublime of faith, truth, and devotion: it is too much as if some spirit were near me. Look wicked, Jane: as you know well how to look: coin one of your wild, shy, provoking smiles; tell me you hate me – tease me, vex me; do anything but move me: I would rather be incensed than saddened.”

“I will tease you and vex you to your heart’s content, when I have finished my tale: but hear me to the end.”

“I thought, Jane, you had told me all. I thought I had found the source of your melancholy in a dream.”

I shook my head. “What! is there more? But I will not believe it to be anything important. I warn you of incredulity beforehand. Go on.”

The disquietude of his air, the somewhat apprehensive impatience of his manner, surprised me: but I proceeded.

“I dreamt another dream, sir: that Thornfield Hall was a dreary ruin, the retreat of bats and owls. I thought that of all the stately front nothing remained but a shell-like wall, very high and very fragile-looking. I wandered, on a moonlight night, through the grass-grown enclosure within: here I stumbled over a marble hearth, and there over a fallen fragment of cornice. Wrapped up in a shawl, I still carried the unknown little child: I might not lay it down anywhere, however tired were my arms – however much its weight impeded my progress, I must retain it. I heard the gallop of a horse at a distance on the road; I was sure it was you; and you were departing for many years and for a distant country. I climbed the thin wall with frantic perilous haste, eager to catch one glimpse of you from the top: the stones rolled from under my feet, the ivy branches I grasped gave way, the child clung round my neck in terror, and almost strangled me; at last I gained the summit. I saw you like a speck on a white track, lessening every moment. The blast blew so strong I could not stand. I sat down on the narrow ledge; I hushed the scared infant in my lap: you turned an angle of the road: I bent forward to take a last look; the wall crumbled; I was shaken; the child rolled from my knee, I lost my balance, fell, and woke.”

“Now, Jane, that is all.”

“All the preface, sir; the tale is yet to come. On waking, a gleam dazzled my eyes; I thought – Oh, it is daylight! But I was mistaken; it was only candlelight. Sophie, I supposed, had come in. There was a light in the dressing-table, and the door of the closet, where, before going to bed, I had hung my wedding-dress and veil, stood open; I heard a rustling there. I asked, ‘Sophie, what are you doing?’ No one answered; but a form emerged from the closet; it took the light, held it aloft, and surveyed the garments pendent from the portmanteau. ‘Sophie! Sophie!’ I again cried: and still it was silent. I had risen up in bed, I bent forward: first surprise, then bewilderment, came over me; and then my blood crept cold through my veins. Mr. Rochester, this was not Sophie, it was not Leah, it was not Mrs. Fairfax: it was not – no, I was sure of it, and am still – it was not even that strange woman, Grace Poole.”

“It must have been one of them,” interrupted my master.

“No, sir, I solemnly assure you to the contrary. The shape standing before me had never crossed my eyes within the precincts of Thornfield Hall before; the height, the contour were new to me.”

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Примечания

1

a quotation from the poem “The Seasons” (“Autumn”) by James Thomson (1700 – 1748), a Scottish poet and playwright.

2

Pamela, and Henry, Earl of Moreland – “Pamela” is the title of a novel by Samuel Richardson (1689–1761), “Henry, Earl of Moreland” – a book by John Wesley (1703–1791).

3

Marseilles – strong cotton cloth made in Marseilles, France

4

Guy Fawkes (1570–1606) – a conspirator, executed for attempting to blow up the king and Parliament in 1605.

5

doat – dote on = to be fond of

6

sotto voce – in a very low voice (Italian)

7

“onding on snaw” – on the verge of snowing

8

Collect – a short prayer for a particular day

9

frieze – heavy woolen cloth

10

“Rasselas” – a didactic novel by Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)

11

Felix – from the Bible; Felix was a Roman governor who listened to St. Paul’s teaching

12

a moiety – half of the portion

13

en masse – together (French). Here and further on the characters of the book often use French in their communication.

14

Barmecide feast – an imaginary feast, with empty plates, given to a beggar by rich Baghdad nobleman (from “Arabian Nights”)

15

Cuyp-like – as in the pictures of Aelbert Jacobsz Cuyp (1620–1691), Dutch painter

16

references – here: a written testimonial

17

en règle – according to the rules (French)

18

Wolfe, James (1727–1759) – English soldier who was killed when commanding the British capture of Quebec

19

common – a part of the territory in the centre of some district, belonging to or used by a community as a whole

20

negus – kind of mulled wine

21

Quakerlike – Quakers are members of the Christian group known as the Society of Friends; here: modest and strict.

22

C’est là ma gouverante. – It’s my governess.

23

Mais oui, certainement! – Of course she is!

24

canzonette – a small song (Italian)

25

La Ligue des Rats: fable de La Fontaine – “The Rats’ Union,” fable by Jean de La Fontaine

26

Qu’ avez vous donc? lui dit un de ces rats; parlez! – So, what do you have? says one of the rats. Speak up!

27

yonder – there (archaic). Here and later archaic words are used, such as “bairn” – child, “nought” – nothing, etc.

28

Tyrian-dyed – purple

29

Parian – made of white semitranslucent marble quarried at Páros

30

Hebrew ark – the ark of the Covenant

31

“after life’s fitful fever they sleep well” – a quotation from “Macbeth” (Act 3, Scene 2) by William Shakespeare

32

Mesdames, vous êtes servies! J’ai bien faim, moi! – Ladies, dinner is served! As for me, I’m terribly hungry!

33

par parenthèse – by the way

34

viz. – that is

35

Revenez bientôt, ma bonne amie, ma chère Mdlle. Jeannette. – Come back soon, my good friend, my dear Miss Jane.

36

It’s a quotation from the poem “Fallen is thy Throne” by Thomas Moore.

37

“Et cela doit signifier qu’il y aura là dedans un cadeau pour moi, et peut-être pour vous aussi, mademoiselle. Monsieur a parlé de vous: il m’a demandé le nom de ma gouvernante, et si elle n’était pas une petite personne, assez mince et un peu pâle. J’ai dit qu’oui: car c’est vrai, n’est-ce pas, mademoiselle?” – It must mean there is a present for me inside, and maybe for you too, Miss. Monsieur has talked about you: he asked me what’s your name and if you are small, thin and somewhat pale. I said yes, because it’s true, isn’t it, Miss?

38

“N’est-ce pas, monsieur, qu’il y a un cadeau pour Mademoiselle Eyre dans votre petit coffre?” – Isn’t there a present for Miss Eyre in your small chest?

39

the men in green – Mr. Rochester refers to Jane as to an imp, a fairy.

40

the likeness of a kingly crown, the shape which shape had none – from “Paradise Lost” by John Milton (1608–1674) where Raphael describes Death to Adam.

41

Latmos – Mount Latmus; according to Greek legends, it was the place where the moon goddess Selene first met Endymion, a mortal who became her lover.

42

petit coffre – a small chest

43

Ma boîte! ma boîte – My box! My box!

44

tiens-toi tranquille, enfant; comprends-tu? – Be quiet, child. Do you understand?

45

Oh ciel! Que c’est beau! – Oh heavens! But it is beautiful!

46

nonnette – a young nun

47

India-rubber ball – meaning natural rubber

48

ditto – the same (Italian)

49

et j’y tiens – it matters to me

50

Medes and Persians – two tribes mentioned in the Bible

51

Il faut que je l’essaie! et à l’instant même! – I must try it on! Right now!

52

Est-ce que ma robe va bien? et mes souliers? et mes bas? Tenez, je crois que je vais danser! – My frock, does it suit me? And my shoes? And my stockings? Look, I believe I’m going to dance!

53

Monsieur, je vous remercie mille fois de votre bonté; C’est comme cela que maman faisait, n’est-ce pas, monsieur? – Monsieur, I thank you thousand times for you generosity. That’s like my mom used to do, isn’t it, Monsieur?

54

comme cela – like that

55

taille d’athlète – athletic built

56

croquant – crunching

57

porte cochère – gateway

58

Job’s leviathan broke the spear, the dart, and the habergeon – allusion to the Bible (the Book of Job, 41:26). Here is meant the readiness to overcome any hardships and obstacles.

59

roué – a scapegrace

60

beauté mâle – man’s beauty, handsomness

61

filette – a daughter or a girl

62

Beulah – from the Bible: a symbolic name of the heavenly Zion, the promised land.

63

Qu’ avez-vous, mademoiselle? Vos doigts tremblent comme la feuille, et vos joues sont rouges: mais, rouges comme des cerises.  – What’s happened, Miss? Your fingers are trembling like a leaf, and your cheeks are red, as red as cherries.

64

ignis-fatus – “fool’s fire” (Latin), dim wandering light appearing over the swamps at night. It is believed to drive travellers from the safe paths.

65

passées – old-fashioned

66

Some natural tears she shed – allusion to “Paradise Lost” by John Milton (1608–1674); the original quote is “Some natural tears they dropped.”

67

Elles changent de toilettes – They change.

68

Chez maman, quand il y avait du monde, je le suivais partout, au salon et à leurs chambres; souvent je regardais les femmes de chambre coiffer et habiller les dames, et c’était si amusant: comme cela on apprend. – When my mom had guests, I followed them everywhere, in the drawing room and in the bedrooms. I often watched the maids combing and dressing the ladies, and that was real fun; that’s how they learn.

69

Mais oui, mademoiselle: voilà cinq ou six heures que nous n’avons pas mangé. – Oh yes, Miss; it is really five or six hours since we had some food.

70

abigails – allusion to the Bible, here: ladies’ maids

71

et alors quel dommage – well, it’s a pity

72

Est-ce que je ne puis pas prendre une seule de ces fleurs magnifiques, mademoiselle? Seulement pour completer ma toilette. – Oh Miss, can’t I take one of these beautiful flowers? Just to complete my toilette.

73

minois chiffoné – here: pretty

74

père noble de théâtre – noble (aristocratic) head of the family, father (theater emploi)

75

Tant pis! – even worse! (meaning “it serves her right”)

76

Au reste – as for the rest of it

77

Who would not be the Rizzio of so divine a Mary – an allusion to the story of David Rizzio, a private secretary of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (1542–1587)

78

black Bothwell – the husband of the said Mary who mastered the murder of Rizzio

79

con spirito – here: in a high-spirited way (Italian)

80

Gardez-vous en bien – Look out!

81

Paynim – Muslim or pagan

82

airs – here: songs

83

Voilà, Monsieur Rochester, qui revient ! – Here is Mr. Rochester, he’s come back!

84

Mother Bunches – a person from the English folklore, a wise old countrywoman, teaching a mixture of charms and magical recipes

85

le cas – the proper case

86

the old gentleman – the devil

87

ad infinitum – eternally (Latin)

88

Queen Boadicea – a British Celtic warrior queen who led an uprising against Roman occupation.

89

prête à croquer sa petite maman Anglaise – ready to eat her English mommy up

90

Midsummer – a religious holiday celebrated on the 24th of June