Лучшие романы сестер Бронте / The Best of the Brontë Sisters. Шарлотта Бронте

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

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

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

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      references – here: a written testimonial

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      en règle – according to the rules (French)

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

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

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      negus – kind of mulled wine

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

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

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      Mais oui, certainement! – Of course she is!

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      canzonette – a small song (Italian)

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

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

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

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      Tyrian-dyed – purple

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      Parian – made of white semitranslucent marble quarried at Páros

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      Hebrew ark – the ark of the Covenant

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

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

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      par parenthèse – by the way

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      viz. – that is

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

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

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      “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?

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      “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?

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

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      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.

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      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.

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      petit coffre – a small chest

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      Ma boîte! ma boîte – My box! My box!

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

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

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      nonnette – a young nun

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      India-rubber ball – meaning natural rubber

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      ditto – the same (Italian)

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      et j’y tiens – it matters to me

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      Medes and Persians – two tribes mentioned in the Bible

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

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      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!

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      Monsieur, je vous remercie