Грозовой перевал / Wuthering Heights

However, in my dream, Jabez had a full and attentive congregation; and he preached good God! what a sermon; divided into FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY parts, each fully equal to an ordinary address from the pulpit, and each discussing a separate sin! Where he searched for them, I cannot tell. He had his private manner of interpreting the phrase, and it seemed necessary the brother should sin different sins on every occasion. They were of the most curious character: odd transgressions that I never imagined previously.

Oh, how weary I grow. How I writhed, and yawned, and nodded, and revived! How I pinched and pricked myself, and rubbed my eyes, and stood up, and sat down again, and nudged Joseph to inform me if he would EVER have done. I was condemned to hear all out: finally, he reached the �FIRST OF THE SEVENTY-FIRST.’ At that crisis, a sudden inspiration descended on me; I was moved to rise and denounce Jabez Branderham as the sinner of the sin that no Christian need pardon.

�Sir,’ I exclaimed, �sitting here within these four walls, at one stretch, I have endured and forgiven the four hundred and ninety heads of your discourse. Seventy times seven times have I plucked up my hat and been about to depart Seventy times seven times have you preposterously forced me to resume my seat. The four hundred and ninety-first is too much. Fellow-martyrs, have at him! Drag him down, and crush him to atoms, that the place which knows him may know him no more!’

�THOU ART[13 - Thou art – you are (уст.

).] THE MAN!’ cried Jabez, after a solemn pause, leaning over his cushion. �Seventy times seven times didst thou[14 - Didst thou – did you (уст.).] gapingly contort thy[15 - Thy – your (уст.).] visage seventy times seven did I take counsel with my soul. Lo,[16 - Lo – Lord (Господь).] this is human weakness: this also may be absolved! The First of the Seventy-First is come. Brethren,[17 - Brethren – братья (уст. ).] execute upon him the judgment written. Such honour have all His saints!’

With that concluding word, the whole assembly, exalting their pilgrim’s staves, rushed round me in a body; and I, having no weapon to raise in self-defence, commenced grappling with Joseph, my nearest and most ferocious assailant, for his. In the confluence of the multitude, several clubs crossed; blows, aimed at me, fell on other sconces.