Agnes Grey / Агнес Грей. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Agnes Grey / Агнес Грей. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Энн Бронте

Е. Г. Тигонен

Чтение в оригинале (Каро)Classical Literature (Каро)

«Агнес Грей» – первый роман младшей из сестер Бронте, Энн. В его основу положены личные переживания и впечатления автора, работавшей гувернанткой в нескольких домах.

Предлагаем вниманию любителей английской литературы XIX века неадаптированный текст романа с комментария-ми и словарем.

Ann Brontë / Энн Бронте

Agnes Grey / Агнес Грей. Книга для чтения на английском языке

В© РљРђР Рћ, 2017

Chapter I

The Parsonage

All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut. Whether this be the case with my history[1 - Whether this be the case with my history – (уст.) Так ли дело обстоит с моей историей] or not, I am hardly competent to judge. I sometimes think it might prove useful to some, and entertaining to others; but the world may judge for itself. Shielded by my own obscurity, and by the lapse of years, and a few fictitious names, I do not fear to venture; and will candidly lay before the public what I would not disclose to the most intimate friend.

My father was a clergyman of the north of England, who was deservedly respected by all who knew him; and, in his younger days, lived pretty comfortably on the joint income of a small incumbency and a snug little property of his own. My mother, who married him against the wishes of her friends, was a squire’s daughter, and a woman of spirit. In vain it was represented to her, that if she became the poor parson’s wife, she must relinquish her carriage and her lady’s-maid, and all the luxuries and elegancies of affluence; which to her were little less than the necessaries of life. A carriage and a lady’s-maid were great conveniences; but, thank heaven, she had feet to carry her, and hands to minister to her own necessities.