Животопис Фредерицка Доугласса

Predslov

Preface

V mesiaci auguste

In the month of August,

1841

1841,

som sa zúčastnil protiotrokárskeho zhromaždenia v Nantuckete,

I attended an anti-slavery convention in Nantucket,

na ktorom som mal to šťastie zoznámiť sa s

at which it was my happiness to become acquainted with

Frederickom Douglassom,

Frederick Douglass,

pisateľom nasledujúceho Rozprávania.

the writer of the following Narrative.

Bol neznámy takmer každému členovi toho zhromaždenia;

He was a stranger to nearly every member of that body;

no

but,

keďže nedávno unikol z južného žalára poroby

having recently made his escape from the southern prison-house of bondage,

a keďže v ňom vzplanula zvedavosť poznať zásady a kroky abolicionistov —

and feeling his curiosity excited to ascertain the principles and measures of the abolitionists, —

o ktorých ako otrok počul iba čosi neurčité —

of whom he had heard a somewhat vague description while he was a slave, —

dal sa nahovoriť, aby prišiel

he was induced to give his attendance,

pri spomenutej príležitosti,

on the occasion alluded to,

hoci v tom čase býval v New Bedforde.

though at that time a resident in New Bedford.

Šťastná,

Fortunate,

prešťastná udalosť! —

most fortunate occurrence! —

šťastná pre milióny jeho spútaných bratov,

fortunate for the millions of his manacled brethren,

čo dosiaľ lapajú po vyslobodení zo svojho hrozného jarma! —

yet panting for deliverance from their awful thraldom! —

šťastná pre vec oslobodenia černochov

fortunate for the cause of negro emancipation,

i pre slobodu všetkých! —

and of universal liberty! —

šťastná pre krajinu jeho rodu,

fortunate for the land of his birth,

ktorej už toľko vykonal na záchranu a požehnanie! —

which he has already done so much to save and bless! —

šťastná pre veľký kruh priateľov a známych,

fortunate for a large circle of friends and acquaintances,

ktorých súcit a lásku si pevne získal mnohými útrapami, ktoré vytrpel,

whose sympathy and affection he has strongly secured by the many sufferings he has endured,

cnostnými črtami svojej povahy,

by his virtuous traits of character,

svojou neutíchajúcou pamäťou na tých, čo sú v putách,

by his ever-abiding remembrance of those who are in bonds,

akoby bol spútaný s nimi! —

as being bound with them! —

šťastná pre zástupy

fortunate for the multitudes,

v rozličných končinách našej republiky,

in various parts of our republic,

ktorých myseľ osvietil vo veci otroctva

whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery,

a ktorých dojal k slzám svojím pátosom

and who have been melted to tears by his pathos,

alebo roznietil k spravodlivému rozhorčeniu svojou strhujúcou výrečnosťou proti zotročovateľom ľudí! —

or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men! —

šťastná preňho samého,

fortunate for himself,

lebo ho razom uviedla na pole verejnej užitočnosti,

as it at once brought him into the field of public usefulness,

„dala svetu istotu, že tu stojí MUŽ“,

“gave the world assurance of a MAN,”

prebudila driemajúce sily jeho duše

quickened the slumbering energies of his soul,

a zasvätila ho veľkému dielu zlomiť prút utláčateľa

and consecrated him to the great work of breaking the rod of the oppressor,

a prepustiť utláčaných na slobodu!

and letting the oppressed go free!