a quotation from the poem “The Seasons” (“Autumn”) by James Thomson (1700 – 1748), a Scottish poet and playwright.
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).
Marseilles – strong cotton cloth made in Marseilles, France
Guy Fawkes (1570–1606) – a conspirator, executed for attempting to blow up the king and Parliament in 1605.
doat – dote on = to be fond of
sotto voce – in a very low voice (Italian)
“onding on snaw” – on the verge of snowing
Collect – a short prayer for a particular day
frieze – heavy woolen cloth
“Rasselas” – a didactic novel by Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
Felix – from the Bible; Felix was a Roman governor who listened to St. Paul’s teaching
a moiety – half of the portion
en masse – together (French). Here and further on the characters of the book often use French in their communication.
Barmecide feast – an imaginary feast, with empty plates, given to a beggar by rich Baghdad nobleman (from “Arabian Nights”)
Cuyp-like – as in the pictures of Aelbert Jacobsz Cuyp (1620–1691), Dutch painter
references – here: a written testimonial
en règle – according to the rules (French)
Wolfe, James (1727–1759) – English soldier who was killed when commanding the British capture of Quebec
common – a part of the territory in the centre of some district, belonging to or used by a community as a whole
negus – kind of mulled wine
Quakerlike – Quakers are members of the Christian group known as the Society of Friends; here: modest and strict.
C’est là ma gouverante. – It’s my governess.
Mais oui, certainement! – Of course she is!
canzonette – a small song (Italian)
La Ligue des Rats: fable de La Fontaine – “The Rats’ Union,” fable by Jean de La Fontaine
Qu’ avez vous donc? lui dit un de ces rats; parlez! – So, what do you have? says one of the rats. Speak up!
yonder – there (archaic). Here and later archaic words are used, such as “bairn” – child, “nought” – nothing, etc.
Tyrian-dyed – purple
Parian – made of white semitranslucent marble quarried at Páros
Hebrew ark – the ark of the Covenant
“after life’s fitful fever they sleep well” – a quotation from “Macbeth” (Act 3, Scene 2) by William Shakespeare
Mesdames, vous êtes servies! J’ai bien faim, moi! – Ladies, dinner is served! As for me, I’m terribly hungry!
par parenthèse – by the way
viz. – that is
Revenez bientôt, ma bonne amie, ma chère Mdlle. Jeannette. – Come back soon, my good friend, my dear Miss Jane.
It’s a quotation from the poem “Fallen is thy Throne” by Thomas Moore.
“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?
“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?
the men in green – Mr. Rochester refers to Jane as to an imp, a fairy.
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.
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.
petit coffre – a small chest
Ma boîte! ma boîte – My box! My box!
tiens-toi tranquille, enfant; comprends-tu? – Be quiet, child. Do you understand?
Oh ciel! Que c’est beau! – Oh heavens! But it is beautiful!
nonnette – a young nun
India-rubber ball – meaning natural rubber
ditto – the same (Italian)
et j’y tiens – it matters to me
Medes and Persians – two tribes mentioned in the Bible
Il faut que je l’essaie! et à l’instant même! – I must try it on! Right now!
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!
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?
comme cela – like that
taille d’athlète – athletic built
croquant – crunching
porte cochère – gateway
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.
roué – a scapegrace
beauté mâle – man’s beauty, handsomness
filette – a daughter or a girl
Beulah – from the Bible: a symbolic name of the heavenly Zion, the promised land.
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.
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.
passées – old-fashioned
Some natural tears she shed – allusion to “Paradise Lost” by John Milton (1608–1674); the original quote is “Some natural tears they dropped.”
Elles changent de toilettes – They change.
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.
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.
abigails – allusion to the Bible, here: ladies’ maids
et alors quel dommage – well, it’s a pity
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.
minois chiffoné – here: pretty
père noble de théâtre – noble (aristocratic) head of the family, father (theater emploi)
Tant pis! – even worse! (meaning “it serves her right”)
Au reste – as for the rest of it
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)
black Bothwell – the husband of the said Mary who mastered the murder of Rizzio
con spirito – here: in a high-spirited way (Italian)
Gardez-vous en bien – Look out!
Paynim – Muslim or pagan
airs – here: songs
Voilà, Monsieur Rochester, qui revient ! – Here is Mr. Rochester, he’s come back!
Mother Bunches – a person from the English folklore, a wise old countrywoman, teaching a mixture of charms and magical recipes
le cas – the proper case
the old gentleman – the devil
ad infinitum – eternally (Latin)
Queen Boadicea – a British Celtic warrior queen who led an uprising against Roman occupation.
prête à croquer sa petite maman Anglaise – ready to eat her English mommy up
Midsummer – a religious holiday celebrated on the 24th of June
Day its fervid fires had wasted – it is a slightly changed quotation from Thomas Campbell’s “The Turkish Lady.” The original phrase was “Day her sultry fires had wasted.”
organ of Adhesiveness – according to Phrenology (a science of faculty psychology and theory of brain), each faculty must have a separate seat or “organ” in the brain
gild refined gold – it is a quotation from William Shakespeare’s “King John,” meaning “to improve something unnecessarily.”
King Ahasuerus – Persian king (better known as Xerxes I), famous for his riches and splendor
Oh, qu’ elle y sera mal – peu comfortable! – Oh, she would be quite uncomfortable there!
un vrai menteur – a true liar
contes de fée – fairy tales
du reste, il n’y avait pas de fées, et quand même il y en avait – besides, there were no fairies, and if they were
pour me donner une contenance – to give me composure
D.V. – Devout Virgin (from Latin Devota Virgo)
with a sullen, moaning sound – it’s a quotation from “The Lay of the Last Minstrel” by Sir Walter Scott.