style="font-size:15px;"> “Rasselas” – a didactic novel by Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)
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Felix – from the Bible; Felix was a Roman governor who listened to St. Paul’s teaching
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a moiety – half of the portion
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en masse – 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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