X.
第3夜が来た。次の日は試験だから、何をするにしても、この日に済ませなければならない。アンネは娘のケイトと共に朝から晩まで、高貴な客人である総監を迎えるのにふさわしい準備をするため、家の中を駆けずり回った。日暮れには、すべての準備が整い、望み得る限り然るべき姿になった。アンネは森から帰ってきたヴィルヘルムを抱きしめ、初めて「息子」という親しみを込めた呼び方をした。愛し愛される新婚花嫁の優しい感情で、ケイトの目は輝いていた。食卓には、祭りの花や、農村の慣習からこの機会に用いる紋章が飾られ、母親はいつもより豪華な食事、父親は選りすぐりの古酒を持ち寄った。
The third night came. Whatever was to be done—must be done on this day, for the next was the day of trial. From morning to night had old Anne, with her daughter Kate, bustled about the house, to make arrangements for the suitable reception of her dignified guest, the commissioner. At nightfall every thing was ready, and in the most becoming order. Anne embraced William on his return from the forest, and, for the first time, saluted him with the endearing name of son. The eyes of Kate sparkled with the tender emotions of a youthful bride—that loves, and is beloved. The table was decked with festal flowers, and such as rural usage has appropriated, by way of emblems, to the occasion: viands more luxurious than usual were brought out by the mother; and bottles of choice old wine by the father.
「今宵は、」とベルトラムは言った、「婚礼の宴としよう。明日は、身内だけという訳にはいかない。つまり内々に、愛情を持って一緒に座ることはできない。だから私たちの人生のすべての喜びがこの一夜に集約されるような、そんな幸せな時間を過ごさせて貰おう。」
“This night,” said Bertram, “we will keep the bridal feast: to-morrow we shall not be alone; and cannot, therefore, sit so confidentially and affectionately together; let us be happy then—as happy as if all the pleasure of our lives were to be crowded into this one night.”
森番は家族を抱きしめ、深く感動した。
「でも、ベルトラム、」奥さんは言った。「今夜は私たちが幸せになるように、明日には若い人たちがもっと幸せになれると思うわ。私が何を言いたいかわかる？」
The forester embraced his family, and was deeply moved.—“But Bertram,” said his wife, “let us be as happy as we will to-night, I’ve a notion the young people will be happier to-morrow. Do you know what I mean?”
「そうだな、お前の言いたいことはわかる。子供たちにも教えてやらんとな、そうすれば、みんな幸せを享受できると。
聞いているか、子供たち？明日、牧師を招きます。ヴィルヘルムが試験に合格したらすぐに」--。
“Yes, love, I know what you mean: and let the children know it also, that they may enjoy their happiness beforehand. Do you hear, children? The vicar is invited to-morrow; and as soon as William has passed his examination”——
その時、ガラガラと鳴る物音と、カタリナの大きな叫び声が、森番の話を中断させた。クーノーの肖像画がまたしても壁から落ち、額の角がカタリナのこめかみを傷つけたのだ。釘の固定が甘かったのか、絵に続いて落ちてきて、壁の一部も剥がれてしまった。
「神の名にかけて、いったい何事だ」とベルトラムは憤慨した、「この絵は、あるべき姿で黙って納まっておれんのか？やらかしたのはこれで2度目ではないか。ケイティ、我が子よ、どうした大丈夫か？」
At this moment a rattling noise and a loud cry from Katharine interrupted the forester’s speech. Kuno’s portrait had again fallen from the wall, and a corner of the frame had wounded Katharine on the temples. The nail appeared to have been fixed too loosely in the wall, for it fell after the picture, and brought away part of the plaister.—“What, in God’s name, can be the reason,” said Bertram with vexation, “that this picture can’t be made to hang as it should do? This now is the second time that it has alarmed us. Katy, my love, art any worse?”
「どうって事ないわ」と、彼女は明るく言い、涙まじりの血を拭きながら、「ただ凄く怖かったけど」と付け加えた。
“No, not at all,” said she cheerfully, and wiping the blood from her tersses, “but I was sadly frightened.”
ケイトの死相のような青白い顔とこめかみの血を見たとき、ヴィルヘルムは恐ろしい動揺に襲われた。その姿は、あの夜に見た恐ろしい幻影にそっくりで、その忌まわしい印象が今、心に甦ったのだ。苦悩を隠すべく、いつもより急ぎ足で大量に飲んだワインは、彼を狂おしいほどの強靭な精神で満たした。大胆に挑戦することを改めて決意し、もはやその目は、愛と勇気が危険と闘う名誉ある光景以外の何物も見なかった。
William was thrown into dreadful agitation when he beheld the death-pale countenance of Kate, and the blood upon her temples. Just so had she appeared to him on the night of his hideous visions; and all the sad images of that memorable night now revived upon his mind, and tormented him afresh. The violent shock tended greatly to stagger him in his plans for the night; but the wine, which he drank in large draughts, and more hastily than usual, for the purpose of hiding his anguish, filled him with a frantic spirit of hardihood: he resolved afresh to make the attempt boldly; and no longer saw any thing in his purpose, but the honourable spectacle of love and courage struggling with danger.
時計は9時を回った。ヴィルヘルムの心臓は激しく鼓動した。婚礼の日に花嫁から離れる口実がどこにあるというのだろう。時間は矢よりも速く進み、幸福をもたらすはずの愛の腕の中で、彼は殉教の苦しみを味わった。10時を過ぎ、決定的な瞬間が迫っていた。ヴィルヘルムは花嫁の目を盗んで傍を離れ、すでに商売道具を持って家の外に出ていたが、老アンネが追いかけてきた。「こんな夜更けにどこへ行くの、ヴィルヘルム？」と心配そうに尋ねた。「鹿を撃ったのですが、急いでいて忘れてしまいました」と誤魔化した。よく気のつくケイトも、彼の慌ただしさと動揺ぶりに、何か忘れ物でもしたのかと誤解してしまった。ヴィルヘルムは2人を振り切り、森へと急いだ。
The clock struck nine. William’s heart beat violently. He sought for some pretext for withdrawing, but in vain: what pretext could a man find for quitting his young bride on their bridal festival? Time flew faster than an arrow: in the arms of love, that should have crowned him with happiness, he suffered the pangs of martyrdom. Ten o’clock was now past: and the decisive moment was at hand. Without taking leave, William stole from the side of his bride; already he was outside the house with his implements of labor, when old Anne came after him. “Whither away, William, at this time of night?” asked she anxiously. “I shot a deer, and forgot it in my hurry,” was the answer. In vain she begged him to stay: all her intreaties were flung away, and even the tender caresses of Kate, whose mind misgave her, that some mystery lay buried in his hurry and agitation. William tore himself from them both, and hastened to the forest.
