12 妹の結婚
妹が結婚することになった。相手は… マースデン伯?そうか、めでたい。…だが、写真を見るや、これは!この男が！しかし話せないオーブリーは、また狂ったと思われて取り押さえられてしまう。その間にもラッスェン卿は着々と…
年の瀬も押し迫って大晦日のこと、後見人の一人が部屋に入ってきて、主治医と話を始めた。オーブリーがこんな酷い有様だとは憂慮すべき状況だ、明日には妹が結婚するというのにだ。…
途端にオーブリーがそちらを向いた。相手は誰かと気にして尋ねた。
失われてしまったのではないかと危惧されていたこの知性の復活の印を喜んで、マースデン伯爵、これは社交界で出会った若い伯爵だろうと思って、その名を出したところ、オーブリーは喜んでいるようで。彼らをさらに驚かせたのは、婚礼には出席するという意思表示と、妹に会いたいとの要望だった。特に答えはなかったものの、数分後には妹と一緒に居た。
やっと彼女の愛らしい微笑みを受け入れることができたようだった。兄は妹を自分の胸に押しつけ、愛情に満ちた兄が戻ってきたと、感動の涙で濡れた頬に口付けた。あらん限りの、いつもの暖かさをもって話し始め、彼女がこれほどまでに地位と実績のある人物と結婚したことを祝福した。ところがふと、彼女の胸にあるロケットに気がついた。それを開くと、驚くまい事か、彼の人生を散々な目に合わせた怪物の顔ではないか！怒りに駆られて肖像画をつかみ、足下に踏みにじった。
なぜこのように将来の夫の似顔絵を壊したのかと彼女が尋ねると、兄は理解できないような顔をした。そして彼女の手を掴み、必死の形相で妹に向き合い誓わせたのは、この怪物と決して結婚しないと。…しかし、続けることができなかった… またしてもあの声が、誓いを思い出せといったような。ラッスェン卿が近くにいるのかと思ってさっと振り返ったが、誰も居なかった。
その間の全てを聞き届け、例の病気がぶり返したに違いないと考えた後見人と医師が介入し、オーブリー嬢から引き剥がし、近づかないようにと彼女に指示した。彼は皆に跪いて嘆願し、延期するように頼んだが、一日だけならという事になった。彼らはこれを、例の狂気と考えられるものが彼の精神に取り憑いたのだと解釈し、彼を落ち着かせるだけのことをしてから引っ込んだ。
The time had nearly elapsed, when, upon the last day of the year, one of his guardians entering his room, began to converse with his physician upon the melancholy circumstance of Aubrey's being in so awful a situation, when his sister was going next day to be married. Instantly Aubrey's attention was attracted; he asked anxiously to whom. Glad of this mark of returning intellect, of which they feared he had been deprived, they mentioned the name of the Earl of Marsden, Thinking this was a young Earl whom he had met with in society, Aubrey seemed pleased, and astonished them still more by his expressing his intention to be present at the nuptials, and desiring to see his sister. They answered not, but in a few minutes his sister was with him. He was apparently again capable of being affected by the influence of her lovely smile; for he pressed her to his breast, and kissed her cheek, wet with tears, flowing at the thought of her brother's being once more alive to the feelings of affection. He began to speak with all his wonted warmth, and to congratulate her upon her marriage with a person so distinguished for rank and every accomplishment; when he suddenly perceived a locket upon her breast; opening it, what was his surprise at beholding the features of the monster who had so long influenced his life He seized the portrait in a paroxysm of rage, and trampled it under foot. Upon her asking him why he thus destroyed the resemblance of her future husband, he looked as if he did not understand her—then seizing her hands, and gazing on her with a frantic expression of countenance, he bade her swear that she would never wed this monster, for he––But he could not advance—it seemed as if that voice again bade him remember his oath—he turned suddenly round, thinking Lord Ruthven was near him but saw no one. In the meantime the guardians and physician, who had heard the whole, and thought this was but a return of his disorder, entered, and forcing him from Miss Aubrey, desired her to leave him. He fell upon his knees to them, he implored, he begged of them to delay but for one day. They, attributing this to the insanity they imagined had taken possession of his mind, endeavoured to pacify him, and retired.
ラッスェン卿は謁見の儀の翌朝に訪問し、他の誰とも同じように面会謝絶された。オーブリーの健康状態が悪いと聞いて、自分がその原因であるとすぐに理解した。加えて、オーブリーが正気でないと見なされたことを知ったときには、自分のはしゃぎっぷりを人に隠すのも難しいくらいだった。
Lord Ruthven had called the morning after the drawing-room, and had been refused with every one else. When he heard of Aubrey's ill health, he readily understood himself to be the cause of it; but when he learned that he was deemed insane, his exultation and pleasure could hardly be concealed from those among whom he had gained this information.
かくて以前の仲間の家に急ぎ、絶えず通い、オーブリー嬢の兄への大きな愛情と彼の運命への関心を装ったので、次第に彼女も耳を貸すようになったのである。
He hastened to the house of his former companion, and, by constant attendance, and the pretence of great affection for the brother and interest in his fate, he gradually won the ear of Miss Aubrey.
誰が彼の力に逆らえるだろうか？その口舌には、語るべき危険と苦難があった。
…言ってのけたは、分かってくれるのは貴女だけ、人の溢れるこの世の中で、自分は誰とも共感できない存在だったとか。
…貴女のことを知るようになってから、そのなだめるような調子を聞けるだけでも、生きていく値打ちがあると思えるようになったとか。
…つまり、ラッスェン卿は蛇の術を使いこなし、あるいは運命のいたずらで、彼女の愛情を勝ち得たのだ。
Who could resist his power? His tongue had dangers and toils to recount—could speak of himself as of an individual having no sympathy with any being on the crowded earth, save with her to whom he addressed himself;—could tell how, since he knew her, his existence had begun to seem worthy of preservation, if it were merely that he might listen to her soothing accents;—in fine, he knew so well how to use the serpent's art, or such was the will of fate, that he gained her affections.
分家の跡取りなる称号がついにその手に渡り、外交使節の要人ともなり、それが（花嫁の兄が錯乱しているにもかかわらず）大陸への出発前日に行われることになっていた結婚を急がせる口実となったのだ。
The title of the elder branch falling at length to him, he obtained an important embassy, which served as an excuse for hastening the marriage, (in spite of her brother's deranged state,) which was to take place the very day before his departure for the continent.
he asked anxiously to whom:オーブリーにしてみれば、マースデン伯爵とか知らないが、妹の結婚相手がラッスェン卿でさえなければ良い。しかしまだ期限が来ていない誓いのために説明できない。一方、説明を聞けない周りの人間は、オーブリーの知り合いで良かったと思っている。
the monster who had so long influenced his life :原文は文末の . を欠いている。
the serpent's art:『創世記』に於ける蛇の誘惑を指すと共に、『クリスタベル姫』第2部からの引用にも見える。
本文は、後もうちょっと。
