3 ローマ
一行はローマに着いた。ここで思い思いの… と思いきや、ラッスェン卿の行動が不穏だ。
この女たらし！オーブリーは行動を開始する。
一行は間もなくしてローマに到着し、それからしばらくの間、オーブリーは道連れを見かけなくなった。片やイタリアの伯爵夫人の朝の集いに毎日出席し、置いて行かれた方は別の人けのない都市の記念碑を探して回るという具合。
They soon arrived at Rome, and Aubrey for a time lost sight of his companion; he left him in daily attendance upon the morning circle of an Italian countess, whilst he went in search of the memorials of another almost deserted city.
かくして交戦中の折しも、イギリスから便りが届き、封を切る手ももどかしく。最初のものは妹から、立ち上るは愛情以外の何物でもなく。今一つは後見人からの、これは彼を驚かせた。かの仲間に邪悪な力があると想像していたならば、その妄想に根拠がついたようなもの。
Whilst he was thus engaged, letters arrived from England, which he opened with eager impatience; the first was from his sister, breathing nothing but affection; the others were from his guardians, the latter astonished him; if it had before entered into his imagination that there was an evil power resident in his companion, these seemed to give him lmost sufficient reason for the belief.
後見人たちはすぐにその友人から離れるようにと力説し、勧告して、その性格は極めてタチが悪いと。抵抗できない誘惑の力を持っているため、彼の放蕩三昧は社会にとってより危険なものにも成り得ると。
身持ちの悪い女に対する彼の軽蔑は、その人格を憎んでのものではなかった。ただ自分が愉しむために、罪深くも自分の餌食となった相手を、穢れなき貞操の頂点から、汚名と堕落のどん底に突き落とす事を求めたのだと知れた。
つまり、彼が漁っていった女性たちは、見るからに貞操観念の塊だったのが、彼が去った後には仮面さえも捨て去り、悪徳の限りを尽くして世間の目に晒すことも厭わなくなったのだと。
His guardians insisted upon his immediately leaving his friend, and urged, that his character was dreadfully vicious, for that the possession of irresistible powers of seduction, rendered his licentious habits more dangerous to society.
It had been discovered, that his contempt for the adultress had not originated in hatred of her character; but that he had required, to enhance his gratification, that his victim, the partner of his guilt, should be hurled from the pinnacle of unsullied virtue, down to the lowest abyss of infamy and degradation: in fine, that all those females whom he had sought, apparently on account of their virtue, had, since his departure, thrown even the mask aside, and had not scrupled to expose the whole deformity of their vices to the public gaze.
オーブリーは離れようと決めた。あの人は、目を綻ばせるような明るい点を、まだ1つも示していないではないか。
あの男をすっぱり見捨てる為の、もっともらしい口実少々を捻り出そうと決心し。そのため当分より近づき見守る、些細な変化も見過ごさないように。
Aubrey determined upon leaving one, whose character had not yet shown a single bright point on which to rest the eye. He resolved to invent some plausible pretext for abandoning him altogether, purposing, in the mean while, to watch him more closely, and to let no slight circumstances pass by unnoticed.
同じ集いに入り、すぐに気づいた。卿が、頻繁に訪れた家の娘に、経験不足を何とかしてやろうと言い寄っている。
イタリアでは、未婚の女性が社交の場で出会う事など、まず無い。したがってその計画は、よほど秘密裏に実行される必要があった。ところが、ほっつき歩いた跡を辿るオーブリーの目は、間もなくして密会が予定されたことを発見した。おそらくこれで、無垢だが分別を欠く少女は破滅に終わるのであろう。
He entered into the same circle, and soon perceived, that his Lordship was endeavouring to work upon the inexperience of the daughter of the lady whose house he chiefly frequented. In Italy, it is seldom that an unmarried female is met with in society; he was therefore obliged to carry on his plans in secret; but Aubrey's eye followed him in all his windings, and soon discovered that an assignation had been appointed, which would most likely end in the ruin of an innocent, though thoughtless girl.
時を移さず、ラッスェン卿の借りた部屋に押し掛けるや、かの女性に対する意図を尋ねると同時に、かくかくの夜の逢瀬に気づいたぞと告知したもの。
ラッスェン卿答えて、意図したのは、そういう時に誰もが考えるものと、君が思っていた通りだと。彼女と結婚するつもりなのかどうかと迫られても、一笑に付した。
Losing no time, he entered the apartment of Lord Ruthven, and abruptly asked him his intentions with respect to the lady, informing him at the same time that he was aware of his being about to meet her that very night. Lord Ruthven answered, that his intentions were such as he supposed all would have upon such an occasion; and upon being pressed whether he intended to marry her, merely laughed.
オーブリーは退き下がった。直ちに短信を書いて曰く。これよりお断りしなければならないのは、お誘い頂いた旅ながら、もはや閣下と同行は出来ないものと。使用人には他の部屋を探すよう命じ、当該女性の母親を訪ね、その娘の事に留まらず、知りうる限り卿の性格すべてを報せた。
企ては阻止された。翌日、ラッスェン卿は使用人を送って、別離への同意を通知したのみ。オーブリーの介入によって計画が失敗したなどとは一切漏らさなかった。
Aubrey retired; and, immediately writing a note, to say, that from that moment he must decline accompanying his Lordship in the remainder of their proposed tour, he ordered his servant to seek other apartments, and calling upon the mother of the lady, informed her of all he knew, not only with regard to her daughter, but also concerning the character of his Lordship. The assignation was prevented. Lord Ruthven next day merely sent his servant to notify his complete assent to a separation; but did not hint any suspicion of his plans having been foiled by Aubrey's interposition.
thus engaged: engage は正式に「交戦」の用語であり、「噛み合い」でもあり、または「婚約」を意味する。
