ヴェンドーヴァーのロジャー『歴史の華』Roger of Wendover's Flowers of History
この本の表紙は、次の通り。
Roger of Wendover's
Flowers of History.
comprising
The History of England
from the decent of the SAXONS to A.D.1235
formerly ascribed to
Matthew Paris.
translated from The Latin,
by J.A.Giles , D.C.L.
late follow of Corpus Christy College, Oxford.
London :Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden.
M.DCCC.XLIX.
マシュー・パリスの作とされたのは、英訳された当時既に、昔の事であったらしい。
紀元1228年 ユダヤ人ヨセフ、生きたままキリスト再来を待ち受ける者について
AD 1228
Of the Jew Joseph who is still alive awaiting the last coming of Christ.
この年、大アルメニアのとある大僧正が巡礼に来英し、他の国々に於けると同様に、この王国の聖地をお訪ねになった。その際、皆が彼を畏敬の念と名誉を以て歓迎し、楽しませるようにとの、法王猊下から宗教家や教会の高位聖職者への推薦状をお示し遊ばされた。
In this year a certain archbishop of Armenia Major came on a pilgrimage to England to see the relics of the saints, and visit the sacred places in this kingdom, as he had done in others; he also produced letters recommendation from his holiness the pope to the religious men and prelates of the churches, in which they were enjoined to receive and entertain him with reverance and honour.
到着早々、聖オルバンの大聖堂へお出で遊ばされ、修道院長や僧侶達に敬意を以て迎えられた。この地に、御自身と従者たちを旅の疲れから休ませるべく、数日逗留なさる。そして彼と修道院に属する者との間で、通訳を介して開催された対話は、この国の宗教及び宗教的式典、そして東部諸国に係る多くの見知らぬ事物に関したものであった。
On his arrival he went to St. Alban's, where he was received with all respect by the abbat and monks; at this place, being fatigued with his journey, he remained some days to rest himself and his followers, and a conversation was commenced between him and inhabitants of the convent by means of their interpreters, during which he made many inquiries concerning the religion and the religious observances of this country, and related many strange things concerning eastern countries.
会話の過程で尋ねられたのが、ヨセフなる者について何か見聞きしたことがあるかどうかであった。この男は人の噂によると、主の御受難に際し、居合わせ話した事があり、信徒の信仰にかけて未だに生きているというが、その返答に、通訳を務めた従者の騎士がフランス語で話すには、
「我が主はその男をよくご存知である。西方諸国へ向かう少し前、お尋ねのヨセフは我が主アルメニア大司教と食事を共にした。そもそも彼とは時々会って話をなさっている。」
In the course of conversation he was asked whether he had ever seen or heard anything of Joseph, a man of whom there was much talk in the world, who, when our Load suffered, was present and spoke to him, and who is still alive in evidence of the Christian faith, in reply to which a knight in his retinue, who was his interpreter, replied, speaking in French, "My Load well knows that man, and a little before he took his way to the western countries the said Joseph ate at the table of my load the archbishop in Armenia, and he had often seen and held converse with him."
すると今度は、救い主とそのヨセフに何があったかについて尋ねられ、それに答えて
He was then asked about what had passed between Christ and the same Joseph, to which he replied
「救い主イエス御受難の折。主はユダヤ人達に捕らえられ裁判所に引き立てられ、ピラト知事の前にユダヤ人の告発で裁かれるところであった。ピラトは、裁判にかけて死罪に処すべき理由が見つからないので、彼らに言った、
『連れて行き、お前達の律法に従って裁くがよい。』
しかし、ユダヤ人の叫びは高まるばかり。要求に応じて、バラバを解放し、十字架につけられるようにイエスを引き渡した。
"At the time of the suffering of Jesus Christ, he was seized by the Jews and led into the hall of judgment, before Pilate the governor, that he might be judged by him on the accusation of the Jews, and Pilate finding no cause for adjudging him to death, said to them, "Take him and judge him according to your law; " the shouts of Jews however, increasing, he, at their request, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus to them to be crucified.
ユダヤ人たちがイエスを引きずっていき、戸口にさしかかった時。カルタフィラスというピラトに仕える門番が不信心にも、戸口から出ていこうとするイエスの背中をその手で打ち、嘲って
『とっとと出ていけイエスとやら、何をグズグズしてる？』
When therefore the Jews were dragging Jesus forth, and had reached the door, Cartaphilus, a porter of the hall in Pilate's service, as Jesus was going out of the door, impiously struck him on the back with his hand, and said in mockely "Go quicker, Jesus, go quicker, why do you loiter?"
するとイエスは厳粛なる面持ちにて振り返り、仰せられたは
『私は出て行く、そなたは私の戻るを待つがよい。』
かくて我等が主の仰せられたところに拠れば、このカルタフィラスは今なお、お戻りを待っておるのだと。我等が主は御受難の時、30歳に在らせられた故、100歳に達する度に主の御受難と同じ歳に戻るのであると。
And Jesus looking back on him with a severe countenance said to him, "I am going, and you will wait till I return." And according as our Load said, this Cartaphilus, is still awaiting for his return ; at the time of our Load's suffering he was thirty years old, and when he attains the age of a hundred years old, he always return to the same age as he was when our Load suffered.
後にカトリック信仰が定着した頃、このカルタフィラスは（使徒パウロにも洗礼を授けた）アナニヤによって洗礼を受け、ヨセフと呼ばれるに至った。
After Christ's death, when the catholic faith gained ground, this Cartaphilus was baptized by Ananias, (who also baptized the apostle Paul, ) and was called Joseph.
だいたいアルメニア両地方（キリキア・アルメニア王国）か他の東の国に住まい、教会の司教や他の高位聖職者に囲まれて時を過ごす。聖なる会話と信仰の人であり、その振る舞いは口数少なく慎重であり、司教ほか宗教関係者から質問されない限り、全く話もしない程である。聞かれたら昔の出来事、我等が主の御受難と復活に際しての出来事、そして復活の証人、すなわちキリストと共に蘇って聖なる都に入り、人々の前に現れた者達について語る。使徒たちの信条、そして聖別と説教についても語る。そして結局、微笑みも浮ついた会話もなく、ただ悲しみと神への恐れを持ってよく摂生されたる者として、常に救い主イエスの再臨を畏み待ち受けている。最後の審判に於て彼の怒りを招かぬよう、死に向かう途中で、彼が復讐に駆られたりせぬようにと。
He often dwells in both divisions of Armenia, and other eastern countries, passing his time amidst the bishops and other prelates in church; he is a man of a holy conversation and religious, a man of few words and circumspect in his behavior, for he does not speak at all unless when questioned by the bishops and religious men; and then he tells of the events of old times, and of the events which occurred at the suffering and resurrection of our Load, and of the witnesses of the resurrection, namely those who rose with Christ, and went into the holy city,
and appeared unto men ; he also tells the creed of apostles, and of the separation and preaching ; and all this he relates without smiling or levity of conversation, as one who is well practiced in sorrow and the fear of God, always looking forward with fear to the coming of Jesus Christ, lest at the last judgment, he should find him in anger, whom, when on his way to death, he had provoked to just vengeance.
世界各地から来れる数多の者、同席し会話を楽しんで在り。それが斯界の権威であるならば、質問されている問題すべての疑問を解き明かす。
Numbers come to him from different part of the world, enjoying his society and conversation, and to them, if they are men of authority, he explains all doubts on he matters on which he is questioned.
提供される贈り物悉くを断り、食べ物着る物慎ましく。救いの望みを置くは、無知のままに罪を犯した事実に、主の御受難にあって敵のために祈らせ給える言葉に、
『父よ、お許しあれ。彼らは何をしているのか弁えぬ故。』」
He refuses all gifts that are offered to him, being content with slight food and clothing. He places his hope of salvation on the fact that he sinned with ignorance, for the Load when suffering prayed for his enemies in these words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
この本は年代記ゆえ、記事はこの前後にも続く。しかし、この項はここで終わり、他にこの話題は見当たらない。
なお、表題はボードレールの有名な詩集のそれに似通っている。これをボードレールが読んだかどうか訳者は知らないが、当時出版されていたなら、ネタの1つにはなったであろう。
