9
誓いとは裏腹に、ある日、彼女は不実な人のことを思い出していた。紡ぎ車をいっぱいにするたびに、母親が仕事に調子をつけるために繰り返していた、歌の文句を思い返していた。
Contrary, however, to her vow, she was one day thinking of the faithless one: for whenever she filled her spinning-wheel, she thought of the following distich, which her mother had frequently repeated to her to encourage her in her work:
「紡げ縒り糸、紡ぎに紡がん。
戸口に待ち人来るに会わん。」
“Spin the thread well; spin, spin it more,
For see your intended is now at the door.”
実際に誰かがドアを優しく敲いたので、ブリジット母はそれが誰なのか見に行った。入ってきたフランシスは、結婚式を祝うかのような正装で。驚きのあまり、ブリジット夫人はしばらく声もない。メタは深く顔を赤らめて震えながら席を立ったが、母親同様、一言も口を利けない。3人のうち話せるのはフランシスだけで、率直に愛を告白し、ブリジットに娘の手を求めた。
善き母親としては形式から整えてやりたく、8日間の猶予を求めたものの、喜びの涙が了承を明白に物語っていた。対して我慢の限界に達したフランシスは、1日たりとも返事が遅れるなど聞く耳を持たない。そこで、母親としての義務に沿い、フランシスの熱意を満たそうと、中間の道を選び、決断を娘にゆだねた。フランシスは喜びのあまり、娘に口づけをして感謝した。
Some one did in reality knock gently at the door; and mother Bridget went to see who it was. Francis entered, attired as for the celebration of a wedding. Surprise for a while suspended mother Bridget’s faculties of speech. Meta, blushing deeply and trembling, arose from her seat, but was equally unable with her mother to say a word. Francis was the only one of the three who could speak; and he candidly declared his love, and demanded of Bridget the hand of her daughter. The good mother, ever attentive to forms, asked eight days to consider the matter, although the tears of joy which she shed, plainly evinced her ready and prompt acquiescence: but Francis, all impatience, would not hear of delay: finding which, she, conformable to her duty as a mother, and willing to satisfy Francis’s ardour, adopted a mid-way, and left the decision to her daughter. The latter, obeying the dictates of her heart, placed herself by the side of the object of her tenderest affection; and Francis, transported with joy, thanked her by a kiss.
そして、二人の恋人は、手話で気持ちをうまく伝えていた時代の楽しみを語り合いながら、楽しんでいた。フランシスは、メタとのこのような甘い会話から離れることは非常に難しかったが、彼には果たすべき重要な義務が残っていた。
The two lovers then entertained themselves with talking over the delights of the time when they so well communicated their sentiments by signs. Francis had great difficulty in tearing himself away from Meta and such ‘converse sweet,’ but he had an important duty to fulfil.
約束の訪問は遅れたものの、決して忘れてはいない木製の脚を持つ旧友を見つけるために、ヴェーザー川にかかる橋の方へ歩みを進めた。友人は一目でフランシスを見つけ、橋のたもとに居ると思ったらもう目の前に居て、喜びを露わにした。
He directed his steps towards the bridge over the Weser, where he hoped to find his old friend with the wooden leg, whom he had by no means forgotten, although he had delayed making the promised visit. The latter instantly recognised Francis; and no sooner saw him at the foot of the bridge, than he came to meet him, and shewed evident marks of pleasure at sight of him.
「君、友よ、」フランシスは彼に挨拶を返した後、「私と一緒に新しい町へ来て、頼まれ事を引き受けてくれないか？あなたの苦労は報われますよ」と言った。
“Can you, my friend,” said Francis to him, after returning his salutation, “come with me into the new town and execute a commission? You will be well rewarded for your trouble.”
「この木の足で、他の人と同じように歩けますし、疲れないから他の人より有利なくらい。
でも、お願いですから、灰色のコートを着た人が来るまで待っていてください」。
“Why not?—with my wooden leg I walk about just as well as other people; and indeed have an advantage over them, for it is never fatigued. I beg you, however, my good sir, to have the kindness to wait till the man with the grey great-coat arrives.”
「灰色のコートを着た男？あなたと何の関係があるのですか？」
“What has this man in the grey great-coat to do with you?”
「毎日夕方になるとやってきて、誰からか解らないが、半フロリン貨をくれるんです。何にでも首を突っ込むと猫も死ぬんで、特に事情は聞いちゃいません。
悪魔が魂を買おうとしているのではと、気になることもありますがね。しかし、そんなことはどうでも良いし、こっちが同意もしていないそんな取引が、有効なはずもないし。」
“He every day comes as evening approaches and gives me a demi-florin; I know not from whom. It is not indeed always proper to learn all things; so I do not breathe a word. I am sometimes tempted to believe, that it is the devil who is anxious to buy my soul; but it matters little, I have not consented to the bargain, therefore it cannot be valid.”
「灰色の服を着た男とか、悪意があるに決まってるじゃないか。ついてらっしゃい、その取引金額より高い、1/4フランを差し上げますとも。」
“I verily believe that grey surtout has some malice in his head; so follow me, and you shall have a quarter-florin over and above the bargain.”
フランシスは、城壁近くになる遠い角まで老人を連れて行き、新しく建てられた家の前で立ち止まり、扉を敲いた。扉が開くと、乞食の老人にこう話しかけた。
「あなたは私の人生の中で、最上の夜を過ごさせてくれました。ですから、あなたの衰えゆく日々を少しでも快適に過ごして頂きたく。この家と付随するすべてのものは、あなたのものです。台所も地下室も充実しており、あなたの世話をする人もいますし、毎日夕食時にはお皿の下に1/4フロリンが置いてあります。灰色の上着を着ているのは私の使用人で、この家があなたをお迎えできるようになるまで、毎日私の施し物を持たせておりました。
何なら私を守護天使とお考え下さって結構。まだあなたの恩に報いていなかった天使だと」
Francis conducted the old man to a distant corner, near the ramparts of the city, stopped before a newly built house, and knocked at the door. As soon as the door was opened, he thus addressed the old beggar: “You have procured a very agreeable evening for me in the course of my life; it is but just, therefore, that I should shed some comforts over your declining days. This house and every thing appertaining thereto belongs to you. The kitchen and cellar are both well stocked; there is a person to take care of you, and every day at dinner you will find a quarter-florin under your plate. It is now time for you to know that the man in the grey surtout is my servant, whom I every day sent with my alms till this house was ready to receive you. You may, if you please, consider me as your guardian angel, since your good angel did not acquit himself uprightly in return for your gratitude.”
このように言って家に入らせると、老人の欲しいものは何でも揃っていた。この思いがけない幸運に驚き、これは夢ではないかと思ったほど。なぜ金持ちが惨めな乞食にこれほど関心を持つのか、想像つかなかった。
見たものはすべて彼のものであるとフランシスが再び断言すると、涙を流して感謝の意を表し、驚きから十分に立ち直って言葉で感謝を表す前に、フランシスは姿を消してしまった。
Saying this, he made the old man go into his house; where the latter found every thing he could possibly desire or want. The table was spread; and the old man was so much astonished at this unexpected good fortune, that he thought it must be a dream; for he could in no way imagine why a rich man should feel so much interest for a miserable beggar. Francis having again assured him that every thing he saw was his own, a torrent of tears expressed his thanks; and before he could sufficiently recover from his astonishment to express his gratitude by words, Francis had vanished.
翌日、母ブリジットの家は、フランシスがメタに送ったあらゆる種類の商人や店主でいっぱいになった。彼女を世に出すために必要なあらゆるものを、ふさわしい華やかさで購入し準備できるようにするためだった。それから3週間後、彼は彼女を祭壇に導いた。結婚式は、ホップ王の結婚式をはるかにしのぐ華やかさだった。娘の額に婚礼の冠を飾り、これですべての望みを叶えた母ブリジットは満足し、高潔で活き活きした生活に苦労が報われた。彼女は娘の幸せを喜びつつ見守り、娘の子供たちにとって最高の祖母ともなったのである。
The following day, mother Bridget’s house was filled with merchants and shopkeepers of all descriptions, whom Francis had sent to Meta, in order that she might purchase and get ready every thing she required for her appearance in the world with suitable éclat. Three weeks afterwards he conducted her to the altar. The splendour of the wedding far exceeded that of the King of Hops. Mother Bridget enjoyed the satisfaction of adorning her daughter’s forehead with the nuptial crown, and thereby obtained the accomplishment of all her desires, and was recompensed for her virtuous and active life. She witnessed her daughter’s happiness with delight, and proved the very best of grand-mothers to her daughter’s children.
終。
THE END.
