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背の高い痩せた男が入ってきた。真っ黒な髭を生やし、古風な身形。憂鬱そうな面持ち、張り出した眉に深い思索の様相を呈していた。左肩に緋色のマントを羽織り、帽子は高く尖塔のよう。部屋に近づいたときと同じ、ゆっくりとした重い足取りで静かに部屋を通り抜け。聖別された蝋燭に目をやり、鼻で笑う。マントを脱ぎ捨て、脇に抱えた鞄を開けて髭剃りの道具を取り出し、腰に提げてきた幅広の革砥でピカピカの剃刀を研ぎはじめた。
A tall thin man entered, he had a very black beard, was clothed in an old fashioned dress, and had a gloomy expression in his countenance, overhanging brows gave him the appearance of deep thought. A scarlet mantle was thrown over his left shoulder, and his hat was high and pointed. He walked silently through the room with the same slow and heavy step with which he had approached, looked at the consecrated candles, and even snuffed them. Then he threw off his mantle, opened a bag which he carried under his arm, took out instruments for shaving, and began to sharpen a shining razor on a broad leather strap, which he wore on his belt.
幽霊床屋は、震える客の首にナプキンを巻き、鋏を以てフランクの髪と顎髭を切り落とした。そして、顎から頭まで石鹸の泡で覆い、それが終わると、肩から上には毛の一本も残らないほど、滑らかに剃り上げた。幽霊はこの作業を終えると、フランクをきれいに洗い、丁寧に乾かし、お辞儀をして道具を片付け、緋色のマントを羽織り、その場を発とうとした。
この間、聖なる蝋燭は明々と燃え、その光でフランクは向かいの鏡で、床屋が自分を中国の仏塔のようにしたのを見た。美しい茶色の巻き毛を失うとはと、嘆くこと暫し。しかし、それ以外は無傷で逃れられ、幽霊にはもはや彼を支配する力はないと感じ取り、ほっと息をついた。
The spectre barber put the napkin round the neck of his trembling customer, seized his scissars, and cut off Frank's hair and beard. Then he proceeded to cover his chin, and even his head, with soap lather, and, when this was done, he shaved him smoothly, so completely so that not a hair was left above his shoulders. When the spectre had completed this operation, he washed Frank very clean, dried him carefully, bowed, packed up his implements, resumed his scarlet cloak, and turned to de part. The consecrated candles burned per fectly bright during the whole of the proceeding, and, by the light, Frank saw in the mirror opposite him that the barber had made him like a Chinese pagod. He was vexed at losing his beautiful brown curls, but he breathed freely, being aware that he should escape otherwise unhurt, and that the spectre had no longer any power over him.
赤マントの男は、一言もしゃべらず、扉に向かって来た時と同じように静かに歩き、噂好きの同胞とは全く逆のようだった。しかし、3歩も退かないうちに立ち止まり、よく協力してくれた客を哀しげな表情で見回し、自分の黒い髭に手をやった。この儀式を三度繰り返し、三度目になってドアに手をかけた。フランクは、幽霊が自分に何かしてほしいと思っているのではないか、自分がされたのと同じような処置を幽霊が期待しているのではないかと思いついた。
The man in the red cloak walked in silence as he had come towards the door, without saying a single word, and seemed quite the reverse of his gossipping brethren; scarcely had he retired three steps, however, when he stood still, looked round with a mournful mien at his well-served customer, and touched his own black beard with his hand. He repeated this ceremony three times, and the third time, when he had his hand on the door. Frank began to think that the ghost wished him to do some thing for him, and, perhaps, expected from him the same service which he had rendered him.
その床屋の妖怪は、悲哀に満ちた顔をしながら、真剣というより冗談が好きなようだった。フランクを苦しめるというより、いたずらをしているようで、後者の恐怖心は影を潜めてしまったのだ。そこでフランクは幽霊を手招きして、自分が立ったばかりの椅子に座るように言った。幽霊は素直に従い、外套を脱ぎ捨て、袋をテーブルに置き、髭を剃られようという姿勢で腰を下ろした。フランクは幽霊のやり方を真似て、鋏で髭と髪を切り、頭全体を石鹸で洗い、その間、奇妙な仲間は彫像のようにじっと座っていた。この不器用な青年は剃刀を手にしたことがなく、扱い方も知らず、逆撫でするように剃ったので、患者の幽霊は奇妙な苦笑いを浮かべた。物知らずな青年も怖くなり、「他人の仕事に口出しするな」という賢明な戒律を思い出した。それでも自分の仕事をできる限り丁寧に進めて、自分と同じようにきれいにツルツルに幽霊を剃り上げたのである。
The barber spectre, in spite of his mournful looks, seemed more disposed to jest than earnest, and as he had played Frank a trick rather than tormented him, the latter had lost all his fear. He therefore beckoned the spectre to take the place in the chair, which he had just left. The ghost obeyed with great alacrity, threw down his cloak, laid the bag on the table, and sat down in the position of a person who is to be shaved. Frank was careful to imitate the manner in which the ghost had proceeded, cut off the beard and hair with the scissars, and soaped his whole head, while his strange companion sat as still as a statue. The awkward youth had never before had a razor in his hand, knew not how to handle it, and shaved the patient ghost so much against the grain, that the sufferer displayed the oddest grimaces. The ignorant bungler began to be afraid; he remembered the wise precept, "Do not meddle with another man's business," but still be proceeded, he did as well as he could, and shaved the spectre as clean and as bald as he was him self.
突然、幽霊は口を利き出した。
「汝が施し給う偉大なる措置に感謝至極。300年もの間、かくなる城壁が中に縛られたる我が亡霊、此処に住むべく御告げ有りしかば。此の身をば、死すべき人の報復に、我が生ある折に、人に為せるが如くに扱わるまで。
Suddenly the ghost found its tongue;
"Kindly I thank thee for the great services thou hast rendered me; by thy means I have been released from long captivity, which, for three hundred years bound me within these walls, where my departed spirit was condemned to dwell, till a mortal man should retaliate on me, and treat me as I did others when I was alive.
「よろしいか、昔この城に恥知らずの異教徒住めり。神父も平信徒も嘲笑いたり。ハルトマン伯爵、誰の友にも在らず、神の法も人の法も認めず、神聖なるもてなしの作法も破る。彼が屋根の下に難を避けたる見知らぬ人、彼に施し求めたる乞食、捕らわれ、苦しむのみ。彼が床屋たりし我、彼が狂熱に便乗し、己がままに為せり。敬虔なる巡礼者数多、門くぐり城に招かれ、風呂焚かれ。その者寛がんや否や、命令に従える我、彼が身を捉え、丸坊主に。軽蔑と嘲笑もて城より追えり。かくなる時ハルトマン伯爵、窓から眺め、この暇潰し楽しみます。悪意の稚児等、集えるは侮辱されし巡礼者が周りに、笑い、あざけり、彼が背に呼ばわり「禿げ頭、禿げ頭！」昔の悪童、預言者に呼ばわる如く。
"Know that, in times of yore, there dwelt a shameless infidel within this castle, who mocked both at priests and laymen. Count Hartman was no body's friend: he acknowledged neither divine nor human laws, and vio lated the sacred rules of hospitality. The stranger who sought refuge under his roof, the beggar who asked alms of him, was always seized and tormented. I was his barber, flat tered his passions, and lived as I chose. Many a pious pilgrim, passing the gates, was invited into the castle; a bath was prepared for him, and, when he meant to enjoy himself, I took hold of him according to orders, shaved him quite bald, and then turned him out of the castle, with scorn and mockery. In such cases Count Hartman used to look out at the window, and to enjoy the sport, particularly if a number of malicious boys collected round the insulted pilgrim, and laughed and mocked at him, calling out after him: "Bald head, bald head!" as the virulent boys of old called after the prophet.
「時に聖なる巡礼者、遠つ国より来ませり。悔悛せる者に倣い、重い十字架を背負い、手には二本の釘、足には二本、脇腹には一本の釘の跡あり。髪の形、茨の冠の如し。
中に入り、足を洗う水とパンを一切れくれるよう仰せ。我が習慣に従い風呂に連れて行き、神聖な姿に敬意表すべくもなく例外なく、髪もきれいに剃り上げたり。されば敬虔なる巡礼者、我が身の上を呪いませり。
「死後、不埒なる者よ！天国も地獄も、煉獄の鉄門も、汝の魂には等しく近づけぬであろう。
この壁の中、亡霊となり住みつくがいい。尋ねもせぬ放浪者、汝が悪行に報いるまで！」
「その呪い聞かば即ち病みたり。骨髄乾き、徐々に衰え、影の如くに。わが魂、ついに死すべき住まいから離れ、聖人の命令通り、この場所に留まり居り。願わくは地上に縛りたる恐るべき鎖からの解放、無駄に終わる。肉体から切り離された魂の待ち望むは安息、そは与えられず。ここに過ごさねばならぬ年月、即ち苦痛の歳月。さらなる罰なれ、生前の商売続けざるを得ず。残念ながら、わが出現によりこの家寂れ、ここに一夜を過ごす巡礼者なくなり、汝が如くに来れる者すべての髭を剃ろうとも、誰一人我が事理解せず、我が魂解放のなる措置施さず。今後、この城に出ること無し、今や念願の休息に入りたれば。今一度、汝、見知らぬ若者に感謝を捧げん。
もし我にして、隠し財産有らば、すべて汝がものとならん。しかし財産なぞ持てる試しなし、この城に隠し財産なし。ただし聞こし召し給え我が忠告。顎と頭、再び毛に覆われるまでここに留まり、それから汝が生まれ故郷に戻り、秋分にヴェーザーの橋の上で友人を待ち給え。そこで汝に会える友、事を成すため何をすべきか教え給わん。爾後、この日を記念日と為し、我が魂の安息のために三つのミサ捧ぐべく注文し給え。さらば、これより遠くへ旅立ち、二度と戻ることはないであろう。」
"Once a holy pilgrim came from abroad; like a penitent he carried a heavy cross on his shoulders, and had the mark of two nails through his hands, two in his feet, and one in his side; his hair was platted like a crown of thorns. He entered and asked for water to wash his feet, and a crust of bread. Accord ing to my custom I took him into the bath, and, without respecting his sanctified appearance, I shaved him also quite clean. But the pious pilgrim pronounced a heavy curse on me; "After death, reprobate! heaven and hell, and the iron gates of purgatory, shall be equally inaccessible to thy soul. It shall dwell, as a spectre, within these walls, till a wanderer unasked shall retaliate on thee thy own evil deeds! "
"I grew sick at hearing the curse; the marrow of my bones dried up, and I decayed away gradually, till I became like a shadow; my soul at length separated from its mortal dwelling, but remained within this place, as the holy man had ordered. In vain I expected deliverance from the dreadful chains that bound me to the earth. The repose which the soul languishes for when it is separated from the body was denied to me, and made every year which I was obliged to pass here an age of woe. I was obliged also, as a further punishment, to continue the business which I had carried on during my life time. But, alas! my appearance soon made this house be deserted, it was very rarely that a pilgrim came to pass the night here, and, though I shaved every one who came as I did you, no one would understand me, and perform for me that service which was to deliver my soul from captivity. Henceforth I shall not haunt this castle. I now go to my long desired repose. Once more I give thee my thanks, young stranger. If I had any hidden treasure at my command, they should all be thine, but I never possessed wealth; in this castle there is no treasure hidden. But listen to my advice. Tarry bere till your chin and head are again covered with hair, then return to your native city, and wait on the bridge over the Weser at the time of the autumnal equinox for a friend, who will there meet and tell you what you must do to thrive on earth. When you enjoy affluence, remember me, and order three masses to be said for the repose of my soul on every anniversary of this day. Farewell; I now depart bence, never to return."
自分がルンメルスブルク城の床屋であったことを、十分以上に饒舌に説き明かした幽霊は、以上の言葉を遺して消え去った。この奇妙な冒険に、遭遇者は驚きを隠せなかった。しばらく動けず、本当に起こったことなのか、それとも夢だったのか首をひねるも、禿げ上がった頭を見れば事実と疑うべくもなく。さんざん考え込んだ挙げ句、とりあえずベッドに戻って昼まで眠った。
With these words the spectre vanished, having sufficiently justified, by his talkativeness, his assumption of the character of barber of the castle of Rummelsburg, and left his deliverer full of astonishment at this strange ad venture. For a long while he stood motionless, doubting whether the event had really happened, or whether he had been dreaming, but his bald head soon convinced him of the reality of the fact. After wasting some time in reflection, he returned to bed and slept till mid-day.
Frank was careful to imitate the manner in which the ghost had proceeded, cut off the beard and hair with the scissars, :本書の挿絵は、この時の光景。画家 John Fischer、彫師 Allen Robert Branston。
the virulent boys of old called after the prophet:
列王記下 第2章
23 彼はそこからベテルへ上ったが、上って行く途中、小さい子供らが町から出てきて彼をあざけり、彼にむかって「はげ頭よ、のぼれ。はげ頭よ、のぼれ」と言ったので、
24 彼はふり返って彼らを見、主の名をもって彼らをのろった。すると林の中から二頭の雌ぐまが出てきて、その子供らのうち四十二人を裂いた。
