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気難しい大家は夜明けから客の出現を待っていた。ハゲ頭を予期しつつ、驚いてみせながらも腹の中では笑って、夜の冒険を迎えてやる積もりで。ところが昼になってもフランクが現れないと不安になり、幽霊が新しい客を乱暴に扱ったのではないか、もしかしたら喉をかきむしるか死ぬほど怖がらせたのではないか、別に仕返しをそこまでやるつもりはなかったのにと恐れ始めた。そこで、彼は召使いを伴って、やきもきしながら城に向かい、前の晩に光を見た部屋の扉に急ぐと、扉に奇妙な鍵がかかっているのを見つけた。しかし、扉には閂がかかっており、これは幽霊が消えた後にフランクが用心を施した措置であった。
家主は激しく扉を叩き、その音でフランクはやっと目が覚めた。また幽霊が訪ねてきたのではとドッキリしたのだが、家主の「生きている証拠を見せてくれ」という声を聞き、やおら立ち上がってドアを開けた。
The waggish landlord had watched from the earliest dawn for the appearance of his guest; he was ready, anticipating the bald head, to receive him with apparent astonishment, but secret laughter, at his nightly adventure. But, when mid-day came, and Frank did not appear, he began to be uneasy and afraid that the ghost might have treated his new guest somewhat roughly, might perhaps have throttled him, or frightened him to death, and it by no means had been his intention to carry his revenge thus far. He went, therefore, accompanied by his servants, in the greatest anxiety to the castle, and hastening, to the door of the room in which he had seen light on the preceding evening, he found a strange key in the door, but it was bolted inside, a precaution Frank had taken after the disappearance of the ghost. He knocked with great violence, and Frank was at last roused by the noise. At first, he thought the ghost intended to pay him a second visit. But, when he heard the voice of the landlord, begging him to give some sign of life, he rose and opened the door.
「神に誓って、そしてすべての聖人に誓って！」家主は諸手を挙げて唱えた、明らかに恐怖を感じながら。
「老赤マントがここにいたのか、言い伝えは作り話ではなかったのか。
奴はどのような様子だった？どのように見え、何をし、何を言った？」
"By G_d, and all the saints! " said the land lord, lifting up his hands, with apparent horror: "old Red Cloak has been here, and the tradi tion is no invention! How did he look? What did he do, or say? "
主人の狡猾を見抜いたフランクは、こう答えた。「幽霊は赤いマントを着た男のようでした。彼が何をしたか、隠すまでもありませんか。その言葉ならよく覚えています、申したのは『さすらう若者よ、向かいの家主を信じるな、ここで何が待っているかよく知っている。この件に関しては、私が彼を罰する。これから私はこの城を去り、彼に付き纏い、悩ませ、つねり、人生の終わりまで嫌がらせしてやろう。彼が君を家に迎え入れ、頭に再び毛が生えるまで、君のすべての要求を満たしてくれない限りは』と。」
Frank, who understood the cunning of the host, answered: "The ghost looked like a man in a red cloak; what he did, I cannot conceal from you, and I shall always remember his words: 'Stranger,'said he,'never trust the landlord the man opposite, knew very well what awaited you here. But for this, I will punish him. I shall now leave this castle; and hence forth, I will plague, torment, pinch, and harrass him to the end of his life, at least, if he does not receive you in his house, and supply all your wants, till your head be again covered with hair.'"
大家はこの脅しを聞いて頭から爪先まで震え上がり、十字を切り、フランクが望む限り自分の家に止め置きますと聖母にかけて誓った。すぐに連れて帰り、自ら接待した。
The landlord trembled from head to foot at hearing this threat, crossed himself, and vowed by the Holy Virgin, to keep Frank in his house as long as he chose to stop, immediately conducted him home, and waited on him himself.
城で妖怪が見られなくなったことで、フランクは退魔師としての評判を得た。彼は何度もそこに泊り、勇気を出して一緒にいた町の若者が髪を刈られることも無かった。
城主は、この恐ろしい妖怪が自分の城に出没しなくなったことを知ると、大いに喜び、このような不快な客から自分の城を解放してくれた異国の人を丁重にもてなすようにとお触れを出した。
Frank acquired a reputation as an exorcist, by the spectre being no longer seen in the castle. He repeatedly slept there, and a young man of the town, who had the courage to keep him company, did not get his head shorn. When the owner of the castle learnt that the terrible spectre no longer haunted his property, he was highly pleased, and sent orders to take great care of the stranger who had freed his castle from such an unpleasant guest.
秋が深まり、フランクの額に再びふさふさの髪が垂れるようになると、出発を心待ちにするようになった。何と言っても頭の中は、ヴェーザーの橋の上で出会う、自分の財産となる友人のことで一杯になっていた。
旅立とうとしていたら、家主は立派な馬と、十分に満たされた財布を彼に届けた。これは城主からの贈り物で、城主はフランクに、自分が果たした功績に対する感謝の証として、これらを受け取るようにと頼んできたのだ。おかげでフランクは馬に乗って、12ヶ月前に出発したときと同じような状態で故郷の町に戻れた。
狭い通りにある昔の宿舎に帰ると、そこで非常に静かに隠遁していた。ただ、美しいメラについて密かに尋ねると、彼女はまだ未婚で、健康に過ごしていることを知った。それは今のところ、彼にとって十分であり、自分の運命が決まるまで彼女の前に現れる勇気もなく、自分の到着を彼女に知らせることさえしなかった。
As autumn approached, and Frank's dark curls again began to cluster about his brows, he became anxious to depart, for his thoughts were all directed towards the friend he was to meet on the bridge over the Weser, and who was to make his fortune. When he was ready to go away, the landlord delivered to him a fine horse, and a well filled purse, which were presents from the owner of the castle, who begged of Frank to accept them, as proofs of his gratitude, for the signal service he had rendered him. Frank returned, therefore, to his native city on horseback, and in as good a condition as he had left it a twelvemonth be fore. He returned to his old quarters in the narrow street, and remained there very quiet and retired; merely inquiring secretly con cerning the fair Mela, he learnt that she was stiil unmarried, aud enjoyed good health, which, for the present, was sufficient for him, as he would not venture to appear before her till his fate was decided, nor even to let her know his arrival.
彼は秋分の日を心待ちにし、焦燥感から一日が一年のように感じられた。そしてついに、念願の秋分の日がやってきた。その前夜、彼は不安で眠れず、心臓の鼓動は高まり、ルンメルスブルク城で妖怪が近づいてきたときのように、血圧が血管を突き破りそうなほどであった。未知の友人を待たせるわけにはいかないと、彼は夜明け前に起きると、すぐにまだ人けのない橋に向かった。何度も往きつ戻りつ、今の幸運の望みをこの世の最高の幸福として楽しんだ。自分の望みが叶うという確信は、人間の心に鋭い喜びを十分に与えてくれる。フランクは、期待される富を手に入れたら、愛するメラの前に姿を現す計画をいくつか考えたが、一度に華麗に彼女の前に姿を現すのが得策か、それとも少しずつ自分の身に起きた幸運な変化を彼女に知らせるのが得策か、判断に迷った。好奇心もまた千の質問を投げかけた。ここで私を出迎えてくれる友人は誰なのだろう。私の不幸以来、私を得るためにすべてを持っているように見える私の古い知人の一人であろうか？どうすれば私を幸せにできるのだろう。それは簡単なことなのか、それとも難しいことなのか。しかしいくら考えたところで、これらの疑問を納得のいく形で解決はできなかった。
With the greatest anxiety he looked forward to the time of the equinox, and his impatience made every day seem like a year. At last the long desired term arrived. The night preceding it, he could not sleep for anxious expectation, his heart beat high, and his blood was ready to burst his veins, as in the castle of Rummelsburg, when the spectre was approaching. Not to make his unknown friend wait, he rose before day-break and immediately went to the bridge which was yet quite deserted. He walked backwards and forwards several times enjoying in his present hopes of fortune the highest degree of earthly happiness; the confidence of seeing our wishes fulfilled, gives to the human mind the full measure of keen delight. Frank imagined several plans of presenting himself to his beloved Mela; when he had obtained possession of his expected wealth, but he could not decide whether it would be more advisable at once to appear before her in all his splendour, or to make her only by degrees aware of the lucky change in his affairs. Curiosity likewise asked a thousand questions. Who may be the friend that is to meet me here? Will it be one of my old acquaintance, who seem all to have for gotten me since my misfortunes? How will it be in his power to make me happy? Will it be an easy or a difficult affair? But he could solve none of these questions in a satisfactory manner, in spite of all his meditations.
やがて橋は、行き交う人々、馬、荷車、馬車、徒歩の乗客で混雑し、あらゆる種類の物乞いが次々とやってきて、商売に好都合なこの場所でいつもの場所を確保し、通りすがりの同情や博愛に働きかけ始めたのである。
主人公に最初に施しを求めたのは、木製の脚という勲章を持つ老兵で、祖国のために手足を失い、その武勇の褒美として、どこででも物乞いをする許可を得ていた。彼は巧みな人相見で、顔つきから人の心を読み取ることに慣れ、無駄な施しを求めることはほとんどなかった。今回も読みに外れはなく、フランクは嬉々として、6ペンスほどの銀貨を老人の帽子に投げ入れた。
By degrees the bridge became thronged with people, horses, carts, coaches, and foot passengers, who went backward and forward, and a number of beggars of all descriptions came one after another, to take possession of their usual places at this spot so favourable to their trade, and began to work upon the compassion or benevolence of the passengers. The first of the ragged army who asked our hero for alms, was an old soldier, bearing a military mark of honour, a wooden leg, who had lost his limb in the service of his country, and, as the reward of his valour, had received permission to beg wherever he chose. He was a clever physiognomist, and carried on the study of the human heart through the lines of the face with so much success, that he rarely asked alms in vain. In the present instance he was not mistaken, for Frank, in the joy of his heart, threw a silver coin, about the value of sixpence, in the old man's hat.
下層階級が労働を始めたばかりで、怠惰で裕福な市民が朝寝を楽しんでいる朝の数時間は、フランクとて約束の恩人に会えるとは思ってもいなかった。上流社会の中にいるはずだと考えていたので、司法裁判所が開かれ、ブレーメンの弁護士や判事が堂々とした服装で議会に出向き、裕福な商人たちが取引所に行く時刻が来るまで、通行人にはほとんど注意を払わなかった。時間がくると、彼はすっかり気を引き締め、自分の近くを通る立派な身なりの人をすべて綿密に観察した。しかし、何時間か経つと、昼食の時間がやってきて、商売は一段落し、人ごみは少なくなったのに、期待していた友人はまだ現れなかった。フランクは橋の上を行ったり来たりしていたところ、橋は再び閑散とし、自分と乞食以外は誰も残っていない。彼らはその場を離れることなく、ナップザックを開けて冷たい食事を摂っていた。フランクとてこれに倣うことに異存はなく、しかし食料は持っていなかったので、果物を買って歩きながら食事をした。
橋の上で食事をしていた連中は皆、誰とも声をかけず、何の用事もなく橋の上に留まっていたことから、彼を気にしていた。彼を怠惰な若者だと皆思い、全員が多かれ少なかれ彼の慈悲深さを体験していたにもかかわらず、その軽蔑的な視線から彼は逃れることはなく。皆して彼を橋梁調査官とあだ名した。
しかし、老兵の観察によると、彼の表情はもはや朝のような陽気さはなく、帽子をかぶって何か重大なことを深く考えているらしく、歩みは遅く慎重であり、それとは気づかずもう長いこと、りんごの芯まで噛っているようであった。
During the first hours of the morning, when the lower classes only have begun their labour, and the lazy and opulent citizens are enjoying their morning sleep, Frank did not expect to see his promised benefactor; he imagined it was most likely he should find him among the upper classes of society, and therefore took little notice of the passengers, till the time arrived for the opening the courts of justice, and for the lawyers and magistrates of Bremen to proceed in their stately dresses to the council, and for the wealthy merchants to go to the exchange; at that time he became all attention, and scrutinized closely every person of respectable appearance who passed near him. Hour after hour elapsed, however, dinner time produced a pause in business; the crowd became less, but still the expected friend did not appear. Frank walked backwards and forwards on the bridge, which was again deserted, nobody remaining except himself and the beggars, who opened their knapsacks and dined on their cold provisions, without quitting their places. Frank had no objection to imitate them, and, as he had no provisions with him, he bought some fruit, and dined as he walked about. All the members of the club who dined on the bridge had taken notice of him from the length of time he had remained on the bridge without accosting any body, and without transacting any business. They took him to be some idle youth, and though all of them had, more or less experienced his benevolence, yet he did not escape their contemptuous observations. They nick named him the bridge surveyor; but the old soldier observed that his countenance no longer bore that expression of cheerfulness which it had in the morning, that he seemed deeply to reflect on some serious business, with his hat drawn over his face, that his steps were slow and deliberate, and, that for a long time he gnawed the remains of an apple, without seeming to be aware of it himself.
人相見はこの観察から、何か使えることはないかと考えた。そこで、彼は木製の脚と自然な脚の両方を動かして橋の反対側に行き、そこで物思いにふける若者を待って、まるで新しく来た人のように施しを求めたところ、その計略は見事に成功した。思慮に沈む哲学者はこの乞食に注意を払わず、ポケットに手を入れ、彼の帽子に多少の金を投げ入れて追い払った。
This observation our physiognomist meant to turn to some advantage. He therefore set both his wooden and his natural leg in motion, went to the other side of the bridge, and waited there for the meditating youth, to request his alms as if he were a new comer; his stratagem succeeded to admiration. The thoughtful philosopher paid no other attention to the beggar than to put his hand in his pocket, and throw a piece of money into his hat to get rid of him.
