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メタと別れるということは、考えるだけでも耐え難いことであった。
「この突然の出奔に、彼女は何を思うだろう？」と独り言つ。「教会に行く途中で、もう会わないようになったら？僕のことを不誠実だと思って、 心の内から消し去ってしまうのでは…」
このような考えが彼を限りなく苦しめ、長い間、彼はメタに自分の計画を知らせる方法を考え出すことができなかった。
しかし、留まるところを知らない愛の才能が遂に、次のような思いつきを齎した。…フランシスは、愛する人が毎日通っている教会の牧師のところへ行き、説教の前とミサの間に、若い旅人の身に幸せが訪れるよう祈りを捧げてくれるよう依頼した。この祈りは、彼が帰ってくる瞬間まで続けられ、その後、感謝の祈りに変えられることになっていた。
The idea of a separation from Meta was almost more than he could endure. “What will she think,” said he, “of this sudden disappearance, when she no longer meets me in her way to church? Will she not think me perfidious, and banish me from her heart?” Such ideas as these caused him infinite pain: and for a long while he could not devise any means of acquainting Meta with his plans; but at length the fertile genius of love furnished him with the following idea:—Francis went to the curate of the church which his mistress daily frequented, and requested him before the sermon and during mass to put up prayers for a happy issue to the affairs of a young traveller; and these prayers were to be continued till the moment of his return, when they were to be changed into those of thanks.
出発の準備がすべて整うと、彼は馬に乗り、メタの窓の近くを通った。何とも意味有りげな空気を纏い、以前よりずっと遠慮なく、彼女に挨拶した。
若い娘は深く顔を赤らめ、対して母ブリジットはこの機会に、この大胆な冒険家が不遜な態度で娘に取り入ろうとするのを嫌っていると明言した。
Every thing being arranged for his departure, he mounted his steed, and passed close under Meta’s window. He saluted her with a very significant air, and with much less caution than heretofore. The young girl blushed deeply; and mother Bridget took this opportunity of loudly expressing her dislike to this bold adventurer, whose impertinence and foppery induced him to form designs on her daughter.
この時から、メタの目は虚しくフランシスを探すようになった。彼のために捧げられた祈りを絶えず聞いてはいたが、愛情の対象がもう現れないという悲しみにくれるあまり、司祭の言葉は聞き流してしまう。彼が姿を見せなくなったのは、彼女には納得できないことだった。
それから数ヶ月後、悲しみもいくらか和らぎ、心も落ち着いてきたある日、フランシスと最後に会ったときのことを考えていたら、この祈りが彼女の注意を引いた。
彼女は一瞬考えて、それが誰のためのものか漸く察知し、自然に熱心にそれに加わり、若い旅人に守護天使の加護を強く願ったのである。
From this period the eyes of Meta in vain searched for Francis. She constantly heard the prayer which was put up for him; but was so entirely absorbed by grief at no longer perceiving the object of her affection, that she paid no attention to the words of the priest. In no way could she account for his disappearing. Some months afterwards, her grief being somewhat ameliorated, and her mind more tranquillized, when she was one day thinking of the last time she had seen Francis, the prayer arrested her attention; she reflected for an instant, and quickly divined for whom it was said; she naturally joined in it with great fervour, and strongly recommended the young traveller to the protection of her guardian angel.
旅を続けるフランシスはその頃、蒸し暑い一日中、ヴェストファーレンの砂漠の邦の一つを旅していたが、家の一軒も見なかった。夜が更けると激しい嵐がやってきて、雨が激しく降り、憐れなフランシスは全身ずぶ濡れになってしまった。この悲惨な状況にあって、落ち着かぬままに辺りを見回すと、幸いにも遠くに明かりを発見し、そこに馬の脚を向けた。しかし、近づいてみると、目に飛び込んできたのは粗末なあばら家。人の住むところというよりは馬小屋のようで、あまり救いを期待できない。
果たしてその小屋の住人は無愛想で、まるで追放された人間であるかのように、火も水も拒んだ。家畜に混じって藁の上に身を伸ばそうとしたところだったらしく、見知らぬ人のために火を着けることさえ嫌がった。
Meanwhile Francis continued his journey, and had travelled the whole of a very sultry day over one of the desert cantons of Westphalia without meeting with a single house. As night approached, a violent storm came on: the rain fell in torrents; and poor Francis was soaked to the very skin. In this miserable situation he anxiously looked around, and fortunately discovered in the distance a light, towards which he directed his horse’s steps; but as he drew near, he beheld a miserable cottage, which did not promise him much succour, for it more resembled a stable than the habitation of a human being. The unfeeling wretch who inhabited it refused him fire or water as if he had been a banished man—he was just about to extend himself on the straw in the midst of the cattle, and his indolence prevented his lighting a fire for the stranger.
憐れみを乞うばかりのフランシスに、この田舎者は頑として譲らず、何一つ思いやるでもなく、平然と蝋燭を吹き消した。
しかし、その眠りを、旅人は絶え間ない嘆きと祈りで妨げるものだから、腹を立ててこれを追い払おうとした。
Francis vainly endeavoured to move the peasant to pity: the latter was inexorable, and blew out his candle with the greatest nonchalance possible, without bestowing a thought on Francis. However, as the traveller hindered him from sleeping, by his incessant lamentations and prayers, he was anxious to get rid of him.
「友よ」と彼は言った。「泊まりたいなら、ここではダメだ。左手の小さな森を抜けると、エバーハルト・ブロンコストという騎士の城があり、旅人をとても親切に饗してくれる。しかし奴はとんでもない変態で…饗した相手を鞭打つのが趣味なのだ。そういうことだから、どうするか自分で決めてくれ」
“Friend,” said he to him, “if you wish to be accommodated, I promise you it will not be here; but ride through the little wood to your left-hand, and you will find the castle belonging to the chevalier Eberhard Bronkhorst, who is very hospitable to travellers; but he has a singular mania, which is, to flagellate all whom he entertains: therefore decide accordingly.”
フランシスは、どうするべきか数分考えた後、敢えて冒険にいくことを決意した。
「正直言って、貧農の安宿で寝違えるのも、騎士ブロンコストに背骨を折られるのも、大差はない。摩擦は熱を分散させるので、濡れた服を着続けなければならないのなら、その効果は私に役立つかもしれない」と言った。
Francis, after considering for some minutes what he had best do, resolved on hazarding the adventure. “In good faith,” said he, “there is no great difference between having one’s back broken by the miserable accommodation of a peasant, or by the chevalier Bronkhorst: friction disperses fever; possibly its effects may prove beneficial to me, if I am compelled to keep on my wet garments.”
そこで、彼は馬に拍車をかけると、間もなくゴシック趣味の城にたどり着き、大声を上げてその鉄の門を叩いた。すると中から「誰だ？」と聞かれ、答える間もなく門が開けられた。
しかし、最初の中庭で、城主の好みが旅人に鞭打つ事なのか、それとも天蓋の下で一夜を過ごさせるのかがわかるまで、辛抱強く待つことを余儀なくされた。
Accordingly he put spurs to his horse, and very shortly found himself before a gothic castle, at the iron gate of which he loudly knocked: and was answered from within by “Who’s there?” But ere he was allowed time to reply, the gate was opened. However, in the first court he was compelled to wait with patience, till they could learn whether it was the lord of the castle’s pleasure to flagellate a traveller, or send him out to pass the night under the canopy of heaven.
この城主は、幼少の頃からフルンスベルク家のジョージに仕えて帝国軍に参加し、自らも歩兵隊を率いてヴェネチア軍と戦っていた。しかし、戦いに疲れ果て、自分の領地に引きこもり、幾度かの戦いで犯した罪を償うために、できる限りの善行や慈善行為を行った。
しかし、その態度は以前の職業にあった荒々しさをまだ残していた。新しく到着した客は、おいしい食事のためにこの家の習慣に従う気にはなっていたが、扉が開かれる前にボルトが鳴るのを聞いて、ある種の恐怖の震えを感じずにはいられなかった。そして、その扉の唸るような音は、彼を待ち受ける破滅を予感させるかのようであった。
最後の扉をくぐると、冷や汗が出た。しかし、最大限の注意を払われていることがわかると、恐怖は少し和らいだ。使用人たちは彼が馬から降りるのを助け、外套の袋を外した。ある者は馬を馬小屋に導き、ある者はフランボーを持ってフランシスを主人のもとに案内した。主人は壮麗に照明された部屋でフランシスの到着を待っていた。
This lord of the castle had from his earliest infancy served in the Imperial army, under command of George of Frunsberg, and had himself led a company of infantry against the Venetians. At length, however, fatigued with warfare, he had retired to his own territory, where, in order to expiate the crimes he had committed during the several campaigns he had been in, he did all the good and charitable acts in his power. But his manner still preserved all the roughness of his former profession. The newly arrived guest, although disposed to submit to the usages of the house for the sake of the good fare, could not help feeling a certain trembling of fear as he heard the bolts grating, ere the doors were opened to him; and the very doors by their groaning noise seemed to presage the catastrophe which awaited him. A cold perspiration came over him as he passed the last door; but finding that he received the utmost attention, his fears a little abated. The servants assisted him in getting off his horse, and unfastened his cloak-bag; some of them led his horse to the stable, while others preceding him with flambeaux conducted Francis to their master, who awaited his arrival in a room magnificently lighted up.
城主の武骨な雰囲気とたくましい姿を目の当たりにした憐れなフランシスは、全身を震わせずに居られなかった。城主は彼に近づき、泣き叫んでしまうほど強い力で彼の手を握り、気絶するほど大きな声で「ようこそ」と告げたものである。フランシスは、アスペンの葉のように体のあちこちを震わせた。
Poor Francis was seized with an universal tremour when he beheld the martial air and athletic form of the lord of the castle, who came up to him and shook him by the hand with so much force that he could scarcely refrain from crying out, and in a thundering voice enough to stun him, told him “he was welcome.” Francis shook like an aspen-leaf in every part of his body.
すると「どうしたんだ、若者よ」と、割れ鐘のような声で喚く騎士ブロンコスト。
「何だってそんなにブルってんだ、死が首を絞めたみたいな青い顔して？」
“What ails you, my young comrade?” cried the chevalier Bronkhorst, in his voice of thunder: “What makes you thus tremble, and renders you as pale as if death had actually seized you by the throat?”
「閣下」と、彼は落ち着いて答える事ができた。
「ご覧の通り雨でずぶ濡れで、ヴェーザー川を泳いできたのかと思うほどです。ですから、今着ている服ではなく、乾いた服を着させてください。そして、できたら、温かいワインを飲ませてください。それで熱病を防ぐことができましょうし、そうすれば私の心は安らぐでしょうから。」
“My lord,” answered he with confidence, “you see that I am so soaked with rain that one might suppose I had swam through the Wezer; order me therefore some dry clothes instead of those I have on, and let us then drink a cup of hot wine, that I may, if possible, prevent the fever which otherwise may probably seize me. It will comfort my heart.”
「見上げたものよ！」と騎士は答えた。「欲しいものがあれば何でも言ってくれ、ここは我が家のように思ってくれ 。」
“Admirable!” replied the chevalier; “ask for whatever you want, and consider yourself here as at home.”
そこでフランシスは、高貴な男爵のように命令を下した。濡れた衣類を片付け、着るものを選び、まさに自由気ままに過ごした。
騎士は、彼の自由で気楽な態度に不満を表明することはなかった。その自由闊達な態度に不満を表明するどころか、彼が命じたことは何でも速やかに実行するよう部下に命じ、中には見知らぬ人をもてなすことを知らないような愚か者もいると断罪した。
テーブルが置かれると、騎士は客と一緒にそのテーブルに座り、熱いワインを一緒に飲んだ。
Accordingly Francis gave his orders like a baron of high degree: he sent away the wet clothes, made choice of others, and, in fine, made himself quite at his ease. The chevalier, so far from expressing any dissatisfaction at his free and easy manners, commanded his people to execute whatever he ordered with promptitude, and condemned some of them as blockheads who did not appear to know how to wait on a stranger. As soon as the table was spread, the chevalier seated himself at it with his guest: they drank a cup of hot wine together.
「何か食べたい物でも？」と卿が、フランシスに水を向ける。
“Do you wish for any thing to eat?” demanded the lord of Francis.
後者は、自分の家にあったものを望んだ。台所の良し悪しがわかるようにと。
The latter desired he would order up what his house afforded, that he might see whether his kitchen was good.
そう言うやいなや執事が現れて、とてもおいしい料理を作ってくれた。フランシスは注文してから出来上がりを待つほどの事もなく、心づくしを頂いて後、城主に言った。「あなたの台所は決して卑しいものではなく、もしあなたの貯蔵庫がそれに見合うものであれば、あなたは客を高貴に扱っていると言わざるを得ません」。
No sooner had he said this, than the steward made his appearance, and soon furnished up a most delicious repast. Francis did not wait for his being requested to partake of it: but after having made a hearty meal, he said to the lord of the castle, “Your kitchen is by no means despicable; if your cellar is correspondent, I cannot but say you treat your guests nobly.”
騎士が執事に合図をすると、執事は二級品のワインを運んできて、主人の大きなグラスを満たし、主人はこれを客人に勧めた。フランシスは即座に賛辞を返した。
The chevalier made a sign to his butler, who brought up some inferior wine, and filled a large glass of it to his master, who drank to his guest. Francis instantly returned the compliment.
「さて、若者よ、私のワインをどう思うかね」と騎士は尋ねた。
“Well, young man, what say you to my wine?” asked the chevalier.
「正直、」フランシスは答えた。「これがあなたの蔵にある内で一番良いものなら、良くないと言おう。しかし、これより悪い物がないのなら、非難はしない」と答えた。
“‘Faith,” replied Francis, “I say it is bad, if it is the best you have in your cellar; but if you have none worse, I do not condemn it.”
「通だね、」 と騎士は答えた「執事よ、もっと古いワインのフラスコを持ってきてくれ」
“You are a connoisseur;” answered the chevalier. “Butler, bring us a flask of older wine.”
注文は速やかに果たされ、フランシスはそれを試した。「これは実に良いワインです、これにしましょう」。
His orders being instantly attended to, Francis tasted it. “This is indeed some good old wine, and we will stick to it if you please.”
召使が大きな水差しを持ってくると、騎士は上機嫌で、客人と一緒に好きなように飲み、それからヴェネチアとの戦争における自分の数々の偉業について長々と語り始めた。
彼はその話に熱中し、熱狂のあまり瓶やグラスをひっくり返し、ナイフを剣のように振り回し、フランシスの鼻や耳に近づけて、そのまま削ぎ落してしまうのではないかと心配になるほどだった。
The servants brought in a great pitcher of it, and the chevalier, being in high good-humour, drank freely with his guest; and then launched out into a long history of his several feats of prowess in the war against the Venetians. He became so overheated by the recital, that in his enthusiasm he overturned the bottles and glasses, and flourishing his knife as if it were a sword, passed it so near the nose and ears of Francis, that he dreaded he should lose them in the action.
