5
筆舌に尽くし難い恐怖を味わったフランシスは、頭を衣服の下に突っ込んだ。扉はガタガタと恐ろしい音を立て続け、遂には誰かが自分の部屋の扉に、鍵を次々と試しているのが聞こえた。そのうちの一つは、錠前にぴったり嵌まったようだが、閂が扉をしっかり止めていた。
ところが、雷が鳴ったような激しい衝撃と共にそれが外れ、黒い髭を生やした長身痩躯の男が入ってきた。左肩に赤い外套というかマントを羽織り、高々と飾り物を付けた帽子を被った古式ゆかしい服装である。
その男はゆっくりとした足取りで三度部屋を周り、聖別された蝋燭を調べ、それを消した。徐ろにマントを脱ぎ、髭剃りの道具を広げ、剃刀を取り出し、ベルトに提げた大きな革砥で研いだ。
The terror which Francis experienced was beyond all description, and he put his head under the clothes. The doors continued to open with a frightful noise, and at last he heard some one trying different keys at the door of his room; one of them seemed perfectly to fit the lock, but the bolts kept the door fast; however, a violent shock like a clap of thunder caused them to give way, and in stalked a tall thin figure with a black beard, whose appearance was indicative of chagrin and melancholy. He was habited in the antique style, and on his left shoulder wore a red cloak or mantle, while his head was covered with a high-crowned hat. Three times with slow and measured steps he walked round the room, examined the consecrated candles, and snuffed them: he then threw off his cloak, unfolded a shaving apparatus, and took from it the razors, which he sharpened on a large leather strop hanging to his belt.
フランシスが耐えた苦悩は、何物をもってしても表現できない。聖母マリアに祈りを捧げ、恐怖に打ちのめされつつも、自分に対するこの妖怪の狙いがどこにあるかを察知しようと努めた。此方の喉をかき切るつもりなのか、それとも髭を剃るだけなのか。妖怪が銀の髭剃り壺を取り出し、同じ金属の桶に水を入れ、泡を立ててから椅子を置いたのを見て、貧しい旅人は少し落ち着きを取り戻した。しかし、妖怪が重々しい雰囲気で、その椅子に座るように合図したので、フランシスはどっと冷汗を噴き出した。
No powers are adequate to describe the agonies Francis endured: he recommended himself to the Virgin Mary, and endeavoured, as well as his fears would permit, to form an idea of the spectre’s designs on him. Whether he purposed to cut his throat, or only take off his beard, he was at a loss to determine. The poor traveller, however, was a little more composed, when he saw the spectre take out a silver shaving-pot, and in a bason of the same metal put some water; after which he made a lather, and then placed a chair. But a cold perspiration came over Francis, when the spectre with a grave air, made signs for him to sit in that chair.
あまりにも明白なこの命令に抵抗しても無意味であることは解る。思うに、避け難きを善きと為し、この問題を良い方向に導くことが賢明であろう。
フランシスは命令に従い、ベッドから軽快に飛び起き、指示通りに座ったのである。
He knew it was useless to resist this mandate, which was but too plainly given: and thinking it most prudent to make a virtue of necessity, and to put a good face on the matter, Francis obeyed the order, jumped nimbly out of bed, and seated himself as directed.
幽霊は剃刀を首に当てた。櫛と鋏も使って、髪と頬髭を刈った。続いて手順に従い、顎髭・眉毛・頭を泡立て、顎からうなじまで完全に剃り落とした。
この作業が終わると、頭を洗い、きれいに拭いて乾かし、深々とお辞儀をして、ケースをたたみ、マントを肩にかけ、ドアに向かって去っていった。
The spirit placed the shaving-bib round his neck: then taking a comb and scissars, cut off his hair and whiskers; after which he lathered, according to rule, his beard, his eye-brows and head, and shaved them all off completely from his chin to the nape of his neck. This operation ended, he washed his head, wiped and dried it very nicely, made him a low bow, folded up his case, put his cloak on his shoulder, and made towards the door to go away.
聖別された蝋燭は、この施術の間中、明々と燃えていた。その澄んだ光でフランシスは鏡を覗いて、自分の頭には髪の毛が一本も残っていないことに気がついた。
天然の美しい茶髪を失ってしまうとはと、天を仰いで嘆くことしきり。しかしあまりに大きな犠牲を払ったとはいえ、もうすべては終わったのだ、幽霊はもう自分に何もすることはできないのだ、という訳で気を取り直した。
The consecrated candles had burnt most brilliantly during the whole of this operation; and by their clear light Francis discovered, on looking into the glass, that he had not a single hair remaining on his head. Most bitterly did he deplore the loss of his beautiful brown hair: but he regained courage on remarking, that, however great the sacrifice, all was now over, and that the spirit had no more power over him.
さて、幽霊は入ってきたときと同じように重々しい雰囲気で、ドアのほうへ歩いていった。しかし、数歩歩いたところで立ち止まり、悲しげな雰囲気でフランシスを見つめ、ひげをなでた。この動作を三度繰り返し、結局は部屋を出ようとする段になって、何かを欲しがっているもののようにフランシスは感じ始めた。咄嗟の思いつきだが、もしかしたら、今自分がされたのと同じようなことを、自分にして欲しいのではないか。
In effect, the ghost walked towards the door with as grave an air as he had entered: but after going a few steps, he stopped, looked at Francis with a mournful air, and stroked his beard. He three times repeated this action; and was on the point of quitting the room, when Francis began to fancy he wanted something. With great quickness of thought he imagined it might be, that he wished him to perform a like service for him to that which he had just been executing on himself.
その幽霊は、悲痛な面持ちであるにもかかわらず、どちらかというと厳めしいというより誂い上手のようであり、フランシスに対する彼の行動も、邪悪な敵意を持つものではなく悪戯のようで、フランシスにはもはや、彼を恐るべきものには見えない。という事で一つ、冒険してみることにした。
幻影を手招きして、椅子に座るように言うと、それは外套を脱いでケースを広げ、テーブルに置き、これから髭を剃られようという姿勢で椅子に座った。
フランシスは、その幽霊がするのを見たとおりに正確に真似た。つまり、その髪と頬髭を切り落とし、その頭を泡立てた。幽霊は一歩も動かなかった。この床屋の新米弟子は、まだ剃刀を器用には扱えずに、幽霊の顎髭を引っ張ってしまい、幽霊は恐ろしい苦笑いをした。フランシスとしても、納得のいく仕事ぶりではなかった。しかし、彼はできる限りやり遂げ、幽霊の頭を自分の頭と同じようにすっかり丸めた。
As the spectre, spite of his woe-begone aspect, appeared more inclined to raillery than gravity, and as his proceedings towards Francis appeared more a species of frolic than absolute ill treatment, the latter no longer appeared to entertain any apprehension of him; and in consequence determined to hazard the adventure. He therefore beckoned the phantom to seat himself in the chair. It instantly returned, and obeyed: taking off its cloak, and unfolding the case, it placed it on the table, and seated itself in the chair, in the attitude of one about to be shaved. Francis imitated precisely all he had seen it do: he cut off its hair and whiskers, and then lathered its head. The spirit did not move an inch. Our barber’s apprentice did not handle the razor very dexterously; so that having taken hold of the ghost’s beard against the grain, the latter made a horrible grimace. Francis did not feel much assured by this action: however, he got through the job as well as he could, and rendered the ghost’s head as completely bald as his own.
その時まで演者2人の場面は、深い沈黙の中にあった。しかし突然、幽霊が微笑みながらこう叫び、沈黙が破られた。
…「見知らぬ人よ、あなたが私に与えてくれた素晴らしい奉仕に心から感謝します。あなたのおかげで、私は長い囚われの身から解放されたのです。
300年の間、私はこの城に囚われて、私の魂は、私の罪に対する罰として、この懲罰に服するよう命じられてきました。
生ある者が、私に報復する勇気を持つまで、私が生前に他人から受けた仕打ちを、私にしてくれるまで。」
Hitherto the scene between the two performers had passed in profound silence; but on a sudden the silence was interrupted by the ghost exclaiming with a smiling countenance:—“Stranger, I heartily thank you for the eminent service you have rendered me; for to you am I indebted for deliverance from my long captivity. During the space of three hundred years I have been immersed within these walls, and my soul has been condemned to submit to this chastisement as a punishment for my crimes, until some living being had the courage to exercise retaliation on me, by doing to me what I have done by others during my life.
「かつてこの城に住んでいたのはハルトマン伯爵。彼は法律も上司も認めず、横柄で威圧的な性格で、あらゆる種類の悪事を働き、最も神聖なもてなしの権利を侵害したのです。彼の屋根の下に避難しようとするよそ者や、彼の施しを求める貧しい人々に、あらゆる悪質な策略をめぐらして。私は彼の床屋で、ご機嫌を取るなら何でもやりました。敬虔な巡礼者でも見つけたなら、愛想よく城に入るよう促し、風呂の用意をし、彼が世話になることを楽しんでいる間に、髭と頭をすっかり剃り上げ、嘲笑を浴びせつつ脇の扉から追い出してしまう、とかね。ハルトマン伯爵は悪魔のように喜んで、この様子を窓から見ていたし、子供たちは虐げられた他所者を囲んで集まり、嘲笑の叫びをあげて彼を追いかけたものです。
“Count Hartmann formerly resided in this castle: he was a man who recognized no law nor superior; was of an arrogant and overbearing disposition; committed every species of wickedness, and violated the most sacred rights of hospitality: he played all sorts of malicious tricks to strangers who sought refuge under his roof, and to the poor who solicited his charity. I was his barber, and did every thing to please him. No sooner did I perceive a pious pilgrim, than in an endearing tone I urged him to come into the castle, and prepared a bath for him; and while he was enjoying the idea of being taken care of, I shaved his beard and head quite close, and then turned him out of the bye door, with raillery and ridicule. All this was seen by count Hartmann from his window with a sort of devilish pleasure, while the children would assemble round the abused stranger, and pursue him with cries of derision.
「ある日、遠い国から一人の聖なる男がやってきまして。彼は背中に十字架をつけ、足、手、脇腹には献身的な行為による傷跡が刻まれ、頭は、救い主が被った茨の冠に似せて残した一本の毛を除いて剃るという具合。彼は通りすがりに足を洗うための水、それから食べるためのパンを求めました。私は即座に彼を風呂に入れまして、彼の由緒ある頭さえ、遠慮も尊重もしなかった。すると巡礼者は、私にこんな酷い呪いをかけて『堕落した哀れな者よ、お前の死後、天国、地獄、煉獄の恐ろしい門が、お前の罪深い魂に対して一様に閉ざされることを知るがよい。
この城を、亡霊となってさまようのだ。とある男が、誘われることもなく、強いられることもなく、おまえが長い間他人にしてきたことをおまえにしてくれるまでは』というのです。
“One day there came a holy man from a far distant country; he wore a penitentiary cross at his back, and his devotion had imprinted scars on his feet, hands, and sides; his head was shaved, excepting a circle of hair left to resemble the crown of thorns worn by our Saviour. He asked some water to wash his feet as he passed by, and some bread to eat. I instantly put him into the bath; but did not respect even his venerable head. Upon which the pilgrim pronounced this terrible curse on me: ‘Depraved wretch,’ said he, ‘know that at your death, the formidable gates of heaven, of hell, and of purgatory will alike be closed against your sinful soul, which shall wander through this castle, in the form of a ghost, until some man, without being invited or constrained, shall do to you, what you have so long done to others.”
「その瞬間から骨の髄が乾き、私は完全な影となりました。衰弱した肉体を離れた魂は、聖人の予言通り、この壁の中をさまよい続けるばかりでした。
私を地上に縛り付けている痛ましい絆からの解放を、どれほど虚しく探し求め、待ち望んだ事か。魂は肉体から離れるやいなや、至福の安らぎを求め、その願いの熱さは年月を数百年にも長く見せ、その一方では見知らぬ土地で苦しんでいるのです。
罰として、私は生前行っていた商売を続けざるを得なくなりました。しかし残念なことに、私の夜間の出現により、この城はすぐに寂れてしまった。時折、貧しい巡礼者がここで夜を過ごそうと入ってはきたのです。私があなた方にしたのと同じように、私は彼らに接したのですが、一人として私を理解せず、この悲しい隷属から私の魂を解放するための唯一の奉仕をしてくれはしなかった。
今後、この城に魂が宿ることはありません。今や私は、長い間探し求めていた安息を楽しむことができるのだから。繰り返し感謝します、勇敢な若者よ。そして信じて欲しい、もし私に世界中の隠された宝を支配する力があったなら、そのすべてを君に捧げるでしょう。しかし残念なことに、私の人生には富がなく、この城には蓄えがない。ただ、今から述べる忠告をよく聞いてほしい。
“From that moment the marrow in my bones dried up, and I became a perfect shadow; my soul quitted my emaciated body, and remained wandering within these walls, according to the prediction of the holy man. In vain did I look and hope for release from the painful ties which held me to earth; for know, that no sooner is the soul separated from the body, than it aspires to the blissful regions of peace, and the ardour of its wishes causes years to appear as long as centuries, while it languishes in a strange element. As a punishment, I am compelled to continue the trade that I had exercised during my life; but, alas! my nocturnal appearance soon rendered this castle deserted. Now and then a poor pilgrim entered to pass the night here: when they did, however, I treated them all as I have done you; but not one has understood me, or rendered me the only service which could deliver my soul from this sad servitude. Henceforth no spirit will haunt this castle; for I shall now enjoy that repose of which I have been so long in search. Once again let me thank you, gallant youth; and believe, that had I power over the hidden treasures of the globe, I would give them all to you; but, unfortunately, during my life riches did not fall to my lot, and this castle contains no store: however, listen to the advice I am now about to give you.
snuffed: snuff は専ら、犬が臭いを辿る時のようにフンフンクンクン「嗅ぐ」動作をいい、従って「嗅ぎ煙草」を指すこともある。蝋燭については同様に近づいて「吹き消す」「揉み消す」「芯を切る」動作を言うから、聖なる蝋燭はここで幽霊が「消した」ことになる。しかし神罰を受けている幽霊が聖なる蝋燭を消すのではお話にならないし、消したら真っ暗になってしまうし、後になって施術中は蝋燭が「一際明るく燃えていた had burnt most brilliantly」というのだから、間違っている可能性が高いが、取り敢えず書いてある通りに訳しておく。
whiskers: 頬髭。これを単数形で使うことはほとんど無いが、一応は短い髭の集合体扱い
beard: 顎髭。英語では「髭」全体を総称する事はなく、whiskers と beard は別物という認識のようで、おそらくは顎髭または頬髭を選択的に伸ばす人が多かったのだろう。
