6
「髪が伸びるまでここにいて、それから自分の国へ帰りなさい。昼と夜の長さが同じになる季節になると、ヴェーザー川にかかる橋の上に行き、そこに留まりなさい。そこで出会う一人の友が、地上の富を手に入れるために何をすべきかを教えてくれるだろう。
あなたの元に富と繁栄が転がり込んできたら、私を思い出してください。私を圧倒していた重い呪縛からあなたが私を解放したこの日を記念して、私を思い出してください。私の魂の安息のために、ミサを捧げてください。
ご機嫌よう！私はこれでお別れです。」
“Remain here till your hair has grown again; then return to your own country; and at that period of the year when the days and nights are of equal length, go on the bridge which crosses the Weser, and there remain till a friend, whom you will there meet, shall tell you what you ought to do to get possession of terrestrial wealth. When you are rolling in riches and prosperity, remember me; and on every anniversary of the day on which you released me from the heavy maledictions which overwhelmed me, cause a mass to be said for the repose of my soul. Adieu! I must now leave you.”
そう言って、幻影は消えてしまった。解放されたフランシスは、明かされた奇妙な歴史にすっかり驚かされたまま。しばらく身じろぎもせず、自分の見たものが本物なのかどうか、考え込んでしまった。自分がまだ夢を見ているとしか思えなかったからだ。しかし、剃り上げられた頭をしげしげと見直せば、この出来事は実際に起こったのだと認めざるを得ない。彼は再びベッドに入り、昼までぐっすり眠った。
Thus saying, the phantom vanished, and left his liberator perfectly astonished at the strange history he had just related. For a considerable time Francis remained immoveable, and reasoned with himself as to the reality of what he had seen; for he could not help fancying still that it was only a dream: but his closely shaved head soon convinced him that the event had actually taken place. He got into bed again, and slept soundly till mid-day.
意地の悪い宿屋の主人は、これは恰好の笑いの種とばかりに夜明けから旅人の帰りを待ちわび、夜の冒険に驚いてみせる積もりだった。
しかし、我慢の限界に達するまで苛々と待つ程に、正午に近づいたので、もしかしたら他所者は幽霊が絞め殺したか、あるいは恐怖のあまり死んでしまったのではないかと思案し始めた。
そこで、彼は召使いを呼び寄せ、彼らと共に城に駆けつけ、すべての部屋を通過して、光の見える部屋にたどり着いた。そこで、彼は扉に奇妙な鍵を見つけたが、扉は閂がかかっていた。幽霊が消えた後、フランシスが再び閂を引いたからである。
不安を掻き立てられた家主は大声を上げて戸を敲いた。目を覚ましたフランシスは、最初、幻影が2度目の訪問に来たのかと思ったが、やがて家主の声に気づき、立ち上がってドアを開けた。
The malicious inn-keeper had been on the watch from dawn of day for the appearance of the traveller, in order that he might enjoy a laugh at his expense, and express his surprise at the night’s adventure. But after waiting till his patience was nearly exhausted, and finding it approached to noon, he began to apprehend that the spirit had either strangled the stranger, or that he had died of fright. He therefore called his servants together, and ran with them to the castle, passing through every room till he reached the one in which he had observed the light the over-night: there he found a strange key in the door, which was still bolted; for Francis had drawn the bolts again after the ghost had vanished. The landlord, who was all anxiety, knocked loudly; and Francis on awaking, at first thought it was the phantom come to pay him a second visit; but at length recognising the landlord’s voice, he got up and opened the door.
大家は最大限の驚きを示しながら、両手を合わせて叫んだ。
「偉大なる神とすべての聖人たちよ！では、赤マントが実際にここに来て、あなたの髭を剃ったのですか？私は今、その話があまりにも根拠がありすぎることを理解しました。
しかし、どうか私にすべての詳細を話してください。その霊はどのようなもので、どのようにしてあなたの髭を剃るようになったのか、そしてあなたに何を言ったのか、教えてください。
The landlord, affecting the utmost possible astonishment, clasped his hands together, and exclaimed, “Great God and all the saints! then the red cloak has actually been here and shaved you completely? I now see that the story was but too well founded. But pray relate to me all the particulars: tell me what the spirit was like; how he came thus to shave you; and what he said to you?”
彼の悪巧みを見抜く程には世慣れたフランシスは、こう答えた。
「その幽霊は赤いマントを着た男のようだった。そして、彼の会話は完全に覚えている、…注意して聞いてください… 彼は私に言った、「見知らぬ人よ、悪意のある姿を看板にした宿屋の主人を信用してはいけない。あの悪党は、君に何が起こるかよく知っていたのだ。
さようなら！私は今、この住まいを去ります。私の時代が来たのです。これから私は悪夢となって、この宿屋の主人に取り憑き、悩ますでしょう。この宿屋の主人が自分の悪行を懺悔し、君の髪が伸びて肩にかかるまで、宿に泊め、食事を与え、必要なものをすべて与えてくれない限り。」
Francis, having sense enough to discover his roguery, answered him by saying: “The spirit resembled a man wearing a red cloak; you know full well how he performed the operation: and his conversation I perfectly remember;—listen attentively:—‘Stranger,’ said he to me, ‘do not trust to a certain inn-keeper who has a figure of malice for his sign; the rogue knew well what would happen to you. Adieu! I now quit this abode, as my time is come; and in future no spirit will make its appearance here. I am now about to be transformed into a night-mare, and shall constantly torment and haunt this said inn-keeper, unless he does penance for his villany, by lodging, feeding, and furnishing you with every thing needful, till your hair shall grow again and fall in ringlets over your shoulders.’”
この言葉を聞いて、大家はぶるぶると震えが止まらなくなった。その場に十字を切り、この見知らぬ若者の世話をし、宿泊させ、必要なものはすべて無償で与えることを聖母マリアに誓った。
そして、彼を自分の家に案内し、約束したことを忠実に実行した。
At these words the landlord was seized with a violent trembling: he crossed himself, and vowed to the Virgin Mary that he would take care of the young stranger, lodge him, and give him every thing he required free of cost. He then conducted him to his house, and faithfully fulfilled what he promised.
もはや幽霊の声は聞こえなくなり、姿も見えなくなったので、フランシスは当然のように呪術師とみなされるようになった。
何度か城で一夜を明かした事もある。勇敢な村人が彼に同行し、髪を失うことなく帰ってきたこともあった。
城主は、あの恐ろしい赤マントがもう出ないと聞いて大喜びし、この幽霊を退治してくれた流れ者を丁重に扱うよう命じた。
The spirit being no longer heard or seen, Francis was naturally looked on as a conjuror. He several times passed a night in the castle; and one evening a courageous villager accompanied him, and returned without having lost his hair. The lord of the castle, hearing that the formidable red cloak was no longer to be seen, was quite delighted, and gave orders that the stranger who had delivered him from this spirit should be well taken care of.
9月の初め、フランシスはようやく髪を束ねられるようになり始め、出発の支度をした。
ヴェーザー川に架かる橋に思いを馳せる。床屋の予言した、一財産を築く道を指し示してくれる友人を見つける積もりだ。
Early in the month of September, Francis’s hair began to form into ringlets, and he prepared to depart; for all his thoughts were directed towards the bridge over the Weser, where he hoped, according to the barber’s predictions, to find the friend who would point out to him the way to make his fortune.
フランシスが城主と別れるとき、城主は彼に、よく整備され、鞍の後ろに大きな外套袋を載せた立派な馬を贈ると同時に、旅を終えるのに十分な額の金を与えた。これは城主からの餞別で、自分を幽霊から救い出し、城を再び住めるようにしてくれたことに対する感謝の気持ちを表したものであった。
When Francis took leave of the landlord, the latter presented him with a handsome horse well appointed, and loaded with a large cloak-bag on the back of the saddle, and gave him at the same time a sufficient sum of money to complete his journey. This was a present from the lord of the castle, expressive of his thanks for having delivered him from the spirit, and rendered his castle again habitable.
フランシスは意気揚々と生まれ故郷に到着した。彼は小路の宿に戻り、そこで非常に控えめな生活を送り、当面はメタに関する秘密の情報で満足した。しかし、彼は自分の運命が決まるまで、彼女を訪ねることも、自分の帰りを報せもしなかった。
Francis arrived at his native place in high spirits. He returned to his lodging in the little street, where he lived very retired, contenting himself for the present with secret information respecting Meta. All the tidings he thus gained were of a satisfactory nature; but he would neither visit her, nor make her acquainted with his return, till his fate was decided.
