Four
四
As usual, I sneaked into the Kaneda residence.
例によって金田邸へ忍び込む。
There is no need to explain what I mean by "as usual".
例によってとは今更解釈する必要もない。
It is a word that indicates the degree of "often" squared.
しばしばを自乗したほどの度合を示す語である。
It is not only humans who have the curiosity to want to do something twice after doing it once, and to want to do it three times after trying it twice. You must recognize that even cats are born into this world with this psychological privilege.
一度やった事は二度やりたいもので、二度試みた事は三度試みたいのは人間にのみ限らるる好奇心ではない、猫といえどもこの心理的特権を有してこの世界に生れ出でたものと認定していただかねばならぬ。
It is only when something is repeated more than three times that it is called a habit, and this behavior evolves as a necessity of life, just as it does in humans.
三度以上繰返す時始めて習慣なる語を冠せられて、この行為が生活上の必要と進化するのもまた人間と相違はない。
If you are wondering why I visit the Kaneda residence so often, I have a question for you.
何のために、かくまで足繁く金田邸へ通うのかと不審を起すならその前にちょっと人間に反問したい事がある。
Why do humans suck smoke in through their mouths and exhale it through their noses? As long as they shamelessly inhale and exhale something that is neither a supplement for the stomach nor a medicine for the blood, I do not want them to blame me too loudly for going in and out of Kaneda's house.
なぜ人間は口から煙を吸い込んで鼻から吐き出すのであるか、腹の足しにも血の道の薬にもならないものを、恥かし気もなく吐呑して憚からざる以上は、 吾輩が金田に出入するのを、あまり大きな声で咎め立てをして貰いたくない。
The Kaneda residence is my tobacco.
金田邸は吾輩の煙草である。
To say that I sneak in is a misnomer, it sounds like I'm a thief or an adulterer.
忍び込むと云うと語弊がある、何だか泥棒か間男のようで聞き苦しい。
I go to the Kaneda residence, though I am not invited, not to steal bonito slices or to have a secret talk with the Pekingese, whose eyes and nose are spasmodically close together in the center of his face.
吾輩が金田邸へ行くのは、招待こそ受けないが、決して鰹の切身をちょろまかしたり、眼鼻が顔の中心に痙攣的に密着している狆君などと密談するためではない。
——What detective?——It's out of the question.
——何探偵?——もってのほかの事である。
I think there is no profession as lowly as a detective or a loan shark.
およそ世の中に何が賤しい家業だと云って探偵と高利貸ほど下等な職はないと思っている。
Indeed, I once had a sense of chivalry that should not be found in a cat, and once peeked at the Kaneda family's movements from a distance, but that was only once, and I have never done anything so despicable as to be ashamed of my cat's conscience.
なるほど寒月君のために猫にあるまじきほどの義侠心を起して、一度は金田家の動静を余所ながら窺った事はあるが、それはただの一遍で、その後は決して猫の良心に恥ずるような陋劣な振舞を致した事はない。
——Then why did you use such a suspicious word as "sneaking in"?
——そんなら、なぜ忍び込むと云うような胡乱な文字を使用した?
——Well, that's very meaningful.
——さあ、それがすこぶる意味のある事だて。
Originally, according to my opinion, the sky is made to cover all things, and the earth is made to carry all things. No matter how persistent a person likes to argue, he cannot deny this fact.
元来吾輩の考によると大空は万物を覆うため大地は万物を載せるために出来ている——いかに執拗な議論を好む人間でもこの事実を否定する訳には行くまい。
Now, how much effort have they, the human race, put into manufacturing this sky and earth?
さてこの大空大地を製造するために彼等人類はどのくらいの労力を費やしているかと云うと尺寸の手伝もしておらぬではないか。
There is no law that allows you to own something that you have not manufactured.
自分が製造しておらぬものを自分の所有と極める法はなかろう。
It is okay to own it, but there is no reason to prohibit others from entering and leaving.
自分の所有と極めても差し支えないが他の出入を禁ずる理由はあるまい。
It is like a person who draws a line in the blue sky and reports that this part is my heaven and that part is his heaven.
この茫々たる大地を、小賢しくも垣を囲らし棒杭を立てて某々所有地などと劃し限るのはあたかもかの蒼天に縄張して、この部分は我の天、あの部分は彼の天と届け出るような者だ。
If you cut up the land and buy and sell the ownership of one tsubo, it is good to divide the air we breathe into one cubic shaku and sell it.
もし土地を切り刻んで一坪いくらの所有権を売買するなら我等が呼吸する空気を一尺立方に割って切売をしても善い訳である。
If you can't sell air and the sky is unfair, isn't it unreasonable to own the ground?
空気の切売が出来ず、空の縄張が不当なら地面の私有も不合理ではないか。
I believe in the law of the universe, so I go anywhere.
如是観によりて、如是法を信じている吾輩はそれだからどこへでも這入って行く。
I don't go where I don't want to go, but I don't care about the direction I want to go.
もっとも行きたくない処へは行かぬが、志す方角へは東西南北の差別は入らぬ、平気な顔をして、のそのそと参る。
There is no reason to be shy about Kaneda. - But the sadness of a cat is not as strong as a human being.
金田ごときものに遠慮をする訳がない。——しかし猫の悲しさは力ずくでは到底人間には叶わない。
As long as there is a saying that strength is right in this world, no matter how reasonable it is, the cat's argument will not go through.
強勢は権利なりとの格言さえあるこの浮世に存在する以上は、いかにこっちに道理があっても猫の議論は通らない。
If you try to force it through, you may suddenly eat the fishmonger's balance bar like the black of the car shop.
無理に通そうとすると車屋の黒のごとく不意に肴屋の天秤棒を喰う恐れがある。
When the reason is here and the power is over there, if you bend the reason and obey it without one or two, or if you graze the eyes of power and penetrate my reason, I will of course choose the latter.
理はこっちにあるが権力は向うにあると云う場合に、理を曲げて一も二もなく屈従するか、または権力の目を掠めて我理を貫くかと云えば、吾輩は無論後者を択ぶのである。
The balance bar must be avoided, so it must be endured.
天秤棒は避けざるべからざるが故に、忍ばざるべからず。
I have to crawl into people's houses because I can't help it.
人の邸内へは這入り込んで差支えなき故込まざるを得ず。
That's why I sneak into the Kaneda residence.
この故に吾輩は金田邸へ忍び込むのである。
As I sneak in more and more, I don't want to be a detective, but it's inevitable that the circumstances of the Kaneda family will be reflected in my eyes, which I don't want to see, and will leave an impression in my mind, which I don't want to remember.
忍び込む度が重なるにつけ、探偵をする気はないが自然金田君一家の事情が見たくもない吾輩の眼に映じて覚えたくもない吾輩の脳裏に印象を留むるに至るのはやむを得ない。
Mrs. Hanako wipes her nose every time she washes her face, Miss Tomiko eats Abekawa mochi without any reason, and Mr. Kaneda himself--Mr. Kaneda is a man with a low nose, unlike his wife.
鼻子夫人が顔を洗うたんびに念を入れて鼻だけ拭く事や、富子令嬢が阿倍川餅を無暗に召し上がらるる事や、それから金田君自身が——金田君は妻君に似合わず鼻の低い男である。
It's not just the nose, the whole face is low.
単に鼻のみではない、顔全体が低い。
When he was a child, he had a fight, and his face was caught by the neck muscles by the hungry general, and when he was pressed against the earthen wall as hard as he could, his face was so flat that he wondered if he had been doing the cause and effect until today, forty years later.
小供の時分喧嘩をして、餓鬼大将のために頸筋を捉まえられて、うんと精一杯に土塀へ圧し付けられた時の顔が四十年後の今日まで、因果をなしておりはせぬかと怪まるるくらい平坦な顔である。
It must be a very calm and safe face, but somehow it lacks variety.
至極穏かで危険のない顔には相違ないが、何となく変化に乏しい。
No matter how angry he is, his face is flat.
いくら怒っても平かな顔である。
--That Kaneda-kun eats tuna sashimi and slaps his own bald head, and because he is not only low in face but also short in height, he wears a high hat and high clogs, and the rickshaw man finds it funny and tells the student, and the student is impressed that your observation is quick,
——その金田君が鮪の刺身を食って自分で自分の禿頭をぴちゃぴちゃ叩く事や、 それから顔が低いばかりでなく背が低いので、無暗に高い帽子と高い下駄を穿く事や、 それを車夫がおかしがって書生に話す事や、 書生がなるほど君の観察は機敏だと感心する事や、
--I can't count them all.
——一々数え切れない。
Recently, I pass through the side of the kitchen door to the garden, and when I look over from the shadow of the artificial hill and see that the shoji is standing and quiet, I gradually climb up.
近頃は勝手口の横を庭へ通り抜けて、築山の陰から向うを見渡して障子が立て切って物静かであるなと見極めがつくと、徐々上り込む。
If I think that the voices are lively or that there is a risk of being seen through from the room, I go around the pond to the east and go under the eaves from the side of the snow hiding place without knowing it.
もし人声が賑かであるか、座敷から見透かさるる恐れがあると思えば池を東へ廻って雪隠の横から知らぬ間に椽の下へ出る。
I have no recollection of doing anything wrong, so I have nothing to hide or fear, but when I meet a lawless person called a human being, I have no choice but to give up as bad luck, so if the world were full of Kumasaka Chohan, no matter how virtuous a gentleman may be, he would still act like me.
悪い事をした覚はないから何も隠れる事も、恐れる事もないのだが、そこが人間と云う無法者に逢っては不運と諦めるより仕方がないので、もし世間が熊坂長範ばかりになったらいかなる盛徳の君子もやはり吾輩のような態度に出ずるであろう。
Since Mr. Kaneda is a dignified businessman, he is not likely to swing his five feet and three inches around like Kumasaka Chohan, but I hear that he has a disease that makes him think that people are not people.
金田君は堂々たる実業家であるから固より熊坂長範のように五尺三寸を振り廻す気遣はあるまいが、承る処によれば人を人と思わぬ病気があるそうである。
If he doesn't think of people as people, he probably doesn't think of cats as cats.
人を人と思わないくらいなら猫を猫とも思うまい。
So, no matter how virtuous a cat may be, it can never be off guard in his mansion.
して見れば猫たるものはいかなる盛徳の猫でも彼の邸内で決して油断は出来ぬ訳である。
However, I find it a little interesting that I can't be off guard, and I may be going in and out of the Kaneda's gate so much just to take this risk.
しかしその油断の出来ぬところが吾輩にはちょっと面白いので、吾輩がかくまでに金田家の門を出入するのも、ただこの危険が冒して見たいばかりかも知れぬ。
I will think about it later, and when I can dissect the cat's brain completely, I will tell you again.
それは追って篤と考えた上、猫の脳裏を残りなく解剖し得た時改めて御吹聴仕ろう。
I wondered what it would be like today, and when I pressed my chin on the lawn of the usual Tsukiyama and looked around, I saw the 15-tatami guest room open to the spring of Yayoi, and the Kaneda couple and a visitor were talking inside.
今日はどんな模様だなと、例の築山の芝生の上に顎を押しつけて前面を見渡すと十五畳の客間を弥生の春に明け放って、中には金田夫婦と一人の来客との御話最中である。
Unfortunately, Mrs. Hanako's nose is facing this way and glaring at the top of my forehead from across the pond.
生憎鼻子夫人の鼻がこっちを向いて池越しに吾輩の額の上を正面から睨め付けている。
Today is the first time I've been glared at by a nose.
鼻に睨まれたのは生れて今日が始めてである。
Fortunately, Mr. Kaneda is facing the guest with his profile, so the flat part is half hidden, but the location of the nose is not clear.
金田君は幸い横顔を向けて客と相対しているから例の平坦な部分は半分かくれて見えぬが、その代り鼻の在所が判然しない。
However, since the sesame-salt-colored mustache is growing randomly from a good place, it is easy to conclude that there should be two holes on it.
ただ胡麻塩色の口髯が好い加減な所から乱雑に茂生しているので、あの上に孔が二つあるはずだと結論だけは苦もなく出来る。
I imagined that the spring breeze would be easy if it blew only on such a smooth face.
春風もああ云う滑かな顔ばかり吹いていたら定めて楽だろうと、ついでながら想像を逞しゅうして見た。
The guest has the most ordinary appearance among the three.
御客さんは三人の中で一番普通な容貌を有している。
However, as it is ordinary, there is no such thing as a work that is worth introducing.
ただし普通なだけに、これぞと取り立てて紹介するに足るような雑作は一つもない。
It seems to be fine to say ordinary, but it is rather pitiful to go up to the ordinary hall of mediocrity and enter the room of vulgarity.
普通と云うと結構なようだが、普通の極平凡の堂に上り、庸俗の室に入ったのはむしろ憫然の至りだ。
Who was born in the Meiji era with the fate of having such a meaningless face?
かかる無意味な面構を有すべき宿命を帯びて明治の昭代に生れて来たのは誰だろう。
As usual, I have to go under the eaves and listen to the conversation.
例のごとく椽の下まで行ってその談話を承わらなくては分らぬ。
"...... So my wife went to the man's place and asked him about his condition..."
「......それで妻がわざわざあの男の所まで出掛けて行って容子を聞いたんだがね......」
"I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that," he said.
と金田君は例のごとく横風な言葉使である。
It is a crosswind, but there is no steepness.
横風ではあるが毫も峻嶮なところがない。
His language is as flat and large as his face.
言語も彼の顔面のごとく平板尨大である。
"I see, he taught Mizushima-san... I see, that's a good idea... I see," the guest said.
「なるほどあの男が水島さんを教えた事がございますので——なるほど、よい御思い付きで——なるほど」となるほどずくめのは御客さんである。
"But I don't know what to do."
「ところが何だか要領を得んので」
"Well, Kushami doesn't know what to do... He's been indecisive since I was living with him... That must have been a problem for you," the guest said, turning to Mrs. Hanako.
「ええ苦沙弥じゃ要領を得ない訳で——あの男は私がいっしょに下宿をしている時分から実に煮え切らない——そりゃ御困りでございましたろう」と御客さんは鼻子夫人の方を向く。
"I've never been treated like that in my life," said Hanako, blowing her nose as usual.
「困るの、困らないのってあなた、私しゃこの年になるまで人のうちへ行って、あんな不取扱を受けた事はありゃしません」と鼻子は例によって鼻嵐を吹く。
"Did he say something rude? He's always been stubborn... You can tell by the fact that he's been a teacher of Reader for ten years," the guest said.
「何か無礼な事でも申しましたか、昔しから頑固な性分で——何しろ十年一日のごとくリードル専門の教師をしているのでも大体御分りになりましょう」と御客さんは体よく調子を合せている。
"No, he's not even worth talking to. When my wife asks him something, he just says hello..."
「いや御話しにもならんくらいで、妻が何か聞くとまるで剣もほろろの挨拶だそうで......」
"That's outrageous... If you have a little knowledge, you tend to be arrogant, and if you're poor, you tend to be a sore loser... There are a lot of lawless people in the world.
「それは怪しからん訳で——一体少し学問をしているととかく慢心が萌すもので、その上貧乏をすると負け惜しみが出ますから——いえ世の中には随分無法な奴がおりますよ。
They don't realize that they don't work, and they just go after people with money... It's as if they've stolen their money, so I'm surprised," the guest said with great pleasure.
自分の働きのないのにゃ気が付かないで、無暗に財産のあるものに喰って掛るなんてえのが——まるで彼等の財産でも捲き上げたような気分ですから驚きますよ、あははは」と御客さんは大恐悦の体である。
"No, it's really outrageous. That kind of thing is ultimately caused by the selfishness of the world, so I thought it would be better to tease him a little to teach him a lesson, so I hit him a little."
「いや、まことに言語同断で、ああ云うのは必竟世間見ずの我儘から起るのだから、ちっと懲らしめのためにいじめてやるが好かろうと思って、少し当ってやったよ」
"I see, that must have been a great answer, because it's for his own good," the guest agreed with Mr. Kaneda before he even heard how he was hit.
「なるほどそれでは大分答えましたろう、全く本人のためにもなる事ですから」と御客さんはいかなる当り方か承らぬ先からすでに金田君に同意している。
"But Mr. Suzuki, what a stubborn man he is.
「ところが鈴木さん、まあなんて頑固な男なんでしょう。
Even when he goes to school, he doesn't talk to Mr. Fukuchi or Mr. Tsugi.
学校へ出ても福地さんや、津木さんには口も利かないんだそうです。
I thought he was silent because he was afraid, but the other day he chased an innocent student of his house with a cane.
恐れ入って黙っているのかと思ったらこの間は罪もない、宅の書生をステッキを持って追っ懸けたってんです——三十面さげて、よく、まあ、そんな馬鹿な真似が出来たもんじゃありませんか、全くやけで少し気が変になってるんですよ」
"Why did he do such a violent thing again..." The guest seemed to be a little suspicious of this.
「へえどうしてまたそんな乱暴な事をやったんで......」とこれには、さすがの御客さんも少し不審を起したと見える。
"Well, he just said something in front of him and passed by, and then he suddenly jumped out with a cane and bare feet.
「なあに、ただあの男の前を何とか云って通ったんだそうです、すると、いきなり、ステッキを持って跣足で飛び出して来たんだそうです。
Even if he said something, he's a child, isn't he a big bearded monk and a teacher?"
よしんば、ちっとやそっと、何か云ったって小供じゃありませんか、髯面の大僧の癖にしかも教師じゃありませんか」
"Yes, he's a teacher," said the guest, and Kaneda said, "He's a teacher."
「さよう教師ですからな」と御客さんが云うと、 金田君も「教師だからな」と云う。
It seems that these three people unexpectedly agreed on the point that as long as they are teachers, they must be as quiet as wooden statues no matter what insults they receive.
教師たる以上はいかなる侮辱を受けても木像のようにおとなしくしておらねばならぬとはこの三人の期せずして一致した論点と見える。
"Besides, that Meitei guy is a real drunkard.
「それに、あの迷亭って男はよっぽどな酔興人ですね。
He's telling a bunch of useless lies.
役にも立たない嘘八百を並べ立てて。
I've never met such a strange person before."
私しゃあんな変梃な人にゃ初めて逢いましたよ」
"Oh, Meitei, he's still blowing his horn.
「ああ迷亭ですか、あいかわらず法螺を吹くと見えますね。
Did you meet him at Kushami's place?
やはり苦沙弥の所で御逢いになったんですか。
I can't stand it.
あれに掛っちゃたまりません。
He was also a member of the self-catering group, but he was so stupid that he often got into fights."
あれも昔し自炊の仲間でしたがあんまり人を馬鹿にするものですから能く喧嘩をしましたよ」
"Anyone would be angry, like that.
「誰だって怒りまさあね、あんなじゃ。
It's all right to tell a lie, you know, when you're in a fix, or when you've got to be polite--anybody'll say what he doesn't mean at such times.
そりゃ嘘をつくのも宜うござんしょうさ、ね、義理が悪るいとか、ばつを合せなくっちゃあならないとか——そんな時には誰しも心にない事を云うもんでさあ。
But that man's vomiting is so unnecessary and so indiscriminate that it's really too much.
しかしあの男のは吐かなくってすむのに矢鱈に吐くんだから始末に了えないじゃありませんか。
What does he want, talking such nonsense--how can he say such things with a straight face?"
何が欲しくって、あんな出鱈目を——よくまあ、しらじらしく云えると思いますよ」
"You're right. It's a lie for the sake of lying, and that's what's so annoying."
「ごもっともで、全く道楽からくる嘘だから困ります」
"You went to all the trouble of going to see Mizushima, and he's been completely ruined.
「せっかくあなた真面目に聞きに行った水島の事も滅茶滅茶になってしまいました。
I was so angry that I was ready to burst, but I couldn't just go and ask a favor and then walk out without doing anything in return, so I sent a dozen bottles of beer round to his house by rickshaw.
私ゃ剛腹で忌々しくって——それでも義理は義理でさあ、人のうちへ物を聞きに行って知らん顔の半兵衛もあんまりですから、後で車夫にビールを一ダース持たせてやったんです。
But what about you?
ところがあなたどうでしょう。
He said he had no reason to accept such a gift and told the man to take it back.
こんなものを受取る理由がない、持って帰れって云うんだそうで。
When the rickshaw man said that it was a present and asked him to accept it, he said, "I'm sorry, but I eat jam every day and I've never drunk anything as bitter as beer," and then he went inside.
いえ御礼だから、どうか御取り下さいって車夫が云ったら——悪くいじゃあありませんか、俺はジャムは毎日舐めるがビールのような苦い者は飲んだ事がないって、ふいと奥へ這入ってしまったって——言い草に事を欠いて、まあどうでしょう、失礼じゃありませんか」
"That's terrible," said the guest, who seemed to be genuinely annoyed this time.
「そりゃ、ひどい」と御客さんも今度は本気に苛いと感じたらしい。
"That's why I invited you here today," said Kaneda, after a pause.
「そこで今日わざわざ君を招いたのだがね」としばらく途切れて金田君の声が聞える。
"It would be all right if I could just make fun of such a fool behind his back, but even that can be a bit of a problem..." He slapped his bald head as if he were eating tuna sashimi.
「そんな馬鹿者は陰から、からかってさえいればすむようなものの、少々それでも困る事があるじゃて......」と鮪の刺身を食う時のごとく禿頭をぴちゃぴちゃ叩く。
Of course, I'm under the eaves, so I can't see if he actually slapped it or not, but I've become quite familiar with the sound of his bald head lately.
もっとも吾輩は椽の下にいるから実際叩いたか叩かないか見えようはずがないが、この禿頭の音は近来大分聞馴れている。
Just as a nun can distinguish the sound of a wooden fish, I can tell from the sound that it is a bald head, even from under the eaves.
比丘尼が木魚の音を聞き分けるごとく、椽の下からでも音さえたしかであればすぐ禿頭だなと出所を鑑定する事が出来る。
"So I'm going to have to trouble you a bit..."
「そこでちょっと君を煩わしたいと思ってな......」
"Please don't hesitate to ask me anything I can do for you. I'm sure that my new job in Tokyo is the result of all the trouble I've caused you," the guest said, readily accepting Kaneda's request.
「私に出来ます事なら何でも御遠慮なくどうか——今度東京勤務と云う事になりましたのも全くいろいろ御心配を掛けた結果にほかならん訳でありますから」と御客さんは快よく金田君の依頼を承諾する。
From the tone of his voice, it seems that this guest is also someone who is indebted to Kaneda.
この口調で見るとこの御客さんはやはり金田君の世話になる人と見える。
No, the incident is gradually developing in an interesting way. Today the weather is so nice that I came here without any intention of coming, but I never expected to get such good material.
いやだんだん事件が面白く発展してくるな、今日はあまり天気が宜いので、来る気もなしに来たのであるが、こう云う好材料を得ようとは全く思い掛けなんだ。
He is like a person who visits a temple during the equinox and happens to be treated to peony rice cakes in the hojo.
御彼岸にお寺詣りをして偶然方丈で牡丹餅の御馳走になるような者だ。
I wonder what Kaneda will ask the guest to do, and I listen carefully from under the eaves.
金田君はどんな事を客人に依頼するかなと、椽の下から耳を澄して聞いている。
"That strange creature called Kushami, for some reason, is giving advice to Mizushima, and he is hinting that he will not marry Kaneda's daughter. Isn't that right, Hanako?"
「あの苦沙弥と云う変物が、どう云う訳か水島に入れ智慧をするので、あの金田の娘を貰っては行かんなどとほのめかすそうだ——なあ鼻子そうだな」
"It's not just a hint.
「ほのめかすどころじゃないんです。
He says that there is no fool in any country who would marry such a man's daughter, and that you should never marry her."
あんな奴の娘を貰う馬鹿がどこの国にあるものか、寒月君決して貰っちゃいかんよって云うんです」
"What do you mean by "such a man"? How rude! Did he say such a rude thing?"
「あんな奴とは何だ失敬な、そんな乱暴な事を云ったのか」
"He didn't just say it, he came to tell me about it."
「云ったどころじゃありません、ちゃんと車屋の神さんが知らせに来てくれたんです」
"Well, Suzuki, as you can see, it's a lot of trouble, isn't it?"
「鈴木君どうだい、御聞の通りの次第さ、随分厄介だろうが?」
"It's a problem, isn't it? Unlike other things, this is not something that others should be able to interfere with.
「困りますね、ほかの事と違って、こう云う事には他人が妄りに容喙するべきはずの者ではありませんからな。
Even Kushami should know that much.
そのくらいな事はいかな苦沙弥でも心得ているはずですが。
I wonder what happened."
一体どうした訳なんでしょう」
"So, you've been living with Kushami since you were a student, and I'm asking you to do this because you used to be close to him, so I'm asking you to meet him and explain the pros and cons to him.
「それでの、君は学生時代から苦沙弥と同宿をしていて、今はとにかく、昔は親密な間柄であったそうだから御依頼するのだが、君当人に逢ってな、よく利害を諭して見てくれんか。
He may be angry about something, but he's only angry because he's a bad person, and if he just behaves himself, I'll do my best to make things easier for him, and I'll stop doing things that bother him.
何か怒っているかも知れんが、怒るのは向が悪るいからで、先方がおとなしくしてさえいれば一身上の便宜も充分計ってやるし、気に障わるような事もやめてやる。
But if he's going to be like that, then I'm going to be like this--in other words, it's his loss if he's going to be so stubborn."
しかし向が向ならこっちもこっちと云う気になるからな——つまりそんな我を張るのは当人の損だからな」
"Yes, you're absolutely right. It's only to his own detriment that he's making such a foolish resistance, so I'll talk to him."
「ええ全くおっしゃる通り愚な抵抗をするのは本人の損になるばかりで何の益もない事ですから、善く申し聞けましょう」
"And since my daughter has many suitors, I can't promise that she'll marry Mizushima, but as I hear more and more about him, he seems to be a good scholar and a good person, so if he studies hard and becomes a doctor in the near future, I don't mind hinting that he might be able to marry her."
「それから娘はいろいろと申し込もある事だから、必ず水島にやると極める訳にも行かんが、だんだん聞いて見ると学問も人物も悪くもないようだから、もし当人が勉強して近い内に博士にでもなったらあるいはもらう事が出来るかも知れんくらいはそれとなくほのめかしても構わん」
"If you tell him that, he'll be encouraged to study hard.
「そう云ってやったら当人も励みになって勉強する事でしょう。
Thank you."
宜しゅうございます」
"And, it's strange, but I don't think it suits Mizushima, but he calls that weirdo Kushami "Sensei, Sensei" and seems to listen to most of what Kushami says, so I'm worried.
「それから、あの妙な事だが——水島にも似合わん事だと思うが、あの変物の苦沙弥を先生先生と云って苦沙弥の云う事は大抵聞く様子だから困る。
Of course, it's not limited to Mizushima, so I don't care what Kushami says or does to get in the way, but..."
なにそりゃ何も水島に限る訳では無論ないのだから苦沙弥が何と云って邪魔をしようと、わしの方は別に差支えもせんが......」
"I feel sorry for Mizushima," said Mrs. Hanako.
「水島さんが可哀そうですからね」と鼻子夫人が口を出す。
"I've never met this Mizushima, but I'm sure he'd be happy to be married to our family, and I'm sure he'd have no objection."
「水島と云う人には逢った事もございませんが、とにかくこちらと御縁組が出来れば生涯の幸福で、本人は無論異存はないのでしょう」
"Yes, Mizushima wants to marry her, but he says that Kushami and Meitei are strange people, and so on."
「ええ水島さんは貰いたがっているんですが、苦沙弥だの迷亭だのって変り者が何だとか、かんだとか云うものですから」
"That's not good, and it's not something that a well-educated person should do.
「そりゃ、善くない事で、相当の教育のあるものにも似合わん所作ですな。
I'll go to Kushami's place and talk to him."
よく私が苦沙弥の所へ参って談じましょう」
"Oh, please, I beg of you, even if it's a bother.
「ああ、どうか、御面倒でも、一つ願いたい。
And actually, Kushami knows the most about Mizushima, but when my wife went there the other day, she couldn't ask him about it because of the situation, so I'd like you to ask him about his character and academic ability."
それから実は水島の事も苦沙弥が一番詳しいのだがせんだって妻が行った時は今の始末で碌々聞く事も出来なかった訳だから、君から今一応本人の性行学才等をよく聞いて貰いたいて」
"Yes, sir.
「かしこまりました。
Today is Saturday, so if you go there now, he should be home.
今日は土曜ですからこれから廻ったら、もう帰っておりましょう。
I wonder where he lives these days."
近頃はどこに住んでおりますか知らん」
"Go right in front of here, and then go left for about a block, and you'll see a house with a crumbling black fence," said Hanako.
「ここの前を右へ突き当って、左へ一丁ばかり行くと崩れかかった黒塀のあるうちです」と鼻子が教える。
"Then it's just in the neighborhood.
「それじゃ、つい近所ですな。
There is no translation.
訳はありません。
I'll stop by on my way home.
帰りにちょっと寄って見ましょう。
Well, I'll know when I see the sign."
なあに、大体分りましょう標札を見れば」
"Sometimes there's a sign, sometimes there isn't.
「標札はあるときと、ないときとありますよ。
I suppose he'll paste his card on the gate with a grain of rice.
名刺を御饌粒で門へ貼り付けるのでしょう。
It'll come off when it rains.
雨がふると剥がれてしまいましょう。
Then he'll paste it on again when it's fine.
すると御天気の日にまた貼り付けるのです。
So you can't rely on signs.
だから標札は当にゃなりませんよ。
Instead of going to all that trouble, he might at least hang up a wooden sign.
あんな面倒臭い事をするよりせめて木札でも懸けたらよさそうなもんですがねえ。
He's really a most eccentric fellow."
ほんとうにどこまでも気の知れない人ですよ」
"I'm really surprised.
「どうも驚きますな。
But if you ask for the house with the broken black fence, most people will know it."
しかし崩れた黒塀のうちと聞いたら大概分るでしょう」
"Yes, there's only one such dirty house in the neighborhood, so you'll find it easily.
「ええあんな汚ないうちは町内に一軒しかないから、すぐ分りますよ。
Oh, yes, if you can't find it, there's a good way.
あ、そうそうそれで分らなければ、好い事がある。
Just look for a house with grass growing on the roof, and you can't go wrong."
何でも屋根に草が生えたうちを探して行けば間違っこありませんよ」
"It's a very distinctive house, isn't it?
「よほど特色のある家ですなアハハハハ」
It would be a little inconvenient if I didn't return before Mr. Suzuki came.
鈴木君が御光来になる前に帰らないと、少し都合が悪い。
I've heard enough of their conversation.
談話もこれだけ聞けば大丈夫沢山である。
I crept under the eaves, went round the lavatory to the west, and emerged from the shadow of the artificial hill onto the road. I hurried back to the house with grass growing on the roof, and with an innocent air, I went round to the eaves of the sitting room.
椽の下を伝わって雪隠を西へ廻って築山の陰から往来へ出て、急ぎ足で屋根に草の生えているうちへ帰って来て何喰わぬ顔をして座敷の椽へ廻る。
My master has spread a white blanket on the veranda and is lying on his stomach, basking his back in the beautiful spring sunshine.
主人は椽側へ白毛布を敷いて、腹這になって麗かな春日に甲羅を干している。
The sun's rays are unexpectedly impartial, and even a hovel with a dandelion on the roof looks as cheerful and warm as Mr. Kaneda's parlor, but unfortunately only the blanket does not look like spring.
太陽の光線は存外公平なもので屋根にペンペン草の目標のある陋屋でも、金田君の客間のごとく陽気に暖かそうであるが、気の毒な事には毛布だけが春らしくない。
The manufacturer had woven it with the intention of making it white, and the foreign goods store had sold it with the intention of making it white, and my master had bought it with the intention of making it white, but since it was twelve or thirteen years ago, it had passed through its white period and was now in a period of discoloration to a dark gray.
製造元では白のつもりで織り出して、唐物屋でも白の気で売り捌いたのみならず、主人も白と云う注文で買って来たのであるが——何しろ十二三年以前の事だから白の時代はとくに通り越してただ今は濃灰色なる変色の時期に遭遇しつつある。
It is doubtful whether the blanket will last long enough to pass through this period and turn into another dark color.
この時期を経過して他の暗黒色に化けるまで毛布の命が続くかどうだかは、疑問である。
Even now, it is already worn out all over, and the vertical and horizontal lines can be clearly read, so it is no longer appropriate to call it a blanket, but rather to omit the word "wool" and simply call it a blanket.
今でもすでに万遍なく擦り切れて、竪横の筋は明かに読まれるくらいだから、毛布と称するのはもはや僭上の沙汰であって、毛の字は省いて単にットとでも申すのが適当である。
However, my master seems to think that if it lasts for a year, two years, five years, or ten years, it must last for a lifetime.
しかし主人の考えでは一年持ち、二年持ち、五年持ち十年持った以上は生涯持たねばならぬと思っているらしい。
It's quite carefree.
随分呑気な事である。
Now, as I said before, he was lying on his stomach on the blanket, and what he was doing was supporting his protruding chin with both hands and holding a cigarette between the fingers of his right hand.
さてその因縁のある毛布の上へ前申す通り腹這になって何をしているかと思うと両手で出張った顋を支えて、右手の指の股に巻煙草を挟んでいる。
That's all.
ただそれだけである。
However, the great truth of the universe may be revolving like a wheel of fire behind his dandruff-covered head, but from the outside, I can't even dream of such a thing.
もっとも彼がフケだらけの頭の裏には宇宙の大真理が火の車のごとく廻転しつつあるかも知れないが、外部から拝見したところでは、そんな事とは夢にも思えない。
The fire of the cigarette gradually approached the mouthpiece, and the master was staring at the end of the smoke rising from the cigarette, regardless of the fact that the burned-out ash stick fell on the blanket.
煙草の火はだんだん吸口の方へ逼って、一寸ばかり燃え尽した灰の棒がぱたりと毛布の上に落つるのも構わず主人は一生懸命に煙草から立ち上る煙の行末を見詰めている。
The smoke was floating and sinking in the spring breeze, drawing many flowing circles, and blowing toward the base of the deep purple wife's hair.
その煙りは春風に浮きつ沈みつ、流れる輪を幾重にも描いて、紫深き細君の洗髪の根本へ吹き寄せつつある。
Oh, I should have told you about my wife.
——おや、細君の事を話しておくはずだった。
I forgot.
忘れていた。
The wife turned her back on her husband. What a rude wife!
細君は主人に尻を向けて——なに失礼な細君だ?
It's not rude.
別に失礼な事はないさ。
Politeness and rudeness are just a matter of interpretation.
礼も非礼も相互の解釈次第でどうでもなる事だ。
The husband was just resting his head on his wife's buttocks, and the wife was just sitting her majestic buttocks in front of her husband's face.
主人は平気で細君の尻のところへ頬杖を突き、細君は平気で主人の顔の先へ荘厳なる尻を据えたまでの事で無礼も糸瓜もないのである。
They are a detached couple who have escaped the cramped situation of etiquette and manners within a year of their marriage.
御両人は結婚後一ヵ年も立たぬ間に礼儀作法などと窮屈な境遇を脱却せられた超然的夫婦である。
What is the wife thinking, who has turned her back on her husband in this way? Taking advantage of today's weather, she has washed her long black hair with laver and raw eggs, and is now combing it from her shoulders to her back, and is silently sewing a child's sleeveless garment.
——さてかくのごとく主人に尻を向けた細君はどう云う了見か、今日の天気に乗じて、尺に余る緑の黒髪を、麩海苔と生卵でゴシゴシ洗濯せられた者と見えて癖のない奴を、見よがしに肩から背へ振りかけて、無言のまま小供の袖なしを熱心に縫っている。
In fact, she had put out a Chinese crepe futon and a needle box on the eaves to dry her hair, and had respectfully turned her back on her husband.
実はその洗髪を乾かすために唐縮緬の布団と針箱を椽側へ出して、恭しく主人に尻を向けたのである。
Or maybe the husband brought his face to the buttocks.
あるいは主人の方で尻のある見当へ顔を持って来たのかも知れない。
Then the smoke of the cigarette, which I mentioned earlier, flows between the rich black hair, and the master is watching the burning of the untimely heat haze.
そこで先刻御話しをした煙草の煙りが、豊かに靡く黒髪の間に流れ流れて、時ならぬ陽炎の燃えるところを主人は余念もなく眺めている。
However, smoke does not stay in one place, and its nature is to rise up and up, so if the master's eyes are to see the spectacle of the smoke and hair intertwined, he must move his eyes.
しかしながら煙は固より一所に停まるものではない、その性質として上へ上へと立ち登るのだから主人の眼もこの煙りの髪毛と縺れ合う奇観を落ちなく見ようとすれば、是非共眼を動かさなければならない。
The master began his observation from the waist, and gradually went up the back, from the shoulders to the neck muscles, but when he passed it and reached the top of his head, he was surprised.
主人はまず腰の辺から観察を始めて徐々と背中を伝って、肩から頸筋に掛ったが、それを通り過ぎてようよう脳天に達した時、覚えずあっと驚いた。
-- In the middle of the head of the wife, with whom the master had made a contract to grow old together, there is a large bald spot.
——主人が偕老同穴を契った夫人の脳天の真中には真丸な大きな禿がある。
Moreover, the bald spot reflects the warm sunlight and now shines on the face.
しかもその禿が暖かい日光を反射して、今や時を得顔に輝いている。
When he made this unexpected and mysterious discovery, his eyes were dazzled and surprised, and he stared at it with all his heart, regardless of the opening of his pupils in the intense light.
思わざる辺にこの不思議な大発見をなした時の主人の眼は眩ゆい中に充分の驚きを示して、烈しい光線で瞳孔の開くのも構わず一心不乱に見つめている。
When the master saw this bald spot, the first thing that came to his mind was the lamp plate that had been decorated on the altar of the family for many generations.
主人がこの禿を見た時、第一彼の脳裏に浮んだのはかの家伝来の仏壇に幾世となく飾り付けられたる御灯明皿である。
His family is Shinshu, and it is an old custom in Shinshu to spend a lot of money on the altar.
彼の一家は真宗で、真宗では仏壇に身分不相応な金を掛けるのが古例である。
When he was a child, he remembered that there was a thick gold-foiled shrine in the warehouse of the house, which was dimly decorated, and in the shrine there was always a brass lamp plate hanging, and the lamp plate was dimly lit even during the day.
主人は幼少の時その家の倉の中に、薄暗く飾り付けられたる金箔厚き厨子があって、その厨子の中にはいつでも真鍮の灯明皿がぶら下って、その灯明皿には昼でもぼんやりした灯がついていた事を記憶している。
The lamp plate was shining relatively clearly in the dark surroundings, so the impression of seeing the light many times in his childhood was suddenly brought out by his wife's bald spot.
周囲が暗い中にこの灯明皿が比較的明瞭に輝いていたので小供心にこの灯を何遍となく見た時の印象が細君の禿に喚び起されて突然飛び出したものであろう。
The lamp plate disappeared in less than a minute.
灯明皿は一分立たぬ間に消えた。
This time I remember the dove of Kannon.
この度は観音様の鳩の事を思い出す。
There seems to be no connection between the dove of Kannon and the bald spot of his wife, but in his head there is a close association between the two.
観音様の鳩と細君の禿とは何等の関係もないようであるが、 主人の頭では二つの間に密接な聯想がある。
When he went to Asakusa as a child, he always bought beans for the doves.
同じく小供の時分に浅草へ行くと必ず鳩に豆を買ってやった。
A plate of beans was two monme and was in a red earthenware.
豆は一皿が文久二つで、赤い土器へ這入っていた。
The earthenware is very similar to this bald spot in color and size.
その土器が、色と云い大さと云いこの禿によく似ている。
"Indeed, it looks like it," he said, as if he was impressed, but his wife did not even look at him.
「なるほど似ているな」と主人が、さも感心したらしく云うと「何がです」と細君は見向きもしない。
"What, you have a big bald spot on your head.
「何だって、御前の頭にゃ大きな禿があるぜ。
Do you know that?"
知ってるか」
"Yes," she answered, still not stopping her work.
「ええ」と細君は依然として仕事の手をやめずに答える。
He did not seem to be afraid of being exposed.
別段露見を恐れた様子もない。
She is a detached model wife.
超然たる模範妻君である。
"Did you have it when you came to marry me, or did you get it after marriage?" asked my master.
「嫁にくるときからあるのか、結婚後新たに出来たのか」と主人が聞く。
If she had it before she came to marry me, I was deceived, he thought in his mind, though he did not say it.
もし嫁にくる前から禿げているなら欺されたのであると口へは出さないが心の中で思う。
"I don't remember when I got it. I don't care about baldness."
「いつ出来たんだか覚えちゃいませんわ、禿なんざどうだって宜いじゃありませんか」と大に悟ったものである。
"What do you mean by 'I don't care'? It's your head!" My master was a little angry.
「どうだって宜いって、自分の頭じゃないか」と主人は少々怒気を帯びている。
"It's my head, so I don't care," she said, but she seemed to be a little worried, so she put her right hand on her head and stroked the bald spot.
「自分の頭だから、どうだって宜いんだわ」と云ったが、 さすが少しは気になると見えて、 右の手を頭に乗せて、 くるくる禿を撫でて見る。
"Oh, it's gotten bigger. I didn't think it was this big," she said, and it seemed that she finally realized that the bald spot was too big for her age.
「おや大分大きくなった事、こんなじゃ無いと思っていた」と言ったところをもって見ると、 年に合わして禿があまり大き過ぎると云う事をようやく自覚したらしい。
"When a woman ties her hair in a topknot, this part is pulled up, so everyone gets bald," she said, defending herself a little.
「女は髷に結うと、ここが釣れますから誰でも禿げるんですわ」と少しく弁護しだす。
"If everyone went bald at that rate, by the time they were forty, they'd all be bald as a kettle.
「そんな速度で、みんな禿げたら、四十くらいになれば、から薬缶ばかり出来なければならん。
That must be a disease.
そりゃ病気に違いない。
It might be contagious. You should have Amaki take a look at it soon," said the master, stroking his own head.
伝染するかも知れん、今のうち早く甘木さんに見て貰え」と主人はしきりに自分の頭を撫で廻して見る。
"You're so quick to criticize others, but you've got a white hair growing out of your nose.
「そんなに人の事をおっしゃるが、あなただって鼻の孔へ白髪が生えてるじゃありませんか。
If baldness is contagious, then so is gray hair," said the wife, a little annoyed.
禿が伝染するなら白髪だって伝染しますわ」と細君少々ぷりぷりする。
"A white hair in the nose is invisible, so it's harmless, but the top of the head--especially the top of a young woman's head--is unsightly when it's bald.
「鼻の中の白髪は見えんから害はないが、脳天が——ことに若い女の脳天がそんなに禿げちゃ見苦しい。
It's a deformity."
不具だ」
"If it's a deformity, why did you marry me?
「不具なら、なぜ御貰いになったのです。
You married me because you wanted to, and now you say it's a deformity..."
御自分が好きで貰っておいて不具だなんて......」
"Because I didn't know.
「知らなかったからさ。
I didn't know until today.
全く今日まで知らなかったんだ。
If you're so proud, why didn't you show your head when you came to marry me?"
そんなに威張るなら、なぜ嫁に来る時頭を見せなかったんだ」
"Don't be silly!
「馬鹿な事を!
In what country do they have a head examination, and only marry if they pass?"
どこの国に頭の試験をして及第したら嫁にくるなんて、ものが在るもんですか」
"I can put up with your bald head, but you're unusually short.
「禿はまあ我慢もするが、 御前は背いが人並外れて低い。
It's very unsightly."
はなはだ見苦しくていかん」
"You can see a person's height at a glance.
「背いは見ればすぐ分るじゃありませんか、背の低いのは最初から承知で御貰いになったんじゃありませんか」
I knew you were short, but I thought you'd grow taller, so I married you."
「それは承知さ、承知には相違ないがまだ延びるかと思ったから貰ったのさ」
"Grow taller after twenty? You must think I'm a fool." She threw down her sleeveless jacket and turned to her husband.
「廿にもなって背いが延びるなんて——あなたもよっぽど人を馬鹿になさるのね」と細君は袖なしを抛り出して主人の方に捩じ向く。
He looked as if he would not let her off lightly, depending on her answer.
返答次第ではその分にはすまさんと云う権幕である。
"There's no law that says a person can't grow taller after twenty.
「廿になったって背いが延びてならんと云う法はあるまい。
I thought that if I married you and fed you nutritious food, you might grow a little taller." He was explaining his strange logic with a serious face when the doorbell rang loudly and a loud voice called out.
嫁に来てから滋養分でも食わしたら、少しは延びる見込みがあると思ったんだ」と真面目な顔をして妙な理窟を述べていると門口のベルが勢よく鳴り立てて頼むと云う大きな声がする。
It seems that Suzuki has finally found the cave of the sleeping dragon, Mr. Kushami, for the purpose of the penpen grass.
いよいよ鈴木君がペンペン草を目的に苦沙弥先生の臥竜窟を尋ねあてたと見える。
The wife, leaving the quarrel for another day, hurriedly picked up her sewing box and sleeveless jacket and fled into the living room.
細君は喧嘩を後日に譲って、倉皇針箱と袖なしを抱えて茶の間へ逃げ込む。
The master rolled up the gray blanket and threw it into the study.
主人は鼠色の毛布を丸めて書斎へ投げ込む。
When the maid brought the business card, the master looked a little surprised, but he said, "Please show him in," and went into the back room with the business card in his hand.
やがて下女が持って来た名刺を見て、主人はちょっと驚ろいたような顔付であったが、こちらへ御通し申してと言い棄てて、名刺を握ったまま後架へ這入った。
I don't know why he suddenly went into the back room, and I'm even more at a loss to explain why he took Suzuki Tojuro's business card with him.
何のために後架へ急に這入ったか一向要領を得ん、何のために鈴木藤十郎君の名刺を後架まで持って行ったのかなおさら説明に苦しむ。
In any case, the one who was inconvenienced was the business card, which was ordered to accompany him to the smelly place.
とにかく迷惑なのは臭い所へ随行を命ぜられた名刺君である。
The maid put a chintz cushion in front of the alcove and withdrew, saying, "Please, this way," and Suzuki looked around the room.
下女が更紗の座布団を床の前へ直して、どうぞこれへと引き下がった、跡で、鈴木君は一応室内を見廻わす。
After inspecting the fake wooden urn with the inscription "Flowers bloom in all countries in spring" and the equinoctial cherry blossoms arranged in a cheap celadon vase made in Kyoto, he suddenly noticed a cat sitting on the futon that the maid had offered him.
床に掛けた花開万国春とある木菴の贋物や、京製の安青磁に活けた彼岸桜などを一々順番に点検したあとで、ふと下女の勧めた布団の上を見るといつの間にか一疋の猫がすまして坐っている。
Needless to say, it is I, the cat, who is saying this.
申すまでもなくそれはかく申す吾輩である。
At this moment, a storm arose in Suzuki's heart, which did not show on his face for a moment.
この時鈴木君の胸のうちにちょっとの間顔色にも出ぬほどの風波が起った。
There is no doubt that this futon was laid out for Suzuki.
この布団は疑いもなく鈴木君のために敷かれたものである。
Before he could sit on the futon that had been laid out for him, a strange animal was squatting on it without his permission.
自分のために敷かれた布団の上に自分が乗らぬ先から、断りもなく妙な動物が平然と蹲踞している。
This is the first condition that breaks the balance of Suzuki's mind.
これが鈴木君の心の平均を破る第一の条件である。
If the futon had been left as it was, without a master, to the spring breeze, Suzuki might have deliberately expressed his humility and endured on the hard tatami until his master said, "Please, go ahead."
もしこの布団が勧められたまま、主なくして春風の吹くに任せてあったなら、鈴木君はわざと謙遜の意を表して、主人がさあどうぞと云うまでは堅い畳の上で我慢していたかも知れない。
But who is it that has taken the liberty of sitting on the futon that will soon be his without even a greeting?
しかし早晩自分の所有すべき布団の上に挨拶もなく乗ったものは誰であろう。
If it were a human being, he might have given it up, but a cat is outrageous.
人間なら譲る事もあろうが猫とは怪しからん。
The fact that the rider is a cat makes him feel even more unpleasant.
乗り手が猫であると云うのが一段と不愉快を感ぜしめる。
This is the second condition that breaks the balance of Suzuki's mind.
これが鈴木君の心の平均を破る第二の条件である。
Finally, the cat's attitude is the most irritating.
最後にその猫の態度がもっとも癪に障る。
He doesn't look sorry at all, but sits arrogantly on the futon, which he has no right to ride, and stares at Suzuki's face with his round, unfriendly eyes, as if to say, "Who are you?"
少しは気の毒そうにでもしている事か、乗る権利もない布団の上に、傲然と構えて、丸い無愛嬌な眼をぱちつかせて、御前は誰だいと云わぬばかりに鈴木君の顔を見つめている。
This is the third condition that destroys the balance.
これが平均を破壊する第三の条件である。
If he is so dissatisfied, he should grab me by the scruff of the neck and drag me off, but Suzuki just stares at me.
これほど不平があるなら、吾輩の頸根っこを捉えて引きずり卸したら宜さそうなものだが、鈴木君はだまって見ている。
It is impossible that a dignified human being would be afraid of a cat and not lay a hand on it, but why doesn't he dispose of me quickly and let out his dissatisfaction? I can only assume that this is because of Suzuki's self-respect as a human being to maintain his dignity.
堂々たる人間が猫に恐れて手出しをせぬと云う事は有ろうはずがないのに、なぜ早く吾輩を処分して自分の不平を洩らさないかと云うと、これは全く鈴木君が一個の人間として自己の体面を維持する自重心の故であると察せらるる。
If he had resorted to physical force, even a three-foot child could have moved me up and down at will, but from the point of view of dignity, even Suzuki Tojuro, who is the right-hand man of Kaneda, could not do anything about the cat god enshrined in the middle of this two-foot square.
もし腕力に訴えたなら三尺の童子も吾輩を自由に上下し得るであろうが、体面を重んずる点より考えるといかに金田君の股肱たる鈴木藤十郎その人もこの二尺四方の真中に鎮座まします猫大明神を如何ともする事が出来ぬのである。
No matter how secluded the place may be, it would be a little bit of a human dignity to fight for a seat with a cat.
いかに人の見ていぬ場所でも、猫と座席争いをしたとあってはいささか人間の威厳に関する。
It would be very unpopular to seriously argue with a cat about right and wrong.
真面目に猫を相手にして曲直を争うのはいかにも大人気ない。
It's ridiculous.
滑稽である。
In order to avoid this disgrace, some inconvenience must be endured.
この不名誉を避けるためには多少の不便は忍ばねばならぬ。
However, the more he has to endure, the more he hates cats, so Suzuki sometimes looks at my face and makes a bitter face.
しかし忍ばねばならぬだけそれだけ猫に対する憎悪の念は増す訳であるから、鈴木君は時々吾輩の顔を見ては苦い顔をする。
I find it amusing to see Suzuki's disgruntled face, so I try to keep a straight face as much as possible, suppressing my sense of humor.
吾輩は鈴木君の不平な顔を拝見するのが面白いから滑稽の念を抑えてなるべく何喰わぬ顔をしている。
While such a silent play was being performed between me and Suzuki, my master came out of the back room, dressed up, and sat down, saying, "Well," but judging from the fact that there was not even a shadow of the business card he was holding in his hand, it seems that Suzuki Tojuro's name was sentenced to life imprisonment in a smelly place.
吾輩と鈴木君の間に、かくのごとき無言劇が行われつつある間に主人は衣紋をつくろって後架から出て来て「やあ」と席に着いたが、 手に持っていた名刺の影さえ見えぬところをもって見ると、 鈴木藤十郎君の名前は臭い所へ無期徒刑に処せられたものと見える。
Before I could think that the business card had met with a terrible misfortune, my master grabbed me by the collar and threw me against the wall.
名刺こそ飛んだ厄運に際会したものだと思う間もなく、 主人はこの野郎と吾輩の襟がみを攫んでえいとばかりに椽側へ擲きつけた。
"Well, lay it down. It's unusual. When did you come to Tokyo?" the master asked his old friend, offering him a futon.
「さあ敷きたまえ。珍らしいな。いつ東京へ出て来た」と主人は旧友に向って布団を勧める。
Suzuki turns it over and sits on it.
鈴木君はちょっとこれを裏返した上で、それへ坐る。
"I've been so busy that I haven't been able to tell you, but I've been back to the Tokyo headquarters for a while now..."
「ついまだ忙がしいものだから報知もしなかったが、実はこの間から東京の本社の方へ帰るようになってね......」
"That's good. It's been a long time since we last met.
「それは結構だ、大分長く逢わなかったな。
This is the first time since you went to the countryside."
君が田舎へ行ってから、始めてじゃないか」
"Yeah, it's been almost ten years.
「うん、もう十年近くになるね。
I've been to Tokyo a few times since then, but I've always been so busy that I've never had time to visit you.
なにその後時々東京へは出て来る事もあるんだが、つい用事が多いもんだから、いつでも失敬するような訳さ。
I hope you don't hold it against me."
悪るく思ってくれたもうな。
Unlike your job, my company is very busy."
会社の方は君の職業とは違って随分忙がしいんだから」
"Ten years makes a big difference," said my master, looking up and down at Suzuki.
「十年立つうちには大分違うもんだな」と主人は鈴木君を見上げたり見下ろしたりしている。
Suzuki's hair was parted neatly, he was wearing a British-made tweed suit, a flashy collar, and even a gold chain glittered on his chest.
鈴木君は頭を美麗に分けて、英国仕立のトウィードを着て、派手な襟飾りをして、胸に金鎖りさえピカつかせている体裁、どうしても苦沙弥君の旧友とは思えない。
"Well, I've even got to hang this thing around my neck," said Suzuki, fingering his gold chain.
「うん、こんな物までぶら下げなくちゃ、ならんようになってね」と鈴木君はしきりに金鎖りを気にして見せる。
"Is that real?" my master asked rudely.
「そりゃ本ものかい」と主人は無作法な質問をかける。
"It's eighteen carat," Suzuki replied with a laugh. "You've aged a lot too.
「十八金だよ」と鈴木君は笑いながら答えたが「君も大分年を取ったね。
I'm sure you had a child.
たしか小供があるはずだったが一人かい」
"No."
「いいや」
"Two?"
「二人?」
"No."
「いいや」
"Still more? Then three?"
「まだあるのか、じゃ三人か」
"Yes, there are three."
「うん三人ある。
"I don't know how many more there will be."
この先幾人出来るか分らん」
"You're still saying carefree things."
「相変らず気楽な事を云ってるぜ。
"How old is the oldest? It must be quite old."
一番大きいのはいくつになるかね、もうよっぽどだろう」
"Well, I don't know how old it is, but it's probably six or seven."
「うん、いくつか能く知らんが大方六つか、七つかだろう」
"Hahaha, teachers are carefree."
「ハハハ教師は呑気でいいな。
"I should have become a teacher."
僕も教員にでもなれば善かった」
"Try it, you'll get sick of it in three days."
「なって見ろ、三日で嫌になるから」
"I don't think so. It seems to be elegant, carefree, with free time, and you can study what you like."
「そうかな、何だか上品で、気楽で、閑暇があって、すきな勉強が出来て、よさそうじゃないか。
Businessmen are not bad, but not in our family.
実業家も悪くもないが我々のうちは駄目だ。
If you're going to be a businessman, you have to be at the top.
実業家になるならずっと上にならなくっちゃいかん。
If you're at the bottom, you'll have to flatter people and do things you don't like."
下の方になるとやはりつまらん御世辞を振り撒いたり、好かん猪口をいただきに出たり随分愚なもんだよ」
"I've hated businessmen since I was in school.
「僕は実業家は学校時代から大嫌だ。
They'll do anything for money. They're like the commoners of the past."
金さえ取れれば何でもする、昔で云えば素町人だからな」と実業家を前に控えて太平楽を並べる。
"No, I can't say that. It's a little vulgar. Anyway, you can't do it unless you're prepared to die for love and money. But money is a tricky thing. I went to a businessman and asked him about it. He said that you have to use trigonometry to make money. You have to hide your duty, your humanity, and your shame. That's the triangle. Isn't it funny? Hahaha."
「まさか——そうばかりも云えんがね、少しは下品なところもあるのさ、とにかく金と情死をする覚悟でなければやり通せないから——ところがその金と云う奴が曲者で、——今もある実業家の所へ行って聞いて来たんだが、金を作るにも三角術を使わなくちゃいけないと云うのさ——義理をかく、人情をかく、恥をかくこれで三角になるそうだ面白いじゃないかアハハハハ」
"Who's that idiot?"
「誰だそんな馬鹿は」
"He's not an idiot. He's a smart man. He's a little famous in the business world. Don't you know him? He's just down the street."
「馬鹿じゃない、なかなか利口な男なんだよ、実業界でちょっと有名だがね、君知らんかしら、ついこの先の横丁にいるんだが」
"Kaneda?"
「金田か?
"What's he like?"
何んだあんな奴」
"You're very angry."
「大変怒ってるね。
Well, that's just a joke, but it's a metaphor that you can't save money unless you do that much.
なあに、そりゃ、ほんの冗談だろうがね、 そのくらいにせんと金は溜らんと云う喩さ。
You shouldn't take it so seriously like you do."
君のようにそう真面目に解釈しちゃ困る」
"I don't mind the joke about trigonometry, but what about the nose of the wife there?
「三角術は冗談でもいいが、あすこの女房の鼻はなんだ。
You must have seen that nose if you went there."
君行ったんなら見て来たろう、あの鼻を」
"My wife? She's a pretty smart person."
「細君か、細君はなかなかさばけた人だ」
"I'm talking about the nose, the big nose.
「鼻だよ、大きな鼻の事を云ってるんだ。
I wrote a haiku about that nose the other day."
せんだって僕はあの鼻について俳体詩を作ったがね」
"What's a haiku?"
「何だい俳体詩と云うのは」
"You don't know haiku? You're pretty ignorant of the times."
「俳体詩を知らないのか、君も随分時勢に暗いな」
"Well, I'm too busy to be interested in literature.
「ああ僕のように忙がしいと文学などは到底駄目さ。
And I've never been much of a dilettante."
それに以前からあまり数奇でない方だから」
"Do you know the shape of Schiller's nose?"
「君シャーレマンの鼻の恰好を知ってるか」
"Ahahahaha, you're so carefree.
「アハハハハ随分気楽だな。
I don't know."
知らんよ」
"Ellington was nicknamed "Nose" by his subordinates.
「エルリントンは部下のものから鼻々と異名をつけられていた。
Do you know that?"
君知ってるか」
"What's the matter with you, always worrying about your nose?
「鼻の事ばかり気にして、どうしたんだい。
What's the difference if it's round or pointed?"
好いじゃないか鼻なんか丸くても尖んがってても」
"Not at all.
「決してそうでない。
Do you know Pascal?"
君パスカルの事を知ってるか」
"Do you know this, do you know that?
「また知ってるかか、まるで試験を受けに来たようなものだ。
What about Pascal?"
パスカルがどうしたんだい」
"Pascal says this.
「パスカルがこんな事を云っている」
"What does he say?"
「どんな事を」
"If Cleopatra's nose had been a little shorter, the whole surface of the earth would have been changed."
「もしクレオパトラの鼻が少し短かかったならば世界の表面に大変化を来したろうと」
"I see."
「なるほど」
"So you mustn't make fun of noses so carelessly as you do."
「それだから君のようにそう無雑作に鼻を馬鹿にしてはいかん」
"Well, I'll be careful from now on."
「まあいいさ、これから大事にするから。
That aside, I've come today to ask a favor of you. That Mizushima, the one you used to teach, Mizushima, I can't quite remember.
そりゃそうとして、今日来たのは、少し君に用事があって来たんだがね——あの元君の教えたとか云う、水島——ええ水島ええちょっと思い出せない。
He's always coming to your place, isn't he?"
——そら君の所へ始終来ると云うじゃないか」
"Is that you, Kangetsu?"
「寒月か」
"Yes, yes, Kangetsu, Kangetsu.
「そうそう寒月寒月。
I've come to ask you something about him."
あの人の事についてちょっと聞きたい事があって来たんだがね」
"It's a marriage case."
「結婚事件じゃないか」
"Well, it's something like that.
「まあ多少それに類似の事さ。
I went to Kaneda today..."
今日金田へ行ったら......」
"The other day, the nose came by itself."
「この間鼻が自分で来た」
"I see.
「そうか。
That's right, my wife said so too.
そうだって、細君もそう云っていたよ。
I went to see Mr. Kushami to ask him about it, but unfortunately Meitei was there and he interrupted me and I couldn't understand anything."
苦沙弥さんに、よく伺おうと思って上ったら、 生憎迷亭が来ていて茶々を入れて何が何だか分らなくしてしまったって」
"It's his fault for coming with such a nose."
「あんな鼻をつけて来るから悪るいや」
"No, I'm not talking about you.
「いえ君の事を云うんじゃないよ。
I was sorry that I couldn't ask him about it because Meitei was there, so he asked me to go and ask him again.
あの迷亭君がおったもんだから、そう立ち入った事を聞く訳にも行かなかったので残念だったから、もう一遍僕に行ってよく聞いて来てくれないかって頼まれたものだからね。
I've never done anything like this before, but if the two of you don't mind, I'm sure it wouldn't be a bad thing to get together and talk about it.
僕も今までこんな世話はした事はないが、もし当人同士が嫌やでないなら中へ立って纏めるのも、決して悪い事はないからね——それでやって来たのさ」
"Thank you for your trouble," said my master coldly, but in his heart he was moved by the word "the two of you".
「御苦労様」と主人は冷淡に答えたが、腹の内では当人同士と云う語を聞いて、どう云う訳か分らんが、ちょっと心を動かしたのである。
It feels like a cool breeze on a hot summer night.
蒸し熱い夏の夜に一縷の冷風が袖口を潜ったような気分になる。
Originally, this master was a man who was manufactured with the aim of being a blunt, stubborn, and dull man, but he is different from the product of a cold and heartless civilization.
元来この主人はぶっ切ら棒の、頑固光沢消しを旨として製造された男であるが、さればと云って冷酷不人情な文明の産物とは自からその撰を異にしている。
When he says something, he gets angry and puffs up, but I can understand what he's saying.
彼が何ぞと云うと、むかっ腹をたててぷんぷんするのでも這裏の消息は会得できる。
The other day I had a fight with my nose because I didn't like it, and the nose's daughter was innocent.
先日鼻と喧嘩をしたのは鼻が気に食わぬからで鼻の娘には何の罪もない話しである。
I don't like businessmen, so I don't like Mr. Kaneda, who is a businessman, but I have to say that this is also a matter of no negotiation with the daughter herself.
実業家は嫌いだから、実業家の片割れなる金田某も嫌に相違ないがこれも娘その人とは没交渉の沙汰と云わねばならぬ。
The daughter has no gratitude or resentment, and Kangetsu is a student who loves himself more than his real brother.
娘には恩も恨みもなくて、寒月は自分が実の弟よりも愛している門下生である。
If, as Mr. Suzuki says, the two of them are in love with each other, it is not the act of a gentleman to interfere with them indirectly.
もし鈴木君の云うごとく、当人同志が好いた仲なら、間接にもこれを妨害するのは君子のなすべき所作でない。
——Mr. Kushami still thinks of himself as a gentleman.
——苦沙弥先生はこれでも自分を君子と思っている。
——If the two of them like each other——but that's the problem.
——もし当人同志が好いているなら——しかしそれが問題である。
In order to change one's attitude toward this incident, one must first confirm the truth.
この事件に対して自己の態度を改めるには、まずその真相から確めなければならん。
"Does that girl want to come to Kangetsusai's place?
「君その娘は寒月の所へ来たがってるのか。
I don't care about Kaneda or the nose, but what is the girl's own intention?"
金田や鼻はどうでも構わんが、娘自身の意向はどうなんだ」
"Well, that's——what is it——anything——well, I guess she wants to come."
「そりゃ、その——何だね——何でも——え、来たがってるんだろうじゃないか」
Suzuki's greeting is a little vague.
鈴木君の挨拶は少々曖昧である。
In fact, he thought that he should only ask about Kangetsu and report back, and he did not confirm the intention of the young lady.
実は寒月君の事だけ聞いて復命さえすればいいつもりで、御嬢さんの意向までは確かめて来なかったのである。
Therefore, Suzuki, who is usually smooth and slippery, seems to be a little embarrassed.
従って円転滑脱の鈴木君もちょっと狼狽の気味に見える。
"It's an ambiguous word," said my master, who is not satisfied unless he can scold someone directly.
「だろうた判然しない言葉だ」と主人は何事によらず、正面から、どやし付けないと気がすまない。
"No, I didn't say it well.
「いや、これゃちょっと僕の云いようがわるかった。
The young lady is also interested in him.
令嬢の方でもたしかに意があるんだよ。
No, really--eh?--my wife told me so.
いえ全くだよ——え?——細君が僕にそう云ったよ。
I hear that he sometimes speaks ill of you."
何でも時々は寒月君の悪口を云う事もあるそうだがね」
"That girl?"
「あの娘がか」
"Yes."
「ああ」
"What a rascal, to speak ill of me.
「怪しからん奴だ、悪口を云うなんて。
In the first place, he has no intention of marrying me."
第一それじゃ寒月に意がないんじゃないか」
"That's the point. The world is a strange place. Sometimes people say bad things about the people they like."
「そこがさ、世の中は妙なもので、自分の好いている人の悪口などは殊更云って見る事もあるからね」
"Where in the world is there such a fool?" said my master, who was not at all sensitive to such a delicate matter.
「そんな愚な奴がどこの国にいるものか」と主人は斯様な人情の機微に立ち入った事を云われても頓と感じがない。
"There are many such fools in the world, so it can't be helped.
「その愚な奴が随分世の中にゃあるから仕方がない。
In fact, Kaneda's wife interprets it that way.
現に金田の妻君もそう解釈しているのさ。
She sometimes says bad things about Mr. Kangetsu, such as that he looks like a confused gourd, so she must be thinking about him a lot in her heart."
戸惑いをした糸瓜のようだなんて、時々寒月さんの悪口を云いますから、よっぽど心の中では思ってるに相違ありませんと」
My master, hearing this mysterious interpretation, was so unexpected that he rounded his eyes and stared at Suzuki's face like a street fortune-teller without answering.
主人はこの不可思議な解釈を聞いて、あまり思い掛けないものだから、眼を丸くして、返答もせず、鈴木君の顔を、大道易者のように眤と見つめている。
Suzuki seemed to be annoyed that he might fail to do it, and changed the subject to something that my master could judge.
鈴木君はこいつ、この様子では、ことによるとやり損なうなと疳づいたと見えて、主人にも判断の出来そうな方面へと話頭を移す。
"You can see it if you think about it. With that much wealth and that much ability, you can do it to any suitable house.
「君考えても分るじゃないか、あれだけの財産があってあれだけの器量なら、どこへだって相応の家へやれるだろうじゃないか。
Kangetsu may be great, but from his status--no, it may be rude to say status--from the point of view of wealth, well, no matter who sees it, it's not balanced.
寒月だってえらいかも知れんが身分から云や——いや身分と云っちゃ失礼かも知れない。——財産と云う点から云や、まあ、だれが見たって釣り合わんのだからね。
The reason why her parents are so worried that I have to go out of my way to visit her is that she is interested in Kangetsu." Suzuki gave a rather clever explanation.
それを僕がわざわざ出張するくらい両親が気を揉んでるのは本人が寒月君に意があるからの事じゃあないか」と鈴木君はなかなかうまい理窟をつけて説明を与える。
This time, my master seemed to be convinced, so I was finally relieved, but if I hesitated here, I would be in danger of being attacked again, so I thought it would be better to move on with the conversation and complete my mission as soon as possible.
今度は主人にも納得が出来たらしいのでようやく安心したが、こんなところにまごまごしているとまた吶喊を喰う危険があるから、早く話しの歩を進めて、一刻も早く使命を完うする方が万全の策と心付いた。
"So.
「それでね。
As I have just said, the other party says that they don't need any money or property, but instead they want the qualifications attached to the person--qualifications, well, titles,--they are not so arrogant as to say that they will do it if they become a doctor--don't misunderstand me.
今云う通りの訳であるから、先方で云うには何も金銭や財産はいらんからその代り当人に附属した資格が欲しい——資格と云うと、まあ肩書だね、——博士になったらやってもいいなんて威張ってる次第じゃない——誤解しちゃいかん。
The other day when my wife came, Meitei was here and said all sorts of strange things--no, it's not your fault.
せんだって細君の来た時は迷亭君がいて妙な事ばかり云うものだから——いえ君が悪いのじゃない。
My wife also praised you as an honest person without flattery.
細君も君の事を御世辞のない正直ないい方だと賞めていたよ。
It was all Meitei's fault.
全く迷亭君がわるかったんだろう。
--So if the person himself becomes a doctor, the other party will have a broad shoulder and a good reputation in the world, but what do you think, in the near future, Mizushima will submit a doctoral thesis and receive a doctorate.
——それでさ本人が博士にでもなってくれれば先方でも世間へ対して肩身が広い、面目があると云うんだがね、どうだろう、近々の内水島君は博士論文でも呈出して、博士の学位を受けるような運びには行くまいか。
What--if it's just Kaneda, I don't need a doctor or a bachelor's degree, but if there's someone called the world, it's not that easy."
なあに——金田だけなら博士も学士もいらんのさ、ただ世間と云う者があるとね、そう手軽にも行かんからな」
When I hear this, it seems that it is not unreasonable for the other party to request a doctor.
こう云われて見ると、先方で博士を請求するのも、あながち無理でもないように思われて来る。
If it seems that it is not unreasonable, I want to do it as Suzuki requested.
無理ではないように思われて来れば、鈴木君の依頼通りにしてやりたくなる。
It is up to Suzuki to keep or kill his master.
主人を活かすのも殺すのも鈴木君の意のままである。
Indeed, my master is a simple and honest man.
なるほど主人は単純で正直な男だ。
"Well, next time Kangetsu comes, I'll encourage him to write a doctoral thesis.
「それじゃ、今度寒月が来たら、博士論文をかくように僕から勧めて見よう。
But I have to ask him first if he intends to marry Kaneda's daughter."
しかし当人が金田の娘を貰うつもりかどうだか、それからまず問い正して見なくちゃいかんからな」
"Asking him directly, you can't do such a blunt thing and expect things to work out.
「問い正すなんて、君そんな角張った事をして物が纏まるものじゃない。
After all, the best way is to draw his attention to it in the course of a normal conversation."
やっぱり普通の談話の際にそれとなく気を引いて見るのが一番近道だよ」
"Draw his attention?"
「気を引いて見る?」
"Well, it may be misleading to say draw his attention.
「うん、気を引くと云うと語弊があるかも知れん。
--You don't have to draw his attention.
——なに気を引かんでもね。
He'll naturally understand it in the course of the conversation."
話しをしていると自然分るもんだよ」
"You may understand it, but I can't understand what I don't hear clearly."
「君にゃ分るかも知れんが、僕にゃ判然と聞かん事は分らん」
"If you don't understand it, it's all right.
「分らなけりゃ、まあ好いさ。
But I don't think it's good to break it up by making unnecessary comments like Meitei.
しかし迷亭君見たように余計な茶々を入れて打ち壊わすのは善くないと思う。
Even if you don't recommend it, it should be up to the person to do it.
仮令勧めないまでも、こんな事は本人の随意にすべきはずのものだからね。
When Kangets comes next time, please try not to disturb him as much as possible.
今度寒月君が来たらなるべくどうか邪魔をしないようにしてくれ給え。
--No, not you, but Meitei.
——いえ君の事じゃない、あの迷亭君の事さ。
If he gets his mouth on you, there's no way you'll be saved." As I was listening to Meitei's bad-mouthing on behalf of my master, Meitei-sensei, as usual, came flying in through the back door on the spring breeze, as if he were talking about a shadow.
あの男の口にかかると到底助かりっこないんだから」と主人の代理に迷亭の悪口をきいていると、噂をすれば陰の喩に洩れず迷亭先生例のごとく勝手口から飄然と春風に乗じて舞い込んで来る。
"Well, you're a rare guest.
「いやー珍客だね。
When it comes to a regular customer like me, Kushami is always so rude.
僕のような狎客になると苦沙弥はとかく粗略にしたがっていかん。
I should only come to Kushami's house once every ten years.
何でも苦沙弥のうちへは十年に一遍くらいくるに限る。
This candy is better than usual," he said, and he ate Fujimura's yokan carelessly.
この菓子はいつもより上等じゃないか」と藤村の羊羹を無雑作に頬張る。
Suzuki is fidgeting.
鈴木君はもじもじしている。
My master is grinning.
主人はにやにやしている。
Meitei is chewing his mouth.
迷亭は口をもがもがさしている。
I watched this momentary scene from the side of the eaves and thought that a silent play could be easily established.
吾輩はこの瞬時の光景を椽側から拝見して無言劇と云うものは優に成立し得ると思った。
If the silent question and answer in the Zen family is the transmission of the mind, this silent play is also clearly the curtain of the transmission of the mind.
禅家で無言の問答をやるのが以心伝心であるなら、この無言の芝居も明かに以心伝心の幕である。
It is a very short but very sharp curtain.
すこぶる短かいけれどもすこぶる鋭どい幕である。
"I thought you were a traveler for the rest of your life, but you came back before I knew it.
「君は一生旅烏かと思ってたら、いつの間にか舞い戻ったね。
I want to live long.
長生はしたいもんだな。
You never know what kind of luck you'll have." Meitei doesn't know the word "restraint" even to Suzuki, just like to the master.
どんな僥倖に廻り合わんとも限らんからね」と迷亭は鈴木君に対しても主人に対するごとく毫も遠慮と云う事を知らぬ。
No matter how close you are, if you haven't seen each other for ten years, you'd feel a little awkward, but Meitei doesn't seem to feel that way at all, so I can't tell if he's a great guy or a fool.
いかに自炊の仲間でも十年も逢わなければ、何となく気のおけるものだが迷亭君に限って、そんな素振も見えぬのは、えらいのだか馬鹿なのかちょっと見当がつかぬ。
"Poor thing, it's not that bad," Suzuki replied, but he was somehow restless and nervously fiddling with the gold chain.
「可哀そうに、そんなに馬鹿にしたものでもない」と鈴木君は当らず障らずの返事はしたが、何となく落ちつきかねて、例の金鎖を神経的にいじっている。
"Have you ever been on an electric railway?" the master suddenly asked Suzuki a strange question.
「君電気鉄道へ乗ったか」と主人は突然鈴木君に対して奇問を発する。
"I've come here today to be teased by you all.
「今日は諸君からひやかされに来たようなものだ。
No matter how much of a country bumpkin I am...
なんぼ田舎者だって——
I still own sixty shares of the city railway."
これでも街鉄を六十株持ってるよ」
"That's not to be sneezed at.
「そりゃ馬鹿に出来ないな。
I had eight hundred and eighty-eight and a half shares, but unfortunately most of them were eaten by insects, and now I have only half a share.
僕は八百八十八株半持っていたが、 惜しい事に大方虫が喰ってしまって、 今じゃ半株ばかりしかない。
If you had come to Tokyo a little earlier, I would have given you about ten shares of the uneaten ones, but I'm sorry I didn't."
もう少し早く君が東京へ出てくれば、 虫の喰わないところを十株ばかりやるところだったが惜しい事をした」
"You're still as foul-mouthed as ever.
「相変らず口が悪るい。
But joking aside, there's no harm in holding such shares, as they only go up year by year."
しかし冗談は冗談として、ああ云う株は持ってて損はないよ、年々高くなるばかりだから」
"That's right, even if you hold half a share for a thousand years, you'll have three warehouses.
「そうだ仮令半株だって千年も持ってるうちにゃ倉が三つくらい建つからな。
You and I are both modern men of talent who are not lacking in that respect, but when it comes to that, Kushami is a pitiful man.
君も僕もその辺にぬかりはない当世の才子だが、そこへ行くと苦沙弥などは憐れなものだ。
When it comes to stocks, he thinks of them as brothers of radishes," he said, and when he picked up the yokan and looked at his master, his master was also infected with Meitei's appetite and his hand automatically reached for the candy dish.
株と云えば大根の兄弟分くらいに考えているんだから」とまた羊羹をつまんで主人の方を見ると、主人も迷亭の食い気が伝染して自ずから菓子皿の方へ手が出る。
In the world, everything positive has the right to be imitated by others.
世の中では万事積極的のものが人から真似らるる権利を有している。
"I don't care about stocks, but I wanted to let Sorozaki ride the train at least once," said the master, looking at the teeth marks of the yokan he had eaten.
「株などはどうでも構わんが、僕は曾呂崎に一度でいいから電車へ乗らしてやりたかった」と主人は喰い欠けた羊羹の歯痕を撫然として眺める。
"If Sorozaki gets on the train, he'll go all the way to Shinagawa every time he gets on, so it's better to be carved into a Takuan stone as a natural priest."
「曾呂崎が電車へ乗ったら、乗るたんびに品川まで行ってしまうは、それよりやっぱり天然居士で沢庵石へ彫り付けられてる方が無事でいい」
"Speaking of Sorozaki, I heard he died.
「曾呂崎と云えば死んだそうだな。
I'm sorry, he was a smart man, but he did a pity," said Suzuki, and Meitei immediately took over.
気の毒だねえ、いい頭の男だったが惜しい事をした」と鈴木君が云うと、 迷亭は直ちに引き受けて
"He was smart, but he was the worst at cooking rice.
「頭は善かったが、飯を焚く事は一番下手だったぜ。
When it was Sorozaki's turn, I always went out and ate soba noodles."
曾呂崎の当番の時には、僕あいつでも外出をして蕎麦で凌いでいた」
"Indeed, the rice cooked by Sorozaki was burnt and I was also weakened.
「ほんとに曾呂崎の焚いた飯は焦げくさくって心があって僕も弱った。
In addition, he always served raw tofu as a side dish, so it was too cold to eat," Suzuki also recalled his dissatisfaction from ten years ago from the bottom of his memory.
御負けに御菜に必ず豆腐をなまで食わせるんだから、冷たくて食われやせん」と鈴木君も十年前の不平を記憶の底から喚び起す。
"Kushami was a close friend of Sorozaki from that time and went out to eat shiruko together every night, but now he is suffering from chronic stomach weakness.
「苦沙弥はあの時代から曾呂崎の親友で毎晩いっしょに汁粉を食いに出たが、その祟りで今じゃ慢性胃弱になって苦しんでいるんだ。
To tell the truth, Kushami ate more shiruko than Sorozaki, so he should die before Sorozaki."
実を云うと苦沙弥の方が汁粉の数を余計食ってるから曾呂崎より先へ死んで宜い訳なんだ」
"What kind of logic is that?
「そんな論理がどこの国にあるものか。
Rather than my shiruko, you called it exercise, and every night you went out to the egg tower behind the house with a bamboo sword, and when you were hitting the stone tower, you were found by a monk and ate a sword," said the master, not wanting to lose, and exposed Meitei's old evil.
俺の汁粉より君は運動と号して、毎晩竹刀を持って裏の卵塔婆へ出て、石塔を叩いてるところを坊主に見つかって剣突を食ったじゃないか」と主人も負けぬ気になって迷亭の旧悪を曝く。
"Ahahaha, that's right, the monk said that hitting the Buddha's head would disturb his sleep, so he asked me to stop.
「アハハハそうそう坊主が仏様の頭を叩いては安眠の妨害になるからよしてくれって言ったっけ。
But mine is a bamboo sword, and this General Suzuki's is a hand-held sword.
しかし僕のは竹刀だが、この鈴木将軍のは手暴だぜ。
He wrestled with the stone tower and rolled over three large and small ones."
石塔と相撲をとって大小三個ばかり転がしてしまったんだから」
"The monk's anger at that time was really intense.
「あの時の坊主の怒り方は実に烈しかった。
He said that I should raise it as it was, so I asked him to wait until I hired a man, but he said that it was not a man, and that I had to raise it myself to express my repentance, or it would be against the will of the Buddha."
是非元のように起せと云うから人足を傭うまで待ってくれと云ったら人足じゃいかん懺悔の意を表するためにあなたが自身で起さなくては仏の意に背くと云うんだからね」
"You didn't look good at that time, you were groaning in a puddle of water after the rain in a gold-clothed shirt and an Echigo loincloth..."
「その時の君の風采はなかったぜ、金巾のしゃつに越中褌で雨上りの水溜りの中でうんうん唸って......」
"You're sketching it with a straight face, so it's annoying.
「それを君がすました顔で写生するんだから苛い。
I'm not a man who gets angry very often, but at that time I really thought it was rude.
僕はあまり腹を立てた事のない男だが、あの時ばかりは失敬だと心から思ったよ。
I still remember what you said at that time, do you know?"
あの時の君の言草をまだ覚えているが君は知ってるか」
"Who can remember what was said ten years ago, but I still remember that the stone tower was engraved with the words "Kisenin-den, Kokkaku-daishi, Anei 5, Tatsu-shogetsu".
「十年前の言草なんか誰が覚えているものか、しかしあの石塔に帰泉院殿黄鶴大居士安永五年辰正月と彫ってあったのだけはいまだに記憶している。
That stone tower was made in an antique style.
あの石塔は古雅に出来ていたよ。
I wanted to steal it when I moved.
引き越す時に盗んで行きたかったくらいだ。
It was a stone tower in Gothic style, in accordance with the principle of aesthetics." Meitei again swung around his sloppy aesthetics.
実に美学上の原理に叶って、ゴシック趣味な石塔だった」と迷亭はまた好い加減な美学を振り廻す。
"That's fine, but what you said.
「そりゃいいが、君の言草がさ。
This is it--I'm going to major in aesthetics, so I have to sketch as many interesting events as possible between heaven and earth for future reference, and I'm sure you'll say that I'm faithful to my studies and that I shouldn't say anything about my personal feelings, such as pity or compassion.
こうだぜ——吾輩は美学を専攻するつもりだから天地間の面白い出来事はなるべく写生しておいて将来の参考に供さなければならん、気の毒だの、可哀相だのと云う私情は学問に忠実なる吾輩ごときものの口にすべきところでないと平気で云うのだろう。
I thought you were too heartless, so I tore your sketchbook with my muddy hands."
僕もあんまりな不人情な男だと思ったから泥だらけの手で君の写生帖を引き裂いてしまった」
"It was from that time that my promising talent for painting came to a halt and never flourished.
「僕の有望な画才が頓挫して一向振わなくなったのも全くあの時からだ。
You've broken my spirit.
君に機鋒を折られたのだね。
I have a grudge against you."
僕は君に恨がある」
"Don't be silly.
「馬鹿にしちゃいけない。
I'm the one who should be resentful."
こっちが恨めしいくらいだ」
"You were a braggart even then, Meitei," said my master, having finished his bean-jam cake, and again butting into the conversation.
「迷亭はあの時分から法螺吹だったな」と主人は羊羹を食い了って再び二人の話の中に割り込んで来る。
"I've never kept a promise.
「約束なんか履行した事がない。
When he is questioned about it, he never apologizes, but says something about mosquitoes.
それで詰問を受けると決して詫びた事がない何とか蚊とか云う。
When the crape myrtles were in bloom in the temple grounds, he said he would write a book on the principles of aesthetics before the flowers fell, but I told him it was impossible.
あの寺の境内に百日紅が咲いていた時分、この百日紅が散るまでに美学原論と云う著述をすると云うから、駄目だ、到底出来る気遣はないと云ったのさ。
Meitei replied that he was a man of strong will, and that if I doubted him so much, we should make a bet.
すると迷亭の答えに僕はこう見えても見掛けに寄らぬ意志の強い男である、そんなに疑うなら賭をしようと云うから僕は真面目に受けて何でも神田の西洋料理を奢りっこかなにかに極めた。
I was sure he wouldn't write a book, so I made a bet, but I was a little scared.
きっと書物なんか書く気遣はないと思ったから賭をしたようなものの内心は少々恐ろしかった。
I don't have the money to treat you to Western food.
僕に西洋料理なんか奢る金はないんだからな。
But the teacher shows no sign of starting the manuscript.
ところが先生一向稿を起す景色がない。
He doesn't write a single page after seven days or twenty days.
七日立っても二十日立っても一枚も書かない。
When the crape myrtles finally scattered and there was not a single flower left, he was still unconcerned, so I thought I had finally gotten my Western food and pressed him to fulfill the contract, but he ignored me.
いよいよ百日紅が散って一輪の花もなくなっても当人平気でいるから、 いよいよ西洋料理に有りついたなと思って契約履行を逼ると迷亭すまして取り合わない」
"Did you come up with some kind of logic again?" Suzuki interjected.
「また何とか理窟をつけたのかね」と鈴木君が相の手を入れる。
"Yes, he's a very brazen man.
「うん、実にずうずうしい男だ。
I have no other ability, but I will never lose my will to you.
吾輩はほかに能はないが意志だけは決して君方に負けはせんと剛情を張るのさ」
"You don't write any?" Meitei asked.
「一枚も書かんのにか」と今度は迷亭君自身が質問をする。
"Of course, you said this then.
「無論さ、その時君はこう云ったぜ。
I will never give in to anyone in terms of my will.
吾輩は意志の一点においてはあえて何人にも一歩も譲らん。
Unfortunately, I don't have a good memory.
しかし残念な事には記憶が人一倍無い。
I had a strong will to write a book on aesthetics, but I forgot about it the day after I told you about it.
美学原論を著わそうとする意志は充分あったのだがその意志を君に発表した翌日から忘れてしまった。
So, the reason why I couldn't finish the book before the crape myrtles fell is because of my memory, not my will.
それだから百日紅の散るまでに著書が出来なかったのは記憶の罪で意志の罪ではない。
Since it's not my will's fault, I don't have to treat you to Western food."
意志の罪でない以上は西洋料理などを奢る理由がないと威張っているのさ」
"Indeed, it's interesting to see the characteristics of Meitei-kun's style," said Suzuki-kun, amused for some reason.
「なるほど迷亭君一流の特色を発揮して面白い」と鈴木君はなぜだか面白がっている。
His tone is quite different from when Meitei is not around.
迷亭のおらぬ時の語気とはよほど違っている。
This may be a characteristic of a clever person.
これが利口な人の特色かも知れない。
"What's so funny?" said the master, still looking angry.
「何が面白いものか」と主人は今でも怒っている様子である。
"I'm sorry for you, so I'm looking for a peacock's tongue with gold and drums to make up for it.
「それは御気の毒様、それだからその埋合せをするために孔雀の舌なんかを金と太鼓で探しているじゃないか。
Well, I'll wait without getting angry.
まあそう怒らずに待っているさ。
But speaking of books, I've brought you a great piece of news today."
しかし著書と云えば君、今日は一大珍報を齎らして来たんだよ」
"You're a man who brings me news every time you come, so I can't be careless."
「君はくるたびに珍報を齎らす男だから油断が出来ん」
"But today's news is real news.
「ところが今日の珍報は真の珍報さ。
It's a piece of news that can't be discounted by a single cent.
正札付一厘も引けなしの珍報さ。
Do you know that Kangetsu has started writing his doctoral thesis?
君寒月が博士論文の稿を起したのを知っているか。
I thought that Kangetsu, being such a strangely insightful man, would not do such a tasteless labor as a doctoral thesis, but he still has a taste for it, so it's funny.
寒月はあんな妙に見識張った男だから博士論文なんて無趣味な労力はやるまいと思ったら、あれでやっぱり色気があるからおかしいじゃないか。
You should notify that nose, he may be dreaming of a chestnut doctor these days."
君あの鼻に是非通知してやるがいい、この頃は団栗博士の夢でも見ているかも知れない」
Suzuki, hearing Kangetsu's name, signaled to his master with his chin and eyes that he must not speak.
鈴木君は寒月の名を聞いて、話してはいけぬ話してはいけぬと顋と眼で主人に合図する。
The master doesn't understand the meaning at all.
主人には一向意味が通じない。
When I met Suzuki earlier and received a sermon, I felt sorry for Kaneda's daughter, but now that Meitei says it's a nose, I remember the quarrel I had the other day.
さっき鈴木君に逢って説法を受けた時は金田の娘の事ばかりが気の毒になったが、今迷亭から鼻々と云われるとまた先日喧嘩をした事を思い出す。
It's funny when I remember it, and it's a little bad.
思い出すと滑稽でもあり、また少々は悪らしくもなる。
However, the best souvenir was that Kangetsu had started to write a doctoral dissertation, and this was a rare report in recent years, as Meitei himself praised.
しかし寒月が博士論文を草しかけたのは何よりの御見やげで、こればかりは迷亭先生自賛のごとくまずまず近来の珍報である。
It is not only a rare report, but also a happy and pleasant rare report.
啻に珍報のみならず、嬉しい快よい珍報である。
Whether you get Kaneda's daughter or not, it doesn't matter.
金田の娘を貰おうが貰うまいがそんな事はまずどうでもよい。
Anyway, it's fine for Kangetsu to become a doctor.
とにかく寒月の博士になるのは結構である。
It is not regrettable that a wooden statue that is not made like myself is smoked in white wood until the insects eat it in the corner of the Buddhist sculptor's shop, but I would like to paint the sculpture that I think is well finished with foil as soon as possible.
自分のように出来損いの木像は仏師屋の隅で虫が喰うまで白木のまま燻っていても遺憾はないが、これは旨く仕上がったと思う彫刻には一日も早く箔を塗ってやりたい。
"Did you really start writing a paper?" he asked, ignoring Suzuki's signal and listening eagerly.
「本当に論文を書きかけたのか」と鈴木君の合図はそっち除けにして、熱心に聞く。
"He's a man who often doubts what people say. I'm not sure if the problem is the mechanics of chestnuts or hanging.
「よく人の云う事を疑ぐる男だ。——もっとも問題は団栗だか首縊りの力学だか確と分らんがね。
Anyway, it must be something that makes my nose shrink because it's about Kangetsu."
とにかく寒月の事だから鼻の恐縮するようなものに違いない」
Suzuki looks anxious every time he hears Meitei's nasal and rude remarks.
さっきから迷亭が鼻々と無遠慮に云うのを聞くたんびに鈴木君は不安の様子をする。
Meitei is not aware of it at all, so he is not worried.
迷亭は少しも気が付かないから平気なものである。
"After that, I studied the nose again, and recently I found a nose theory in Tristram Shandy.
「その後鼻についてまた研究をしたが、この頃トリストラム・シャンデーの中に鼻論があるのを発見した。
It's a pity that I couldn't show Kaneda's nose to Stern.
金田の鼻などもスターンに見せたら善い材料になったろうに残念な事だ。
It is a pity that it will rot away like that, even though it is fully qualified to be a nose name for a thousand years.
鼻名を千載に垂れる資格は充分ありながら、あのままで朽ち果つるとは不憫千万だ。
Next time I come here, I'll sketch it for aesthetic reference."
今度ここへ来たら美学上の参考のために写生してやろう」と相変らず口から出任せに喋舌り立てる。
"But she wants to come to Kangetsuan," said my master, repeating what he had just heard from Suzuki, who looked embarrassed and winked at my master, but my master was like a non-conductor and did not get the message.
「しかしあの娘は寒月の所へ来たいのだそうだ」と主人が今鈴木君から聞いた通りを述べると、鈴木君はこれは迷惑だと云う顔付をしてしきりに主人に目くばせをするが、主人は不導体のごとく一向電気に感染しない。
"It's a little bit of a surprise that a child like that can fall in love, but it's not a big deal, it's just a nose love."
「ちょっと乙だな、あんな者の子でも恋をするところが、しかし大した恋じゃなかろう、大方鼻恋くらいなところだぜ」
"I hope Kangetsu will accept her love, even if it's just a nose love."
「鼻恋でも寒月が貰えばいいが」
"You were against it the other day.
「貰えばいいがって、君は先日大反対だったじゃないか。
You're being too soft today."
今日はいやに軟化しているぜ」
"I'm not being soft, I'm never soft, but..."
「軟化はせん、僕は決して軟化はせんしかし......」
"But what's wrong?
「しかしどうかしたんだろう。
Hey, Suzuki, you're also a businessman, so I'll tell you for your reference.
ねえ鈴木、君も実業家の末席を汚す一人だから参考のために言って聞かせるがね。
That Kaneda guy.
あの金田某なる者さ。
I think it's a bit of a mismatch to worship the daughter of that guy as the wife of the world's best student, Mizushima Kangetsu, and I don't think we, as friends, can just ignore it, even if you're a businessman, you can't disagree with that."
あの某なるものの息女などを天下の秀才水島寒月の令夫人と崇め奉るのは、少々提灯と釣鐘と云う次第で、我々朋友たる者が冷々黙過する訳に行かん事だと思うんだが、たとい実業家の君でもこれには異存はあるまい」
"You're still as energetic as ever.
「相変らず元気がいいね。
That's fine.
結構だ。
You're great because you haven't changed a bit in ten years," Suzuki said, trying to flatter him.
君は十年前と容子が少しも変っていないからえらい」と鈴木君は柳に受けて、胡麻化そうとする。
"If you're going to praise me, I'll show you a little more of my erudition.
「えらいと褒めるなら、もう少し博学なところを御目にかけるがね。
The ancient Greeks placed great importance on physical education, and offered valuable prizes for all kinds of competitions, and took every possible measure to encourage them.
昔しの希臘人は非常に体育を重んじたものであらゆる競技に貴重なる懸賞を出して百方奨励の策を講じたものだ。
However, strangely enough, there is no record of any reward being given for the knowledge of scholars, and I have been wondering about this until today."
しかるに不思議な事には学者の智識に対してのみは何等の褒美も与えたと云う記録がなかったので、今日まで実は大に怪しんでいたところさ」
"That's a little strange," Suzuki said, agreeing with him all the way.
「なるほど少し妙だね」と鈴木君はどこまでも調子を合せる。
"However, just a few days ago, I suddenly discovered the reason for this while studying aesthetics, and my doubts of many years were dispelled at once.
「しかるについ両三日前に至って、美学研究の際ふとその理由を発見したので多年の疑団は一度に氷解。
I attained a painful enlightenment, like pulling out a lacquer bucket, and reached the extreme state of joy and happiness."
漆桶を抜くがごとく痛快なる悟りを得て歓天喜地の至境に達したのさ」
Meitei's words were so overwhelming that even Suzuki, who was a good player, looked as if he couldn't handle it.
あまり迷亭の言葉が仰山なので、さすが御上手者の鈴木君も、こりゃ手に合わないと云う顔付をする。
The master was about to say, "Here we go again," but he just looked down and tapped the edge of the candy dish with his ivory chopsticks.
主人はまた始まったなと云わぬばかりに、象牙の箸で菓子皿の縁をかんかん叩いて俯つ向いている。
Only Meitei was very proud and continued to argue.
迷亭だけは大得意で弁じつづける。
"So who do you think has clearly explained this contradictory phenomenon and saved our doubts from the abyss of darkness for a thousand years?
「そこでこの矛盾なる現象の説明を明記して、暗黒の淵から吾人の疑を千載の下に救い出してくれた者は誰だと思う。
He is the Greek philosopher who is said to be the greatest scholar since the beginning of learning, the founder of the Peripatetic school, Aristotle.
学問あって以来の学者と称せらるる彼の希臘の哲人、逍遥派の元祖アリストートルその人である。
He said, "Hey, don't tap the candy dish, you have to listen carefully. The prizes that the Greeks receive in the competition are more valuable than the art they perform.
彼の説明に曰くさ——おい菓子皿などを叩かんで謹聴していなくちゃいかん。——彼等希臘人が競技において得るところの賞与は彼等が演ずる技芸その物より貴重なものである。
Therefore, it can be a reward and a tool for encouragement.
それ故に褒美にもなり、奨励の具ともなる。
But what about knowledge itself?
しかし智識その物に至ってはどうである。
If you want to give something as a reward for knowledge, you must give something more valuable than knowledge.
もし智識に対する報酬として何物をか与えんとするならば智識以上の価値あるものを与えざるべからず。
But is there a treasure in the world that is more valuable than knowledge?
しかし智識以上の珍宝が世の中にあろうか。
Of course not.
無論あるはずがない。
If you do something poorly, it will only damage the dignity of knowledge.
下手なものをやれば智識の威厳を損する訳になるばかりだ。
They wanted to give a proper reward to knowledge by piling up a thousand gold boxes as high as Mount Olympus and pouring out all the wealth of Croesus, but they realized that no matter how hard they thought about it, it would never be enough, and since then they have decided to do nothing at all.
彼等は智識に対して千両箱をオリムパスの山ほど積み、クリーサスの富を傾け尽しても相当の報酬を与えんとしたのであるが、いかに考えても到底釣り合うはずがないと云う事を観破して、それより以来と云うものは奇麗さっぱり何にもやらない事にしてしまった。
This should be enough to understand that yellow, white, and blue coins are no match for knowledge.
黄白青銭が智識の匹敵でない事はこれで十分理解出来るだろう。
Now, with this principle in mind, let's look at current events.
さてこの原理を服膺した上で時事問題に臨んで見るがいい。
What is Kaneda? He is just a man with eyes and nose on a banknote. To describe him in a witty way, he is nothing more than an active banknote.
金田某は何だい紙幣に眼鼻をつけただけの人間じゃないか、奇警なる語をもって形容するならば彼は一個の活動紙幣に過ぎんのである。
The daughter of an active banknote would be about as much as an active stamp.
活動紙幣の娘なら活動切手くらいなところだろう。
On the other hand, what about Mr. Kangetsu?
翻って寒月君は如何と見ればどうだ。
He graduated from the highest institution of learning with the highest honors, and without a trace of fatigue, he hung the strings of his haori from the Choshu Expedition era, and studied the stability of chestnuts day and night, and still not satisfied, he is about to publish a major paper that will overwhelm Lord Kelvin.
辱けなくも学問最高の府を第一位に卒業して毫も倦怠の念なく長州征伐時代の羽織の紐をぶら下げて、日夜団栗のスタビリチーを研究し、それでもなお満足する様子もなく、近々の中ロード・ケルヴィンを圧倒するほどな大論文を発表しようとしつつあるではないか。
He happened to pass by Azuma Bridge and failed to commit suicide, but this was an impulsive act of a passionate young man, and it was not an event that would cause him any trouble as a wholesaler of knowledge.
たまたま吾妻橋を通り掛って身投げの芸を仕損じた事はあるが、これも熱誠なる青年に有りがちの発作的所為で毫も彼が智識の問屋たるに煩いを及ぼすほどの出来事ではない。
If I were to describe Mr. Kangetsu in the style of Meitei, he would be an active library.
迷亭一流の喩をもって寒月君を評すれば彼は活動図書館である。
He is a twenty-eight-pound bullet kneaded with knowledge.
智識をもって捏ね上げたる二十八珊の弾丸である。
If this bullet explodes in the academic world at the right time, if it explodes, it will explode."
この弾丸が一たび時機を得て学界に爆発するなら、——もし爆発して見給え——爆発するだろう——」
At this point, Meitei seemed to be a little hesitant to use the adjective "Meitei-style" as he had hoped, but he immediately said, "No matter how many tens of millions of active stamps there are, they will be reduced to dust.
迷亭はここに至って迷亭一流と自称する形容詞が思うように出て来ないので俗に云う竜頭蛇尾の感に多少ひるんで見えたがたちまち「活動切手などは何千万枚あったって粉な微塵になってしまうさ。
That's why Kangetsu can't have such an unbalanced woman.
それだから寒月には、あんな釣り合わない女性は駄目だ。
I don't approve of it. It's like marrying the most intelligent elephant and the most greedy pig.
僕が不承知だ、百獣の中でもっとも聡明なる大象と、もっとも貪婪なる小豚と結婚するようなものだ。
Isn't that right, Mr. Kushami?" he said, and then withdrew, and the master silently began to tap the candy dish again.
そうだろう苦沙弥君」と云って退けると、主人はまた黙って菓子皿を叩き出す。
Suzuki was a little depressed.
鈴木君は少し凹んだ気味で
"That's not true," he answered helplessly.
「そんな事も無かろう」と術なげに答える。
He had been talking ill of Meitei until a moment ago, and if he said something rash here, there was no telling what the lawless master might blurt out.
さっきまで迷亭の悪口を随分ついた揚句ここで無暗な事を云うと、主人のような無法者はどんな事を素っ破抜くか知れない。
It would be best to handle Meitei's sharp tongue with care and get through this safely.
なるべくここは好加減に迷亭の鋭鋒をあしらって無事に切り抜けるのが上分別なのである。
Suzuki is a clever man.
鈴木君は利口者である。
It is the modern way to avoid unnecessary resistance as much as possible, and he regards unnecessary arguments as a relic of the feudal era.
いらざる抵抗は避けらるるだけ避けるのが当世で、無要の口論は封建時代の遺物と心得ている。
The purpose of life is not in words but in action.
人生の目的は口舌ではない実行にある。
If things progress steadily as he wishes, then the purpose of life has been achieved.
自己の思い通りに着々事件が進捗すれば、それで人生の目的は達せられたのである。
If things progress without hardship, worry, and argument, then the purpose of life can be achieved in the way of paradise.
苦労と心配と争論とがなくて事件が進捗すれば人生の目的は極楽流に達せられるのである。
After graduation, Suzuki succeeded by this paradise principle, dangled a gold watch by this paradise principle, received a request from the Kaneda couple by this paradise principle, and also successfully persuaded Kushami by this paradise principle, and the case was almost completed. Then, a wanderer named Meitei, who cannot be judged by ordinary rules and seems to have psychological effects other than ordinary human beings, jumped in, so he is a little confused by the suddenness.
鈴木君は卒業後この極楽主義によって成功し、この極楽主義によって金時計をぶら下げ、この極楽主義で金田夫婦の依頼をうけ、同じくこの極楽主義でまんまと首尾よく苦沙弥君を説き落して当該事件が十中八九まで成就したところへ、迷亭なる常規をもって律すべからざる、普通の人間以外の心理作用を有するかと怪まるる風来坊が飛び込んで来たので少々その突然なるに面喰っているところである。
The inventor of the paradise principle is a Meiji gentleman, the practitioner of the paradise principle is Tojuro Suzuki, and the one who is now in trouble with this paradise principle is also Tojuro Suzuki.
極楽主義を発明したものは明治の紳士で、 極楽主義を実行するものは鈴木藤十郎君で、 今この極楽主義で困却しつつあるものもまた鈴木藤十郎君である。
"You don't know anything, so you don't seem to be so, and you are unusually quiet and elegant, but if you look at the appearance when the owner of that nose came, you will be disgusted even if you are a businessman. Hey, Kushami, you fought hard."
「君は何にも知らんからそうでもなかろうなどと澄し返って、例になく言葉寡なに上品に控え込むが、せんだってあの鼻の主が来た時の容子を見たらいかに実業家贔負の尊公でも辟易するに極ってるよ、ねえ苦沙弥君、君大に奮闘したじゃないか」
"Still, I'm more popular than you."
「それでも君より僕の方が評判がいいそうだ」
"Ahahaha, you're a very confident man."
「アハハハなかなか自信が強い男だ。
Otherwise, Savage Chee would be teased by students and teachers and couldn't go to school.
それでなくてはサヴェジ・チーなんて生徒や教師にからかわれてすまして学校へ出ちゃいられん訳だ。
I don't think my will is inferior to others, but I can't be so bold. I admire him."
僕も意志は決して人に劣らんつもりだが、そんなに図太くは出来ん敬服の至りだ」
"What's so scary about students and teachers complaining a little? Sainte-Beuve, the greatest critic of all time, was so unpopular when he lectured at the University of Paris that he always carried a dagger under his sleeve to defend himself against student attacks.
「生徒や教師が少々愚図愚図言ったって何が恐ろしいものか、サントブーヴは古今独歩の評論家であるが巴里大学で講義をした時は非常に不評判で、彼は学生の攻撃に応ずるため外出の際必ず匕首を袖の下に持って防禦の具となした事がある。
When Brunnuchel attacked Zola's novel at the University of Paris..."
ブルヌチェルがやはり巴里の大学でゾラの小説を攻撃した時は......」
"But you're not a university teacher or anything.
「だって君ゃ大学の教師でも何でもないじゃないか。
You're just a teacher at a reader's school, and to use such a great man as an example is like a small fish comparing itself to a whale. If you say that, you'll be made fun of even more."
高がリードルの先生でそんな大家を例に引くのは雑魚が鯨をもって自ら喩えるようなもんだ、 そんな事を云うとなおからかわれるぜ」
"Shut up.
「黙っていろ。
Sainte-Beuve and I are scholars of the same caliber."
サントブーヴだって俺だって同じくらいな学者だ」
"That's a great insight.
「大変な見識だな。
But it's dangerous to walk around with a dagger, so you shouldn't imitate me.
しかし懐剣をもって歩行くだけはあぶないから真似ない方がいいよ。
If a university teacher is a dagger, then a teacher at a preparatory school is a pocket knife.
大学の教師が懐剣ならリードルの教師はまあ小刀くらいなところだな。
But even so, a blade is dangerous, so you should go to Nakamise and buy a toy air gun and carry it on your back.
しかしそれにしても刃物は剣呑だから仲見世へ行っておもちゃの空気銃を買って来て背負ってあるくがよかろう。
It's charming.
愛嬌があっていい。
Hey, Suzuki-kun," he said, and Suzuki-kun, finally relieved that the conversation had left the Kaneda incident, said,
ねえ鈴木君」と云うと鈴木君はようやく話が金田事件を離れたのでほっと一息つきながら
"As usual, you're innocent and cheerful.
「相変らず無邪気で愉快だ。
It's been ten years since I last saw you, and I feel like I've come out of a cramped alleyway into a wide field.
十年振りで始めて君等に逢ったんで何だか窮屈な路次から広い野原へ出たような気持がする。
I'm afraid I can't be too careful about what I say to my friends.
どうも我々仲間の談話は少しも油断がならなくてね。
I have to be careful about everything I say, so I'm worried, cramped, and really suffering.
何を云うにも気をおかなくちゃならんから心配で窮屈で実に苦しいよ。
I like stories that are innocent.
話は罪がないのがいいね。
And talking to my old school friends is the most unreserved and best.
そして昔しの書生時代の友達と話すのが一番遠慮がなくっていい。
Oh, I met Meitei unexpectedly today and it was fun.
ああ今日は図らず迷亭君に遇って愉快だった。
I have a little business to do, so I'll excuse myself," said Suzuki, and Meitei said, "I'm going too, I have to go to the Nihonbashi Engei Kyofukai, so let's go there together."
僕はちと用事があるからこれで失敬する」と鈴木君が立ち懸けると、 迷亭も「僕もいこう、僕はこれから日本橋の演芸矯風会に行かなくっちゃならんから、そこまでいっしょに行こう」
"That's just right, let's take a walk together after a long time," and the two of them went home hand in hand.
「そりゃちょうどいい久し振りでいっしょに散歩しよう」と両君は手を携えて帰る。