The inflexibility of the laws, which prevents them from adapting themselves to circumstances, may, in certain cases, render them disastrous, and make them bring about, at a time of crisis, the ruin of the State.
inflexibility
(硬直性)
[名]
the quality of being inflexible
adapt
(適応する)
[動]
make suitable for a new use or purpose
disastrous
(悲惨な)
[形]
causing great damage or misfortune
法律の硬直性は、法律が状況に適応するのを妨げるが、ある場合には、法律を悲惨なものにし、危機の時に国家の破滅をもたらすことがある。
The order and slowness of the forms they enjoin require a space of time which circumstances sometimes withhold.
slowness
(遅さ)
[名]
the quality or state of being slow
form
(手続き)
[名]
a document with spaces in which to write
enjoin
(命じる)
[動]
give an order or injunction to
space
(余裕)
[名]
a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied
法律が命じる手続きの順序と遅さは、状況によっては与えられない場合がある時間の余裕を必要とする。
A thousand cases against which the legislator has made no provision may present themselves, and it is a highly necessary part of foresight to be conscious that everything cannot be foreseen.
make no provision
(何の準備もしない)
[動]
fail to prepare for something
present
(起こりうる)
[動]
to happen or occur
立法者が何の準備もしていなかった無数の事例が起こりうるし、すべてを予見することはできないと自覚することは、予見の非常に必要な部分である。
It is wrong therefore to wish to make political institutions so strong as to render it impossible to suspend their operation.
political institution
(政治制度)
[名]
a set of rules and regulations that govern the political behavior of a society
strong
(強固な)
[形]
having the power to perform well or to withstand force, pressure, or wear
suspend
(停止する)
[動]
stop temporarily
operation
(運用)
[名]
the action or process of operating something
したがって、政治制度をその運用を停止することが不可能になるほど強固なものにしようとするのは間違っている。
Even Sparta allowed its laws to lapse.
lapse
(失効)
[名]
a period of time during which something is no longer valid or in effect
スパルタでさえ、その法律を失効させた。
However, none but the greatest dangers can counter-balance that of changing the public order, and the sacred power of the laws should never be arrested save when the existence of the country is at stake.
none but
(以外には)
[副]
only; no one or nothing else
counter-balance
(釣り合う)
[動]
to act against with an equal force or effect
public order
(公序)
[名]
the state of peace and security in a community
arrest
(停止)
[動]
seize, capture
しかし、最大の危険以外には、公序を変更することの危険と釣り合うものはなく、国の存亡がかかっている場合を除いて、法律の神聖な権限を停止してはならない。
In these rare and obvious cases, provision is made for the public security by a particular act entrusting it to him who is most worthy.
in these rare and obvious cases
(このような稀で明白な場合には)
[副]
in these rare and obvious cases
provision
(確保)
[名]
the action of providing or supplying something
public security
(公共の安全)
[名]
the safety of the general public
particular act
(特別な行為)
[名]
a specific action
most worthy
(最もふさわしい)
[形]
most deserving
このような稀で明白な場合には、最もふさわしい人物にそれを委ねる特別な行為によって、公共の安全が確保される。
This commitment may be carried out in either of two ways, according to the nature of the danger.
commitment
(委任)
[名]
an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action
carry out
(行う)
[動]
to perform or execute
この委任は、危険の性質に応じて、2つの方法のいずれかで行うことができる。
If increasing the activity of the government is a sufficient remedy, power is concentrated in the hands of one or two of its members: in this case the change is not in the authority of the laws, but only in the form of administering them.
increase
(増やす)
[動]
make or become greater or more numerous
sufficient
(十分な)
[形]
as much or as good as required
administer
(管理する)
[動]
manage or supervise the execution, use, or conduct of
政府の活動を増やすことが十分な救済策である場合、権力はそのメンバーの1人か2人の手に集中する。この場合、変更は法律の権限ではなく、単にそれらを管理する形態にある。
If, on the other hand, the peril is of such a kind that the paraphernalia of the laws are an obstacle to their preservation, the method is to nominate a supreme ruler, who shall silence all the laws and suspend for a moment the sovereign authority.
paraphernalia
(付属品)
[名]
articles used in conjunction with an activity
supreme ruler
(最高統治者)
[名]
the person who has the highest authority in a country or organization
silence
(沈黙させる)
[動]
make or become silent
一方、危険が法律の付属品がその保存の障害となるようなものである場合、その方法は、すべての法律を沈黙させ、主権を一時停止する最高統治者を指名することである。
In such a case, there is no doubt about the general will, and it is clear that the people's first intention is that the State shall not perish.
there is no doubt
(疑いの余地はない)
[動]
be certain or sure about something
it is clear
(明らかである)
[動]
be easy to understand
people's first intention
(国民の第一の意図)
[名]
the first thing that people want to do
shall not perish
(滅びない)
[動]
not die or be destroyed
このような場合、一般意志に疑いの余地はなく、国民の第一の意図は国家が滅びないことであることは明らかである。
Thus the suspension of the legislative authority is in no sense its abolition;
したがって、立法権の停止は決してその廃止ではない。
the magistrate who silences it cannot make it speak;
それを沈黙させる行政官はそれを語らせることはできない。
he dominates it, but cannot represent it.
dominate
(支配する)
[動]
have a commanding influence on
彼はそれを支配するが、それを代表することはできない。
He can do anything, except make laws.
anything
(何でも)
[代]
something, no matter what
彼は法律を作ること以外は何でもできる。
The first method was used by the Roman senate when, in a consecrated formula, it charged the consuls to provide for the safety of the Republic.
consecrated
(神聖な)
[形]
dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose
formula
(定式)
[名]
a mathematical rule or statement
charge
(責任を負わせる)
[動]
impose a duty or responsibility on
safety
(安全)
[名]
the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury
最初の方法は、ローマの元老院が、神聖な定式で、共和国の安全を守るために執政官に責任を負わせたときに使われていた。
The second was employed when one of the two consuls nominated a dictator: a custom Rome borrowed from Alba.
employ
(使われる)
[動]
use
dictator
(独裁官)
[名]
a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force
二つ目は、二人の執政官のうち一人が独裁官を指名したときに使われていた。ローマがアルバから借りた習慣である。
During the first period of the Republic, recourse was very often had to the dictatorship, because the State had not yet a firm enough basis to be able to maintain itself by the strength of its constitution alone.
During the first period of the Republic
(共和国の最初の時期には)
[名]
the first period of the Republic
very often
(非常に多かった)
[副]
very frequently
firm
(強固な)
[形]
strong and stable
共和国の最初の時期には、国家が憲法の力だけで自立できるほど十分に強固な基盤をまだ持っていなかったため、独裁制に頼ることが非常に多かった。
As the state of morality then made superfluous many of the precautions which would have been necessary at other times, there was no fear that a dictator would abuse his authority, or try to keep it beyond his term of office.
superfluous
(不要な)
[形]
more than is needed, desired, or required
term
(任期)
[名]
a fixed period of time during which someone holds a particular office or position
当時の道徳の状態は、他の時代には必要だったであろう多くの予防策を不要にしていたため、独裁者が権力を乱用したり、任期を超えて権力を維持しようとする恐れはなかった。
On the contrary, so much power appeared to be burdensome to him who was clothed with it, and he made all speed to lay it down, as if taking the place of the laws had been too troublesome and too perilous a position to retain.
make all speed
(全力を尽くした)
[動]
do something as quickly as possible
lay down
(放棄する)
[動]
give up
take the place of
(代わる)
[動]
be a substitute for
too troublesome
(あまりにも面倒な)
[形]
causing difficulty or problems
too perilous
(あまりにも危険な)
[形]
involving or exposing one to great danger
retain
(保つ)
[動]
keep or continue to have
それどころか、そのような権力は、それを身にまとった者には重荷であるように思われ、法律に代わることはあまりにも面倒で危険な立場であるかのように、彼はそれを放棄するために全力を尽くした。
It is therefore the danger not of its abuse, but of its cheapening, that makes me attack the indiscreet use of this supreme magistracy in the earliest times.
cheapening
(安易な使用)
[名]
the act of making something cheaper
indiscreet
(無分別な)
[形]
lacking prudence or good judgment
earliest
(初期の)
[形]
happening or done before the usual or expected time
したがって、私がこの最高裁判所の初期の無分別な使用を攻撃するのは、その乱用ではなく、その安易な使用の危険性である。
For as long as it was freely employed at elections, dedications and purely formal functions, there was danger of its becoming less formidable in time of need, and of men growing accustomed to regarding as empty a title that was used only on occasions of empty ceremonial.
dedication
(献身)
[名]
the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose
time of need
(必要な時)
[名]
a time when help is needed
less formidable
(それほど手強いものではなくなる)
[形]
not as impressive or powerful as expected
danger
(危険性)
[名]
the possibility of suffering harm or injury
grow accustomed to
(慣れる)
[動]
become used to something
regard as
(見なす)
[動]
consider or think of as
選挙、献身、純粋に形式的な機能に自由に使用されている限り、必要な時にそれがそれほど手強いものではなくなる危険性があり、空虚な儀式の際にのみ使用される称号を空虚なものと見なすことに慣れてしまう危険性があった。
Towards the end of the Republic, the Romans, having grown more circumspect, were as unreasonably sparing in the use of the dictatorship as they had formerly been lavish.
circumspect
(慎重)
[形]
careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences
unreasonably
(不当に)
[副]
in a way that is not fair, just, or right
spare
(控えめ)
[形]
small in amount or of poor quality
lavish
(贅沢)
[形]
very generous or extravagant
共和政の終わりにかけて、ローマ人はより慎重になり、以前は贅沢に独裁制を使っていたのに、不当に控えめになった。
It is easy to see that their fears were without foundation, that the weakness of the capital secured it against the magistrates who were in its midst;
彼らの恐怖には根拠がなく、首都の弱さがその中にいる行政官に対してそれを確保していたことは容易に理解できる。
that a dictator might, in certain cases, defend the public liberty, but could never endanger it;
endanger
(危険にさらす)
[動]
put at risk or in danger
独裁者は、ある場合には公衆の自由を守るかもしれないが、それを危険にさらすことは決してできない。
and that the chains of Rome would be forged, not in Rome itself, but in her armies.
forge
(鍛造する)
[動]
shape metal by heating and hammering
そして、ローマの鎖はローマ自体ではなく、その軍隊で鍛造されるだろう。
The weak resistance offered by Marius to Sulla, and by Pompey to Cæsar, clearly showed what was to be expected from authority at home against force from abroad.
Marius
(マリウス)
[名]
Roman general and statesman
Sulla
(スラ)
[名]
Roman general and statesman
Pompey
(ポンペイウス)
[名]
Roman general and statesman
Cæsar
(カエサル)
[名]
Roman general and statesman
マリウスがスラに、ポンペイウスがカエサルに対して示した弱い抵抗は、外からの力に対して国内の権威から何が期待できるかを明らかに示した。
This misconception led the Romans to make great mistakes;
misconception
(誤解)
[名]
a wrong idea or opinion
lead
(犯させる)
[動]
cause to go or come
make
(犯す)
[動]
perform or carry out
この誤解がローマ人に大きな過ちを犯させた。
such, for example, as the failure to nominate a dictator in the Catilinarian conspiracy.
failure
(失敗)
[名]
the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective
conspiracy
(陰謀)
[名]
a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful
例えば、カティリナの陰謀で独裁者を指名しなかったことなどである。
For, as only the city itself, with at most some province in Italy, was concerned, the unlimited authority the laws gave to the dictator would have enabled him to make short work of the conspiracy, which was, in fact, stifled only by a combination of lucky chances human prudence had no right to expect.
enable
(可能にする)
[動]
make possible
stifle
(抑える)
[動]
prevent the development, growth, or spread of
なぜなら、せいぜいイタリアのいくつかの州と都市自体だけが関係していたので、法律が独裁者に与えた無制限の権限は、彼が陰謀を短時間で処理することを可能にしただろうし、実際、それは人間の慎重さでは期待できない幸運な偶然の組み合わせによってのみ抑えられたのである。
Instead, the senate contented itself with entrusting its whole power to the consuls, so that Cicero, in order to take effective action, was compelled on a capital point to exceed his powers;
effective
(効果的な)
[形]
producing a desired or intended result
その代わりに、元老院は執政官に全権を委任することで満足し、キケロは効果的な行動をとるために、重要な点で権限を超えることを余儀なくされた。
and if, in the first transports of joy, his conduct was approved, he was justly called, later on, to account for the blood of citizens spilt in violation of the laws.
transport
(喜び)
[名]
a feeling of great happiness
approve
(認める)
[動]
have or express a favorable opinion of
call
(問われる)
[動]
to communicate with (someone) by telephone
account for
(責任を問われる)
[動]
to be the explanation for
そして、最初の喜びのあまり、彼の行為が認められたとしても、後に彼は法律に違反して流された市民の血の責任を問われるのは当然のことだった。
Such a reproach could never have been levelled at a dictator.
reproach
(非難)
[名]
an expression of disapproval
could never have been
(あり得なかっただろう)
[助]
be impossible or extremely unlikely
level
(向ける)
[動]
aim or direct
そのような非難は独裁者に向けられることはなかっただろう。
But the consul's eloquence carried the day;
しかし、執政官の雄弁が勝利を収めた。
and he himself, Roman though he was, loved his own glory better than his country, and sought, not so much the most lawful and secure means of saving the State, as to get for himself the whole honour of having done so.
そして、彼自身、ローマ人ではあったが、自分の栄光を祖国よりも愛し、国家を救うための最も合法で安全な手段を求めるよりも、そうしたことに対するすべての名誉を自分自身で得ようとした。
He was therefore justly honoured as the liberator of Rome, and also justly punished as a law-breaker.
be justly honoured
(正当に称えられる)
[動]
be given the respect that one deserves
be justly punished
(正当に処罰される)
[動]
be given the punishment that one deserves
したがって、彼はローマの解放者として正当に称えられ、また、法律違反者として正当に処罰された。
However brilliant his recall may have been, it was undoubtedly an act of pardon.
brilliant
(輝かしい)
[形]
very bright or vivid
recall
(復帰)
[名]
the ability to remember something
undoubtedly
(間違いなく)
[副]
without doubt; certainly
彼の復帰がどれほど輝かしいものであれ、それは間違いなく恩赦の行為だった。
However this important trust be conferred, it is important that its duration should be fixed at a very brief period, incapable of being ever prolonged.
however
(どのように)
[副]
in whatever way or manner
trust
(信託)
[名]
a legal arrangement in which a person or organization holds property or assets for the benefit of another
duration
(期間)
[名]
the length of time that something continues
この重要な信託がどのように授与されようとも、その期間は非常に短い期間に固定され、延長されることがないようにすることが重要である。
In the crises which lead to its adoption, the State is either soon lost, or soon saved;
adoption
(採用)
[名]
the action of adopting
save
(救う)
[動]
make or keep safe or rescue from harm
その採用に至る危機において、国家はすぐに失われるか、すぐに救われるかのどちらかである。
and, the present need passed, the dictatorship becomes either tyrannical or idle.
dictatorship
(独裁)
[名]
a country governed by a dictator
そして、現在の必要性が過ぎ去ると、独裁は暴君的になるか、怠惰になる。
At Rome, where dictators held office for six months only, most of them abdicated before their time was up.
hold office
(在任する)
[動]
occupy a position of authority
six months
(六ヶ月)
[名]
a period of time
abdicate
(退位する)
[動]
renounce one's throne
time
(任期)
[名]
the space or span of time
be up
(終わる)
[動]
be finished
独裁官が六ヶ月しか在任しなかったローマでは、そのほとんどが任期が終わる前に退位した。
If their term had been longer, they might well have tried to prolong it still further, as the decemvirs did when chosen for a year.
year
(年)
[名]
the period of time that the earth takes to make one complete orbit of the sun
もし彼らの任期がもっと長かったなら、十人委員会が一年間選ばれた時にしたように、彼らはそれをさらに延長しようとしたかもしれない。
The dictator had only time to provide against the need that had caused him to be chosen;
have only time to
(時間しかない)
[動]
have no time to do anything else
provide against
(対処する)
[動]
take precautions against
独裁官は、彼が選ばれる原因となった必要に対処する時間しかなかった。
he had none to think of further projects.
have none to
(時間がない)
[動]
not have any
further
(それ以上の)
[形]
more distant in space or time
彼には、それ以上の計画を考える時間はなかった。