武者小路実篤 | 真理先生(読書感想文&英訳)
二、三十年前に読んだ「真理先生」(しんりせんせい)。「友情」も読んだことがないのに、なぜこの本を読もうと思ったのか全く覚えていない。
「こんなことはあり得ないよ」と思いつつ、「でも、こんなふうに生きられたらいいなぁ」と思って読んだ。
一応、真理先生と先生のもとを訪れる人々の対話という形式の小説だが、実篤の自己内対話のように思える。
今回の記事では、引用はしない。私自身の勉強のために、第10節を英訳してみたい。
翻訳の原書として、武者小路実篤「真理先生」(新潮文庫)、pp.24--25を用いる。
Chapter 10
Nobody knows in detail when Sensei started living a penniless life. In the beginning he had some money. He would often receive money his students offered. I've heard that he bought books he wanted to buy and that he was seen to go to a reasonable restaurant. But in no time he gradually came to live a life needing no money. He was successfully taken care of three times a day when he wanted to eat. He seldom had to take a train. When he was invited to come to a party, he was given a ticket.
Everyone knew Sensei had no money. When occasion arose, those who supported him paid money instead of him.
He said that he wanted to continue living a penniless life for the time being. In fact, he was leading a happy life.
Of course, though Sensei didn't necessarily underestimate money, he looked happy. But I have never been told that he had no money.
Whenever we went somewhere, I said to him "Let's go by train." But he always said to me "Let's walk together." At first I thought that he was very much fond of walking but never did I dream that he had no money. He seemed to me to think that several kilometers was not a long distance.
He walked much faster than I had expected.
One day I asked him why he wouldn't have any money. He replied, "Once you have money, it will soon disappear. I don't want to tell anyone 'Please give me some money' when I have no money. Besides, I hate to explain the reason why money goes easily. When I have no money, I don't have to explain why. If I had a huge amount of money, I would like to have money. But the more money I have, the more I want to have. On top of that, if I have a lot of money, someone I hate will come closer to me. Since I began a penniless life, I have had more oppotunities to meet pure people, which makes me happy. To be sure, I sometimes wish I had some money, but in such an occasion someone will be sure to help me. Anyway, I have nothing to do with money. I can go without money."
"Nowadays nobody but you can do without money," I said to him.
"Actually I am too fortunate. I am grateful, for a selfish man like me is loved by everyone. Nobody is happier than I am."
He said so with his eyes filled with tears. I also shed tears, thinking he was a good man.
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