語句解説
| It is that secret sorrow I spoke of to you before. I wished to tell you, but there was no opportunity that day." |
| この件は先日も話そうと思っていたのだが、今日までじっくりと話をする機会がなくてな |
| I am entirely at your service. |
| なんなりとご相談ください |
| My first wife, of the Chen family, bore me a son Liu Qi, my eldest. |
| 私の先妻の陳氏は長男の劉琦を生んだのだが |
| He grew up virtuous but weakly and unfitted to succeed me in my office. |
| 劉琦は高潔な人間に成長してくれたのだが体が弱く一門の長を継ぐ器にはない |
| Later I took a wife of the Cai family, who bore me a son named Liu Zong, fairly intelligent. |
| 後妻の蔡氏は劉琮を生んだのだがこの子は利発でな |
| If I pass over the elder in favor of the younger, there is the breach of the rule of primogeniture. |
| だが、次子を後継とし長男を廃嫡とするとなると長子相続の習いに逆らうこととなる |
| But if I follow law and custom, there are the intrigues of the Cai family and clan to be reckoned with. |
| だが長子相続の慣わしに従った場合、今度は蔡一族が何を企むかわかったものではない |
| Further, the army is in the hollow of their hands. |
| その上、蔡一族は軍事を統括しているしな。 |
| All experience proves that to set aside the elder for the younger is to take the way of confusion. |
| 古今の例を引くまでもなく長子を廃し次子を立てれば国乱れます |
| If you fear the power of the Cai faction, then gradually reduce its power and influence, |
| 蔡一族の影響力を恐れるのであれば徐々にそいでいけばよい |
| but do not let doting affection lead you into making the younger your heir." |
| だが情におぼれて次子を後継に立てるなんてのはもってのほかですぞ |
| But Lady Cai had had a suspicion why her lord had summoned Liu Bei and what was the subject of discussion, so she had determined to listen secretly. |
| しかし、蔡氏は劉備がわざわざ呼び出されたことについて疑問を抱き、話の内容をこっそり盗み聞きしていたのだった |
| She was behind the screen when the matter was talked over, and she conceived
deep resentment against Liu Bei for what he had said. |
| 蔡氏は相続の件が議論されたとき幕の陰に隠れていたのだが盗み聞いた内容を聞き、劉備に敵意を抱いたのだった |
| Liu Bei felt that his advice had fallen upon a forbidden subject," |
| 劉備は触れてはいけないことに立ち入ってしまったと感じた |
| As he did so he noticed that he was getting heavy and stiff, and a furtive tear stole down his cheek as he thought of the past. |
| そのとき劉備は自分が中年太りの態を示していることに気がつき、旗揚げのころを思い出し涙があふれんばかりにこぼれてくるのだった |
| In the past I was always in the saddle |
| 若きころは常に戦場で馬にまたがってました |
| I was slender and lithe |
| 当時は私もやせて精悍な体つきでした |
| Now it is so long since I rode that I am getting stout, and the days and months are slipping by---wasted. |
| もう馬に乗らなくなって何年にもなりますが今では私はただ時間を無為に過ごしているように思えてならないのです |
| I shall have old age on me in no time, and I have accomplished nothing. So I am
sad." |
| 私もすぐに老人です。なのに若き時の志が果たせぬままです。なので悲しいのです。 |
| Finally he said that you and he were the only two persons of real worth in the whole empire. |
| （曹操と劉備が許昌で酒宴を開いたとき）最期に曹操はこの世で英雄と呼べる人間は自分と劉備殿だけだとおっしゃったとか。 |
| If he with all his power and authority did not dare to place himself in front of you, I do not think you need grieve about having accomplished nothing. |
| 曹操ほどの人間が貴君を 同格と認めるくらいなのだから今、何も成就しないからといって嘆くこともなかろうに |
| At this flattering speech Liu Bei, as wine was getting the better of him |
| このお世辞にさらに酒が回って調子に乗った劉備は |
| If I only had a starting point, then I would not be afraid of anyone in a world full of fools." |
| もし、足がかりを与えていただければこの世のいかなる人間も恐れはせぬ |
| His host said no more and the guest, feeling that he had slipped up in speech, rose as if drunk, took leave, and staggered out saying he must return to his lodging to recover |
| 劉表は口が滑ってしまったと思い、黙りこくってしまった。劉備もまた、まずいことを言ったと感じ、酔いを醒ましたいといってよろけるように自らの宿舎へと帰っていった |