SSブログ
スコット大佐のファイナルレター ブログトップ

マチャさんに教わった「スコット大佐の Final Letter」 [スコット大佐のファイナルレター]

マチャ@平城京の「洋楽独り言」ver.3 という

「マチャ」さんのブログの

「ペンギンとパンダの不思議な関係」

を読ませていただいていたところ、

「WWF」(世界自然保護基金)と、

wwf.jpg

世界最初の南極点到達競争で、ノルウェーのアムンゼンに遅れをとった探検家と記述されることの多い、イギリスの、
Robert Falcon Scott
ロバート・ファルコン・スコット大佐

200px-Robert_falcon_scott.jpg


にまつわる、興味深いエピソードが、記されていました。


その詳しいお話の内容については、

マチャさんの、
マチャ@平城京の「洋楽独り言」ver.3ブログ
「ペンギンとパンダの不思議な関係」

を、[まず先に、見ていただきたい] のですが、

その中で言及されている、「スコット大佐の最後の手紙」の内容が、どうにも気になりまして、

英文の原文を、調べてみました。

彼が、死の直前に、自分の「妻」にあてて書いた手紙です。
酷寒の南極の地にあって、生きて帰る望みをたたれた、遺書ともいうべき手紙です。

当方「読もう」なので、どうしても、原文が、読みたくなりました。

そのおおよそは、先のブログの中で触れられていますが、
原文そのままを、

The Telegraphの記事http://www.tlegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1539174/
から転載して、ここに記してみたいと思います。
長い手紙なのですが、省略せずに、全文を写します。


「洋楽独り言」ver.3 のマチャさんご指摘のように、
未亡人へ(To my Widow)で始まる手紙です。

全文の前に、少しだけ、特に、ピックアップさせて下さい。

以下、ピックアップした部分だけですが、訳文(テキトウ訳です)を付け加えました。

最初に、今置かれた状況についての言及があります。
we are in a very tight corner and I have doubts of pulling through)。
われわれは、厳しくおいつめられており、抜けられる(生き抜ける)とは思えない。


途中に、いくつか、絶望的な現状の説明があります。
(Dear it is not easy to write because of the cold — 70 degrees below zero and nothing but the shelter of our tent.)。
寒さゆえに、書くことも容易でない。零下21度で、テントのほかは身を守るものはなにもないのだ。

(
:°C = (°F - 32) x 5/9= (70 - 32) x 5/9= 21.1111 degrees Celsius の、below zeroですので、零下21度) 

(We have gone down hill a good deal since I wrote the above. Poor Titus Oates has gone — he was in a bad state — the rest of us keep going and imagine we have a chance to get through but the cold weather doesn't let up at all – we are now only 20 miles from a depot but we have very little food or fuel.)
上でも書いたように、われわれは絶望に一直線に向かっている。かわいそうに、チタス・オッテスは、すでに逝ってしまったーひどい状態だったー
残りの我々は、まだなんとか無事で、生き延びるチャンスを夢見ているが、厳しい天候はそれを許してくれそうにない。
われわれは、デポット(供給基地)からたった20マイル(32キロ)の地点にいるのだが、食料も燃料も、ほんのわずかしか残っていない。


その状況の中で、
妻の幸せを願い、息子に思いを馳せ、
I must write a little letter for the boy if time can be found to be read when he grows up — dearest that you know I cherish no sentimental rubbish about re marriage — when the right man comes to help you in life you ought to be your happy self again.
私は息子にひとこと手紙を書き残さねばならないーもし彼が大人になったときに、ときが見つけてくれていて、彼が読めるものなら。ー最愛なる君よ。私は、君の再婚について、くだらない少しの感傷も持っていない。ふさわしい人が現れて、君の人生の支えになってくれるなら、君自身の再びの幸せを優先してしかるべきだ。


そして息子の将来に、思いを綴っています。
I have written letters on odd pages of this book — will you manage to get them sent? You see I am anxious for you and the boy's future — make the boy interested in natural history if you can, it is better than games — they encourage it at some schools — I know you will keep him out in the open air — try and make him believe in a God, it is comforting.
別のページに、手紙を書いておいた。それを、どうにか届けてくれるだろうか。
ごらんのとおり、君と息子の未来について、とても心配している。
もし、できるなら、息子に、博物学への興味を持たせるよう仕向けて欲しいーゲームよりマシだろうー博物学が学べる学校がいくつかある
ーアウトドアの自然環境で行動するようにさせてやってくれー神を信じる人間になるようにしてやって欲しい、それがなによりだ。

(旧文)
最初に、今置かれた状況についての言及があります。
(we are in a very tight corner and I have doubts of pulling through)。

途中に、いくつか、絶望的な現状の説明があります。
(Dear it is not easy to write because of the cold — 70 degrees below zero and nothing but the shelter of our tent.)。

(We have gone down hill a good deal since I wrote the above. Poor Titus Oates has gone — he was in a bad state — the rest of us keep going and imagine we have a chance to get through but the cold weather doesn't let up at all – we are now only 20 miles from a depot but we have very little food or fuel.)

その状況の中で、
妻の幸せを願い、息子に思いを馳せ、
I must write a little letter for the boy if time can be found to be read when he grows up — dearest that you know I cherish no sentimental rubbish about re marriage — when the right man comes to help you in life you ought to be your happy self again.

そして息子の将来に、思いを綴っています。
I have written letters on odd pages of this book — will you manage to get them sent? You see I am anxious for you and the boy's future — make the boy interested in natural history if you can, it is better than games — they encourage it at some schools — I know you will keep him out in the open air — try and make him believe in a God, it is comforting.


それでは、
以下に、スコット大佐のレター全文を、そのまま記します。 

"To my widow,

Dearest Darling – we are in a very tight corner and I have doubts of pulling through – In our short lunch hours I take advantage of a very small measure of warmth to write letters preparatory to a possible end – the first is naturally to you on whom my thought mostly dwell waking or sleeping – if anything happens to me I shall like you to know how much you have meant to me and that pleasant recollections are with me as I depart.

I should like you to take what comfort you can from these facts also – I shall not have suffered any pain but leave the world fresh from harness and full of good health and vigour – this is dictated already, when provisions come to an end we simply stop where we are within easy distance of another depot.

Therefore you must not imagine a great tragedy — we are very anxious of course and have been for weeks but in splendid physical condition and our appetites compensate for all discomfort. The cold is biting and sometimes angering but here again the hot food which drives it forth is so wonderfully enjoyable that we would scarcely be without it.

We have gone down hill a good deal since I wrote the above. Poor Titus Oates has gone — he was in a bad state — the rest of us keep going and imagine we have a chance to get through but the cold weather doesn't let up at all – we are now only 20 miles from a depot but we have very little food or fuel.

Well dear heart I want you to take the whole thing very sensibly as I am sure you will — the boy will be your comfort. I had looked forward to helping you to bring him up but it is a satisfaction to feel that he is safe with you. I think both he and you ought to be specially looked after by the country for which after all we have given our lives with something of spirit which makes for example — I am writing letters on this point in the end of this book after this. Will you send them to their various destinations?

I must write a little letter for the boy if time can be found to be read when he grows up — dearest that you know I cherish no sentimental rubbish about re marriage — when the right man comes to help you in life you ought to be your happy self again.

I hope I shall be a good memory certainly the end is nothing for you to be ashamed of and I like to think that the boy will have a good start in parentage of which he may be proud. Dear it is not easy to write because of the cold — 70 degrees below zero and nothing but the shelter of our tent.

You know I have loved you, you know my thoughts must have constantly dwelt on you and oh dear me you must know that quite the worst aspect of this situation is the thought that I shall not see you again. The inevitable must be faced — you urged me to be leader of this party and I know you felt it would be dangerous — I've taken my place throughout, haven't I?

God bless you my own darling I shall try and write more later — I go on across the back pages. Since writing the above we have got to within 11 miles of our depot with one hot meal and two days' cold food and we should have got through but have been held for four days by a frightful storm — I think the best chance has gone. We have decided not to kill ourselves but to fight it to the last for that depot but in the fighting there is a painless end so don't worry.

I have written letters on odd pages of this book — will you manage to get them sent? You see I am anxious for you and the boy's future — make the boy interested in natural history if you can, it is better than games — they encourage it at some schools — I know you will keep him out in the open air — try and make him believe in a God, it is comforting.

Oh my dear my dear what dreams I have had of his future and yet oh my girl I know you will face it stoically — your portrait and the boy's will be found in my breast and the one in the little red Morocco case given by Lady Baxter. There is a piece of the Union flag I put up at the South Pole in my private kit bag together with Amundsen's black flag and other trifles — give a small piece of the Union flag to the King and a small piece to Queen Alexandra and keep the rest a poor trophy for you!

What lots and lots I could tell you of this journey. How much better it has been than lounging in comfort at home — what tales you would have for the boy but oh what a price to pay — to forfeit the sight of your dear dear face.

Dear you will be good to the old mother. I write her a little line in this book. Also keep in with Ettie and the others — oh but you'll put on a strong face for the world — only don't be too proud to accept help for the boy's sake — he ought to have a fine career and do something in the world.

I haven't time to write to Sir Clements — tell him I thought much of him and never regretted him putting me in command of the Discovery."


いかがでしたでしょうか、スコット大佐の最後の手紙。

どうしても、読みたくなってしまったのです。

少し難しい英文も混じっているので、全ては伝わらないかもしれないですが、
皆さまにも、響くところがありましたでしょうか。


このスコット大佐の手紙について書いて下さった
マチャ@平城京の「洋楽独り言」ver.3 ブログの
マチャさんに
感謝をささげたいと思います。
ありがとうございました。


西新井sunny-side up の近況

get した本
Not Another BAD DATE (RACHEL GIBSON)
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHER
のペーパーブック。
そんなに難しい文でなく、スゴク面白そうです。

Somewhere over the rainbow(「オズの魔法使い」より)を久しぶりに、Youtube で聴き、ジュディ・ガーランドの映像を見ました。
やっぱりいい歌ですね。
「オズの魔法使い」シリーズの原書、まだ3冊しかないので、もっとたくさん集めたいと思っています。

コメントを下さる方は、ご面倒ですが、下のコメント(文字)の所をポチッとすると、記入欄が出ますので、宜しくお願いいたします。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


スコット大佐のファイナルレター ブログトップ

この広告は前回の更新から一定期間経過したブログに表示されています。更新すると自動で解除されます。