Piccolissima — Page 16

この虻の茶色い胴体はより繊細に見えた。

The brown trunk of this one seemed more delicate;

エメラルドのように輝く青銅色の胸当ては、新鮮な朝が美しい果実の上に広げる産毛のような細かい毛で飾られていた。

his bronze corselet, reflecting like emerald, was garnished with fine hairs, like the down which the fresh morning spreads over beautiful fruits.

透明な翅の間から透けて見える虫の腹は、左右対称に配置された六つの白い三日月形の模様で引き立てられた、美しく輝く黒色をしていた。

The belly of the insect, which showed itself between and through the transparent wings, was of a beautiful shining black set off by six white crescents, symmetrically placed on the right and left.

脚はピッコリッシマの目には茶色く、非常に繊細に映った。

The legs appeared to Piccolissima brown, and very delicate.

脚をじっくりと観察しながら、彼女はあの若い自慢屋が四十二本の脚を持つと自慢していたことを思い出した。

As she examined them, she remembered that the young boaster had vaunted itself of having forty-two of them;

そして余分な脚はどこへいったのかと思い切って尋ねようとした、その時、元気を取り戻した活発な蠅が体を乾かし、二本の脚を持ち上げてそれをじっくりと観察し始めた。

and she was upon the point of venturing to inquire what had become of the superfluous ones, when the lively fly, finding itself dry and strengthened, raised two of its legs and examined them very closely,

そして巧みに脚を交差させながら、足の裏を互いにこすり合わせた。

and crossing them with great dexterity rubbed the soles of his feet one against the other.

ピッコリッシマは、足の骨の先端にある、毛に覆われ二つの爪を持つ二つの肉の塊をそう呼びたい衝動にかられた。

Piccolissima was tempted so to call the two balls of flesh covered with hair, and armed with two nails which terminated the foot bones.

蠅はブラシあるいはスポンジ——どちらとも言えるものだった——を掃除し終えると、口吻を巧みに使いながら、翅の上下や、小さな顔、目、触角の上をこすり始めた。

The fly, having cleaned his brushes or sponges,--for they were as much like one as the other,--employing his trunk very skilfully, began to rub them over and under his wings, and over his little face, his eyes, and his antennae.

蠅は全身を梳かし、ブラシをかけ、スポンジで拭き、きれいにした。

He combed, brushed, sponged, and cleaned himself all over.

片側が終わるかどうかのうちに、最も使いやすい六本の脚を使って反対側を手入れし始めた。

Hardly had he finished one side before he began upon the other, using those of his six feet which were the most convenient.