The Adventures of Roderick Random — Page 2

思慮深い賢者は、しばらく熟考した後、私の両親に対し、長男は偉大な旅人になるだろうと断言した。

The attentive sage, after some deliberation, assured my parents, that their firstborn would be a great traveller;

彼は多くの危険や困難に遭遇し、最終的には故郷の地に戻るだろう、そこで幸福と名声の中で栄えるだろうと。

that he would undergo many dangers and difficulties, and at last return to his native land, where he would flourish in happiness and reputation.

この予言がいかに真実であったかは、続きの中で明らかになるだろう。

How truly this was foretold will appear in the sequel.

それからほどなくして、ある余計なお世話の人物が、祖父に対し、息子と家政婦の間に交わされたある馴れ馴れしい関係を知らせた。

It was not long before some officious person informed my grandfather of certain familiarities that passed between his son and housekeeper

それは祖父をひどく動揺させたため、数日後、祖父は父に向かって、そろそろ身を固めることを考える時期だと言った。

which alarmed him so much that, a few days after, he told my father it was high time for him to think of settling;

そして、父のために縁談を用意したのだから、正当な理由があれば異議を唱えることはできないはずだと言った。

and that he had provided a match for him, to which he could in justice have no objections.

父は自分の状況をこれ以上隠すことは不可能だと悟り、率直に自分のしたことを打ち明けた。

My father, finding it would be impossible to conceal his situation much longer, frankly owned what he had done;

そして、父親の同意を求めなかったことを弁明して、そうしても無駄だったとわかっていたからだと言った。

and excused himself for not having asked the consent of his father, by saying, he knew it would have been to no purpose;

また、自分の意向が知られていたならば、祖父はその望みを叶えることを完全に阻むような手を打っていたかもしれないと言った。

and that, had his inclination been known, my grandfather might have taken such measures as would have effectually put the gratification of it out of his power:

さらに父は、妻の貞節、家柄、美貌、分別については何ら非難される点はなく、財産については自分の気にするところではないと付け加えた。

he added, that no exceptions could be taken to his wife's virtue, birth, beauty, and good sense, and as for fortune, it was beneath his care.

一つを除いてあらゆる感情を見事に抑制していたその老紳士は、父の話を穏やかな気持ちで最後まで聞いた。

The old gentleman, who kept all his passions, except one, in excellent order, heard him to an end with great temper,

そして静かに尋ねた、自分と妻をどのように養うつもりなのかと。

and then calmly asked, how he proposed to maintain himself and spouse?