よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 24: Where the Goose Came From
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Notes on this scene
Before Baker leaves, he explains that his goose came from a Christmas club organized at the Alpha Inn. The scene establishes this development clearly and closes before the next step begins, preserving the original passage's order and the limits of what the characters know at this point.
Japanese in this scene
- 私の年にも威厳にも似合いませんのでな
- In 私の年にも威厳にも似合いませんのでな, ので gives Baker's reason for being grateful: a Scottish cap would suit neither his age nor his dignity.
- あれほどよく育ったガチョウはめったに見たことがないのです
- In あれほどよく育ったガチョウはめったに見たことがないのです, ほど sets the degree or extent expressed by the surrounding description.
- 私はちょっとした家禽好きでしてね
- In 私はちょっとした家禽好きでしてね, ちょっとした modifies the following noun as small but noteworthy rather than completely trivial.
- ところで、差し支えなければ、もう
- In ところで、差し支えなければ、もう, ところで changes the subject to the question or point that follows.
Background
- goose club
- A goose club collected small weekly payments and supplied each member with a bird at Christmas, spreading a large holiday expense across the year.
- the Museum
- In London, the Museum commonly meant the British Museum in Bloomsbury. Its reading room attracted scholars and writers such as Baker's companions.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a better grown goose."
「では、こちらがあなたの帽子、そしてこちらがあなたの鳥です」と彼は言った。「ところで、差し支えなければ、もう一羽のほうはどこで手に入れたのか、教えていただけませんか。私はちょっとした家禽好きでしてね、あれほどよく育ったガチョウはめったに見たことがないのです」
"Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum—we are to be found in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and strode off upon his way.
「いいですとも」と、立ち上がって、新たに手に入れた品を小脇に抱えたベイカーは言った。「私たちのうち何人かは、大英博物館の近くのアルファ亭によく出入りしておりましてな——昼間は博物館そのものにおるわけですが、おわかりでしょう。今年は、ウィンディゲイトという名の気のいい主人がガチョウ積立会を始めましてな、毎週わずかなペンスを納めれば、クリスマスにめいめいが鳥を一羽受け取れることになっておったのです。私のペンスはきちんと納めてありましてな、あとはご存じのとおりです。本当にありがたく存じますよ、なにしろスコットランド帽は、私の年にも威厳にも似合いませんのでな」彼は滑稽なほどもったいぶった物腰で私たち二人に重々しく一礼すると、大股で帰っていった。