よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 50: Back to the Salesman
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Notes on this scene
Ryder reaches Breckinridge too late, loses every trace of the jewel, and finishes his confession in tears. 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
- 指一本触れていないというのに
- In 指一本触れていないというのに, のに contrasts what follows with the result normally expected from the preceding clause.
- 自分の名誉を売り渡してまで手にしようとした富には
- In 自分の名誉を売り渡してまで手にしようとした富には, まで marks the preceding item as the endpoint or outer limit reached in this statement.
- あのブレッキンリッジという男のところへ全力で駆けつけました
- In あのブレッキンリッジという男のところへ全力で駆けつけました, person + のところ means that person's place. Ryder runs to the dealer Breckinridge to trace where the geese went.
- ところが、あの男は
- In ところが、あの男は, ところが introduces an unexpected contrast with what came before.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now—and now I am myself a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands.
「それで、もちろん私は何もかも悟って、あのブレッキンリッジという男のところへ全力で駆けつけました。ところが、あの男はもう全部まとめて売ってしまっていて、どこへ行ったのか一言も教えてくれないのです。今夜、あなた方もご自分の耳でお聞きになったとおりです。ええ、あの男はいつもあんなふうに答えるんです。姉は、私の気が変になりかけていると思っています。自分でもときどき、そうなのではないかと思います。そして今――今の私は、泥棒の烙印を押された身です。自分の名誉を売り渡してまで手にしようとした富には、指一本触れていないというのに。ああ、神様、お助けください！神様、お助けください！」彼は両手に顔をうずめ、身を震わせてむせび泣いた。