よみうち英語Read the classics by typingNotes Scene 25: Her Aim
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Notes on this scene
The King is engaged to a Scandinavian princess from a strictly moral family. Any suspicion about his conduct could end the marriage plans. Adler threatens to send the photograph to that family. The King describes her extraordinary beauty and determination, convinced that she will do anything to prevent him marrying another woman.
Japanese in this scene
- ことになっている
- Verb + ことになっている describes an arrangement or established plan. The marriage is already planned.
- に決まっている
- に決まっている expresses strong conviction: “is certain to.” The King insists Adler will carry out her threat.
- くらいなら
- Verb + くらいなら presents an unwelcome alternative. Here the King claims Adler would do anything rather than let him marry someone else.
Background
- Royal marriage alliances
- European royal marriages were also alliances between countries. If the other family had strict moral standards, disclosure of an earlier affair alone could break off the match. This explains the King’s fear of a single photograph.
Full text: original English and Japanese translation
"To ruin me."
「私を破滅させるためだ」
"But how?"
「しかし、どうやって？」
"I am about to be married."
「私は近く結婚することになっている」
"So I have heard."
「そのように伺っております」
"To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end."
「相手はスカンジナビア国王の第二王女、クロティルド・ロスマン・フォン・ザクセ＝メニンゲンだ。あの家の厳格な家風は知っているだろう。王女自身も、慎み深さそのもののような人だ。私のふるまいにわずかでも疑いの影が差せば、この話は終わりになってしまう」
"And Irene Adler?"
「それで、アイリーン・アドラーは？」
"Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not go—none."
「写真を先方へ送りつけると脅しているのだ。そして、あの女は本当にやる。やるに決まっているのだ。あの女を知らぬだろうが、彼女は鋼のような心の持ち主なのだ。顔は女のうちで最も美しく、心は男のうちで最も意志が強い。私がほかの女と結婚するくらいなら、あの女はどんなことでもやってのける――どんなことでもだ」