小説を読みながら、語彙を増やしましょう。
夏目漱石の小説『坊っちゃん』の原文と毛利八十太郎が英訳した “Botchan (Master Darling)” を併せて見ていきます。
【あらすじ】
ある日主人公は、釣りに行かないかと赤シャツ（教頭）に誘われます。
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CHAPTER V.
"Won't you go fishing?" asked Red Shirt He talks in a strangely womanish voice. One would not be able to tell whether he was a man or a woman. As a man he should talk like one. Is he not a college graduate? I can talk man-like enough, and am a graduate from a school of physics at that. It is a shame for a B.A. to have such a squeak.
I answered with the smallest enthusiasm, whereupon he further asked me an impolite question if I ever did fishing. I told him not much, that I once caught three gibels when I was a boy, at a fishing game pond at Koume, and that I also caught a carp about eight inches long, at a similar game at the festival of Bishamon at Kagurazaka;--the carp, just as I was coaxing it out of the water, splashed back into it, and when I think of the incident I feel mortified at the loss even now. Red Shirt stuck out his chin and laughed "ho, ho." Why could he not laugh just like an ordinary person? "Then you are not well acquainted with the spirit of the game," he cried. "I'll show you if you like." He seemed highly elated.
Not for me! I take it this way that generally those who are fond of fishing or shooting have cruel hearts. Otherwise, there is no reason why they could derive pleasure in murdering innocent creatures. Surely, fish and birds would prefer living to getting killed. Except those who make fishing or shooting their calling, it is nonsense for those who are well off to say that they cannot sleep well unless they seek the lives of fish or birds. This was the way I looked at the question, but as he was a B. A. and would have a better command of language when it came to talking, I kept mum, knowing he would beat me in argument. Red Shirt mistook my silence for my surrender, and began to induce me to join him right away, saying he would show me some fish and I should come with him if I was not busy, because he and Mr. Yoshikawa were lonesome when alone.
enthusiasm 熱意、意気込み
gibel 鮒
fishing game pond 釣堀
carp 鯉
feel mortified at くやしい思いをする
elated 大得意の、意気揚々とした
command （言語を）自在に使いこなせる力、熟達
keep mum 黙っている
lonesome さびしい
夏目漱石による原文はこちら。
＊＊＊ 慣用句を覚えよう ＊＊＊
Arm（腕）
an arm and a leg
法外な値段、大変な出費
at arm's length
少し離れて、敬遠して、（取引や交渉で）当事者がそれぞれ独立を保って
give [offer] one's arms
腕をかす、提携を申し出る
give one's right arm
大きな犠牲を払う
put the arm on
…を強奪する、（人）に金の融通を頼む
take the arm
差し出した腕にすがる、提携の申し出を受諾する
twist someone's arm
人に無理強いする、強く勧める
with folded arms
手をこまぬいて
with open arms
両手を広げて、心から（歓迎する）
right arm
右腕、頼りになる人、腹心
【参考】
▽青空文庫
