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】
生徒が暴れる原因は学校側にあるかもしれず、半ば無意識に行なったいたずらには寛大であるべきだと述べる赤シャツ(教頭)の言葉に、主人公はさらに憤ります。
●----------------------------------------------------------
I became irritated, and half raised myself, intending to make a convincing speech, but just then Red Shirt began saying something and I stopped. I saw him say something, having put away his pipe, and wiping his face with a striped silk handkerchief. I'm sure he copped that handkerchief from the Madonna; men should use white linen. He said:
"When I heard of the rough affairs in the dormitory, I was greatly ashamed as the head teacher of my lack of discipline and influence. When such an affair takes place there is underlying cause somewhere. Looking at the affair itself, it may seem that the students were wrong, but in a closer study of the facts, we may find the responsibility resting with the School. Therefore, I'm afraid it might affect us badly in the future if we administer too severe a punishment on the strength of what has been shown on the surface. As they are youngsters, full of life and vigor, they might half-consciously commit some youthful pranks, without due regard as to their good or bad. As to the mode of punishment itself, I have no right to suggest since it is a matter entirely in the hand of the principal, but I should ask, considering these points, that some leniency be shown toward the students."
Well, as Badger, so was Red Shirt. He declares the "Rough Necks" among the students is not their fault but the fault of the teachers. A crazy person beats other people because the beaten are wrong. Very grateful, indeed. If the students were so full of life and vigor, shovel them out into the campus and let them wrestle their heads off. Who would have grasshoppers put into his bed unconsciously! If things go on like this, they may stab some one asleep, and get freed as having done the deed unconsciously.
cop 獲得する、盗む
leniency 寛大さ
shovel out (シャベルですくうようにまとめて)放り出す
夏目漱石による原文は
こちら。
*** 慣用句を覚えよう ***
Ass(尻)-2
(アメリカ英語では日常的に見かけますが、ご存知の通り下品な言葉ですので、実際に使用する時には注意が必要です。)
haul ass
さっさと出て行く、すぐに行動する、急ぐ
have someone's ass
やっつける、とっちめる
have one's ass in a crack
ひどく困っている
have ... coming out (of) one's ass
…を腐るほどもっている、…がいくらでもある
have one's ass in a sling
うなだれている、ふくれっつらをしている、まずいことになる
jump through one's ass
いきなりの難題にすぐに対応する
kick ass and take names
怒り狂う、いばりちらす
kick someone's ass [butt]
人をけとばす、人を打ち負かす、人の気力をくじく
kick some ass (around)
(人に取って代わって)指図をしはじめる、(ボスとして)しごく、締め上げる
kiss [lick] someone's ass
人にへいこらする、おべっかを使う
My ass.
ばかな、まさか、うそつけ
【参考】
▽
青空文庫