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】
清（女中）が自分で書いたという手紙は、字が下手な上に平仮名ばかりで読むのに骨が折れましたが、主人公は意味が通るまでていねいに読み直します。
●----------------------------------------------------------
This was the introductory part of the letter in which, about four feet long, were written a hundred and one things. Well, it was difficult to read. Not only was it poorly written but it was a sort of juxtaposition of simple syllables that racked one's brain to make it clear where it stopped or where it began. I am quick-tempered and would refuse to read such a long, unintelligible letter for five yen, but I read this seriously from the first to the last. It is a fact that I read it through. My efforts were mostly spent in untangling letters and sentences; so I started reading it over again. The room had become a little dark, and this rendered it harder to read it; so finally I stepped out to the porch where I sat down and went over it carefully. The early autumn breeze wafted through the leaves of the banana trees, bathed me with cool evening air, rustled the letter I was holding and would have blown it clear to the hedge if I let it go. I did not mind anything like this, but kept on reading.
"Master Darling is simple and straight like a split bamboo by disposition," it says, "only too explosive. That's what worries me. If you brand other people with nicknames you will only make enemies of them; so don't use them carelessly; if you coin new ones, just tell them only to Kiyo in your letters. The countryfolk are said to be bad, and I wish you to be careful not have them do you. The weather must be worse than in Tokyo, and you should take care not to catch cold. Your letter is too short that I can't tell how things are going on with you. Next time write me a letter at least half the length of this one. Tipping the hotel with five yen is all right, but were you not short of money afterward? Money is the only thing one can depend upon when in the country and you should economize and be prepared for rainy days. I'm sending you ten yen by postal money order. I have that fifty yen my Master Darling gave me deposited in the Postal Savings to help you start housekeeping when you return to Tokyo, and taking out this ten, I have still forty yen left,--quite safe."
I should say women are very particular on many things.
juxtaposition 並列、並べること
simple syllable 単音節（原文では平仮名）
untangle 解く、解決する
waft 漂う
banana tree バショウ（芭蕉）のこと（英名を Japanese banana という）
economize 倹約する
rainy day （将来）金が必要になる時、まさかの時
夏目漱石による原文はこちら。
＊＊＊ 慣用句を覚えよう ＊＊＊
Face（顔）‐１
at [in, on] the first face
ちょっと見たところでは
Bag your face!
顔隠せ、おまえむかつく、うせろ
before someone's face
人の面前で
break someone's face
人の顔をなぐる、ぶちのめす
change the face of
…の様相を一変させる
do one's face
化粧をする
face down
顔を下げて、表を下にして
face on
顔をその方に向けて、うつ伏せに（倒れるなど）
face-to-face
面と向かって、直面して
face up
顔を上げて、表を上にして
fall (flat) on one's face
うつ伏せに（ぶざまに）倒れる、（ぶざまに）失敗する
fly in the face [teeth] of
（権威・習慣など）に食ってかかる、反抗する
【参考】
▽青空文庫
