草枕 13

久一さんの出征の見送りに行く。ミスター志保田がご老体なので山越えはせず、川下りでステーションへ。ベルの音で列車が滑り出すと、最後列の車両の窓から例の野武士が顔を出す。一瞬那美さんと目が合う。那美さんの表情に「憐れ」が浮かぶ。

• 汽車に「乗る」のではなく「積み込まれる」のだ

People are said to board and travel by train, but I call it being loaded and transported. Nothing shows a greater contempt for individuality than the train. Modern civilization uses every possible means to develop individuality, and having done so, tries everything in its power to stamp it out. It allots a few square yards to each person, and tells him that he is free to lead his life as he pleases within that area. At the same time it erects railings around him, and threatens him with all sorts of dire consequences if he should dare to take but one step beyond their compass. It is only natural that the man who has freedom within the confines of his allocated plot, should desire to have freedom to do as he wishes outside it too. Civilization's pitiable subjects are forever snapping and snarling a imprisoning bars, for they have been made as fierce as tigers by the gift of liberty, but have been thrown into a cage to preserve universal peace. This, however, is not a true peace. It is the peace of the tiger in a menagerie who lies glowering at those who have come to look at him. If just one ber is ever taken out of the cage, the world will erupt into chaos, and a second French Revolution will ensue. Even now there are constant individual revolts.

• やっと終わった＼(^o^)／

はっきり言って、わたしには難し過ぎた。元の「草枕」そのものがレベルが高いんだと思う。それでも、昨日の「生まれ変わるなら、木瓜になりたい」と言うの、しみじみわかるな〜。


考えてみると「我が輩は猫である」「坊ちゃん」の流れでお気楽に読み始めたんだよな〜…「猫」も充分難しかったけど、難解な漢字などは読み飛ばしていたんだと思う。ルビも付いてたし。
つまり「わからんところは読み飛ばせ！」ってのは、あのころから身に付いてたんだわさ。この調子で、英文もやっつけたら良いんだな?…そのうちにちゃんと読めるようになるかは、未知数（汗）