⤴️ブログ冒頭の画像：記事内容と関係なさそうな「美人さん系」が少なくないことの理由はなんだろう？
https://blog.goo.ne.jp/kabu2kaiba/e/c566c210ad11db94fc1d87a5fddcf58e
旧憲法、「大日本帝国憲法」のテクストを収録します。英文は、憲法起草プロジェクトの中心、伊藤博文の著書『憲法義解』（1889）の英訳本『Commentaries on the constitution of the empire of Japan』（1889）のものです。翻訳者は、これまた、井上毅・金子堅太郎の両氏とともに旧憲法の起草者の一人とされる伊東巳代治。旧憲法の英文は下記サイトに搭載されています。
・Hanover Historical Texts Project
（Scanned by Jonathan Dresner, Harvard University）
http://history.hanover.edu/texts/1889con.html
・Project Gutenberg
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1443010
この英文に関しては、上記Project Gutenbergに「The above is the semi-official translation, which appeared in H.Ito, Commentaries on the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, trans. M. Ito, 1889.」と述べられている通り、本書『憲法義解： Commentaries on the constitution of the empire of Japan』は伊藤博文の私著の体裁を取ってはいるものの（当時の日本にとって所謂「不平等条約」の改正が最大級の懸案事項だったこともあり）、明治政府は、この「旧憲法の準公式英文テクスト」を欧米の憲法学・国家論の主要な研究者に寄贈しており、加之、明治政府中枢の意向を受けた、ハーバード大学の卒業生でもある金子堅太郎はこの「準公式英文テクスト」を携えて欧米に赴き近代化する日本の姿をアピールして廻った由。
すなわち、この英文も、
б(≧◇≦)ノ ・・・「坂の上の雲」してるじゃん！
б(≧◇≦)ノ ・・・大日本帝国憲法の制定は憲法の日本海海戦だぁー！
б(≧◇≦)ノ ・・・大日本帝国憲法の制定は国家論の奉天決戦だぁー！
と、そう私は考えます。
而して、現行の「日本国憲法」に対しては、その制定に至る経緯からか、些か皮肉も込めて、日本国憲法はGHQの草案を元に、というか、その和訳としてできたのだから「日本語テクストではなく英文テクストの方が、寧ろ、正本である」という声を聞くことがあります。実際、私は現行憲法の解釈に関しては日本語本文は不要とか邪魔とまでは言いませんが、基本的には英文テクストを元に議論した方が生産的、鴨。と、思わないではありません。それが、憲法を作ってくださったマッカーサー元帥に対する礼儀だろう、とも。
けれども、この「大日本帝国憲法」の英文テクストを紐解くとき、1889年、明治22年の段階で、結果から言えば、そう、日清戦争を5年後、日露戦争を15年後に控えていたこの時代の日本で、和文にせよ英文にせよこのテクストを理解できた人士が国民の何％程いたかを想起するとき、換言すれば、この憲法典が取りあえずどんなタイプの読者を念頭に置いて書かれたかに思いを馳せるとき、「日本語テクストではなく英文テクストの方が、寧ろ、正本である」という事情は、現行憲法だけではなく旧憲法についても同様だったの、鴨。
と、そう感じないではありません。間違いなく、1889年時点で起草者が想定していた読者の過半は欧米の研究者や外交官、すなわち、欧米列強の指導者とそのブレーンだったと私は考えますから。
以下、「大日本帝国憲法」の英文テクストの紹介。但し、読者の便宜とこのエントリー記事の利用方法の幅を広げるため、日英対訳形式で（かつ、資料としての価値を保つために和文は旧字旧仮名遣いの原典のままで）紹介させていただくことにしました。而して、その代わりに、本最終記事④の末尾に、付録として「告文・憲法発布勅語・上諭」の現代語訳を収めさせていただきました。ご了承ください。
大日本帝国憲法（明治22年2月11日公布）
The Constitution of the Empire of Japan, 1889 by Japan
告文
Imperial Oath Sworn in the Sanctuary in the Imperial Palace (Tsuge-bumi)
皇朕レ謹ミ畏ミ
皇祖
皇宗ノ神靈ニ誥ケ白サク皇朕レ天壤無窮ノ宏謨ニ循ヒ惟神ノ寶祚ヲ承繼シ舊圖ヲ保持シテ敢テ失墜スルコト無シ顧ミルニ世局ノ進運ニ膺リ人文ノ發達ニ隨ヒ宣ク
皇祖
皇宗ノ遺訓ヲ明徵ニシ典憲ヲ成立シ條章ヲ昭示シ內ハ以テ子孫ノ率由スル所ト爲シ外ハ以テ臣民翼贊ノ道ヲ廣メ永遠ニ遵行セシメ益〻國家ノ丕基ヲ鞏固ニシ八洲民生ノ慶福ヲ進スヘシ玆ニ皇室典範及憲法ヲ制定ス惟フニ此レ皆
皇祖
皇宗ノ後裔ニ貽シタマヘル統治ノ洪範ヲ紹述スルニ外ナラス而シテ朕カ躬ニ逮テ時ト倶ニ擧行スルコトヲ得ルハ洵ニ
皇祖
皇宗及我カ
皇考ノ威靈ニ倚藉スルニ由ラサルハ無シ皇朕レ仰テ
皇祖
皇宗及
皇考ノ神祐ヲ禱リ倂セテ朕カ現在及將來ニ臣民ニ率先シ此ノ憲章ヲ履行シテ愆ラサラムコトヲ誓フ庶幾クハ
神靈此レヲ鑒ミタマヘ
We, the Successor to the prosperous Throne of Our Predecessors, do humbly and solemnly swear to the Imperial Founder of Our House and to Our other Imperial Ancestors that, in pursuance of a great policy co-extensive with the Heavens and with the Earth, We shall maintain and secure from decline the ancient form of government.
In consideration of the progressive tendency of the course of human affairs and in parallel with the advance of civilization, We deem it expedient, in order to give clearness and distinctness to the instructions bequeathed by the Imperial Founder of Our House and by Our other Imperial Ancestors, to establish fundamental laws formulated into express provisions of law, so that, on the one hand, Our Imperial posterity may possess an express guide for the course they are to follow, and that, on the other, Our subjects shall thereby be enabled to enjoy a wider range of action in giving Us their support, and that the observance of Our laws shall continue to the remotest ages of time. We will thereby to give greater firmness to the stability of Our country and to promote the welfare of all the people within the boundaries of Our dominions; and We now establish the Imperial House Law and the Constitution. These Laws come to only an exposition of grand precepts for the conduct of the government, bequeathed by the Imperial Founder of Our House and by Our other Imperial Ancestors. That we have been so fortunate in Our reign, in keeping with the tendency of the times, as to accomplish this work, We owe to the glorious Spirits of the Imperial Founder of Our House and of Our other Imperial Ancestors.
We now reverently make Our prayer to Them and to Our Illustrious Father, and implore the help of Their Sacred Spirits, and make to Them solemn oath never at this time nor in the future to fail to be an example to our subjects in the observance of the Laws hereby established.
May the heavenly Spirits witness this Our solemn Oath. 
憲法發布勅語
Imperial Rescript on the Promulgation of the Constitution
朕國家ノ隆昌ト臣民ノ慶福トヲ以テ中心ノ欣榮トシ朕カ祖宗ニ承クルノ大權ニ依リ現在及將來ノ臣民ニ對シ此ノ不磨ノ大典ヲ宣布ス
Whereas We make it the joy and glory of Our heart to behold the prosperity of Our country, and the welfare of Our subjects, We do hereby, in virtue of the Supreme power We inherit from Our Imperial Ancestors, promulgate the present immutable fundamental law, for the sake of Our present subjects and their descendants.
惟フニ我カ祖我カ宗ハ我カ臣民祖先ノ協力輔翼ニ倚リ我カ帝國ヲ肇造シ以テ無窮ニ垂レタリ此レ我カ神聖ナル祖宗ノ威ト竝ニ臣民ノ忠實勇武ニシテ國ヲ愛シ公ニ殉ヒ以テ此ノ光輝アル國史ノ成跡ヲ貽シタルナリ朕我カ臣民ハ卽チ祖宗ノ忠良ナル臣民ノ子孫ナルヲ囘想シ其ノ朕カ意ヲ奉體シ朕カ事ヲ奬順シ相與ニ和衷協同シ益〻我カ帝國ノ光榮ヲ中外ニ宣揚シ祖宗ノ遺業ヲ永久ニ鞏固ナラシムルノ希望ヲ同クシ此ノ負擔ヲ分ツニ堪フルコトヲ疑ハサルナリ
The Imperial Founder of Our House and Our other Imperial ancestors, by the help and support of the forefathers of Our subjects, laid the foundation of Our Empire upon a basis, which is to last forever. That this brilliant achievement embellishes the annals of Our country, is due to the glorious virtues of Our Sacred Imperial ancestors, and to the loyalty and bravery of Our subjects, their love of their country and their public spirit. Considering that Our subjects are the descendants of the loyal and good subjects of Our Imperial Ancestors, We doubt not but that Our subjects will be guided by Our views, and will sympathize with all Our endeavors, and that, harmoniously cooperating together, they will share with Us Our hope of making manifest the glory of Our country, both at home and abroad, and of securing forever the stability of the work bequeathed to Us by Our Imperial Ancestors.
上諭
Preamble [or Edict] (Joyu)
朕租宗ノ遺烈ヲ承ケ萬世一系ノ帝位ヲ踐ミ朕カ親愛スル所ノ臣民ハ即チ朕カ租宗ノ惠撫慈シタマヒシ所ノ臣民ナルヲ念ヒ其ノ健ヲ増進シ其ノ懿徳良能ヲ發達セシメムコトヲ願ヒ又其ノ翼贊ニ依リ興ニ倶ニ國家ノ進運ヲ扶持セムコトヲ望ミ乃チ明治十四年十月十二日ノ詔命ヲ履踐シ玆ニ大憲ヲ制定シ朕カ率由スル所ヲ示シ朕カ後嗣及臣民及臣民ノ子孫タル者ヲシテ永遠ニ循行スル所ヲ知ラシム
Having, by virtue of the glories of Our Ancestors, ascended the throne of a lineal succession unbroken for ages eternal; desiring to promote the welfare of, and to give development to the moral and intellectual faculties of Our beloved subjects, the very same that have been favored with the benevolent care and affectionate vigilance of Our Ancestors; and hoping to maintain the prosperity of the State, in concert with Our people and with their support, We hereby promulgate, in pursuance of Our Imperial Rescript of the 12th day of the 10th month of the 14th year of Meiji, a fundamental law of the State, to exhibit the principles, by which We are guided in Our conduct, and to point out to what Our descendants and Our subjects and their descendants are forever to conform.
國家統治ノ大權ハ朕カ之ヲ租宗ニ承ケテ之ヲ子孫ニ傅フル所ナリ朕及朕カ子孫ハ將來此ノ憲法ノ條章ニ循ヒ之ヲ行フコトヲ愆ラサルヘシ
The right of sovereignty of the State, We have inherited from Our Ancestors, and We shall bequeath them to Our descendants. Neither We nor they shall in the future fail to wield them, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution hereby granted.
朕ハ我カ臣民ノ權利及財産ノ安全ヲ貴重シ及之ヲ保護シ此ノ憲法及法律の範圍内ニ於テ其ノ享有ヲ完全ナラシムヘキコトヲ宣言ス
We now declare to respect and protect the security of the rights and of the property of Our people, and to secure to them the complete enjoyment of the same, within the extent of the provisions of the present Constitution and of the law.
帝國議會ハ明治二十三年ヲ以テ之ヲ召集シ議會開會ノ時ヲ以テ此ノ憲法ヲシテ有效ナラシムルノ期トスヘシ
The Imperial Diet shall first be convoked for the 23rd year of Meiji and the time of its opening shall be the date, when the present Constitution comes into force.
將來若此ノ憲法ノ或條章ヲ改定スルノ必要ナル時宜ヲ見ルニ至ラハ朕及朕カ繼統ノ子孫ハ發議ノ權ヲ執リ之ヲ議會ニ付シ議會ハ此ノ憲法ニ定メタル要件ニ依リ之ヲ議決スルノ外朕カ子孫及臣民ハ敢テ之カ紛更ヲ試ミルコトヲ得サルヘシ
When in the future it may become necessary to amend any of the provisions of the present Constitution, We or Our successors shall assume the initiative right, and submit a project for the same to the Imperial Diet. The Imperial Diet shall pass its vote upon it, according to the conditions imposed by the present Constitution, and in no otherwise shall Our descendants or Our subjects be permitted to attempt any alteration thereof.
朕カ在廷ノ大臣ハ朕カ爲ニ此ノ憲法ヲ施行スルノ責ニ任スヘク朕カ現在及將來ノ臣民ハ此ノ憲法ニ對シ永遠ニ從順ノ義務ヲ負フヘシ
Our Ministers of State, on Our behalf, shall be held responsible for the carrying out of the present Constitution, and Our present and future subjects shall forever assume the duty of allegiance to the present Constitution.
＜続く＞
