四百ヤード半径の広い区域を持つ住宅街を離れて、火の危険の及ばない、居を定めていた南の一軒家に向けて出発した時には、北からの風がとても強くなってきており、ぼくは無造作に二台の乗り物を家のドアのところに乗り捨てたが、怪我の心配もなければ、何かが起こるということもなかった。ぼくはそれから塔の最上階へと上り、キャンドルに火を点けて、用意しておいた夕食を飽くことなくすっかりと平らげたが、それは今朝から何も食べてはいなかったせいだ。それから慄く手と心で、ぼくは低いスプリングベッドのカバーを整え、朝の時間のあいだ、その中に身を沈めた。ベッドの反対側の壁には、芥子の花を形取った綿モスリンが吊るされた、敷居の低い、かなり大きなゴシック様式の窓があり、そこから直接南が見渡せたが、それゆえに赤いベルベットの安楽椅子にゆっくりとくつろいで横たわりながら、眺めることができた。そこは明らかに若い女性の部屋だった。トイレットの上にはカットグラスのボトル、ブラウン・ヘアのプリーツ、おしろい、rouge-aux-lèvres（直訳すると「赤い唇」。口紅）、小さなブロンズのスリッパが片方、それにニックナックなどがあったからで、ぼくは彼女のことを愛しもしたし、憎みもしたが、その彼女の姿はどこにも見えなかった。八時半頃、ぼくは右手にすべての準備を整えて、見物のために窓辺に座り、赤い部屋の中の蝋燭は消した。舞台の幕が開いたからだ。地上の大気は地獄へと変化したように思えたが、地獄はぼくの魂の中に存在した。
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As I had left a good semicircular region of houses, with a radius of four hundred yards, without combustibles to the south of the isolated house which I was to occupy, and as the wind was so strongly from the north, I simply left my two vehicles at the door of the house, without fear of any injury: nor did any occur. I then went up to the top of the tower, lit the candles, and ate voraciously of the dinner which I had left ready, for since the morning I had taken nothing; and then, with hands and heart that quivered, I arranged the clothes of the low spring-bed upon which to throw my frame in the morning hours. Opposite the wall, where lay the bed, was a Gothic window, pretty large, with low sill, hung with poppy-figured muslin, and looking directly south, so that I could recline at ease in the red-velvet easy-chair, and see. It had evidently been a young lady's room: for on the toilette were cut-glass bottles, a plait of brown hair, powders, rouge-aux-lèvres,one little bronze slipper, and knick-knacks, and I loved her and hated her, though I did not see her anywhere. About half-past eight I sat at the window to watch, all being arranged and ready at my right hand, the candles extinguished in the red room: for the theatre was opened, was opened: and the atmosphere of this earth seemed turned into Hell, and Hell was in my soul.
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As I had left a good semicircular region of houses, with a radius of four hundred yards, without combustibles to the south of the isolated house which I was to occupy, and as the wind was so strongly from the north, I simply left my two vehicles at the door of the house, without fear of any injury: nor did any occur. I then went up to the top of the tower, lit the candles, and ate voraciously of the dinner which I had left ready, for since the morning I had taken nothing; and then, with hands and heart that quivered, I arranged the clothes of the low spring-bed upon which to throw my frame in the morning hours. Opposite the wall, where lay the bed, was a Gothic window, pretty large, with low sill, hung with poppy-figured muslin, and looking directly south, so that I could recline at ease in the red-velvet easy-chair, and see. It had evidently been a young lady's room: for on the toilette were cut-glass bottles, a plait of brown hair, powders, rouge-aux-lèvres,one little bronze slipper, and knick-knacks, and I loved her and hated her, though I did not see her anywhere. About half-past eight I sat at the window to watch, all being arranged and ready at my right hand, the candles extinguished in the red room: for the theatre was opened, was opened: and the atmosphere of this earth seemed turned into Hell, and Hell was in my soul.
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"The Purple Cloud"
Written by M.P. Shiel
(M.P. シール)
Translated by shigeyuki
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