人間

解説

付記

世界がまだ若く、人が新しかった頃―― すべては心地よく、 自然は区別を設けなかった。 王と司祭と農民とのあいだに。 だが今はそうではない。 いや、この共和国を除いては。 ここでは、誰もが王である。 たとえ背中が裸同然でも、 飢えに苦しんでいても。 実際、誰もが声を持つ。 ――自らの党が推す専制君主を承認するための一票を。 ある市民が投票を拒み、憎まれた。 愛国者たちは彼を捕らえ、 羽根を貼りつけ、タールを塗った。 「義務を果たせ！ お前の選んだ者に票を投じよ！」 彼は深く頭を下げ、こう言った。 「愛国者の皆さん、私は喜んでそうしたでしょう。 ですが――私の候補は、立候補すらしていなかったのです」 ―― アパートン・デューク

管理人コメント

Original

An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be. His chief occupation is extermination of other animals and his own species, which, however, multiplies with such insistent rapidity as to infest the whole habitable earth and Canada.

Additional notes

When the world was young and Man was new, And everything was pleasant, Distinctions Nature never drew Mongst kings and priest and peasant. We're not that way at present, Save here in this Republic, where We have that old regime, For all are kings, however bare Their backs, howe'er extreme Their hunger. And, indeed, each has a voice To accept the tyrant of his party's choice. A citizen who would not vote, And, therefore, was detested, Was one day with a tarry coat (With feathers backed and breasted) By patriots invested. It is your duty, cried the crowd, Your ballot true to cast For the man o' your choice. He humbly bowed, And explained his wicked past: That's what I very gladly would have done, Dear patriots, but he has never run. Apperton Duke