天罰

解説

付記

次の詩は、流浪の皇帝に向けたガッサラスカ・ジェイプ神父の作。 詩人は、報いが歩み寄る時に振り返って向き合う愚かしさをほのめかしている。 なんと、ドン・ペドロよ―― 穏やかに余生を終えるため、ブラジルに帰りたいと望むのか？ だが、それが保証される根拠はどこにある？ つい先日まで暴動に巻き込まれ、 臣民たちはまるでネズミのようにお前の喉に飛びかかろうとしたではないか。 帝国は恩知らず――その通りだ。 だが共和国がより「安全」だと本当に言えるのか？

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Original

A rain of fire-and-brimstone that falls alike upon the just and such of the unjust as have not procured shelter by evicting them.

Additional notes

In the lines following, addressed to an Emperor in exile by Father Gassalasca Jape, the reverend poet appears to hint his sense of the imprudence of turning about to face Retribution when it is taking exercise: What, what! Dom Pedro, you desire to go Back to Brazil to end your days in quiet? Why, what assurance have you 'twould be so? Tis not so long since you were in a riot, And your dear subjects showed a will to fly at Your throat and shake you like a rat. You know That empires are ungrateful; are you certain Republics are less handy to get hurt in?