トゥー・マイ・ペット・トータス

解説

付記

友よ、あなたは優雅ではない――まるでない。 歩みはよろめきと這いの中間。 美しくもない――その頭は蛇のごとく、 きっと痛みに苛まれている。 足など天使を泣かせる有様。 眠るときにしか引っ込めぬ。 だが私は認めねばならぬ―― あなたには「背骨」という確かな堅さがある。 強さと剛毅――偉大なる者が用いる徳を。 あなたには「魂」が欠けているが―― それでも未来の世では、 人類が絶えたのち、 あなたの末裔がこの地を支配するのかもしれぬ。 私は夢見る――あらゆる玉座にカメが座る世を。 法を恐れて甲羅に引きこもる皇帝、 贅肉以外を背負う王、 異論を銃弾で処すことなき大統領、 急ぎすぎず、ゆっくりとした進歩。 「時をかけよ」と教会も国家も言う世を。 ああ、カメよ――なんと幸福な夢！ エデンにおいて、あなたがノロノロと歩み入り、 アダムを追い出してくれたなら。

管理人コメント

Original

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Additional notes

My friend, you are not graceful—not at all; Your gait's between a stagger and a sprawl. Nor are you beautiful: your head's a snake's To look at, and I do not doubt it aches. As to your feet, they'd make an angel weep. Tis true you take them in whene'er you sleep. No, you're not pretty, but you have, I own, A certain firmness—mostly you're backbone. Firmness and strength (you have a giant's thews) Are virtues that the great know how to use— I wish that they did not; yet, on the whole, You lack—excuse my mentioning it—Soul. So, to be candid, unreserved and true, I'd rather you were I than I were you. Perhaps, however, in a time to be, When Man's extinct, a better world may see Your progeny in power and control, Due to the genesis and growth of Soul. So I salute you as a reptile grand Predestined to regenerate the land. Father of Possibilities, O deign To accept the homage of a dying reign! In the far region of the unforeknown I dream a tortoise upon every throne. I see an Emperor his head withdraw Into his carapace for fear of Law; A King who carries something else than fat, Howe'er acceptably he carries that; A President not strenuously bent On punishment of audible dissent— Who never shot (it were a vain attack) An armed or unarmed tortoise in the back; Subject and citizens that feel no need To make the March of Mind a wild stampede; All progress slow, contemplative, sedate, And "Take your time" the word, in Church and State. O Tortoise, 'tis a happy, happy dream, My glorious testudinous regime! I wish in Eden you'd brought this about By slouching in and chasing Adam out.