Good St. James, and the Merry Barber of Compostella

Just close to the cathedral of Compostella lived a barber whose real name was Pedro Moreno, but who was better known by that of El Macho, “the mule,” because he was so stubborn that if he happened to be playing the guitar, he would not leave off though a dozen customers were waiting to be shaved. But in Spain a barber also applies leeches, draws teeth, and extracts corns, so that it was very annoying for a man who was suffering from tooth-ache, and wanted his tooth taken out or stopped, to have to wait until the barber had finished playing on the guitar.

コンポステーラの大聖堂のすぐそばに、一人の床屋が住んでいた。本当の名はペドロ・モレノだったが、エル・マチョ、つまり「ラバ」という名のほうでよく知られていた。あまりに強情だったので、ギターを弾いているときには、たとえ十人以上の客がひげを剃ってもらおうと待っていても、弾くのをやめなかったからである。けれどもスペインでは床屋は蛭を当て、歯を抜き、魚の目も取る。だから歯痛に苦しんでいて、歯を抜くか詰めるかしてもらいたい男が、床屋がギターを弾き終えるまで待たねばならないのは、たいそう腹立たしいことだった。

He was also a soothsayer, and could repeat the whole of the prophetical Buena Dicha by heart. He was, in fact, the most useful man in Compostella, and had cultivated the art of shaving the face and head from the commencement which consists in watching the flies when standing close to the master who is showing off his skill on a customer, to being able to play the guitar with such proficiency that, holding the neck in his left hand and pressing the cords with the fingers, he shall, by thumping the instrument on the big toe of his left foot, cause it to vibrate the air of the immortal Cachucha or the Bolero, while with his right hand he plays the castanets.

床屋はまた占い師でもあって、予言の文句ブエナ・ディチャ(よき運勢)をそっくり暗唱できた。実のところ、コンポステーラでいちばん役に立つ男だった。そして顔や頭を剃る技を、始まりから磨いてきた。始まりとは、客に腕前を見せている親方のすぐそばに立って蠅を見張ることであり、そこから、ギターの棹を左手で握って指で弦を押さえ、楽器を左足の親指に打ちつけることで不朽のカチューチャやボレロの調べを空気に響かせながら、右手でカスタネットを鳴らせるほどの腕前に至るまでである。

A barber may have his brass chin-basins, which hang outside the door, burnished every day; his fly-catcher renovated every month; his bottles containing leeches nice and clean; and he may know all the scandal of the town, which is decidedly a part of his duty; but if he cannot play the guitar and the castanets at the same time—which he can only do by calling the big toe of his left foot into requisition—he must not be considered a barber of the first class. He may do for shaving poor priests and water-carriers; but he may not shave an abbot, nor an archbishop, still less a grandee of Spain, who may sit before the king with his hat on.

床屋は、戸口の外に吊るした真鍮のあご受け皿を毎日磨かせているかもしれない。蠅取りを毎月新しくしているかもしれない。蛭の入った瓶をこぎれいにしているかもしれない。そして町の噂話をみな知っているかもしれない。それは明らかに床屋の務めの一部である。けれども、もしギターとカスタネットを同時に鳴らせないなら——それは左足の親指の力を借りなければできないのだが——一流の床屋とみなされてはならない。貧しい司祭や水売りのひげを剃るのには間に合うかもしれない。けれども修道院長や大司教のひげを剃ってはならないし、まして王の前で帽子をかぶったまま座ることを許されるスペインの大公のひげを剃ってはならないのである。

In other countries the position of a barber is somewhat less important than it used to be when cleanliness required of a man that he should appear at early mass on the Sunday well shaved; but in Spain, cleanliness of the face is a great recommendation, for a rough chin never earned kisses. Therefore is a barber still held in great respect in the land of the Cid; and although Don Pedro Moreno was known by the name of “El Macho,” no one would have dared address him thus.

ほかの国々では、床屋の地位は、日曜の朝のミサにひげをきれいに剃って出ることが身だしなみとして求められていたころに比べて、いくらか重みを失っている。けれどもスペインでは、顔のこぎれいさは大いに人を引き立てる。ざらざらのあごが口づけを得たためしはないからである。だから床屋はエル・シッドの国では今もたいそう敬われていて、ドン・ペドロ・モレノは「エル・マチョ」の名で知られてはいたが、面と向かってそう呼ぶ勇気のある者はいなかっただろう。

One day the archbishop called on El Macho to request of him to come and look at the image of St. James in the cathedral, to whom the edifice is dedicated, because this miraculous figure, who had wrought so many miracles, had, strange to say, commenced letting his beard grow, much to the astonishment of all the priesthood and of the common people, and to the dismay of several knights who had been knighted at the altar of St. James, because in those days knights did not use beards.

ある日、大司教がエル・マチョを訪ねてきて、大聖堂にある聖ヤコブの像を見に来てくれと頼んだ。大聖堂はこの聖人に捧げられている。というのも、あれほど多くの奇跡を行ってきたこの奇跡の像が、奇妙なことに、ひげを伸ばしはじめたのである。聖職者たちも庶民もみなたいそう驚き、聖ヤコブの祭壇で騎士に叙された何人かの騎士たちはうろたえた。そのころの騎士はひげを生やさなかったからである。

The barber, seeing the archbishop enter his house, advanced, knelt, and kissed his ring; and, knowing on what errand he was come, he was so solicitous of securing the archbishop’s favour, that he put aside his guitar, and respectfully awaited the prelate’s commands.

床屋は大司教が家に入ってくるのを見ると、進み出てひざまずき、その指輪に口づけした。そして大司教がどんな用で来たのか知っていたので、大司教の引き立てを得ようとたいそう気を配って、ギターを脇に置き、うやうやしく高位聖職者の言いつけを待った。

The archbishop having informed Pedro of the state of St. James’s chin, proceeded to inform him that it had been decided, at a meeting of the clergy, to entrust the shaving of the saint to him, Pedro Moreno; but that, as this growth of hair was most exceptional, seeing that the image was of wood, it was probable that the usual process of shaving might not be sufficient.

大司教はペドロに聖ヤコブのあごの有様を話してから、聖職者の会合で、聖人のひげ剃りをペドロ・モレノに任せることに決まったと告げた。けれども像は木でできているのだから、このひげの伸び方はきわめて異例であり、ふつうのひげ剃りのやり方では足りないかもしれない、というのである。

“And you are quite right, most excellent sir, in your supposition,” exclaimed the barber; “for unless I obtain some of the holy water in which the good saint was baptized, and a piece of the soap with which Judas Iscariot greased the rope with which he hanged himself, it will be useless to try and shave him, for the hair will grow as fast as it is taken off.”

「おっしゃるとおりでございます、猊下」と床屋は叫んだ。「よき聖人さまが洗礼を受けた聖水をいくらかと、イスカリオテのユダが首を吊った縄に塗った石鹸のかけらが手に入らないかぎり、剃ろうとしても無駄でございます。剃ったそばから毛が伸びてきますから」

“But that is impossible,” answered the archbishop; “for we do not even know where the good saint was baptized; and as for the soap last used by the arch-traitor, I should not be astonished to hear that Satan had taken it away with him when he came to fetch Judas. No, good Pedro; you must help me out of this difficulty in some other manner.”

「だが、それはできない相談だ」と大司教は答えた。「よき聖人さまがどこで洗礼を受けたのかさえわからないのだから。それにあの大裏切り者が最後に使った石鹸については、サタンがユダを連れに来たときに一緒に持っていってしまったと聞いても驚きはしないよ。いや、よきペドロ、何かほかのやり方でこの難儀から救っておくれ」

“Then we must do with St. James of Compostella what the men of Burgos did with their alcaide, who persisted in getting drunk when he ought to have been getting sober. They got another alcaide as much like the other as possible, excepting that he was not a borracho. We must get another St. James like this one, but without a beard, and the people will be none the wiser.”

「それでは、コンポステーラの聖ヤコブさまを、ブルゴスの者たちが代官にしたのと同じようにするほかございません。その代官は、しらふになるべきときにいつも酔っぱらってばかりいたのです。そこでブルゴスの者たちは、ボラーチョ(酔っぱらい)でないことを除けば前の代官にできるだけ似た代官をもう一人見つけてきました。わたしどもも、この聖ヤコブさまに似ているけれどひげのない聖ヤコブさまをもう一体手に入れればよいのです。そうすれば民には何もわかりません」

“But,” whispered the venerable archbishop, “what are we to do without our real, own, good, sweet St. James, whose miracles have been the means of restoring so many erring ones to the fold, and bringing in so much money to the Church? How can we replace him? And then, again, where can we hide him?”

「だが」と尊い大司教はささやいた。「本物の、われらの、よき、うるわしき聖ヤコブさまなしで、どうすればよいのだ。その奇跡で、あれほど多くの迷える者を群れに連れ戻し、教会にあれほど多くの金をもたらしてくださったお方なのに。どうやって代わりを据えられよう。それにまた、どこにお隠しすればよいのだ」

“All this can be arranged very easily,” answered El Macho. “Any St. James will perform the same miracles, for the people have faith in him. It is the same with me; the hidalgos have faith in me, and therefore believe I am the only man in Compostella that can shave them, although there are many other barbers. It is the people’s faith that performs the miracles. As for hiding the saint, I will put him in a box I have got, and lock him up safely.”

「それはみな、いともたやすく片がつきます」とエル・マチョは答えた。「どの聖ヤコブさまでも同じ奇跡を行われます。民は聖ヤコブさまを信じているのですから。わたしだって同じです。郷士(イダルゴ)の方々はわたしを信じておられるから、ほかにも床屋は大勢いるのに、コンポステーラでご自分のひげを剃れるのはわたし一人だと思っておられるのです。奇跡を行うのは民の信仰なのです。聖人さまをお隠しすることについては、わたしの持っている箱にお入れして、しっかり錠を下ろしておきましょう」

“Fair sir, I leave the matter in your hands,” continued the archbishop; “but beware lest the people get to hear of it.”

「では、この件はそなたに任せよう」と大司教は続けた。「だが民の耳に入らないよう気をつけるのだぞ」

And having said this he mounted his mule and rode off.

そう言うと、大司教はラバにまたがって去っていった。

El Macho went in search of a sculptor, a friend of his, and told him that he wanted an image made exactly like that of St. Iago’s in the cathedral, because he had made a vow that should he live single up to the age of fifty, he would endow his parish church in Cordova with a St. James. He pressed his friend to make haste, and told him he would pay him well for his trouble.

エル・マチョは友だちの彫刻家を探しに行き、大聖堂の聖ヤゴさまの像そっくりの像をこしらえてほしいと言った。五十歳まで独り身でいたら、コルドバの自分の教区教会に聖ヤコブ像を寄進すると誓いを立てたのだ、というのである。床屋は友に急いでくれと頼み、骨折りにはたっぷり払うと言った。

At the end of ten days the image was finished and handed over to the barber, who, in the middle of the night, with the assistance of the archbishop, entered the cathedral, took down good St. James, disrobed him of his armour, and having put it on the new St. James, placed him on the altar, and then carried the old image home.

十日たって像ができあがり、床屋に引き渡された。床屋は真夜中に大司教の手を借りて大聖堂に入り、よき聖ヤコブを降ろして鎧を脱がせ、それを新しい聖ヤコブに着せて祭壇に据えた。そして古い像を家へ運んでいった。

Having locked the door, he proceeded to place the saint in the wooden box, but found out that his legs were too long; so he cut two holes in the side, through which he allowed them to project, and, putting down the lid, locked it.

戸に錠を下ろすと、床屋は聖人を木の箱に入れにかかった。けれども脚が長すぎることがわかったので、箱の横に穴を二つあけて、そこから脚を突き出させ、蓋を閉めて錠を下ろした。

Next morning, after the first mass was over, the people gave vent to their pleasure at seeing that St. James had a shaven face as formerly; and the barber, who was at the door, gained great praise by informing them that he had been the unworthy means of shaving their saintly patron.

次の朝、最初のミサが終わると、民は聖ヤコブが以前のようにひげをきれいに剃った顔をしているのを見て喜びの声を上げた。そして戸口にいた床屋は、自分がふつつかながら守護聖人さまのひげを剃る手立てとなったのだと人々に告げて、大いに褒めそやされた。

Now, the saint, who heard this from his box, commenced to hit about him, and shouted out—

さて、箱のなかでこれを聞いた聖人は、あたりをめちゃくちゃに叩きはじめ、こう叫んだ——

“Good people, I am St. James with the beard. El Macho is a villain!”

「みなの者、わしがひげの聖ヤコブだ。エル・マチョは悪党だぞ!」

But the people laughed, thinking it was the apprentice who was in the alcova, or inner room, and had not got over the previous night’s drinking. So they went their way, laughing at the idea of a beardless boy thinking he was good St. James with the beard.

けれども人々は笑った。アルコバ、つまり奥の部屋にいる弟子が、ゆうべの酒がまだ抜けないのだと思ったのである。そこで人々は、ひげのない小僧が自分をひげのよき聖ヤコブだと思っているとはと笑いながら、立ち去っていった。

Matters went on very well with regard to the new St. James, who was not deficient in working such miracles as the people liked to ascribe to him and to believe of him. The belted knights were pleased to find out that the growing of a beard was only a passing fancy of their patron; and as all were satisfied, and the revenues increased, the priests were also well pleased.

新しい聖ヤコブについては万事うまくいった。新しい聖ヤコブは、人々がその聖人のしわざにし、そうだと信じたがる奇跡を行うのに不足はなかった。帯剣の騎士たちは、ひげを伸ばすのが守護聖人の一時の気まぐれにすぎなかったとわかって喜んだ。そしてみなが満足し、収入も増えたので、司祭たちもたいそう喜んだ。

Good St. James had been confined within his box for about three months when the day for his annual procession came round, and great preparations had been made for the occasion. Each knight had sent his war-horse fully caparisoned, led by two servants in the livery of the family, and followed by his shield and spear-bearers. There were about one hundred and fifty such chargers which preceded the horse bearing the image of St. James, who was kept secure in the saddle by a knight walking on each side, holding his legs, while another one followed bearing his banner. Then came the standard-bearers of the knights, each with a page richly dressed, and then came the archbishop under the pallio, surrounded by the dignitaries of the cathedral and minor priests of the neighbouring villages. All the holy brotherhoods presented themselves in their different coloured robes, with their gold and silver crosses, their richly emblazoned banners; and in their midst walked little girls dressed up to imitate angels, while the little boys swung censers of burning incense. In the rear came twelve squadrons of cavalry, four batteries of artillery, and five brigades of infantry, which had arrived from different garrison towns to take part in the procession. From every window scarlet damask drapery hung, as well as from the balconies where the lovely daughters of Spain in all their holiday grandeur appeared, fanning themselves gracefully—which art they have cultivated to the detriment of conversation, which to them is still an art little attended to.

よき聖ヤコブが三か月ほど箱に閉じ込められていたころ、年に一度の聖ヤコブの行列の日がめぐってきて、そのために大がかりな支度がなされた。騎士はそれぞれ、すっかり馬具をつけた自分の軍馬を、家のお仕着せを着た二人の召使いに引かせ、そのあとに盾持ちと槍持ちを従えさせて送り出した。そうした軍馬がおよそ百五十頭、聖ヤコブの像を乗せた馬の前を進んだ。像は両側を歩く騎士が一人ずつ脚を押さえて鞍の上にしっかり保ち、もう一人の騎士がその旗を掲げてあとに続いた。それから騎士たちの旗手が、それぞれ豪華に着飾った小姓を連れて続き、それから天蓋の下の大司教が、大聖堂の高位の聖職者たちや近くの村々の下位の司祭たちに囲まれてやって来た。聖なる兄弟団はみな、それぞれ色のちがう長衣をまとい、金や銀の十字架と豪華な紋章入りの旗を掲げて姿を見せた。そのなかを天使をまねて着飾った小さな女の子たちが歩き、小さな男の子たちは燃える香の入った香炉を振った。しんがりには、行列に加わるためにあちこちの駐屯地の町から来た十二個中隊の騎兵、四個砲兵隊、五個旅団の歩兵が続いた。どの窓からも緋色のダマスク織りの垂れ幕が下がり、バルコニーからも下がっていた。バルコニーには、スペインの愛らしい娘たちが晴れ着のありったけの華やかさで姿を見せ、優雅に扇を使っていた——娘たちは会話を犠牲にしてこの技を磨いてきたのであり、会話のほうは娘たちにとってまだほとんど顧みられない技なのである。

The streets through which the procession had to pass were strewn with flowers, especially fleurs-de-lis, and crowds had congregated on the pavements.

行列の通る通りには花がまかれ、とりわけアイリスが多かった。そして歩道には群衆が詰めかけていた。

El Macho had given his apprentice a half-holiday, and was standing outside his house, speaking to some customers, when he suddenly heard a great noise, and turning round he saw that good St. James in the box was running towards the cathedral from which the procession was emerging. Peals of laughter and shouts of “El cajon” (“The box”) were taken up by the multitude; but, fortunately for El Macho, they did not see from which house the box on legs had come.

エル・マチョは弟子に半日の休みをやって、家の外に立って客の何人かと話していた。すると急に大きな物音が聞こえ、振り向くと、箱に入ったよき聖ヤコブが、行列の出てくる大聖堂めがけて走っていくのが見えた。群衆から大笑いがわき起こり、「エル・カホン」(「箱だ」)という叫びが次々に上がった。けれどもエル・マチョにとって幸いなことに、人々は脚の生えた箱がどの家から出てきたのかを見ていなかった。

Not waiting for admittance, and knocking over the sentries at the door, the saint in the box made straight for the archbishop, who, knowing what it was, quietly walked into the vestry, followed by St. James, and locked the door.

入れてもらうのを待たずに、戸口の衛兵たちを突き倒して、箱のなかの聖人はまっすぐ大司教のところへ向かった。大司教はそれが何かを知っていたので、静かに聖具室へ入っていき、聖ヤコブもそのあとから入ると、戸に錠を下ろした。

Then he undid the box, and beheld good St. James with a three months’ beard on his chin, who shouted—

それから大司教が箱を開けてみると、あごに三か月分のひげを生やしたよき聖ヤコブがいて、こう叫んだ——

“Have me shaved, good archbishop! Let me take my place in this grand cavalcade, and I promise not to grow a beard again.”

「ひげを剃らせてくれ、よき大司教よ! この壮麗な騎馬行列でわしの場所につかせてくれ。そうすれば二度とひげを伸ばさないと約束する」

The archbishop enjoined silence; and calling for one of his acolytes, he ordered him to stop the procession for half an hour, to have the horse carrying the other St. James led into the enclosed yard, and send for the barber, El Macho. This having been done, the barber was ordered to shave the saint and put on his armour, which the other one was wearing. This did not take long; but even so the people wondered at what had happened, which, however, they were never to know—not even the mystery of this box on legs—because the archbishop issued a pastoral granting plenary absolution to all such as should not ask him any questions, and excommunication to all such as should find out.

大司教は黙っているよう命じた。そして侍者の一人を呼んで、行列を半時間止め、もう一体の聖ヤコブを乗せた馬を囲まれた中庭へ引き入れさせ、床屋のエル・マチョを呼びにやるよう命じた。そうすると、床屋は聖人のひげを剃り、もう一体の聖人が着ている鎧を着せるよう命じられた。これには長くかからなかった。けれどもそれでも、人々は何が起こったのかと不思議がった。けれども人々がそれを知ることは決してなかった——あの脚の生えた箱の謎さえも。というのも大司教が教書を出して、自分に何も尋ねない者にはみな全免償を与え、真相を突き止めた者にはみな破門を下すとしたからである。

Once again on horseback, and surrounded by his faithful knights, St. James received the homage of the vulgar crowds and of the lovely ladies, and returned to his old place on the altar.

ふたたび馬にまたがり、忠実な騎士たちに囲まれて、聖ヤコブは俗な群衆と愛らしい貴婦人たちの敬意を受け、祭壇の古い場所に戻った。

That he did not relish being locked up in the box for three months is proved by the fact that when, on three or four occasions, his vanity got the better of him, and the archbishop thought he saw signs of letting his beard grow, it was quite sufficient to show him the big box for him to withdraw the obnoxious bristles.

聖ヤコブが三か月も箱に閉じ込められたのを好まなかったことは、次の事実で証明される。三度か四度、見栄に負けて、ひげを伸ばしそうなきざしを大司教が見て取ったと思ったときには、大きな箱を見せるだけで、聖ヤコブはけしからぬ剛毛を引っ込めるのに十分だったのである。

The new St. James was presented to the parish church at Cordova by El Macho, and his vow having been thus accomplished, he married the archbishop’s niece, gave up business, and died shortly after.

新しい聖ヤコブは、エル・マチョからコルドバの教区教会に贈られた。こうして誓いを果たすと、エル・マチョは大司教の姪と結婚して商売をやめ、まもなく死んだ。