book2-6


So much then for the women. Now the rebels on their part when they had reached the gate in the circular walls of Blachernae, burst its lock and thus had free access to the royal stables. And some of the horses there they left after first slitting their hind-legs from the thigh downwards with the sword, and of the rest they chose those which seemed to them in the best condition, and thence betook themselves with all speed to the monastery, somewhere near the city, called Cosmidium. And here, if I may insert something to [56] make my tale run more clearly, they found the aforementioned Mistress of the Wardrobe, before the Emperor sent to fetch her, as I have told. They took their leave of this woman when they were ready to ride away and they persuaded George Palaeologus to take sides with them and compelled him to depart with them. For before this they had not divulged their plans to him because of a natural suspicion; for the father of this George was extremely devoted to the Emperor, and therefore revealing their project of rebellion to him would have been rather dangerous. And at first indeed, Palaeologus did not show himself at all amenable, but opposed many objections and reproved them for their breach of faith to the emperor and for the fact that, as the proverb has it, they became turncoats.

女性達の話はいったん終わることにしよう。反乱のもう一方、コムネノス兄弟がブラケルナエを囲む壁の門に着くと、鍵を壊し、皇室の厩を自由にすることができた。最初にそこにいた馬のともを剣で切り裂き、そして残った馬のなかで最もいい状態にある馬を選んで、その馬を駆ってコスメディアムという名のコンスタンティノープル近くの修道院を目指した。そしてそこで、もし私が話を明確にするための挿話を許されるなら、兄弟は前述の「衣装ダンスの女主人」を見つけた。私が前に述べた通り、皇帝が彼女を捕まえる前の話である。兄弟は馬に乗って立ち去る準備が整い、かつゲオルギオス・パレオロゴスを彼らの側に立つように説得し、共に来るように強いた後、ダラッセナに暇乞いをした。当然の懸念の為に、この出来事の前に兄弟は彼らの計画をゲオルギオス・パレオロゴスに漏らしてはいなかった。彼の父は皇帝に心から仕えていたし、それゆえ反乱の計画を彼に伝えても却って危険であったからである。そして、最初は、実際パレオロゴスは全く従順とは言えず、兄弟に反論し皇帝の信頼を裏切ること、および彼らが文字通り表裏を裏返した(裏切った)ことを詰った。
  
But when the Mistress of the Wardrobe, Palaeologus mother-in-law, insisted firmly on his joining them under threat of dire punishment, he began to yield and his next concern was for the safety of the women, namely his wife Anna and his mother-in-law Maria, for the latter was descended from one of the first families of Bulgaria and was so attractive by reason of the beauty and grace of limbs and features that she was considered the most beautiful of all the women then living. Thus George and Alexius were not free from anxiety about her, and both felt that the women must be removed from that place, but while Alexius' party advised their being conveyed to some fortress, Palaeologus suggested the sanctuary of our Lady in Blachernae - and George's opinion prevailed. So they went off at once with these women and placed them under the care of the Holy Mother of the all-embracing Word. On their return to the place whence they started, they consulted on their best course of action, and Palaeologus and, "You two must get away from here; and I will soon overtake, you, and bring my property, with me?" For as it happened he had all his movable property stored there. Without further delay therefore the Comneni started on their journey; and, after loading his property on the monies' beasts of burden, Palaeologus rode after them. And he came up with them at Tzouroulus (a Thracian village) where by a lucky chance they all joined the army which had occupied it by command of the Domestic.

しかし、衣装ダンスの女主人、パレオロゴスには義理の母になる人が来たるべき恐ろしい処罰を説いて強固に彼が兄弟について行くことを主張すると彼は折れ始めた、そして次に彼に降りかかってきた不安は女達の安全、要するに彼の妻のアンナとその義理の母、マリアの事であった。マリアはブルガリアの第一等の家の出で、その優雅な四肢と美しさでとても魅力的であった。そしてそうしたことで地上で最も美しい人であると見なされていた。それゆえ、ゲオルギオスとアレクシオスはマリアのことで心配がつきなかったし、両人とも女達はこの場所に置いておけないと思っていた。アレクシオスの配下は女達をどこかの要塞に移すべきと言ったが、パレオロゴスはブラケルナエの聖母マリアの聖域に移ることを提案し、この意見が勝った。それで、すぐに女達を聖母マリアの庇護の許にある区域に送り届けることになった。その後、女達を送り届ける前の場所に戻ると、今後どのようにするのが最善かを相談した。パレオロゴスは「あなた達二人は直ぐにここを離れるべきだ、私は直ぐに追いつく、財産を一緒にもって行っていいだろ?」といった。たまたま、彼は運べる財産をそこに保管していたのだ。それ以上遅れることなく兄弟は発ち、パレオロゴスはちょうど彼の財産を役畜に積んだ後、兄弟を馬で追いかけた。パレオロゴスはツォウロウラス(トラキアの村)で兄弟に追いつき、折良くアレクシオスの命令で街を落とした軍と合流することができた。(注:ゲオルギオス・パレオロゴスの妻、アンナはドゥーカス家の出で、アレクシオスの妻のエイレーネの姉妹、それゆえパレオロゴスはアレクシオスの義理の兄弟になる)

Then thinking it right to send news of their doings to John Ducas, the ex-emperor, who was at that time living on his own property in the country of Morobundus, they dispatched a messenger to inform him of their rebellion. The man carrying the message happened to arrive at early dawn and was standing [57] outside the gates of the farm asking for the Emperor. And his grandchild John, still quite a child, not even a boy yet, and consequently always with the Emperor, saw the man and at once ran in, woke up his grandfather who was still asleep, and told him of the rebellion. But the latter astounded by the words, gave the child a box on the ears, and advising him not to talk nonsense, sent him off. In a little while, however, he came back again, bringing the same news, and in addition the message addressed to his grandfather by the Comneni. Now this message had an excellent touch of wit in it which hinted at Alexius' doings for it said; "We on our side have prepared a right good meal, not wanting in rich condiments, but if you on your side wish to share this banquet, you must come with all speed to partake of it." Then the Emperor sat up and propping himself on his right elbow bade them bring in the messenger, and when this man had finished his tale about the Comneni, he at once exclaimed; "Woe is me!" and clapped his hands over his eyes. And after grasping his beard for a time, as a man will when revolving matters of deep import in his mind, he settled on this one point, namely, that he too would yield to their wish. Therefore he immediately summoned his grooms and mounting his horse, rode off to join the Comneni.

そこでコムネノス兄弟はかれらの行為をヨハネス・ドゥーカスに知らせることが良いと考えて、彼らの反乱を知らせるべく使者を派遣した。使者は知らせを持って走り、たまたま早朝に着いたので皇帝に会おうと門の外で立ったまま待った。そして皇帝の孫のヨハネスが、ほんの子供で、少年とさえ言いかねる歳であったが、それゆえに常に皇帝と共にいたのだが、使者に会って、中に走って、まだ寝ている祖父を起こして反乱の事を告げた。しかし皇帝は驚き、孫の横面を張りつけた、そして孫に訳の分からないことを言うなといって彼を下がらせた。しばらくして、孫は再びやって来て同じ知らせを告げ、知らせがコムネノス兄弟から自分に宛てられたものだと知った。この知らせは機知に富んだ言い回しでアレクシオスがやっていることを仄めかす内容であった、曰く「私たちは友人を迎えるのに食卓を整えております、香辛料が欠けているわけではありませんが、もしあなた方が我々と食卓を共にするつもりがお有りでしたら、急いで来られることをお勧め致します。」そこで皇帝は床を抜け出して右の肘で体を支えて使者をなかに入れるように命じた。使者がコムネノス兄弟の話をし終わると彼は直ぐに「ああ、なんと悲しいことよ!」と叫んだ。そして両目を手で叩いた。そしてしばらく髭を手でしごいた後に種々のの事柄を心の奥底へ押しやり、一つの事を決めた、即ち、コムネノス兄弟の申し出でに応じることであった。そして、ヨハネスは直ぐに馬丁を呼び、馬の背に跨ってコムネノス兄弟の許へ向かった。

On the way he chanced upon a Byzantine who was carrying a heavy purse of gold and travelling to the capital, so in the words of Homer he asked him, "Who and whence art thou?" On learning that he had collected a large sum from certain taxes and was conveying it to the treasury, he urged him to halt for the night with him, promising that at daybreak he should go off where he liked. At the other's refusing and getting angry, the Emperor insisted all the more and finally persuaded him - for he was marvellously glib of speech and quick in thought, and persuasion sat on his tongue as if he were a second Aeschines or Demosthenes. So he took him with him and turned in at an inn, where he detained him by looking after him kindly in all ways, making him share his table and seeing that he could rest comfortably. But at dawn just when the sun was climbing up the eastern horizon, the Byzantine spread the cloths on the horses and was for hurrying off to ride at full speed to Byzantium. The Emperor seeing this called: "Stop and travel with us," but the other not knowing where he was going and being moreover quite in the dark about the reason which made him the object of so much solicitude, became vexed and suspicious again of the Emperor [58] and his friendly ways. But the Emperor insisted and began pulling at him, and as the other still did not yield, he changed his manner and spoke more roughly and threatened him if he would not do as he was ordered. As the other still did not obey he ordered all the stranger's possessions to be packed with his own on his beasts and started on his journey, giving the other permission to go where he liked. Then the man abandoned his intention of going to the Palace from fear of being imprisoned if the Treasury-officials saw him come with empty hands; again he was not anxious to return home because of the unsettled and confused state of the country resultant upon the rebellion of the Comneni which had emerged, and so against his will he followed the Emperor.

その途中で、偶々重たい金の袋を首都に運んでいる男を見つけた、そこでホメロスの言葉さながらヨハネスは男に尋ねた「貴方はどこから来た誰ですか?」男が大量の税金を集めて金庫に運ぶ途中であると分かったので、夜明けにはどこへなりとも立ち去ってよいという条件で、一晩足止めするよう促した。男がこれを断り怒り出したので、皇帝はますます強く言い張り、ついには彼を説得した。ヨハネスは口が達者で、頭の回転も速かった、彼の説得はまるでアイスキネスやデモステネスの再来とも言うべきものであった。そうして、ヨハネスは男を伴って宿を取り、そこで、食卓を共にしたり、男が快適に休めるようにしたりと何くれとなくみてやって、足止めをした。しかし、太陽が丁度地平線から昇ろうかという夜明けに、この男は馬の背に布を乗せて、首都へ全速力で急ごうとしていた。皇帝はこれを見て、「止まって、我々と共に行こう」と呼びかけたが、男はヨハネスがどこへ向かおうとしているのかを知らなかったし、どんな理由でもってヨハネスが親切にしてくれるのか、なお一層分からなかったので、皇帝とその友好的な振る舞いに対して当惑しまた疑わしさを覚えていた。皇帝はなおも一緒に来るように言って、彼を引っ張ったが、男は首を縦に振らなかった。そこでヨハネスは態度を変え、口調も荒々しく言うとおりにしろと男を脅した。男はなおも言うことに従わなかったので、ヨハネスはこの男の持っているものを自分の馬の背に載せるように命じ、旅路を続けることにし、男にはどこへなりとも行くように言った。そこで男は宮殿に向かうことをあきらめた、手ぶらで来たことを役人に知られれば投獄されるという恐れからであった。また、故郷へ帰ることも気乗りするものではなかった、コムネノス兄弟の反乱のせいで混乱した状態にあったからである。そこで自らの意志に反して彼は皇帝に付いていくこととなった。

And next the following incident took place. As he was starting, the Emperor fell in with some Turks who had just crossed the river Eurus.[* R. Hebrus] So drawing reign, he enquired whence and whither they were going, and straightway promised them much money and all kinds of rewards if they would accompany him to the Comneni - and so they consented. Later he demanded an oath from their leaders as he wished to confirm their agreement by it, and this they immediately gave after their fashion and assured him that they would most readily fight on the side of the Comneni. After this he started taking the Turks with him as well to the Comneni. The latter saw him from afar and were overjoyed at his strange booty, and they both, but especially my father Alexius, could scarcely contain themselves for delight. Alexius went to meet him and embraced and kissed him. And what followed? At the Emperor's suggestion and suasion they set forth on the road leading to the capital. And all the men from the country-towns flocked to Alexius as volunteers and proclaimed him Emperor - the only exception were the men of Orestias who had an old grudge against him for having captured Bryennius, and therefore they adhered to the part of Botaniates. When they had reached the Athyras, they rested there for one day and then pushed on and reached Schiza (which is also a village in Thrace) and formed an entrenched camp there.

そして、次の出来事が起きた。男が出発すると、皇帝がユーラス川を渡ったトルコ人と遭遇したのである。威厳を持って、皇帝は彼らにどこから来てどこへ行くのかを尋ねた、そして彼らに、共にコムネノス兄弟のところへ来るなら大金とあらゆる種類の報酬を約束すると言って、彼らを満足させた。後で、ヨハネスはトルコ人のリーダーに、先の約束について誓いを立てること求めた。誓いは彼らのやり方によって直ちになされて、このことでヨハネスはトルコ人達がコムネノス兄弟の側に立って戦う保証を得た。誓いを立てさせた後、ヨハネスはトルコ人達をコムネノス兄弟の許に一緒につれていった。兄弟はヨハネスを遠くから見てその奇妙な戦利品に非常に喜んだ。そして兄弟二人、特に我が父アレクシオスは喜びを隠すことができなかった。アレクシオスはヨハネスに会いに行き、彼を抱きしめて接吻した。そして、その後はどうなったのだろう?皇帝の示唆と勧めによって首都へと歩を進めることになった。帝国中の街や村から集まった兵士達全員がアレクシオスを皇帝と呼んだ。例外はオレステアスの者達で、彼らはブリューエンニオスを捕らえたことを恨んでおり、ボタネイアテスに味方していた。アシラスの街に着いた時、そこで一日休み、シザ(ここもトラキアの村)まで押し出し、そこで陣を張ることにした。

(注:英文でヨハネスが前皇帝となっているが、実際に彼の爵位はカエサルで皇帝ではない)


  • 最終更新:2013-04-03 16:56:46

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