法窓夜話

、不足がましき事が言えようかと記している。その文章は実に千古の名文であって、これを翻訳するよりは、むしろその原文を誦読する方が、麗瑰流暢なる記述の真味を知ることが出来ようかと思う。依って今その一節を左に抄出する事にした。

…… Even in the days when hope is most flattering, he never took a bright view of the future; nor (let me here add) did he ever attempt to excite brilliant anticipations in the person whom he invited to share that future with him. With admirable sincerity, from the very first, he made her the confidant of his forebodings. Four years before his marriage, he concluded a letter thus; ――‘ …… and may God, above all, strengthen us to bear up under those