MURDER at the Tokyo Lawn Tennis Clubを読み終えたので、もう一冊図書館にある同じ著者の本を予約したのですが、他には誰も読んでいない状態のはずなのに調査中のままで手に入りません。別の本を予約しましたが、それが届く前のつなぎとして読みかけの子供向けの本を読みました。BROWNIESというタイトルでBROWNIESは想像上の小さな妖精です。次ぎの抜粋個所でも分かりますが、文章は見事に全て韻が踏まれています。BROWNIESがSnow Manを作る話の個所です。
What plan or shape the busy band
Of cunning Brownies had in hand.
But plan they had, and deftness too,
As well was seen when they were through.
The rounded form and manly port
Showed modeling of rarest sort,
While charcoal eyes, so well designed
They seemed to read the very mind,
Long icicles for beard and hair,
Were last affixed with taste and care.
"manly port" の意味が分からないので辞書を引きます。
・Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary: the manner of bearing oneself
・Wiktionary: (archaic) The manner in which a person carries himself; bearing; deportment; carriage.
どうも古い言葉の様で、最近の辞書には例文なしで上記程度の説明か、この意味を載せていないものがほとんどですが、古い辞書には次ぎのように例文も載せていました。
・Webster's Revised Unabridged, 1913 Edition: The manner in which a person bears himself; deportment; carriage; bearing; demeanor; hence, manner or style of living; as, a proud port. Spenser.: And of his port as meek as is a maid. Chaucer.: The necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port in the world. South.
・Webster's 1828 Dictionary: Carriage; air; mien; manner of movement or walk; demeanor; external appearance; as a proud port; the port of a gentleman:.
Their port was more than human.
With more terrific port
Thou walkest.
古い言葉なのでこんな意味は覚えなくても良いかなと思いましたが、小学生が読む本に出てきた単語なので、知らないのも恥ずかしい気がします。
What plan or shape the busy band
Of cunning Brownies had in hand.
But plan they had, and deftness too,
As well was seen when they were through.
The rounded form and manly port
Showed modeling of rarest sort,
While charcoal eyes, so well designed
They seemed to read the very mind,
Long icicles for beard and hair,
Were last affixed with taste and care.
"manly port" の意味が分からないので辞書を引きます。
・Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary: the manner of bearing oneself
・Wiktionary: (archaic) The manner in which a person carries himself; bearing; deportment; carriage.
どうも古い言葉の様で、最近の辞書には例文なしで上記程度の説明か、この意味を載せていないものがほとんどですが、古い辞書には次ぎのように例文も載せていました。
・Webster's Revised Unabridged, 1913 Edition: The manner in which a person bears himself; deportment; carriage; bearing; demeanor; hence, manner or style of living; as, a proud port. Spenser.: And of his port as meek as is a maid. Chaucer.: The necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port in the world. South.
・Webster's 1828 Dictionary: Carriage; air; mien; manner of movement or walk; demeanor; external appearance; as a proud port; the port of a gentleman:.
Their port was more than human.
With more terrific port
Thou walkest.
古い言葉なのでこんな意味は覚えなくても良いかなと思いましたが、小学生が読む本に出てきた単語なので、知らないのも恥ずかしい気がします。
トータル
