2017/10/26
「犬派ですか,それとも猫派ですか。」と尋ねられたら,私は犬派だと自覚している。然し,理路整然と犬と猫を比較されると・・・そこまで言わなくてもと犬派としての戸惑いがある。
犬派の皆さん,冷静にAd-Dressing of Cats lyricsをご一読あれ。
『いかがですか 皆さん 猫の生き方は 大いなる心を持ち 誇り高く強く 生きているでしょ もう お分かりのはず とても似ているあなたと とても似ているあの人と とても似ている人間と さあ 猫にご挨拶を 忘れてはいけない 猫は犬にあらずなれなれしい口をきくと しりぞけられる まず猫に出会ったならば 敬虔な心で "O' cat!"
これこそ猫への正しい礼儀なのだ 信頼受ける為には しばし努力してほしい 捧げものを贈るとか 心に語りかけて 信じられる時を待つ 必ず その時が来る その時あなたは猫を唯一の名で呼べる』
ジェリクルキャッツを,大きな父性と指導者としての英知でもって,一つにまとめ,この中心となるオールド・デュトロノミー(長老猫)が人間に呼びかけている。
長い時を生き抜いてきた彼の風格には説得力があるし,英知から導き出されたこの言葉には,律法的な含みを感じる。長老猫の名はDeuteronomium=申命記(旧約聖書)⇒Deuteronomyと名付けたらしい。
※申命記の意味には,語源が示すところによると律法の「写し」,あるいは「繰返し」という意味があるそうだ。
Ad-Dressing of Cats lyrics (London公演の歌)
You've heard of several kinds of cat And my opinion now is that
You should need no interpreter To understand our character
You've learned enough to take the view That cats are very much like you
You've seen us both at work and games And learnt about our proper names
Our habits and our habitat But how would you ad-dress a cat?
So first, your memory I'll jog And say: A cat is not a dog
Now dogs pretend they like to fight They often bark, more seldom bite
But yet a dog is, on the whole What you would call a simple soul
The usual dog about the town Is much inclined to play the clown
And far from showing too much pride Is frequently undignified
He's such an easygoing lout He'll answer any hail or shout
The usual dog about the town Is inclined to play the clown
Again I must remind you that A dog's a dog, a cat's a cat
With cats, some say one rule is true Don't speak 'til you are spoken to
Myself I do not hold with that I say you should ad-dress a cat
But always bear in mind that he Resents familiarity
You bow, and taking off your hat Ad-dress him in this form: "O' cat!"
Before a cat will condescend To treat you as a trusted friend
Some little token of esteem Is needed, like a dish of cream
And you might now and then supply Some caviar, or Strassburg pie
Some potted grouse or salmon paste He's sure to have his personal taste
And so in time you reach your aim And call him by his name
So this is this, and that is that And there's how you ad-dress a cat
A cat's entitled to expect These evidences of respect
So this is this, and that is that And there's how you ad-dress a cat
学校法人賢明学院 学院長 中原 道夫