#5 Twas the Night Before Christmas
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
彼は頭から足先まで毛皮を着ていました。服は灰とすすで汚れていました。
彼はおもちゃの包みを背負っていました。包みを開ける彼の姿は行商人のようでした。
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
彼の瞳は、なんてキラキラしているのでしょう！なんて楽し気なえくぼなのでしょう！彼の頬はバラ色で、彼の鼻はサクランボ色です！
彼の小さな口は弓のように弧を描き、彼の顎髭は雪のように真っ白でした。
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
彼は歯でパイプの根元をしっかりくわえて、煙が輪のように頭を囲みました。
彼は大きな顔をしていて、笑うと揺れるゼリーボウルのような小さく丸いお腹をもっていました。
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
彼はぼっちゃりと太った、正真正銘の老エルフでした。私は彼を見た時に、つい笑ってしまいました。
彼の瞳の瞬きと、頭をかしげる仕草が、すぐに私に安心感を与えました。
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
彼は何も話しませんでしたが、すぐに仕事に取り掛かりました。全ての靴下をいっぱいにして、それから急に振り向きました。
鼻のわきに指を添えて、会釈してから、彼は煙突の上にあがりました。
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
A Visit from St. Nicholas By Clement C. Moore
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
彼はソリに飛び乗り、チームに合図を出しました。彼らはアザミの冠毛のように飛び去りました。
視界から消える前に、彼が叫んだのが聞こえました。
「皆さんハッピークリスマス、おやすみなさい」
reference : Twas the Night Before Christmas By Clement C. Moore (project gutenberg)
Japanese translation