Editing Talk:Spice & Wolf:Volume1 Chapter 01 (section)

= Chapter 1, Page 18 =

　修道院が建てられ始めた頃、ロレンスはその新しい顧客｛こきゃく｝の匂｛にお｝いに期待していたのだが、どうやら修道院は在野｛ざいや｝の商人を介｛かい｝さず独自に物資を調達しているようで、ロレンスの期待は儚｛はかな｝くも散ったのだった。

When its construction first started, Lawrence had been eagerly anticipating a new patron, but the monastery was somehow able to obtain goods and materials on their own without having to trade with independent merchants, so Lawrence's short-lived hopes vanished. (1)

　とはいっても彼らは贅沢｛ぜいたく｝もせず畑も耕すので、商売ができたとしても実際の実入｛みい｝りはかなり少なかったりする。その上、無理やり寄付｛きふ｝をさせられたりツケを踏み倒されたりもするので考え物だ。

Even so, the monks didn't live in luxury and still tilled the fields, thus the profits from trading with them would have been fairly meager. On top of that, you'd have to consider that they would solicit involuntary donations and shirk payment of their bills. 

　単純な売買の相手としては盗人｛ぬすっと｝よりも性質｛たち｝の悪い相手ではあったが、それでも彼らと商売をすれば商人にとって都合の良いことがある。

For simple buying and selling they were worse than even thieves, but, still, there were times when trading with them was convenient.

　そんなわけでロレンスは未練｛みれん｝がましく修道院のほうを見ていたのだが、不意に目を細めた。(4)

With those thoughts in mind, Lawrence looked towards the monastery, feeling reluctance and lingering regret. His eyes narrowed. 

　修道院のほうで、誰かがこちらに向かって手を振っているのだ。

From the direction of the monastery, someone was gesturing at him.

「なんだ？」
 
"What's this?"

　下男には見えない。彼らはこげ茶色の汚｛きたな｝い作業服を身にまとっているからだ。手を振っている者はねずみ色っぽい衣服に身を包んでいる。わざわざそちらに行くのは面倒くさかったが、無視をすると後々問題になりかねない。ロレンスは仕方なく馬の進む方向をそちらに向けた。

There were no servants around. The monks present were clad in dirty tawny-brown  [ alt: saffron? ] fatigues, (2) and the one gesturing was wrapped in grayish clothes. His deliberate approach suggested trouble, but ignoring him could bring problems down the road. (3) Without better options, Lawrence turned his horse towards him. 

　すると、手を振っていた者はロレンスが自分のほうに向かって歩き始めたことに気がついたのか、手を振ることをやめたようだが自分から歩こうとはしない。じっと、ロレンスが到着するのを待つつもりのようだ。教会関係者が傲慢｛ごうまん｝なのは今日に始まったことではない。こんなことでいちいち怒る気にもなれなかった。

Thereafter, the gesturer realised that Lawrence was coming towards him, so he stopped gesturing, but continued to walk without breaking into a run.  As if patiently awaiting Lawrence's arrival. It wasn't as though the church authorities had only started being arrogant today. Lawrence was too accustomed to such treatment to get angry over each and every similar incident. (5)

== Discussion ==

(1)  Meaning of 在野の商人? Is 介さず the negative of 介させる?

: 在野 means someone not working in a public office. 介さず is the negative of the verb 介す. I think the translation you have there is good. [[User:Momogan|Momogan]] 00:41, 20 February 2008 (PST)

: Just a little note for future reference -> Stop using it's(it is) when it's about owning something. It must be "its". I think this is the third time I see this mistake and I'll fix it again, as it doesn't take much time, but keep in mind the right grammar :) --[[User:ShApEsHiFt3r|ShApEsHiFt3r]] 12:36, 25 February 2008 (PST)

: Oops, thanks :) I'll keep it in mind, but these things have a habit of slipping out. - [[User:AlephNull|AlephNull]] 03:35, 29 February 2008 (PST)

(2) I'm guessing via elimination that 彼ら refers to the monks. What does こけ mean here? Moss?

: Sorry, typo, should be こげ茶色, i.e. the colour of black tea. - [[User:AlephNull|AlephNull]] 09:51, 21 February 2008 (PST)

(3) Does 後々 mean distant future? Could it also possibly refer to a nearer future?

: I think 後々 can be quite vague, could either be near or distant. "Down the road" sounds nice there. [[User:Momogan|Momogan]] 00:41, 20 February 2008 (PST)

(4) Regarding そんなわけで -> you had translated it as ".....", um, sorry I forgot it instantly XD . Anyway, the right translation here should be "With those thoughts in mind", because it makes more sense like this and while your version would be the literary translation of the text, as you noticed as well, it didn't really make much sense. --[[User:ShApEsHiFt3r|ShApEsHiFt3r]] 10:42, 29 February 2008 (PST)

(5) Is it me or 手を振ることをやめたようだが自分から歩こうとはしない could also be translated as "He stopped gesturing, but he also stopped walking" or something like this? The ない in the end may be directed to both the walking and the running? --[[User:ShApEsHiFt3r|ShApEsHiFt3r]] 11:33, 29 February 2008 (PST)