Shigurui 54

This translation is here to get some feedback before I release the chapter. Some parts especially need help, I think. I'll highlight some of those things in case you don't want to look through all of it.

probably good - default black
Kinda confusing - dark blue
Very confusing - dark red

Here's a link to the start of the chapter on the online viewer.
http://mangahelpers.com/downloads/read-online/13884/7

And some names/titles/places for reference



page 4 - Contents
上意
Decree
兜
Helmet
合戦
Engagement
瘡蓋
Scab
大蛇
Serpent
幻影肢
Phantom Limb


page 8
殿...
My lord...

忠長が脇差に手をかけたところで
Even though Tadanaga held his wakazashi,

附家老鳥井土佐守が制した
Tsukikarou Torii Tosanokami restrained him.


page 9
当道者には
In regard to this person,

神君家康によって
しんくんいえやすによって
According to Supreme Ruler Ieyasu,

治外法権的な自治が認められており
The government recognized that some things may need to overstep the law
a bit.

忠長といえども
Be that as it may,

おいそれと無礼討ちにする事は出来ないのだ
Tadanaga would immediately and rudely chastise any incompetence.

駿河大納言秘記によれば
According to the journal of the Suruga Chief Councilor of state,

賤機検校が突如 この君主に蹴りあげられたのは
Shizuhata Kengyou was, all of a sudden, found being kicked this ruler.

掛川領に於ける仇討試合の顛末を述懐している最中であったという
The details of the vengeance match in Kakegawa were said to be the topic
of discussion during their meeting.


page 10
この日孕石邸では
That day, at the Haramiishi estate.


page 11
一族の男どもが先祖伝来の甲胄を前に端座していた
The male relatives sat at attention in front of the ancestral armor and
helmet.


page 12
雪千代の介錯は
Yukichiyo was the suicide assistant.


page 13
首の皮一枚を残す
A layer of skin was left at the neck.

見事な業前であった
It was a splendid act.

此度 不慮の座に居合わせ候者の後れは何と言譯仕るべきや
こたびふりょのざにいあわせそうろうもののおくれはなんといいわけつかまつる
べきや
On this occasion,
What explanation would be proper for the failings of one to whom the unforeseen
gathered.

仇討ちの結着を見誤り御家の体面を汚せし事
あだうちのけっちゃくをみあやまりおいえのたいめんをけがせしこと
My family name is sullied by the misjudging of the vengeance match.

ひとえに拙者一名の不調法なれば
ひとえにせっしゃいちめいのぶちょうほうなれば
In exchange for this humble person's carelessness,

伏してお詫び申し上げ候ゆえ
おわびもうしあげそうろうゆえ
I prostrate,
And state my apologies thusly.


page 14
生害に極りし (切腹を申し付けられた)
せいがいにきわまりし (せっぷくをもうしつけられた)
Now for the end, my finale (The order for seppuku has been given).

兵法吟味改役笹原内蔵助検屍役諸岡伝在衛門ら
へいほうぎんみあらためやくささはらくらのすけけんしやくもろおかてんざえも
んら
A soldier's method for recital is a refined taste,
In fields of bamboo, Kuranosuke* dutifully examines a murder,
Amongst waving countryside, this legend exists to protect shrines.

[[[*some kind of translators note for this. I can't find anything about
this though. Would probably help with the translations to know this legend
or whatever.]]]

家中の者へのお咎めこれ無き様願い奉り候
かちゅうのものへのおとがめこれなきようねがいたてまつりそうろう
May my house go blameless with the furnishing of this request.

孕石備前守
はらみいしびぜんのかみ
Haramiishi Bizennokami


藩主 朝倉宣正にあてた嘆願書には
Lord Asakura Nobumasa received a written petition,

仇討ちにおける不始末の責任を一身に負う旨が記されていた
Which accounted of the selfish interests that led to the misconduct at the
vengeance proceedings.

下級武士の仇討試合によって家老が自刃するのは
The lower class samurai's vengeance match ended in a Karou's suicide.

前代未聞の事件であろう
An unprecedented event.


page 15
元 三百石武芸師範役岩本家の禄高は
もと さんびゃっこくぶげいしはんやくいわもとけのろくだかは
Formerly, the martial arts doujou of the house of Iwamoto had a stipend
of 300 koku.

家屋敷没収の上
The house and doujou had been confiscated, and on top of that,

三十俵二人扶持に降格
三十ひょう二にんふちにこうかく
They were demoted to a 2 person stipend of 30 bags of rice.

これは男女二人がどうにか食べていける禄である
This is meant to dismiss any happiness by barely feeding a man and a woman.

"捨て扶持"と称されるものであった
"すてふち"としょうされるものであった
Their reputation fell as well, due to this pittance of a stipend.

page 16
長年の奉公御苦労さまでした
Thank you for your many years of service.

いく久しくすこやかに過ごされませ
Please continue to stay healthy for a long time.

残っていた奉公人への退職金は法外なものであった
The remaining servants were given an exorbitant retirement allowance.

page 17
"さね"などは
The truth was,

涙を浮かべてこれを固辞したが
These tearful looks eventually settled, and yet,

平身低頭して
Bowing down,

礼を述べるばかりである
Further gratitude was expressed.


page 20
最後の夜
The final night.


page 21
源之助と三重は寝所を共にしたが
Though Gennosuke and Mie shared the same bedroom,

指が触れ合うことさえなかった
They did not touch with so much as a finger.


page 22
縫い止められた傷口だけが
The roughly stitched wound,

熱く疼いた
Ached hotly.

page 23
運命の日が訪れた
The fated day came about.


page 24

寛永五年十一月三日早朝
Kan'ei 5th year.
Early on the morning of November 3rd.

駿河藩密用方
Of the Suruga Clan,

馬淵刑部介である
I am Mitsuyougata Mabuchigyoubunosuke.


page 25
駿河藩は
The Suruga Clan,

掛川藩の主家筋にあたる
Delegated the law upon the region of Kakegawa.

page 26
ご用のおもむきは
What means this official visit.

伊良子清玄との結着をつけていただく
Lord Irako Seigen has duly come to a conclusion.

討人他人 共に生き残りたる仇討など前例なし
うちびと ともにいきのこりたるあだうちなどぜんれいなし
One who is victorious and one who is not. Both survivors bear enmity without
parallel.

これでは双方に遺恨が残ろう
With this, both sides will continue to resent one another.


page 27
結着に不服はありませぬ
There is no dissatisfaction with this closure.

濃尾無双虎眼流
のうびむそうこがんりゅう
Should Noubi's unrivaled Kogan-Ryuu,

臆したと申すか
Be called cowardly?


page 28
彼奴は天稟の才
That man is a natural-born genius.

私は敵わぬ
わたしはかなわない
I do not compare.

page 29
結着はついていた
The outcome was clear.


page 30
岩本家両名の者に
To both persons of the house of Iwamoto,

申し渡す
I announce:

伊良子清玄との再戦の儀
Lord Irako Seigen wills a ceremonial rematch.


page 31
上意である
This is an imperial decree.


page 32
上意とは主君の命令であり
A decree was a command from one's lord.

これに背くことは
Disobeying such a command,

武士である以上許されない
Was not permitted to any samurai.

page 33
岩本家の主君は
The lord of the house of Iwamoto,

掛川藩主 朝倉宣正であるが
Asakura Nobumasa, who was Kakegawa's ruler,

この上意は
Had put forth this decree,

しかし
However,

武家社会の頂点に君臨する
The supreme control over a society of warrior houses was,

徳川家の...
The house of Tokugawa...