The French were the first to follow. (The tall, proud Hadas of Spain had already departed- however reluctantly-with their diminutive domes- tic relatives, the Duendes.) From France came the sturdy seafaring Korreds of Brittany; the nomadic, shape-shifting Lutins of Normandy, Dames Blanches and Dames Vertes, coquettish maidens from the river valleys of the Aquitaine, Loups Garoux from the forests. All these found refuge from the onslaught of Man upon the chill and rocky northern coast of the New Found Land across the sea. Forsaking the sun-tanned Riviera, water Dracs, playful-as-porpoises, and the languid, amorous Fadas found contentment upon the hot southern shores of the New World, amidst pink, long-legged birds and high, swaying palms. In England, the erstwhile high-honored court of the Fairy Queen was now much diminished. Her Majesty, Mab Herself, and many of Her subjects, Pixies, Hobgoblins, and Boggarts alike, had shrunk to tiny size. Robin had been exiled to Sherwood. Right gladly did all that company hear the news of a haven in the West, and right swiftly they embarked therefor. The venerable Dutch merchant empire of the Lowland Alven was also in its autumn. Their sailor-
すぐあとにつづいたのはフランスだ。 ブル
ターニュのたくましい水夫コレ、 ノルマンデ
ィ出身で姿を自由に変えられる遊牧民ルタン、
フランス南西部からは魅力あふれる乙女ダム・
ブランシュとダム・ヴェール、 森林地方から
ルウ・ガルがやってきた。 彼らはみな、 海を
越えた新発見の地の寒さの厳しい岩だらけの
北の海岸に、 人間の攻撃からの逃げ場を見つ
けた。 太陽に焼きつくされたリヴィエラを見
限って、 イルカみたいに陽気な水の精ドラフ
といつもものうげで多情なファダスは、この
新世界の暑い南海岸がえらく気にいった。 そ
こは、脚の長いピンク色をした鳥フラミンゴ
や ゆらゆら揺れる背の高い椰子の木がたく
さんある海岸だった。
イギリスでは、かつての女王陛下の威光に
満ちた宮廷もその力を失墜していた。 人びと
の夢を支配する力をもつ女王陛下マブ自身、
あるいは彼女の臣下のピクシィ、 いたずら好
きの小鬼ホブゴブラン、 ボガートといった小
妖精たちはみんないごこちがわるく、 小さく
なっていた。 ロビンフッドはシャーウッドの
森に追放されてしまっていた。 彼らは西方の
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France was quick to follow. The sturdy seafaring Korreds of Brittany, the nomadic shape-shifting Lutins of Normandy, the charming maidens Dames Blanches and Dames Vertes from southwestern France, the Loup Garoux from the forested regions — all of them found refuge on the cold, rocky northern shores of the newly discovered land across the sea, away from the assault of Man. Abandoning the sun-scorched Riviera, the dolphin-like cheerful water spirits the Dracs and the perpetually languid and amorous Fadas took a great liking to the hot southern shores of this New World — a coastline filled with long-legged pink flamingos and swaying tall palm trees.
In England, the once-glorious court of Her Majesty had lost its power. Her Majesty Mab herself — who held the power to rule human dreams — along with her subjects the Pixies, the mischievous Hobgoblins, the Boggarts and other small sprites, all felt uncomfortable and had grown smaller. Robin Hood had been banished to Sherwood Forest. They looked toward the west…
21
