Reference:   Shueisha bunko 4, 281-295 (tankoubon 8);   anime ep.37

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Japanese text  (will open new window!)

 

 Manga

[ July 12, 1789.   The night before the troops gather in Paris.   Tension is high at the de Jarjayes house.   After dinner, André goes to Oscar's bedroom as instructed.   Oscar is playing the violin by the window when André walks in.   After making small talk about her violin skills, André asks Oscar why he is called.   The curtains rustle behind Oscar as she turns towards André. ]

Oscar:	Tonight, just for one night, I want to be with you ... to join you ... as the wife of André Grandier ...
André	Did you say ... you want to ... become my wife ... to give all of youself to me? I ... I don't have the proper rank, title, or inheritance to offer you happiness. I have nothing, really nothing ... not even a Titan's strength or Satyros' hoofs, nor a man's physical strength to protect you! *
Oscar:	Anyone could say that. André ... brute force alone does not make a man. Rather, it's kindness and passion that make a man masculine. Most women will grow old someday and come to realize what masculinity truly is. Yet by then ... I'm so glad to have found someone nearby who is gently supporting me. It's not too late ... But, but ...
[ Oscar pushes André away ]
Oscar:	I'm scared! Ah ...
André	I won't wait any more. I've waited, waited for too long! I won't wait any more, Oscar! Don't be afraid.
Oscar:	To become your wife ...
[ Andé picks up Oscar and brings her to bed.   The two start kissing. ]

Oscar and André:

{{ Oh ... I love you ... I love you ... We have shared our joys and sorrows, living together throughout these years. ** And from now on, to share with each other, we give all of ourselves to each other. Do you remember? You were there during that fleeting moment of Spring. You were there during those revolving days of Summer. You were always there in that lingering Autumn, in that withering Winter. Oh ... Just like Castor and Pollux ... *** You were there. You were there. }}

 

Narrator:

As the night falls, the two young souls are now united before God. They were born to be united ... the reason for these two beautiful souls to be.

 

*   [ The Titans are a group of gods who ruled the earth before Zeus' reign.   Satyros are half-man, half-goat creatures who are fond of chasing nymphs.   The hoofs are a symbol of their physical strength and sexual aggressiveness.   In this passage, the mythological allusions are used to emphasize André's masculinity.   See Mythological Allusions for details. ]

Initially, I had intepreted the passage to mean that André has nothing but only a man's physical strength.   After speaking with some fans and re-reading the text, I thought the not only phrase could also be interpreted as not even.   Either one would seem to make sense and fit with Oscar's reply.   Anyway, take your pick.

**  [ lit. happy during the times we were happy
sad during the times we were sad
we have come to share our way of living ]

This passage is difficult to translate because of the different use of time concepts in Japanese and English.   A more literal translation would imply that Oscar and André are only happy/sad for some moments in their past.   However, this does not convey the full meaning in Japanese.   The actual meaning is that the lovers are happy/sad during some periods in their past AND throughout these years.   The lovers have shared their sense of living, their joys and sorrows, during parts of their past and from the very beginning until now.   To capture this subtlety, I've modified the text based on the actual meaning.

***   [ In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux are companion stars of the Gemini constellation.   Castor is the older one.   In this case, Andre would be Castor, and Oscar would be Pollux.   See Mythological Allusions for details. ]

 

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