De Bunyan à P. D. James

Dans The Pilgrim’s Progress [« Le voyage du pèlerin », mais titre complet : The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come], Second Part (1684), John Bunyan prête les propos suivants à Mr. Great-Heart, ‘a man-servant of the Interpreter,’ qui s’adresse à Christiana :

“But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all those parts. It is fat ground, and as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in the Summer-time, as we do now, if he knew not anything before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that would be delightful to him. Behold how green this Valley is, also how beautified with Lillies. I have also known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation (for God resisteth the Proud, but gives more Grace to the Humble) for indeed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished that the next way to their Father’s house were here, that they might be troubled no more with either Hills or Mountains, to go over; but the way is the way, and there’s an end.”

D’où cette citation chez P.D. James, «La meurtrière» (Innocent Blood, 1980), dans la traduction de Lisa Rosenbaum :

« Certains auraient bien voulu aussi que fût ici le plus proche chemin qui les mènerait à la maison de leur père, qu’ils n’auraient plus à franchir d’autres collines ou montagnes, mais le chemin est le chemin et il a une fin. »

Il me semble préférable de rendre la fin du passage de la façon suivante :

Certains aussi regrettent que ce ne soit pas ici le chemin le plus direct [ou : le plus court] pour gagner la maison de leur père, afin de ne plus avoir à se donner la peine de franchir monts ni collines, mais le chemin est le chemin : voilà tout.