Kwang-jui and the God of the River

China is a land where the great masses of the people have to toil and struggle incessantly in order to obtain even the bare necessities of daily existence. Unnumbered multitudes never enjoy a sufficiency of food, but have to be contented with whatever Heaven may send them; and profoundly thankful they are when they can be sure of two meals a day to stave off the pangs of hunger from themselves and their children.

中国は、人々の大多数が日々の暮らしのぎりぎりの必需品を得るためにさえ、絶え間なく働き、もがかねばならない国である。数えきれないほど多くの人々が十分な食べ物を口にすることなく、天が恵んでくれるもので満足するほかない。自分と子供たちの飢えの苦しみをしのぐために一日二度の食事が確かに得られるとき、彼らは心の底から感謝するのである。

How many there are who cannot by the severest toil obtain even these two meals is evident from the organized beggar communities, which are to be found in connection with every great city in the Empire, and from the vast numbers of tramps, who wander over the country on the highways and byways with pale and sodden faces and with garments nearly falling to pieces, picking up a scanty livelihood from the benevolent as they pass from village to village.

どれほど厳しく働いてもその二度の食事さえ得られない者がどれほど多いかは、帝国のあらゆる大都市に付きものの組織立った物乞いの集団や、青白くむくんだ顔で、今にもぼろぼろに崩れそうな衣をまとい、村から村へと渡り歩きながら慈悲深い人々からわずかな糧を拾って、街道や脇道をさまよう無数の流れ者を見れば明らかである。

Whatever may be their inmost thoughts, the Chinese bear their terrible hardships and privations with a splendid heroism, with little complaining, with no widespread outbreaks of robbery, and with no pillaging of rice-shops and public granaries by organized mobs driven mad by hunger.

心の奥で何を思っているにせよ、中国の人々はそのすさまじい困苦と欠乏を見事な英雄的精神で耐え忍ぶ。不平を言うことは少なく、広く強盗が横行することもなく、飢えに狂った暴徒が組織立って米屋や公の穀倉を略奪することもない。

There is one beautiful feature about the Chinese that has been an important factor in steadying the nation. They are imbued with at least one great ideal, which touches their common life in every direction. Every man in the Empire, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, has a profound respect for what he calls Tien-Li, or Divine Righteousness. By this the Chinese judge all actions. It is the standard by which Kings and Princes and common people direct their conduct, whether in the highest affairs of state, or in the ordinary engagements of common every-day life.

中国の人々には、国を安定させるうえで大きな役割を果たしてきた一つの美しい特質がある。彼らは少なくとも一つの大いなる理想に深く染まっており、それが日々の暮らしのあらゆる面に及んでいるのである。帝国のすべての人は、富める者も貧しい者も、学のある者もない者も、彼らが天理、すなわち神の正義と呼ぶものに深い敬意を抱いている。中国の人々はこれによってあらゆる行いを裁く。それは、国家の最高の事柄においても、日々のありふれた務めにおいても、王や諸侯や庶民が自らの行いを律する規準なのである。

In addition to this, the minds of the Chinese are filled with romance and poetry, so that to them the invisible world is peopled with fairies and all kinds of spirits, both good and bad, the former relieving in mysterious ways the dull greyness that sorrow and disaster often shed upon the lives of men.

これに加えて、中国の人々の心はロマンと詩情に満ちており、彼らにとって目に見えない世界には仙人や善悪さまざまな霊が住んでいる。善い霊は、悲しみや災いがしばしば人の生に落とす鈍い灰色の影を、不思議なやり方で晴らしてくれるのである。

The story of Kwang-Jui is a remarkable evidence of the unbounded faith which the Chinese have in the intervention of these mysterious beings to deliver men from calamities which would otherwise prove fatal to them.

光蕊の物語は、ほかの手立てでは命取りになる災いから人を救うために、こうした不思議な存在が介入してくれることを、中国の人々がどれほど限りなく信じているかを示す際立った証しである。

When we first meet with Kwang-Jui, he is living with his widowed mother in a retired part of the country. His father had been dead for some time, and Kwang-Jui was now the only one upon whom the fortunes of the home could be built. He was a very studious lad, and was possessed of remarkable abilities, the result being that he successfully passed the various Imperial Examinations, even the final one in the capital, where the Sovereign himself presided as examiner.

光蕊にはじめて出会うとき、彼は寡婦となった母とともに田舎の人里離れたところで暮らしている。父はしばらく前に亡くなっており、家の行く末を築くことができるのは今や光蕊ただ一人だった。彼はたいそう勉強熱心な若者で、並外れた才能を持っていたので、科挙の数々の試験に次々と及第し、ついには都で行われる最後の試験、皇帝みずからが試験官として臨む試験にまで合格した。

After this last examination, as the men were waiting outside the Hall for the names of those who had satisfied the Emperor to be read out a considerable crowd had collected. Most of these people had come from mere curiosity to see the Imperial Edict, and to discover who the scholar was that stood first on the list. The excitement was intense, and speculation ran rife as to which of the candidates, who had come from almost every province in the Empire, was going to obtain the place of honour which was the dream and the ambition of every scholar in the land.

その最後の試験のあと、皇帝の眼鏡にかなった者の名が読み上げられるのを受験者たちが殿舎の外で待っていると、かなりの人だかりができた。その多くは、ただ物珍しさから勅令を見に来て、首席の学者がだれなのかを知ろうとしていた。興奮は激しく、帝国のほとんどすべての省から集まった受験者のうち、国じゅうの学者の夢であり憧れである栄誉の座をだれが手にするのか、さまざまな憶測が飛び交った。

At last every breath was hushed, and every voice stilled in silence, as one of the high officials of the Palace, attended by an imposing retinue, came out of the great central doors, which had been flung wide open at his approach. In a clear voice he began to read the list. It was headed by the name of Kwang-Jui.

とうとうすべての息がひそめられ、すべての声が静まりかえった。宮中の高官の一人が堂々たる供を従えて、その到来とともに大きく開け放たれた中央の大扉から出てきたのである。高官は澄んだ声で名簿を読み上げはじめた。その筆頭にあったのは光蕊の名であった。

At this precise moment occurred an incident which was destined to change the whole current of Kwang-Jui's career. As he was standing overcome with emotion in consequence of the supreme honour which had been conferred upon him by the Emperor's Edict, a small round ball, beautifully embroidered, was thrown from an upper window of a house across the way, and struck him on the shoulder.

まさにその瞬間、光蕊の生涯の流れをすっかり変えることになる出来事が起こった。皇帝の勅令によって授けられた最高の栄誉に感極まって立ちつくしていると、美しく刺繍を施した小さな丸い毬が、通りの向かいの家の上の窓から投げられ、彼の肩に当たったのである。

It may here be explained that it was a custom in the early days of the history of China to allow any young maiden who was reluctant to have her husband chosen for her by her parents, to make use of what was called "The throwing of the embroidered ball" in order to discover the man whom the gods intended her to marry. This ball was made of some soft material, wrapped round with a piece of red silk which was covered with variegated figures, worked by the damsel's own hands and emblematic of the love by which the hearts of husband and wife are bound indissolubly to each other. It was firmly believed by every maiden of this romantic type that the man who was struck by the ball from her fair hands was the one whom Heaven had selected as her husband; and no parent would ever dream of refusing to accept a choice made in this way.

ここで説明しておくと、中国の歴史の古い時代には、夫を親に選ばれるのを嫌う若い娘に、「繍毬(しゅうきゅう)投げ」と呼ばれるやり方で、神々が自分の夫と定めた男を見つけることが許される習わしがあった。この毬は何か柔らかいもので作られ、赤い絹で包まれていた。その絹には色とりどりの模様が娘自身の手で縫い取られており、夫と妻の心を分かちがたく結ぶ愛を表していた。この夢見がちな娘たちはみな、自分の美しい手から投げた毬が当たった男こそ天が夫として選んだ人だと固く信じており、こうしてなされた選択を拒もうなどと考える親は一人もいなかった。

Whilst Kwang-Jui was gazing in amused wonder at the symbol which he understood so well, a messenger from the house from which it had been thrown requested him in respectful tones to accompany him to his master, who desired to discuss with him a most important subject.

光蕊が、よく意味のわかるその印を面白がりながらも驚いて見つめていると、毬の投げられた家から使いの者がやって来て、主人がきわめて大切な件について話し合いたいと望んでいるので、ご一緒においでいただきたいと、うやうやしい口調で頼んだ。

As Kwang-Jui entered the house, he discovered to his astonishment that it belonged to the Prime Minister, who received him with the utmost cordiality, and after a long conversation declared that he was prepared to submit to the will of the gods, and to accept him as his son-in-law. Kwang-Jui was of course in raptures at the brilliant prospects which were suddenly opening up before him. The day, indeed, was a red-letter one--an omen, he hoped, that fate was preparing to pour down upon him good fortune in the future. In one brief day he had been hailed as the most distinguished scholar in the Empire, and he had also been acknowledged as the son-in-law of the Empire's greatest official, who had the power of placing him in high positions where he could secure not only honours but also wealth sufficient to drive poverty away for ever from his home.

家に入ってみて、光蕊はそれが宰相の屋敷であることを知って驚いた。宰相はこのうえなく心をこめて彼を迎え、長い話し合いの末、神々の意思に従って彼を婿として迎える用意があると言明した。光蕊はもちろん、にわかに目の前に開けてきた輝かしい前途に有頂天になった。その日はまさに記念すべき日であった——運命がこれから自分に幸運を注いでくれる前触れであってほしいと彼は願った。たった一日のうちに、彼は帝国でもっとも優れた学者とたたえられ、さらに帝国第一の高官の婿として認められたのである。その高官には彼を高い地位につける力があり、そこでは栄誉ばかりでなく、家から貧しさを永久に追い払うに足る富を得ることもできるのだった。

As there was no reason for delay, the hand of the beautiful daughter who had thrown the embroidered ball, and who was delighted that Heaven had chosen for her such a brilliant husband, was bestowed upon him by her parents. Times of great rejoicing succeeded, and when Kwang-Jui thought of the quiet and uninteresting days when he was still unknown to fame, and contrasted them with his present life, it seemed to him as though he were living in fairy-land. His wildest dreams in the past had never conjured up anything so grand as the life he was now leading. In one bound he had leaped from comparative poverty to fame and riches.

ぐずぐずする理由もなかったので、繍毬を投げ、天がこれほど輝かしい夫を選んでくれたことを喜んでいた美しい娘は、両親から光蕊に嫁がされた。大きな祝いの日々が続き、光蕊は、まだ世に知られていなかったころの静かで退屈な日々を思い出して今の暮らしと比べると、まるでおとぎの国に住んでいるような気がした。これまでどれほど途方もない夢でさえ、今送っている暮らしほど壮麗なものを思い描いたことはなかった。ひと跳びで、彼はそこそこの貧しさから名声と富へと跳び移ったのである。

After a time, through the influence of his father-in-law, and with the hearty consent of the Emperor, who remembered what a brilliant student he had been, Kwang-Jui was appointed to be Prefect of an important district in the centre of China.

しばらくして、義父の口添えにより、また彼がどれほど優れた学生であったかを覚えていた皇帝の心からの同意を得て、光蕊は中国の中央部にある重要な州の知府に任じられた。

Taking his bride with him, he first of all proceeded to his old home, where his mother was waiting with great anxiety to welcome her now famous son. The old lady felt rather nervous at meeting her new daughter-in-law, seeing that the latter came from a family which was far higher in rank and far more distinguished than any in her own clan. As it was very necessary that Kwang-Jui should take up his office as Prefect without any undue delay, he and his mother and his bride set out in the course of a few days on the long journey to the distant Prefecture, where their lives were destined to be marred by sorrow and disaster.

光蕊は妻を連れて、まず故郷の家へ向かった。そこでは母が、今や名高くなった息子を迎えようと、たいそう気をもんで待っていた。老いた母は、新しい嫁に会うのに少し気おくれしていた。嫁は自分の一族のだれよりもはるかに身分が高く、はるかに名高い家の出だったからである。光蕊は知府の職に遅れず就かねばならなかったので、彼と母と妻は数日のうちに、遠く離れた任地へ向けて長い旅に出た。その任地で、彼らの生は悲しみと災いに損なわれることになるのだった。

They had travelled the greater part of the way, and had reached a country market-town that lay on their route, when Kwang-Jui's mother, worn out with the toilsome journey, fell suddenly ill. The doctor who was called in shook his head and pronounced that she was suffering from a very serious complaint, which, whilst not necessarily fatal, would necessitate a complete rest for at least two or three months. Any further travelling must therefore be abandoned for the present, as it might be attended with the most serious consequences to the old lady.

一行が道のりの大半を旅して、途中にある田舎の市場町に着いたとき、光蕊の母が骨の折れる旅に疲れ果てて、にわかに病に倒れた。呼ばれた医者は首を振り、母はたいそう重い病にかかっていて、必ずしも命にかかわるものではないが、少なくとも二、三か月はすっかり安静にしている必要があると告げた。これ以上旅を続ければ、老いた母にとってこのうえなく重大な結果になりかねないので、当面は旅をやめなければならなかった。

Both husband and wife were greatly distressed at the unlucky accident which placed them in such an awkward position at this wayside inn. They were truly grieved at the serious sickness of their mother, but they were still more puzzled as to what course they should pursue in these most trying circumstances. The Imperial Rescript appointing Kwang-Jui to his office as Prefect commanded him to take up his post on a certain definite date. To delay until his mother would again be able to endure the fatigues of travel was out of the question, as disobedience to the Emperor's orders would be attended by his grave displeasure. Eventually his mother suggested that he and his wife should go on ahead, and that after taking up the duties of his office he should then delegate them for a time to his subordinates and return to take her home.

夫婦は、この街道沿いの宿屋でこれほど厄介な立場に置かれることになった不運な出来事にひどく心を痛めた。母の重い病をまことに悲しんだが、それ以上に、このきわめて困った状況でどうすべきかに頭を悩ませた。光蕊を知府に任ずる勅書は、ある定まった日までに着任するよう命じていた。母がふたたび旅の疲れに耐えられるようになるまで待つのは論外だった。皇帝の命令に背けば、重いお咎めを受けることになるからである。とうとう母が、夫婦で先に行き、職務に就いたあとでしばらく配下の者にそれを任せて、自分を迎えに戻ってくればよいと言い出した。

This advice Kwang-Jui decided to carry out; though with great reluctance, as he was most unwilling to abandon his mother to the care of strangers. He accordingly made all the arrangements he possibly could for her comfort whilst they were parted from each other; he had servants engaged to attend upon her, and he left sufficient money with her to meet all her expenses during his absence.

光蕊はこの助言に従うことに決めたが、ひどく気が進まなかった。母を見知らぬ者の世話に任せて置いていくのが、どうにも嫌だったのである。そこで彼は、離れているあいだ母が心地よく過ごせるよう、できるかぎりの手はずを整えた。世話をする召使いを雇い、留守中のあらゆる費用をまかなえるだけの金を母に残した。

With a mind full of consideration for his mother, and wishing to show how anxious he was to give her pleasure, he went out into the market of the town to see if he could buy a certain kind of fish of which she was passionately fond. He had hardly got outside the courtyard of the inn, when he met a fisherman with a very fine specimen of the very fish that he wished to purchase.

母を気づかう心でいっぱいになり、母を喜ばせたいという思いを示そうとして、光蕊は町の市場へ出かけ、母が大好きなある種類の魚が買えないか見に行った。宿屋の中庭を出るか出ないかのうちに、彼はまさに買いたいと思っていたその魚の、たいそう見事な一匹を持った漁師に出会った。

As he was discussing the price with the man, a certain something about the fish arrested his attention. There was a peculiar look in its eyes that seemed full of pathos and entreaty. Its gaze was concentrated upon him, so human-like and with such intensity, that he instinctively felt it was pleading with him to do something to deliver it from a great disaster. This made him look at it more carefully, and to his astonishment the liquid eyes of the fish were still fixed upon him with a passionate regard that made him quiver with excitement.

漁師と値段の話をしているうちに、魚の何かが彼の注意を引いた。その目には、哀れで、すがるような不思議な表情があった。その眼差しはひたと彼に注がれ、まるで人間のようで、しかもあまりにひたむきだったので、魚が大きな災いから救ってくれと自分に訴えているのだと、彼は本能的に感じた。そこで魚をよくよく見ると、驚いたことに、魚の潤んだ目は相変わらず熱い思いをこめて彼を見つめており、彼は興奮に身を震わせた。

"Fisherman," he said, "I want to buy this fish, and here is the price that you ask for it. I have but one stipulation to make, and that is that you take it to the river from which you caught it, and set it free to swim away wherever it pleases. Remember that if you fail to carry out this part of the bargain, great sorrow will come upon you and your home."

「漁師よ」と彼は言った。「この魚を買いたい。ここにお前の言い値がある。ただ一つだけ条件がある。この魚を捕った川へ持っていって、どこへでも好きなところへ泳いでいけるように放してやってほしいのだ。いいか、この取り決めのその部分を果たさなければ、お前とお前の家に大きな悲しみが降りかかるぞ」

Little did either of them dream that the fish was the presiding God of the River, who for purposes of his own had transformed himself into this form, and who, while swimming up and down the stream had been caught in the net of the fisherman.

その魚が、じつはわけあってこの姿に化け、川を上り下りして泳いでいるうちに漁師の網にかかった川の主神であろうとは、二人とも夢にも思わなかった。

After travelling for some hours Kwang-Jui and his wife came to the bank of a considerable river, where they hired a large boat to convey them to their destination.

何時間か旅を続けて、光蕊と妻はかなり大きな川の岸に着き、そこで大きな舟を雇って任地まで運んでもらうことにした。

The boatman they engaged was a man of very low character. He had originally been a scholar and of good family, but, utterly depraved and immoral, he had gradually sunk lower and lower in society, until at last he had been compelled to fly from his home to a distant province, and there to engage in his present occupation in order to earn his living. The large amount of property which Kwang-Jui had with him seemed to arouse the worst passions in this man, and while the boat was being carried along by a fair wind and a flowing tide, he planned in his mind how he was to become the possessor of it. By the time that they reached the place where they were to anchor for the night, he had already decided what measures he should adopt.

雇った船頭は、ひどく品性の卑しい男だった。もとは学者で良い家の出だったが、すっかり堕落して身を持ち崩し、しだいに世間の底へと落ちていって、ついには故郷から遠い省へ逃げ出さねばならなくなり、そこで暮らしを立てるために今の稼業に就いたのだった。光蕊が携えている莫大な財産は、この男のもっとも邪な欲をかき立てたらしく、舟が順風と上げ潮に運ばれていくあいだ、男はどうすればそれを自分のものにできるかを心のなかでたくらんだ。夜に錨を下ろす場所に着くころには、どんな手段をとるかをすでに決めていた。

A little after midnight, accordingly, he crept stealthily towards the place where Kwang-Jui was sleeping, stabbed him to the heart and threw his body into the fast-flowing river. He next threatened the wife that if she dared to utter a sound, he would murder her also and send her to join her husband in the Land of Shadows. Paralyzed with terror, she remained speechless, only a stifled sob and groan now and again breaking from her agonized heart. Her first serious idea was to commit suicide, and she was preparing to fling herself into the water that gurgled along the sides of the boat, when she was restrained by the thought that if she destroyed herself, she would never be able to avenge her husband's death or bring punishment upon the villain who had just murdered him.

そこで真夜中を少し過ぎたころ、男は光蕊の眠っているところへこっそり忍び寄り、その心臓をひと突きにして、遺体を流れの速い川へ投げ込んだ。それから妻に、声を立てたらお前も殺して影の国の夫のもとへ送ってやると脅した。恐ろしさに身がすくみ、妻は口もきけず、苦しみにさいなまれる胸から、押し殺したすすり泣きやうめきがときおり漏れるばかりだった。最初に真剣に考えたのは自ら命を絶つことで、舟べりをごぼごぼと流れる水に身を投げようとしたが、自分が死んでしまえば夫の死の仇を討つことも、今しがた夫を殺した悪党に罰を下すこともできなくなると思い直して、踏みとどまった。

It was not mere robbery, however, that was in the mind of the man who had committed this great crime. He had bigger ideas than that. He had noticed that in personal appearance he very much resembled his victim, so he determined to carry out the daring project of passing himself off as Kwang-Jui, the mandarin whom the Emperor had despatched to take up the appointment of Prefect.

けれども、この大罪を犯した男の頭にあったのは、ただの盗みではなかった。男にはもっと大きなもくろみがあった。自分の姿かたちが殺した相手によく似ていることに気づいていたので、自分こそが皇帝から知府に任じられて遣わされた役人、光蕊であると名乗るという大胆なもくろみを実行しようと決めたのである。

Having threatened the widow that instant death would be her portion if she breathed a word to anyone about the true state of the case, and having arrayed himself in the official robes of the man whom he had stabbed to death, the boatman appeared at the yamen, where he presented the Imperial credentials and was duly installed in his office. It never entered his mind that it was not cowardice which kept the widow silent, but the stern resolve of a brave and high-minded woman that she would do her part to see that vengeance should in time fall upon the man who had robbed her of a husband whom she looked upon as the direct gift of Heaven.

ことの真相をだれかに一言でも漏らしたら即座に命はないと寡婦を脅し、刺し殺した男の官服に身を包むと、船頭は役所に現れて皇帝の任命状を差し出し、しかるべく職に就いた。寡婦を黙らせていたのが臆病さではなく、天からじかに授かったものと思っていた夫を奪った男に、いつか必ず復讐が下るよう自分の役目を果たそうという、勇敢で気高い女の固い決意であることなど、男には思いもよらなかった。

Now, immediately after the body of Kwang-Jui had been cast into the water, the customary patrol sent by the God of the River to see that order was kept within his dominions, came upon it, and conveyed it with all speed into the presence of the god himself.

さて、光蕊の遺体が水に投げ込まれてすぐ、川の神が自らの領分の秩序を保つために遣わしているいつもの見回りがそれを見つけ、大急ぎで神その人の前へ運んでいった。

The latter looked at it intently for a moment, and then exclaimed in great excitement, "Why, this is the very person who only yesterday saved my life, when I was in danger of being delivered over to a cruel death! I shall now be able to show my gratitude by using all the power I possess to serve his interests. Bring him to the Crystal Grotto," he continued, "where only those who have distinguished themselves in the service of the State have ever been allowed to lie. This man has a claim upon me such as no one before him ever possessed. He is the saviour of my life, and I will tenderly care for him until the web of fate has been spun, and, the vengeance of Heaven having been wreaked upon his murderer, he shall once more rejoin the wife from whom he has been so ruthlessly torn."

神はしばらくじっと遺体を見つめていたが、やがてひどく興奮して叫んだ。「なんと、これはつい昨日、わしがむごい死に引き渡されそうになっていたところを救ってくれた、まさにその人ではないか。今こそありったけの力を尽くしてこの人の役に立ち、恩に報いることができるぞ。この人を水晶の岩屋へ運べ」と神は続けた。「国家に仕えて功を立てた者しか、これまで横たわることを許されなかった場所だ。この人は、これまでだれも持ったことのない貸しをわしに持っている。わしの命の恩人なのだ。運命の糸が紡ぎ終えられ、天の復讐が人殺しに下って、この人がむごく引き離された妻とふたたび結ばれるまで、わしが心をこめて面倒を見よう」

With the passing of the months, the widow of Kwang-Jui gave birth to a son, the very image of his father. It was night-time when he was born, and not long after his birth, a mysterious voice, which could not be traced, was heard distinctly saying, "Let the child be removed without delay from the yamen, before the return of the Prefect, as otherwise its life will not be safe."

月日が過ぎて、光蕊の寡婦は父親に生き写しの男の子を産んだ。生まれたのは夜のことで、生まれてまもなく、どこからともしれない不思議な声が、はっきりとこう言うのが聞こえた。「知府が戻る前に、すぐにこの子を役所から連れ出せ。さもなければこの子の命は危ない」

Accordingly, on the morrow, the babe, about whose destiny even Heaven itself seemed concerned, was carefully wrapped round with many coverings to protect it against the weather. Inside the inmost dress, there was enclosed a small document, telling the child's tragic story and describing the danger from a powerful foe which threatened its life. In order to be able to identify her son, it might be after the lapse of many years, the mother cut off the last joint of the little finger of his left hand; and then, with tears and sighs, and with her heart full of unspoken agony, she took a last, lingering look upon the face of the little one.

そこで翌日、天そのものさえその行く末を気にかけているらしいその赤子は、風雨から守るために幾重にも丁寧にくるまれた。いちばん内側の着物のなかには、子供の悲しい身の上と、命を脅かす強大な敵の危険とを記した小さな書きつけが入れられた。何年も経ったあとでも我が子を見分けられるように、母は子の左手の小指の先の関節を切り落とした。そして涙を流しため息をつき、言葉にならない苦しみで胸をいっぱいにしながら、幼い子の顔を最後に名残惜しく見つめた。

A confidential slave woman carried him out of her room, and by devious ways and secret paths finally laid him on the river's bank. Casting a final glance at the precious bundle to see that no danger threatened it, she hurried back in the direction of the city, with the faint cries of the abandoned infant still sounding in her ears.

信頼できる女奴隷が赤子を部屋から連れ出し、回り道や人目につかない小道を通って、とうとう川岸に横たえた。大切な包みに危険が迫っていないかと最後にひと目見やってから、女は捨てられた赤子のかすかな泣き声をまだ耳に残したまま、町のほうへ急いで戻っていった。

And now the child was in the hands of Heaven. That this was so was evident from the fact that in a few minutes the abbot of the monastery, which could be seen crowning the top of a neighbouring hill, passed along the narrow pathway by the side of the river. Hearing a baby's cry, he hastened towards the place from which the sounds came, and picking up the little bundle, and realizing that the infant had been deserted, he carried it up to the monastery and made every arrangement for its care and comfort. Fortunately he was a man of a deeply benevolent nature, and no more suitable person could have been found to take charge of the child.

こうして子は天の手にゆだねられた。そうであったことは、ほんの数分のうちに、近くの丘の頂に見える寺の住職が、川沿いの細い小道を通りかかったことからも明らかである。赤子の泣き声を聞くと、住職は声のするほうへ急ぎ、小さな包みを拾い上げて、赤子が捨てられたのだとわかると、寺へ連れて帰り、世話をして心地よく過ごせるようにあらゆる手はずを整えた。幸いにも住職は心の底から慈悲深い人で、この子を引き取るのにこれほどふさわしい人はほかに見つからなかっただろう。

We must now allow eighteen years to pass by. The child that had been left on the margin of the river had grown up to be a fine, handsome lad. The abbot had been his friend ever since the day when his heart had been touched by his cries, and his love for the little foundling had grown with the years. The boy had become a kind of son to him, and in order not to be parted from him he had taught him the temple duties, so that he was now a qualified priest in the service of the gods.

さて、ここで十八年の月日を過ぎさせねばならない。川べりに置き去りにされた子は、立派で見目のよい若者に育っていた。住職はその泣き声に心を動かされたあの日からずっと彼の友であり、小さな拾い子への愛は年とともに深まっていた。若者は住職にとって息子のようなものになり、住職は彼と別れずにすむよう寺の務めを教えたので、今では神々に仕える一人前の僧になっていた。

One morning the young man, whose name was Sam-Choang, came to the abbot with a restless, dissatisfied look on his face, and begged to be told who his father was, and who his mother. The old priest, who had long been aware of the tragic story of Kwang-Jui's murder, felt that the time had come when the lad ought to know what he had hitherto concealed from him. Taking out the document which he had found upon him as a baby, he read it to him, and then the great secret was out. After this a long and serious discussion took place between the two as to the wisest methods to be adopted for bringing the Prefect to justice and delivering the lad's mother from the humiliating position which she had so heroically borne for all these eighteen years.

ある朝、三蔵という名のその若者が、落ち着かない、満たされない顔つきで住職のところへ来て、自分の父がだれで、母がだれなのか教えてほしいと頼んだ。光蕊が殺された悲しい話を以前から知っていた老僧は、これまで隠してきたことを若者が知るべき時が来たと感じた。赤子の彼に添えられていた書きつけを取り出して読んで聞かせると、大いなる秘密は明らかになった。そのあと二人のあいだで、知府に裁きを受けさせ、十八年ものあいだ健気に耐えてきた屈辱の境遇から若者の母を救い出すにはどんな手立てをとるのが賢明か、長く真剣な話し合いが行われた。

The next day a young priest, with shaven head and dressed in the usual slate-coloured gown, appeared at the yamen of the Prefect to solicit subscriptions for the neighbouring monastery. As the Prefect was absent on some public business, he was ushered into the reception-room, where he was received by his mother, who had always been a generous supporter of the Goddess of Mercy.

翌日、頭を剃り、いつもの鼠色の衣をまとった若い僧が、近くの寺への寄進を募るために知府の役所に現れた。知府は公の用事で留守だったので、僧は応接の間に通され、そこで彼自身の母、すなわち知府の奥方が彼を迎えた。奥方はかねてより観音への寄進を惜しまない人だったのである。

At the first sight of this striking-looking young bonze, she found her heart agitated in a strange and powerful way, such as she had not experienced for many a long year; and when she noticed that the little finger on his left hand was without the last joint, she trembled with the utmost excitement.

この人目を引く若い僧をひと目見たとたん、奥方は、もう何年も覚えたことのない不思議で強い胸騒ぎを覚えた。そして彼の左手の小指の先の関節が無いことに気づくと、激しい興奮に身を震わせた。

After a few words about the object for which he had come, the young priest slipped into her hand the very paper which she had written eighteen years ago; and as she looked at her own handwriting and then gazed into his face and saw the striking likeness to the man at whom she had thrown the embroidered ball, the mother-instinct within her flashed suddenly out, and she recognized that this handsome lad was her own son. The joy of the mother as she looked upon the face of Sam-Choang was reflected in the sparkling eyes and glowing look of pleasure that lit up his whole countenance.

訪ねてきた目的について二言三言話したあと、若い僧は、奥方が十八年前に書いたまさにその書きつけを、そっと彼女の手に滑り込ませた。自分の筆跡を見つめ、それから若者の顔を見つめて、繍毬を投げたあの男に生き写しなのを見てとると、母の本能が胸のうちでにわかにひらめき、この見目のよい若者が自分の息子だとわかった。三蔵の顔を見つめる母の喜びは、若者の顔じゅうを照らす輝く目と晴れやかな喜びの表情に映し出されていた。

Retiring for a short time his mother returned with a letter which she handed to him. In a low voice she told him that it was to her father, who still lived in the capital, and to whom he was to take it without any delay. In order to prevent suspicion on the part of the Prefect, he was to travel as a priest, who was endeavouring to obtain subscriptions for his monastery. He was to be sure, also, to visit the place where his grandmother had been left, and to try and find out what had become of her. In order to defray his expenses she gave him a few bars of gold, which he could exchange for the current money at the banks on the way.

しばらく席を外したあと、母は一通の手紙を持って戻り、彼に手渡した。低い声で、これはまだ都に住んでいる自分の父に宛てたもので、すぐにそこへ届けてほしいと告げた。知府に怪しまれないように、寺への寄進を募って回る僧として旅をすること。また、祖母が残された場所にもきっと立ち寄って、祖母がどうなったかを確かめること。旅の費用にと、母は金の延べ棒を幾本か渡した。道中の両替屋で通用する銭に替えられるものだった。

When Sam-Choang arrived at the inn where his father had parted with his grandmother, he could find no trace of her. A new landlord was in possession, who had never even heard her name; but on enquiring amongst the shopkeepers in the neighbourhood, he found to his horror that she was now a member of the beggars' camp, and that her name was enrolled amongst that degraded fraternity.

三蔵が、父が祖母と別れた宿屋に着いてみると、祖母の姿はどこにもなかった。新しい主人が宿を営んでいて、祖母の名さえ聞いたことがなかった。けれども近所の店の者たちに尋ねてみると、恐ろしいことに、祖母は今では物乞いの群れの一員となり、その卑しい仲間に名を連ねていることがわかった。

On reaching the wretched hovel where she was living, he discovered that when her money was exhausted and no remittance came to her from her son, she had been driven out on to the street by the innkeeper, and from that time had tramped the country, living on the scraps and bits which were bestowed upon her by the benevolent. Great was her joy when her grandson led her away to the best inn in the place, and on his departure gave her an ample supply of money for all her needs until they should meet again.

祖母の住むみすぼらしいあばら屋を訪ねてみると、手持ちの金が尽き、息子からの仕送りも届かなくなると、宿屋の主人に通りへ追い出され、それからは慈悲深い人々が恵んでくれる残り物やかけらで命をつなぎながら、国じゅうをさまよい歩いていたことがわかった。孫がその土地でいちばん良い宿屋へ連れていき、発つときに、また会う日までに必要なものをまかなえるだけのたっぷりの金を渡すと、祖母は大喜びした。

When Sam-Choang reached the capital and handed his mother's letter to his grandfather, the most profound excitement ensued. As soon as the Emperor was officially informed of the case, he determined that the severest punishment should be inflicted upon the man who had not only committed a cruel murder, but through it had dared to usurp a position which could only be held at the Sovereign's command. An Imperial Edict was accordingly issued ordering the Prime Minister to take a considerable body of troops and proceed with all possible speed to the district where such an unheard-of crime had been committed, and there to hand over the offender to immediate execution.

三蔵が都に着いて母の手紙を祖父に渡すと、たいへんな騒ぎになった。この件が正式に皇帝の耳に入るや、皇帝は、むごい人殺しを犯したばかりか、それによって天子の命によってしか就けない地位を僭称した男に、もっとも厳しい罰を下すと決めた。そこで勅令が下り、宰相にかなりの数の兵を率いて、かくも前代未聞の罪が犯された州へ全速力で向かい、その地で罪人をただちに処刑させるよう命じられた。

By forced marches, so as to outstrip any private intelligence that might have been sent from the capital, the avenging force reached the city a little before the break of day. Here they waited in silence outside the city gates, anxiously listening for the boom of the early gun which announces the dawn, and at the same time causes the gates to be flung wide open for the traffic of the day to commence.

都から密かな知らせが送られていたとしても、それを追い越せるよう強行軍で進み、復讐の軍勢は夜明け少し前に町に着いた。一行は町の門の外で息をひそめて待ち、夜明けを告げると同時に一日の往来のために門を大きく開け放たせる、朝の号砲の響きに耳を澄ました。

As soon as the warders had admitted the waiting crowd outside, the soldiers, advancing at a run, quickly reached the yamen, and arrested the Prefect. Without form of trial but simply with a curt announcement from the Prime Minister that he was acting upon instructions from the Emperor, the mandarin was dragged unceremoniously through the gaping crowds that rushed from their doors to see the amazing spectacle.

門番が外で待っていた群衆を中へ入れるやいなや、兵士たちは駆け足で進んでたちまち役所に着き、知府を捕らえた。裁判の形式もなく、ただ皇帝の命に従って行動しているという宰相の短い宣告だけで、その役人は、この驚くべき光景を見ようと戸口から駆け出してきたぽかんと口を開けた群衆のあいだを、手荒く引きずられていった。

The feet of Fate had marched slowly but with unerring certainty, and had at last reached the wretched criminal.

運命の足取りはゆっくりと、しかし誤ることのない確かさで進み、ついにこの惨めな罪人に追いついたのである。

But where was he being taken? This road did not lead to the execution ground, where malefactors were doomed to end their careers in shame. Street after street was passed, and still the stern-faced soldiers forced the mandarin down the main thoroughfares, whose sides had often been lined with respectful crowds as he swept by with his haughty retinue. At last they reached the city gate, through which they marched, and then on towards the river, which could be seen gleaming like a silver thread in the distance.

けれども、彼はどこへ連れていかれるのだろう。この道は、悪人たちが恥のうちに生涯を終える刑場へは通じていなかった。通りを一つ、また一つと過ぎても、厳しい顔の兵士たちは役人を大通りへと押し進めていった。その両側には、かつて彼が尊大な供を従えて通り過ぎるとき、うやうやしい群衆がしばしば並んだものだった。とうとう一行は町の門に着いてそこを抜け、遠くに銀の糸のように光って見える川のほうへと進んでいった。

Arrived at its bank, the troops formed into a square with the prisoner in the centre. Addressing him, the Prime Minister said, "I have selected this spot rather than the public execution ground where criminals are put to death. Your crime has been no common one; and so to-day, in the face of high Heaven whose righteousness you have dared to violate, and within sound of the flowing waters of the stream that witnessed the murder, you shall die."

川岸に着くと、兵たちは囚人を真ん中にして方陣を組んだ。宰相は囚人に向かって言った。「わしは、罪人が死刑に処される公の刑場ではなく、この場所を選んだ。お前の罪は並の罪ではない。だから今日、お前がその正義を踏みにじった高き天の前で、人殺しを見届けた川の流れの音の届くところで、お前は死ぬのだ」

Half a dozen soldiers then threw him violently to the ground, and in a few minutes the executioner had torn his bleeding heart from his bosom. Then, standing with it still in his hand, he waited by the side of the Prime Minister, who read out to the great multitude the indictment which had been drawn up against the Prefect. In this he described his crimes, and at the same time appealed to Heaven and to the God of the River to take measures to satisfy and appease the spirit of him who had been cut off in the prime of life by the man who had just been executed.

それから六人ほどの兵士が男を地面に激しく投げ倒し、数分のうちに首斬り役人が男の胸から血の滴る心臓をえぐり出した。それから役人はそれを手に持ったまま宰相のかたわらに控え、宰相は知府に対して作成された罪状書を大群衆に向かって読み上げた。そのなかで宰相は男の罪を述べ、同時に、今しがた処刑された男によって働き盛りに命を断たれた人の霊を満足させ鎮めるための手立てをとってくれるよう、天と川の神に訴えた。

As soon as the reading of the document had been concluded, it was set fire to and allowed to burn until only the blackened ashes remained. These, together with the criminal's heart, were then cast into the river. They were thus formally handed over to the god, who would see that in the Land of Shadows there should come a further retribution on the murderer for the crimes he had committed on earth.

書面を読み終えるとすぐに、それには火がつけられ、黒い灰だけが残るまで燃やされた。その灰は罪人の心臓とともに川へ投げ込まれた。こうしてそれらは正式に神の手に渡されたのである。神は、影の国において、人殺しが地上で犯した罪に対してさらなる報いが下るよう取り計らってくれるのだった。

The water patrol happened to pass by soon after the ashes and heart had been flung into the river, and picking them up most carefully, they carried them to the official residence of the god. The indictment was at once formally entered amongst the archives of the office, to be used as evidence when the case was in due time brought before the notice of Yam-lo: and after looking at the heart with the intensest scrutiny for some little time, the god exclaimed, "And so the murderer has at last received some part of the punishment he so richly deserved. It is now time for me to awake the sleeping husband, so that he may be restored to the wife from whom he has been separated for eighteen years."

灰と心臓が川へ投げ込まれてまもなく、水の見回りがたまたまそこを通りかかり、それらをこのうえなく丁寧に拾い上げて、神の官邸へ運んだ。罪状書はすぐに役所の記録に正式に登録され、いずれこの件が閻魔の審理にかけられるときの証拠として用いられることになった。そして神はしばらくのあいだ心臓をこのうえなく入念に見つめたあと、こう叫んだ。「さてさて、人殺しはついに、たっぷり受けて当然だった罰のいくらかを受けたか。今こそ眠っている夫を起こして、十八年ものあいだ引き離されていた妻のもとへ帰してやる時だ」

Passing into the Crystal Grotto, where the unconscious form of Kwang-Jui had reposed for so many years, the god touched the body gently with his hand, and said:--"Friend, arise! Your wife awaits you, and loving ones who have long mourned you. Many years of happiness are still before you, and the honours that your Sovereign will bestow upon you shall place you amongst the famous men of the State. Arise, and take your place once more amongst the living!"

光蕊の意識のない体が長い年月横たわっていた水晶の岩屋に入ると、神はその体にそっと手を触れて言った。「友よ、起きよ。妻がお前を待っている。長いあいだお前を悼んできた愛する者たちもだ。お前の前にはまだ幸福な年月がたくさんあり、天子がお前に授ける栄誉は、お前を国の名士の列に加えるだろう。起きよ、そしてふたたび生者のなかに己の場所を占めるのだ」

The Prime Minister was sitting with his daughter, listening to the sad story of the years of suffering through which she had passed, when the door was silently opened, and the figure of her long-lost husband glided in. Both started up in fear and amazement, for they believed that what they saw was only a restless spirit which had wandered from the Land of Shadows and would speedily vanish again from their sight. In this, however, they were delightfully disappointed. Kwang-Jui and his wife were once more reunited, and for many a long year their hearts were so full of gladness and contentment, that the sorrows which they had endured gradually became effaced from their memories. They always thought with the deepest gratitude of the God of the River, who for eighteen years had kept the unconscious husband alive and had finally restored him to his heart-broken wife.

宰相が娘と座って、娘が耐えてきた苦しみの年月の悲しい話に耳を傾けていると、扉が音もなく開いて、長いあいだ失われていた夫の姿がすっと入ってきた。二人とも恐れと驚きに跳び上がった。目の前に見えているのは、影の国からさまよい出てきた落ち着かない霊にすぎず、すぐにまた姿を消してしまうにちがいないと思ったからである。けれども、この予想はうれしくも裏切られた。光蕊と妻はふたたび結ばれ、それから長い年月、二人の心は喜びと満足に満たされて、耐えてきた悲しみはしだいに記憶から消えていった。十八年のあいだ意識のない夫を生かしておき、ついには悲嘆にくれる妻のもとへ返してくれた川の神のことを、二人はいつも深い感謝の念とともに思い出したのだった。