The Reward of a Benevolent Life

On the banks of a river flowing through the prefecture of Tingchow, there stood a certain city of about ten thousand inhabitants. Among this mass of people there was a very fair sprinkling of well-to-do men, and perhaps half-a-dozen or so who might have been accounted really wealthy.

汀州府を流れる川のほとりに、人口一万ほどのある町があった。この大勢の人々のうちには、暮らし向きのよい者がかなりの数おり、本当に裕福と見なされる者も、おそらく五、六人はいた。

Amongst these latter was one particular individual named Chung, who had acquired the reputation of being exceedingly large-hearted and benevolently inclined to all those in distress. Anyone who was in want had but to appeal to Chung, and his immediate necessities would at once be relieved without any tedious investigation into the merits of his case. As may be inferred from this, Chung was an easy-going, good-natured man, who was more inclined to look kindly upon his fellow-men than to criticise them harshly for their follies or their crimes. Such a man has always been popular in this land of China.

その裕福な者たちのうちに、鍾(ショウ)という名の一人の人物がいた。この上なく心が広く、困っている者すべてに慈悲深いという評判を得ていた。困窮した者は鍾に訴えさえすれば、事情のあれこれを煩わしく詮議されることもなく、差し迫った必要をただちに満たしてもらえた。このことから察せられるとおり、鍾はおおらかで気のいい人物であり、人の愚かさや罪を厳しく咎めるよりも、同じ人間を優しく見るほうを好んだ。そういう人はこの中国の地で、いつの世にも人気がある。

Now the whole soul of Chung was centred upon his only son Keng. At the time when our story opens, this young fellow was growing up to manhood, and had proved himself to be possessed of no mean ability, for on the various occasions on which he had sat for examination before the Literary Chancellor, his papers had been of a very high order of merit.

さて鍾の魂のすべては、一人息子の庚(コウ)に注がれていた。この物語の始まるころ、この若者は成人に近づいており、なかなかの才を示していた。学政の前で試験を受けた幾たびの折にも、その答案はたいそう優れた出来であったからである。

The rumours of Chung's generosity had travelled further than he had ever dreamed of. Several reports of the noble deeds that he was constantly performing had reached the Immortals in the Western Heaven, and as these are profoundly concerned in the doings of mankind, steps were taken that Chung should not go unrewarded.

鍾の気前のよさの噂は、本人が夢にも思わぬほど遠くまで伝わっていた。彼が絶えず行っている気高い行いについての知らせは、西方の天の仙人たちのもとにもいくつか届いていた。仙人たちは人の行いに深い関心を寄せているので、鍾が報われぬままにならぬよう手立てが講じられた。

One day a fairy in the disguise of a bonze called upon him. He had always had a sincere liking for men of this class. He admired their devotion, and he was moved by their self-sacrifice in giving up home and kindred to spend their lives in the service of the gods and for the good of humanity.

ある日、僧の姿に身をやつした一人の仙人が鍾を訪ねた。鍾は以前からこの種の人々に心からの好意を抱いていた。その献身ぶりに感服し、家と身内を捨てて神々に仕え、人の世のためにその生涯を費やす自己犠牲に心を動かされていたのである。

No sooner, therefore, had the priest entered within his doors, than he received him with the greatest politeness and cordiality. The same evening he prepared a great dinner, to which a number of distinguished guests were invited, and a time of high festivity and rejoicing was prolonged into the early hours of the morning.

それゆえ僧が門をくぐるやいなや、鍾はこの上なく丁重に心を込めて迎えた。その晩には大宴会を催し、名のある客を大勢招いて、盛大な祝いと喜びの時が明け方まで続いた。

Next day Chung said to his guest, "I presume you have come round collecting for your temple. I need not assure you that I shall be most delighted to subscribe to anything that has to do with the uplifting of my fellow-men. My donation is ready whenever you wish to accept it."

翌日、鍾は客に言った。「お寺のために寄進を集めてまわっておいでなのでしょう。人の世を高めることにかかわるものなら、何であれ喜んで寄進させていただくことは申し上げるまでもありません。お望みのときに、いつでもお受け取りいただけるよう用意してあります。」

The bonze, with a smile which lit up the whole of his countenance, replied that he had not come for the purpose of collecting subscriptions.

僧は顔じゅうを明るくする笑みを浮かべて、寄進を集めに来たのではないと答えた。

"I have come," he said, "to warn you about a far more important matter which affects you and your family. Before very long a great flood will take place in this district, and will sweep everything before it. It will be so sudden that men will not be able to take measures to preserve either their lives or their property--so instantaneous will be the rush of the mighty streams, like ocean floods, from the mountains you can see in the West. My advice to you is to commence at once the construction of boats to carry you and your most precious effects away. When the news first comes that the waters are rising, have them anchored in the creek that flows close by your doors; and when the crisis arrives, delay not a moment, but hurry on board and fly for your lives."

「わたしが参りましたのは」と僧は言った。「あなたとご家族にかかわる、はるかに大事なことをお知らせするためです。ほどなくこの地方に大洪水が起こり、何もかも押し流してしまうでしょう。それはあまりに突然で、人々は命も財産も守る手立てを講じる間もないでしょう——西に見えるあの山々から、大海の洪水のような強大な流れが、それほど一瞬にして押し寄せてくるのです。わたしのお勧めは、ただちに舟を造りはじめ、あなたと大切な家財を運び出せるようにしておくことです。水かさが増しはじめたと最初に知らせが来たら、舟を家の門のすぐそばを流れる入り江に繋いでおきなさい。そしていよいよその時が来たら、一刻もためらわず、急いで乗り込んで命からがら逃げるのです。」

"But when will that be?" asked Chung anxiously.

「ですが、それはいつのことでしょう」と鍾は案じて尋ねた。

"I may not tell you the precise day or hour," replied the bonze; "but when the eyes of the stone lions in the East Street of the city shed tears of blood, betake yourselves with all haste to the boats, and leave this doomed place behind you."

「日時をはっきり申し上げることはできません」と僧は答えた。「けれども町の東通りの石の獅子の目が血の涙を流したら、大急ぎで舟に乗り、この滅びの定めを負った土地を後になさい。」

"But may I not tell the people of this approaching calamity?" asked Chung, whose tender heart was deeply wrung with distress at the idea of so many being overwhelmed in the coming flood.

「ですが、この迫りくる災いを人々に知らせてはいけませんか」と鍾は尋ねた。これほど大勢の人が来たる洪水に呑まれると思うと、その優しい心は深く苦しめられたのである。

"You can please yourself about that," answered the priest, "but no one will believe you. The people of this region are depraved and wicked, and your belief in my words will only cause them to laugh and jeer at you for your credulity."

「それはお好きになさい」と僧は答えた。「ですが誰も信じないでしょう。この地方の人々は堕落して邪悪です。あなたがわたしの言葉を信じれば、その信じやすさを笑い嘲るばかりでしょう。」

"But shall I and my family escape with our lives?" finally enquired Chung.

「ですが、わたしと家族は命拾いできるのでしょうか」と鍾は最後に尋ねた。

"Yes, you will all escape," was the reply, "and in due time you will return to your home and your future life will be prosperous. But there is one thing," he continued, "about which I must entreat you to be exceedingly careful. As you are being carried down the stream by the great flood, be sure to rescue every living thing that you meet in distress upon the waters. You will not fail to be rewarded for so doing, as the creatures you save will repay you a thousandfold for any services you may render them. There is one thing more that I would solemnly warn you against. You will come across a man floating helplessly on the swiftly flowing tide. Have nothing to do with him. Leave him to his fate. If you try to save him, you will only bring sorrow upon your home."

「ええ、みな助かります」というのが答えであった。「そしてやがて家に戻り、その後の暮らしは栄えるでしょう。けれども一つだけ」と僧は続けた。「くれぐれも用心していただきたいことがあります。大洪水に川を流されていくあいだ、水の上で難儀している生き物に出会ったら、必ず残らず助けてやりなさい。そうすれば必ず報われます。助けた生き物たちが、あなたの尽くしたことに千倍にして報いてくれるでしょうから。それから、もう一つ厳かに戒めておきたいことがあります。速い流れにたよりなく浮かんでいる一人の男に出会うでしょう。その男には関わってはなりません。運命に任せなさい。もし助けようとすれば、あなたの家に悲しみを招くだけです。」

As the priest was departing, Chung tried to press into his hand a considerable present of money, but he refused to accept it. He did not want money from him, he said. The gods had heard of his great love for men, and they had sent him to warn him so that he might escape the doom which would overtake his fellow-citizens.

僧が立ち去るとき、鍾はかなりの額の金を贈り物として手に押し込もうとしたが、僧は受け取ろうとしなかった。あなたから金をもらうつもりはない、と僧は言った。神々はあなたの人への深い愛を聞き及んで、同じ町の人々を襲う定めからあなたが逃れられるよう、知らせるためにわたしを遣わしたのだ、と。

After his departure Chung at once called the boat-builders who had their yards along the bank of the stream, and ordered ten large boats to be built with all possible speed. The news of this spread through the town, and when the reasons were asked and the reply was given that the boats were in anticipation of a mighty flood that would ere long devastate the entire region, everyone screamed with laughter; but Chung let them laugh.

僧が去ると、鍾はただちに川岸に造船場を構える舟大工たちを呼び、大きな舟を十艘、できるかぎり急いで造るよう命じた。この知らせは町じゅうに広まった。そしてわけを尋ねられ、まもなくこの地方全体を荒らす大洪水に備えて舟を造っているのだと答えると、誰もが声をあげて笑った。けれども鍾は笑わせておいた。

For weeks and months he sent an old man to East Street to see if the eyes of the stone lions there had overflowed with bloody tears.

幾週も幾月も、鍾は一人の老人を東通りへやって、そこの石の獅子の目から血の涙があふれていないか見させた。

One day two pig-butchers enquired of this man how it was that every day he appeared and looked into the eyes of the lions. He explained that Chung had sent him, for a prophecy had come from the gods that when the eyes of the lions shed blood, the flood which was to destroy the city would be already madly rushing on its way.

ある日、二人の豚肉屋がこの老人に、どうして毎日やってきて獅子の目を覗き込むのかと尋ねた。老人は、鍾に遣わされているのだと説き明かした。獅子の目が血を流すとき、町を滅ぼす洪水がすでに狂ったように押し寄せつつある、という神々のお告げがあったのだ、と。

On hearing this, these two butchers determined to play a practical joke. Next day, in readiness for the coming of the old man, they smeared the stone eyes with pigs' blood. No sooner had Chung's messenger caught sight of this than, with terror in his eyes, he fled along the streets to tell his master the dreadful news. By this time everything had been prepared, and Chung was only waiting for the appointed sign. The most valuable of his goods had already been packed in some of the boats, and now his wife and son and household servants all hurried down to the water's edge and embarked; and remembering the injunction of the priest that there should be no delay, Chung at once ordered the anchors to be raised, and the boatmen, as if for dear life, made for the larger stream outside.

これを聞いた二人の肉屋は、いたずらをしてやろうと決めた。翌日、老人が来るのに備えて、石の目に豚の血を塗りつけておいたのである。鍾の使いはそれを目にするやいなや、恐怖を目に浮かべて通りを駆け抜け、主人に恐ろしい知らせを告げに行った。このころにはすべての支度が整っており、鍾は定められた徴を待つばかりであった。家財のうち最も値打ちのあるものはすでにいくつかの舟に積み込んであったので、妻と息子と家の召使いたちはみな急いで水際へ降りて乗り込んだ。そして一刻もためらうなという僧の戒めを思い出して、鍾はただちに錨を上げさせ、舟人たちは命がけのように、外の大きな流れへと舟を進めた。

Hardly had the vessels begun to move when the sun, which had been blazing in the sky, became clouded over. Soon a terrific storm of wind tore with the force of a hurricane across the land. By-and-by great drops of rain, the harbingers of the deluge which was to inundate the country, fell in heavy splashes. Ere long it seemed as though the great fountains in the heavens had burst out, for the floods came pouring down in one incessant torrent. The sides of the mountains became covered with ten thousand rills, which joined their forces lower down, and developed into veritable cataracts, rushing with fearful and noisy tumult to the plain below.

舟が動きはじめたかと思うと、それまで空に照りつけていた太陽が雲に隠れた。まもなく凄まじい暴風が、颶風の勢いで地上を吹き荒れた。やがて国を水浸しにする大洪水の先触れである大粒の雨が、ばしゃりばしゃりと重く落ちてきた。ほどなく、天の大いなる泉が噴き出したかのように、洪水が絶え間ない奔流となって注ぎ落ちてきた。山々の斜面は一万もの細い流れにおおわれ、それが下のほうで力を合わせてまことの瀑布となり、恐ろしく騒がしい轟きとともに眼下の平野へ流れ落ちていった。

Before many hours had passed, the streams everywhere overflowed their banks, and ran riot amongst the villages, and flowed like a sea against the city. There was no resisting this watery foe, and before night fell vast multitudes had been drowned in the seething floods from which there was no escape.

何時間も経たぬうちに、至るところで川が岸を越えてあふれ、村々のあいだを暴れまわり、海のように町へ押し寄せた。この水の敵に抗うすべはなく、夜が来る前に、逃れようのない逆巻く洪水の中で夥しい数の人々が溺れ死んだ。

Meanwhile, carried swiftly along by the swollen current, Chung's little fleet sped safely down the stream, drawing further and further away from the doomed city.

そのあいだ、鍾の小さな船団は膨れ上がった流れに速やかに運ばれ、滅びの町からますます遠ざかりながら、無事に川を下っていった。

The river had risen many feet since they had started on their voyage, and as they were passing by a high peak, which had been undermined by the rush of waters hurling themselves against its base, the boats were put into great danger by the whirl and commotion of the foam-flecked river. Just as they escaped from being submerged, the party noticed a small monkey struggling in the water, and at once picked it up and took it on board.

航海を始めてから川は何フィートも水かさを増していた。そして、押し寄せる水にふもとを激しく打ちつけられて足元を削られた高い峰のそばを通るとき、泡の浮かぶ川の渦と騒ぎのせいで、舟は大きな危険にさらされた。ちょうど沈みかけたところを逃れたとき、一行は小さな猿が水の中でもがいているのに気づき、すぐに拾い上げて舟に乗せた。

Further on they passed a large branch of a tree, on which there was a crow's nest, with one young one in it. This, also, remembering the solemn injunction of the priest, they carefully took up and saved.

さらに行くと、大きな木の枝が流れていて、その上に鴉の巣があり、雛が一羽入っていた。これもまた、僧の厳かな戒めを思い出して、一行は丁寧に拾い上げて助けた。

As they were rushing madly on down the tawny, swollen river, they were all struck with sudden excitement by seeing something struggling in the boiling waters. Looking at this object more attentively as they drew nearer to it, they perceived that it was a man, who seemed to be in great peril of his life.

黄褐色に膨れ上がった川を狂ったように流れ下っていくと、一同は、煮えたぎる水の中で何かがもがいているのを見て、突然色めき立った。近づくにつれてその物をよく見ると、それは命の危険にさらされているらしい一人の男であった。

Chung's tender heart was filled with sympathy, and he at once gave orders for the boatmen to go and rescue him. His wife, however, reminded him of the warning of the priest not to save any man on the river, as he would inevitably turn out to be an enemy, who would in time work his rescuer great wrong.

鍾の優しい心は同情に満たされ、ただちに舟人たちに、行って助けるよう命じた。けれども妻が、川で人を助けてはならない、その者は必ず敵となり、やがて助けた者に大きな害をなすことになるという僧の戒めを思い出させた。

Chung replied that at such a time, when a human being was in extreme danger of being drowned, personal interests ought not to be considered at all. He had faithfully obeyed the command of the priest in saving animal life, but how much more valuable was a man than any of the lower orders of creation? "Whatever may happen," he said, "I cannot let this man drown before my eyes," and as the boat just then came alongside the swimmer, he was hauled into it and delivered from his peril.

鍾は答えた。人が溺れ死ぬ瀬戸際にあるこのような時に、自分の利害などまったく考えるべきではない。獣の命を救うことについては僧の命に忠実に従った。しかし人は、下等な生き物のどれよりも、どれほど尊いことか。「何が起ころうと」と彼は言った。「この男が目の前で溺れるのを見過ごすことはできない。」ちょうどそのとき舟が泳いでいる男の脇に並んだので、男は舟に引き上げられ、危難から救われた。

After a few days, when the storm had abated and the river had gone down to its natural flow, Chung returned with his family to his home. To his immense surprise, he found that his house had not been damaged in the least. The gods who had saved his life had used their supernatural powers to preserve even his property from the ruin and devastation that had fallen upon the inhabitants of the city and of the surrounding plain.

数日ののち、嵐がおさまり川が元の流れに戻ると、鍾は家族を連れて家に帰った。たいそう驚いたことに、家は少しも損なわれていなかった。命を救ってくれた神々が、その超自然の力を使って、町と周囲の平野の住民に降りかかった破滅と荒廃から、彼の財産までも守ってくれたのである。

Shortly after they had settled down again, Chung enquired of Lo-yung, the man whom he had saved from the flood, whether he would not like to return to his family and his home.

一家がふたたび落ち着いてまもなく、鍾は、洪水から救った男、羅勇(ラヨウ)に、家族と家に帰りたくはないかと尋ねた。

"I have no family left," he answered with a sad look on his face. "All the members of it were drowned in the great flood from which you delivered me. What little property we had was washed away by the wild rush of the streams that overflowed our farm. Let me stay with you," he begged, "and give me the opportunity, by the devoted service of my life, to repay you in some slight degree for what you have done in saving my life."

「わたしにはもう家族はおりません」と男は悲しげな顔で答えた。「あなたに救っていただいたあの大洪水で、家族はみな溺れ死にました。わずかな財産も、わたしどもの畑にあふれ込んだ激しい流れに押し流されてしまいました。どうかおそばに置いてください」と男は懇願した。「そして生涯をかけてお仕えすることで、命を救っていただいたご恩に、せめてわずかでも報いる機会をお与えください。」

As he uttered these words his tears began to flow, and his features showed every sign of profound emotion. Always full of tenderness and compassion, Chung was profoundly moved by the tears and sobs of Lo-yung, and hastened to assure him that he need be under no concern with regard to his future. "You have lost all your relatives, it is true, but from to-day I shall recognize you as my son. I adopt you into my family and I give you my name."

そう言いながら男の目からは涙が流れ、その顔には深い感動のあらゆる徴が現れていた。いつも優しさと憐れみに満ちた鍾は、羅勇の涙とすすり泣きに深く心を動かされ、急いで、この先のことは何も案じなくてよいと請け合った。「なるほど身内はみな失われた。だが今日から、わたしはお前を息子と認めよう。お前をわが家に迎え入れ、わたしの姓を与えよう。」

Six months after this important matter had been settled, the city was placarded with proclamations from its Chief Mandarin. In these he informed the people that he had received a most urgent Edict from the Emperor stating that an official seal, which was in constant use in high transactions of the State, had in a most mysterious manner disappeared and could not be found. He was therefore directed to inform the people that whoever informed His Majesty where the seal was, so that it could be recovered, would receive a considerable reward and would also be made a high mandarin in the palace of the Emperor.

この大事が決まってから六か月後、町じゅうに知府の布告が貼り出された。そこには、皇帝から火急の勅令を受け取ったと記されていた。国家の重大な取り扱いに常に用いられてきた官印が、たいそう不可解な仕方で消え失せ、見つからないというのである。それゆえ、官印の在りかを陛下にお知らせし、それを取り戻せるようにした者には、相当の褒美を与え、さらに皇帝の宮殿で高官に取り立てると、民に知らせるよう命じられたのであった。

That very night, whilst Chung was sleeping, a fairy appeared to him in a dream. "The gods have sent me," he said, "to give you one more proof of the high regard in which they hold you for your devotion to your fellow-men. The Emperor has lost a valuable seal which he is most anxious to recover, and he has promised large and liberal rewards to the man who shows him where it may be found. I want to tell you where the seal is. It lies at the bottom of the crystal well in the grounds behind the palace. It was accidentally dropped in there by the Empress-Dowager, who has forgotten all about the circumstance, but who will recollect it the moment she is reminded of it. I want you to send your own son to the capital to claim the reward by telling where the seal is."

まさにその夜、鍾が眠っていると、夢に一人の仙人が現れた。「神々がわたしを遣わしたのだ」と仙人は言った。「そなたの人への献身ゆえに、神々がどれほどそなたを重んじているかを示す、もう一つの証を与えるために。皇帝は大切な官印を失くして、どうにかして取り戻したいと願い、その在りかを示す者に大きな、惜しみない褒美を約束しておられる。その官印の在りかを教えよう。宮殿の裏手の庭にある水晶の井戸の底にある。皇太后がうっかりそこへ落とされたのだが、そのことをすっかり忘れておられる。しかし思い出させて差し上げれば、たちまち思い出されるであろう。そなた自身の息子を都へやって、官印の在りかを告げ、褒美を受け取らせるがよい。」

When Chung awoke in the morning, he told his wife the wonderful news of what had happened to him during the night, and began to make preparations for his son to start for the capital without delay, in order to secure the honours promised by the Emperor. His wife, however, was by no means reconciled to the idea of parting with her son, and strongly opposed his going.

朝、目を覚ますと、鍾は夜のあいだに起きた不思議な知らせを妻に話し、皇帝の約束した栄誉を得るために、息子をすぐにも都へ発たせる支度を始めた。けれども妻は息子と別れることにまったく納得せず、行かせることに強く反対した。

"Why are you so set upon the honours of this life that you are willing to be separated from your only child, whom perhaps you may never be able to see again?" she asked her husband, with tears in her eyes. "You are a rich man, you are beloved of the gods, you have everything that money can buy in this flowery kingdom. Why not then be contented and cease to long after the dignities which the State can confer, but which can never give you any real happiness?"

「どうしてあなたは、この世の栄誉にそれほどこだわって、もう二度と会えないかもしれないひとり子と離ればなれになることさえ厭わないのですか」と妻は涙を浮かべて夫に尋ねた。「あなたは金持ちで、神々に愛され、この華の国で金で買えるものは何でも持っているではありませんか。それなのに、どうして満ち足りて、国が授けることはできても本当の幸せを与えることは決してできない位を、望むのをやめないのですか。」

Just at that moment Lo-yung came in, and hearing the wonderful story, and seeing the distress of the mother, he volunteered to take the place of her son and go to the capital in his stead.

ちょうどそのとき羅勇が入ってきて、この不思議な話を聞き、母の嘆きを見ると、息子の代わりに自分が都へ行こうと申し出た。

"I have never yet had the chance," he said, "of showing my gratitude to my benefactor for having saved my life, and for the many favours he has showered upon me. I shall be glad to undertake this journey. I shall have an audience with His Majesty and will reveal to him the place where the seal lies hidden, and I shall then insist that all the honours he may be prepared to bestow on me shall be transferred to your son, to whom of right they naturally belong."

「わたしはまだ一度も」と彼は言った。「命を救ってくださり、数々の恵みを注いでくださった恩人に、感謝を示す機会を得ておりません。喜んでこの旅を引き受けましょう。陛下に拝謁して官印の隠れている場所を申し上げ、陛下がわたしに授けてくださるおつもりの栄誉は、当然それを受けるべきご子息にすべて移していただくよう、強くお願いいたします。」

It was accordingly arranged that Lo-yung should take the place of Chung's son, and preparations were at once made for his journey to the capital. As he was saying good-bye to his benefactor, the latter whispered in his ear: "If you succeed in your enterprise and the Emperor makes you one of his royal officers, do not let ingratitude ever enter your heart, so that you may be tempted to forget us here, who will be thinking about you all the time you are away."

そこで羅勇が鍾の息子の代わりを務めることに決まり、ただちに都への旅の支度が整えられた。羅勇が恩人に別れを告げていると、恩人はその耳にささやいた。「もしその企てがうまくいき、皇帝がお前を朝廷の役人に取り立てても、決して恩知らずの心を宿してはならぬぞ。お前が留守のあいだずっとお前のことを思っている、ここにいるわたしたちを忘れたくなるようなことのないように。」

"Nothing of the kind can ever happen," exclaimed Lo-yung impetuously. "My gratitude to you is too firmly embedded within my heart ever to be uprooted from it."

「そんなことは決して起こりえません」と羅勇は勢い込んで叫んだ。「あなたへの感謝は、根こそぎにされることなどありえないほど、わたしの胸に深く根を下ろしております。」

On his arrival at the capital, he at once sought an interview with the Prime Minister, who, on hearing that a man wished to see him about a state matter of urgent importance, immediately admitted him to his presence. Lo-yung at once explained that he had come to reveal the place where the lost seal at that moment lay concealed. "I am perfectly ready to tell all I know about it," he said, "but if possible I should prefer to make it known to the Emperor himself in person."

都に着くと、羅勇はただちに宰相に面会を求めた。宰相は、火急の重大な国事で会いたいという者がいると聞くと、すぐに彼を前に通した。羅勇はただちに、失われた官印がいま隠れている場所を明かしに来たのだと説き明かした。「知っていることはすべて申し上げる用意がございます」と彼は言った。「ですができることなら、皇帝陛下ご自身にじかにお知らせしとうございます。」

"That can quickly be arranged," eagerly replied the Prime Minister, "for His Majesty is so anxious to obtain information about the seal, that he is prepared at any hour of the day or night to give an audience to anyone who can ease his mind on the subject."

「それならすぐに手配できる」と宰相は勇んで答えた。「陛下は官印のことを知りたくてたまらず、この件で御心を安んじてくれる者になら、昼夜を問わずいつでも拝謁を許すおつもりでいらっしゃるからな。」

In a few minutes a eunuch from the palace commanded the Prime Minister to come without delay to the Audience Hall and wait upon the Emperor. He was also to bring with him the person who said that he had an important communication to lay before the Throne.

数分のうちに宮殿から宦官が来て、宰相にただちに謁見の間へ参上して皇帝に侍るよう命じた。また、玉座に申し上げるべき重大な知らせがあると言う者も、連れてくるようにとのことであった。

When they arrived they found there not only the King, but also the Empress-Dowager, waiting to receive them. In obedience to a hasty command, Lo-yung told in a few words where the seal was, and how it happened to be there. As he went on with the story the face of the Empress lit up with wonder, whilst a pleasing smile overspread it, as she recognized the truth of what Lo-yung was saying.

二人が着くと、そこには皇帝ばかりか皇太后までもが待ち受けていた。急な命に従って、羅勇は官印の在りかと、どうしてそこにあるのかを手短に語った。話が進むにつれ、皇太后の顔は驚きに輝き、羅勇の言うことが真実だと気づいて、心地よい微笑みがその顔に広がった。

"But tell me," said the Emperor, "how you get all your information and how it is that you have such an intimate acquaintance with what is going on in my palace?"

「だが申してみよ」と皇帝は言った。「そなたはどうやってそれらをすべて知ったのか。そしてどうして、わが宮殿で起きていることにそれほど通じているのか。」

Lo-yung then described how the Immortals in the Western Heaven, deeply moved by the loving character of Chung, and wishing to reward him and bring honour to his family, had sent a fairy, who appeared to him in a dream and told him the secret of the seal.

そこで羅勇は、西方の天の仙人たちが鍾の慈しみ深い人柄に深く心を動かされ、彼に報いてその家に栄誉をもたらそうと望んで一人の仙人を遣わし、その仙人が夢に現れて官印の秘密を告げたのだと語った。

"Your home," said the Emperor, "must indeed be celebrated for benevolent and loving deeds to men, since even the fairies come down from the far-off Heaven to express their approbation. In accordance with my royal promise, I now appoint you to a high official position that will enrich you for life, for I consider that it will be for the welfare of my kingdom to have a man from a home, which the gods delight to honour, to assist me in the management of my public affairs."

「そなたの家は」と皇帝は言った。「まことに人への慈しみと愛の行いで名高いに違いない。はるかな天から仙人までもが降りてきて、その称賛を示すほどなのだから。わが約束に従い、いまそなたを、生涯そなたを富ませる高い官職に任じる。神々が好んで讃えるような家の出の者に、わが国の政を助けてもらうことは、わが国の福利になると考えるからだ。」

From the moment when the royal favour was bestowed on Lo-yung, it seemed as though every particle of gratitude and every kindly remembrance of Chung had vanished completely out of his heart. He cut himself off from the home he had left only a few days ago, as completely as though it had never existed.

皇帝の寵愛が羅勇に授けられたその瞬間から、感謝のひとかけらも、鍾への優しい思い出も、すっかりその胸から消え去ったかのようであった。ほんの数日前に後にしてきたあの家を、はじめから存在しなかったかのように、すっかり縁を切ってしまった。

Weeks and months went by, but no news came from him, and the heart of Chung was wrung with anguish, for he knew that Lo-yung's unnatural conduct would in the end bring retribution upon Lo-yung himself.

幾週も幾月も過ぎたが、彼からは何の便りもなかった。鍾の心は苦悶に締めつけられた。羅勇のこの非道な振る舞いが、やがて羅勇自身に報いをもたらすことになると分かっていたからである。

At last he determined to send his son, Keng, to the capital to find out what had really become of Lo-yung. Attended by one of his household servants, the young man reached his journey's end in a few days. On enquiring at his inn about Lo-yung, he was informed that he was a mandarin of great distinction in the city, and was under the special protection of the Emperor, whose favourite he was.

とうとう鍾は、羅勇が本当はどうなったのかを確かめるために、息子の庚を都へやることにした。家の召使い一人を伴って、若者は数日で旅の終わりにたどり着いた。宿で羅勇のことを尋ねると、彼は都でたいそう名高い高官であり、その寵臣である皇帝の特別の庇護のもとにあると聞かされた。

Hearing this joyful news, Keng, followed by his servant, at once hastened to the residence of Lo-yung, and was lucky enough to meet him as he rode out on horseback from his magnificent yamen, attended by a long retinue of officers and attendants.

この嬉しい知らせを聞いて、庚は召使いを従えてすぐに羅勇の屋敷へ急いだ。そして運よく、羅勇が役人と供の長い行列を従えて、壮麗な官邸から馬に乗って出てくるところに出くわした。

Running up to the side of his horse, Keng cried out joyfully, "Ah! my brother, what a joy to meet you once more! How glad I am to see you!"

庚は馬の脇へ駆け寄り、嬉しそうに叫んだ。「ああ、兄上! またお会いできてなんと嬉しいことか! お目にかかれてどんなに嬉しいでしょう!」

To his astonishment, Lo-yung, with a frown upon his face, angrily exclaimed; "You common fellow, what do you mean by calling me your brother? I have no brother. You are an impostor, and you must be severely punished for daring to claim kinship with me."

驚いたことに、羅勇は顔をしかめ、腹立たしげに叫んだ。「この下賤の者め、わたしを兄と呼ぶとは何のつもりだ。わたしに弟などおらぬ。お前は騙り者だ。わたしと血縁だなどと言い張った罰に、厳しく懲らしめてやらねばならぬ。」

Calling some of the lictors in his train, he ordered them to beat Keng, and then cast him into prison, and to give strict injunctions to the jailer to treat him as a dangerous criminal. Wounded and bleeding from the severe scourging he had received, and in a terrible state of exhaustion, poor Keng was dragged to the prison, where he was thrown into the deepest dungeon, and left to recover as best he might from the shock he had sustained.

行列の中の捕吏を何人か呼び、庚を打ち据えてから牢に放り込み、牢番にはこの者を危険な罪人として扱えと厳しく申し渡すよう命じた。受けた激しい鞭打ちに傷つき血を流し、ひどく疲れ果てた哀れな庚は牢へ引きずっていかれ、いちばん深い地下牢に投げ込まれて、受けた衝撃からできるかぎり立ち直るまで放っておかれた。

His condition was indeed a pitiable one. Those who could have helped and comforted him were far away. He could expect no alleviation of his sorrows from the jailer, for the heart of the latter had naturally become hardened by having to deal with the criminal classes. Besides he had received precise orders from the great mandarin, that this particular prisoner was to be treated as a danger to society. Even if he had been inclined to deal mercifully with him, he dared not disobey such definite and stringent commands as he had received from his superior.

その有様はまことに哀れであった。助け慰めてくれるはずの人々は遠く離れていた。牢番から悲しみを和らげてもらうことも望めなかった。罪人を相手にするうちに、牢番の心は自然と硬くなっていたからである。そのうえ牢番は大官から、この囚人は社会に危険な者として扱えと、はっきり命じられていた。たとえ情けをかけたいと思っても、上役から受けたそれほど明確で厳しい命令に背く勇気はなかった。

The prison fare was only just enough to keep body and soul together. Keng had no money with which to bribe the jailer to give him a more generous diet, and there was no one to guarantee that any extra expenses which might be incurred would ever be refunded to him.

牢の食事は、かろうじて体と魂をつなぎとめるだけのものであった。庚には牢番に賄賂を渡してもっと多い食事をもらう金もなく、余分にかかった費用がいつか払い戻されると請け合ってくれる者もいなかった。

And then a miracle was wrought, and once more the fairies interfered, this time to save the life of the only son of the man whose fame for tenderness and compassion had reached the far-off Western Heaven.

そのとき奇跡が起こり、ふたたび仙人たちが手を差し伸べた。今度は、その優しさと憐れみの名声がはるかな西方の天にまで届いていたあの人の、一人息子の命を救うためであった。

One morning, as Keng lay weary and half-starved on the blackened heap of straw that served him as a bed in the corner of the prison, a monkey climbed up and clung to the narrow gratings through which the light penetrated into his room. In one of its hands it held a piece of pork which it kept offering to Keng. Very much surprised, he got up to take it, when to his delight he discovered that the monkey was the identical one which had been picked up by his father on the day of the great flood.

ある朝、庚が牢の片隅で寝床代わりの黒ずんだ藁の山の上に、疲れ果て、半ば飢えて横たわっていると、一匹の猿が登ってきて、部屋に光の差し込む細い格子にしがみついた。その片手には豚肉のかけらを持っていて、それをしきりに庚に差し出していた。たいそう驚いて起き上がり受け取ろうとすると、嬉しいことに、その猿こそ、大洪水の日に父が拾い上げたあの猿そのものであった。

The same thing was repeated for several days in succession, and when the jailer asked for some explanation of these extraordinary proceedings, Keng gave him a detailed account of their wonderful deliverance by the fairies, the picking up of the monkey, and the rescue of Lo-yung, now the great mandarin, who was keeping him confined in prison. "Ah!" muttered the jailer under his breath, "the lower animals know how to show gratitude, but men do not."

同じことが幾日も続けて繰り返された。牢番がこの尋常ならぬ出来事のわけを尋ねると、庚は、仙人たちによる不思議な救いのこと、猿を拾い上げたこと、そしていま自分を牢に閉じ込めている大官、羅勇を救ったことを、詳しく語った。「ああ!」と牢番は小声で呟いた。「獣は恩の返し方を知っているのに、人間は知らないのだな。」

A few days after this another messenger of the gods came to give his aid to Keng. A number of crows gathered on a roof which overlooked the narrow slits through which the prisoner could catch a glimpse of the blue sky. One of them flew on to the ledge outside, and Keng immediately recognized it as the one which had been saved from the floating branch in the turbid river. He was overjoyed to see this bird, and besought the jailer to allow him to write a letter to his father, telling him of his pitiful condition. This request was granted, and the document was tied to the leg of the crow, which flew away on its long flight to Chung with its important news.

それから数日後、神々の別の使いが庚を助けにやってきた。囚人が青い空をかいま見られる細い隙間を見おろす屋根に、鴉が何羽も集まったのである。そのうち一羽が外の出っ張りに飛び移り、庚はすぐに、それが濁った川で流れる枝から助けたあの鴉だと気づいた。この鳥を見て大喜びした庚は、自分の哀れな有様を知らせる手紙を父に書かせてほしいと牢番に懇願した。この願いは聞き入れられ、手紙は鴉の脚に結びつけられて、鴉は大事な知らせを持って鍾のもとへ長い旅路を飛んでいった。

Chung was greatly distressed when he read the letter that his son had written in prison, and with all the speed he could command, he travelled post haste to the capital. When he arrived there he made various attempts to obtain an interview with Lo-yung, but all in vain. The mandarin had not sense enough to see that the threads of fate were slowly winding themselves around him, and would soon entangle him to his destruction.

息子が牢で書いた手紙を読んで、鍾はひどく心を痛め、できるかぎりの速さで、早馬を乗り継いで都へ向かった。都に着くと羅勇に面会しようとさまざまに試みたが、すべて無駄であった。この大官には、運命の糸がじわじわと自分に巻きつき、まもなく自分を絡め取って破滅させようとしていることを悟るだけの分別がなかった。

Very unwillingly, therefore, because he still loved Lo-yung and would have saved him if possible, Chung entered an accusation against him before Fau-Kung, the famous criminal judge.

それゆえ、たいそう気の進まぬまま——というのも鍾はなお羅勇を愛しており、できることなら救ってやりたかったのである——鍾は名高い刑事裁判官、包公(ホウコウ)の前に羅勇を訴え出た。

The result of the investigation was the condemnation of Lo-yung, whose execution speedily followed, whilst Keng was promoted to the very position that had been occupied by the man who had tried to work his ruin.

取り調べの結果、羅勇は有罪となり、ほどなく処刑された。一方、庚は、自分を破滅させようとしたその男が占めていたまさにその地位へと取り立てられたのである。