Hans in Luck

Some men are born to good luck: all they do or try to do comes right--all that falls to them is so much gain--all their geese are swans--all their cards are trumps--toss them which way you will, they will always, like poor puss, alight upon their legs, and only move on so much the faster. The world may very likely not always think of them as they think of themselves, but what care they for the world? what can it know about the matter?

幸運を持って生まれてくる者がいる。することなすことみなうまくいき、手に入るものはみな儲けになり、飼っている鵞鳥はみな白鳥になり、手札はみな切り札になる。どちらへ放り投げても、哀れな猫のようにいつも足から着地して、それでいっそう速く進んでいくだけである。世間はいつも彼らが自分を思うようには思わないかもしれないが、世間が何だというのか。世間にそのことの何が分かろう。

One of these lucky beings was neighbour Hans. Seven long years he had worked hard for his master. At last he said, ‘Master, my time is up; I must go home and see my poor mother once more: so pray pay me my wages and let me go.’ And the master said, ‘You have been a faithful and good servant, Hans, so your pay shall be handsome.’ Then he gave him a lump of silver as big as his head.

そうした幸運な者の一人が、われらが隣人ハンスだった。彼は七年の長きにわたって主人のもとで懸命に働いた。そしてとうとうこう言った。「旦那さま、年季が明けました。家に帰って、哀れな母にもう一度会わねばなりません。どうか給金を払って行かせてください」すると主人は言った。「おまえは忠実でよい奉公人だった、ハンス。だから給金も立派なものにしよう」そして彼の頭ほどもある銀の塊を与えた。

Hans took out his pocket-handkerchief, put the piece of silver into it, threw it over his shoulder, and jogged off on his road homewards. As he went lazily on, dragging one foot after another, a man came in sight, trotting gaily along on a capital horse. ‘Ah!’ said Hans aloud, ‘what a fine thing it is to ride on horseback! There he sits as easy and happy as if he was at home, in the chair by his fireside; he trips against no stones, saves shoe-leather, and gets on he hardly knows how.’ Hans did not speak so softly but the horseman heard it all, and said, ‘Well, friend, why do you go on foot then?’ ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘I have this load to carry: to be sure it is silver, but it is so heavy that I can’t hold up my head, and you must know it hurts my shoulder sadly.’ ‘What do you say of making an exchange?’ said the horseman. ‘I will give you my horse, and you shall give me the silver; which will save you a great deal of trouble in carrying such a heavy load about with you.’ ‘With all my heart,’ said Hans: ‘but as you are so kind to me, I must tell you one thing--you will have a weary task to draw that silver about with you.’ However, the horseman got off, took the silver, helped Hans up, gave him the bridle into one hand and the whip into the other, and said, ‘When you want to go very fast, smack your lips loudly together, and cry “Jip!”’

ハンスは懐から手巾を取り出し、その銀の塊を包んで肩に担ぎ、家路をとことこ歩きはじめた。そうして片足をもう片方の前へ引きずるようにのろのろ歩いていると、一人の男が立派な馬に乗って陽気に走ってくるのが見えた。「ああ」とハンスは声に出して言った。「馬に乗るとはなんとよいものだろう。あの人は家の暖炉のそばの椅子にいるかのように楽々と幸せに座っている。石につまずきもせず、靴革を節約して、どうしてか分からぬうちに進んでいく」ハンスはそれほど小さな声で言ったわけではなかったので、馬上の男はすっかり聞き取って言った。「やあ、友よ、ではなぜ歩いているんだね」「ああ」と彼は言った。「この荷を運ばねばならないのです。たしかに銀ですが、あまりに重くて頭もまっすぐにできません。それに肩がひどく痛むのです」「取り替えっこしないか」と馬上の男は言った。「わたしの馬をやるから、おまえは銀をくれ。そうすればそんな重い荷を持ち歩く苦労がずいぶん省ける」「喜んで」とハンスは言った。「でも、あなたはわたしにたいそう親切だから、一つ申し上げておきます。その銀を引きずって歩くのは骨の折れる仕事ですよ」ところが馬上の男は下りて銀を取り、ハンスが乗るのを助け、片手に手綱を、もう片方の手に鞭を握らせて言った。「たいそう速く行きたければ、唇を大きく鳴らして『それ』と叫ぶんだ」

Hans was delighted as he sat on the horse, drew himself up, squared his elbows, turned out his toes, cracked his whip, and rode merrily off, one minute whistling a merry tune, and another singing,

ハンスは馬にまたがって大喜びで、背筋を伸ばし、肘を張り、爪先を外へ向け、鞭を鳴らして陽気に走り出し、あるときは楽しい節を口笛で吹き、あるときは歌った。

‘No care and no sorrow, A fig for the morrow! We’ll laugh and be merry, Sing neigh down derry!’

「心配もなし、悲しみもなし、明日なんぞ知るものか。笑って浮かれて歌おうじゃないか、ヒヒン、デレデレ、デリー」

After a time he thought he should like to go a little faster, so he smacked his lips and cried ‘Jip!’ Away went the horse full gallop; and before Hans knew what he was about, he was thrown off, and lay on his back by the road-side. His horse would have ran off, if a shepherd who was coming by, driving a cow, had not stopped it. Hans soon came to himself, and got upon his legs again, sadly vexed, and said to the shepherd, ‘This riding is no joke, when a man has the luck to get upon a beast like this that stumbles and flings him off as if it would break his neck. However, I’m off now once for all: I like your cow now a great deal better than this smart beast that played me this trick, and has spoiled my best coat, you see, in this puddle; which, by the by, smells not very like a nosegay. One can walk along at one’s leisure behind that cow--keep good company, and have milk, butter, and cheese, every day, into the bargain. What would I give to have such a prize!’ ‘Well,’ said the shepherd, ‘if you are so fond of her, I will change my cow for your horse; I like to do good to my neighbours, even though I lose by it myself.’ ‘Done!’ said Hans, merrily. ‘What a noble heart that good man has!’ thought he. Then the shepherd jumped upon the horse, wished Hans and the cow good morning, and away he rode.

しばらくして、彼はもう少し速く行きたくなったので、唇を鳴らして「それ」と叫んだ。すると馬は全速力で駆け出し、ハンスは何が起きたか分かる間もなく振り落とされて、道端に仰向けに転がっていた。もし牛を追って通りかかった羊飼いが止めてくれなければ、馬も逃げていただろう。ハンスはまもなく我に返って立ち上がったが、ひどく腹を立てて羊飼いに言った。「馬に乗るのは冗談ではありませんな。こんな獣に当たってしまって、つまずいて放り出して、首を折らんばかりですからね。ともあれ、もうこれきりです。あなたの牛のほうが、こんな悪戯をしてわたしのいちばんよい上着をこの水たまりで台なしにした、その気取った獣よりずっとよい。ついでながら、この匂いは花束とは似ても似つかない。あの牛の後ろならのんびり歩けるし、よい連れになるし、おまけに毎日乳とバタとチーズが手に入る。あんな宝が手に入るなら何を出しても惜しくない」「そうですか」と羊飼いは言った。「そんなに気に入られたのなら、わたしの牛をあなたの馬と取り替えましょう。自分が損をしても、隣人によいことをするのが好きなのでね」「決まりだ」とハンスは陽気に言った。「なんと気高い心を持った人だろう」と彼は思った。そこで羊飼いは馬に跳び乗り、ハンスと牛におはようと言って走り去った。

Hans brushed his coat, wiped his face and hands, rested a while, and then drove off his cow quietly, and thought his bargain a very lucky one. ‘If I have only a piece of bread (and I certainly shall always be able to get that), I can, whenever I like, eat my butter and cheese with it; and when I am thirsty I can milk my cow and drink the milk: and what can I wish for more?’ When he came to an inn, he halted, ate up all his bread, and gave away his last penny for a glass of beer. When he had rested himself he set off again, driving his cow towards his mother’s village. But the heat grew greater as soon as noon came on, till at last, as he found himself on a wide heath that would take him more than an hour to cross, he began to be so hot and parched that his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. ‘I can find a cure for this,’ thought he; ‘now I will milk my cow and quench my thirst’: so he tied her to the stump of a tree, and held his leathern cap to milk into; but not a drop was to be had. Who would have thought that this cow, which was to bring him milk and butter and cheese, was all that time utterly dry? Hans had not thought of looking to that.

ハンスは上着を払い、顔と手を拭き、しばらく休んでから、静かに牛を追っていった。そしてこの取引はたいそう幸運だったと思った。「パンがひと切れあれば——そしてそれはきっといつでも手に入るだろう——いつでも好きなときにバタとチーズを添えて食べられる。喉が渇けば牛の乳を搾って飲める。これ以上何を望むことがある」宿屋に着くと彼は立ち寄って、持っていたパンをすっかり食べ、最後の一銭でビールを一杯飲んだ。休んでからまた出発し、牛を追って母の村へ向かった。だが昼になると暑さはますます厳しくなり、とうとう、横切るのに一時間以上かかる広い荒れ野に来たころには、暑くて渇いて、舌が上顎に貼りついた。「これは何とかなる」と彼は思った。「牛の乳を搾って渇きを癒そう」そこで牛を木の切り株につなぎ、革の帽子を搾り取るために当てた。だがひとしずくも出なかった。乳とバタとチーズをもたらすはずのこの牛が、そのあいだじゅうすっかり乳が出なかったとは、誰が思っただろう。ハンスはそれを確かめようとも思わなかったのである。

While he was trying his luck in milking, and managing the matter very clumsily, the uneasy beast began to think him very troublesome; and at last gave him such a kick on the head as knocked him down; and there he lay a long while senseless. Luckily a butcher soon came by, driving a pig in a wheelbarrow. ‘What is the matter with you, my man?’ said the butcher, as he helped him up. Hans told him what had happened, how he was dry, and wanted to milk his cow, but found the cow was dry too. Then the butcher gave him a flask of ale, saying, ‘There, drink and refresh yourself; your cow will give you no milk: don’t you see she is an old beast, good for nothing but the slaughter-house?’ ‘Alas, alas!’ said Hans, ‘who would have thought it? What a shame to take my horse, and give me only a dry cow! If I kill her, what will she be good for? I hate cow-beef; it is not tender enough for me. If it were a pig now--like that fat gentleman you are driving along at his ease--one could do something with it; it would at any rate make sausages.’ ‘Well,’ said the butcher, ‘I don’t like to say no, when one is asked to do a kind, neighbourly thing. To please you I will change, and give you my fine fat pig for the cow.’ ‘Heaven reward you for your kindness and self-denial!’ said Hans, as he gave the butcher the cow; and taking the pig off the wheel-barrow, drove it away, holding it by the string that was tied to its leg.

彼が乳搾りで運を試し、たいそう不器用にやっていると、落ち着かないこの獣は彼をひどく煩わしく思いはじめ、とうとう頭に強烈な蹴りを食らわせて彼を打ち倒した。そして彼は長いあいだ気を失って倒れていた。運よくまもなく肉屋が通りかかった。手押し車に豚を載せていた。「どうしたんだね、おまえさん」と肉屋は言って、彼を助け起こした。ハンスは何が起きたか、喉が渇いて牛の乳を搾ろうとしたら牛も乾いていたことを話した。すると肉屋はエールの瓶を渡して言った。「さあ、飲んで元気をお出しなさい。その牛は乳を出しませんよ。見て分かりませんか、年寄りの獣で、屠るほか何の役にも立たない」「ああ、ああ」とハンスは言った。「誰が思ったでしょう。わたしの馬を取って、乾いた牛だけをよこすとは、なんとひどい。これを殺したところで何の役に立つ。牛肉は嫌いです。わたしには柔らかさが足りない。もし豚なら——あなたが楽々と追っているあの肥えた紳士のような——何かできる。少なくとも腸詰にはなります」「そうですか」と肉屋は言った。「親切な隣人らしいことを頼まれて、嫌とは言いたくない。あなたのために取り替えて、この立派な肥えた豚を牛と引き換えに差し上げましょう」「そのご親切と無私の心に天のご加護を」とハンスは言って肉屋に牛を渡し、豚を手押し車から下ろしてもらい、脚に結んだ紐を握って追っていった。

So on he jogged, and all seemed now to go right with him: he had met with some misfortunes, to be sure; but he was now well repaid for all. How could it be otherwise with such a travelling companion as he had at last got?

そうして彼はとことこ進み、今や何もかもうまくいっているように思われた。たしかにいくらか不運にも遭ったが、今やその埋め合わせは十分についた。とうとうこんな旅の道連れを得たのだから、そうでないはずがあろうか。

The next man he met was a countryman carrying a fine white goose. The countryman stopped to ask what was o’clock; this led to further chat; and Hans told him all his luck, how he had so many good bargains, and how all the world went gay and smiling with him. The countryman then began to tell his tale, and said he was going to take the goose to a christening. ‘Feel,’ said he, ‘how heavy it is, and yet it is only eight weeks old. Whoever roasts and eats it will find plenty of fat upon it, it has lived so well!’ ‘You’re right,’ said Hans, as he weighed it in his hand; ‘but if you talk of fat, my pig is no trifle.’ Meantime the countryman began to look grave, and shook his head. ‘Hark ye!’ said he, ‘my worthy friend, you seem a good sort of fellow, so I can’t help doing you a kind turn. Your pig may get you into a scrape. In the village I just came from, the squire has had a pig stolen out of his sty. I was dreadfully afraid when I saw you that you had got the squire’s pig. If you have, and they catch you, it will be a bad job for you. The least they will do will be to throw you into the horse-pond. Can you swim?’

次に出会ったのは、立派な白い鵞鳥を抱えた田舎の男だった。男は立ち止まって今何時かと尋ね、そこからさらに話が続いて、ハンスは自分の幸運を、どれほど得な取引を重ねてきたか、世界じゅうが自分に陽気に微笑んでいるかを話した。それから田舎の男は自分の話を始めて、この鵞鳥を洗礼の祝いに持っていくところだと言った。「持ってごらんなさい」と彼は言った。「どれほど重いか。それでいてまだ八週間しかたっていない。これを焼いて食べる人は、たっぷり脂がのっているのを見るでしょう。それほどよく育ったのです」「たしかに」とハンスは手で重さを量りながら言った。「でも脂の話なら、わたしの豚だって並ではない」そのあいだに田舎の男は難しい顔になって、首を振った。「ねえ、あなた」と彼は言った。「あなたはよい方のようだから、親切をしないわけにいかない。その豚は厄介ごとの種になるかもしれません。わたしが今来た村で、郷士の豚が小屋から盗まれたのです。あなたを見たとき、郷士の豚を手にしているのではないかとひどく怖くなりました。もしそうで捕まったら、あなたにとってまずいことになる。いちばん軽くても馬の水たまりに放り込まれる。あなたは泳げますか」

Poor Hans was sadly frightened. ‘Good man,’ cried he, ‘pray get me out of this scrape. I know nothing of where the pig was either bred or born; but he may have been the squire’s for aught I can tell: you know this country better than I do, take my pig and give me the goose.’ ‘I ought to have something into the bargain,’ said the countryman; ‘give a fat goose for a pig, indeed! ‘Tis not everyone would do so much for you as that. However, I will not be hard upon you, as you are in trouble.’ Then he took the string in his hand, and drove off the pig by a side path; while Hans went on the way homewards free from care. ‘After all,’ thought he, ‘that chap is pretty well taken in. I don’t care whose pig it is, but wherever it came from it has been a very good friend to me. I have much the best of the bargain. First there will be a capital roast; then the fat will find me in goose-grease for six months; and then there are all the beautiful white feathers. I will put them into my pillow, and then I am sure I shall sleep soundly without rocking. How happy my mother will be! Talk of a pig, indeed! Give me a fine fat goose.’

哀れなハンスはひどく怯えた。「よい方よ」と彼は叫んだ。「どうかこの厄介から助けてください。この豚がどこで生まれ育ったのかわたしは何も知らないが、郷士のものであってもおかしくない。あなたはわたしよりこの地方をよくご存じだ。わたしの豚を取って、鵞鳥をください」「おまけに何かもらってもいいくらいだ」と田舎の男は言った。「肥えた鵞鳥を豚と引き換えにやるんですからね。誰もがあなたにそこまでするわけじゃない。だが、困っているのだから、厳しくはしますまい」そう言って彼は紐を手に取り、豚を脇道へ追っていった。いっぽうハンスは心配から解き放たれて家路を進んだ。「結局のところ」と彼は思った。「あの男はずいぶん損をしたものだ。誰の豚だろうと構わんが、どこから来たにせよ、あれはわたしのたいそうよい友だった。この取引はわたしのほうがずっと得をしている。まずは上等の焼き肉になる。それから脂で半年ぶんの鵞鳥脂が手に入る。そしてあの美しい白い羽根。枕に詰めれば、揺すられなくてもぐっすり眠れるだろう。母さんはどれほど喜ぶことか。豚がどうしたというんだ。立派な肥えた鵞鳥をくれ」

As he came to the next village, he saw a scissor-grinder with his wheel, working and singing,

次の村に着くと、彼は砥石車を持った鋏研ぎが、働きながら歌っているのを見た。

‘O’er hill and o’er dale So happy I roam, Work light and live well, All the world is my home; Then who so blythe, so merry as I?’

「丘を越え谷を越え、心も軽くさすらい、仕事は軽く暮らしはよく、世界じゅうがわが家。さればわたしほど陽気で楽しい者があろうか」

Hans stood looking on for a while, and at last said, ‘You must be well off, master grinder! you seem so happy at your work.’ ‘Yes,’ said the other, ‘mine is a golden trade; a good grinder never puts his hand into his pocket without finding money in it--but where did you get that beautiful goose?’ ‘I did not buy it, I gave a pig for it.’ ‘And where did you get the pig?’ ‘I gave a cow for it.’ ‘And the cow?’ ‘I gave a horse for it.’ ‘And the horse?’ ‘I gave a lump of silver as big as my head for it.’ ‘And the silver?’ ‘Oh! I worked hard for that seven long years.’ ‘You have thriven well in the world hitherto,’ said the grinder, ‘now if you could find money in your pocket whenever you put your hand in it, your fortune would be made.’ ‘Very true: but how is that to be managed?’ ‘How? Why, you must turn grinder like myself,’ said the other; ‘you only want a grindstone; the rest will come of itself. Here is one that is but little the worse for wear: I would not ask more than the value of your goose for it--will you buy?’ ‘How can you ask?’ said Hans; ‘I should be the happiest man in the world, if I could have money whenever I put my hand in my pocket: what could I want more? there’s the goose.’ ‘Now,’ said the grinder, as he gave him a common rough stone that lay by his side, ‘this is a most capital stone; do but work it well enough, and you can make an old nail cut with it.’

ハンスはしばらく立って眺め、とうとう言った。「あなたは暮らしがよいにちがいない、研ぎ屋の親方。仕事がそんなに楽しそうだ」「ええ」ともう一方は言った。「わたしのは黄金の稼業です。よい研ぎ屋は、ふところに手を入れて金が入っていないことがない。ところでその美しい鵞鳥はどこで手に入れたのです」「買ったのではなく、豚と引き換えにもらったのです」「その豚はどこで」「牛と引き換えに」「その牛は」「馬と引き換えに」「その馬は」「わたしの頭ほどもある銀の塊と引き換えに」「その銀は」「ああ、あれは七年の長きにわたって懸命に働いて得たものです」「あなたはこれまで世の中でよく栄えてきた」と研ぎ屋は言った。「これで、ふところに手を入れるたびに金が見つかるようになれば、あなたの身代はできあがりです」「まったくそのとおり。だがどうすればそうなるのです」「どうするか。わたしのように研ぎ屋になるのですよ」ともう一方は言った。「砥石さえあればいい。あとはひとりでに揃います。ここに一つありますが、ほとんど傷んでいない。あなたの鵞鳥の値打ち以上は求めません。買いますか」「何を尋ねるまでもない」とハンスは言った。「ふところに手を入れるたびに金が手に入るなら、わたしは世界でいちばん幸せな男になる。これ以上何を望むことがあろう。さあ鵞鳥です」「さて」と研ぎ屋は言って、そばに転がっていた普通の粗い石を渡した。「これは実に立派な石です。よく使いさえすれば、これで古い釘だって切れるようになる」

Hans took the stone, and went his way with a light heart: his eyes sparkled for joy, and he said to himself, ‘Surely I must have been born in a lucky hour; everything I could want or wish for comes of itself. People are so kind; they seem really to think I do them a favour in letting them make me rich, and giving me good bargains.’

ハンスは石を取り、軽い心で道を行った。その目は喜びに輝き、彼はひとりごとを言った。「わたしはきっと幸運な時に生まれたにちがいない。望むもの願うものが何でもひとりでに手に入る。人々はたいそう親切で、わたしを金持ちにして得な取引をさせてやることで、こちらが恩を受けているとでも思っているようだ」

Meantime he began to be tired, and hungry too, for he had given away his last penny in his joy at getting the cow.

そのうち彼は疲れはじめ、腹も減ってきた。牛を手に入れた嬉しさで最後の一銭を使ってしまっていたからである。

At last he could go no farther, for the stone tired him sadly: and he dragged himself to the side of a river, that he might take a drink of water, and rest a while. So he laid the stone carefully by his side on the bank: but, as he stooped down to drink, he forgot it, pushed it a little, and down it rolled, plump into the stream.

とうとう彼はそれ以上進めなくなった。石がひどく彼を疲れさせたのである。そこで水をひと口飲んでしばらく休もうと、川のほとりまで体を引きずっていった。そして石を注意深く土手の自分のそばに置いた。だが飲もうとかがんだとき、それを忘れて少し押してしまい、石は転がってどぼんと流れに落ちた。

For a while he watched it sinking in the deep clear water; then sprang up and danced for joy, and again fell upon his knees and thanked Heaven, with tears in his eyes, for its kindness in taking away his only plague, the ugly heavy stone.

彼はしばらくそれが深く澄んだ水に沈んでいくのを眺め、それから跳び上がって喜びに踊り、またひざまずいて、目に涙を浮かべながら天に感謝した。唯一の悩みの種だった、あの醜く重い石を取り去ってくださった恵みに対してである。

‘How happy am I!’ cried he; ‘nobody was ever so lucky as I.’ Then up he got with a light heart, free from all his troubles, and walked on till he reached his mother’s house, and told her how very easy the road to good luck was.

「なんと幸せなことか」と彼は叫んだ。「わたしほど幸運な者はかつていない」そして軽い心で、あらゆる悩みから解き放たれて立ち上がり、母の家に着くまで歩きつづけて、幸運への道がどれほど楽なものかを母に語った。