Snowdrop

It was the middle of winter, when the broad flakes of snow were falling around, that the queen of a country many thousand miles off sat working at her window. The frame of the window was made of fine black ebony, and as she sat looking out upon the snow, she pricked her finger, and three drops of blood fell upon it. Then she gazed thoughtfully upon the red drops that sprinkled the white snow, and said, ‘Would that my little daughter may be as white as that snow, as red as that blood, and as black as this ebony windowframe!’ And so the little girl really did grow up; her skin was as white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as the blood, and her hair as black as ebony; and she was called Snowdrop.

真冬のなかば、大きな雪片があたりに降りしきっていたころ、何千マイルも離れた国の王妃が、窓辺に座って針仕事をしていた。窓の枠は上等な黒檀でできていた。雪を眺めながら座っているうちに、王妃は指を刺してしまい、血が三滴その上に落ちた。それから王妃は、白い雪に散った赤い滴をじっと見つめて言った。「わたしの小さな娘が、あの雪のように白く、あの血のように赤く、この黒檀の窓枠のように黒いといいのだけれど!」そして本当にその通りの女の子が育った。肌は雪のように白く、頬は血のように赤く、髪は黒檀のように黒かった。その子はスノードロップと呼ばれた。

But this queen died; and the king soon married another wife, who became queen, and was very beautiful, but so vain that she could not bear to think that anyone could be handsomer than she was. She had a fairy looking-glass, to which she used to go, and then she would gaze upon herself in it, and say:

ところがこの王妃は死に、王はまもなく別の妃を迎えた。新しい妃はたいそう美しかったが、あまりに自惚れが強く、自分より美しい者がいるかもしれないと思うだけで我慢ならなかった。妃は魔法の鏡を持っていて、いつもそこへ行っては自分の姿を映し、こう言うのだった。

‘Tell me, glass, tell me true! Of all the ladies in the land, Who is fairest, tell me, who?’

「鏡よ、教えておくれ、ほんとうのことを! この国のご婦人がたのうちで、いちばん美しいのは誰、教えておくれ」

And the glass had always answered:

すると鏡はいつもこう答えた。

‘Thou, queen, art the fairest in all the land.’

「妃よ、あなたこそこの国じゅうでいちばん美しい」

But Snowdrop grew more and more beautiful; and when she was seven years old she was as bright as the day, and fairer than the queen herself. Then the glass one day answered the queen, when she went to look in it as usual:

けれどもスノードロップはますます美しくなり、七つになったころには昼の光のように輝いて、妃そのものより美しかった。そこである日、妃がいつものように覗きに行くと、鏡はこう答えた。

‘Thou, queen, art fair, and beauteous to see, But Snowdrop is lovelier far than thee!’

「妃よ、あなたも見目麗しく美しい。だがスノードロップはあなたよりずっと愛らしい!」

When she heard this she turned pale with rage and envy, and called to one of her servants, and said, ‘Take Snowdrop away into the wide wood, that I may never see her any more.’ Then the servant led her away; but his heart melted when Snowdrop begged him to spare her life, and he said, ‘I will not hurt you, thou pretty child.’ So he left her by herself; and though he thought it most likely that the wild beasts would tear her in pieces, he felt as if a great weight were taken off his heart when he had made up his mind not to kill her but to leave her to her fate, with the chance of someone finding and saving her.

これを聞いた妃は、怒りと妬みで顔色を失い、家来の一人を呼んで言った。「スノードロップを広い森へ連れて行って、二度とわたしの目に触れないようにしておしまい。」そこで家来は娘を連れて行ったが、スノードロップに命ばかりはと乞われると心がほぐれて、こう言った。「おまえを傷つけはしない、かわいい子だ。」そして娘を一人きりにして去った。おおかた野の獣に引き裂かれてしまうだろうとは思ったものの、殺さずに運にまかせ、誰かが見つけて助けてくれる望みに賭けると心を決めたとき、家来は胸の大きな重石が取れたような気がした。

Then poor Snowdrop wandered along through the wood in great fear; and the wild beasts roared about her, but none did her any harm. In the evening she came to a cottage among the hills, and went in to rest, for her little feet would carry her no further. Everything was spruce and neat in the cottage: on the table was spread a white cloth, and there were seven little plates, seven little loaves, and seven little glasses with wine in them; and seven knives and forks laid in order; and by the wall stood seven little beds. As she was very hungry, she picked a little piece of each loaf and drank a very little wine out of each glass; and after that she thought she would lie down and rest. So she tried all the little beds; but one was too long, and another was too short, till at last the seventh suited her: and there she laid herself down and went to sleep.

さて哀れなスノードロップは、ひどく怖がりながら森をさまよい歩いた。野の獣たちがまわりで吠えたが、どれも娘に害を加えなかった。夕方、娘は丘のあいだにある一軒の小屋に来て、休もうと中へ入った。小さな足がもうそれ以上運んでくれなかったからである。小屋の中は何もかもこざっぱりと整っていた。食卓には白い布が広げられ、小さな皿が七つ、小さなパンが七つ、葡萄酒の入った小さなコップが七つ、それに小刀とフォークが七組きちんと並べてあり、壁ぎわには小さな寝床が七つ並んでいた。たいそう空腹だったので、娘はどのパンからも少しずつつまみ、どのコップからもほんの少しずつ葡萄酒を飲んだ。それから横になって休もうと思った。そこで小さな寝床を一つずつ試してみたが、一つは長すぎ、もう一つは短すぎで、とうとう七つめが体に合った。娘はそこに身を横たえて眠り込んだ。

By and by in came the masters of the cottage. Now they were seven little dwarfs, that lived among the mountains, and dug and searched for gold. They lighted up their seven lamps, and saw at once that all was not right. The first said, ‘Who has been sitting on my stool?’ The second, ‘Who has been eating off my plate?’ The third, ‘Who has been picking my bread?’ The fourth, ‘Who has been meddling with my spoon?’ The fifth, ‘Who has been handling my fork?’ The sixth, ‘Who has been cutting with my knife?’ The seventh, ‘Who has been drinking my wine?’ Then the first looked round and said, ‘Who has been lying on my bed?’ And the rest came running to him, and everyone cried out that somebody had been upon his bed. But the seventh saw Snowdrop, and called all his brethren to come and see her; and they cried out with wonder and astonishment and brought their lamps to look at her, and said, ‘Good heavens! what a lovely child she is!’ And they were very glad to see her, and took care not to wake her; and the seventh dwarf slept an hour with each of the other dwarfs in turn, till the night was gone.

しばらくして小屋の主たちが帰って来た。それは山のあいだに住んで金を掘り探している七人の小人だった。七つのランプに火をともすと、たちまち何もかも尋常でないと分かった。一人めが言った。「誰がわしの腰掛けに座ったんだ?」二人めが「誰がわしの皿から食べたんだ?」三人めが「誰がわしのパンをつまんだんだ?」四人めが「誰がわしの匙をいじったんだ?」五人めが「誰がわしのフォークを触ったんだ?」六人めが「誰がわしの小刀で切ったんだ?」七人めが「誰がわしの葡萄酒を飲んだんだ?」それから一人めがあたりを見回して言った。「誰がわしの寝床に寝ていたんだ?」するとほかの者たちも駆け寄って来て、みなが口々に、自分の寝床にも誰かがいたと叫んだ。だが七人めがスノードロップを見つけ、兄弟をみな呼んで見せた。彼らは驚きと感嘆の声をあげ、ランプを持って来て娘を眺め、「なんとまあ! なんて愛らしい子だろう!」と言った。そして娘に会えたのがたいそう嬉しく、起こさないように気をつけ、七人めの小人は夜が明けるまで、ほかの小人のところで一時間ずつ順に眠った。

In the morning Snowdrop told them all her story; and they pitied her, and said if she would keep all things in order, and cook and wash and knit and spin for them, she might stay where she was, and they would take good care of her. Then they went out all day long to their work, seeking for gold and silver in the mountains: but Snowdrop was left at home; and they warned her, and said, ‘The queen will soon find out where you are, so take care and let no one in.’

朝になると、スノードロップは身の上をすっかり話した。小人たちは娘を気の毒に思い、もし家の中をきちんとして、煮炊きと洗濯と編み物と紡ぎ物をしてくれるなら、ここにいてよい、大事にしてやろうと言った。それから彼らは一日じゅう出かけて山で金や銀を探して働き、スノードロップは家に残された。彼らは娘に念を押して言った。「妃はじきにおまえの居場所を突き止めるだろう。気をつけて、誰も中へ入れてはいけないよ。」

But the queen, now that she thought Snowdrop was dead, believed that she must be the handsomest lady in the land; and she went to her glass and said:

ところで妃は、スノードロップが死んだと思っているので、自分こそこの国でいちばん美しい女に違いないと信じ、鏡のところへ行って言った。

‘Tell me, glass, tell me true! Of all the ladies in the land, Who is fairest, tell me, who?’

「鏡よ、教えておくれ、ほんとうのことを! この国のご婦人がたのうちで、いちばん美しいのは誰、教えておくれ」

And the glass answered:

すると鏡は答えた。

‘Thou, queen, art the fairest in all this land: But over the hills, in the greenwood shade, Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made, There Snowdrop is hiding her head; and she Is lovelier far, O queen! than thee.’

「妃よ、あなたはこの国じゅうでいちばん美しい。だが丘を越えた緑の森の陰、七人の小人が住まいを構えたところ、そこにスノードロップは身をひそめている。あの娘こそ、ああ妃よ、あなたよりずっと愛らしい」

Then the queen was very much frightened; for she knew that the glass always spoke the truth, and was sure that the servant had betrayed her. And she could not bear to think that anyone lived who was more beautiful than she was; so she dressed herself up as an old pedlar, and went her way over the hills, to the place where the dwarfs dwelt. Then she knocked at the door, and cried, ‘Fine wares to sell!’ Snowdrop looked out at the window, and said, ‘Good day, good woman! what have you to sell?’ ‘Good wares, fine wares,’ said she; ‘laces and bobbins of all colours.’ ‘I will let the old lady in; she seems to be a very good sort of body,’ thought Snowdrop, as she ran down and unbolted the door. ‘Bless me!’ said the old woman, ‘how badly your stays are laced! Let me lace them up with one of my nice new laces.’ Snowdrop did not dream of any mischief; so she stood before the old woman; but she set to work so nimbly, and pulled the lace so tight, that Snowdrop’s breath was stopped, and she fell down as if she were dead. ‘There’s an end to all thy beauty,’ said the spiteful queen, and went away home.

そこで妃はたいそう肝をつぶした。鏡はいつも真実しか言わないと知っていたし、家来が自分を裏切ったに違いないと確信したからである。そして自分より美しい者が生きていると思うだけで我慢がならなかった。そこで年老いた行商人の姿に身をやつし、丘を越えて小人たちの住む場所へ出かけて行った。そして戸を叩いて叫んだ。「上等の品はいかが!」スノードロップが窓から顔を出して言った。「こんにちは、おばさん! 何を売っているの?」「よい品、上等の品ですよ」と女は言った。「色とりどりの紐や糸巻きがね。」「このおばあさんを入れてあげよう。とてもいい人のようだもの」とスノードロップは思って、駆け下りて戸の閂を外した。「まあ大変!」と老婆は言った。「胴着の紐の締め方がなんてひどいこと! わたしの新しいきれいな紐で締め直してあげましょう。」スノードロップは悪事など夢にも思わず、老婆の前に立った。ところが老婆はすばやく手を動かし、紐をぐいぐい締めたので、スノードロップは息が止まり、死んだように倒れてしまった。「おまえの美しさもこれでおしまいだ」と意地悪な妃は言って、家へ帰って行った。

In the evening the seven dwarfs came home; and I need not say how grieved they were to see their faithful Snowdrop stretched out upon the ground, as if she was quite dead. However, they lifted her up, and when they found what ailed her, they cut the lace; and in a little time she began to breathe, and very soon came to life again. Then they said, ‘The old woman was the queen herself; take care another time, and let no one in when we are away.’

夕方、七人の小人が帰って来た。忠実なスノードロップがまるで死んだように地面に伸びているのを見て、彼らがどれほど嘆いたかは言うまでもない。それでも娘を抱き起こし、何が悪いのか分かると紐を切った。するとまもなく娘は息をし始め、じきに生き返った。そこで彼らは言った。「あの老婆は妃そのものだ。今度から気をつけて、わしらの留守に誰も入れてはいけないよ。」

When the queen got home, she went straight to her glass, and spoke to it as before; but to her great grief it still said:

妃は家に帰ると、まっすぐ鏡のところへ行き、前と同じように話しかけた。ところが大いに悔しいことに、鏡はやはりこう言った。

‘Thou, queen, art the fairest in all this land: But over the hills, in the greenwood shade, Where the seven dwarfs their dwelling have made, There Snowdrop is hiding her head; and she Is lovelier far, O queen! than thee.’

「妃よ、あなたはこの国じゅうでいちばん美しい。だが丘を越えた緑の森の陰、七人の小人が住まいを構えたところ、そこにスノードロップは身をひそめている。あの娘こそ、ああ妃よ、あなたよりずっと愛らしい」

Then the blood ran cold in her heart with spite and malice, to see that Snowdrop still lived; and she dressed herself up again, but in quite another dress from the one she wore before, and took with her a poisoned comb. When she reached the dwarfs’ cottage, she knocked at the door, and cried, ‘Fine wares to sell!’ But Snowdrop said, ‘I dare not let anyone in.’ Then the queen said, ‘Only look at my beautiful combs!’ and gave her the poisoned one. And it looked so pretty, that she took it up and put it into her hair to try it; but the moment it touched her head, the poison was so powerful that she fell down senseless. ‘There you may lie,’ said the queen, and went her way. But by good luck the dwarfs came in very early that evening; and when they saw Snowdrop lying on the ground, they thought what had happened, and soon found the poisoned comb. And when they took it away she got well, and told them all that had passed; and they warned her once more not to open the door to anyone.

スノードロップがまだ生きていると知って、妃は悪意と憎しみに血も凍る思いだった。そこでもう一度身をやつしたが、前とはまるで違う身なりにして、毒を塗った櫛を持って行った。小人たちの小屋に着くと、戸を叩いて叫んだ。「上等の品はいかが!」だがスノードロップは言った。「誰も中へ入れるわけにはいかないの。」すると妃は言った。「このきれいな櫛を見るだけでも。」そして毒の櫛を渡した。それがあまりにきれいなので、娘は手に取り、試しに髪に挿してみた。ところが櫛が頭に触れたとたん、毒がひどく強いものだから、娘は気を失って倒れた。「そこに寝ているがいい」と妃は言って、立ち去った。だが幸いその晩は小人たちが早く帰って来た。スノードロップが地面に倒れているのを見ると、何が起きたのか察して、じきに毒の櫛を見つけた。それを抜き取ると娘は元気になり、あったことをみな話した。小人たちはもう一度、誰にも戸を開けてはいけないと戒めた。

Meantime the queen went home to her glass, and shook with rage when she read the very same answer as before; and she said, ‘Snowdrop shall die, if it cost me my life.’ So she went by herself into her chamber, and got ready a poisoned apple: the outside looked very rosy and tempting, but whoever tasted it was sure to die. Then she dressed herself up as a peasant’s wife, and travelled over the hills to the dwarfs’ cottage, and knocked at the door; but Snowdrop put her head out of the window and said, ‘I dare not let anyone in, for the dwarfs have told me not.’ ‘Do as you please,’ said the old woman, ‘but at any rate take this pretty apple; I will give it you.’ ‘No,’ said Snowdrop, ‘I dare not take it.’ ‘You silly girl!’ answered the other, ‘what are you afraid of? Do you think it is poisoned? Come! do you eat one part, and I will eat the other.’ Now the apple was so made up that one side was good, though the other side was poisoned. Then Snowdrop was much tempted to taste, for the apple looked so very nice; and when she saw the old woman eat, she could wait no longer. But she had scarcely put the piece into her mouth, when she fell down dead upon the ground. ‘This time nothing will save thee,’ said the queen; and she went home to her glass, and at last it said:

そのあいだに妃は家の鏡のところへ帰り、前とまったく同じ答えを読んで、怒りにわなわなと震えた。そして言った。「命に代えてもスノードロップを殺してやる。」そこで一人きりで自分の部屋にこもり、毒の林檎をこしらえた。外側はたいそう赤くて食欲をそそるが、口にした者は必ず死ぬのである。それから百姓の女房に身をやつし、丘を越えて小人たちの小屋へ行き、戸を叩いた。ところがスノードロップは窓から首を出して言った。「誰も中へは入れられないの。小人たちがそう言いつけたんだもの。」「お好きになさいな」と老婆は言った。「でもとにかく、このきれいな林檎をお取りなさい。差し上げますよ。」「いいえ」とスノードロップは言った。「いただくわけにはいかないの。」「馬鹿な娘だね!」と相手は答えた。「何をそんなに怖がるんだい? 毒が入っているとでも思うのかい? さあ! おまえさんが半分を食べて、わたしがもう半分を食べよう。」ところがこの林檎は、片側はよいが、もう片側には毒があるようにこしらえてあった。それでスノードロップは、林檎があまりにおいしそうなので味わってみたくてたまらず、老婆が食べるのを見ると、もう待ちきれなかった。だが一切れを口に入れるか入れないかのうちに、娘は死んで地面に倒れた。「今度ばかりはおまえを救うものは何もない」と妃は言った。そして家へ帰って鏡に向かうと、ついに鏡はこう言った。

‘Thou, queen, art the fairest of all the fair.’

「妃よ、あなたこそ美しい者のうちでいちばん美しい」

And then her wicked heart was glad, and as happy as such a heart could be.

それで妃の邪な心は喜んだ。そういう心にできるかぎりの喜びようだった。

When evening came, and the dwarfs had gone home, they found Snowdrop lying on the ground: no breath came from her lips, and they were afraid that she was quite dead. They lifted her up, and combed her hair, and washed her face with wine and water; but all was in vain, for the little girl seemed quite dead. So they laid her down upon a bier, and all seven watched and bewailed her three whole days; and then they thought they would bury her: but her cheeks were still rosy; and her face looked just as it did while she was alive; so they said, ‘We will never bury her in the cold ground.’ And they made a coffin of glass, so that they might still look at her, and wrote upon it in golden letters what her name was, and that she was a king’s daughter. And the coffin was set among the hills, and one of the dwarfs always sat by it and watched. And the birds of the air came too, and bemoaned Snowdrop; and first of all came an owl, and then a raven, and at last a dove, and sat by her side.

夕方になって小人たちが帰ると、彼らはスノードロップが地面に倒れているのを見つけた。唇からは息が漏れず、すっかり死んでしまったのではないかと恐れた。彼らは娘を抱き起こし、髪を梳かし、葡萄酒と水で顔を洗ってやったが、みな無駄だった。幼い娘はまったく死んでいるように見えた。そこで彼らは娘を棺台に寝かせ、七人そろって丸三日のあいだ見守り、嘆き悲しんだ。それから埋めてやろうと思ったが、娘の頬はまだ赤く、顔は生きているときとそっくり同じだった。そこで彼らは言った。「この子を冷たい土に埋めるのはやめよう。」そしてガラスの棺をこしらえて、いつまでも娘を見ていられるようにし、その上に黄金の文字で、娘の名と、王の娘であることを書きつけた。棺は丘のあいだに据えられ、小人の一人がいつもそばに座って見守った。空の鳥たちもやって来て、スノードロップを悼んだ。まず梟が、次に大鴉が、最後に鳩が来て、娘のかたわらに座った。

And thus Snowdrop lay for a long, long time, and still only looked as though she was asleep; for she was even now as white as snow, and as red as blood, and as black as ebony. At last a prince came and called at the dwarfs’ house; and he saw Snowdrop, and read what was written in golden letters. Then he offered the dwarfs money, and prayed and besought them to let him take her away; but they said, ‘We will not part with her for all the gold in the world.’ At last, however, they had pity on him, and gave him the coffin; but the moment he lifted it up to carry it home with him, the piece of apple fell from between her lips, and Snowdrop awoke, and said, ‘Where am I?’ And the prince said, ‘Thou art quite safe with me.’

こうしてスノードロップは長い長いあいだ横たわっていたが、やはり眠っているようにしか見えなかった。今もなお雪のように白く、血のように赤く、黒檀のように黒かったからである。とうとうある王子がやって来て、小人たちの家に立ち寄った。王子はスノードロップを見て、黄金の文字で書かれたものを読んだ。そして小人たちに金を差し出し、どうか娘を連れて行かせてくれと拝み頼んだ。けれども彼らは言った。「世界じゅうの黄金と引き換えでも、この子を手放しはしない。」それでもとうとう王子を気の毒に思って棺を渡した。ところが王子が持ち帰ろうと棺を持ち上げたとたん、林檎のかけらが娘の唇のあいだから落ち、スノードロップは目を覚まして言った。「ここはどこ?」王子は言った。「あなたはわたしのそばで、もうすっかり安全です。」

Then he told her all that had happened, and said, ‘I love you far better than all the world; so come with me to my father’s palace, and you shall be my wife.’ And Snowdrop consented, and went home with the prince; and everything was got ready with great pomp and splendour for their wedding.

それから王子は起こったことをみな話して言った。「わたしはあなたを世界じゅうの何よりも愛している。だからわたしと父の宮殿へ来てください、あなたをわたしの妻にしたい。」スノードロップは承知して、王子と一緒に帰った。そして二人の婚礼のために、盛大で華やかな支度がすっかり整えられた。

To the feast was asked, among the rest, Snowdrop’s old enemy the queen; and as she was dressing herself in fine rich clothes, she looked in the glass and said:

その祝宴には、ほかの客に混じって、スノードロップの昔の敵である妃も招かれた。妃は上等の立派な衣裳を着ながら、鏡を覗いて言った。

‘Tell me, glass, tell me true! Of all the ladies in the land, Who is fairest, tell me, who?’

「鏡よ、教えておくれ、ほんとうのことを! この国のご婦人がたのうちで、いちばん美しいのは誰、教えておくれ」

And the glass answered:

すると鏡は答えた。

‘Thou, lady, art loveliest here, I ween; But lovelier far is the new-made queen.’

「ご婦人よ、ここではあなたがいちばん愛らしいと思う。だが新しく妃となった方は、あなたよりずっと愛らしい」

When she heard this she started with rage; but her envy and curiosity were so great, that she could not help setting out to see the bride. And when she got there, and saw that it was no other than Snowdrop, who, as she thought, had been dead a long while, she choked with rage, and fell down and died: but Snowdrop and the prince lived and reigned happily over that land many, many years; and sometimes they went up into the mountains, and paid a visit to the little dwarfs, who had been so kind to Snowdrop in her time of need.

これを聞いて妃は怒りに飛び上がった。けれども妬みと物見高さがあまりに強いので、花嫁を見に出かけずにはいられなかった。そして着いてみて、それがほかならぬスノードロップ、とうに死んだと思っていたあの娘だと分かると、妃は怒りに息が詰まり、倒れて死んでしまった。だがスノードロップと王子は、その国を治めて幾年も幾年も幸せに暮らした。そして折々は山へ上って、困っていたころのスノードロップにあれほど親切だった小人たちを訪ねたのだった。