The King of the Golden Mountain

There was once a merchant who had only one child, a son, that was very young, and barely able to run alone. He had two richly laden ships then making a voyage upon the seas, in which he had embarked all his wealth, in the hope of making great gains, when the news came that both were lost. Thus from being a rich man he became all at once so very poor that nothing was left to him but one small plot of land; and there he often went in an evening to take his walk, and ease his mind of a little of his trouble.

むかしある商人に、たった一人の子があった。息子で、まだたいそう幼く、やっと一人で走れるかどうかという年だった。商人は財産をすべて積み込んだ、荷をたっぷり積んだ船を二隻、海に出していて、大きな儲けを当て込んでいた。ところがその二隻とも沈んだという知らせが来た。こうして商人は金持ちから、たちまちひどく貧しい身となり、残ったのは小さな土地が一区画きりだった。そして夕方になるとよくそこへ行って歩き、少しでも心の重荷を軽くするのだった。

One day, as he was roaming along in a brown study, thinking with no great comfort on what he had been and what he now was, and was like to be, all on a sudden there stood before him a little, rough-looking, black dwarf. ‘Prithee, friend, why so sorrowful?’ said he to the merchant; ‘what is it you take so deeply to heart?’ ‘If you would do me any good I would willingly tell you,’ said the merchant. ‘Who knows but I may?’ said the little man: ‘tell me what ails you, and perhaps you will find I may be of some use.’ Then the merchant told him how all his wealth was gone to the bottom of the sea, and how he had nothing left but that little plot of land. ‘Oh, trouble not yourself about that,’ said the dwarf; ‘only undertake to bring me here, twelve years hence, whatever meets you first on your going home, and I will give you as much as you please.’ The merchant thought this was no great thing to ask; that it would most likely be his dog or his cat, or something of that sort, but forgot his little boy Heinel; so he agreed to the bargain, and signed and sealed the bond to do what was asked of him.

ある日、商人が物思いに沈んでさまよい、かつての自分と今の自分、そしてこれからの身の上を思って、少しも慰められずにいると、突然、小さくて荒々しい姿の黒い小人が目の前に立った。「もし友よ、なぜそんなに悲しげなのだ?」と小人は商人に言った。「何をそんなに深く思い悩んでいる?」「何か役に立ってくださるのなら、喜んでお話ししましょう」と商人は言った。「立てるかもしれぬぞ」と小人は言った。「何がつらいのか言ってみろ。案外役に立つかもしれん。」そこで商人は、財産がみな海の底へ沈んでしまったこと、あの小さな土地のほかは何も残っていないことを話した。「ああ、そんなことで悩むな」と小人は言った。「ただ、今から十二年のち、家に帰って最初に出迎えたものを何であれここへ連れて来ると約束しろ。そうすれば望むだけのものをやろう。」商人はこれは大した願いではないと思った。おおかた犬か猫か、その類のものだろうと思ったのである。けれども幼い息子ハイネルのことを忘れていた。そこでこの取引に同意し、言われた通りにするという証文に署名して封をした。

But as he drew near home, his little boy was so glad to see him that he crept behind him, and laid fast hold of his legs, and looked up in his face and laughed. Then the father started, trembling with fear and horror, and saw what it was that he had bound himself to do; but as no gold was come, he made himself easy by thinking that it was only a joke that the dwarf was playing him, and that, at any rate, when the money came, he should see the bearer, and would not take it in.

ところが家に近づくと、幼い息子は父に会えて嬉しくてたまらず、背後から忍び寄って両脚にしっかりつかまり、顔を見上げて笑った。すると父はぎょっとして、恐れとおののきに震え、自分が何をする約束をしてしまったかを悟った。けれども黄金は来なかったので、小人がからかっただけだろう、どのみち金が来たら運んで来た者が分かるから、受け取らなければよいと思って、気を楽にした。

About a month afterwards he went upstairs into a lumber-room to look for some old iron, that he might sell it and raise a little money; and there, instead of his iron, he saw a large pile of gold lying on the floor. At the sight of this he was overjoyed, and forgetting all about his son, went into trade again, and became a richer merchant than before.

一月ほどして、商人は古鉄を探しに二階の物置へ上がった。それを売って少しでも金にしようと思ったのである。ところがそこには鉄の代わりに、大きな黄金の山が床に横たわっていた。それを見て商人は大喜びし、息子のことはすっかり忘れてまた商いを始め、以前よりも豊かな商人になった。

Meantime little Heinel grew up, and as the end of the twelve years drew near the merchant began to call to mind his bond, and became very sad and thoughtful; so that care and sorrow were written upon his face. The boy one day asked what was the matter, but his father would not tell for some time; at last, however, he said that he had, without knowing it, sold him for gold to a little, ugly-looking, black dwarf, and that the twelve years were coming round when he must keep his word. Then Heinel said, ‘Father, give yourself very little trouble about that; I shall be too much for the little man.’

そのあいだに幼いハイネルは育ち、十二年の終わりが近づくと、商人は証文のことを思い出して、たいそう悲しげに物思いに沈むようになった。それで心配と嘆きが顔に書かれていた。ある日、息子がどうしたのかと尋ねたが、父はしばらく言おうとしなかった。けれどもとうとう、知らぬうちにおまえを黄金と引き換えに小さな醜い黒い小人に売ってしまったこと、そして約束を守らねばならない十二年がめぐって来ることを話した。するとハイネルは言った。「お父さん、そんなことで少しも悩まないでください。あんな小男くらい、わたしの手に余りません。」

When the time came, the father and son went out together to the place agreed upon: and the son drew a circle on the ground, and set himself and his father in the middle of it. The little black dwarf soon came, and walked round and round about the circle, but could not find any way to get into it, and he either could not, or dared not, jump over it. At last the boy said to him. ‘Have you anything to say to us, my friend, or what do you want?’ Now Heinel had found a friend in a good fairy, that was fond of him, and had told him what to do; for this fairy knew what good luck was in store for him. ‘Have you brought me what you said you would?’ said the dwarf to the merchant. The old man held his tongue, but Heinel said again, ‘What do you want here?’ The dwarf said, ‘I come to talk with your father, not with you.’ ‘You have cheated and taken in my father,’ said the son; ‘pray give him up his bond at once.’ ‘Fair and softly,’ said the little old man; ‘right is right; I have paid my money, and your father has had it, and spent it; so be so good as to let me have what I paid it for.’ ‘You must have my consent to that first,’ said Heinel, ‘so please to step in here, and let us talk it over.’ The old man grinned, and showed his teeth, as if he should have been very glad to get into the circle if he could. Then at last, after a long talk, they came to terms. Heinel agreed that his father must give him up, and that so far the dwarf should have his way: but, on the other hand, the fairy had told Heinel what fortune was in store for him, if he followed his own course; and he did not choose to be given up to his hump-backed friend, who seemed so anxious for his company.

その時が来ると、父と息子は一緒に約束の場所へ出かけた。そして息子は地面に円を描き、自分と父をその真ん中に置いた。まもなく小さな黒い小人が来て、円のまわりをぐるぐる歩き回ったが、中へ入る道が見つからず、跳び越えることもできないか、あえてしようとしないかだった。とうとう少年が言った。「われわれに何か言いたいことがあるのか、友よ。それとも何がほしいのだ?」ところでハイネルは、自分を可愛がってくれるよい妖精を友に得ていて、どうすべきか教わっていた。この妖精には、少年にどんな幸運が待っているかが分かっていたのである。「約束したものを連れて来たか?」と小人は商人に言った。老人は口をつぐんでいたが、ハイネルがまた言った。「ここに何の用だ?」小人は言った。「おれはおまえの父親と話しに来たので、おまえとではない。」「あなたはわたしの父を騙し、たばかった」と息子は言った。「いますぐ証文を返してもらおう。」「まあ静かに」と小さな老人は言った。「正しいことは正しいのだ。おれは金を払い、おまえの父はそれを受け取って使った。だからその代金のものを、こちらへよこしてもらおう。」「それにはまずわたしの承知が要る」とハイネルは言った。「だからここへ入って、話し合おうではないか。」老人はにやりと歯を見せた。できることなら円の中へ入りたくてたまらぬ様子だった。そしてとうとう長い話し合いのすえ、二人は折り合った。ハイネルは、父は自分を手放さねばならず、その点では小人の言い分が通ると認めた。けれども一方で、妖精はハイネルに、自分の道を行けばどんな幸運が待っているかを教えていた。それで少年は、あれほど自分を連れて行きたがっている、あの背のまがった友に引き渡される気はなかった。

So, to make a sort of drawn battle of the matter, it was settled that Heinel should be put into an open boat, that lay on the sea-shore hard by; that the father should push him off with his own hand, and that he should thus be set adrift, and left to the bad or good luck of wind and weather. Then he took leave of his father, and set himself in the boat, but before it got far off a wave struck it, and it fell with one side low in the water, so the merchant thought that poor Heinel was lost, and went home very sorrowful, while the dwarf went his way, thinking that at any rate he had had his revenge.

そこで、いわば引き分けにするために、こう取り決められた。ハイネルはすぐそばの浜に置かれた蓋のない小舟に乗せられ、父が自分の手でそれを押し出す。そして風と天気の運不運にまかせて漂うにまかせる、というのである。そこでハイネルは父に別れを告げ、小舟に身を置いた。けれどもいくらも離れないうちに波が打って、小舟は片側を水に低く傾けた。それで商人は哀れなハイネルは死んだものと思い、たいそう悲しんで家に帰った。一方、小人は少なくとも仕返しは果たしたと思って、去って行った。

The boat, however, did not sink, for the good fairy took care of her friend, and soon raised the boat up again, and it went safely on. The young man sat safe within, till at length it ran ashore upon an unknown land. As he jumped upon the shore he saw before him a beautiful castle but empty and dreary within, for it was enchanted. ‘Here,’ said he to himself, ‘must I find the prize the good fairy told me of.’ So he once more searched the whole palace through, till at last he found a white snake, lying coiled up on a cushion in one of the chambers.

けれども小舟は沈まなかった。よい妖精が友を守って、すぐに舟を起こし、舟は無事に進んだからである。若者は中に安らかに座っていて、とうとう舟は知らぬ国の岸に乗り上げた。岸に跳び上がると、目の前に美しい城が見えたが、中は空っぽで荒涼としていた。魔法にかけられていたからである。「ここで」と若者は心の中で言った。「よい妖精の言っていた褒美を見つけるのだ。」そこで宮殿じゅうをもう一度探し、とうとう部屋の一つで、寝椅子の上にとぐろを巻いて横たわる白い蛇を見つけた。

Now the white snake was an enchanted princess; and she was very glad to see him, and said, ‘Are you at last come to set me free? Twelve long years have I waited here for the fairy to bring you hither as she promised, for you alone can save me. This night twelve men will come: their faces will be black, and they will be dressed in chain armour. They will ask what you do here, but give no answer; and let them do what they will--beat, whip, pinch, prick, or torment you--bear all; only speak not a word, and at twelve o’clock they must go away. The second night twelve others will come: and the third night twenty-four, who will even cut off your head; but at the twelfth hour of that night their power is gone, and I shall be free, and will come and bring you the Water of Life, and will wash you with it, and bring you back to life and health.’ And all came to pass as she had said; Heinel bore all, and spoke not a word; and the third night the princess came, and fell on his neck and kissed him. Joy and gladness burst forth throughout the castle, the wedding was celebrated, and he was crowned king of the Golden Mountain.

ところでこの白い蛇は魔法にかけられた姫だった。姫は若者を見てたいそう喜び、こう言った。「とうとうわたしを自由にしに来てくださったのですね? 妖精が約束どおりあなたをここへ連れて来てくれるのを、わたしは十二年の長いあいだ待っていました。わたしを救えるのはあなただけなのです。今夜、十二人の男が来ます。顔は黒く、鎖帷子をまとっています。ここで何をしているのかと尋ねますが、何も答えてはいけません。そして何をされようと——打たれ、鞭打たれ、つねられ、刺され、責められようと——すべて耐えてください。ただ一言も口をきかないで。十二時になれば彼らは去らねばなりません。二晩めにはまた別の十二人が来ます。そして三晩めには二十四人が来て、あなたの首さえ落とすでしょう。けれどもその夜の十二時になれば彼らの力は尽き、わたしは自由になります。そしてわたしが命の水を持って来て、それであなたを洗い、命と健やかさを取り戻してさしあげます。」そして何もかも姫の言った通りになった。ハイネルはすべてを耐え、一言も口をきかなかった。そして三晩めに姫が来て、その首に抱きついて口づけした。喜びと歓びが城じゅうにあふれ、婚礼が執り行われ、若者は黄金の山の王として戴冠した。

They lived together very happily, and the queen had a son. And thus eight years had passed over their heads, when the king thought of his father; and he began to long to see him once again. But the queen was against his going, and said, ‘I know well that misfortunes will come upon us if you go.’ However, he gave her no rest till she agreed. At his going away she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, ‘Take this ring, and put it on your finger; whatever you wish it will bring you; only promise never to make use of it to bring me hence to your father’s house.’ Then he said he would do what she asked, and put the ring on his finger, and wished himself near the town where his father lived.

二人はたいそう幸せに暮らし、妃には息子が生まれた。こうして八年が二人の頭の上を過ぎたころ、王は父のことを思い出し、もう一度会いたくてたまらなくなった。けれども妃は行くことに反対して言った。「あなたが行けば、わたしたちに災いが降りかかるとよく分かっています。」それでも王は妃が承知するまで休ませなかった。出かけるとき、妃は願いの指輪を渡して言った。「この指輪を取って指にはめてください。何であれ願えばそれを運んで来てくれます。ただ、わたしをここからお父上の家へ連れて行くためには決して使わないと約束してください。」そこで王は言われた通りにすると言い、指輪をはめて、父の住む町の近くにいたいと願った。

Heinel found himself at the gates in a moment; but the guards would not let him go in, because he was so strangely clad. So he went up to a neighbouring hill, where a shepherd dwelt, and borrowed his old frock, and thus passed unknown into the town. When he came to his father’s house, he said he was his son; but the merchant would not believe him, and said he had had but one son, his poor Heinel, who he knew was long since dead: and as he was only dressed like a poor shepherd, he would not even give him anything to eat. The king, however, still vowed that he was his son, and said, ‘Is there no mark by which you would know me if I am really your son?’ ‘Yes,’ said his mother, ‘our Heinel had a mark like a raspberry on his right arm.’ Then he showed them the mark, and they knew that what he had said was true.

ハイネルはたちまち町の門のところにいた。けれども衛兵たちは、あまりに奇妙な身なりだったので中へ入れなかった。そこで近くの丘へ行き、そこに住む羊飼いの古い上着を借りて、それで人知れず町へ入った。そして父の家に来ると、自分はあなたの息子だと言った。けれども商人は信じず、自分には息子は一人しかなかった、哀れなハイネルはとうに死んだと知っていると言った。そして貧しい羊飼いのなりをしていたので、食べ物さえ与えようとしなかった。それでも王は自分は息子だと言い張り、こう言った。「わたしが本当にあなたの息子なら、それと分かる目印はありませんか?」「ありますとも」と母が言った。「うちのハイネルには右の腕に木苺のような痣がありました。」そこで王はその痣を見せ、二人は言ったことが本当だと知った。

He next told them how he was king of the Golden Mountain, and was married to a princess, and had a son seven years old. But the merchant said, ‘that can never be true; he must be a fine king truly who travels about in a shepherd’s frock!’ At this the son was vexed; and forgetting his word, turned his ring, and wished for his queen and son. In an instant they stood before him; but the queen wept, and said he had broken his word, and bad luck would follow. He did all he could to soothe her, and she at last seemed to be appeased; but she was not so in truth, and was only thinking how she should punish him.

次に王は、自分が黄金の山の王であること、姫と結婚して七つになる息子がいることを話した。けれども商人は言った。「そんなことがあるものか。羊飼いの上着で旅して回る王など、さぞ立派な王だろうよ!」これに息子は腹を立て、約束を忘れて指輪を回し、妃と息子を願った。たちまち二人が目の前に立った。けれども妃は泣いて、あなたは約束を破った、悪いことが続くでしょうと言った。王はなだめようとできるかぎりのことをし、妃はとうとう機嫌を直したように見えた。けれども本当はそうではなく、どうやって王を罰してやろうかとばかり考えていた。

One day he took her to walk with him out of the town, and showed her the spot where the boat was set adrift upon the wide waters. Then he sat himself down, and said, ‘I am very much tired; sit by me, I will rest my head in your lap, and sleep a while.’ As soon as he had fallen asleep, however, she drew the ring from his finger, and crept softly away, and wished herself and her son at home in their kingdom. And when he awoke he found himself alone, and saw that the ring was gone from his finger. ‘I can never go back to my father’s house,’ said he; ‘they would say I am a sorcerer: I will journey forth into the world, till I come again to my kingdom.’

ある日、王は妃を連れて町の外へ散歩に出て、あの小舟が広い海へ押し出された場所を見せた。それから腰を下ろして言った。「ひどく疲れた。そばに座ってくれ。おまえの膝に頭を載せて、しばらく眠ろう。」ところが王が眠り込むやいなや、妃は指輪を指から抜き取り、そっと離れて、自分と息子が国の家にいるようにと願った。そして王が目を覚ますと一人きりで、指輪が指から消えているのを見た。「もう父の家へは戻れない」と王は言った。「魔法使いだと言われるだろう。自分の国にまた着くまで、世界へ旅に出よう。」

So saying he set out and travelled till he came to a hill, where three giants were sharing their father’s goods; and as they saw him pass they cried out and said, ‘Little men have sharp wits; he shall part the goods between us.’ Now there was a sword that cut off an enemy’s head whenever the wearer gave the words, ‘Heads off!’; a cloak that made the owner invisible, or gave him any form he pleased; and a pair of boots that carried the wearer wherever he wished. Heinel said they must first let him try these wonderful things, then he might know how to set a value upon them. Then they gave him the cloak, and he wished himself a fly, and in a moment he was a fly. ‘The cloak is very well,’ said he: ‘now give me the sword.’ ‘No,’ said they; ‘not unless you undertake not to say, “Heads off!” for if you do we are all dead men.’ So they gave it him, charging him to try it on a tree. He next asked for the boots also; and the moment he had all three in his power, he wished himself at the Golden Mountain; and there he was at once. So the giants were left behind with no goods to share or quarrel about.

そう言って王は旅立ち、旅を続けて、とうとうある丘に来た。そこでは三人の大男が父の遺産を分けていた。そして王が通るのを見ると、彼らは叫んで言った。「小さい男は知恵が鋭い。こいつにおれたちの遺産を分けさせよう。」ところでそこには、持ち主が「首を落とせ!」と言えば敵の首を落とす剣と、持ち主の姿を消したり、望む姿に変えたりする外套と、履いた者を望むところへ運ぶ長靴一足があった。ハイネルは、まずこの不思議な品を試させてもらわねば、値打ちの付けようも分からないと言った。そこで大男たちは外套を渡し、ハイネルは蠅になりたいと願うと、たちまち蠅になった。「外套は結構だ」とハイネルは言った。「さあ剣をよこせ。」「いやだ」と大男たちは言った。「『首を落とせ!』と言わないと約束しないかぎりはな。言われたらおれたちはみな死人だ。」そこで彼らは剣を渡し、木で試すようにと言いつけた。ハイネルは次に長靴も求めた。そして三つとも手に入れたその瞬間、黄金の山にいたいと願った。するとたちまちそこにいた。こうして大男たちは、分けるものも争うものもないまま取り残された。

As Heinel came near his castle he heard the sound of merry music; and the people around told him that his queen was about to marry another husband. Then he threw his cloak around him, and passed through the castle hall, and placed himself by the side of the queen, where no one saw him. But when anything to eat was put upon her plate, he took it away and ate it himself; and when a glass of wine was handed to her, he took it and drank it; and thus, though they kept on giving her meat and drink, her plate and cup were always empty.

ハイネルが城に近づくと、陽気な楽の音が聞こえた。そしてまわりの人々が、妃がもう一人の夫と結婚しようとしていると告げた。そこでハイネルは外套を身にまとい、城の広間を通り抜けて、誰にも見られずに妃のかたわらに立った。そして妃の皿に何か食べ物が置かれると、それを取って自分で食べ、葡萄酒の杯が差し出されると、それを取って飲んだ。こうして人々がいくら肉や飲み物を出しても、妃の皿と杯はいつも空だった。

Upon this, fear and remorse came over her, and she went into her chamber alone, and sat there weeping; and he followed her there. ‘Alas!’ said she to herself, ‘was I not once set free? Why then does this enchantment still seem to bind me?’

これに恐れと悔いが妃を襲い、妃は一人で自分の部屋に行き、そこに座って泣いた。そして王は後を追った。「ああ!」と妃は独りごちた。「わたしは一度自由にされたのではなかったか? ではなぜ、この魔法がまだわたしを縛っているように思えるのだろう?」

‘False and fickle one!’ said he. ‘One indeed came who set thee free, and he is now near thee again; but how have you used him? Ought he to have had such treatment from thee?’ Then he went out and sent away the company, and said the wedding was at an end, for that he was come back to the kingdom. But the princes, peers, and great men mocked at him. However, he would enter into no parley with them, but only asked them if they would go in peace or not. Then they turned upon him and tried to seize him; but he drew his sword. ‘Heads Off!’ cried he; and with the word the traitors’ heads fell before him, and Heinel was once more king of the Golden Mountain.

「不実で移り気な女め!」と王は言った。「たしかにおまえを自由にした者が来た。そしてその男はいま、また近くにいる。だがおまえはその男をどう扱った? あれがおまえからそんな仕打ちを受けるべきだったか?」それから王は外へ出て一同を追い払い、自分が国に帰って来たのだから婚礼は終わりだと言った。けれども諸侯も貴族も重臣たちも王をあざ笑った。それでも王は彼らと談判する気はなく、ただ穏やかに立ち去る気があるかどうかだけを尋ねた。すると彼らは王に向き直って捕らえようとした。そこで王は剣を抜いた。「首を落とせ!」と王は叫び、その言葉とともに裏切り者たちの首が目の前に落ちた。そしてハイネルはふたたび黄金の山の王となった。