The Story of the Youth who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was

A certain father had two sons, the elder of who was smart and sensible, and could do everything, but the younger was stupid and could neither learn nor understand anything, and when people saw him they said: ‘There’s a fellow who will give his father some trouble!’ When anything had to be done, it was always the elder who was forced to do it; but if his father bade him fetch anything when it was late, or in the night-time, and the way led through the churchyard, or any other dismal place, he answered: ‘Oh, no father, I’ll not go there, it makes me shudder!’ for he was afraid. Or when stories were told by the fire at night which made the flesh creep, the listeners sometimes said: ‘Oh, it makes us shudder!’ The younger sat in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could not imagine what they could mean. ‘They are always saying: “It makes me shudder, it makes me shudder!” It does not make me shudder,’ thought he. ‘That, too, must be an art of which I understand nothing!’

ある父親に二人の息子があった。兄は利口で分別があり、何でもできたが、弟は愚かで、何を習うことも分かることもできなかった。そして人々は弟を見るとこう言った。「あれは父親に苦労をかける男だな!」何かしなければならないときには、いつも兄がやらされた。けれども父が遅い時刻や夜中に何かを取って来いと言いつけ、その道が墓地やそのほかの陰気な場所を通るときには、兄はこう答えた。「いやです、お父さん、あそこへは行きません。ぞっとしますから!」怖かったのである。あるいは夜、火のそばで身の毛のよだつ話が語られると、聞いている者たちがときどきこう言った。「ああ、ぞっとする!」弟は隅に座ってみなと一緒に聞いていたが、彼らが何を言っているのかどうしても分からなかった。「みんないつも『ぞっとする、ぞっとする!』と言う。おれはぞっとしない」と弟は思った。「それもおれには何も分からない技のひとつに違いない!」

Now it came to pass that his father said to him one day: ‘Hearken to me, you fellow in the corner there, you are growing tall and strong, and you too must learn something by which you can earn your bread. Look how your brother works, but you do not even earn your salt.’ ‘Well, father,’ he replied, ‘I am quite willing to learn something--indeed, if it could but be managed, I should like to learn how to shudder. I don’t understand that at all yet.’ The elder brother smiled when he heard that, and thought to himself: ‘Goodness, what a blockhead that brother of mine is! He will never be good for anything as long as he lives! He who wants to be a sickle must bend himself betimes.’

さてある日、父が弟に言った。「よく聞け、そこの隅にいるおまえ。おまえも背が伸びて力もついた。パンを稼げるよう、何かを習わねばならん。兄がどう働いているか見てみろ。それなのにおまえは塩代も稼がん。」「はい、お父さん」と弟は答えた。「何かを習うのはまったく構いません。それどころか、できることならぞっとする仕方を習いたい。まだそれがさっぱり分からないのです。」兄はそれを聞いて笑い、心の中で思った。「まったく、弟はなんというとんまだろう! あれは一生ものにならないぞ。鎌になりたい者は早いうちに曲がるものだ。」

The father sighed, and answered him: ‘You shall soon learn what it is to shudder, but you will not earn your bread by that.’

父はため息をついて答えた。「ぞっとするとはどういうことか、そのうち分かるだろう。だがそれでパンは稼げんぞ。」

Soon after this the sexton came to the house on a visit, and the father bewailed his trouble, and told him how his younger son was so backward in every respect that he knew nothing and learnt nothing. ‘Just think,’ said he, ‘when I asked him how he was going to earn his bread, he actually wanted to learn to shudder.’ ‘If that be all,’ replied the sexton, ‘he can learn that with me. Send him to me, and I will soon polish him.’ The father was glad to do it, for he thought: ‘It will train the boy a little.’ The sexton therefore took him into his house, and he had to ring the church bell. After a day or two, the sexton awoke him at midnight, and bade him arise and go up into the church tower and ring the bell. ‘You shall soon learn what shuddering is,’ thought he, and secretly went there before him; and when the boy was at the top of the tower and turned round, and was just going to take hold of the bell rope, he saw a white figure standing on the stairs opposite the sounding hole. ‘Who is there?’ cried he, but the figure made no reply, and did not move or stir. ‘Give an answer,’ cried the boy, ‘or take yourself off, you have no business here at night.’

そののちまもなく、寺男が家へ訪ねて来た。父は自分の悩みを嘆き、下の息子がどの点でも遅れていて、何も知らず何も習わないと話した。「考えてもみてください」と父は言った。「どうやってパンを稼ぐつもりかと聞いたら、ぞっとする仕方を習いたいなどと言い出したのです。」「それだけのことなら」と寺男は答えた。「わたしのところで習えますよ。よこしてください、すぐに仕込んでやりましょう。」父は喜んでそうした。「少しはあれを鍛えてくれるだろう」と思ったからである。そこで寺男は息子を家に置き、教会の鐘を鳴らす役をさせた。一日二日たって、寺男は真夜中に息子を起こし、起きて鐘楼へ上がって鐘を鳴らせと命じた。「ぞっとするとはどういうことか、すぐ分かるだろう」と寺男は思い、こっそり先回りした。そして少年が塔の上に来て振り返り、まさに鐘の綱をつかもうとしたとき、音窓の向かいの階段に白い人影が立っているのが見えた。「そこにいるのは誰だ?」と少年は叫んだ。けれども人影は何も答えず、動きも身じろぎもしなかった。「返事をしろ」と少年は叫んだ。「さもなければ立ち去れ。夜にここで用はないはずだ。」

The sexton, however, remained standing motionless that the boy might think he was a ghost. The boy cried a second time: ‘What do you want here?--speak if you are an honest fellow, or I will throw you down the steps!’ The sexton thought: ‘He can’t mean to be as bad as his words,’ uttered no sound and stood as if he were made of stone. Then the boy called to him for the third time, and as that was also to no purpose, he ran against him and pushed the ghost down the stairs, so that it fell down the ten steps and remained lying there in a corner. Thereupon he rang the bell, went home, and without saying a word went to bed, and fell asleep. The sexton’s wife waited a long time for her husband, but he did not come back. At length she became uneasy, and wakened the boy, and asked: ‘Do you know where my husband is? He climbed up the tower before you did.’ ‘No, I don’t know,’ replied the boy, ‘but someone was standing by the sounding hole on the other side of the steps, and as he would neither give an answer nor go away, I took him for a scoundrel, and threw him downstairs. Just go there and you will see if it was he. I should be sorry if it were.’ The woman ran away and found her husband, who was lying moaning in the corner, and had broken his leg.

けれども寺男は、少年が幽霊だと思うようにと、身じろぎもせず立っていた。少年は二度目に叫んだ。「ここに何の用だ? まともな者なら口をきけ。さもないと階段から突き落とすぞ!」寺男は思った。「まさか言葉ほどのことはすまい。」そして声も立てず、石でできているかのように立っていた。そこで少年は三度目に呼びかけ、それも無駄だったので、幽霊に向かって走り、階段から突き落とした。幽霊は十段落ちて、隅に横たわったままになった。そのうえで少年は鐘を鳴らし、家へ帰り、一言も言わずに寝床に入って眠り込んだ。寺男の女房は長いこと夫を待ったが、夫は帰って来なかった。とうとう不安になって少年を起こし、こう尋ねた。「うちの人がどこにいるか知らないかい? あんたより先に塔へ上ったんだよ。」「いいえ、知りません」と少年は答えた。「でも誰かが階段の向こう側の音窓のそばに立っていて、返事もせず立ち去りもしないので、悪者だと思って階段から突き落としました。行ってごらんなさい、あれがご主人だったかどうか分かるでしょう。もしそうなら、申し訳ないことです。」女房は駆けて行って夫を見つけた。夫は隅でうめきながら横たわり、脚を折っていた。

She carried him down, and then with loud screams she hastened to the boy’s father, ‘Your boy,’ cried she, ‘has been the cause of a great misfortune! He has thrown my husband down the steps so that he broke his leg. Take the good-for-nothing fellow out of our house.’ The father was terrified, and ran thither and scolded the boy. ‘What wicked tricks are these?’ said he. ‘The devil must have put them into your head.’ ‘Father,’ he replied, ‘do listen to me. I am quite innocent. He was standing there by night like one intent on doing evil. I did not know who it was, and I entreated him three times either to speak or to go away.’ ‘Ah,’ said the father, ‘I have nothing but unhappiness with you. Go out of my sight. I will see you no more.’

女房は夫を運び下ろし、それから大声で叫びながら少年の父のもとへ急いだ。「お宅の息子さんが」と女房は叫んだ。「大変なことをしでかしましたよ! うちの人を階段から突き落として、脚を折らせたのです。あの役立たずをうちから引き取ってください。」父は肝をつぶしてそこへ駆けつけ、息子を叱った。「これはどういう悪ふざけだ?」と父は言った。「悪魔がおまえの頭に吹き込んだに違いない。」「お父さん」と息子は答えた。「どうか聞いてください。わたしはまったく潔白です。あの人は夜中に、何か悪事をたくらむ者のようにそこに立っていました。誰だか分からなかったので、三度も、口をきくか立ち去るかしてくれと頼んだのです。」「ああ」と父は言った。「おまえといるとろくなことがない。わしの前から消えろ。二度とおまえの顔は見たくない。」

‘Yes, father, right willingly, wait only until it is day. Then will I go forth and learn how to shudder, and then I shall, at any rate, understand one art which will support me.’ ‘Learn what you will,’ spoke the father, ‘it is all the same to me. Here are fifty talers for you. Take these and go into the wide world, and tell no one from whence you come, and who is your father, for I have reason to be ashamed of you.’ ‘Yes, father, it shall be as you will. If you desire nothing more than that, I can easily keep it in mind.’

「はい、お父さん、喜んで。ただ夜が明けるまで待ってください。それから出かけて、ぞっとする仕方を習ってきます。そうすればともかく、身を養えるひとつの技を身につけることになります。」「何でも好きなものを習え」と父は言った。「わしにはどうでもいい。ここに五十ターレルある。これを持って広い世界へ行け。そしてどこから来たか、父親が誰かは誰にも言うな。おまえのことは恥ずかしいのだからな。」「はい、お父さん、お望みの通りにします。お望みがそれだけなら、たやすく覚えておけます。」

When the day dawned, therefore, the boy put his fifty talers into his pocket, and went forth on the great highway, and continually said to himself: ‘If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!’ Then a man approached who heard this conversation which the youth was holding with himself, and when they had walked a little farther to where they could see the gallows, the man said to him: ‘Look, there is the tree where seven men have married the ropemaker’s daughter, and are now learning how to fly. Sit down beneath it, and wait till night comes, and you will soon learn how to shudder.’ ‘If that is all that is wanted,’ answered the youth, ‘it is easily done; but if I learn how to shudder as fast as that, you shall have my fifty talers. Just come back to me early in the morning.’ Then the youth went to the gallows, sat down beneath it, and waited till evening came. And as he was cold, he lighted himself a fire, but at midnight the wind blew so sharply that in spite of his fire, he could not get warm. And as the wind knocked the hanged men against each other, and they moved backwards and forwards, he thought to himself: ‘If you shiver below by the fire, how those up above must freeze and suffer!’ And as he felt pity for them, he raised the ladder, and climbed up, unbound one of them after the other, and brought down all seven. Then he stoked the fire, blew it, and set them all round it to warm themselves. But they sat there and did not stir, and the fire caught their clothes. So he said: ‘Take care, or I will hang you up again.’ The dead men, however, did not hear, but were quite silent, and let their rags go on burning. At this he grew angry, and said: ‘If you will not take care, I cannot help you, I will not be burnt with you,’ and he hung them up again each in his turn. Then he sat down by his fire and fell asleep, and the next morning the man came to him and wanted to have the fifty talers, and said: ‘Well do you know how to shudder?’ ‘No,’ answered he, ‘how should I know? Those fellows up there did not open their mouths, and were so stupid that they let the few old rags which they had on their bodies get burnt.’ Then the man saw that he would not get the fifty talers that day, and went away saying: ‘Such a youth has never come my way before.’

そこで夜が明けると、少年は五十ターレルを懐に入れ、大きな街道へ出て、絶えず独り言を言った。「ぞっとできさえしたら! ぞっとできさえしたら!」すると一人の男が近づいて来て、若者が独りごちているのを聞いた。そして少し行って絞首台の見えるところまで来ると、男はこう言った。「見ろ、あれが七人の男が縄屋の娘と所帯を持って、いま飛び方を習っている木だ。その下に座って夜が来るまで待て。すぐにぞっとする仕方が分かるだろう。」「それだけのことなら」と若者は答えた。「わけもない。だが、そんなに早くぞっとする仕方を覚えたら、五十ターレルをあんたにやろう。朝早くまた来てくれ。」そこで若者は絞首台へ行って下に座り、夕方が来るまで待った。そして寒かったので火を焚いたが、真夜中には風があまりに鋭く吹いて、火があっても暖まれなかった。そして風が吊るされた男たちを打ち合わせ、彼らが前へ後ろへ揺れるので、若者は心の中で思った。「おまえが下で火のそばにいて震えているなら、上にいる連中はどれほど凍えて苦しんでいることか!」そして気の毒に思ったので、梯子を掛けて登り、一人ずつ縄を解いて、七人ともみな下ろした。それから火をかき立て、吹いて、みなをそのまわりに座らせて暖まらせた。けれども彼らは座ったまま身じろぎもせず、火が着物に燃え移った。そこで若者は言った。「気をつけろ、さもないとまた吊るすぞ。」けれども死人たちには聞こえず、まったく黙ったまま、ぼろを燃えるにまかせていた。それに若者は腹を立てて言った。「気をつけないなら、助けてはやれん。おまえたちと一緒に焼かれるのはごめんだ。」そして一人ずつまた吊るし直した。それから火のそばに座って眠り込んだ。そしてあくる朝、あの男が来て五十ターレルをもらおうとして言った。「どうだ、ぞっとする仕方が分かったか?」「いいや」と若者は答えた。「どうして分かるものか? 上にいた連中は口も開かず、体に着けていた数少ないぼろを焼かれるままにしておくほど愚かだったのだ。」そこで男は、今日は五十ターレルは手に入らないと悟り、こう言いながら去った。「こんな若造はこれまで出会ったことがない。」

The youth likewise went his way, and once more began to mutter to himself: ‘Ah, if I could but shudder! Ah, if I could but shudder!’ A waggoner who was striding behind him heard this and asked: ‘Who are you?’ ‘I don’t know,’ answered the youth. Then the waggoner asked: ‘From whence do you come?’ ‘I know not.’ ‘Who is your father?’ ‘That I may not tell you.’ ‘What is it that you are always muttering between your teeth?’ ‘Ah,’ replied the youth, ‘I do so wish I could shudder, but no one can teach me how.’ ‘Enough of your foolish chatter,’ said the waggoner. ‘Come, go with me, I will see about a place for you.’ The youth went with the waggoner, and in the evening they arrived at an inn where they wished to pass the night. Then at the entrance of the parlour the youth again said quite loudly: ‘If I could but shudder! If I could but shudder!’ The host who heard this, laughed and said: ‘If that is your desire, there ought to be a good opportunity for you here.’ ‘Ah, be silent,’ said the hostess, ‘so many prying persons have already lost their lives, it would be a pity and a shame if such beautiful eyes as these should never see the daylight again.’

若者もまた道を行き、ふたたび独りごち始めた。「ああ、ぞっとできさえしたら! ああ、ぞっとできさえしたら!」後ろを大股に歩いていた荷馬車屋がこれを聞いて尋ねた。「おまえは誰だ?」「知らない」と若者は答えた。そこで荷馬車屋は尋ねた。「どこから来た?」「知らない。」「父親は誰だ?」「それは言えない。」「いつも歯のあいだで何をぶつぶつ言っているのだ?」「ああ」と若者は答えた。「ぞっとしたくてたまらないのだが、誰もその仕方を教えてくれないのだ。」「馬鹿なおしゃべりはもうたくさんだ」と荷馬車屋は言った。「さあ、おれと来い。働き口を世話してやろう。」若者は荷馬車屋と行き、夕方に宿屋へ着いて、そこで一夜を過ごすことにした。すると広間の入口で若者はまた大声で言った。「ぞっとできさえしたら! ぞっとできさえしたら!」これを聞いた宿の主人は笑って言った。「それが望みなら、ここにいい折があるぞ。」「ああ、お黙り」と女将は言った。「詮索好きな人がもう何人も命を落としているのですよ。こんな美しい目が二度と日の光を見られなくなったら、惜しくも情けないことです。」

But the youth said: ‘However difficult it may be, I will learn it. For this purpose indeed have I journeyed forth.’ He let the host have no rest, until the latter told him, that not far from thence stood a haunted castle where anyone could very easily learn what shuddering was, if he would but watch in it for three nights. The king had promised that he who would venture should have his daughter to wife, and she was the most beautiful maiden the sun shone on. Likewise in the castle lay great treasures, which were guarded by evil spirits, and these treasures would then be freed, and would make a poor man rich enough. Already many men had gone into the castle, but as yet none had come out again. Then the youth went next morning to the king, and said: ‘If it be allowed, I will willingly watch three nights in the haunted castle.’

けれども若者は言った。「どんなに難しくても、わたしは覚えます。そのためにこそ旅に出たのですから。」そして主人が話すまで休ませなかった。主人の話では、ここから遠からぬところに化け物屋敷の城があって、そこで三晩見張るだけで、ぞっとするとはどういうことかたやすく覚えられるという。王は、あえてそうする者には娘を妻に与えると約束していて、その姫は日の照らす限りで最も美しい乙女だった。同じくその城には大きな宝が横たわっていて、悪霊たちに守られている。その宝は解き放たれれば、貧しい者を十分に富ませるだろうという。すでに多くの者が城に入ったが、まだ誰一人出て来ていなかった。そこで若者はあくる朝、王のところへ行って言った。「お許しいただけるなら、化け物屋敷の城で喜んで三晩見張りましょう。」

The king looked at him, and as the youth pleased him, he said: ‘You may ask for three things to take into the castle with you, but they must be things without life.’ Then he answered: ‘Then I ask for a fire, a turning lathe, and a cutting-board with the knife.’

王は若者を見て、気に入ったのでこう言った。「城へ持って入るものを三つ求めてよい。ただし命のないものでなければならぬ。」すると若者は答えた。「では火と、轆轤と、小刀のついた切り板をお願いします。」

The king had these things carried into the castle for him during the day. When night was drawing near, the youth went up and made himself a bright fire in one of the rooms, placed the cutting-board and knife beside it, and seated himself by the turning-lathe. ‘Ah, if I could but shudder!’ said he, ‘but I shall not learn it here either.’ Towards midnight he was about to poke his fire, and as he was blowing it, something cried suddenly from one corner: ‘Au, miau! how cold we are!’ ‘You fools!’ cried he, ‘what are you crying about? If you are cold, come and take a seat by the fire and warm yourselves.’ And when he had said that, two great black cats came with one tremendous leap and sat down on each side of him, and looked savagely at him with their fiery eyes. After a short time, when they had warmed themselves, they said: ‘Comrade, shall we have a game of cards?’ ‘Why not?’ he replied, ‘but just show me your paws.’ Then they stretched out their claws. ‘Oh,’ said he, ‘what long nails you have! Wait, I must first cut them for you.’ Thereupon he seized them by the throats, put them on the cutting-board and screwed their feet fast. ‘I have looked at your fingers,’ said he, ‘and my fancy for card-playing has gone,’ and he struck them dead and threw them out into the water. But when he had made away with these two, and was about to sit down again by his fire, out from every hole and corner came black cats and black dogs with red-hot chains, and more and more of them came until he could no longer move, and they yelled horribly, and got on his fire, pulled it to pieces, and tried to put it out. He watched them for a while quietly, but at last when they were going too far, he seized his cutting-knife, and cried: ‘Away with you, vermin,’ and began to cut them down. Some of them ran away, the others he killed, and threw out into the fish-pond. When he came back he fanned the embers of his fire again and warmed himself. And as he thus sat, his eyes would keep open no longer, and he felt a desire to sleep. Then he looked round and saw a great bed in the corner. ‘That is the very thing for me,’ said he, and got into it. When he was just going to shut his eyes, however, the bed began to move of its own accord, and went over the whole of the castle. ‘That’s right,’ said he, ‘but go faster.’ Then the bed rolled on as if six horses were harnessed to it, up and down, over thresholds and stairs, but suddenly hop, hop, it turned over upside down, and lay on him like a mountain. But he threw quilts and pillows up in the air, got out and said: ‘Now anyone who likes, may drive,’ and lay down by his fire, and slept till it was day. In the morning the king came, and when he saw him lying there on the ground, he thought the evil spirits had killed him and he was dead. Then said he: ‘After all it is a pity,--for so handsome a man.’ The youth heard it, got up, and said: ‘It has not come to that yet.’ Then the king was astonished, but very glad, and asked how he had fared. ‘Very well indeed,’ answered he; ‘one night is past, the two others will pass likewise.’ Then he went to the innkeeper, who opened his eyes very wide, and said: ‘I never expected to see you alive again! Have you learnt how to shudder yet?’ ‘No,’ said he, ‘it is all in vain. If someone would but tell me!’

王は日のあるうちにこれらのものを城へ運ばせた。夜が近づくと、若者は上がって行き、部屋の一つに明るい火を焚き、そのそばに切り板と小刀を置き、轆轤のそばに腰を下ろした。「ああ、ぞっとできさえしたら!」と若者は言った。「だがここでも覚えられそうにないな。」真夜中ごろ、火をかき立てようとして吹いていると、隅から突然こう叫ぶ声がした。「にゃあ、にゃあ! 寒いよう!」「この馬鹿者ども!」と若者は叫んだ。「何を騒いでいる? 寒いなら来て火のそばに座って暖まれ。」そう言うと、大きな黒猫が二匹、ものすごい跳躍で飛んで来て左右に座り、燃えるような目で獰猛に若者を見た。しばらくして暖まると、猫たちは言った。「相棒、カルタを一勝負やらないか?」「いいとも」と若者は答えた。「だがまずその前足を見せろ。」すると猫たちは爪を伸ばした。「おや」と若者は言った。「なんと長い爪だ! 待て、まず切ってやらねばな。」そう言って猫の喉をつかみ、切り板に載せて足をねじ留めにした。「おまえたちの指を見てやったら」と若者は言った。「カルタをやる気が失せたわ。」そして打ち殺して水へ投げ捨てた。ところが二匹を片づけて、また火のそばに座ろうとすると、穴という穴、隅という隅から、真っ赤に焼けた鎖を引いた黒猫と黒犬が出て来た。そしてどんどん増えて、とうとう身動きもできなくなった。彼らは恐ろしくわめき、火の上に乗って引き裂き、消そうとした。若者はしばらく静かに眺めていたが、とうとうあまりに度が過ぎたので、切り小刀をつかんで叫んだ。「失せろ、この害獣ども。」そして斬り倒し始めた。逃げた者もあり、殺した者は池へ投げ捨てた。戻って来ると、若者は火の熾をまたあおいで暖まった。そうして座っているうちに、目がもう開いていられなくなり、眠りたくなった。そこであたりを見回すと、隅に大きな寝床があった。「これこそおれにうってつけだ」と言って中に入った。ところがまさに目を閉じようとすると、寝床がひとりでに動き出し、城じゅうを巡り始めた。「そうこなくては」と若者は言った。「だがもっと速く行け。」すると寝床は六頭の馬をつないだかのように転がり、敷居も階段も上へ下へと越え、そして突然ひょい、ひょいとひっくり返って、山のように若者の上に乗った。けれども若者は掛け布団と枕を宙へ放り投げ、外へ出てこう言った。「さあ、乗りたい者が乗るがいい。」そして火のそばに横になり、夜が明けるまで眠った。朝になって王が来て、若者が床に横たわっているのを見ると、悪霊たちに殺されて死んだのだと思った。そしてこう言った。「やはり惜しいことだ——これほど見目のよい男を。」若者はそれを聞いて起き上がり、こう言った。「まだそこまでは来ておりません。」王は驚いたが、たいそう喜び、どうだったかと尋ねた。「まことに結構でした」と若者は答えた。「一晩が過ぎましたから、あとの二晩も同じように過ぎるでしょう。」それから若者は宿の主人のところへ行き、主人は目を大きく見開いてこう言った。「あなたが生きて帰るとは思いもしませんでしたよ! もうぞっとする仕方は覚えましたか?」「いいや」と若者は言った。「まるで無駄だった。誰か教えてくれさえすればいいのに!」

The second night he again went up into the old castle, sat down by the fire, and once more began his old song: ‘If I could but shudder!’ When midnight came, an uproar and noise of tumbling about was heard; at first it was low, but it grew louder and louder. Then it was quiet for a while, and at length with a loud scream, half a man came down the chimney and fell before him. ‘Hullo!’ cried he, ‘another half belongs to this. This is not enough!’ Then the uproar began again, there was a roaring and howling, and the other half fell down likewise. ‘Wait,’ said he, ‘I will just stoke up the fire a little for you.’ When he had done that and looked round again, the two pieces were joined together, and a hideous man was sitting in his place. ‘That is no part of our bargain,’ said the youth, ‘the bench is mine.’ The man wanted to push him away; the youth, however, would not allow that, but thrust him off with all his strength, and seated himself again in his own place. Then still more men fell down, one after the other; they brought nine dead men’s legs and two skulls, and set them up and played at nine-pins with them. The youth also wanted to play and said: ‘Listen you, can I join you?’ ‘Yes, if you have any money.’ ‘Money enough,’ replied he, ‘but your balls are not quite round.’ Then he took the skulls and put them in the lathe and turned them till they were round. ‘There, now they will roll better!’ said he. ‘Hurrah! now we’ll have fun!’ He played with them and lost some of his money, but when it struck twelve, everything vanished from his sight. He lay down and quietly fell asleep. Next morning the king came to inquire after him. ‘How has it fared with you this time?’ asked he. ‘I have been playing at nine-pins,’ he answered, ‘and have lost a couple of farthings.’ ‘Have you not shuddered then?’ ‘What?’ said he, ‘I have had a wonderful time! If I did but know what it was to shudder!’

二晩めも若者は古い城へ上がり、火のそばに腰を下ろして、またいつもの歌を始めた。「ぞっとできさえしたら!」真夜中になると、騒ぎと転げ回る音が聞こえた。初めは低かったが、だんだん大きくなった。それからしばらく静かになり、とうとう大きな叫び声とともに、半分の人間が煙突から落ちて来て、若者の前に転がった。「おい!」と若者は叫んだ。「これにはもう半分あるはずだ。これでは足りん!」すると騒ぎがまた始まり、吠え声とうめき声がして、もう半分も落ちて来た。「待て」と若者は言った。「おまえのために火を少しかき立ててやろう。」そしてそうしてから見回すと、二つの片割れはつながって、恐ろしい男が若者の席に座っていた。「それは約束が違う」と若者は言った。「その腰掛けはおれのものだ。」男は若者を押しのけようとしたが、若者はそうはさせず、力のかぎり押しのけて、また自分の席に座った。するとさらに多くの男たちが次々に落ちて来た。彼らは死人の脚を九本と髑髏を二つ持って来て、それを立てて九柱戯を始めた。若者も遊びたくなって言った。「おい、おれも仲間に入れてくれるか?」「ああ、金があるならな。」「金なら十分ある」と若者は答えた。「だがおまえたちの球はあまり丸くない。」そう言って髑髏を取り、轆轤にかけて丸くなるまで削った。「それ、これでよく転がるぞ!」と若者は言った。「やあ! これで面白くなる!」若者は彼らと遊び、金を少しすったが、十二時が打つと何もかも目の前から消えた。若者は横になって静かに眠り込んだ。あくる朝、王が様子を聞きに来た。「今度はどうであった?」と王は尋ねた。「九柱戯をして」と若者は答えた。「小銭を少しすりました。」「ではぞっとしなかったのか?」「何ですって?」と若者は言った。「すばらしい時を過ごしました! ぞっとするとはどういうことか、分かりさえすればいいのに!」

The third night he sat down again on his bench and said quite sadly: ‘If I could but shudder.’ When it grew late, six tall men came in and brought a coffin. Then he said: ‘Ha, ha, that is certainly my little cousin, who died only a few days ago,’ and he beckoned with his finger, and cried: ‘Come, little cousin, come.’ They placed the coffin on the ground, but he went to it and took the lid off, and a dead man lay therein. He felt his face, but it was cold as ice. ‘Wait,’ said he, ‘I will warm you a little,’ and went to the fire and warmed his hand and laid it on the dead man’s face, but he remained cold. Then he took him out, and sat down by the fire and laid him on his breast and rubbed his arms that the blood might circulate again. As this also did no good, he thought to himself: ‘When two people lie in bed together, they warm each other,’ and carried him to the bed, covered him over and lay down by him. After a short time the dead man became warm too, and began to move. Then said the youth, ‘See, little cousin, have I not warmed you?’ The dead man, however, got up and cried: ‘Now will I strangle you.’

三晩めも若者はまた腰掛けに座って、たいそう悲しげに言った。「ぞっとできさえしたら。」夜が更けると、背の高い男が六人入って来て、棺を運んで来た。すると若者は言った。「はは、これはきっと、つい数日前に死んだおれの小さな従兄弟だ。」そして指で招いて叫んだ。「来い、小さな従兄弟、来い。」彼らは棺を地面に置き、若者は寄って行って蓋を取った。すると中には死人が横たわっていた。顔に触れてみると、氷のように冷たかった。「待て」と若者は言った。「少し暖めてやろう。」そして火のところへ行って手を暖め、死人の顔に当てた。けれども死人は冷たいままだった。そこで死人を取り出し、火のそばに座って胸に抱き、血がまた巡るようにと腕をさすった。それも効き目がないので、心の中で思った。「二人で寝床に横たわれば、互いに暖め合うものだ。」そして死人を寝床へ運び、覆いを掛けて、そのそばに横になった。しばらくすると死人も暖かくなり、動き始めた。そこで若者は言った。「それ、小さな従兄弟、暖めてやったろう?」ところが死人は起き上がって叫んだ。「さあ、おまえの首を絞めてやる。」

‘What!’ said he, ‘is that the way you thank me? You shall at once go into your coffin again,’ and he took him up, threw him into it, and shut the lid. Then came the six men and carried him away again. ‘I cannot manage to shudder,’ said he. ‘I shall never learn it here as long as I live.’

「何だと!」と若者は言った。「それが礼のつもりか? すぐにまた棺へ戻れ。」そして死人を持ち上げて中へ放り込み、蓋を閉めた。すると六人の男が来て、また運び去った。「どうしてもぞっとできない」と若者は言った。「ここでは一生かかっても覚えられまい。」

Then a man entered who was taller than all others, and looked terrible. He was old, however, and had a long white beard. ‘You wretch,’ cried he, ‘you shall soon learn what it is to shudder, for you shall die.’ ‘Not so fast,’ replied the youth. ‘If I am to die, I shall have to have a say in it.’ ‘I will soon seize you,’ said the fiend. ‘Softly, softly, do not talk so big. I am as strong as you are, and perhaps even stronger.’ ‘We shall see,’ said the old man. ‘If you are stronger, I will let you go--come, we will try.’ Then he led him by dark passages to a smith’s forge, took an axe, and with one blow struck an anvil into the ground. ‘I can do better than that,’ said the youth, and went to the other anvil. The old man placed himself near and wanted to look on, and his white beard hung down. Then the youth seized the axe, split the anvil with one blow, and in it caught the old man’s beard. ‘Now I have you,’ said the youth. ‘Now it is your turn to die.’ Then he seized an iron bar and beat the old man till he moaned and entreated him to stop, when he would give him great riches. The youth drew out the axe and let him go. The old man led him back into the castle, and in a cellar showed him three chests full of gold. ‘Of these,’ said he, ‘one part is for the poor, the other for the king, the third yours.’ In the meantime it struck twelve, and the spirit disappeared, so that the youth stood in darkness. ‘I shall still be able to find my way out,’ said he, and felt about, found the way into the room, and slept there by his fire. Next morning the king came and said: ‘Now you must have learnt what shuddering is?’ ‘No,’ he answered; ‘what can it be? My dead cousin was here, and a bearded man came and showed me a great deal of money down below, but no one told me what it was to shudder.’ ‘Then,’ said the king, ‘you have saved the castle, and shall marry my daughter.’ ‘That is all very well,’ said he, ‘but still I do not know what it is to shudder!’

そこへ誰よりも背の高い男が入って来た。恐ろしい形相だったが、老人で、長い白い髭をたくわえていた。「この下郎め」と男は叫んだ。「ぞっとするとはどういうことか、すぐに分かるぞ。おまえは死ぬのだからな。」「そう急ぐな」と若者は答えた。「死ぬというなら、こちらにも言い分がある。」「すぐに捕まえてやる」と魔物は言った。「まあ待て、待て、大口を叩くな。おれはおまえと同じくらい強いし、たぶんもっと強い。」「見てみよう」と老人は言った。「おまえの方が強ければ行かせてやる——さあ、試そう。」そして暗い通路を通って鍛冶場へ連れて行き、斧を取って、一打ちで金床を地面に打ち込んだ。「おれはもっとうまくやれる」と若者は言って、もう一つの金床のところへ行った。老人はそばに寄って見物しようとし、その白い髭が垂れ下がった。そこで若者は斧をつかみ、一打ちで金床を割り、その割れ目に老人の髭を挟み込んだ。「さあ捕まえたぞ」と若者は言った。「今度はおまえが死ぬ番だ。」そして鉄の棒をつかんで老人を打ちすえ、老人はうめいて、やめてくれれば大きな富をやると懇願した。若者は斧を引き抜いて老人を放してやった。老人は若者を城へ連れ戻し、地下の穴倉で黄金でいっぱいの櫃を三つ見せた。「このうち」と老人は言った。「一つ分は貧しい者へ、もう一つは王へ、三つめはおまえのものだ。」そうするうちに十二時が打ち、霊は消えて、若者は闇の中に立っていた。「それでも出口は見つけられるだろう」と言って手探りし、部屋への道を見つけて、そこで火のそばに眠った。あくる朝、王が来て言った。「これでぞっとするとはどういうことか、覚えたであろう?」「いいえ」と若者は答えた。「いったい何なのでしょう? 死んだ従兄弟がここへ来ましたし、髭の男が来て下で大金を見せてくれました。けれどもぞっとするとはどういうことか、誰も教えてくれませんでした。」「では」と王は言った。「そちは城を救った。娘を妻とするがよい。」「それは結構ですが」と若者は言った。「それでもぞっとするとはどういうことか、まだ分かりません!」

Then the gold was brought up and the wedding celebrated; but howsoever much the young king loved his wife, and however happy he was, he still said always: ‘If I could but shudder--if I could but shudder.’ And this at last angered her. Her waiting-maid said: ‘I will find a cure for him; he shall soon learn what it is to shudder.’ She went out to the stream which flowed through the garden, and had a whole bucketful of gudgeons brought to her. At night when the young king was sleeping, his wife was to draw the clothes off him and empty the bucket full of cold water with the gudgeons in it over him, so that the little fishes would sprawl about him. Then he woke up and cried: ‘Oh, what makes me shudder so?--what makes me shudder so, dear wife? Ah! now I know what it is to shudder!’

そこで黄金が運び上げられ、婚礼が執り行われた。けれども若い王は妻をどれほど愛し、どれほど幸せであっても、やはりいつもこう言うのだった。「ぞっとできさえしたら——ぞっとできさえしたら。」そしてこれがとうとう妻を腹立たしくさせた。妻の侍女が言った。「わたしが治してさしあげましょう。すぐにぞっとするとはどういうことか、お分かりになります。」侍女は庭を流れる小川へ出て行き、桶いっぱいの鮠を持って来させた。夜、若い王が眠っているあいだに、妻が掛け物を引きはがし、鮠の入った冷たい水を桶ごと王の上に空けるのである。そうすれば小さな魚が体じゅうでぴちぴち跳ねる。すると王は目を覚まして叫んだ。「ああ、何がこんなにぞっとさせるのだ? 何がこんなにぞっとさせるのだ、いとしい妻よ? ああ! やっとぞっとするとはどういうことか分かったぞ!」