Blue Beard

There was a man who had fine houses, both in town and country, a deal of silver and gold plate, embroidered furniture, and coaches gilded all over with gold. But this man had the misfortune to have a blue beard, which made him so frightfully ugly, that all the women and girls ran away from him.

都にも田舎にも立派な邸を持ち、金銀の食器をたくさん持ち、刺繍を施した調度と、全面に金を張った馬車を持つ男がいた。ところがこの男は不幸にも青い髭をしていて、それがあまりに恐ろしく醜く見えたので、女という女、娘という娘が彼から逃げ出した。

One of his neighbours, a lady of quality, had two daughters who were perfect beauties. He desired of her one of them in marriage, leaving to her the choice which of the two she would bestow upon him. They would neither of them have him, and each made the other welcome of him, being not able to bear the thought of marrying a man who had a blue beard. And what besides gave them disgust and aversion, was his having already been married to several wives, and nobody ever knew what became of them.

隣人の一人に身分の高い婦人がいて、完璧な美しさの娘が二人いた。男はそのうち一人を妻にと望み、二人のうちどちらをくれるかは母の選択に任せた。娘たちはどちらも彼を嫌がり、互いに相手に譲り合った。青い髭の男と結婚すると思うと耐えられなかったのである。そのうえ二人に嫌悪と反感を抱かせたのは、彼がすでに何人もの妻を娶っており、その妻たちがどうなったのか誰も知らないことであった。

Blue Beard, to engage their affection, took them, with the lady their mother, and three or four ladies of their acquaintance, with other young people of the neighbourhood, to one of his country seats, where they stayed a whole week. There was nothing then to be seen but parties of pleasure, hunting, fishing, dancing, mirth and feasting. Nobody went to bed, but all passed the night in playing tricks upon each other. In short, every thing succeeded so well, that the youngest daughter began to think the master of the house not to have a beard so very blue, and that he was a mighty civil gentleman. As soon as they returned home, the marriage was concluded.

青髭は二人の気を引こうと、母である婦人と、知り合いの婦人を三、四人、それに近隣の若い人々を連れて、自分の田舎の邸の一つへ招き、まる一週間滞在させた。そのあいだは、遊山、狩り、釣り、踊り、笑いと宴のほかには何も見られなかった。誰も床につかず、みな夜通し互いに悪戯をし合って過ごした。つまり何もかもがうまく運んだので、妹娘はこの家の主の髭がそれほど青くもないように思いはじめ、たいそう礼儀正しい紳士だと思うようになった。家に戻るやいなや、婚礼の話がまとまった。

About a month afterwards Blue Beard told his wife that he was obliged to take a country journey for six weeks at least, about affairs of very great consequence, desiring her to divert herself in his absence, to send for her friends and acquaintances, to carry them into the country, if she pleased, and to make good cheer wherever she was.

ひと月ほどして、青髭は妻に、たいそう大事な用向きで少なくとも六週間は田舎へ旅に出なければならないと告げた。自分の留守中は気晴らしをして、友人や知人を呼び、よければ田舎へも連れていき、どこにいようと存分にもてなしを楽しむように、と。

"Here," said he, "are the keys of the two great wardrobes, wherein I have my best furniture; these are of my silver and gold plate, which is not every day in use; these open my strong boxes, which hold my money, both gold and silver; these my caskets of jewels; and this is the master-key to all my apartments. But for this little one here, it is the key of the closet at the end of the great gallery on the ground floor. Open them all; go into all and every one of them; except that little closet which I forbid you, and forbid it in such a manner that, if you happen to open it, there will be no bounds to my just anger and resentment."

「ここに」と彼は言った。「わたしの最上の調度をしまった二つの大きな衣装部屋の鍵がある。これは毎日は使わない金銀の食器の鍵。これは金貨と銀貨をしまった金庫を開ける鍵。これは宝石箱の鍵。そしてこれが、わたしの部屋すべての合い鍵だ。だがこの小さな鍵は、一階の大回廊の突きあたりにある小部屋の鍵だ。どれでも開けるがよい。どの部屋にも一つ残らず入ってよい。ただしあの小部屋だけは禁じる。しかも固く禁じる。もしそれを開けるようなことがあれば、わたしの正当な怒りと恨みには限りがないだろう。」

She promised to observe, very exactly, whatever he had ordered; when he, after having embraced her, got into his coach and proceeded on his journey.

妻は、言いつけられたことは何でも一つ残らず守ると約束した。すると夫は妻を抱きしめてから馬車に乗り込み、旅に出た。

Her neighbours and good friends did not stay to be sent for by the newmarried lady, so great was their impatience to see all the rich furniture of her house, not daring to come while her husband was there, because of his blue beard which frightened them. They ran thro' all the rooms, closets, and wardrobes, which were all so rich and fine, that they seemed to surpass one another.

隣人や親しい友人たちは、新婚の奥方から呼ばれるのを待たなかった。その家の豪華な調度をすべて見たくてたまらなかったのである。夫がいるあいだは、その青い髭が怖くて来る勇気がなかった。友人たちはすべての部屋と小部屋と衣装部屋を駆けまわった。どれもこれもあまりに豪華で立派で、互いに競い合うかのようであった。

After that, they went up into the two great rooms, where were the best and richest furniture; they could not sufficiently admire the number and beauty of the tapestry, beds, couches, cabinets, stands, tables, and looking-glasses in which you might see yourself from head to foot; some of them were framed with glass, others with silver, plain and gilded, the finest and most magnificent which were ever seen. They ceased not to extol and envy the happiness of their friend, who in the mean time no way diverted herself in looking upon all these rich things, because of the impatience she had to go and open the closet of the ground floor. She was so much pressed by her curiosity, that, without considering that it was very uncivil to leave her company, she went down a little back-stair-case, and with such excessive haste, that she had twice or thrice like to have broken her neck.

それから二つの大きな部屋に上がった。そこには最上の、最も豪華な調度があった。つづれ織、寝台、長椅子、飾り棚、台、卓、そして頭から足の先まで映せる姿見の数と美しさを、友人たちはいくら讃えても讃えきれなかった。姿見のうち、ある物はガラスで、ある物は銀で、無地のものも金を着せたものもあり、かつて見たうちで最も美しく壮麗なものであった。友人たちは奥方の幸せを褒めそやし、羨むのをやめなかった。ところが奥方のほうは、一階の小部屋を開けに行きたくてたまらず、こうした豪華な品々を眺めても少しも楽しくなかった。好奇心にあまりに急き立てられて、客を置き去りにするのはたいそう無作法だということも考えずに、小さな裏階段を降りていった。そのあまりの急ぎように、二度三度、首の骨を折りそうになった。

Being come to the closet door, she made a stop for some time, thinking upon her husband's orders, and considering what unhappiness might attend her if she was disobedient; but the temptation was so strong she could not overcome it. She took then the little key, and opened it trembling; but could not at first see any thing plainly, because the windows were shut. After some moments she began to perceive that the floor was all covered over with clotted blood, in which were reflected the bodies of several dead women ranged against the walls: these were all the wives whom Blue Beard had married and murdered one after another. She was like to have died for fear, and the key, which she pulled out of the lock, fell out of her hand.

小部屋の扉の前まで来ると、妻はしばらく立ちどまり、夫の言いつけを思い、言いつけに背けばどんな不幸が降りかかるかを考えた。しかし誘惑はあまりに強く、打ち勝つことができなかった。そこで小さな鍵を取り、震えながら開けた。はじめは窓が閉まっていたので、何もはっきり見えなかった。しばらくすると、床一面が固まった血におおわれ、その血の中に、壁際に並べられた何人もの死んだ女の体が映っているのが見えはじめた。これはみな、青髭が次々と娶っては殺した妻たちであった。妻は恐ろしさに死にそうになり、錠から抜いた鍵が手から落ちた。

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* * * * *

After having somewhat recovered her senses, she took up the key, locked the door, and went up stairs into her chamber to recover herself; but she could not, so much was she frightened. Having observed that the key of the closet was stained with blood, she tried two or three times to wipe it off, but the blood would not come off; in vain did she wash it, and even rub it with soap and sand, the blood still remained, for the key was a Fairy, and she could never make it quite clean; when the blood was gone off from one side, it came again on the other.

いくらか正気を取り戻すと、妻は鍵を拾い上げ、扉に錠を下ろして、気を静めようと階上の自分の部屋へ上がった。しかしあまりに怯えていて、気は静まらなかった。小部屋の鍵に血がついているのに気づき、二度三度拭き取ろうとしたが、血は落ちなかった。洗っても、石鹸と砂でこすっても無駄で、血はやはり残った。その鍵は妖精の鍵で、どうしてもすっかりきれいにはならなかったのである。片側の血が落ちると、もう片側にまた浮かんでくるのだった。

Blue Beard returned from his journey the same evening, and said, he had received letters upon the road, informing him that the affair he went about was ended to his advantage. His wife did all she could to convince him she was extremely glad of his speedy return. Next morning he asked her for the keys, which she gave him, but with such a trembling hand, that he easily guessed what had happened.

青髭はその同じ晩に旅から戻り、道中で手紙を受け取り、出かけていった用向きは自分に都合よく片がついたと知らされたのだと言った。妻は、夫が早く帰ってきてくれてこの上なく嬉しいと信じさせようと、できるかぎりのことをした。翌朝、夫は鍵を返せと言った。妻は渡したが、その手があまりに震えていたので、夫は何が起きたかをたやすく察した。

"What," said he, "is not the key of my closet among the rest?"

「なんだ」と彼は言った。「わたしの小部屋の鍵がほかのといっしょにないではないか。」

"I must certainly," answered she, "have left it above upon the table."

「きっと」と妻は答えた。「上の卓の上に置いてきてしまったのですわ。」

"Fail not," said Blue Beard, "to bring it me presently."

「すぐに持ってくるのだぞ」と青髭は言った。

After putting him off several times, she was forced to bring him the key. Blue Beard, having very attentively considered it, said to his wife:

何度か言い逃れをしたのち、妻は鍵を持ってこないわけにはいかなくなった。青髭はそれをたいそう念入りに調べてから、妻に言った。

"How comes this blood upon the key?"

「なぜ鍵にこの血がついているのだ。」

"I do not know," cried the poor woman, paler than death.

「存じません」と哀れな女は、死人よりも青ざめて叫んだ。

"You do not know," replied Blue Beard; "I very well know, you were resolved to go into the closet, were you not? Mighty well, Madam; you shall go in, and take your place among the ladies you saw there."

「存じませんだと」と青髭は返した。「わたしはよく知っている。お前はあの小部屋に入ると決めていたのだろう。結構だ、奥方。入るがよい。そしてあそこで見た婦人たちのあいだに、自分の場所を取るがよい。」

Upon this she threw herself at her husband's feet, and begged his pardon with all the signs of a true repentance for her disobedience. She would have melted a rock, so beautiful and sorrowful was she; but Blue Beard had a heart harder than any rock.

これを聞くと妻は夫の足元に身を投げ出し、言いつけに背いたことへの真の悔い改めのあらゆる徴を示しながら許しを乞うた。あまりに美しく悲しげで、岩をも溶かしそうであった。しかし青髭の心は、どんな岩よりも硬かった。

"You must die, Madam," said he, "and that presently."

「死んでもらわねばならぬ、奥方」と彼は言った。「それも、いますぐにだ。」

"Since I must die," answered she, looking upon him with her eyes all bathed in tears, "give me some little time to say my prayers."

「死なねばならぬのでしたら」と妻は涙に濡れた目で夫を見つめて答えた。「祈りを唱えるための、ほんの少しの時をください。」

"I give you," replied Blue Beard, "half a quarter of an hour, but not one moment more."

「くれてやろう」と青髭は答えた。「七分半だ。だが一瞬たりともそれ以上はやらぬ。」

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* * * * *

When she was alone, she called out to her sister, and said to her:

一人になると、妻は姉を呼んで言った。

"Sister Anne" (for that was her name), "go up I beg you, upon the top of the tower, and look if my brothers are not coming; they promised me that they would come to-day, and if you see them, give them a sign to make haste."

「アンヌ姉さん」(というのが姉の名であった)「お願い、塔のてっぺんに上がって、兄さんたちが来ないか見てちょうだい。今日来ると約束してくれたのです。もし見えたら、急ぐように合図をしてちょうだい。」

Her sister Anne went up upon the top of the tower, and the poor afflicted wife cried out from time to time, "Anne, sister Anne, do you see any one coming?"

アンヌ姉さんは塔のてっぺんに上がった。そして哀れな苦しむ妻は、ときおり呼びかけた。「アンヌ、アンヌ姉さん、誰か来るのが見えて?」

And sister Anne said:

するとアンヌ姉さんは言った。

"I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass growing green."

「見えるのは、土埃を立てるお日さまと、緑に茂る草ばかり。」

In the mean while Blue Beard, holding a great scimitar in his hand, cried out as loud as he could bawl to his wife:

そのあいだに青髭は大きな偃月刀を手に持ち、声のかぎりに妻に向かって怒鳴った。

"Come down instantly, or I shall come up to you."

「すぐに降りてこい。さもないと、わたしが上がっていくぞ。」

"One moment longer, if you please," said his wife, and then she cried out very softly:

「もう少しだけお待ちください」と妻は言い、それからそっと呼びかけた。

"Anne, sister Anne, dost thou see any body coming?"

「アンヌ、アンヌ姉さん、誰か来るのが見えて?」

And sister Anne answered:

するとアンヌ姉さんは答えた。

"I see nothing but the sun, which makes a dust, and the grass growing green."

「見えるのは、土埃を立てるお日さまと、緑に茂る草ばかり。」

"Come down quickly," cried Blue Beard, "or I will come up to you."

「早く降りてこい」と青髭は叫んだ。「さもないと、わたしが上がっていくぞ。」

"I am coming," answered his wife; and then she cried:

「いま参ります」と妻は答え、それから呼びかけた。

"Anne, sister Anne, dost thou see any one coming?"

「アンヌ、アンヌ姉さん、誰か来るのが見えて?」

"I see," replied sister Anne, "a great dust that comes this way."

「見えるわ」とアンヌ姉さんは答えた。「こちらへやってくる大きな土埃が。」

"Are they my brothers?"

「兄さんたち?」

"Alas! no, my dear sister, I see a flock of sheep."

「ああ! ちがうわ、妹、羊の群れよ。」

"Will you not come down?" cried Blue Beard.

「降りてこないのか」と青髭は叫んだ。

"One moment longer," said his wife, and then she cried out:

「もう少しだけ」と妻は言い、それから呼びかけた。

"Anne, sister Anne, dost thou see nobody coming?"

「アンヌ、アンヌ姉さん、誰も来るのが見えないの?」

"I see," said she, "two horsemen coming, but they are yet a great way off."

「見えるわ」と姉は言った。「騎馬の人が二人やってくる。でもまだずっと遠く。」

"God be praised," she cried presently, "they are my brothers; I am beckoning to them, as well as I can, for them to make haste."

「神さま、ありがとうございます」と姉はまもなく叫んだ。「兄さんたちよ。急ぐように、できるかぎり合図しているわ。」

Then Blue Beard bawled out so loud, that he made the whole house tremble. The distressed wife came down, and threw herself at his feet, all in tears, with her hair about her shoulders.

そのとき青髭が家じゅうが震えるほどの大声で怒鳴った。苦しむ妻は降りてきて、涙にくれ、髪を肩に乱したまま、その足元に身を投げ出した。

"Nought will avail," said Blue Beard, "you must die"; then, taking hold of her hair with one hand, and lifting up his scimitar with the other, he was going to take off her head.

「何をしても無駄だ」と青髭は言った。「死んでもらわねばならぬ。」そう言って片手で妻の髪を掴み、もう一方の手で偃月刀を振り上げて、その首を刎ねようとした。

The poor lady turning about to him, and looking at him with dying eyes, desired him to afford her one little moment to recollect herself.

哀れな奥方は夫のほうを振り向き、死にゆく者の目で見つめて、心を落ち着けるためのほんの一瞬をくださいと願った。

"No, no," said he, "recommend thyself to God," and was just ready to strike.

「ならぬ、ならぬ」と彼は言った。「神に祈るがよい。」そしていまにも打ち下ろそうとした。

At this very instant there was such a loud knocking at the gate, that Blue Beard made a sudden stop. The gate was opened, and presently entered two horsemen, who drawing their swords, ran directly to Blue Beard. He knew them to be his wife's brothers, one a dragoon, the other a musqueteer; so that he ran away immediately to save himself; but the two brothers pursued so close, that they overtook him before he could get to the steps of the porch, when they ran their swords thro' his body and left him dead. The poor wife was almost as dead as her husband, and had not strength enough to rise and welcome her brothers.

まさにその瞬間、門をたいそう激しく叩く音がしたので、青髭ははっと手を止めた。門が開けられ、たちまち二人の騎馬の男が入ってきて、剣を抜き、まっすぐ青髭に向かって駆け寄った。彼はそれが妻の兄たち——一人は竜騎兵、もう一人は銃士——だと分かったので、身を守ろうとすぐさま逃げ出した。しかし二人の兄はぴったりと追いすがり、玄関の階段にたどり着く前に追いついて、その体に剣を突き通し、殺してしまった。哀れな妻は夫と同じくらい死んだようになっていて、起き上がって兄たちを迎える力もなかった。

Blue Beard had no heirs, and so his wife became mistress of all his estate. She made use of one part of it to marry her sister Anne to a young gentleman who had loved her a long while; another part to buy captains' commissions for her brothers; and the rest to marry herself to a very worthy gentleman, who made her forget the ill time she had passed with Blue Beard.

青髭には跡継ぎがなかったので、妻がその全財産の主となった。その一部を使って、アンヌ姉さんを長らく姉を愛していた若い紳士に嫁がせ、別の一部で兄たちのために隊長の位を買い、残りで自分自身がたいそう立派な紳士と結婚した。その人は、青髭と過ごした辛い時を彼女に忘れさせてくれたのである。

The Moral

教訓

O curiosity, thou mortal bane! Spite of thy charms, thou causest often pain And sore regret, of which we daily find A thousand instances attend mankind: For thou--O may it not displease the fair-- A fleeting pleasure art, but lasting care. And always proves, alas! too dear the prize, Which, in the moment of possession, dies.

おお好奇心よ、汝は命取りの災いである! その魅力にもかかわらず、汝はしばしば痛みと深い悔いをもたらす。その例は、人の世に日々千も見出される。汝は——どうか美しき人々の気を悪くせぬよう——束の間の楽しみでありながら、長く続く気苦労なのだ。そしていつも、ああ、手に入れたその瞬間に消えてしまう褒美にしては、高すぎる代価となるのである。

Another

もう一つ

A very little share of common sense, And knowledge of the world, will soon evince That this a story is of time long pass'd; No husbands now such panic terrors cast; Nor weakly, with a vain despotic hand, Imperious, what's impossible, command: And be they discontented, or the fire Of wicked jealousy their hearts inspire, They softly sing; and of whatever hue Their beards may chance to be, or black, or blue, Grizeld, or russet, it is hard to say Which of the two, the man or wife, bears sway.

ほんのわずかな常識と世間の知恵があれば、これがとうに過ぎ去った時代の話だとすぐに分かるだろう。いまの夫たちはそのような恐慌を人に与えはせぬ。弱々しく、むなしい専制の手で、できもしないことを横柄に命じたりはせぬ。不満があろうと、邪な嫉妬の炎が胸に燃えようと、夫たちは穏やかに歌うのである。そしてその髭がたまたま何色であろうと——黒であれ青であれ、白髪まじりであれ赤茶であれ——夫と妻のどちらが実権を握っているのか、言い当てるのは難しい。