The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood

There were formerly a King and a Queen, who were so sorry that they had no children, so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters in the world; vows, pilgrimages, all ways were tried and all to no purpose. At last, however, the Queen proved with child, and was brought to bed of a daughter. There was a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her godmothers all the Fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of Fairies in those days, and that by this means the Princess might have all the perfections imaginable.

むかし、ある王と王妃がいて、子どもがいないのを、言葉にできないほど悲しんでいた。二人は世界じゅうの霊験あらたかな泉をめぐり、願をかけ、巡礼をし、ありとあらゆる手を尽くしたが、すべて無駄であった。けれどもとうとう王妃は身ごもり、姫を産んだ。たいそう立派な洗礼式がおこなわれ、王国じゅうで見つけられるかぎりの妖精が(七人見つかった)姫の名付け親になった。当時の妖精のならわしどおり、妖精がひとりずつ贈り物をすれば、姫は考えられるかぎりの美点をすべて備えることになるからである。

After the ceremonies of the christening were over, all the company returned to the King's palace, where was prepared a great feast for the Fairies. There was placed before every one of them a magnificent cover with a case of massive gold, wherein were a spoon, knife and fork, all of pure gold set with diamonds and rubies. But as they were all sitting down at table, they saw come into the hall a very old Fairy whom they had not invited, because it was above fifty years since she had been out of a certain tower, and she was believed to be either dead or inchanted. The King ordered her a cover, but could not furnish her with a case of gold as the others, because they had seven only made for the seven Fairies. The old Fairy fancied she was slighted, and muttered some threat between her teeth. One of the young Fairies, who sat by her, overheard how she grumbled; and judging that she might give the little Princess some unlucky gift, went, as soon as they rose from the table, and hid herself behind the hangings, that she might speak last, and repair, as much as possible she could, the evil which the old Fairy might intend.

洗礼の儀式が済むと、一同は王の宮殿に戻った。宮殿には妖精たちのための大宴会の用意ができていた。妖精たちの前には、一人ひとりに豪華な食器が置かれ、それぞれに純金の箱が添えられていて、中にはダイヤモンドとルビーをちりばめた純金のスプーンとナイフとフォークが入っていた。ところが一同が食卓につこうとしたとき、招かれていないたいそう年老いた妖精が広間に入ってくるのが見えた。この妖精は五十年以上もある塔から出てこなかったので、死んだか魔法にかけられたものと思われていたのである。王はこの妖精にも食器を出させたが、ほかの妖精たちのように金の箱を添えることはできなかった。七人の妖精のために七つしか作らせていなかったからである。年老いた妖精は、ないがしろにされたと思い込み、歯のあいだで何やら脅しの言葉をつぶやいた。そばに座っていた若い妖精の一人が、その不平を聞きつけ、この妖精は小さな姫に何か不吉な贈り物をするかもしれないと考えた。そこで食卓を立つとすぐに壁掛けの陰に隠れ、いちばん最後に口をきいて、年老いた妖精がたくらむかもしれない災いをできるだけ埋め合わせようとした。

In the mean while all the Fairies began to give their gifts to the Princess. The youngest gave her for gift, that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the wit of an angel; the third, that she should have a wonderful grace in every thing she did; the fourth, that she should dance perfectly well; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play upon all kinds of music to the utmost perfection.

そうしているあいだに、妖精たちは姫に贈り物を授けはじめた。いちばん若い妖精は、姫が世界でいちばん美しい人になるようにと授けた。次の妖精は、天使のような才気を持つようにと。三人目は、何をするにも見事な優雅さがあるようにと。四人目は、完璧に踊れるようにと。五人目は、夜鳴き鳥のように歌えるようにと。そして六人目は、あらゆる楽器をこの上なく見事に奏でられるようにと授けた。

The old Fairy's turn coming next, with a head shaking more with spite than age, she said, that the Princess should have her hand pierced with a spindle, and die of the wound. This terrible gift made the whole company tremble, and every body fell a-crying.

次は年老いた妖精の番であった。年のせいというより悪意で頭をふるわせながら、妖精は、姫は紡錘で手を刺し、その傷がもとで死ぬだろうと言った。この恐ろしい贈り物に一同は震え上がり、誰もが泣き出した。

At this very instant the young Fairy came out from behind the hangings, and spake these words aloud:

まさにそのとき、若い妖精が壁掛けの陰から出てきて、声高にこう言った。

"Be reassured, O King and Queen; your daughter shall not die of this disaster: it is true, I have no power to undo intirely what my elder has done. The Princess shall indeed pierce her hand with a spindle; but instead of dying, she shall only fall into a profound sleep, which shall last a hundred years; at the expiration of which a king's son shall come and awake her."

「ご安心ください、王さま、お妃さま。姫さまはこの災いで死ぬことはありません。たしかに、わたしには年上の妖精のしたことをすっかり取り消す力はありません。姫さまはたしかに紡錘で手を刺されるでしょう。けれども死ぬのではなく、ただ深い眠りに落ちるだけです。その眠りは百年続き、百年たつと、ある王の息子がやって来て姫さまを目覚めさせるでしょう」

The King, to avoid the misfortune foretold by the old Fairy, caused immediately proclamations to be made, whereby every-body was forbidden, on pain of death, to spin with a distaff and spindle or to have so much as any spindle in their houses.

王は、年老いた妖精の予言した不幸を避けるため、ただちにおふれを出させ、糸巻き棒と紡錘で糸を紡ぐことも、家に紡錘を一本でも置くことも、死罪をもって禁じた。

About fifteen or sixteen years after, the King and Queen being gone to one of their houses of pleasure, the young Princess happened one day to divert herself running up and down the palace; when going up from one apartment to another, she came into a little room on the top of a tower, where a good old woman, alone, was spinning with her spindle. This good woman had never heard of the King's proclamation against spindles.

それから十五、六年たったころ、王と王妃は離宮の一つへ出かけていた。若い姫はある日、宮殿のなかをあちこち駆けまわって遊んでいたが、部屋から部屋へと上っていくうちに、塔のてっぺんにある小さな部屋へたどり着いた。そこでは人のよい老婆がひとりで紡錘を使って糸を紡いでいた。この人のよい老婆は、紡錘を禁じる王のおふれを一度も耳にしたことがなかったのである。

"What are you doing there, Goody?" said the Princess.

「おばあさん、そこで何をしているの?」と姫は言った。

"I am spinning, my pretty child," said the old woman, who did not know who she was.

「糸を紡いでおりますのですよ、きれいなお嬢さま」と、姫が誰だか知らない老婆は言った。

"Ha!" said the Princess, "this is very pretty; how do you do it? Give it to me, that I may see if I can do so." She had no sooner taken the spindle into her hand, than, whether being very hasty at it, somewhat unhandy, or that the decree of the Fairy had so ordained it, it ran into her hand, and she fell down in a swoon.

「まあ!」と姫は言った。「とてもすてき。どうやるの?貸してちょうだい、わたしにもできるか見てみたいの」。姫は紡錘を手に取るやいなや、あまりにせっかちだったのか、少し不器用だったのか、それとも妖精の定めがそうさせたのか、紡錘が手に刺さり、気を失って倒れてしまった。

The good old woman not knowing very well what to do in this affair, cried out for help. People came in from every quarter in great numbers; they threw water upon the Princess's face, unlaced her, struck her on the palms of her hands, and rubbed her temples with Hungary-water; but nothing would bring her to herself.

人のよい老婆は、どうしてよいかわからず、助けを求めて叫んだ。四方から大勢の人が駆けつけてきた。人々は姫の顔に水をかけ、服の紐をゆるめ、手のひらをたたき、ハンガリー水でこめかみをこすったが、何をしても姫は正気に戻らなかった。

And now the King, who came up at the noise, bethought himself of the prediction of the Fairies, and judging very well that this must necessarily come to pass, since the Fairies had said it, caused the Princess to be carried into the finest apartment in his palace, and to be laid upon a bed all embroidered with gold and silver. One would have taken her for an angel, she was so very beautiful; for her swooning away had not diminished one bit of her complexion; her cheeks were carnation, and her lips like coral; indeed her eyes were shut, but she was heard to breathe softly, which satisfied those about her that she was not dead. The King commanded that they should not disturb her, but let her sleep quietly till her hour of awakening was come.

そこへ騒ぎを聞いて上ってきた王は、妖精たちの予言を思い出し、妖精たちが言ったのだからこれは必ず起こることだったのだとよく心得て、姫を宮殿でいちばん立派な部屋へ運ばせ、金銀の刺繍を施した寝台に寝かせた。姫はあまりに美しかったので、天使と見まがうほどであった。気を失っても顔色は少しも損なわれず、頬は淡紅色、唇は珊瑚のようであった。目はたしかに閉じていたが、静かに息をしているのが聞こえたので、まわりの者たちは姫が死んではいないと安心した。王は、姫を起こさず、目覚めのときが来るまで静かに眠らせておくようにと命じた。

The good Fairy, who had saved her life by condemning her to sleep a hundred years, was in the kingdom of Matakin, twelve thousand leagues off, when this accident befell the Princess; but she was instantly informed of it by a little dwarf, who had boots of seven leagues, that is, boots with which he could tread over seven leagues of ground at one stride. The Fairy came away immediately, and she arrived, about an hour after, in a fiery chariot, drawn by dragons. The King handed her out of the chariot, and she approved every thing he had done; but, as she had a very great foresight, she thought, when the Princess should awake, she might not know what to do with herself, being all alone in this old palace; and this was what she did: She touched with her wand every thing in the palace (except the King and the Queen), governesses, maids of honour, ladies of the bedchamber, gentlemen, officers, stewards, cooks, under-cooks, scullions, guards, with their beef-eaters, pages, footmen; she likewise touched all the horses which were in the stables, as well as their grooms, the great dogs in the outward court, and pretty little Mopsey too, the Princess's little spaniel-bitch, which lay by her on the bed.

百年眠るように定めて姫の命を救ったあの善い妖精は、この出来事が姫の身に起きたとき、一万二千里も離れたマタカンの王国にいた。けれども、七里の長靴、つまりひとまたぎで七里を踏み越えられる長靴を履いた小人から、たちまち知らせを受けた。妖精はすぐに出発し、竜の引く火の車に乗って、一時間ほどで到着した。王は妖精を車から降ろしてやり、妖精は王のしたことをすべてよしとした。けれども妖精はたいそう先の見える人だったので、姫が目を覚ましたとき、この古い宮殿にひとりきりでは、どうしてよいかわからないだろうと考えた。そこで妖精はこうした。宮殿のなかのあらゆるものに(王と王妃は別として)杖で触れたのである。養育係の女たち、侍女、女官、廷臣、役人、執事、料理人、下働きの料理人、皿洗い、衛兵とその近衛兵、小姓、従僕に。さらに厩にいたすべての馬とその馬丁、外庭の大きな犬たち、そして姫のそばの寝台に寝ていた小さなスパニエル犬の、可愛らしいモプシーにも触れた。

Immediately upon her touching them, they all fell asleep, that they might not awake before their mistress, and that they might be ready to wait upon her when she wanted them. The very spits at the fire, as full as they could hold of partridges and pheasants, did fall asleep, and the fire likewise. All this was done in a moment. Fairies are not long in doing their business.

触れられるとすぐに、みな眠りに落ちた。女主人より先に目を覚まさず、女主人が用のあるときにはすぐに仕えられるようにするためであった。ヤマウズラやキジをぎっしり刺した火のそばの焼き串までも眠りに落ち、火もまた眠った。これはすべて一瞬のうちになされた。妖精というものは、仕事にぐずぐず時間をかけないのである。

And now the King and the Queen, having kissed their dear child without waking her, went out of the palace, and put forth a proclamation, that nobody should dare to come near it. This, however, was not necessary; for, in a quarter of an hour's time, there grew up, all round about the park, such a vast number of trees, great and small, bushes and brambles, twining one within another, that neither man nor beast could pass thro'; so that nothing could be seen but the very top of the towers of the palace; and that too, not unless it was a good way off. Nobody doubted but the Fairy gave herein a sample of her art, that the Princess, while she continued sleeping, might have nothing to fear from any curious people.

そこで王と王妃は、目を覚まさないよう愛しい娘にそっと口づけすると宮殿を出て、誰も宮殿に近づいてはならないというおふれを出した。けれども、それは必要のないことであった。十五分もたたないうちに、庭園のまわりにぐるりと、大小の木々や藪や茨が、互いにからみあってびっしりと生い茂り、人も獣も通り抜けられなくなったからである。見えるのは宮殿の塔のてっぺんだけで、それもかなり遠くからでなければ見えなかった。これは、姫が眠っているあいだに物見高い人々を恐れずにすむよう、妖精がその技の一端を見せたのだと、誰ひとり疑わなかった。

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* * * * *

When a hundred years were gone and past, the son of the King then reigning, and who was of another family from that of the sleeping Princess, being gone a-hunting on that side of the country, asked, what were those towers which he saw in the middle of a great thick wood? Every one answered according as they had heard; some said that it was a ruinous old castle, haunted by spirits; others, that all the sorcerers and witches of the country kept there their sabbath, or nights meeting. The common opinion was that an Ogre[1] lived there, and that he carried thither all the little children he could catch, that he might eat them up at his leisure, without any-body's being able to follow him, as having himself, only, the power to pass thro' the wood.

百年が過ぎ去ったとき、そのとき国を治めていた王の息子——眠っている姫の一族とは別の一族の出であった——が、その地方へ狩りに出かけ、大きな深い森の真ん中に見えるあの塔は何かと尋ねた。人々はめいめい聞いていたとおりに答えた。霊の出る荒れ果てた古城だと言う者もあれば、国じゅうの魔法使いや魔女がそこでサバト、つまり夜の集まりを開くのだと言う者もあった。いちばん広く信じられていたのは、そこには人食い鬼[1]が住んでいて、つかまえられるかぎりの小さな子どもをそこへ連れていき、ゆっくりと食べてしまう、森を通り抜ける力を持つのはその鬼だけなので、誰もあとを追えないのだ、というものであった。

[Footnote 1: OGRE is a giant, with long teeth and claws, with a raw head and bloody-bones, who runs away with naughty little boys and girls, and eats them up. [Note by the translator.]]

[脚注 1: 人食い鬼(オーガ)とは、長い歯と爪を持ち、むき出しの頭に血まみれの骨をした巨人で、悪い小さな男の子や女の子をさらっていって食べてしまう。(訳者注)]

The Prince was at a stand, not knowing what to believe, when a very aged countryman spake to him thus: "May it please your Royal Highness, it is now above fifty years since I heard my father, who had heard my grandfather, say that there then was in this castle, a Princess, the most beautiful was ever seen; that she must sleep there a hundred years, and should be awaked by a king's son; for whom she was reserved." The young Prince was all on fire at these words, believing, without a moment's doubt, that he could put an end to this rare adventure; and pushed on by love and honour resolved that moment to look into it.

王子がどう信じてよいかわからずに立ちつくしていると、ひどく年老いた百姓が王子にこう言った。「王子さま、恐れながら申し上げます。もう五十年以上も前のことでございますが、わたしは父から聞きました。父は祖父から聞いたのでございます。あの城には、この世で見たこともないほど美しい姫君がいて、そこで百年眠らねばならず、ある王の息子に目覚めさせられることになっている、その方のために取っておかれているのだ、と」。若い王子はこの言葉に胸を燃え立たせ、少しも疑わずに自分がこのめったにない冒険を成し遂げられると信じた。そして恋と名誉に駆り立てられて、その場ですぐに確かめてみようと決心した。

Scarce had he advanced towards the wood, when all the great trees, the bushes and brambles, gave way of themselves to let him pass thro'; he walked up to the castle which he saw at the end of a large avenue which he went into; and what a little surprised him was, that he saw none of his people could follow him, because the trees closed again, as soon as he had pass'd thro' them. However, he did not cease from continuing his way; a young and amorous Prince is always valiant. He came into a spacious outward court, where everything he saw might have frozen up the most fearless person with horror. There reigned over all a most frightful silence; the image of death everywhere shewed itself, and there was nothing to be seen but stretched out bodies of men and animals, all seeming to be dead. He, however, very well knew, by the ruby faces and pimpled noses of the beef-eaters, that they were only asleep; and their goblets, wherein still remained some drops of wine, shewed plainly, that they fell asleep in their cups.

王子が森のほうへ進みはじめるやいなや、大木も藪も茨も、ひとりでに道をあけて王子を通した。王子は、入っていった広い並木道の突き当たりに見える城へと歩いていった。王子が少し驚いたのは、自分が通り抜けるとすぐに木々がまた閉じてしまうので、家来たちが誰もついて来られないのが見えたことであった。けれども王子は歩みを止めなかった。若く恋する王子というものは、いつも勇敢なのである。王子は広い外庭に出たが、そこで目にするものはどれも、どんなに恐れを知らない者でも恐ろしさに凍りつかせるほどであった。あたり一面、身の毛もよだつような静けさが支配し、どこを見ても死の姿があらわれていて、目に入るのは、みな死んでいるように見える、横たわった人や獣の体ばかりであった。けれども王子は、近衛兵たちの赤ら顔とにきびだらけの鼻を見て、彼らがただ眠っているだけだとよくわかった。まだ葡萄酒が数滴残っている杯を見れば、酒を飲みながら眠り込んだことは明らかであった。

He then crossed a court paved with marble, went up the stairs, and came into the guard-chamber, where the guards were standing in their ranks, with their muskets upon their shoulders, and snoring as loud as they could. After that he went through several rooms full of gentlemen and ladies, all asleep, some standing, others sitting. At last he came into a chamber all gilded with gold, where he saw, upon a bed, the curtains of which were all open, the finest sight was ever beheld: a Princess, who appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years of age, and whose bright, and in a manner resplendent beauty, had somewhat in it divine. He approached with trembling and admiration, and fell down before her upon his knees.

それから王子は大理石を敷いた中庭を横切り、階段を上って衛兵の間に入った。そこでは衛兵たちが、マスケット銃を肩にかついで列をなして立ち、力いっぱいいびきをかいていた。そのあと王子は、みな眠っている紳士や貴婦人でいっぱいの部屋をいくつも通り抜けた。立っている者もいれば、座っている者もいた。とうとう王子は、一面に金を張った部屋に入った。そこで王子は、帳をすっかり開け放った寝台の上に、これまで見たこともないほど美しい眺めを見た。十五、六歳ほどに見える姫で、そのまばゆい、いわば光り輝くような美しさには、どこか神々しいところがあった。王子は震えながら、感嘆して近づき、姫の前にひざまずいた。

And now, as the inchantment was at an end, the Princess awaked, and looking on him with eyes more tender than the first view might seem to admit of: "Is it you, my Prince," said she to him, "you have tarried long."

そしてこのとき魔法が解けたので、姫は目を覚まし、ひと目見ただけとは思えないほどやさしいまなざしで王子を見つめ、言った。「あなたなのね、わたしの王子さま。ずいぶんお待たせになったのね」

The Prince, charmed with these words, and much more with the manner in which they were spoken, knew not how to shew his joy and gratitude; he assured her, that he loved her better than he did himself; his discourse was not well connected, but it pleased her all the more; little eloquence, a great deal of love. He was more at a loss than she, and we need not wonder at it; she had time to think on what to say to him; for it is very probable (though history mentions nothing of it) that the good Fairy, during so long a sleep, had entertained her with pleasant dreams. In short, when they talked four hours together, they said not half what they had to say.

王子はこの言葉に、そしてそれ以上にその言い方に心を奪われ、喜びと感謝をどう表してよいかわからなかった。王子は、自分自身よりもあなたを愛していますと姫に誓った。その話はあまりつじつまが合っていなかったが、それがかえって姫を喜ばせた。言葉少なで、愛はたっぷり。王子のほうが姫よりもずっとまごついていたが、それも無理はない。姫には何を話すか考える時間があったのである。というのも(物語は何も伝えていないが)、善い妖精がこの長い眠りのあいだ、楽しい夢を見せて姫をなぐさめていたことは大いにありそうだからである。要するに、二人は四時間も話し合ったのに、言いたいことの半分も言っていなかった。

In the mean while, all the palace awaked; every one thought upon their particular business; and as all of them were not in love, they were ready to die for hunger; the chief lady of honour, being as sharp set as other folks, grew very impatient, and told the Princess aloud, That supper was served up. The Prince helped the Princess to rise, she was entirely dressed, and very magnificently, but his Royal Highness took care not to tell her that she was dressed like his great grand-mother, and had a point-band peeping over a high collar; she looked not a bit the less beautiful and charming for all that.

そうしているあいだに、宮殿じゅうが目を覚ました。誰もが自分の仕事を思い出した。そしてみなが恋をしているわけではなかったので、腹が減って死にそうであった。筆頭の女官も、ほかの者たちと同じくらい腹をすかせていたので、たまらなくなって、お夕食の用意ができましたと大きな声で姫に告げた。王子は姫が起き上がるのに手を貸した。姫はすっかり身支度を整えていて、たいそう豪華な装いであったが、王子は、姫の装いが自分の曾祖母のようで、高い襟の上からレースの襟飾りがのぞいているとは、気をつけて口にしなかった。そんなことで姫の美しさと魅力が少しも損なわれはしなかった。

They went into the great hall of looking-glasses, where they supped, and were served by the Princess's officers; the violins and hautboys played old tunes, but very excellent, tho' it was now above a hundred years since they had been played; and after supper, without losing any time, the lord almoner married them in the chapel of the castle, and the chief lady of honour drew the curtains. They had but very little sleep; the Princess had no occasion, and the Prince left her next morning to return into the city, where his father must needs have been anxious on his account. The Prince told him that he lost his way in the forest, as he was hunting, and that he had lain at the cottage of a collier, who gave him cheese and brown bread.

二人は大きな鏡の間へ行き、そこで夕食をとり、姫の役人たちが給仕をした。ヴァイオリンとオーボエが古い曲を奏でた。曲は古くても実にすばらしく、演奏されなくなってからもう百年以上にもなるのであった。夕食のあと、時をおかずに、筆頭の施物係が城の礼拝堂で二人を結婚させ、筆頭の女官が寝台の帳を引いた。二人はほとんど眠らなかった。姫には眠る必要がなかったのである。王子は翌朝姫のもとを去って都へ戻った。父王がきっと自分の身を案じているに違いなかったからである。王子は父に、狩りの途中で森で道に迷い、炭焼きの小屋に泊めてもらって、チーズと黒パンをごちそうになったと話した。

The King his father, who was of an easy disposition, believed him; but his mother could not be persuaded this was true; and seeing that he went almost every day a-hunting, and that he always had some excuse ready when he had laid out three or four nights together, she no longer doubted he had some little amour, for he lived with the Princess above two whole years, and had by her two children, the eldest of which, who was a daughter, was named Aurora, and the youngest, who was a son, they called Day, because he was even handsomer and more beautiful than his sister.

父王は気のいい人だったのでそれを信じたが、母の王妃はどうしてもそれが本当だとは思えなかった。そして、息子がほとんど毎日狩りに出かけ、三晩も四晩も続けて家をあけたときには、いつも何かしら言い訳を用意しているのを見て、何かちょっとした恋の相手がいるに違いないともはや疑わなかった。実際、王子は姫とまる二年以上いっしょに暮らし、姫とのあいだに二人の子どもをもうけた。上は娘でオーロールと名づけられ、下は息子で、姉よりもさらに器量がよく美しかったので、ジュール(昼)と呼ばれた。

The Queen said more than once to her son, in order to bring him to speak freely to her, that a young man must e'en take his pleasure; but he never dared to trust her with his secret; he feared her, tho' he loved her; for she was of the race of the Ogres, and the King would never have married her, had it not been for her vast riches; it was even whispered about the court, that she had Ogreish inclinations, and that, whenever she saw little children passing by, she had all the difficulty in the world to refrain from falling upon them. And so the Prince would never tell her one word.

王妃は、息子に打ち明け話をさせようと、若い男は楽しみを求めるのが当たり前だと何度も言った。けれども王子は決して母に秘密を明かそうとはしなかった。王子は母を愛してはいたが、恐れてもいたのである。王妃は人食い鬼の一族の出で、王は王妃の莫大な財産がなければ決して結婚しなかったであろう。宮廷では、王妃には人食い鬼の性分があって、小さな子どもが通りかかるのを見るたびに、飛びかかりたいのを抑えるのにひどく苦労しているのだという噂さえささやかれていた。だから王子は母に一言も話そうとしなかったのである。

But when the King was dead, which happened about two years afterwards; and he saw himself lord and master, he openly declared his marriage; and he went in great ceremony to fetch his Queen from the castle. They made a magnificent entry into the capital city, she riding between her two children.

けれども、それから二年ほどして王が亡くなり、自分が国の主となると、王子は結婚を公に明らかにし、盛大な儀式を整えて、王妃となった姫を城から迎えに行った。一行は都へ華やかに入城し、姫は二人の子どもにはさまれて馬に乗っていた。

Some time after, the King went to make war with the Emperor Cantalabutte, his neighbour. He left the government of the kingdom to the Queen his mother, and earnestly recommended to her care his wife and children. He was like to be at war all the summer, and as soon as he departed, the Queen-mother sent her daughter-in-law and her children to a country-house among the woods, that she might with the more ease gratify her horrible longing.

しばらくして、王は隣国の皇帝カンタラビュットと戦をしに出かけた。王は王国の政を母の王妃にまかせ、妻と子どものことをくれぐれも頼んだ。王は夏じゅう戦に出ていることになりそうだったが、王が出発するとすぐに、母の王妃は、恐ろしい欲望をいっそう思うままに満たせるように、義理の娘と子どもたちを森のなかの田舎の屋敷へ送った。

Some few days afterwards she went thither herself, and said to her clerk of the kitchen:

数日後、王妃は自分もそこへ出かけていき、料理番の頭にこう言った。

"I have a mind to eat little Aurora for my dinner to morrow."

「明日の昼食に、小さなオーロールを食べたいのだけれど」

"Ah! Madam," cried the clerk of the kitchen.

「ああ、お妃さま!」と料理番の頭は叫んだ。

"I will have it so," replied the Queen (and this she spake in the tone of an Ogress, who had a strong desire to eat fresh meat), "and will eat her with a Sauce Robert."[2]

「そうしたいのです」と王妃は答えた(しかも、新鮮な肉が食べたくてたまらない人食い鬼の女の声でそう言ったのである)。「ロベール・ソースで食べましょう」[2]

[Footnote 2: This is a French sauce, made with onions shredded and boiled tender in butter, to which is added vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and a little wine. [Note by the translator.]]

[脚注 2: フランスのソース。刻んだ玉ねぎをバターでやわらかく煮て、酢、からし、塩、胡椒、少量の葡萄酒を加えて作る。(訳者注)]

The poor man knowing very well that he must not play tricks with Ogresses, took his great knife and went up into little Aurora's chamber. She was then four years old, and came up to him jumping and laughing, to take him about the neck, and ask him for some sugar-candy. Upon which he began to weep, the great knife fell out of his hand, and he went into the back-yard, and killed a little lamb, and dressed it with such good sauce, that his mistress assured him she had never eaten anything so good in her life. He had at the same time taken up little Aurora, and carried her to his wife, to conceal her in the lodging he had at the end of the court yard.

気の毒な男は、人食い鬼の女にごまかしなどきかないことをよく知っていたので、大きな包丁を手に、小さなオーロールの部屋へ上がっていった。オーロールはそのとき四つで、跳ねたり笑ったりしながら駆け寄ってきて、男の首に抱きつき、砂糖菓子をねだった。それを見て男は泣き出し、大きな包丁が手から落ちた。男は裏庭へ行って子羊を一頭殺し、たいそうおいしいソースで料理したので、女主人はこれほどおいしいものは生まれて初めて食べたと言った。男は同時に小さなオーロールを連れ出し、中庭のはずれにある自分の住まいに隠しておくよう、妻にあずけた。

About eight days afterwards, the wicked Queen said to the clerk of the kitchen:

八日ほどたって、悪い王妃は料理番の頭に言った。

"I will sup upon little Day."

「今夜の夕食には小さなジュールを食べましょう」

He answered not a word, being resolved to cheat her, as he had done before. He went to find out little Day, and saw him with a little foil in his hand, with which he was fencing with a great monkey; the child being then only three years of age. He took him up in his arms, and carried him to his wife, that she might conceal him in her chamber along with his sister, and in the room of little Day cooked up a young kid very tender, which the Ogress found to be wonderfully good.

男は一言も答えず、前と同じようにだましてやろうと心に決めた。小さなジュールを探しに行くと、ジュールは小さな練習用の剣を手に、大きな猿と剣の稽古をしていた。ジュールはそのときまだ三つであった。男はジュールを腕に抱き上げて妻のところへ連れていき、姉といっしょに自分の部屋に隠させた。そして小さなジュールの代わりに、とてもやわらかい子山羊を料理すると、人食い鬼の女はそれをすばらしくおいしいと思った。

This was hitherto all mighty well: but one evening this wicked Queen said to her clerk of the kitchen:

ここまではすべて上々であった。ところがある晩、この悪い王妃は料理番の頭に言った。

"I will eat the Queen with the same sauce I had with her children."

「子どもたちと同じソースで、若い王妃を食べましょう」

It was now that the poor clerk of the kitchen despaired of being able to deceive her. The young Queen was turned of twenty, not reckoning the hundred years she had been asleep: her skin was somewhat tough, tho' very fair and white; and how to find in the yard a beast so firm, was what puzzled him. He took then a resolution, that he might save his own life, to cut the Queen's throat; and going up into her chamber, with intent to do it at once, he put himself into as great a fury as he could possibly, and came into the young Queen's room with his dagger in his hand. He would not, however, surprise her, but told her, with a great deal of respect, the orders he had received from the Queen-mother.

気の毒な料理番の頭は、今度こそもうだませないと絶望した。若い王妃は、眠っていた百年を数えなければ二十歳を過ぎていた。肌はたいそう色白でなめらかではあったが、いくらか固かった。それほど身の締まった獣を庭で見つけるにはどうしたらよいか、男は途方に暮れた。そこで男は自分の命を救うために、若い王妃の喉をかき切る決心をした。そしてすぐにやってしまおうと部屋へ上がっていき、できるかぎり自分を怒り狂わせて、短剣を手に若い王妃の部屋へ入っていった。けれども不意打ちにする気にはなれず、たいそううやうやしく、母の王妃から受けた命令を若い王妃に告げた。

"Do it, do it," said she stretching out her neck, "execute your orders, and then I shall go and see my children, my poor children, whom I so much and so tenderly loved," for she thought them dead ever since they had been taken away without her knowledge.

「おやりなさい、おやりなさい」と若い王妃は首を差し出しながら言った。「命令を果たしなさい。そうすればわたしは子どもたちに会いに行けます。あんなに深く、あんなにやさしく愛した、かわいそうなわたしの子どもたちに」。若い王妃は、自分の知らないうちに子どもたちが連れ去られてから、二人は死んだものと思っていたのである。

"No, no, Madam," cried the poor clerk of the kitchen, all in tears, "you shall not die, and yet you shall see your children again; but it must be in my lodgings, where I have concealed them, and I shall deceive the Queen once more, by giving her in your stead a young hind."

「いいえ、いいえ、お妃さま」と気の毒な料理番の頭は涙にくれて叫んだ。「あなたは死にません。そしてお子さまたちにもまた会えます。けれどもそれはわたしの住まいでです。お子さまたちはそこに隠してあるのです。そしてお妃さまの代わりに若い雌鹿を差し出して、もう一度あの王妃さまをだましてやります」

Upon this he forthwith conducted her to his chamber; where leaving her to embrace her children, and cry along with them, he went and dressed a hind, which the Queen had for her supper, and devoured it with the same appetite, as if it had been the young Queen. Exceedingly was she delighted with her cruelty, and she had invented a story to tell the King, at his return, how ravenous wolves had eaten up the Queen his wife, and her two children.

そう言うと男はすぐに若い王妃を自分の部屋へ案内し、子どもたちを抱きしめていっしょに泣くにまかせて、自分は雌鹿を料理しに行った。王妃はそれを夕食に食べ、若い王妃を食べるのと同じ食欲でむさぼった。王妃は自分の残酷さにこの上なく満足し、王が戻ってきたら、飢えた狼どもがお妃と二人の子どもを食べてしまったと話そうと、作り話をこしらえておいた。

One evening, as she was, according to her custom, rambling round about the courts and yards of the palace, to see if she could smell any fresh meat, she heard, in a ground-room little Day crying, for his mamma was going to whip him, because he had been naughty; and she heard, at the same time, little Aurora begging pardon for her brother.

ある晩、いつものように宮殿の中庭や裏庭を歩きまわって、新鮮な肉のにおいがしないか嗅ぎまわっていると、王妃は、一階の部屋で小さなジュールが泣いているのを耳にした。いたずらをしたので、お母さまにお尻をぶたれそうになっていたのである。同時に、小さなオーロールが弟を許してやってと頼んでいるのも聞こえた。

The Ogress presently knew the voice of the Queen and her children, and being quite mad that she had been thus deceived, she commanded next morning, by break of day (with a most horrible voice, which made every body tremble) that they should bring into the middle of the great court a large tub, which she caused to be filled with toads, vipers, snakes, and all sorts of serpents, in order to have thrown into it the Queen and her children, the clerk of the kitchen, his wife and maid; all whom she had given orders should be brought thither with their hands tied behind them.

人食い鬼の女はすぐに若い王妃と子どもたちの声だとわかった。こうしてだまされていたことにすっかり逆上した王妃は、翌朝夜が明けるとすぐに(誰もが震え上がるような、実に恐ろしい声で)、大きな中庭の真ん中に大きな桶を運んでこさせ、その桶を、ひきがえるやまむしや蛇や、ありとあらゆる毒蛇でいっぱいにさせた。そこへ若い王妃と子どもたち、料理番の頭とその妻と女中を投げ込ませるつもりであった。王妃はこの者たちをみな、後ろ手に縛ってそこへ連れてくるよう命じておいた。

They were brought out accordingly, and the executioners were just going to throw them into the tub, when the King (who was not so soon expected) entered the court on horse-back (for he came post) and asked, with the utmost astonishment, what was the meaning of that horrible spectacle? No one dared to tell him; when the Ogress, all inraged to see what had happened, threw herself head-foremost into the tub, and was instantly devoured by the ugly creatures she had ordered to be thrown into it for others. The King could not but be very sorry, for she was his mother; but he soon comforted himself with his beautiful wife, and his pretty children.

一同は命じられたとおりに連れてこられ、首切り役人たちがまさに桶のなかへ投げ込もうとしたそのとき、王が(こんなに早く戻るとは思われていなかった)馬に乗って中庭に入ってきて(早馬を乗り継いで来たのである)、この恐ろしい光景はいったい何事かと、たいそう驚いて尋ねた。誰もあえて答えようとしなかった。すると人食い鬼の女は、事の成り行きを見て激昂し、頭から桶に身を投げ、ほかの者たちのために入れさせた醜い生きものたちに、たちまち食い尽くされてしまった。王は、母親だったので悲しまずにはいられなかったが、美しい妻と可愛い子どもたちに、まもなく慰められた。

The Moral

教訓

To get as prize a husband rich and gay. Of humour sweet, with many years to stay, Is natural enough, 'tis true; To wait for him a hundred years, And all that while asleep, appears A thing entirely new. Now at this time of day, Not one of all the sex we see Doth sleep with such profound tranquillity: But yet this Fable seems to let us know That very often Hymen's blisses sweet, Altho' some tedious obstacles they meet, Are not less happy for approaching slow. 'Tis nature's way that ladies fair Should yearn conjugal joys to share; And so I've not the heart to preach A moral that's beyond their reach.

気立てのやさしい、長く連れ添える、裕福で陽気な夫を褒美として手に入れたいと思うのは、たしかにごく自然なこと。けれども、その夫を百年も、そのあいだずっと眠ったまま待つというのは、まったく新しいことに思える。いまどきは、女性のうちの誰ひとりとして、これほど深い安らかさで眠る人は見当たらない。けれどもこの寓話は、ハイメンの甘い喜びは、たとえ退屈な障りに出会っても、ゆっくり近づくからといって幸せが少しも減らないことが多いと教えてくれるようだ。美しいご婦人がたが夫婦の喜びを分かち合いたいと願うのは自然のならい。だからわたしは、とても手の届かない教訓を説く気にはなれないのである。