Cinderilla; Or, the Little Glass Slipper

Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former husband, two daughters of her own humour and they were indeed exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother, who was the best creature in the world.

むかし、ある紳士が、二度目の妻として、これまで見たこともないほど高慢で気位の高い女をめとった。この女には前の夫とのあいだにできた、自分とそっくりの気性の娘が二人いて、何から何まで母親に生き写しであった。紳士のほうにも、前の妻とのあいだにできた若い娘が一人いたが、この娘は類のないほど善良でやさしい気立てで、それは世にも心のよい人であった母親から受け継いだものであった。

No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over, but the stepmother began to shew herself in her colours. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl; and the less, because they made her own daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work of the house; she scoured the dishes, tables, &c. and rubbed Madam's chamber, and those of Misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret, upon a wretched straw-bed, while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid, upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where they had looking-glasses so large, that they might see themselves at their full length, from head to foot.

婚礼の儀式が終わるやいなや、継母は本性を現しはじめた。この愛らしい娘のよいところが我慢ならず、ましてそのために自分の娘たちがいっそう憎らしく見えるとなればなおさらであった。継母は娘に家でいちばん卑しい仕事をさせた。娘は皿や食卓などを磨き、奥さまの部屋やお嬢さまたちの部屋を拭き掃除した。娘はみすぼらしい屋根裏の粗末な藁布団で寝たが、姉たちは床に寄木細工を施した立派な部屋で、最新流行の寝台に休み、頭から足の先まで全身を映せるほど大きな姿見を持っていた。

The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her father, who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him intirely. When she had done her work, she used to go into the chimney-corner, and sit down among cinders and ashes, which made her commonly be called Cinder-breech; but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderilla. However, Cinderilla, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters, tho' they were always dressed very richly.

気の毒な娘は何もかもじっと辛抱し、父親に訴えることもできなかった。父親はすっかり妻の言いなりだったので、訴えたところで娘を叱りつけただけであったろう。仕事を終えると、娘はいつも暖炉の隅へ行って灰や燃えがらのなかに座り込んだので、ふだんは「灰っ尻」と呼ばれていた。けれども下の姉は、上の姉ほど乱暴で無作法ではなかったので、娘を「シンデレラ」と呼んだ。とはいえシンデレラは、みすぼらしい身なりをしていても、いつもたいそう着飾っている姉たちより百倍も美しかった。

It happened that the King's son gave a ball, and invited all persons of fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited; for they cut a very grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in chusing out such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes as might best become them. This was a new trouble to Cinderilla; for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen, and plaited their ruffles; they talked all day long of nothing but how they should be dressed. "For my part," said the eldest, "I will wear my red velvet suit, with French trimming." "And I," said the youngest, "shall only have my usual petticoat; but then, to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered manteau, and my diamond stomacher, which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world." They sent for the best tire-woman they could get, to make up their head-dresses, and adjust their double-pinners,[3] and they had their red brushes, and patches from the fashionable maker.

あるとき、王子が舞踏会を開き、身分のある人々をみな招いた。わが家のお嬢さまたちも招かれた。二人は上流の人々のあいだでたいそう羽振りがよかったからである。二人はこの招待に大喜びし、自分たちにいちばん似合いそうな長衣やペチコートや頭飾りを選ぶのにたいそう忙しかった。これはシンデレラにとって新しい苦労の種であった。姉たちの肌着に火のしをあて、ひだ飾りを折るのは彼女だったからである。二人は一日じゅう、どんな装いをするかという話ばかりしていた。「わたしはね」と上の姉は言った。「フランス風の縁取りをした赤いビロードの服を着るわ」。「わたしは」と下の姉は言った。「いつものペチコートにするしかないけれど、その埋め合わせに、金の花模様のマントを羽織って、ダイヤモンドの胸飾りをつけるわ。あれはそこらにあるありきたりの品とはわけが違うもの」。二人は手に入るかぎり最高の髪結い女を呼んで頭飾りをこしらえさせ、二段のピナー[3]を整えさせ、流行の店から紅刷毛とつけぼくろを取り寄せた。

[Footnote 3: 'Pinners' were coifs with two long side-flaps pinned on. 'Double-pinners'--with two side-flaps on each side--accurately translates the French cornettes à deux rangs.]

[脚注 3: 「ピナー」は、両脇に長い垂れ布をピンで留めた頭巾。「二段のピナー」——左右それぞれに垂れ布が二枚ずつあるもの——は、フランス語の cornettes à deux rangs を正確に訳している。]

Cinderilla was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these matters, for she had excellent notions, and advised them always for the best, nay and offered her service to dress their heads, which they were very willing she should do. As she was doing this, they said to her:

シンデレラもこうしたことすべてについて相談するために呼ばれた。彼女はすばらしい趣味を持っていて、いつもいちばんよいように助言し、そのうえ頭飾りを整える手伝いまで申し出たので、姉たちは喜んでそうさせた。シンデレラが髪を結っていると、姉たちは言った。

"Cinderilla, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"

「シンデレラ、あなたも舞踏会に行けたら嬉しいでしょう?」

"Ah!" said she, "you only jeer at me; it is not for such as I am to go thither."

「まあ」と彼女は言った。「からかっていらっしゃるのね。わたしのような者が行くところではありませんわ」

"Thou art in the right of it," replied they, "it would make the people laugh to see a Cinder-breech at a ball."

「そのとおりよ」と姉たちは答えた。「灰っ尻が舞踏会に出たら、みんな大笑いするでしょうね」

Any one but Cinderilla would have dressed their heads awry, but she was very good, and dressed them perfectly well. They were almost two days without eating, so much they were transported with joy; they broke above a dozen of laces in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a fine slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass. At last the happy day came; they went to Court, and Cinderilla followed them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them she fell a-crying.

シンデレラでなければ、姉たちの頭をわざとゆがんで結ったことであろう。けれども彼女はたいそう心がよかったので、完璧に結ってやった。姉たちは嬉しさのあまり二日近くも食事をとらず、細くすらりとした姿に見せようと体をきつく締め上げて、紐を十二本以上も切ってしまい、ひっきりなしに鏡の前にいた。とうとう待ちに待った日がやって来た。二人は宮廷へ出かけ、シンデレラはできるかぎり長く目で二人を見送ったが、姿が見えなくなると泣き出してしまった。

Her godmother, who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter.

シンデレラが泣きぬれているのを見た名付け親が、どうしたのかと尋ねた。

"I wish I could----, I wish I could--;" she was not able to speak the rest, being interrupted by her tears and sobbing.

「わたしも行けたら——、わたしも行けたら——」。涙としゃくりあげる声にさえぎられて、その先は言えなかった。

This godmother of hers, who was a Fairy, said to her:

この名付け親は妖精だったので、シンデレラに言った。

"Thou wishest thou couldest go to the ball, is it not so?"

「おまえは舞踏会に行けたらいいと思っているのだね、そうだろう?」

"Y--es," cried Cinderilla, with a great sigh.

「は、はい」とシンデレラは大きなため息をついて叫んだ。

"Well," said her godmother, "be but a good girl, and I will contrive that thou shalt go." Then she took her into her chamber, and said to her:

「よろしい」と名付け親は言った。「よい子にしていさえすれば、行けるようにしてあげよう」。それから名付け親はシンデレラを自分の部屋へ連れていき、こう言った。

"Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin."

「庭へ走っていって、かぼちゃを一つ取っておいで」

Cinderilla went immediately to gather the finest she could get, and brought it to her godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could make her go to the ball. Her godmother scooped out all the inside of it, leaving nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with her wand, and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach, gilded all over with gold.

シンデレラはすぐに行って、いちばん立派なかぼちゃを摘み、名付け親のところへ持ってきたが、このかぼちゃでどうして舞踏会へ行けるのか見当もつかなかった。名付け親はかぼちゃの中身をすっかりくり抜いて皮だけを残し、それが済むと杖で打った。するとかぼちゃはたちまち、全体に金を施した立派な馬車に変わった。

She then went to look into her mouse-trap, where she found six mice all alive, and ordered Cinderilla to lift up a little the trap-door, when giving each mouse, as it went out, a little tap with her wand, the mouse was at that moment turned into a fair horse, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-coloured dapple-grey.

それから名付け親はねずみ捕りを見に行き、中に生きたねずみが六匹いるのを見つけると、シンデレラに落とし戸を少し持ち上げるように言いつけた。そして、ねずみが一匹ずつ出てくるたびに杖で軽くたたくと、ねずみはその瞬間に立派な馬に変わり、あわせて、美しいねずみ色のまだら葦毛の、それはみごとな六頭立ての馬になった。

Being at a loss for a coachman, "I will go and see," says Cinderilla, "if there be never a rat in the rat-trap, that we may make a coachman of him."

御者がいなくて困っていると、「見てきます」とシンデレラが言った。「ねずみ捕りにどぶねずみがいないかしら。いたら御者にできますもの」

"Thou art in the right," replied her godmother; "go and look."

「そのとおりだ」と名付け親は答えた。「見ておいで」

Cinderilla brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge rats. The Fairy made choice of one of the three, which had the largest beard, and, having touched him with her wand, he was turned into a fat jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld.

シンデレラが罠を持ってくると、中には大きなどぶねずみが三匹いた。妖精は三匹のうち、いちばん立派なひげを生やした一匹を選び、杖で触れると、それは太った陽気な御者に変わった。その頬ひげの粋なことといったら、誰も見たことがないほどであった。

After that, she said to her:

そのあと名付け親はシンデレラに言った。

"Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards behind the watering pot; bring them to me."

「もう一度庭へ行きなさい。じょうろの陰にとかげが六匹いるから、持っておいで」

She had no sooner done so, but her godmother turned them into six footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind it, as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The Fairy then said to Cinderilla:

シンデレラがそうするやいなや、名付け親はとかげを六人の従僕に変えた。従僕たちはすぐさま馬車の後ろに跳び乗った。そのお仕着せは金銀の飾りでいっぱいで、まるで生まれてこのかたそれ以外のことはしたことがないかのように、馬車の後ろにぴったりとつかまった。それから妖精はシンデレラに言った。

"Well, you see here an equipage fit to go to the ball with; are you not pleased with it?"

「さあ、舞踏会へ行くのにふさわしい支度ができたよ。気に入ったかい?」

"O yes," cried she, "but must I go thither as I am, in these poison nasty rags?"

「ええ、とても」と彼女は叫んだ。「でも、このひどい汚いぼろを着たまま行かなければいけないの?」

Her godmother only just touched her with her wand, and, at the same instant, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels. This done she gave her a pair of glass-slippers,[4] the prettiest in the whole world.

名付け親が杖でちょっと触れただけで、その瞬間、シンデレラの服は、宝石をちりばめた金銀の布に変わった。それが済むと、名付け親は世界でいちばん可愛らしいガラスの靴[4]を一足くれた。

[Footnote 4: In Perrault's tale: pantoufles de verre. There is no doubt that in the medieval versions of this ancient tale Cinderilla was given pantoufles de vair--i.e., of a grey, or grey and white, fur, the exact nature of which has been a matter of controversy, but which was probably a grey squirrel. Long before the seventeenth century the word vair had passed out of use, except as a heraldic term, and had ceased to convey any meaning to the people. Thus the pantoufles de vair of the fairy tale became, in the oral tradition, the homonymous pantoufles de verre, or glass slippers, a delightful improvement on the earlier version.]

[脚注 4: ペローの話では pantoufles de verre(ガラスの上靴)。この古い話の中世の形では、シンデレラが授かったのは pantoufles de vair——つまり灰色の、あるいは灰色と白の毛皮の上靴——であったことは疑いない。その毛皮の正体は議論の的になってきたが、おそらく灰色りすのものであった。十七世紀よりずっと前に vair という語は紋章の用語としてのほかは使われなくなり、人々にとって何の意味も持たなくなっていた。そのためおとぎ話の pantoufles de vair は、口伝えのうちに同じ音の pantoufles de verre、つまりガラスの靴になった。それは以前の形をしのぐ、すばらしい改良であった。]

Being thus decked out, she got up into her coach; but her godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till after midnight, telling her, at the same time, that if she stayed at the ball one moment longer, her coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they were before.

こうして着飾ると、シンデレラは馬車に乗り込んだ。けれども名付け親は何よりも、真夜中を過ぎるまでいてはいけないと言いつけ、同時に、もし舞踏会にほんの一瞬でも長くいたら、馬車はかぼちゃに、馬はねずみに、御者はどぶねずみに、従僕はとかげに戻り、服ももとどおりになってしまうと言い聞かせた。

She promised her godmother, she would not fail of leaving the ball before midnight; and then away she drove, scarce able to contain herself for joy. The King's son, who was told that a great Princess, whom nobody knew, was come, ran out to receive her; he gave her his hand as she alighted out of the coach, and led her into the hall, among all the company. There was immediately a profound silence, they left off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was every one to contemplate the singular beauty of this unknown new comer. Nothing was then heard but a confused noise of,

シンデレラは、きっと真夜中前に舞踏会を出ますと名付け親に約束した。そして嬉しくてたまらない気持ちで馬車を走らせていった。誰も知らない偉いお姫さまがいらしたと聞かされた王子は、迎えに駆け出してきた。王子は馬車から降りるシンデレラに手を差しのべ、広間の人々のあいだへ導いた。すると、たちまち深い静けさが広がった。人々は踊るのをやめ、ヴァイオリンも鳴りやんだ。誰もがこの見知らぬ新しい客のたぐいまれな美しさに見入っていたのである。聞こえるのは、ざわざわとした声ばかりであった。

"Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how handsome she is!"

「まあ、なんて美しい方!まあ、なんて美しい方!」

The King himself, old as he was, could not help ogling her, and telling the Queen softly, "that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature." All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and head-dress, that they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided they could meet with such fine materials, and as able hands to make them.

王さまご自身も、あのお年でありながら、シンデレラに見とれずにはいられず、「こんなに美しく愛らしい人を見たのは久しぶりだ」と王妃にそっとささやいた。貴婦人たちはみな、シンデレラの服と頭飾りをじっくり眺めるのに忙しかった。同じくらい上等な布地と腕のいい職人が見つかりさえすれば、翌日には同じ型のものを作らせようというのである。

The King's son conducted her to the most honourable seat, and afterwards took her out to dance with him: she danced so very gracefully, that they all more and more admired her. A fine collation was served up, whereof the young Prince ate not a morsel, so intently was he busied in gazing on her. She went and sat down by her sisters, shewing them a thousand civilities, giving them part of the oranges and citrons which the Prince had presented her with; which very much surprised them, for they did not know her.

王子はシンデレラをいちばんの上座に案内し、そのあと踊りに誘った。シンデレラがあまりに優雅に踊ったので、人々はますます感心した。見事な軽食が出されたが、若い王子は一口も食べなかった。シンデレラに見とれるのに夢中だったからである。シンデレラは姉たちのそばへ行って腰を下ろし、千もの心遣いを示して、王子から贈られたオレンジやシトロンを分けてやった。姉たちはシンデレラだとは気づかなかったので、たいそう驚いた。

While Cinderilla was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strike eleven and three quarters, whereupon she immediately made a curtesy to the company, and hasted away as fast as she could.

シンデレラがこうして姉たちをもてなしていると、時計が十一時四十五分を打つのが聞こえた。シンデレラはすぐに一同にお辞儀をして、できるかぎり急いで帰っていった。

Being got home, she ran to seek out her godmother, and after having thanked her, she said, "she could not but heartily wish she might go next day to the ball, because the King's son had desired her." As she was eagerly telling her godmother whatever had passed at the ball, her two sisters knocked at the door which Cinderilla ran and opened.

家に帰り着くと、シンデレラは名付け親を探しに走り、礼を言ったあとで、「明日の舞踏会にもぜひ行きたい、王子さまに来てほしいと言われたから」と言った。シンデレラが舞踏会のことを夢中で名付け親に話していると、二人の姉が戸をたたいたので、シンデレラは走っていって開けた。

"How long you have stayed," cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes, and stretching herself as if she had been just awaked out of her sleep; she had not, however, any manner of inclination to sleep since they went from home.

「ずいぶん遅かったのね」と彼女はあくびをし、目をこすり、いま目を覚ましたばかりのように伸びをしながら叫んだ。けれども姉たちが出かけてから、眠気などまったく感じていなかったのである。

"If thou hadst been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "thou wouldst not have been tired with it; there came thither the finest Princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes; she shewed us a thousand civilities, and gave us oranges and citrons." Cinderilla was transported with joy; she asked them the name of that Princess; but they told her they did not know it; and that the King's son was very anxious to learn it, and would give all the world to know who she was. At this Cinderilla, smiling, replied:

「あなたも舞踏会に来ていたら」と姉の一人が言った。「退屈なんかしなかったでしょうよ。とてもすてきなお姫さまが来たのよ。この世の人の目で見たこともないほど美しい方。わたしたちに千もの心遣いをしてくださって、オレンジやシトロンをくださったの」。シンデレラは嬉しくてたまらなかった。そのお姫さまの名前を尋ねたが、姉たちは知らないと答え、王子さまがたいそう知りたがっていて、あの人が誰なのかを知るためなら何でも差し出すだろうと言った。これを聞いてシンデレラはほほえみ、こう答えた。

"She must then be very beautiful indeed; Lord! how happy have you been; could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte, do lend me your yellow suit of cloaths which you wear every day!"

「それならほんとうにお美しい方なのね。まあ、お姉さまたちはなんてお幸せなんでしょう。わたしも見られないかしら。ねえ、シャルロットお姉さま、ふだん着ていらっしゃる黄色いお洋服を貸してくださらない?」

"Ay, to be sure!" cried Miss Charlotte, "lend my cloaths to such a dirty Cinder-breech as thou art; who's the fool then?"

「ええ、もちろんよ!」とシャルロットは叫んだ。「あなたみたいな汚い灰っ尻にわたしの服を貸すなんて。そんなことをしたら、どっちがばかかしら」

Cinderilla, indeed, expected some such answer, and was very glad of the refusal; for she would have been sadly put to it, if her sister had lent her what she asked for jestingly.

シンデレラはもちろんそんな答えを予期していて、断られたのをたいそう喜んだ。冗談で頼んだものを本当に貸されたら、ひどく困ったことになっただろうからである。

The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderilla, but dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was always by her, and never ceased his compliments and amorous speeches to her; to whom all this was so far from being tiresome, that she quite forgot what her godmother had recommended to her, so that she, at last, counted the clock striking twelve, when she took it to be no more than eleven; she then rose up, and fled as nimble as a deer.

翌日、二人の姉は舞踏会に行き、シンデレラも行ったが、前の日よりもっと豪華に着飾っていた。王子はずっとシンデレラのそばを離れず、ほめ言葉と恋のささやきを絶やさなかった。シンデレラはそれが少しも退屈ではなく、名付け親に言いつけられたことをすっかり忘れてしまった。そのためとうとう、まだ十一時だと思っていたのに、時計が十二時を打つのを数えることになった。シンデレラは立ち上がり、鹿のように身軽に逃げ去った。

The Prince followed, but could not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the Prince took up most carefully. She got home, but quite out of breath, without coach or footmen, and in her nasty old cloaths, having nothing left her of all her finery, but one of the little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a Princess go out; who said, they had seen nobody go out, but a young girl, very meanly dressed, and who had more the air of a poor country wench, than a gentle-woman.

王子はあとを追ったが、追いつけなかった。シンデレラはガラスの靴を片方置き忘れ、王子はそれをたいそう大事に拾い上げた。シンデレラは家にたどり着いたが、すっかり息を切らし、馬車も従僕もなく、汚い古着姿で、あの晴れ着のうち残ったものといえば、落とした靴の片割れだけであった。宮殿の門の衛兵たちは、お姫さまが出ていくのを見なかったかと尋ねられたが、誰も出ていくのは見なかった、ただひどくみすぼらしい身なりの若い娘が一人出ていった、貴婦人というより貧しい田舎娘のような様子だった、と答えた。

When the two sisters returned from the ball, Cinderilla asked them if they had been well diverted, and if the fine lady had been there. They told her, Yes, but that she hurried away immediately when it struck twelve, and with so much haste, that she dropped one of her little glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, and which the King's son had taken up; that he had done nothing but look at it during all the latter part of the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the little slipper.

二人の姉が舞踏会から帰ってくると、シンデレラは、楽しかったか、あのきれいな方は来ていたかと尋ねた。姉たちは、来ていたわ、でも十二時が鳴るとすぐに急いで帰ってしまって、あまり慌てていたので可愛らしいガラスの靴を片方落としていった、世界でいちばん可愛らしい靴で、王子さまがそれを拾い上げたのよ、と答えた。そして王子さまは舞踏会の残りのあいだずっとその靴ばかり見ていらした、きっとあの靴の持ち主の美しい方にたいそう恋していらっしゃるのよ、と言った。

What they said was very true; for a few days after, the King's son caused it to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose foot this slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it on upon the Princesses, then the duchesses, and all the Court, but in vain. It was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could to thrust their feet into the slipper, but they could not effect it.

姉たちの言ったことはまったくそのとおりであった。数日後、王子は、この靴がぴったり合う娘と結婚すると、ラッパの音とともにおふれを出させたのである。王子に遣わされた者たちは、まずお姫さまがた、それから公爵夫人がた、そして宮廷じゅうの婦人に靴を試しはじめたが、無駄であった。靴は二人の姉のところへも運ばれてきた。二人は足を靴に押し込もうとあらゆる手を尽くしたが、どうしても入らなかった。

Cinderilla, who saw all this, and knew her slipper, said to them laughing:

これをすべて見ていて、その靴が自分のものだとわかっていたシンデレラは、笑いながら姉たちに言った。

"Let me see if it will not fit me?"

「わたしにも合うかどうか、試させてくださいな」

Her sisters burst out a-laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman who was sent to try the slipper, looked earnestly at Cinderilla, and finding her very handsome, said it was but just that she should try, and that he had orders to let every one make tryal. He invited Cinderilla to sit down, and putting the slipper to her foot, he found it went on very easily, and fitted her, as if it had been made of wax. The astonishment her two sisters were in was excessively great, but still abundantly greater, when Cinderilla pulled out of her pocket the other slipper, and put it on her foot. Thereupon, in came her godmother, who having touched, with her wand, Cinderilla's cloaths, made them richer and more magnificent than any of those she had before.

姉たちはどっと笑い出し、シンデレラをからかいはじめた。靴を試しに遣わされた紳士は、シンデレラをじっと見つめ、たいそう美しいと思ったので、試させるのは当然のことだ、誰にでも試させるよう命じられているのだと言った。紳士はシンデレラを座らせ、その足に靴をあてがうと、靴はすんなりと入り、まるで蝋で型をとって作ったかのようにぴったり合った。二人の姉の驚きようはたいへんなものだったが、シンデレラがポケットからもう片方の靴を取り出して履いたときには、それをはるかに上回るほどであった。そこへ名付け親がやって来て、杖でシンデレラの服に触れると、服はそれまでのどれよりも豪華で壮麗なものになった。

And now her two sisters found her to be that fine beautiful lady whom they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet, to beg pardon for all the ill treatment they had made her undergo. Cinderilla took them up, and as she embraced them, cried that she forgave them with all her heart, and desired them always to love her.

こうして二人の姉は、シンデレラこそ舞踏会で見たあの美しい貴婦人だと知った。二人はシンデレラの足もとに身を投げ出し、これまでさんざんひどい仕打ちをしてきたことを許してほしいと願った。シンデレラは二人を抱き起こし、抱きしめながら、心から許しますと叫び、これからはいつまでも自分を愛してほしいと言った。

She was conducted to the young Prince, dressed as she was; he thought her more charming than ever, and, a few days after, married her.

シンデレラはそのままの装いで若い王子のもとへ案内された。王子はシンデレラをこれまでになく魅力的だと思い、数日後に結婚した。

Cinderilla, who was no less good than beautiful, gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace, and that very same day matched them with two great lords of the court.

シンデレラは美しいのと同じくらい心がよかったので、二人の姉を宮殿に住まわせ、その日のうちに二人を宮廷の二人の大貴族と縁組みさせた。

The Moral

教訓

Beauty's to the sex a treasure, Still admir'd beyond all measure, And never yet was any known, By still admiring, weary grown. But that rare quality call'd grace, Exceeds, by far, a handsome face; Its lasting charms surpass the other, And this rich gift her kind godmother Bestow'd on Cinderilla fair, Whom she instructed with such care. She gave to her such graceful mien, That she, thereby, became a queen. For thus (may ever truth prevail) We draw our moral from this tale. This quality, fair ladies, know Prevails much more (you'll find it so) T'ingage and captivate a heart, Than a fine head dress'd up with art. The fairies' gift of greatest worth Is grace of bearing, not high birth; Without this gift we'll miss the prize; Possession gives us wings to rise.

美しさは女にとって宝、いつまでもこの上なくもてはやされ、見とれることに飽きた者などいまだかつてない。けれども優美さと呼ばれるあのまれな資質は、美しい顔をはるかにしのぐ。その長く続く魅力はもう一方にまさり、やさしい名付け親が心をこめて教え育てたシンデレラに授けたのは、この豊かな贈り物であった。名付け親はシンデレラにたいそう優雅な物腰を与え、そのおかげで彼女は王妃となったのだ。こうして(真実がいつも勝ちますように)わたしたちはこの話から教訓を引き出す。美しいご婦人がた、よくお聞きなさい。人の心をとらえ魅了するには、この資質のほうが、技巧を凝らして結い上げた美しい髪よりずっとまさる(きっとそうとわかるだろう)。妖精たちの贈り物でいちばん値打ちのあるのは、高い生まれではなく、身のこなしの優美さ。この贈り物がなければ褒美は逃してしまう。これを持つことこそが、わたしたちに舞い上がる翼を与えるのだ。

Another

もうひとつ

A great advantage 'tis, no doubt, to man, To have wit, courage, birth, good sense, and brain, And other such-like qualities, which we Receiv'd from heaven's kind hand, and destiny. But none of these rich graces from above, To your advancement in the world will prove If godmothers and sires you disobey, Or 'gainst their strict advice too long you stay.

才気、勇気、生まれ、良識、知恵、そのほか天の恵み深い手と運命から授かったさまざまな資質を持つのは、たしかに人にとって大きな強みである。けれども、名付け親や親に背いたり、その厳しい忠告に逆らって長居しすぎたりすれば、天から授かったこうした豊かな恵みのどれひとつとして、世に出る助けにはならない。