Little Thumb

There was, once upon a time, a man and his wife, faggot-makers by trade, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven. One might wonder how that the faggot-maker could have so many children in so little a time; but it was because his wife went nimbly about her business and never brought fewer than two at a birth. They were very poor, and their seven children incommoded them greatly, because not one of them was able to earn his bread. That which gave them yet more uneasiness was, that the youngest was of a very puny constitution, and scarce ever spake a word, which made them take that for stupidity which was a sign of good sense. He was very little, and, when born, no bigger than one's thumb; which made him be called Little Thumb.

むかしむかし、柴を束ねる仕事をしている夫婦がいて、子どもが七人、みな男の子であった。いちばん上はまだ十歳で、いちばん下は七歳にすぎなかった。そんな短いあいだに柴束ね屋がどうしてそんなに大勢の子をもうけたのかと不思議に思うかもしれないが、それは妻が手際よく事を運び、一度に二人より少なく産んだことがなかったからである。夫婦はたいそう貧しく、七人の子どもは大きな重荷であった。一人として自分でパンを稼げる者がいなかったからである。さらに夫婦を悩ませたのは、いちばん下の子がひどく体が弱く、ほとんど口をきかないことであった。それは実は分別のしるしだったのに、夫婦はそれを愚かさだと思い込んでいた。この子はとても小さく、生まれたときには親指ほどの大きさしかなかったので、親指小僧と呼ばれた。

The poor child bore the blame of whatsoever was done amiss in the house, and guilty or not was always in the wrong; he was, notwithstanding, more cunning and had a far greater share of wisdom than all his brothers put together, and if he spake little he heard and thought the more.

かわいそうにこの子は、家で何か不始末があるたびにその責めを負わされ、罪があろうとなかろうと、いつも悪者にされた。けれども実のところ、この子は兄たちを全部合わせたよりも抜け目がなく、ずっと多くの知恵を持っていた。口数は少なかったが、そのぶんよく聞き、よく考えていたのである。

There happened now to come a very bad year, and the famine was so great, that these poor people resolved to rid themselves of their children. One evening, when they were all in bed and the faggot-maker was sitting with his wife at the fire, he said to her, with his heart ready to burst with grief:

そのころ、ひどい凶作の年がやって来て、飢饉があまりにひどかったので、この貧しい夫婦は子どもたちを手放そうと決めた。ある晩、子どもたちがみな床につき、柴束ね屋が妻と火のそばに座っていると、夫は悲しみで胸が張り裂けそうになりながら妻に言った。

"Thou see'st plainly that we are not able to keep our children, and I cannot see them starve to death before my face; I am resolved to lose them in the wood to-morrow, which may very easily be done; for while they are busy in tying up the faggots, we may run away, and leave them, without their taking any notice."

「おまえにもよくわかるだろうが、わしらにはもう子どもたちを養えない。目の前で子どもたちが飢え死にするのを見るのは耐えられない。明日、森で子どもたちを置き去りにしようと決めた。それはたやすくできる。子どもたちが柴を束ねるのに夢中になっているあいだに、わしらは気づかれないように逃げて置いていけばいい」

"Ah!" cried out his wife, "and can'st thou thyself have the heart to take thy children out along with thee on purpose to lose them?"

「まあ!」と妻は叫んだ。「あなたは、自分の子どもたちを置き去りにするためにわざわざ連れ出すなんて、そんなむごいことができるの?」

In vain did her husband represent to her their extreme poverty; she would not consent to it; she was, indeed poor, but she was their mother. However, having considered what a grief it would be to her to see them perish with hunger, she at last consented and went to bed all in tears.

夫がどんなに暮らしの苦しさを言い聞かせても無駄で、妻は承知しなかった。妻はたしかに貧しかったが、子どもたちの母親だったのである。けれども、子どもたちが飢えて死んでいくのを見るのがどんなにつらいかを考えると、とうとう承知して、泣きながら床についた。

Little Thumb heard every word that had been spoken; for observing, as he lay in his bed, that they were talking very busily, he had got up softly and hid himself under his father's stool, that he might hear what they said, without being seen. He went to bed again, but did not sleep a wink all the rest of the night, thinking on what he ought to do. He got up early in the morning, and went to the river side, where he filled his pockets full of small white pebbles, and then returned home. They all went abroad, but Little Thumb never told his brothers one syllable of what he knew. They went into a very thick forest, where they could not see one another at ten paces distance. The faggot-maker began to cut wood, and the children to gather up sticks to make faggots. Their father and mother seeing them busy at their work, got from them by degrees, and then ran away from them all at once, along a by-way, thro' the winding bushes.

親指小僧は、話されたことを一言残らず聞いていた。寝床で横になっていると、両親が何やら熱心に話し合っているのに気づいたので、そっと起き出して父親の腰掛けの下に隠れ、姿を見られずに話を聞いたのである。親指小僧はまた床に戻ったが、どうしたらよいかを考えて、その夜はひと晩じゅう一睡もしなかった。朝早く起きると川べりへ行き、ポケットいっぱいに小さな白い小石を詰めて家に戻った。一家はそろって出かけたが、親指小僧は自分の知っていることを兄たちに一言も話さなかった。一行はたいそう深い森に入った。十歩離れるともう互いの姿が見えないほどであった。柴束ね屋は木を切りはじめ、子どもたちは柴を束ねるための小枝を拾いはじめた。父親と母親は、子どもたちが仕事に夢中になっているのを見ると、少しずつ子どもたちから離れていき、それから曲がりくねった茂みを抜ける脇道を通って、いっせいに逃げ去った。

When the children saw they were left alone, they began to cry as loud as they could. Little Thumb let them cry on, knowing very well how to go home again; for as he came he had taken care to drop all along the way the little white pebbles he had in his pockets. Then said he to them:

取り残されたと知ると、子どもたちは声をかぎりに泣き出した。親指小僧は兄たちを泣くにまかせておいた。家に帰る道はよくわかっていたからである。来る道すがら、ポケットに入れてきた小さな白い小石を、道に沿ってずっと落としておいたのである。そこで親指小僧は兄たちに言った。

"Be not afraid, brothers, father and mother have left us here, but I will lead you home again, only follow me." They did so, and he brought them home by the very same way they came into the forest. They dared not to go in, but sat themselves down at the door, listening to what their father and mother were saying.

「こわがらないで、兄さんたち。父さんと母さんはぼくたちをここに置いていったけど、ぼくが家まで連れて帰ってあげる。ついて来さえすればいいんだ」。兄たちがそのとおりにすると、親指小僧は森へ来たのとまったく同じ道を通って、みなを家まで連れ帰った。子どもたちは中へ入る勇気がなく、戸口に座り込んで、父親と母親の話に耳をすました。

The very moment the faggot-maker and his wife were got home, the lord of the manor sent them ten crowns, which he had owed them a long while, and which they never expected. This gave them new life; for the poor people were almost famished. The faggot-maker sent his wife immediately to the butcher's. As it was a long while since they had eaten a bit, she bought thrice as much meat as would sup two people. Having filled their bellies, the woman said:

柴束ね屋とその妻が家に着いたちょうどそのとき、村の領主が、ずっと前から借りていて、夫婦がもう当てにしていなかった十エキュを送ってきた。これで夫婦は生き返った心地がした。この貧しい夫婦はほとんど飢え死にしかけていたからである。柴束ね屋はすぐに妻を肉屋へやった。長いあいだ何ひとつ口にしていなかったので、妻は二人分の夕食の三倍もの肉を買ってきた。腹いっぱい食べると、妻は言った。

"Alas! where are now our poor children? They would make a good feast of what we have left here; but then it was you, William, who had a mind to lose them; I told you we should repent of it: what are they now doing in the forest? Alas! dear God, the wolves have, perhaps, already eaten them up: thou art very inhuman thus to have lost thy children."

「ああ、かわいそうなあの子たちは、いまどこにいるのでしょう。ここに残ったものでたっぷりごちそうが食べられたでしょうに。でも、あの子たちを置き去りにしようと言い出したのはあなたですよ、ウィリアム。きっと後悔すると言ったでしょう。あの子たちはいま森で何をしているのかしら。ああ、神さま、ひょっとしたらもう狼に食べられてしまったかもしれない。子どもたちをこんなふうに置き去りにするなんて、あなたは本当にむごい人です」

The faggot-maker grew at last quite out of patience, for she repeated this above twenty times, that they should repent of it, and she was in the right of it for so saying. He threatened to beat her, if she did not hold her tongue. It was not that the faggot-maker was not, perhaps, more vexed than his wife, but that she teized him, and that he was of the humour of a great many others, who love wives who speak right, but think those very importunate who are always in the right. She was half drowned in tears, crying out:

柴束ね屋はとうとうすっかり堪忍袋の緒が切れた。妻がきっと後悔すると言ったことを二十回以上も繰り返したからで、しかも妻の言うことはもっともだったのである。夫は、黙らないならなぐるぞと妻を脅した。柴束ね屋が妻よりも悔やんでいなかったというわけではおそらくない。けれども妻がしつこく責め立てたうえ、夫は、正しいことを言う妻は好きだが、いつも正しい妻はひどくうるさいと思う、世間によくいる男たちと同じ気質だったのである。妻は涙にくれながら叫んだ。

"Alas! where are now my children, my poor children?"

「ああ、わたしの子どもたちは、かわいそうなわたしの子どもたちは、いまどこにいるの?」

She spake this so very loud, that the children who were at the door, began to cry out all together:

妻があまりに大きな声でそう言ったので、戸口にいた子どもたちはいっせいに叫びはじめた。

"Here we are, here we are."

「ここにいるよ、ここにいるよ」

She ran immediately to open the door, and said, hugging them:

妻はすぐに走っていって戸を開け、子どもたちを抱きしめながら言った。

"I am glad to see you, my dear children; you are very hungry and weary; and my poor Peter, thou art horribly bemired; come in and let me clean thee."

「よく帰ってきたね、わたしの可愛い子どもたち。さぞおなかがすいて疲れたでしょう。それにかわいそうなピーター、ひどく泥だらけじゃないの。お入り、きれいにしてあげるから」

Now, you must know, that Peter was her eldest son, whom she loved above all the rest, because he was somewhat carrotty, as she herself was. They sat down to supper, and ate with such a good appetite as pleased both father and mother, whom they acquainted how frightened they were in the forest; speaking almost always all together. The good folks were extremely glad to see their children once more at home, and this joy continued while the ten crowns lasted; but when the money was all gone, they fell again into their former uneasiness, and resolved to lose them again; and, that they might be the surer of doing it, to carry them at a much greater distance than before. They could not talk of this so secretly, but they were overheard by Little Thumb, who made account to get out of this difficulty as well as the former; but though he got up betimes in the morning, to go and pick up some little pebbles, he was disappointed; for he found the house-door double-locked, and was at a stand what to do. When their father had given each of them a piece of bread for their breakfast, he fancied he might make use of this bread instead of the pebbles, by throwing it in little bits all along the way they should pass; and so he put it up into his pocket.

ここで言っておかなければならないが、ピーターは妻のいちばん上の息子で、ほかの誰よりも可愛がられていた。妻自身と同じように、少し赤毛だったからである。一同は夕食の席につき、父親も母親も喜ぶほどの食欲で食べ、森でどんなにこわかったかを、ほとんどいつもみんないっしょにしゃべりながら両親に話した。人のよい夫婦は子どもたちがまた家に戻ってきたのをたいそう喜び、その喜びは十エキュが続くあいだは続いた。けれどもお金がすっかりなくなると、夫婦はまた前と同じ苦しみに陥り、子どもたちをもう一度置き去りにしようと決めた。そして今度こそ確実にやり遂げられるように、前よりずっと遠くへ連れていくことにした。夫婦はこの話をこっそりしたつもりだったが、やはり親指小僧に聞かれてしまった。親指小僧は前と同じようにこの窮地も切り抜けるつもりでいたが、小石を拾いに行こうと朝早く起きたのに、あてがはずれてしまった。家の戸に二重に鍵がかけられていたので、どうしてよいかわからなくなった。父親が朝食にみなに一切れずつパンを配ったとき、親指小僧は、このパンを小石の代わりに使い、通る道に沿って小さくちぎって落としていけばいいと思いつき、それをポケットにしまった。

Their father and mother brought them into the thickest and most obscure part of the forest; when, stealing away into a by-path, they there left them. Little Thumb was not very uneasy at it; for he thought he could easily find the way again, by means of his bread which he had scattered all along as he came. But he was very much surprised when he could not find so much as one crumb; the birds had come and eaten it up every bit. They were now in great affliction, for the farther they went, the more they were out of their way, and were more and more bewildered in the forest.

父親と母親は子どもたちを森のいちばん深い、いちばん暗いところへ連れていき、そこで脇道へこっそり抜けて、子どもたちを置き去りにした。親指小僧はあまり心配しなかった。来る道すがらずっとまいておいたパンを頼りに、たやすく道を見つけられると思っていたからである。けれども、パンくずが一つも見つからなかったので、たいそう驚いた。鳥がやって来て、一つ残らず食べてしまったのである。子どもたちはひどく途方に暮れた。歩けば歩くほど道からそれ、森のなかでますます迷ってしまったからである。

Night now came on, and there arose a terrible high wind, which made them dreadfully afraid. They fancied they heard on every side of them the houling of wolves coming to eat them up; they scarce dared to speak, or turn their heads. After this, it rained very hard, which wet them to the skin; their feet slipped at every step they took, and they fell into the mire, whence they got up in a very dirty pickle; their hands were in a sorry state.

やがて夜になり、ひどい大風が吹きはじめたので、子どもたちは恐ろしくてたまらなかった。四方八方から、自分たちを食べに来る狼の遠吠えが聞こえるような気がして、ろくに口をきくことも、振り向くこともできなかった。そのあと雨がひどく降ってきて、子どもたちはずぶぬれになった。一歩ごとに足が滑って泥のなかに転び、起き上がるとひどく汚れたありさまで、手もひどいことになっていた。

Little Thumb climbed up to the top of a tree, to see if he could discover any thing; and having turned his head about on every side, he saw at last a glimmering light, like that of a candle, but a long way from the forest. He came down, and, when upon the ground, he could see it no more, which grieved him sadly. However, having walked for some time with his brothers towards that side on which he had seen the light, he perceived it again as he came out of the wood.

親指小僧は、何か見えないかと木のてっぺんまで登った。四方に首をめぐらしていると、ついにろうそくのようなかすかな明かりが見えたが、森からはずいぶん遠くであった。親指小僧は木から降りたが、地面に降りるともう明かりは見えなくなってしまい、たいそうがっかりした。けれども、明かりの見えた方角へ兄たちとしばらく歩いていくと、森を出たところでまたそれが見えた。

They came at last to the house where this candle was, not without abundance of fear; for very often they lost sight of it, which happened every time they came into a bottom. They knocked at the door, and a good woman came and open'd it; she asked them what they wished.

子どもたちはとうとう、そのろうそくのともっている家にたどり着いたが、そこまでにはずいぶんこわい思いをした。窪地に入るたびに明かりを見失ったからである。子どもたちが戸をたたくと、人のよさそうな女が出てきて戸を開け、何の用かと尋ねた。

Little Thumb told her they were poor children who had been lost in the forest, and desired to lodge there for God's sake. The woman seeing them so very pretty, began to weep, and said to them:

親指小僧は、自分たちは森で迷った貧しい子どもで、どうか神さまのお慈悲でここに泊めてほしいと頼んだ。女は子どもたちがとても可愛らしいのを見て泣き出し、言った。

"Alas! poor babies, whither are ye come? Do ye know that this house belongs to a cruel Ogre, who eats up little children?"

「ああ、かわいそうな子どもたち、なんてところへ来てしまったの?この家は、小さな子どもを食べてしまう恐ろしい人食い鬼の家だって知っているの?」

"Ah! dear Madam," answered Little Thumb (who trembled every joint of him, as well as his brothers) "what shall we do? To be sure, the wolves of the forest will devour us to-night, if you refuse us to lie here; and so, we would rather the gentleman should eat us. Perhaps he will take pity on us, especially if you please to beg it of him."

「ああ、奥さま」と親指小僧は答えた(兄たちと同じように体の節々まで震えていた)。「ぼくたちはどうしたらいいでしょう。ここに泊めてもらえなければ、きっと今夜、森の狼に食べられてしまいます。それなら、だんなさまに食べられたほうがましです。ひょっとしたら、だんなさまはぼくたちをかわいそうに思ってくださるかもしれません。奥さまが頼んでくだされば、なおさらです」

The Ogre's wife, who believed she could conceal them from her husband till morning, let them come in, and brought them to warm themselves at a very good fire; for there was a whole sheep upon the spit roasting for the Ogre's supper.

人食い鬼の妻は、朝まで夫から子どもたちを隠しておけると思ったので、子どもたちを中に入れ、とても暖かい火のそばへ連れていってあたらせてやった。火の上では、人食い鬼の夕食のために羊がまるごと一頭、串に刺して焼かれていた。

As they began to be a little warm, they heard three or four great raps at the door; this was the Ogre, who was come home. Upon this she hid them under the bed, and went to open the door. The Ogre presently asked if supper was ready, and the wine drawn; and then he sat himself down to table. The sheep was as yet all raw and bloody; but he liked it the better for that. He sniffed about to the right and left, saying, "I smell fresh meat."

子どもたちが少し暖まってきたところへ、戸を三度、四度と大きくたたく音が聞こえた。人食い鬼が帰ってきたのである。妻はすぐに子どもたちを寝台の下に隠し、戸を開けに行った。人食い鬼はすぐに、夕食の支度はできたか、葡萄酒は注いであるかと尋ね、それから食卓についた。羊はまだ生焼けで血がしたたっていたが、人食い鬼にはそのほうがかえって好ましかった。人食い鬼は右や左をくんくん嗅ぎまわり、「生の肉のにおいがする」と言った。

"What you smell so," said his wife, "must be the calf which I have just now killed and flayed."

「あなたがにおうというのは」と妻は言った。「きっと、さっき殺して皮をはいだばかりの子牛ですよ」

"I smell fresh meat, I tell thee once more," replied the Ogre, looking crossly at his wife, "and there is something here which I do not understand."

「生の肉のにおいがすると、もう一度言っているのだ」と人食い鬼は妻をにらみつけて答えた。「ここには何かわしにわからないものがある」

As he spake these words, he got up from the table, and went directly to the bed.

そう言いながら人食い鬼は食卓を立ち、まっすぐ寝台のほうへ行った。

"Ah!" said he, "I see how thou would'st cheat me, thou cursed woman; I know not why I do not eat up thee too; but it is well for thee that thou art a tough old carrion. Here is good game, which comes very luckily to entertain three Ogres of my acquaintance, who are to pay me a visit in a day or two."

「はあ!」と人食い鬼は言った。「おまえがわしをだまそうとしていたのがわかったぞ、この忌々しい女め。どうしておまえまで食ってしまわないのか、自分でもわからんが、おまえが固い年寄りの屍肉なのは運がよかったな。これはいい獲物だ。一日二日のうちに訪ねてくることになっている知り合いの人食い鬼を三人、ちょうどよくもてなせるわい」

With that he dragged them out from under the bed one by one. The poor children fell upon their knees, and begged his pardon; but they had to do with one of the most cruel Ogres in the world, who, far from having any pity on them, had already devoured them with his eyes; he told his wife they would be delicate eating, when tossed up with good savoury sauce. He then took a great knife, and coming up to these poor children, whetted it upon a great whet-stone which he held in his left hand. He had already taken hold of one of them, when his wife said to him:

そう言うと人食い鬼は、子どもたちを一人ずつ寝台の下から引きずり出した。かわいそうな子どもたちはひざまずいて許しを請うたが、相手は世界でいちばん残酷な人食い鬼の一人で、子どもたちをかわいそうに思うどころか、もう目で食べてしまっていた。人食い鬼は妻に、うまいソースで和えれば、こいつらはさぞおいしいごちそうになるだろうと言った。それから大きな包丁を取り、かわいそうな子どもたちに近づきながら、左手に持った大きな砥石でそれを研いだ。人食い鬼がもう一人をつかまえていたそのとき、妻が言った。

"What need you do it now? It is time enough to-morrow?"

「どうしていまやる必要があるの?明日で十分間に合うでしょう?」

"Hold your prattling," said the Ogre, "they will eat the tenderer."

「おしゃべりはやめろ」と人食い鬼は言った。「そのほうが肉がやわらかくなるのだ」

"But you have so much meat already," replied his wife, "you have no occasion. Here is a calf, two sheep, and half a hog."

「でも、お肉はもうたくさんあるじゃありませんか」と妻は答えた。「その必要はありませんよ。子牛が一頭、羊が二頭、豚が半分もあるんですから」

"That is true," said the Ogre, "give them their belly-full, that they may not fall away, and put them to bed."

「それもそうだな」と人食い鬼は言った。「やせないように腹いっぱい食わせて、寝かせておけ」

The good woman was overjoyed at this, and gave them a good supper; but they were so much afraid, they could not eat a bit. As for the Ogre, he sat down again to drink, being highly pleased that he had got wherewithal to treat his friends. He drank a dozen glasses more than ordinary, which got up into his head, and obliged him to go to bed.

人のよい女はこれをたいそう喜び、子どもたちにたっぷり夕食を食べさせたが、子どもたちはあまりにこわくて一口も食べられなかった。人食い鬼はというと、友だちをもてなす材料が手に入ったことにすっかり気をよくして、また腰を下ろして飲みはじめた。いつもより十二杯も多く飲んだので、酒が頭にまわり、床につかざるをえなくなった。

The Ogre had seven daughters, all little children, and these young Ogresses had all of them very fine complexions, because they used to eat fresh meat like their father; but they had little grey eyes, quite round, hooked noses, wide mouths, and very long sharp teeth standing at a good distance from each other. They were not as yet over and above mischievous; but they promised very fair for it, for they already bit little children, that they might suck their blood. They had been put to bed early, with every one a crown of gold upon her head. There was in the same chamber another bed of the like bigness, and it was into this bed the Ogre's wife put the seven little boys; after which she went to bed to her husband.

人食い鬼には七人の娘がいて、みなまだ小さな子どもであった。この小さな人食い鬼娘たちは、父親と同じように生の肉を食べていたので、みなたいそう血色がよかったが、小さな灰色の目はまん丸で、鉤鼻に大きな口をしていて、とても長くとがった歯がすきまだらけに生えていた。まだそれほど性悪ではなかったが、将来はたいそう有望であった。もう小さな子どもにかみついて、その血を吸っていたのである。娘たちは早くから寝かされていて、一人ひとり頭に金の冠をかぶっていた。同じ部屋には同じくらいの大きさの寝台がもう一つあり、人食い鬼の妻が七人の小さな男の子を寝かせたのはこの寝台であった。それから妻は夫の寝台へ行って休んだ。

Little Thumb, who had observed that the Ogre's daughters had crowns of gold upon their heads, and was afraid lest the Ogre should repent his not killing them, got up about midnight; and taking his brothers' bonnets and his own, went very softly, put them upon the heads of the seven little Ogresses, after having taken off their crowns of gold, which he put upon his own head and his brothers', that the Ogre might take them for his daughters, and his daughters for the little boys whom he wanted to kill. All this succeeded according to his desire; for the Ogre waking about midnight, and sorry that he deferred to do that till morning which he might have done over-night, threw himself hastily out of bed, and taking his great knife:

親指小僧は、人食い鬼の娘たちが頭に金の冠をかぶっているのに気づいていた。そして人食い鬼が自分たちを殺さなかったことを後悔するのではないかと心配になり、真夜中ごろに起き出した。親指小僧は兄たちの帽子と自分の帽子を取ると、そっと歩いていって、七人の小さな人食い鬼娘の頭から金の冠をはずし、代わりに帽子をかぶせた。そして冠を自分と兄たちの頭にかぶせた。人食い鬼が自分たちを娘だと思い、娘たちを殺そうとしている男の子だと思い込むようにしたのである。すべては思いどおりにうまくいった。人食い鬼は真夜中ごろに目を覚まし、ゆうべのうちにやれたことを朝まで延ばしたのを悔やんで、あわてて寝台から跳び起き、大きな包丁を取ると、

"Let us see," said he, "how our little rogues do, and not make two jobs of the matter."

「さて」と言った。「小僧どもの様子を見てくるか。二度手間にならないようにな」

He then went up, groping all the way, into his daughters' chamber; and came to the bed where the little boys lay, who were every soul of them fast asleep; except Little Thumb, who was terribly afraid when he found the Ogre fumbling about his head, as he had done about his brothers'. The Ogre, feeling the golden crowns, said:

それから人食い鬼は手探りで娘たちの部屋へ上がっていき、小さな男の子たちの寝ている寝台のところへ来た。男の子たちはみなぐっすり眠っていたが、親指小僧だけは、兄たちの頭をさわったのと同じように人食い鬼が自分の頭を手探りしているのに気づいて、恐ろしくてたまらなかった。人食い鬼は金の冠にさわると言った。

"I should have made a fine piece of work of it truly; I find I guzzled too much last night."

「危うくとんでもないことをしでかすところだった。ゆうべは飲みすぎたようだ」

Then he went to the bed where the girls lay; and having found the boys' little bonnets: "Hah!" said he, "my merry lads, are you there? Let us to work!"

それから人食い鬼は娘たちの寝ている寝台へ行き、男の子の小さな帽子にさわると、「はあ!」と言った。「陽気な小僧ども、ここにいたか。さあ、仕事にかかるぞ!」

And saying these words, without more ado, he cut the throats of all his seven daughters.

そう言うなり、人食い鬼はあれこれためらいもせず、七人の娘の喉を残らずかき切ってしまった。

Well pleased with what he had done, he went to bed again to his wife. So soon as Little Thumb heard the Ogre snore, he waked his brothers, and bade them put on their clothes presently, and follow him. They stole down softly into the garden, and got over the wall. They kept running almost all night, trembling all the while, without knowing which way they went.

自分のしたことにすっかり満足した人食い鬼は、また妻のそばへ行って寝た。人食い鬼のいびきが聞こえるとすぐに、親指小僧は兄たちを起こし、急いで服を着て自分について来るように言った。子どもたちはそっと庭へ降りて塀を乗り越えた。子どもたちはどこへ向かっているのかもわからないまま、震えながら、ほとんど夜どおし走りつづけた。

The Ogre, when he waked, said to his wife:

人食い鬼は目を覚ますと、妻に言った。

"Go up stairs and dress those young rascals who came here last night."

「二階へ行って、ゆうべ来た小僧どもを料理してこい」

The Ogress was very much surprised at this goodness of her husband, not dreaming after what manner he intended she should dress them; but thinking that he had ordered her to go and put on their cloaths, went up, and was strangely astonished when she perceived her seven daughters killed, and weltering in their blood. She fainted away; for this is the first expedient almost all women find in such-like cases. The Ogre, fearing his wife would be too long in doing what he had ordered, went up himself to help her. He was no less amazed than his wife, at this frightful spectacle.

人食い鬼の女は夫のこの親切にたいそう驚いた。夫がどんなふうに子どもたちを料理させるつもりなのか夢にも思わず、服を着せてやれと言いつけたのだと思って二階へ上がっていった。そして七人の娘が殺されて血の海に倒れているのを見て、腰を抜かすほど驚いた。女は気を失ってしまった。こういう場合、ほとんどすべての女性がまず思いつく手立てがこれだからである。人食い鬼は、妻が言いつけたことにあまりに手間取るのではないかと思い、手伝おうと自分も上がってきた。そしてこの恐ろしい光景に、妻に劣らず仰天した。

"Ah! what have I done?" cried he. "The cursed wretches shall pay for it, and that instantly."

「ああ、わしは何ということをしてしまったのだ!」と人食い鬼は叫んだ。「忌々しい小僧どもめ、この償いはさせてやるぞ、それもいますぐだ」

He threw then a pitcher of water upon his wife's face; and having brought her to herself:

それから人食い鬼は水差しの水を妻の顔にかけ、正気に戻らせると、

"Give me quickly," cried he, "my boots of seven leagues, that I may go and catch them."

「早く持ってこい」と叫んだ。「わしの七里の長靴だ。あいつらを追いかけてつかまえてやる」

He went out; and, having run over a vast deal of ground, both on this side and that, he came at last into the very road where the poor children were, and not above a hundred paces from their father's house. They espied the Ogre, who went at one step from mountain to mountain, and over rivers as easily as the narrowest kennels.[5] Little Thumb, seeing a hollow rock near the place where they were, made his brothers hide themselves in it, and crowded into it himself, minding always what would become of the Ogre.

人食い鬼は出かけていき、あちらこちらとさんざん広い土地を駆けまわったあげく、とうとうかわいそうな子どもたちのいるまさにその道にやって来た。そこは子どもたちの父親の家から百歩と離れていなかった。子どもたちは、人食い鬼がひとまたぎで山から山へ渡り、どんなに狭いどぶ[5]でもまたぐように、やすやすと川を越えていくのを見た。親指小僧は、自分たちのいる場所の近くにうつろな岩があるのを見つけると、兄たちをそこに隠れさせ、自分もその中へもぐり込んで、人食い鬼がどうするかをずっと見張っていた。

[Footnote 5: That is, 'channels.']

[脚注 5: 「水路」のこと。]

The Ogre, who found himself much tired with his long and fruitless journey (for these boots of seven leagues extremely fatigue the wearer), had a great mind to rest himself, and, by chance, went to sit down upon the rock where these little boys had hid themselves. As he was worn out, he fell asleep: and, after reposing himself some time he began to snore so frightfully, that the poor children were no less afraid of him, than when he held up his great knife, and was going to cut their throats. Little Thumb was not so much frightened as his brothers, and told them that they should run away immediately towards home, while the Ogre was asleep so soundly; and that they should not be anxious about him. They took his advice, and got home presently. Little Thumb came up to the Ogre, pulled off his boots gently, and put them on upon his own legs. The boots were very long and large; but as they were Fairies, they had the gift of becoming big and little, according to the legs of those who wore them; so that they fitted his feet and legs as well as if they had been made on purpose for him.

人食い鬼は、長いあいだ実りのない旅をしてすっかり疲れていたので(この七里の長靴は履く者をひどく疲れさせるのである)、ひと休みしたくてたまらず、たまたま、小さな男の子たちが隠れている岩の上に腰を下ろしに行った。人食い鬼はくたくただったので眠り込み、しばらく休んでいるうちに、それは恐ろしいいびきをかきはじめたので、かわいそうな子どもたちは、人食い鬼が大きな包丁を振り上げて喉をかき切ろうとしたときに劣らず、恐ろしくてたまらなかった。親指小僧は兄たちほどこわがってはおらず、人食い鬼がぐっすり眠っているうちにすぐ家のほうへ走って逃げるように、自分のことは心配しなくていいと兄たちに言った。兄たちはその言葉に従い、すぐに家へ帰り着いた。親指小僧は人食い鬼に近づき、そっと長靴を脱がせると、自分の脚に履いた。長靴はとても長くて大きかったが、妖精の長靴だったので、履く者の脚に合わせて大きくも小さくもなる力を持っていた。そのため親指小僧の足と脚に、まるで親指小僧のためにあつらえたかのようにぴったり合った。

He went immediately to the Ogre's house, where he saw his wife crying bitterly for the loss of her murdered daughters.

親指小僧はすぐに人食い鬼の家へ行った。そこでは人食い鬼の妻が、殺された娘たちを失ってひどく泣いていた。

"Your husband," said Little Thumb, "is in very great danger, being taken by a gang of thieves, who have sworn to kill him, if he does not give them all his gold and silver. Just when they held their daggers at his throat, he perceived me, and desired me to come and tell you the condition he is in, and that you should give me whatsoever he has of value, without retaining any one thing; for otherwise they will kill him without mercy; and, as his case is very pressing, he desired me to make use (you see I have them on) of his boots, that I might make the more haste, and to shew you that I do not impose upon you."

「だんなさまは」と親指小僧は言った。「たいへんな危険にさらされています。盗賊の一味につかまって、金と銀を残らず渡さなければ殺すと脅されているのです。盗賊たちがだんなさまの喉に短剣を突きつけたちょうどそのとき、だんなさまがぼくを見つけて、こちらへ来てだんなさまのありさまを奥さまにお伝えし、値打ちのあるものは何ひとつ残さず全部ぼくに渡すよう奥さまに言ってくれと頼まれたのです。さもないと盗賊たちは情け容赦なくだんなさまを殺してしまうからです。一刻を争うので、少しでも早く行けるように、また奥さまをだましているのではないとわかっていただけるように、だんなさまの長靴を使うようにとおっしゃいました(ご覧のとおり、履いております)」

The good woman, being sadly frightened, gave him all she had: for this Ogre was a very good husband, tho' he used to eat up little children. Little Thumb, having thus got all the Ogre's money, came home to his father's house, where he was received with abundance of joy.

人のよい女はひどくおびえて、持っているものを全部親指小僧に渡した。この人食い鬼は、小さな子どもを食べることはあっても、たいそうよい夫だったのである。こうして人食い鬼のお金をすっかり手に入れた親指小僧は父親の家に帰り、そこでたいそう喜んで迎えられた。

There are many people who do not agree in this circumstance, and pretend that Little Thumb never robbed the Ogre at all, and that he only thought he might very justly, and with safe conscience take off his boots of seven leagues, because he made no other use of them, but to run after little children. These folks affirm, that they were very well assured of this, and the more, as having drank and eaten often at the faggot-maker's house. They aver, that, when Little Thumb had taken off the Ogre's boots, he went to Court, where he was informed that they were very anxious about a certain army, which was two hundred leagues off, and the success of a battle. He went, say they, to the King, and told him that, if he desired it, he would bring him news from the army before night. The King promised him a great sum of money upon that condition. Little Thumb was as good as his word, and returned that very same night with the news; and this first expedition causing him to be known, he got whatever he pleased; for the King paid him very well for carrying his orders to the army, and abundance of ladies gave him what he would to bring them news from their lovers; and that this was his greatest gain. There were some married women, too, who sent letters by him to their husbands, but they paid him so ill that it was not worth his while, and turned to such small account, that he scorned ever to reckon what he got that way. After having, for some time, carried on the business of a messenger, and gained thereby great wealth, he went home to his father, where it was impossible to express the joy they were all in at his return. He made the whole family very well-to-do, bought places for his father and brothers; and by that means settled them very handsomely in the world, and, in the mean time, rose high in the King's favour.

もっとも、この点については話が違うと言う人も大勢いて、親指小僧は人食い鬼から盗みなど一度もしていない、ただ七里の長靴を脱がせたのは、人食い鬼がそれを小さな子どもを追いかけるのにしか使わないのだから、正当で良心にもとることはないと考えただけだと主張する。この人たちは、柴束ね屋の家でたびたび飲み食いしたことがあるだけに、このことはたしかだと言い張る。その人たちの言うところでは、親指小僧は人食い鬼の長靴を脱がせると宮廷へ行った。宮廷では、二百里離れたところにいるある軍隊と、ある戦の勝敗のことをたいそう案じていると聞かされた。親指小僧は王のもとへ行き、お望みなら日暮れまでに軍隊の知らせを持ってまいりましょうと申し出た、とその人たちは言う。王は、それができたら莫大な金を与えると約束した。親指小僧は約束どおり、その夜のうちに知らせを持って戻ってきた。この最初の働きで名を知られるようになり、親指小僧は何でも望むものを手に入れた。王は軍隊に命令を運ばせるたびにたっぷりと報酬を払ったし、大勢の貴婦人たちが恋人の消息を持ってきてもらうために、親指小僧の言い値を払った。これがいちばん大きな稼ぎだったという。夫に手紙を託す人妻たちもいたが、払いがひどく悪く、割に合わないほどわずかな稼ぎにしかならなかったので、親指小僧はそちらで得たものは数える気にもならなかった。しばらく使いの仕事を続けて大金をもうけると、親指小僧は父親のもとへ帰った。親指小僧が戻ってきたときの一家の喜びようは、言葉では言い表せないほどであった。親指小僧は一家をすっかり裕福にし、父親と兄たちに官職を買ってやって、立派に世に出してやった。そしてそのあいだに、自分も王の寵愛を大いに受けるようになったのである。

The Moral

教訓

At many children parents don't repine, If they are handsome; in their judgment shine; Polite in carriage are, in body strong, Graceful in mien, and elegant in tongue. But if perchance an offspring prove but weak, Him they revile, laugh at, defraud and cheat. Such is the wretched world's curs'd way; and yet Sometimes this urchin whom despis'd we see, Through unforeseen events doth honour get, And fortune bring to all his family.

器量がよく、判断力にすぐれ、ふるまいが上品で体が丈夫、物腰が優雅で弁舌さわやかなら、子だくさんでも親はこぼさない。けれども、もし子のうちの一人がひ弱ならば、親はその子をののしり、笑いものにし、欺き、ごまかす。これがこの世のひどいならい。それでも、みんなにさげすまれていたこの小僧が、思いがけない出来事によって名誉を得て、一家じゅうに幸運をもたらすこともあるのだ。