Donkey-skin

Once upon a time there was a King, so great, so beloved by his people, and so respected by all his neighbours and allies that one might almost say he was the happiest monarch alive. His good fortune was made even greater by the choice he had made for wife of a Princess as beautiful as she was virtuous, with whom he lived in perfect happiness. Now, of this chaste marriage was born a daughter endowed with so many gifts that they had no regret because other children were not given to them.

むかしむかし、ある王がいた。その王はたいそう偉大で、民にたいそう愛され、近隣の国々や同盟国のすべてからたいそう敬われていたので、世にも幸せな君主と言ってよいほどであった。その幸せは、美しいのと同じくらい徳の高い王女を妻に選んだことで、いっそう大きなものになっていた。王はこの妃と申し分なく幸せに暮らしていた。さて、この清らかな結婚から一人の娘が生まれた。この姫はたいそう多くの天分に恵まれていたので、ほかに子を授からなくても二人は少しも残念に思わなかった。

Magnificence, good taste, and abundance reigned in the palace; there were wise and clever ministers, virtuous and devoted courtiers, faithful and diligent servants. The spacious stables were filled with the most beautiful horses in the world, and coverts of rich caparison; but what most astonished strangers who came to admire them was to see, in the finest stall, a master donkey, with great long ears.

宮殿には豪奢と洗練された趣味と豊かさがみなぎっていた。賢く有能な大臣たち、徳高く忠実な廷臣たち、誠実でよく働く召使いたちがいた。広い厩舎には世界でいちばん美しい馬がいっぱいいて、豪華な馬衣がかけられていた。けれども、見物に来たよその人々をいちばん驚かせたのは、いちばん立派な馬房に、長い大きな耳をした一頭の立派なろばがいることであった。

Now, it was not for a whim but for a good reason that the King had given this donkey a particular and distinguished place. The special qualities of this rare animal deserved the distinction, since nature had made it in so extraordinary a way that its litter, instead of being like that of other donkeys, was covered every morning with an abundance of beautiful golden crowns, and golden louis of every kind, which were collected daily.

さて、王がこのろばに特別の栄えある場所を与えていたのは、気まぐれからではなく、ちゃんとした理由があった。この珍しい獣の特別な性質は、その扱いにふさわしいものであった。自然はこのろばをたいそう変わったふうに造っていて、その寝藁はほかのろばのものとは違い、毎朝、美しい金貨や、あらゆる種類のルイ金貨でいっぱいに覆われていたのである。それは毎日集められた。

Since the vicissitudes of life wait on Kings as much as on their subjects, and good is always mingled with ill, it so befell that the Queen was suddenly attacked by a fatal illness, and, in spite of science, and the skill of the doctors, no remedy could be found. There was great mourning throughout the land. The King who, notwithstanding the famous proverb, that marriage is the tomb of love, was deeply attached to his wife, was distressed beyond measure and made fervent vows to all the temples in his kingdom, and offered to give his life for that of his beloved consort; but he invoked the gods and the Fairies in vain. The Queen, feeling her last hour approach, said to her husband, who was dissolved in tears: "It is well that I should speak to you of a certain matter before I die: if, perchance, you should desire to marry again...." At these words the King broke into piteous cries, took his wife's hands in his own, and assured her that it was useless to speak to him of a second marriage.

人の世の移り変わりは臣下と同じように王にもふりかかり、よいことにはいつも悪いことがまじるものなので、あるとき王妃が突然、命にかかわる病に倒れ、学問も医者の腕も尽くしたが、治す手立ては見つからなかった。国じゅうが深い嘆きに沈んだ。王は、結婚は恋の墓場という名高いことわざにもかかわらず、妃を深く愛していたので、はかりしれないほど心を痛め、王国じゅうの神殿に熱心に願をかけ、愛する妃の命と引きかえに自分の命を差し出すと申し出た。けれども神々や妖精たちに祈っても無駄であった。王妃は最期のときが近づくのを感じ、涙にくれている夫に言った。「死ぬ前に、あることをお話ししておいたほうがよいでしょう。もし、ひょっとしてあなたがまた結婚なさりたくなったら……」。この言葉に王は痛ましい叫び声を上げ、妻の両手を自分の手に取って、二度目の結婚の話などしても無駄だと請け合った。

"No, my dear spouse," he said at last, "speak to me rather of how I may follow you."

「いいや、愛しい妻よ」と王はとうとう言った。「それよりも、どうしたらおまえのあとについて行けるのかを話しておくれ」

"The State," continued the Queen with a finality which but increased the laments of the King, "the State demands successors, and since I have only given you a daughter, it will urge you to beget sons who resemble you; but I ask you earnestly not to give way to the persuasions of your people until you have found a Princess more beautiful and more perfectly fashioned than I. I beg you to swear this to me, and then I shall die content."

「国家は」と王妃は、王の嘆きをいっそう深めるばかりのきっぱりとした調子で続けた。「国家は世継ぎを求めます。わたしはあなたに娘を一人しかさしあげられなかったのですから、国家はあなたに似た息子をもうけるよう迫るでしょう。けれども、どうか心からお願いします。わたしよりも美しく、わたしよりも申し分のない姿をした王女を見つけるまでは、民の説得に負けないでください。そう誓ってくださいませ。そうすればわたしは安心して死ねます」

Perchance, the Queen, who did not lack self-esteem, exacted this oath firmly believing that there was not her equal in the world, and so felt assured that the King would never marry again. Be this as it may, at length she died, and never did husband make so much lamentation; the King wept and sobbed day and night, and the punctilious fulfilment of the rites of widower-hood, even the smallest, was his sole occupation.

おそらく王妃は自尊心に欠けていなかったので、この世に自分に並ぶ者はいないとかたく信じてこの誓いを求め、王が二度と結婚することはないと安心していたのであろう。それはともかく、とうとう王妃は亡くなった。これほど嘆いた夫はほかにいなかった。王は昼も夜も泣きむせび、妻を亡くした夫としてのしきたりを、どんなささいなことまでも几帳面に果たすことだけが、王のただひとつの務めであった。

But even great griefs do not last for ever. After a time the magnates of the State assembled and came to the King, urging him to take another wife. At first this request seemed hard to him and made him shed fresh tears. He pleaded the vows he had made to the Queen, and defied his counsellors to find a Princess more beautiful and better fashioned than was she, thinking this to be impossible. But the Council treated the promise as a trifle, and said that it mattered little about beauty if the Queen were but virtuous and fruitful. For the State needed Princes for its peace and prosperity, and though, in truth, the Princess, his daughter, had all the qualities requisite for making a great Queen, yet of necessity she must choose an alien for her husband, and then the stranger would take her away with him. If, on the other hand, he remained in her country and shared the throne with her, their children would not be considered to be of pure native stock, and so, there being no Prince of his name, neighbouring peoples would stir up wars, and the kingdom would be ruined.

けれども、大きな悲しみもいつまでも続くわけではない。しばらくすると国の重臣たちが集まって王のもとへ来て、新しい妃を迎えるよう迫った。はじめ王にはこの願いがつらく思われ、また新たに涙を流した。王は王妃に立てた誓いを持ち出し、王妃よりも美しく姿のよい王女を見つけてみよと顧問たちに挑んだ。そんな王女はいるはずがないと思っていたのである。けれども顧問会議はその約束を取るに足りないものと見なし、妃が徳高く子宝に恵まれてさえいれば、美しさなどたいした問題ではないと言った。というのも、国家は平和と繁栄のために王子を必要としており、たしかに王の娘である姫は偉大な女王になるのに必要なあらゆる資質を備えてはいるが、どうしても夫はよその国から選ばねばならず、そうなればその異国の者が姫を連れ去ってしまう。反対に、その者がこの国にとどまって姫と王位を分かち合えば、二人の子どもは純粋な自国の血筋とは見なされず、そうなればこの名を継ぐ王子がいないのをいいことに近隣の国々が戦を仕掛けてきて、王国は滅びてしまう、というのである。

The King, impressed by these considerations, promised that he would think over the matter. And so search was made among all the marriageable Princesses for one that would suit him. Every day charming portraits were brought him, but none gave promise of the beauty of his late Queen; instead of coming to a decision he brooded over his sorrow until in the end his reason left him. In his delusions he imagined himself once more a young man; he thought the Princess his daughter, in her youth and beauty, was his Queen as he had known her in the days of their courtship, and living thus in the past he urged the unhappy girl to speedily become his bride.

王はこうした考えに心を動かされ、この件をよく考えてみると約束した。そこで結婚できる年ごろの王女たちのなかから、王にふさわしい者が探された。毎日魅力的な肖像画が王のもとへ運ばれてきたが、どれも亡き王妃の美しさには及ばなかった。王は決心するどころか悲しみを思いつめるばかりで、とうとう正気を失ってしまった。妄想のなかで、王はまた若者に戻ったつもりになり、若く美しい娘の姫を、求婚していたころに知っていた王妃だと思い込んだ。そしてそのように過去に生きながら、不幸な娘に、早く花嫁になるよう迫ったのである。

The young Princess, who was virtuous and chaste, threw herself at the feet of the King her father and conjured him, with all the eloquence she could command, not to constrain her to consent to his unnatural desire.

徳高く清らかな若い姫は、父王の足もとに身を投げ出し、ありったけの言葉を尽くして、その道にはずれた望みに無理に従わせないでくださいと懇願した。

The King, in his madness, could not understand the reason of her desperate reluctance, and asked an old Druid-priest to set the conscience of the Princess at rest. Now this Druid, less religious than ambitious, sacrificed the cause of innocence and virtue to the favour of so great a monarch, and instead of trying to restore the King to his right mind, he encouraged him in his delusion.

正気を失った王には、娘がなぜそれほど必死に拒むのかがわからず、姫の良心をなだめるよう年老いたドルイド僧に頼んだ。このドルイド僧は信心よりも野心の強い男だったので、無垢と徳の道をこの偉大な君主の寵愛と引きかえに捨ててしまい、王を正気に戻そうとするどころか、その妄想をあおり立てた。

The young Princess, beside herself with misery, at last bethought her of the Lilac-fairy, her godmother; determined to consult her, she set out that same night in a pretty little carriage drawn by a great sheep who knew all the roads. When she arrived the Fairy, who loved the Princess, told her that she knew all she had come to say, but that she need have no fear, for nothing would harm her if only she faithfully fulfilled the Fairy's injunctions. "For, my dear child," she said to her, "it would be a great sin to submit to your father's wishes, but you can avoid the necessity without displeasing him. Tell him that to satisfy a whim you have, he must give you a dress the colour of the weather. Never, in spite of all his love and his power will he be able to give you that."

悲しみのあまり取り乱した若い姫は、とうとう名付け親のリラの妖精のことを思い出した。相談しようと決めた姫は、その夜のうちに、道をすべて知っている大きな羊の引く可愛らしい小さな馬車に乗って出かけた。姫が着くと、姫をかわいがっていた妖精は、あなたが言いに来たことはすべて知っているが、恐れることはない、わたしの言いつけを忠実に守りさえすれば何もあなたを害することはない、と言った。「というのもね、可愛い子」と妖精は姫に言った。「お父さまの望みに従うのは大きな罪ですが、お父さまの機嫌を損ねずにそれを避けることはできます。ちょっとした気まぐれを満たすために、空模様の色のドレスをくださいとお父さまにおっしゃい。どんなにあなたを愛していても、どんなに力があっても、お父さまにはそれをくださることはできないでしょう」

The Princess thanked her godmother from her heart, and the next morning spoke to the King as the Fairy had counselled her, and protested that no one would win her hand unless he gave her a dress the colour of the weather. The King, overjoyed and hopeful, called together the most skilful workmen, and demanded this robe of them; otherwise they should be hanged. But he was saved from resorting to this extreme measure, since, on the second day, they brought the much desired robe. The heavens are not a more beautiful blue, when they are girdled with clouds of gold, than was that lovely dress when it was unfolded. The Princess was very sad because of it, and did not know what to do.

姫は心から名付け親に礼を言い、翌朝、妖精に言われたとおりに王に話し、空模様の色のドレスをくれる人でなければ、誰にも手を与えませんと言い張った。王は大喜びで望みを抱き、いちばん腕のいい職人たちを呼び集めて、そのドレスを作るよう命じた。さもなければ縛り首にするというのである。けれども王はこの極端な手段に訴えずにすんだ。二日目に、職人たちが待ち望まれていたドレスを持ってきたからである。金色の雲をまとった空でさえ、広げられたそのすばらしいドレスほど美しい青ではなかった。姫はそれでたいそう悲しくなり、どうしてよいかわからなかった。

Once more she went to her Fairy-godmother who, astonished that her plan had been foiled, now told her to ask for another gown the colour of the moon.

姫はもう一度名付け親の妖精のもとへ行った。妖精は自分の策がくじかれたことに驚き、今度は月の色のドレスをもう一着ねだるように言った。

The King again sought out the most clever workmen and expressly commanded them to make a dress the colour of the moon; and woe betide them if between the giving of the order and the bringing of the dress more than twenty-four hours should elapse.

王はまたいちばん腕のいい職人たちを探し出し、月の色のドレスを作るよう厳しく命じた。命令を下してからドレスを持ってくるまでに二十四時間より長くかかったら、ただではすまないというのである。

The Princess, though pleased with the dress when it was delivered, gave way to distress when she was with her women and her nurse. The Lilac-fairy, who knew all, hastened to comfort her and said: "Either I am greatly deceived or it is certain that if you ask for a dress the colour of the sun we shall at last baffle the King your father, for it would never be possible to make such a gown; in any case we should gain time."

姫は届けられたドレスを気に入りはしたものの、侍女たちや乳母といっしょにいるときには悲嘆に暮れた。何もかも知っているリラの妖精は急いで姫をなぐさめに来て言った。「わたしがよほど思い違いをしているのでないかぎり、太陽の色のドレスをねだれば、今度こそきっとお父さまを困らせることができます。そんなドレスはとても作れないでしょうから。どちらにしても、時間は稼げます」

So the Princess asked for yet another gown as the Fairy bade her. The infatuated King could refuse his daughter nothing, and he gave without regret all the diamonds and rubies in his crown to aid this superb work; nothing was to be spared that could make the dress as beautiful as the sun. And, indeed, when the dress appeared, all those who unfolded it were obliged to close their eyes, so much were they dazzled. And, truth to tell, green spectacles and smoked glasses date from that time.

そこで姫は、妖精に言われたとおり、さらにもう一着のドレスをねだった。娘に夢中の王は何ひとつ拒めず、このすばらしい仕事の助けにと、王冠のダイヤモンドとルビーを惜しげもなく残らず差し出した。ドレスを太陽のように美しくするためなら、何ひとつ惜しんではならなかった。そして実際、ドレスが現れると、それを広げた者たちはあまりのまぶしさに目を閉じなければならなかった。そして本当のことを言えば、緑の眼鏡やすすを塗った眼鏡が生まれたのはこのときからなのである。

What was the Princess to do? Never had so beautiful and so artistic a robe been seen. She was dumb-founded, and pretending that its brilliance had hurt her eyes she retired to her chamber, where she found the Fairy awaiting her.

姫はどうしたらよかったろう。これほど美しく、これほど見事なドレスは見たこともなかった。姫は途方に暮れ、その輝きで目が痛んだふりをして自分の部屋へ引きこもった。するとそこで妖精が待っていた。

On seeing the dress like the sun, the Lilac-fairy became red with rage. "Oh! this time, my child," she said to the Princess, "we will put the King to terrible proof. In spite of his madness I think he will be a little astonished by the request that I counsel you to make of him; it is that he should give you the skin of that ass he loves so dearly, and which supplies him so profusely with the means of paying all his expenses. Go, and do not fail to tell him that you want this skin." The Princess, overjoyed at finding yet another avenue of escape; for she thought that her father could never bring himself to sacrifice the ass, went to find him, and unfolded to him her latest desire.

太陽のようなドレスを見ると、リラの妖精は怒りで真っ赤になった。「まあ、今度こそ、可愛い子」と妖精は姫に言った。「王さまにとてつもない試練を与えてやりましょう。正気を失っていても、わたしがあなたに勧める頼みには、少しは驚かれると思います。それは、あの王さまがあれほど大事にしていて、あらゆる費用をまかなう手立てをたっぷりと差し出してくれる、あのろばの皮をください、ということです。行って、その皮がほしいと必ずおっしゃい」。姫は、また一つ逃げ道が見つかったと大喜びした。父がろばを犠牲にすることなど、とてもできないだろうと思ったのである。姫は父を探しに行き、新しい望みを打ち明けた。

Although the King was astonished by this whim, he did not hesitate to satisfy it; the poor ass was sacrificed and the skin brought, with due ceremony, to the Princess, who, seeing no other way of avoiding her ill-fortune, was desperate.

王はこの気まぐれに驚きはしたが、ためらわずにそれをかなえてやった。かわいそうなろばは殺され、その皮はしかるべき儀式とともに姫のもとへ運ばれてきた。姫はもう不運を逃れるほかの道が見つからず、絶望した。

At that moment her godmother arrived. "What are you doing, my child?" she asked, seeing the Princess tearing her hair, her beautiful cheeks stained with tears. "This is the most happy moment of your life. Wrap yourself in this skin, leave the palace, and walk so long as you can find ground to carry you: when one sacrifices everything to virtue the gods know how to mete out reward. Go, and I will take care that your possessions follow you; in whatever place you rest, your chest with your clothes and your jewels will follow your steps, and here is my wand which I will give you: tap the ground with it when you have need of the chest, and it will appear before your eyes: but haste to set forth, and do not delay." The Princess embraced her godmother many times, and begged her not to forsake her. Then after she had smeared herself with soot from the chimney, she wrapped herself up in that ugly skin and went out from the magnificent palace without being recognised by a single person.

そのとき名付け親がやって来た。「何をしているの、可愛い子」と、姫が髪をかきむしり、美しい頬を涙でぬらしているのを見て、妖精は尋ねた。「いまこそあなたの一生でいちばん幸せなときなのですよ。この皮にくるまって宮殿を出て、足を支えてくれる地面があるかぎり歩いていきなさい。徳のためにすべてを捧げる者には、神々がちゃんと報いてくださいます。お行きなさい。あなたの持ち物はあとからついて行くようにしてあげます。あなたがどこで休もうと、服と宝石の入った箱があなたのあとについて行きます。それからこの杖をあげましょう。箱が入り用なときには、これで地面をたたきなさい。すると目の前に箱が現れます。でも急いで出発しなさい、ぐずぐずしてはいけません」。姫は何度も名付け親を抱きしめ、わたしを見捨てないでくださいと頼んだ。それから姫は暖炉のすすを体に塗りつけ、あの醜い皮にくるまって、誰ひとりにも気づかれずに壮麗な宮殿を出ていった。

The absence of the Princess caused a great commotion. The King, who had caused a sumptuous banquet to be prepared, was inconsolable. He sent out more than a hundred gendarmes, and more than a thousand musketeers in quest of her; but the Lilac-fairy made her invisible to the cleverest seekers, and thus she escaped their vigilance.

姫がいなくなって大騒ぎになった。豪勢な宴の用意をさせていた王は、悲しみのあまりどうしようもなかった。王は百人以上の憲兵と千人以上の銃士を姫の捜索に送り出したが、リラの妖精が姫をどんなに腕のいい捜し手にも見えないようにしていたので、姫はその目を逃れることができた。

Meanwhile the Princess walked far, far and even farther away; after a time she sought for a resting place, but although out of charity people gave her food, she was so dishevelled and dirty that no one wanted to keep her. At length she came to a beautiful town, at the gate of which was a small farm. Now the farmer's wife had need of a wench to wash the dishes and to attend to the geese and the pigs, and seeing so dirty a vagrant offered to engage her. The Princess, who was now much fatigued, accepted joyfully. She was put into a recess in the kitchen where for the first days she was subjected to the coarse jokes of the men-servants, so dirty and unpleasant did the donkey-skin make her appear. At last they tired of their pleasantries; moreover she was so attentive to her work that the farmer's wife took her under her protection. She minded the sheep, and penned them up when it was necessary, and she took the geese out to feed with such intelligence that it seemed as if she had never done anything else. Everything that her beautiful hands undertook was done well.

そのあいだに姫は遠く、遠く、さらに遠くへと歩いていった。しばらくすると休み場所を探したが、人々は慈悲から食べ物をくれはしても、姫があまりにぼさぼさで汚いので、誰も置いてくれようとはしなかった。とうとう姫は美しい町にたどり着いた。町の門のそばに小さな農場があった。ちょうど農場のおかみさんは、皿を洗ったり鵞鳥や豚の世話をしたりする下働きの娘を必要としていたので、ひどく汚い浮浪の娘を見て、雇ってやろうと申し出た。すっかり疲れ果てていた姫は、喜んで引き受けた。姫は台所の隅に寝場所をあてがわれたが、はじめの数日は、ろばの皮のせいであまりに汚く不快に見えたので、下男たちの下品なからかいの的になった。けれども下男たちもとうとうからかうのに飽きた。そのうえ姫がたいそう熱心に働いたので、おかみさんは姫をかばってくれるようになった。姫は羊の番をし、必要なときには囲いに入れた。鵞鳥を餌場へ連れていくのもたいそう手際がよかったので、まるでそれ以外のことはしたことがないかのようであった。姫の美しい手が手がけることは、何でもうまくいった。

One day she was sitting near a clear fountain where she often repaired to bemoan her sad condition, when she thought she would look at herself in the water. The horrible donkey-skin which covered her from head to toe revolted her. Ashamed, she washed her face and her hands, which became whiter than ivory, and once again her lovely complexion took its natural freshness. The joy of finding herself so beautiful filled her with the desire to bathe in the pool, and this she did. But she had to don her unworthy skin again before she returned to the farm.

ある日、姫はよく自分の悲しい身の上を嘆きに行く澄んだ泉のそばに座っていて、水に自分の姿を映してみようと思った。頭から足の先まで覆っている恐ろしいろばの皮に、姫はぞっとした。恥ずかしくなって顔と手を洗うと、それは象牙よりも白くなり、美しい肌がまたもとのみずみずしさを取り戻した。自分がこんなに美しいとわかった喜びで、姫は泉で水浴びしたくなり、そうした。けれども農場に戻る前に、また見苦しい皮を身につけなければならなかった。

By good fortune the next day chanced to be a holiday, and so she had leisure to tap for her chest with the fairy's wand, arrange her toilet, powder her beautiful hair and put on the lovely gown which was the colour of the weather; but the room was so small that the train could not be properly spread out. The beautiful Princess looked at herself, and with good reason, admired her appearance so much that she resolved to wear her magnificent dresses in turn on holidays and Sundays for her own amusement, and this she regularly did. She entwined flowers and diamonds in her lovely hair with admirable art, and often she sighed that she had no witness of her beauty save the sheep and geese, who loved her just as much in the horrible donkey-skin after which she had been named at the farm.

運よく翌日はちょうど祝日だったので、姫には妖精の杖で箱を呼び出す暇があった。姫は身支度を整え、美しい髪に髪粉をふり、空模様の色のすばらしいドレスを着た。けれども部屋があまりに狭かったので、裾を十分に広げることができなかった。美しい姫は自分の姿を眺め、無理もないことだが、自分の姿にたいそう見とれたので、祝日と日曜日には楽しみのために、すばらしいドレスをかわるがわる着ようと決め、実際にいつもそうした。姫は見事な技で花とダイヤモンドを美しい髪に編み込み、自分の美しさを見てくれるのが羊と鵞鳥しかいないことに、たびたびため息をついた。羊と鵞鳥は、農場で姫の呼び名になったあの恐ろしいろばの皮をまとっているときの姫を、それとまったく同じくらい愛していたのである。

One holiday when Donkey-skin had put on her sun-hued dress, the son of the King to whom the farm belonged alighted there to rest on his return from the hunt. This Prince was young and handsome, beloved of his father and of the Queen his mother, and adored by the people. After he had partaken of the simple collation which was offered him he set out to inspect the farm-yard and all its nooks and corners. In going thus from place to place, he entered a dark alley at the bottom of which was a closed door. Curiosity made him put his eye to the keyhole. Imagine his astonishment at seeing a Princess so beautiful and so richly dressed, and withal of so noble and dignified a mien, that he took her to be a divinity. The impetuosity of his feelings at this moment would have made him force the door, had it not been for the respect with which that charming figure filled him.

ある祝日、ろばの皮が太陽の色のドレスを着ていたとき、この農場を持つ王の息子が、狩りの帰りに休もうとそこで馬を降りた。この王子は若く美しく、父王と母の王妃に愛され、民に慕われていた。出された質素な軽食をとったあと、王子は農場の中庭とそのすみずみを見て回ろうと出かけた。こうしてあちこち歩いているうちに、王子は暗い小道に入った。その突き当たりに閉じた戸があった。好奇心にかられて、王子は鍵穴に目を当てた。どんなに驚いたか考えてもみてほしい。そこには、たいそう美しく豪華に着飾った、しかもこの上なく気高く威厳のある物腰の姫がいたので、王子はそれを女神だと思った。その瞬間の激しい感情に、王子は戸を押し破ってしまうところであったが、その魅力的な姿に抱いた畏敬の念がそれを押しとどめた。

It was with difficulty that he withdrew from this gloomy little alley, intent on discovering who the inmate of the tiny room might be. He was told that it was a scullion called Donkey-skin because of the skin which she always wore, and that she was so dirty and unpleasant that no one took any notice of her, or even spoke to her; she had just been taken out of pity to look after the geese.

王子はこの薄暗い小道からやっとの思いで立ち去り、あの小さな部屋に住んでいるのは誰なのか突きとめようとした。聞けば、それはいつも身につけている皮のせいでろばの皮と呼ばれている皿洗いの娘で、あまりに汚く不快なので誰も相手にせず、口をきく者さえいない、ただかわいそうに思って鵞鳥の番をさせるために雇ったばかりなのだという。

The Prince, though little satisfied by this information, saw that these dense people knew no more, and that it was useless to question them. So he returned to the palace of the King his father, beyond words in love, having continually before his eyes the beautiful image of the goddess whom he had seen through the keyhole. He was full of regret that he had not knocked at the door, and promised himself that he would not fail to do so next time. But the fervency of his love caused him such great agitation that the same night he was seized by a terrible fever, and was soon at death's door. The Queen, who had no other child, was in despair because all remedies proved useless. In vain she promised great rewards to the doctors; though they exerted all their skill, nothing would cure the Prince. At last they decided that some great sorrow had caused this terrible fever. They told the Queen, who, full of tenderness for her son, went to him and begged him to tell her his trouble. She declared that even if it was a matter of giving him the crown, his father would yield the throne to him without regret; or if he desired some Princess, even though there should be war with the King her father and their subjects should, with reason, complain, all should be sacrificed to obtain what he wished. She implored him with tears not to die, since their life depended on his. The Queen did not finish this touching discourse without moving the Prince to tears.

王子はこの答えに少しも納得できなかったが、この鈍い人たちはそれ以上何も知らず、問いただしても無駄だとわかった。そこで王子は、言葉にできないほど恋い焦がれ、鍵穴から見た女神の美しい面影をたえず目の前に浮かべながら、父王の宮殿へ帰った。王子は戸をたたかなかったことをひどく悔やみ、この次は必ずたたこうと心に誓った。けれども恋心があまりに激しかったので、その夜のうちに恐ろしい熱に襲われ、まもなく死の瀬戸際に立たされた。ほかに子のない王妃は、どんな薬も効かないので絶望した。医者たちに莫大な褒美を約束しても無駄であった。医者たちはあらゆる腕を尽くしたが、何をしても王子は治らなかった。とうとう医者たちは、何か大きな悲しみがこの恐ろしい熱を引き起こしたのだと結論し、それを王妃に告げた。王妃は息子へのやさしさでいっぱいになり、王子のもとへ行って、悩みを打ち明けてほしいと頼んだ。王妃は、たとえ王冠を与えることであっても、父王は惜しまず位を譲るだろう、あるいはどこかの王女を望んでいるのなら、たとえその父王と戦になり、臣下がもっともな不平を言おうとも、望みをかなえるためならすべてを犠牲にしよう、と言った。そして、二人の命はおまえの命にかかっているのだから、どうか死なないでおくれと涙ながらに懇願した。王妃がこの心を打つ言葉を言い終えないうちに、王子も涙を流していた。

"Madam," he said at last, in a very feeble voice, "I am not so base that I desire the crown of my father, rather may Heaven grant him life for many years, and that I may always be the most faithful and the most respectful of his subjects! As to the Princesses that you speak of, I have never yet thought of marriage, and you well know that, subject as I am to your wishes, I shall obey you always, even though it be painful to me."

「母上」と王子はとうとう、ひどく弱々しい声で言った。「わたしは父上の王冠を望むほど卑しい者ではありません。むしろ天が父上に長寿を授けてくださり、わたしがいつまでもいちばん忠実でいちばん恭しい臣下でいられますように。お話しの王女さまがたについては、まだ一度も結婚など考えたことはありません。それに母上もよくご存じのとおり、わたしは母上のお望みに従う身ですから、たとえつらくても、いつでも母上に従います」

"Ah! my son," replied the Queen, "we will spare nothing to save your life. But, my dear child, save mine and that of the King your father by telling me what you desire, and be assured that you shall have it."

「ああ、わが子よ」と王妃は答えた。「おまえの命を救うためなら、何ひとつ惜しみはしません。でも可愛い子、何を望んでいるのか話して、わたしと父上の命を救っておくれ。きっと手に入れてあげますから」

"Well, Madam," he said, "since you would have me tell you my thought, I obey you. It would indeed be a sin to place in danger two lives so dear to me. Know, my mother, that I wish Donkey-skin to make me a cake, and to have it brought to me when it is ready."

「では母上」と王子は言った。「どうしてもわたしの思いを話せとおっしゃるのなら、従います。わたしにとってこれほど大切な二つの命を危険にさらすのは、まことに罪なことですから。母上、わたしはろばの皮にお菓子を作ってもらい、できあがったらそれをここへ持ってきてほしいのです」

The Queen, astonished at this strange name, asked who Donkey-skin might be.

王妃はこの奇妙な名に驚いて、ろばの皮とは誰なのかと尋ねた。

"It is, Madam," replied one of her officers who had by chance seen this girl, "It is the most ugly creature imaginable after the wolf, a slut who lodges at your farm, and minds your geese."

「それは、お妃さま」と、たまたまその娘を見たことのある役人の一人が答えた。「狼の次に考えられるかぎりいちばん醜い生きもので、お妃さまの農場に住みついて、鵞鳥の番をしているあばずれでございます」

"It matters not," said the Queen; "my son, on his way home from the chase, has perchance eaten of her cakes; it is a whim such as those who are sick do sometimes have. In a word, I wish that Donkey-skin, since Donkey-skin it is, make him presently a cake."

「かまいません」と王妃は言った。「息子は狩りの帰りに、ひょっとしてその娘のお菓子を食べたのかもしれません。病人がときどき起こす気まぐれのようなものでしょう。ともかく、ろばの皮にお菓子を——ろばの皮だというのなら、そのろばの皮に——すぐに作らせなさい」

A messenger ran to the farm and told Donkey-skin that she was to make a cake for the Prince as well as she possibly could. Now, some believe that Donkey-skin had been aware of the Prince in her heart at the moment when he had put his eye to the keyhole; and then, looking from her little window, she had seen him, so young, so handsome, and so shapely, that the remembrance of him had remained, and that often the thought of him had cost her some sighs. Be that as it may, Donkey-skin, either having seen him, or having heard him spoken of with praise, was overjoyed to think that she might become known to him. She shut herself in her little room, threw off the ugly skin, bathed her face and hands, arranged her hair, put on a beautiful corsage of bright silver, and an equally beautiful petticoat, and then set herself to make the much desired cake. She took the finest flour, and newest eggs and freshest butter, and while she was working them, whether by design or no, a ring which she had on her finger fell into the cake and was mixed in it. When the cooking was done she muffled herself in her horrible skin and gave the cake to the messenger, asking him for news of the Prince; but the man would not deign to reply, and without a word ran quickly back to the palace.

使いが農場へ走っていき、王子さまのためにできるかぎりおいしいお菓子を作るようにとろばの皮に告げた。さて、ろばの皮は、王子が鍵穴に目を当てたとき、心のなかで王子に気づいていたのだと言う者もいる。そして小さな窓から外を見て、あんなに若く美しく姿のよい王子を見たので、その面影が心に残り、たびたびその人を思ってはため息をついていたのだという。それはともかく、ろばの皮は、王子を見たにせよ、王子がほめられるのを聞いたにせよ、自分のことを王子に知ってもらえるかもしれないと思って大喜びした。姫は小さな部屋に閉じこもり、醜い皮を脱ぎ捨て、顔と手を洗い、髪を整え、明るい銀色の美しい胴着と、それに劣らず美しいペチコートを身につけて、望まれたお菓子作りに取りかかった。姫はいちばん上等な小麦粉と、生みたての卵と、いちばん新しいバターを使った。こねているうちに、わざとなのかそうでないのか、指にはめていた指輪が生地のなかに落ちて、まぜこまれてしまった。焼き上がると、姫は恐ろしい皮にくるまって使いにお菓子を渡し、王子さまのご様子はいかがですかと尋ねた。けれども使いの男は答える気にもならず、一言も言わずに急いで宮殿へ走って帰った。

The Prince took the cake greedily from the man's hands, and ate it with such voracity that the doctors who were present did not fail to say that this haste was not a good sign. Indeed, the Prince came near to being choked by the ring, which he nearly swallowed, in one of the pieces of cake. But he drew it cleverly from his mouth, and his desire for the cake was forgotten as he examined the fine emerald set in a gold keeper-ring, a ring so small that he knew it could only be worn on the prettiest little finger in the world.

王子は男の手からむさぼるようにお菓子を受け取り、あまりにがつがつと食べたので、そばにいた医者たちは、このがっつきようはよい兆しではないと言わずにはいられなかった。実際、王子はお菓子の一切れに入っていた指輪をあやうく飲み込みそうになり、喉を詰まらせるところであった。けれども王子はそれを器用に口から取り出すと、お菓子のことなど忘れて、金の留め輪にはめ込まれた見事なエメラルドをしげしげと眺めた。その指輪はたいそう小さかったので、世界でいちばん可愛らしい小指にしかはまらないと王子にはわかった。

He kissed the ring a thousand times, put it under his pillow, and drew it out every moment that he thought himself unobserved. The torment that he gave himself, planning how he might see her to whom the ring belonged, not daring to believe that if he asked for Donkey-skin she would be allowed to come, and not daring to speak of what he had seen through the keyhole for fear that he would be laughed at for a dreamer, brought back the fever with great violence. The doctors, not knowing what more to do, declared to the Queen that the Prince's malady was love, whereupon the Queen and the disconsolate King ran to their son.

王子は指輪に千回も口づけし、枕の下にしまって、人に見られていないと思うたびに取り出した。この指輪の持ち主にどうやったら会えるかを思いめぐらし、ろばの皮に会わせてほしいと頼んでも来させてもらえるとはとても思えず、夢見がちな者だと笑われるのが恐ろしくて鍵穴から見たことも口にできず、そうして自分を責めさいなむうちに、熱がまた激しくぶり返した。医者たちはもう手の施しようがなく、王子の病は恋わずらいですと王妃に告げた。そこで王妃と、悲嘆に暮れた王は、息子のもとへ駆けつけた。

"My son, my dear son," cried the affected monarch, "tell us the name of her whom you desire: we swear that we will give her to you. Even though she were the vilest of slaves."

「わが子よ、愛しい息子よ」と心を痛めた君主は叫んだ。「おまえが望む娘の名を言っておくれ。必ずその娘をおまえに与えると誓おう。たとえそれがいちばん卑しい奴隷であっても」

The Queen embracing him, agreed with all that the King had said, and the Prince, moved by their tears and caresses, said to them: "My father and my mother, I in no way desire to make a marriage which is displeasing to you." And drawing the emerald from under his pillow he added: "To prove the truth of this, I desire to marry her to whom this ring belongs. It is not likely that she who owns so pretty a ring is a rustic or a peasant."

王妃は王子を抱きしめて、王の言ったことにすべて同意した。王子は二人の涙と愛撫に心を動かされて言った。「父上、母上、わたしはお二人のお気に召さない結婚をするつもりはまったくありません」。そして枕の下からエメラルドを取り出して言い添えた。「そのことをお示しするために、この指輪の持ち主と結婚したいのです。こんなに可愛らしい指輪を持っている人が、田舎者や百姓娘だとは思えません」

The King and the Queen took the ring, examined it with great curiosity, and agreed with the Prince that it could only belong to the daughter of a good house. Then the King, having embraced his son, and entreated him to get well, went out. He ordered the drums and fifes and trumpets to be sounded throughout the town, and the heralds to cry that she whose finger a certain ring would fit should marry the heir to the throne.

王と王妃は指輪を受け取り、たいそう興味深げに調べて、これはきっと良家の娘のものに違いないと王子に同意した。それから王は息子を抱きしめ、元気になっておくれと頼んで出ていった。王は町じゅうに太鼓と横笛とラッパを鳴らさせ、この指輪がはまる指の持ち主を世継ぎと結婚させると、伝令たちに触れ回らせた。

First the Princesses arrived, then the duchesses, and the marquises, and the baronesses; but though they did all they could to make their fingers small, none could put on the ring. So the country girls had to be tried, but pretty though they all were, they all had fingers that were too fat. The Prince, who was feeling better, made the trial himself. At last it was the turn of the chamber-maids; but they succeeded no better. Then, when everyone else had tried, the Prince asked for the kitchen-maids, the scullions, and the sheep-girls. They were all brought to the palace, but their coarse red, short, fingers would hardly go through the golden hoop as far as the nail.

まずお姫さまがたがやって来て、次に公爵夫人がた、侯爵夫人がた、男爵夫人がたが来た。けれども、みなどんなに指を細くしようとしても、誰ひとり指輪をはめることができなかった。そこで田舎娘たちが試されることになったが、みな可愛らしくはあったものの、指が太すぎた。具合がよくなってきた王子は、自分で試させた。とうとう部屋付きの女中たちの番になったが、やはりうまくいかなかった。そこで、ほかの誰もがみな試し終えると、王子は台所の女中や皿洗いや羊飼いの娘たちを呼ぶように言った。娘たちはみな宮殿へ連れてこられたが、その荒れて赤くて短い指は、金の輪に爪のところまでもほとんど入らなかった。

"You have not brought that Donkey-skin, who made me the cake," said the Prince.

「わたしにお菓子を作ってくれた、あのろばの皮を連れてきていないではないか」と王子は言った。

Everyone laughed and said, "No," so dirty and unpleasant was she.

みんなは笑って、「連れてきていません」と言った。それほど汚く不快な娘だったのである。

"Let someone fetch her at once," said the King; "it shall not be said that I left out the lowliest." And the servants ran laughing and mocking to find the goose-girl.

「すぐに誰か連れてこい」と王は言った。「いちばん卑しい者を除け者にしたと言われてはならぬ」。そこで召使いたちは笑いあざけりながら、鵞鳥番の娘を探しに走った。

The Princess, who had heard the drums and the cries of the heralds, had no doubt that the ring was the cause of this uproar. Now, she loved the Prince, and, as true love is timorous and has no vanity, she was in perpetual fear that some other lady would be found to have a finger as small as hers. Great, then, was her joy when the messengers came and knocked at her door. Since she knew that they were seeking the owner of the right finger on which to set her ring, some impulse had moved her to arrange her hair with great care, and to put on her beautiful silver corsage, and the petticoat full of furbelows and silver lace studded with emeralds. At the first knock she quickly covered her finery with the donkey-skin and opened the door. The visitors, in derision, told her that the King had sent for her in order to marry her to his son. Then with loud peals of laughter they led her to the Prince, who was astonished at the garb of this girl, and dared not believe that it was she whom he had seen so majestic and so beautiful. Sad and confounded, he said, "Is it you who lodge at the bottom of that dark alley in the third yard of the farm?"

太鼓の音と伝令たちの触れ声を聞いていた姫は、この騒ぎのもとがあの指輪だと少しも疑わなかった。さて、姫は王子を愛していた。まことの恋はおずおずとして虚栄を持たないものなので、姫は、自分と同じくらい指の細いほかの貴婦人が見つかるのではないかと、たえず恐れていた。だから使いの者たちがやって来て戸をたたいたとき、姫の喜びはたいそう大きかった。人々が指輪をはめるのにぴったりの指の持ち主を探しているのだとわかったときから、姫は何かに突き動かされるように、たいそう念入りに髪を整え、美しい銀色の胴着と、エメラルドをちりばめた銀のレースとひだ飾りのいっぱいついたペチコートを身につけていた。最初に戸がたたかれると、姫はすばやく晴れ着をろばの皮で覆って戸を開けた。使いの者たちはあざけって、王さまがおまえを王子さまと結婚させようとお呼びだと告げた。そして大声で笑いながら、姫を王子のもとへ連れていった。王子はこの娘の身なりに驚き、あれほど威厳があって美しかった人がこの娘だとはとても信じられなかった。悲しく途方に暮れて、王子は言った。「農場の三番目の中庭の、あの暗い小道の突き当たりに住んでいるのは、おまえか?」

"Yes, your Highness," she replied.

「はい、王子さま」と姫は答えた。

"Show me your hand," said the Prince trembling, and heaving a deep sigh.

「手を見せておくれ」と王子は震えながら、深いため息をついて言った。

Imagine how astonished everyone was! The King and the Queen, the chamberlains and all the courtiers were dumb-founded, when from beneath that black and dirty skin came a delicate little white and rose-pink hand, and the ring slipped without difficulty on to the prettiest little finger in the world. Then, by a little movement which the Princess made, the skin fell from her shoulders and so enchanting was her guise, that the Prince, weak though he was, fell on his knees and held her so closely that she blushed. But that was scarcely noticed, for the King and Queen came to embrace her heartily, and to ask her if she would marry their son. The Princess, confused by all these caresses and by the love of the handsome young Prince, was about to thank them when suddenly the ceiling opened, and the Lilac-fairy descended in a chariot made of the branches and flowers from which she took her name, and, with great charm, told the Princess's story. The King and Queen, overjoyed to know that Donkey-skin was a great Princess redoubled their caresses, but the Prince was even more sensible of her virtue, and his love increased as the Fairy unfolded her tale. His impatience to marry her, indeed, was so great that he could scarcely allow time for the necessary preparations for the grand wedding which was their due. The King and Queen, now entirely devoted to their daughter-in-law, overwhelmed her with affection. She had declared that she could not marry the Prince without the consent of the King her father, so, he was the first to whom an invitation to the wedding was sent; he was not, however, told the name of the bride. The Lilac-fairy, who, as was right, presided over all, had recommended this course to prevent trouble. Kings came from all the countries round, some in sedan-chairs, others in beautiful carriages; those who came from the most distant countries rode on elephants and tigers and eagles. But the most magnificent and most glorious of all was the father of the Princess. He had happily recovered his reason, and had married a Queen who was a widow and very beautiful, but by whom he had no child. The Princess ran to him, and he recognised her at once and embraced her with great tenderness before she had time to throw herself on her knees. The King and Queen presented their son to him, and the happiness of all was complete. The nuptials were celebrated with all imaginable pomp, but the young couple were hardly aware of the ceremony, so wrapped up were they in one another.

みんながどんなに驚いたか考えてもみてほしい。王と王妃、侍従たち、廷臣たちは、あの黒く汚い皮の下から、ばら色を帯びた白い華奢な小さな手が現れ、指輪が世界でいちばん可愛らしい小指にすんなりとはまったとき、みな言葉を失った。それから姫がちょっと身動きすると、皮が肩から落ち、その姿があまりに魅惑的だったので、王子は弱っていたにもかかわらずひざまずき、姫を強く抱きしめたので、姫は頬を赤らめた。けれども、そんなことはほとんど誰の目にも留まらなかった。王と王妃が姫を心から抱きしめに来て、息子と結婚してくれるかと尋ねたからである。姫はこうした愛撫や美しい若い王子の愛にとまどいながら、礼を言おうとした。そのとき突然天井が開き、リラの妖精が、その名の由来となった枝と花でできた馬車に乗って降りてきて、たいそう魅力的に姫の身の上を語った。王と王妃は、ろばの皮が偉いお姫さまだと知って大喜びし、いっそう姫を愛撫したが、王子は姫の徳にさらに深く心を打たれ、妖精が話を明かすにつれて愛はますます深まった。実際、姫と結婚したい王子の気持ちはあまりにはやったので、二人にふさわしい盛大な婚礼に必要な支度の時間さえ、ほとんど待てないほどであった。王と王妃は、いまやすっかり嫁に夢中で、あふれるほどの愛情を注いだ。姫は、父王の許しなしには王子と結婚できないと言っていたので、婚礼の招待状はまず父王に送られた。ただし、花嫁の名は知らされなかった。当然のことながらすべてを取りしきっていたリラの妖精が、面倒を避けるためにそうするよう勧めたのである。まわりのあらゆる国から王たちがやって来た。輿に乗って来る者もいれば、美しい馬車で来る者もいた。いちばん遠い国から来た者たちは、象や虎や鷲に乗ってやって来た。けれども、誰よりも壮麗で輝かしかったのは姫の父王であった。父王は幸いにも正気を取り戻し、たいそう美しい未亡人の王妃と結婚していたが、その王妃とのあいだに子はなかった。姫が駆け寄ると、父王はすぐに姫だとわかり、姫がひざまずく暇もないうちに、たいそうやさしく抱きしめた。王と王妃は息子を父王に引き合わせ、みなの幸せは申し分のないものになった。婚礼は考えられるかぎりの華やかさでとりおこなわれたが、若い二人は互いにすっかり夢中で、儀式のことなどほとんど目に入らなかった。

In spite of the protests of the noble-hearted young man, the Prince's father caused his son to be crowned the same day, and kissing his hand, placed him on the throne.

心の気高い若者が辞退したにもかかわらず、王子の父王はその日のうちに息子に王冠を授け、その手に口づけして王位につかせた。

The celebrations of this illustrious marriage lasted nearly three months, but the love of the two young people would have endured for more than a hundred years, had they out-lived that age, so great was their affection for one another.

この輝かしい結婚の祝いは三か月近くも続いた。けれども二人の若者の愛は、もし二人がそれほど長く生きたなら、百年以上も続いたことであろう。それほど二人は互いを深く愛していたのである。

The Moral

教訓

It scarce may be believed, This tale of Donkey-skin; But laughing children in the home; Yea, mothers, and grandmothers too, Are little moved by facts! By them 'twill be received.

このろばの皮の話はとても信じられないかもしれない。けれども、家で笑う子どもたちや、そう、母親たちも祖母たちも、事実などにはあまり心を動かされない!その人たちには、この話は受け入れられることだろう。