Lazy Jack

Once upon a time there was a boy whose name was Jack, and he lived with his mother on a common. They were very poor, and the old woman got her living by spinning, but Jack was so lazy that he would do nothing but bask in the sun in the hot weather, and sit by the corner of the hearth in the winter-time. So they called him Lazy Jack. His mother could not get him to do anything for her, and at last told him, one Monday, that if he did not begin to work for his porridge she would turn him out to get his living as he could.

むかしむかし、ジャックという名の男の子がいて、母さんと二人で村の共有地に住んでいた。二人はとても貧しくて、年とった母さんは糸を紡いで暮らしを立てていたが、ジャックはたいへんな怠け者で、暑い季節にはひなたぼっこばかり、冬には炉ばたの隅に座っているばかりで、ほかに何もしようとしなかった。それでみんなはジャックを怠け者のジャックと呼んだ。母さんはジャックに何ひとつ手伝わせることができず、とうとうある月曜日に、自分のかゆの分だけでも働きはじめないなら、家から追い出して自分でなんとか食べていかせると言いわたした。

This roused Jack, and he went out and hired himself for the next day to a neighbouring farmer for a penny; but as he was coming home, never having had any money before, he lost it in passing over a brook. “You stupid boy,” said his mother, “you should have put it in your pocket.” “I'll do so another time,” replied Jack.

これでジャックも目がさめて、出かけていって、次の日一日、近所の農夫のところで一ペニーで雇われた。けれども家に帰る途中、それまでお金を持ったことがなかったので、小川を渡るときになくしてしまった。「このばかな子だね」と母さんは言った。「ポケットに入れておけばよかったんだよ。」「今度はそうするよ」とジャックは答えた。

On Wednesday, Jack went out again and hired himself to a cow-keeper, who gave him a jar of milk for his day's work. Jack took the jar and put it into the large pocket of his jacket, spilling it all, long before he got home. “Dear me!” said the old woman; “you should have carried it on your head.” “I'll do so another time,” said Jack.

水曜日、ジャックはまた出かけていって、牛飼いのところで雇われた。牛飼いは一日の働きの代わりにミルクを一壺くれた。ジャックは壺を受け取って上着の大きなポケットに入れたので、家に着くずっと前にすっかりこぼしてしまった。「まあ、なんてこと!」と年とった母さんは言った。「頭に載せて運べばよかったんだよ。」「今度はそうするよ」とジャックは言った。

So on Thursday, Jack hired himself again to a farmer, who agreed to give him a cream cheese for his services. In the evening Jack took the cheese, and went home with it on his head. By the time he got home the cheese was all spoilt, part of it being lost, and part matted with his hair. “You stupid lout,” said his mother, “you should have carried it very carefully in your hands.” “I'll do so another time,” replied Jack.

そこで木曜日、ジャックはまた農夫のところで雇われた。農夫は働きの代わりにクリームチーズをひとつくれることにした。夕方、ジャックはチーズを受け取り、それを頭に載せて家に帰った。家に着くころには、チーズはすっかりだめになっていて、一部はなくなり、一部は髪の毛にからまっていた。「このばかでくのぼう」と母さんは言った。「手でうんと気をつけて運べばよかったんだよ。」「今度はそうするよ」とジャックは答えた。

On Friday, Lazy Jack again went out, and hired himself to a baker, who would give him nothing for his work but a large tom-cat. Jack took the cat, and began carrying it very carefully in his hands, but in a short time pussy scratched him so much that he was compelled to let it go. When he got home, his mother said to him, “You silly fellow, you should have tied it with a string, and dragged it along after you.” “I'll do so another time,” said Jack.

金曜日、怠け者のジャックはまた出かけていって、パン屋に雇われた。パン屋は働きの代わりに大きな雄猫を一匹くれるだけだった。ジャックは猫を受け取って、手でうんと気をつけて運びはじめたが、じきに猫にさんざん引っかかれて、放さなければならなくなった。家に帰ると、母さんはジャックに言った。「このまぬけ、ひもで縛って、うしろに引きずってくればよかったんだよ。」「今度はそうするよ」とジャックは言った。

So on Saturday, Jack hired himself to a butcher, who rewarded him by the handsome present of a shoulder of mutton. Jack took the mutton, tied it to a string, and trailed it along after him in the dirt, so that by the time he had got home the meat was completely spoilt. His mother was this time quite out of patience with him, for the next day was Sunday, and she was obliged to make do with cabbage for her dinner. “You ninney-hammer,” said she to her son; “you should have carried it on your shoulder.” “I'll do so another time,” replied Jack.

そこで土曜日、ジャックは肉屋に雇われた。肉屋はジャックに羊の肩肉をひとつという、たいした贈り物をしてくれた。ジャックは羊肉を受け取ると、ひもで縛って、泥のなかをうしろに引きずってきたので、家に着くころには肉はすっかりだめになっていた。今度という今度は母さんもすっかり堪忍袋の緒が切れた。次の日は日曜日なのに、昼ごはんはキャベツですませなければならなかったからである。「このとんま」と母さんは息子に言った。「肩に担いでくればよかったんだよ。」「今度はそうするよ」とジャックは答えた。

On the next Monday, Lazy Jack went once more, and hired himself to a cattle-keeper, who gave him a donkey for his trouble. Jack found it hard to hoist the donkey on his shoulders, but at last he did it, and began walking slowly home with his prize. Now it happened that in the course of his journey there lived a rich man with his only daughter, a beautiful girl, but deaf and dumb. Now she had never laughed in her life, and the doctors said she would never speak till somebody made her laugh. This young lady happened to be looking out of the window when Jack was passing with the donkey on his shoulders, with the legs sticking up in the air, and the sight was so comical and strange that she burst out into a great fit of laughter, and immediately recovered her speech and hearing. Her father was overjoyed, and fulfilled his promise by marrying her to Lazy Jack, who was thus made a rich gentleman. They lived in a large house, and Jack's mother lived with them in great happiness until she died.

次の月曜日、怠け者のジャックはもう一度出かけていって、家畜番のところで雇われた。家畜番は骨折り賃にろばを一頭くれた。ジャックはろばを肩に担ぎ上げるのに苦労したが、とうとう担ぎ上げて、そのほうびを担いでゆっくり家へ歩きはじめた。さて、たまたまその道すがらに、一人娘と暮らしている金持ちがいた。娘は美しかったが、耳が聞こえず口もきけなかった。しかも娘は生まれてから一度も笑ったことがなく、医者たちは、誰かが笑わせるまで娘はけっして口をきかないだろうと言っていた。ジャックがろばを肩に担いで、その脚を宙に突き出させて通りかかったとき、この娘はちょうど窓から外を眺めていた。そのありさまがあまりにこっけいで奇妙だったので、娘はどっと大笑いして、たちまち口がきけるようになり、耳も聞こえるようになった。父親は大喜びで、約束どおり娘を怠け者のジャックと結婚させたので、ジャックは金持ちの紳士になった。二人は大きな屋敷に住み、ジャックの母さんも一緒に暮らして、亡くなるまでたいそう幸せに過ごした。