The Cat and the Mouse

The cat and the mouse Play'd in the malt-house:

猫と鼠が、麦芽小屋で遊んでた。

The cat bit the mouse's tail off. “Pray, puss, give me my tail.” “No,” says the cat, “I'll not give you your tail, till you go to the cow, and fetch me some milk.”

猫が鼠の尻尾を噛み切った。「お願い、猫さん、尻尾を返して。」「いやだね」と猫は言う。「尻尾は返さないよ、牝牛のところへ行って、乳を持ってくるまではね。」

First she leapt and then she ran, Till she came to the cow, and thus began:

まずは跳んで、それから走り、牝牛のところへ着いて、こう言った。

“Pray, Cow, give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.” “No,” said the cow, “I will give you no milk, till you go to the farmer, and get me some hay.”

「お願い、牝牛さん、乳をちょうだい。その乳を猫にあげて、猫がわたしの尻尾を返してくれるように。」「いやだね」と牝牛は言った。「乳はあげないよ、百姓のところへ行って、干し草をもらってくるまではね。」

First she leapt, and then she ran, Till she came to the farmer and thus began:

まずは跳んで、それから走り、百姓のところへ着いて、こう言った。

“Pray, Farmer, give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.” “No,” says the farmer, “I'll give you no hay, till you go to the butcher and fetch me some meat.”

「お願い、お百姓さん、干し草をちょうだい。その干し草を牝牛にあげて、牝牛が乳をくれて、その乳を猫にあげて、猫がわたしの尻尾を返してくれるように。」「いやだね」と百姓は言う。「干し草はやらないよ、肉屋へ行って肉を持ってくるまではね。」

First she leapt, and then she ran, Till she came to the butcher, and thus began:

まずは跳んで、それから走り、肉屋のところへ着いて、こう言った。

“Pray, Butcher, give me meat, that I may give farmer meat, that farmer may give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.” “No,” says the butcher, “I'll give you no meat, till you go to the baker and fetch me some bread.”

「お願い、肉屋さん、肉をちょうだい。その肉を百姓にあげて、百姓が干し草をくれて、その干し草を牝牛にあげて、牝牛が乳をくれて、その乳を猫にあげて、猫がわたしの尻尾を返してくれるように。」「いやだね」と肉屋は言う。「肉はやらないよ、パン屋へ行ってパンを持ってくるまではね。」

First she leapt and then she ran, Till she came to the baker, and thus began:

まずは跳んで、それから走り、パン屋のところへ着いて、こう言った。

“Pray, Baker, give me bread, that I may give butcher bread, that butcher may give me meat, that I may give farmer meat, that farmer may give me hay, that I may give cow hay, that cow may give me milk, that I may give cat milk, that cat may give me my own tail again.”

「お願い、パン屋さん、パンをちょうだい。そのパンを肉屋にあげて、肉屋が肉をくれて、その肉を百姓にあげて、百姓が干し草をくれて、その干し草を牝牛にあげて、牝牛が乳をくれて、その乳を猫にあげて、猫がわたしの尻尾を返してくれるように。」

“Yes,” says the baker, “I'll give you some bread, But if you eat my meal, I'll cut off your head.”

「いいとも」とパン屋は言う。「パンをやろう。だがわしの粉を食ったら、首をちょん切るぞ。」

Then the baker gave mouse bread, and mouse gave butcher bread, and butcher gave mouse meat, and mouse gave farmer meat, and farmer gave mouse hay, and mouse gave cow hay, and cow gave mouse milk, and mouse gave cat milk, and cat gave mouse her own tail again!

そこでパン屋は鼠にパンをやり、鼠は肉屋にパンをやり、肉屋は鼠に肉をやり、鼠は百姓に肉をやり、百姓は鼠に干し草をやり、鼠は牝牛に干し草をやり、牝牛は鼠に乳をやり、鼠は猫に乳をやり、そして猫は鼠に、鼠自身の尻尾を返してやったとさ!