Why White Ants Always Harm Man’s Property

There came once such a terrible famine in the land that a grain of corn was worth far more than its weight in gold. A hungry spider was wandering through the forest looking for food. To his great joy he found a dead antelope.

昔、国じゅうにひどい飢饉が来て、トウモロコシひと粒が同じ重さの金よりずっと値打ちがあるほどになった。腹をすかせた蜘蛛が、食べ物を探して森をさまよっていた。蜘蛛は死んだ羚羊を見つけて大喜びした。

Knowing that he would not be allowed to reach home in safety with it, he wrapped it up very carefully in a long mat and bound it securely.

それを持って無事に家まで帰り着けはしないとわかっていたので、蜘蛛は羚羊を長い筵でたいそう念入りに包み、しっかり縛った。

Placing it on his head, he started for home. As he went, he wept bitterly, telling every one that this was his dead grandfather’s body. Every one he met sympathized heartily with him.

それを頭に載せて、家へ向かった。道々、蜘蛛はさめざめと泣きながら、会う者みなに、これは死んだ祖父のなきがらだと話した。出会った者はみな心から蜘蛛に同情した。

On his way he met the wolf and the leopard. These two wise animals suspected that this was one of Spider’s tricks. They knew that he was not to be trusted. Walking on a little way, they discussed what they could do to find out what was in the bundle.

途中で、蜘蛛は狼と豹に出会った。この二匹の賢い獣は、これが蜘蛛のいつものたくらみの一つではないかと疑った。蜘蛛が信用ならないことを知っていたのである。少し歩いたところで、二匹は包みの中身を突き止めるにはどうすればよいか相談した。

They agreed to take a short cut across the country to a tree which they knew Cousin Spider must pass. When they reached this tree they hid themselves very carefully behind it and waited for him.

二匹は、蜘蛛いとこが通らねばならないとわかっている木まで、近道をして野を横切っていくことに決めた。その木に着くと、二匹は木の陰にたいそう念入りに身を隠して、蜘蛛を待った。

As he passed the place they shook the tree and uttered frightful noises. This so frightened Mr Spider that he dropped his load and ran away.

蜘蛛がそこを通りかかると、二匹は木を揺すって恐ろしい声を上げた。これに蜘蛛さんはあまりにおびえて、荷を落として逃げ出した。

The two gentlemen opened the bundle and, to their great joy, discovered the flesh of the antelope in it. They carried it off to their own home and began to prepare supper.

二匹の紳士が包みを開けてみると、なかに羚羊の肉があって大喜びした。二匹はそれを自分たちの家へ運んでいって、夕食の支度にとりかかった。

When Mr Spider recovered from his fear he began to wonder who could have been at the tree to make the noises. He decided that his enemies must be Wolf and Leopard. He made up his mind he would get his meat back from them.

蜘蛛さんは恐ろしさから立ち直ると、木のところで声を上げたのはだれだったのだろうと考えはじめた。自分の敵は狼と豹にちがいないと考えた。蜘蛛は二匹から肉を取り返してやろうと心に決めた。

He took a small lizard and filed his teeth to fine, sharp points. He then sent him to spy upon the wolf and leopard—by begging fire from them. He was to get the fire and quench it as soon as he left their cottage. He could then return and ask a second time. If they asked him questions, he must smile and show his teeth.

蜘蛛は小さなトカゲを一匹捕まえて、その歯を細く鋭くとがるようにやすりで削った。それからトカゲを狼と豹の様子を探りにやった——火を分けてくれと頼みにいかせたのである。トカゲは火をもらったら、二匹の小屋を出たとたんに消してしまう。そうすればまた戻って、もう一度頼める。何か尋ねられたら、にっこり笑って歯を見せなければならない。

The lizard did as he was told, and everything turned out just as Spider had expected. Wolf and Leopard eagerly asked the lizard where he had had his teeth filed so beautifully. He replied that “Filing Spider” had done it for him.

トカゲは言われたとおりにし、何もかも蜘蛛の思ったとおりになった。狼と豹は、どこでそんなに見事に歯を削ってもらったのかと、しきりにトカゲに尋ねた。トカゲは「歯削りの蜘蛛」にやってもらったのだと答えた。

Wolf and Leopard discussed the matter and decided to have their teeth filed in the same way. They could then easily break the bones of their food.

狼と豹は相談して、自分たちも同じように歯を削ってもらおうと決めた。そうすれば、餌の骨をたやすく砕けるだろう。

Accordingly, they went to the house of the disguised spider and asked him to make their teeth like Lizard’s. Spider agreed, but said that, to do it properly, he would first have to hang them on a tree. They made no objection to this.

そういうわけで、二匹は姿を変えた蜘蛛の家へ行って、トカゲのような歯にしてくれと頼んだ。蜘蛛は承知したが、きちんとやるには、まず二匹を木に吊るさなければならないと言った。二匹はこれに異を唱えなかった。

When he had them safely hung, Spider and his family came and mocked them. Spider then went to their cottage and brought away the body of the antelope. The whole village was invited to the feast, which was held in front of the two poor animals on the tree. During this festival every one made fun of the wolf and leopard.

二匹をしっかり吊るすと、蜘蛛とその家族がやって来て二匹をあざけった。それから蜘蛛は二匹の小屋へ行って、羚羊のなきがらを持ち出した。村じゅうが宴に招かれ、宴は木に吊るされた二匹のかわいそうな獣の目の前で開かれた。この祭りのあいだ、だれもが狼と豹をからかった。

Next morning White Ant and his children passed the place on their way to some friends. Mr Leopard begged them to set him and his friend free. White Ant and his family set to work, destroyed the tree and set them at liberty. Leopard and Wolf promised the ants that on their return they would spread a feast for them.

次の朝、シロアリとその子どもたちが、友だちのところへ行く途中でそこを通りかかった。豹さんは、自分と友を放してくれとシロアリたちに頼んだ。シロアリとその家族は仕事にとりかかり、木を壊して二匹を自由にしてやった。豹と狼は、帰りに宴を開いてもてなすとアリたちに約束した。

Unfortunately, Spider heard the invitation and made up his mind to benefit by it. On the third day (which was the very time set by the wolf and leopard) Spider dressed up his children like the ants. They set out, singing the ants’ chorus, in order to deceive Leopard.

あいにく、蜘蛛がこの招きを聞いていて、それにあずかってやろうと心に決めた。三日目(それはまさに狼と豹が決めた日だった)、蜘蛛は子どもたちをアリのように装わせた。一行は豹をだますために、アリたちの合唱を歌いながら出かけた。

Wolf and Leopard welcomed them heartily and spread a splendid feast for them, which the spiders thoroughly enjoyed.

狼と豹は一行を心から歓迎して、見事なごちそうを並べ、蜘蛛たちはそれをたっぷり楽しんだ。

Soon after their departure the real ants arrived. The two hosts, thinking these must be Spider and his family, poured boiling water over them and killed them all except the father.

一行が去ってまもなく、本物のアリたちがやって来た。二匹の主人は、これこそ蜘蛛とその家族にちがいないと思って、煮えたぎる湯を浴びせかけ、父親を除いてみな殺してしまった。

White Ant, on reaching home again, in great anger, vowed that he would never again help any one. He would take every opportunity to harm property. From that day to this white ants have been a perfect pest to man.

シロアリは家へ帰り着くと、ひどく怒って、二度とだれも助けないと誓った。あらゆる機会をとらえて財産に害を加えてやるというのである。その日から今日まで、シロアリは人間にとってまったくの厄介者なのである。