Morning Sunrise

A man in one of the villages had a very beautiful daughter. She was so lovely that people called her “Morning Sunrise.” Every young man who saw her wanted to marry her. Three, in particular, were very anxious to have her for their wife. Her father found it difficult to decide among them. He determined to find out by a trick which of the three was most worthy of her.

ある村の男に、たいそう美しい娘がいた。あまりに美しいので、人々は娘を「朝日(モーニング・サンライズ)」と呼んだ。娘を見た若者はみな、妻に迎えたいと思った。とりわけ三人が、娘を妻にと熱心であった。父親は三人のうちから選ぶのに難儀した。そこで一計を案じ、三人のうち誰が娘にいちばんふさわしいかを見きわめることにした。

He bade her lie down on her bed as if she were dead. He then sent the report of her death to each of the three lovers, asking them to come and help him with her funeral.

父は娘に、死んだかのように寝床に横たわるよう言いつけた。それから三人の求婚者それぞれに、娘が死んだという知らせを送り、葬式を手伝いに来てほしいと頼んだ。

The messenger came first to “Wise Man.” When he heard the message, he exclaimed, “What can this man mean? The girl is not my wife. I certainly will not pay any money for her funeral.”

使いはまず「賢者(ワイズ・マン)」のところへ行った。その知らせを聞くと、彼は声を上げた。「あの男は何のつもりだ。娘はわたしの妻ではない。葬式のために金など出すものか。」

The messenger came next to the second man. His name was “Wit.” The latter at once said, “Oh dear, no! I shall not pay any money for her funeral expenses. Her father did not even let me know she was ill.” So he refused to go.

使いは次に二人目の男のところへ行った。その名は「才覚(ウィット)」といった。彼はすぐさま言った。「とんでもない! 葬式の費用など出すものか。父親は、娘が病だとわたしに知らせもしなかったではないか。」そう言って行くのを断った。

“Thinker,” the third young man—when he received the message—at once got ready to start. “Certainly I must go and mourn for Morning Sunrise,” said he. “Had she lived, surely she would have been my wife.” So he took money with him and set out for her home.

三人目の若者「思慮(シンカー)」は、知らせを受け取るとすぐに出かける支度をした。「もちろん行って、朝日のために悼まねばならない」と彼は言った。「生きていたなら、きっとわたしの妻になっていたのだから。」そこで金を携えて、娘の家へと出発した。

When he reached it her father called out, “Morning Sunrise, Morning Sunrise. Come here. This is your true husband.”

着くと、娘の父が呼ばわった。「朝日や、朝日や。こちらへおいで。この人がお前のまことの夫だよ。」

That very day the betrothal took place, and soon after the wedding followed. “Thinker” and his beautiful wife lived very happily together.

その日のうちに婚約が結ばれ、まもなく婚礼が続いた。「思慮」とその美しい妻は、ともにたいそう幸せに暮らした。