How the Tortoise Got Its Shell

A few hundred years ago, the chief Mauri (God) determined to have a splendid yam festival. He therefore sent his messengers to invite all his chiefs and people to the gathering, which was to take place on Fida (Friday).

何百年か前、首長マウリ(神)は盛大なヤムイモ祭りを催そうと決めた。そこで使いを出して、首長や民をみな集まりに招いた。集まりはフィダ(金曜日)に開かれることになっていた。

On the morning of that day he sent some of his servants to the neighbouring towns and villages to buy goats, sheep, and cows for the great feast. Mr Klo (the tortoise), who was a tall and handsome fellow, was sent to buy palm wine. He was directed to the palm-fields of Koklovi (the chicken).

その日の朝、マウリは召使いの何人かを近くの町や村へやって、大宴会のために山羊や羊や牛を買わせた。背が高く見目のよい男だったクロ(亀)は、椰子酒を買いにやられた。クロはコクロヴィ(鶏)の椰子畑へ行くよう言いつけられた。

At that time Klo was a very powerful traveller and speedily reached his destination, although it was many miles distant from Mauri’s palace.

そのころクロはたいそう健脚な旅人で、マウリの宮殿から何マイルも離れていたのに、すぐに行き先に着いた。

When he arrived Koklovi was taking his breakfast. When they had exchanged polite salutations Koklovi asked the reason of Klo’s visit. He replied, “I was sent by His Majesty Mauri, the ruler of the world, to buy him palm wine.” “Whether he’s ruler of the world or not,” answered Koklovi, “no one can buy my wine with money. If you want it you must fight for it. If you win you can have it all and the palm-trees too.”

クロが着くと、コクロヴィは朝ごはんを食べていた。ていねいに挨拶を交わしたあと、コクロヴィはクロに来たわけを尋ねた。クロは答えた。「世界を治めるマウリ陛下に遣わされて、陛下のために椰子酒を買いに来たのです」「世界を治める方だろうとなかろうと」とコクロヴィは答えた。「わしの酒は金で買えはせん。欲しいなら戦って取れ。お前が勝ったら、酒も椰子の木もみなやろう」

This answer delighted Klo as he was a very strong fighter. Koklovi was the same, so that the fighting continued for several hours before Klo was able to overcome Koklovi. He was at last successful, however, and securely bound Koklovi before he left him.

この答えにクロは喜んだ。たいそう強い戦い手だったからである。コクロヴィもそうだったので、戦いは何時間も続いてから、ようやくクロがコクロヴィを打ち負かした。とうとうクロは勝ち、立ち去る前にコクロヴィをしっかり縛った。

Then, taking his great pot, he filled it with wine. Finding that there was more wine than the pot would hold, Klo foolishly drank all the rest. He then piled the palm-trees on his back and set out for the palace with the pot of wine. The amount which he had drunk, however, made him feel so sleepy and tired that he could not walk fast with his load. Added to this, a terrible rain began to fall, which made the ground very slippery and still more difficult to travel over.

それからクロは大きな壺を取って酒を満たした。壺に入りきらないほど酒があったので、クロは愚かにも残りをみな飲んでしまった。それから椰子の木を背中に積み上げ、酒の壺を持って宮殿へ向かった。けれども飲んだ酒のせいでひどく眠くだるくなって、荷を持って速く歩けなかった。そのうえ、ひどい雨が降りはじめ、地面はたいそう滑りやすくなって、いっそう歩きにくくなった。

By the time Klo succeeded in reaching his master’s palace the gates were shut and locked. Mauri, finding it so late, had concluded that every one was inside.

クロがようやく主人の宮殿にたどり着いたときには、門は閉ざされ、錠が下ろされていた。マウリは、こんなに遅いのだからみな入ったものと思ったのである。

There were many people packed into the great hall, and all were singing and dancing. The noise of the concert was so great that no one heard Klo’s knocking at the gate, and there he had to stay with his great load of wine and palm-trees.

大広間には大勢の人々がぎっしり詰めかけ、みな歌い踊っていた。宴のにぎわいがあまりに大きかったので、だれもクロが門を叩く音に気づかず、クロは酒と椰子の木の大荷物を背負ったまま、そこにとどまるほかなかった。

The rain continued for nearly two months and was so terrible that the people all remained in the palace till it had finished. By that time Klo had died, under the weight of his load—which he had been unable to get off his back. There he lay, before the gate, with the pile of palm-trees on top of him.

雨は二か月近く降り続き、あまりにひどかったので、人々はみな雨がやむまで宮殿にとどまった。そのころにはクロは、背中から下ろせなかった荷の重みで死んでいた。クロは門の前に、椰子の木の山を上に載せたまま横たわっていた。

When the rain ceased and the gates were opened the people were amazed to see this great mound in front of the gate, where before there had been nothing. They fetched spades and began to shovel it away.

雨がやんで門が開かれると、人々は、前には何もなかった門の前にこの大きな山があるのを見て驚いた。人々はシャベルを持ってきて、それを掘りのけはじめた。

When they came to the bottom of the pile there lay Klo. His earthenware pot and the dust had caked together and formed quite a hard cover on his back.

山のいちばん下まで来ると、そこにクロが横たわっていた。土の壺と泥が固まって、背中にすっかり硬い覆いができていた。

He was taken into the palace—and by the use of many wonderful medicines he was restored to life. But since that date he has never been able to stand upright. He has been a creeping creature, with a great shell on his back.

クロは宮殿に運び込まれ、たくさんの不思議な薬を使って生き返った。けれどもそのとき以来、まっすぐ立つことはできなくなった。背中に大きな甲羅を背負った、這う生きものになったのである。