The Robber and the Old Man

In a big town lived a very rich gentleman. The fame of his wealth soon spread. A clever thief heard of it and determined to have some for himself.

ある大きな町に、たいそう裕福な紳士が住んでいた。その富の評判はすぐに広まった。ある抜け目のない泥棒がそれを聞きつけ、いくらか自分のものにしてやろうと決めた。

He managed to hide himself in a dark corner of the gentleman’s room—while the latter was counting his bags of money. As soon as the old gentleman left the room to fetch something, the thief caught up two of the bags and escaped.

泥棒は、紳士が金の袋を数えているあいだに、どうにかその部屋の暗い隅に身を隠した。老紳士が何かを取りに部屋を出るやいなや、泥棒は袋を二つひっつかんで逃げ出した。

The owner was astonished, on his return a few minutes later, to find two bags short. He could find no trace of the thief.

数分後に戻った持ち主は、袋が二つ足りないのを見て驚いた。泥棒の手がかりは何一つ見つからなかった。

Next morning, however, he chanced to meet the robber just outside the house. The dishonest man looked so confused that the rich man at once suspected he was the thief. He could not, however, prove it, so took the case before the judge.

ところが翌朝、紳士は家のすぐ外で、たまたまその盗人に出くわした。不正直な男があまりにうろたえた様子だったので、金持ちはすぐさまこれが泥棒だと疑った。しかし証拠を示すことはできなかったので、この件を裁判官のもとへ持ち込んだ。

The thief was much alarmed when he heard this. He sought a man in the village and asked his advice. The wise man undertook to help him—if he would promise to pay him half the money when he got off. This the robber at once said he would do.

これを聞いた泥棒はたいそう慌てた。村の一人の男を訪ねて知恵を借りようとした。その賢い男は、放免されたら金の半分を払うと約束するなら助けてやろうと請け合った。泥棒はすぐにそうすると言った。

The old man then advised him to go home and dress in rags. He must ruffle his hair and beard and behave as if he were mad. If any one asked a question he must answer “Moo.”

そこで老人は、家へ帰って襤褸をまとうよう勧めた。髪と髭をぼさぼさにして、気が触れたように振る舞え。誰かに何か問われたら「モー」と答えよ、と。

The thief did so. To every question asked by the judge he said, “Moo, moo.” The judge at last grew angry and dismissed the court. The thief went home in great glee.

泥棒はそのとおりにした。裁判官の問いのすべてに「モー、モー」と答えた。とうとう裁判官は腹を立てて法廷を閉じた。泥棒は大喜びで家へ帰った。

Next day, the wise man came to him for his half of the stolen money. But he could get no answer but “Moo” from the thief, and at last, in despair, he had to go home without a penny. The ungrateful robber kept everything for himself. The wise man regretted very much that he had saved the thief from his just punishment—but it was now too late.

翌日、賢い男が盗んだ金の半分を受け取りに来た。ところが泥棒からは「モー」のほかに答えが返ってこず、とうとう男は途方に暮れて、一文も手にせず帰らねばならなかった。恩知らずの盗人は何もかも独り占めにした。賢い男は、泥棒を当然の罰から救ってしまったことをひどく悔やんだ——だが、もう手遅れであった。