Phakir Chand

There was a king's son, and there was a minister's son. They loved each other dearly; they sat together, they stood up together, they walked together, they ate together, they slept together, they got up together. In this way they spent many years in each other's company, till they both felt a desire to see foreign lands. So one day they set out on their journey. Though very rich, the one being the son of a king and the other the son of his chief minister, they did not take any servants with them; they went by themselves on horseback. The horses were beautiful to look at; they were pakshirajes, or kings of birds. The king's son and the minister's son rode together many days. They passed through extensive plains covered with paddy; through cities, towns, and villages; through waterless, treeless deserts; through dense forests which were the abode of the tiger and the bear. One evening they were overtaken by night in a region where human habitations were not seen; and as it was getting darker and darker, they dismounted beneath a lofty tree, tied their horses to its trunk, and, climbing up, sat on its branches covered with thick foliage. The tree grew near a large tank, the water of which was as clear as the eye of a crow. The king's son and the minister's son made themselves as comfortable as they could on the tree, being determined to spend on its branches the livelong night. They sometimes chatted together in whispers on account of the lonely terrors of the region; they sometimes sat demurely silent for some minutes; and anon they were falling into a doze, when their attention was arrested by a terrible sight.

王の息子がいた。そして大臣の息子がいた。二人はたがいを深く慕いあっていた。ともに坐り、ともに立ち、ともに歩き、ともに食べ、ともに眠り、ともに起きた。こうして幾年もたがいの伴として過ごすうち、二人とも異国を見てみたいと思うようになった。そこである日、旅に出た。一人は王の息子、一人はその筆頭大臣の息子で、たいそう裕福だったが、供の者は連れず、二人だけで馬に乗っていった。馬は見目麗しく、パクシラージ、すなわち鳥の王の種だった。王の息子と大臣の息子は幾日も馬を並べて行った。稲の実る広大な平野を抜け、都を、町を、村を抜け、水も木もない荒野を抜け、虎と熊の棲む深い森を抜けた。ある夕方、人の住まいの見えぬ土地で日が暮れた。あたりはいよいよ暗くなってゆくので、二人は高い木の下で馬を下り、幹に馬をつなぎ、木に登って、葉の茂った枝に腰を下ろした。その木は大きな池のそばに生えていて、その水は烏の目のように澄んでいた。王の息子と大臣の息子は、一晩じゅうその枝の上で過ごそうと心を決めて、できるかぎり楽な姿勢をとった。人けのない土地の恐ろしさから、ひそひそと話を交わすこともあれば、幾分かじっと黙って坐っていることもあった。やがてうとうとしかけたそのとき、恐ろしい光景が二人の目を引いた。

A sound like the rush of many waters was heard from the middle of the tank. A huge serpent was seen leaping up from under the water with its hood of enormous size. It "lay floating many a rood"; then it swam ashore, and went about hissing. But what most of all attracted the attention of the king's son and the minister's son was a brilliant manikya (jewel) on the crested hood of the serpent. It shone like a thousand diamonds. It lit up the tank, its embankments, and the objects round about. The serpent doffed the jewel from its crest and threw it on the ground, and then it went about hissing in search of food. The two friends sitting on the tree greatly admired the wonderful brilliant, shedding ineffable lustre on everything around. They had never before seen anything like it; they had only heard of it as equalling the treasures of seven kings. Their admiration, however, was soon changed into sorrow and fear; for the serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree on the branches of which they were seated, and swallowed up, one by one, the horses tied to the trunk. They feared that they themselves would be the next victims, when, to their infinite relief, the gigantic cobra turned away from the tree, and went about roaming to a great distance. The minister's son, seeing this, bethought himself of taking possession of the lustrous stone. He had heard that the only way to hide the brilliant light of the jewel was to cover it with cow-dung or horse-dung, a quantity of which latter article he perceived lying at the foot of the tree. He came down from the tree softly, picked up the horse-dung, threw it upon the precious stone, and again climbed into the tree. The serpent, not perceiving the light of its head-jewel, rushed with great fury to the spot where it had been left. Its hissings, groans, and convulsions were terrible. It went round and round the jewel covered with horse-dung, and then breathed its last. Early next morning the king's son and the minister's son alighted from the tree, and went to the spot where the crest-jewel was. The mighty serpent lay there perfectly lifeless. The minister's son took up in his hand the jewel covered with horse-dung; and both of them went to the tank to wash it. When all the horse-dung had been washed off, the jewel shone as brilliantly as before. It lit up the entire bed of the tank, and exposed to their view the innumerable fishes swimming about in the waters. But what was their astonishment when they saw, by the light of the jewel, in the bottom of the tank, the lofty walls of what seemed a magnificent palace. The venturesome son of the minister proposed to the prince that they should dive into the waters and get at the palace below. They both dived into the waters--the jewel being in the hand of the minister's son--and in a moment stood at the gate of the palace. The gate was open. They saw no being, human or superhuman. They went inside the gate, and saw a beautiful garden laid out on the ample grounds round about the house which was in the centre. The king's son and the minister's son had never seen such a profusion of flowers. The rose with its many varieties, the jessamine, the bel, the mallika, the king of smells, the lily of the valley, the Champaka, and a thousand other sorts of sweet-scented flowers were there. And of each of these flowers there seemed to be a large number. Here were a hundred rose-bushes, there many acres covered with the delicious jessamine, while yonder were extensive plantations of all sorts of flowers. As all the plants were begemmed with flowers, and as the flowers were in full bloom, the air was loaded with rich perfume. It was a wilderness of sweets. Through this paradise of perfumery they proceeded towards the house, which was surrounded by banks of lofty trees. They stood at the door of the house. It was a fairy palace. The walls were of burnished gold, and here and there shone diamonds of dazzling hue which were stuck into the walls. They did not meet with any beings, human or other. They went inside, which was richly furnished. They went from room to room, but they did not see any one. It seemed to be a deserted house. At last, however, they found in one room a young lady lying down, apparently in sleep, on a bed of golden framework. She was of exquisite beauty; her complexion was a mixture of red and white; and her age was apparently about sixteen. The king's son and the minister's son gazed upon her with rapture; but they had not stood long when this young lady of superb beauty opened her eyes, which seemed like those of a gazelle. On seeing the strangers she said: "How have you come here, ye unfortunate men? Begone, begone! This is the abode of a mighty serpent, which has devoured my father, my mother, my brothers, and all my relatives; I am the only one of my family that he has spared. Flee for your lives, or else the serpent will put you both in its capacious maw." The minister's son told the princess how the serpent had breathed its last; how he and his friend had got possession of its head-jewel, and by its light had come to her palace. She thanked the strangers for delivering her from the infernal serpent, and begged of them to live in the house, and never to desert her. The king's son and the minister's son gladly accepted the invitation. The king's son, smitten with the charms of the peerless princess, married her after a short time; and as there was no priest there, the hymeneal knot was tied by a simple exchange of garlands of flowers.

おびただしい水が押し寄せるような音が、池の真ん中から聞こえてきた。途方もなく大きな鎌首をもたげた巨大な蛇が、水の下から跳ね上がるのが見えた。蛇は「幾ロッドにもわたって水に浮かび」、それから岸へ泳ぎ着いて、しゅうしゅう音を立てながら歩きまわった。だが王の息子と大臣の息子の目を何より引いたのは、蛇の鎌首の上に輝くマニキャ(宝玉)だった。それは千の金剛石のように輝いた。池も、その堤も、あたりのものも照らし出した。蛇は鎌首からその玉を外して地に置き、それから餌を求めてしゅうしゅう言いながら歩きまわった。木の上に坐った二人の友は、あたり一面に言いようもない光を投げるこの見事な宝玉に感嘆した。こんなものを見たのは初めてだった。七人の王の財宝に値するという話に聞いていただけである。だがその感嘆はまもなく悲しみと恐れに変わった。というのも、蛇がしゅうしゅう言いながら二人の坐る木の根もとへやってきて、幹につないだ馬を一頭ずつ呑み込んでしまったのである。次は自分たちの番かと恐れたが、ありがたいことに、この巨大なコブラは木から離れ、遠くまで歩きまわっていった。それを見て大臣の息子は、あの輝く石を手に入れようと思い立った。玉の眩い光を隠すただ一つの手だては、牛の糞か馬の糞で覆うことだと聞いていたが、その馬糞が木の根もとにたくさん落ちているのが目に入った。彼はそっと木を下り、馬糞を拾ってその宝玉の上に放り、また木に登った。蛇は頭の玉の光が見えないので、猛り狂ってそれを置いた場所へ駆けつけた。そのしゅうしゅういう音、うめき、のたうちは恐ろしいものだった。蛇は馬糞に覆われた玉のまわりをぐるぐる回り、そして息絶えた。翌朝早く、王の息子と大臣の息子は木から下り、鎌首の玉のある場所へ行った。あの強大な蛇はそこに、まったく息絶えて横たわっていた。大臣の息子は馬糞に覆われた玉を手に取り、二人はそれを洗いに池へ行った。馬糞がすっかり洗い落とされると、玉は前と同じように輝いた。池の底までを照らし出し、水のなかを泳ぎまわる数えきれぬ魚が二人の目に見えた。ところが玉の光で、池の底に壮麗な宮殿と見える高い壁を見たときには、どれほど驚いたことか。冒険好きな大臣の息子は、水に潜ってあの下の宮殿へ行ってみようと王子に持ちかけた。二人は水に潜り——玉は大臣の息子の手にあった——たちまち宮殿の門前に立っていた。門は開いていた。人であれ人ならぬものであれ、何の姿も見えない。門をくぐると、中央にある屋敷のまわりの広い敷地に、美しい庭が造られていた。王の息子も大臣の息子も、これほどおびただしい花を見たことがなかった。さまざまな種の薔薇、茉莉花、ベル、マッリカー、香りの王、鈴蘭、チャンパカ、そのほか千種もの芳しい花がそこにあった。しかもそのどれもが大きな群れをなしているらしい。ここには薔薇の茂みが百、あそこには何エーカーもの妙なる茉莉花、向こうには広々とあらゆる花の畑がある。どの草木も花を宝玉のようにまとい、しかも満開だったので、大気は濃い香りに満ちていた。それは甘い香りの荒野だった。この香りの楽園を抜けて二人は屋敷へ向かった。屋敷は高い木々の堤に囲まれていた。二人は屋敷の戸口に立った。それは妖精の宮殿だった。壁は磨き上げた黄金で、ところどころに壁に嵌め込まれた目も眩む色の金剛石が輝いていた。人にも何ものにも出会わなかった。なかへ入ると、豪奢にしつらえてあった。部屋から部屋へと歩いたが、誰にも会わない。捨てられた屋敷のようだった。だがとうとう一つの部屋で、若い娘が黄金の骨組みの寝台に、眠っているらしく横たわっているのを見つけた。たとえようもなく美しく、その肌の色は赤と白の混じりあったよう、年のころは十六ばかりと見えた。王の息子と大臣の息子はうっとりとその姿を見つめた。だが長く立っていないうちに、この絶世の美しさの娘が目を開いた。その目は羚羊の目のようだった。見知らぬ二人を見て娘は言った。「どうしてここへおいでになったのです、不運なかたがた。お去りなさい、お去りなさい! ここは強大な蛇の棲まい、父も母も兄弟も親族もみな呑み込まれ、わたくしだけが一族のうちで見逃されたのです。命が惜しければお逃げなさい。さもなければ蛇は二人ともあの大きな口に入れてしまいます」。大臣の息子は、蛇がどうやって息絶えたか、自分と友がどうやってその鎌首の玉を手に入れ、その光でこの宮殿へ来たかを姫に語った。姫は、地獄のような蛇から自分を解き放ってくれたことに礼を言い、この屋敷に住んで、けっして自分を見捨てないでくれと頼んだ。王の息子と大臣の息子は喜んでその招きを受けた。王の息子は、たぐいなき姫の魅力に射抜かれて、まもなく彼女を娶った。祭司はいなかったので、婚姻の結び目はただ花の環を取り交わすことで結ばれた。

The king's son became inexpressibly happy in the company of the princess, who was as amiable in her disposition as she was beautiful in her person; and though the wife of the minister's son was living in the upper world, he too participated in his friend's happiness. Time thus passed merrily, when the king's son bethought himself of returning to his native country; and as it was fit that he should go with his princess in due pomp, it was determined that the minister's son should first ascend from the subaqueous regions, go to the king, and bring with him attendants, horses, and elephants for the happy pair. The snake-jewel was therefore had in requisition. The prince, with the jewel in hand, accompanied the minister's son to the upper world, and bidding adieu to his friend returned to his lovely wife in the enchanted palace. Before leaving, the minister's son appointed the day and the hour when he would stand on the high embankments of the tank with horses, elephants, and attendants, and wait upon the prince and the princess, who were to join him in the upper world by means of the jewel.

王の息子は、姿の美しさに劣らず気立ての優しい姫とともに、言いようもなく幸せになった。大臣の息子の妻は地上の世界に暮らしていたが、彼もまた友の幸せを分かちあった。こうして時は楽しく過ぎたが、やがて王の息子は故国へ帰ろうと思い立った。姫を伴うのだから相応の行列を仕立てて帰るのが筋なので、まず大臣の息子が水底の国から地上へ上がり、王のもとへ行って、この幸せな二人のために供の者や馬や象を連れてくることに決まった。そこで蛇の玉が入用になった。王子は玉を手に、大臣の息子とともに地上へ上がり、友に別れを告げて、魔法の宮殿の愛しい妻のもとへ戻った。発つ前に、大臣の息子は、馬と象と供の者を連れて池の高い堤に立ち、玉によって地上へ上がってくる王子と姫を迎える日と時刻を定めた。

Leaving the minister's son to wend his way to his country and to make preparations for the return of his king's son, let us see how the happy couple in the subterranean palace were passing their time. One day, while the prince was sleeping after his noonday meal, the princess, who had never seen the upper regions, felt the desire of visiting them, and the rather as the snake-jewel, which alone could give her safe conduct through the waters, was at that moment shedding its bright effulgence in the room. She took up the jewel in her hand, left the palace, and successfully reached the upper world. No mortal caught her sight. She sat on the flight of steps with which the tank was furnished for the convenience of bathers, scrubbed her body, washed her hair, disported in the waters, walked about on the water's edge, admired all the scenery around, and returned to her palace, where she found her husband still locked in the embrace of sleep. When the prince woke up, she did not tell him a word about her adventure. The following day at the same hour, when her husband was asleep, she paid a second visit to the upper world, and went back unnoticed by mortal man. As success made her bold, she repeated her adventure a third time. It so chanced that on that day the son of the Rajah, in whose territories the tank was situated, was out on a hunting excursion, and had pitched his tent not far from the place. While his attendants were engaged in cooking their noon-day meal, the Rajah's son sauntered about on the embankments of the tank, near which an old woman was gathering sticks and dried branches of trees for purposes of fuel. It was while the Rajah's son and the old woman were near the tank that the princess paid her third visit to the upper world. She rose up from the waters, gazed around, and seeing a man and a woman on the banks again went down. The Rajah's son caught a momentary glimpse of the princess, and so did the old woman gathering sticks. The Rajah's son stood gazing on the waters. He had never seen such a beauty. She seemed to him to be one of those deva-kanyas, heavenly goddesses, of whom he had read in old books, and who are said now and then to favour the lower world with their visits, which, like angel visits, are "few and far between." The unearthly beauty of the princess, though he had seen her only for a moment, made a deep impression on his heart, and distracted his mind. He stood there like a statue, for hours, gazing on the waters, in the hope of seeing the lovely figure again. But in vain. The princess did not appear again. The Rajah's son became mad with love. He kept muttering--"Now here, now gone! Now here, now gone!" He would not leave the place till he was forcibly removed by the attendants who had now come to him. He was taken to his father's palace in a state of hopeless insanity. He spoke to nobody; he always sobbed heavily; and the only words which proceeded out of his mouth--and he was muttering them every minute--were, "Now here, now gone! Now here, now gone!" The Rajah's grief may well be conceived. He could not imagine what should have deranged his son's mind. The words, "Now here, now gone," which ever and anon issued from his son's lips, were a mystery to him; he could not unravel their meaning; neither could the attendants throw any light on the subject. The best physicians of the country were consulted, but to no effect. The sons of AEsculapius could not ascertain the cause of the madness, far less could they cure it. To the many inquiries of the physicians, the only reply made by the Rajah's son was the stereotyped words--"Now here, now gone! Now here, now gone!"

大臣の息子が国へ向かい、王の息子の帰りの支度をするのにまかせて、地底の宮殿の幸せな二人がどう時を過ごしていたかを見よう。ある日、王子が昼餉のあと眠っているあいだに、地上の世界を見たことのない姫は、それを訪ねてみたくなった。しかも、水のなかを無事に通れる唯一の手だてである蛇の玉が、ちょうどそのとき部屋に眩い光を放っていたのである。姫は玉を手に取り、宮殿を出て、首尾よく地上へたどり着いた。人の目には触れなかった。姫は水浴びする者のために池に設けられた石段に坐り、体をこすり、髪を洗い、水に戯れ、水際を歩きまわり、あたりの景色に感嘆して、宮殿へ帰った。夫はまだ眠りに抱かれたままだった。王子が目を覚ましても、姫はこの冒険のことをひとことも言わなかった。翌日の同じ時刻、夫が眠っているあいだに、姫は二度めの地上訪問をし、人に気づかれずに帰ってきた。うまくいったので大胆になり、三度めの冒険をした。ちょうどその日、この池のある領地のラージャーの息子が狩りに出ていて、その近くに天幕を張っていた。供の者が昼餉の支度をしているあいだ、ラージャーの息子は池の堤をぶらついていた。そのそばでは老婆が一人、薪にする枝や枯れ木を拾い集めていた。ラージャーの息子と老婆が池のそばにいたちょうどそのとき、姫は三度めの地上訪問をしたのである。姫は水から上がり、あたりを見まわし、岸に男と女がいるのを見てまた潜っていった。ラージャーの息子はほんの一瞬、姫の姿をとらえた。枝を拾う老婆も同じだった。ラージャーの息子は水面を見つめて立ちつくした。あれほどの美しさを見たことがなかった。古い書物で読んだデーヴァ・カンヤー、すなわち天の女神の一人ではないかと思われた。彼女たちは折々に下界を訪れて恵むといい、その訪れは天使の訪れのように「まれで、遠く隔たっている」という。ほんの一瞬見ただけだったが、姫のこの世のものならぬ美しさは彼の心に深く刻まれ、その心を乱した。彼は何時間も彫像のようにそこに立ち、あの愛しい姿をもう一度見たいと願って水面を見つめた。だが無駄だった。姫は二度と現れなかった。ラージャーの息子は恋に狂った。「いまここに、いまはもういない! いまここに、いまはもういない!」とつぶやきつづけた。やってきた供の者に力ずくで連れ去られるまで、その場を離れようとしなかった。彼は望みなき狂気のうちに父の宮殿へ運ばれた。誰にも口をきかず、絶えず激しくすすり泣き、口から出るのは——しかも一分ごとにつぶやくのは——ただ「いまここに、いまはもういない! いまここに、いまはもういない!」という言葉だけだった。ラージャーの嘆きは察するにあまりある。何が息子の心を狂わせたのか、見当もつかなかった。息子の唇から折々もれる「いまここに、いまはもういない」という言葉は謎だった。その意味は解けなかったし、供の者たちもこの件に何の光も投げられなかった。国じゅうのすぐれた医者が呼ばれたが、甲斐はなかった。医神の子らにも狂気の因は突きとめられず、まして治すことなどできなかった。医者たちの数々の問いに、ラージャーの息子が返す答えはただ決まりきった言葉——「いまここに、いまはもういない! いまここに、いまはもういない!」だけだった。

The Rajah, distracted with grief on account of the obscuration of his son's intellects, caused a proclamation to be made in the capital by beat of drum, to the effect that, if any person could explain the cause of his son's madness and cure it, such a person would be rewarded with the hand of the Rajah's daughter, and with the possession of half his kingdom. The drum was beaten round most parts of the city, but no one touched it, as no one knew the cause of the madness of the Rajah's son. At last an old woman touched the drum, and declared that she would not only discover the cause of the madness, but cure it. This woman, who was the identical woman that was gathering sticks near the tank at the time the Rajah's son lost his reason, had a crack-brained son of the name of Phakir Chand, and was in consequence called Phakir's mother, or more familiarly Phakre's mother. When the woman was brought before the Rajah, the following conversation took place:--

ラージャーは息子の知が曇ったことに嘆き乱れ、都に太鼓を打って触れを出させた。もし息子の狂気のわけを説き明かし、それを治せる者があれば、その者にはラージャーの娘を与え、領国の半分を持たせるというのである。太鼓は都のほとんどをまわったが、誰も手を触れなかった。ラージャーの息子の狂気のわけを知る者がなかったからである。とうとう一人の老婆が太鼓に触れ、狂気のわけを突きとめるばかりか、それを治してみせると宣言した。この女は、ラージャーの息子が正気を失ったときに池のそばで枝を拾っていた、まさにその女だった。ファキル・チャンドという名の頭の足りない息子があったので、ファキルの母、もっと親しくはファクレの母と呼ばれていた。女がラージャーの前に連れてこられると、次のような話が交わされた——

Rajah. You are the woman that touched the drum.--You know the cause of my son's madness?

ラージャー——太鼓に触れたのはそなたか。わが息子の狂気のわけを知っていると申すか。

Phakir's Mother. Yes, O incarnation of justice! I know the cause, but I will not mention it till I have cured your son.

ファキルの母——さようでございます、正義の化身さま! わけは存じております。ですが、ご子息を治してしまうまでは申しますまい。

Rajah. How can I believe that you are able to cure my son, when the best physicians of the land have failed?

ラージャー——国じゅうのすぐれた医者が失敗したというのに、そなたに息子が治せると、どうして信じられよう。

Phakir's Mother. You need not now believe, my lord, till I have performed the cure. Many an old woman knows secrets with which wise men are unacquainted.

ファキルの母——いまお信じになる必要はございません、殿。わたくしが治してみせるまでは。賢い男たちの知らぬ秘密を知っている老女は、いくらもおります。

Rajah. Very well, let me see what you can do. In what time will you perform the cure?

ラージャー——よかろう、何ができるか見せてもらおう。どれほどの日数で治す。

Phakir's Mother. It is impossible to fix the time at present; but I will begin work immediately with your lordship's assistance.

ファキルの母——いまは日数を決められませぬ。ですが、殿のお力添えがあればすぐにも取りかかります。

Rajah. What help do you require from me?

ラージャー——わしに何を頼みたい。

Phakir's Mother. Your lordship will please order a hut to be raised on the embankment of the tank where your son first caught the disease. I mean to live in that hut for a few days. And your lordship will also please order some of your servants to be in attendance at a distance of about a hundred yards from the hut, so that they might be within call.

ファキルの母——ご子息が初めてこの病を得られた池の堤に、小屋を一つ建てるようお命じくださいまし。数日そこに住みますので。それから、家来を幾人か、小屋から百ヤードほど離れたところに控えさせてくださいまし。呼べば届くように。

Rajah. Very well; I will order that to be immediately done. Do you want anything else?

ラージャー——よかろう、すぐさま命じよう。ほかに入り用なものはあるか。

Phakir's Mother. Nothing else, my lord, in the way of preparations. But it is as well to remind your lordship of the conditions on which I undertake the cure. Your lordship has promised to give to the performer of the cure the hand of your daughter and half your kingdom. As I am a woman and cannot marry your daughter, I beg that, in case I perform the cure, my son Phakir Chand may marry your daughter and take possession of half your kingdom.

ファキルの母——支度としてはほかにございません、殿。ですが、この治療をお引き受けする条件を、いま一度申し上げておきましょう。殿は、治した者にはお嬢さまと領国の半分をお与えになると約束なさいました。わたくしは女ですからお嬢さまを娶ることはできません。そこで、もし治しましたなら、わたくしの息子ファキル・チャンドがお嬢さまを娶り、領国の半分を得られますよう、お願い申し上げます。

Rajah. Agreed, agreed.

ラージャー——承知した、承知した。

A temporary hut was in a few hours erected on the embankment of the tank, and Phakir's mother took up her abode in it. An outpost was also erected at some distance for servants in attendance who might be required to give help to the woman. Strict orders were given by Phakir's mother that no human being should go near the tank excepting herself. Let us leave Phakir's mother keeping watch at the tank, and hasten down into the subterranean palace to see what the prince and the princess are about. After the mishap which had occurred on her last visit to the upper world, the princess had given up the idea of a fourth visit. But women generally have greater curiosity than men; and the princess of the underground palace was no exception to the general rule. One day, while her husband was asleep as usual after his noonday meal, she rushed out of the palace with the snake-jewel in her hand, and came to the upper world. The moment the upheaval of the waters in the middle of the tank took place, Phakir's mother, who was on the alert, concealed herself in the hut and began looking through the chinks of the matted wall. The princess, seeing no mortal near, came to the bank, and sitting there began to scrub her body. Phakir's mother showed herself outside the hut, and addressing the princess, said in a winning tone--"Come, my child, thou queen of beauty, come to me, and I will help you to bathe." So saying, she approached the princess, who, seeing that it was only a woman, made no resistance. The old woman, while in the act of washing the hair of the princess, noticed the bright jewel in her hand, and said--"Put the jewel here till you are bathed." In a moment the jewel was in the possession of Phakir's mother, who wrapped it up in the cloth that was round her waist. Knowing the princess to be unable to escape, she gave the signal to the attendants in waiting, who rushed to the tank and made the princess a captive.

数時間のうちに池の堤に仮の小屋が建てられ、ファキルの母はそこに住まいを移した。手助けを求められたときのために、少し離れたところに家来の詰め所も設けられた。ファキルの母は、自分のほかは誰も池に近づいてはならぬと厳しく言い渡した。さてファキルの母が池で見張っているのはそのままに、急ぎ地底の宮殿へ下って、王子と姫がどうしているかを見よう。前回の地上訪問で起こった災いののち、姫は四度めの訪問はやめようと思っていた。だが女はおしなべて男より好奇心が強いもので、地底の宮殿の姫もこの通則の例外ではなかった。ある日、夫がいつものように昼餉のあと眠っているあいだに、姫は蛇の玉を手に宮殿を飛び出し、地上へ上がってきた。池の真ん中で水が盛り上がったその瞬間、油断なく待ち構えていたファキルの母は小屋に身を隠し、編んだ壁の隙間から覗きはじめた。姫は人の姿が見えないので岸へ上がり、そこに坐って体をこすりはじめた。ファキルの母は小屋の外に姿を見せ、姫に向かって、人好きのする調子で言った——「おいでなさいませ、お嬢さま、美しさの女王さま、わたくしのところへおいでなさい、お湯浴みのお手伝いをいたしましょう」。そう言って姫に近づくと、姫は相手がただの女だと見て、抗わなかった。老婆は姫の髪を洗いながら、その手にある輝く玉に目をとめて言った——「お湯浴みがすむまで、その玉をここへお置きなさいまし」。たちまち玉はファキルの母の手に渡り、老婆はそれを腰に巻いた布に包み込んだ。姫が逃げられないと知ると、老婆は控えていた家来に合図した。家来たちは池へ駆けつけ、姫を捕らえた。

Great were the rejoicings of the people when the tidings reached the city that Phakir's mother had captured a water-nymph from the nether regions. The whole city came to see the "daughter of the immortals," as they called the princess. When she was brought to the palace and confronted with the Rajah's son of obscured intellect, the latter said with a shout of exultation--"I have found! I have found!" The cloud which had settled on his brain was dissipated in a moment. The eyes, erewhile vacant and lustreless, now glowed with the fire of intelligence; his tongue, of which he had almost lost the use--the only words which he used to utter being, "Now here, now gone!"--was now relaxed: in a word, he was restored to his senses. The joy of the Rajah knew no bounds. There was great festivity in the city; and the people who showered benedictions on the head of Phakir Chand's mother, expected the speedy celebration of the marriage of the Rajah's son with the beauty of the nether world. The princess, however, told the Rajah, through Phakir's mother, that she had made a vow to the effect that she would not, for one whole year, look at the face of another man than that of her husband who was dwelling beneath the waters, and that therefore the marriage could not be performed during that period. Though the Rajah's son was somewhat disappointed, he readily agreed to the delay, believing, agreeably to the proverb, that delay would greatly enhance the sweetness of those pleasures which were in store for him.

ファキルの母が下界の水の精を捕らえたという知らせが都に届くと、人々の喜びは大きなものだった。都じゅうの者が、彼らの呼ぶ「不死なる者の娘」を見にやってきた。姫が宮殿へ連れてこられ、知の曇ったラージャーの息子と引き合わされると、息子は勝ち誇った叫びをあげて言った——「見つけた! 見つけた!」。頭にかかっていた雲はたちまち晴れた。それまで虚ろで光のなかった目は、いまや知の火に燃えた。ほとんど使い方を忘れていた舌——口にするのは「いまここに、いまはもういない!」ばかりだったのが——いまやほどけた。ひとことで言えば、正気に返ったのである。ラージャーの喜びは際限がなかった。都では大きな祝いが催され、人々はファキル・チャンドの母の頭に祝福を降らせ、ラージャーの息子と下界の美女との婚礼がまもなく執り行われるものと思っていた。ところが姫はファキルの母を通してラージャーに、水の底に住む夫のほかの男の顔は丸一年見ないという願を立てたので、そのあいだは婚礼は執り行えないと告げた。ラージャーの息子はいささか気落ちしたが、待つほど楽しみの甘さは増すという諺のとおりだと信じて、すんなりこの先延ばしに承知した。

It is scarcely necessary to say that the princess spent her days and her nights in sorrowing and sighing. She lamented that idle curiosity which had led her to come to the upper world, leaving her husband below. When she recollected that her husband was all alone below the waters she wept bitter tears. She wished she could run away. But that was impossible, as she was immured within walls, and there were walls within walls. Besides, if she could get out of the palace and of the city, of what avail would it be? She could not gain her husband, as the serpent jewel was not in her possession. The ladies of the palace and Phakir's mother tried to divert her mind, but in vain. She took pleasure in nothing; she would hardly speak to any one; she wept day and night. The year of her vow was drawing to a close, and yet she was disconsolate. The marriage, however, must be celebrated. The Rajah consulted the astrologers, and the day and the hour in which the nuptial knot was to be tied were fixed. Great preparations were made. The confectioners of the city busied themselves day and night in preparing sweetmeats; milkmen took contracts for supplying the palace with tanks of curds; gunpowder was being manufactured for a grand display of fireworks; bands of musicians were placed on sheds erected over the palace gate, who ever and anon sent forth many "a bout of linked sweetness"; and the whole city assumed an air of mirth and festivity.

姫が来る日も来る夜も嘆きとため息のうちに過ごしたことは、言うまでもあるまい。夫を下に残して地上へ来てしまった、あの詮なき好奇心を悔いた。夫が水の底にただ一人でいることを思い出しては、苦い涙を流した。逃げ出せたらと願った。だがそれは叶わぬことだった。姫は壁のうちに閉じ込められ、しかも壁のなかにまた壁があったのである。それに、たとえ宮殿と都を出られたとして、それが何になろう。蛇の玉が手もとにないのだから、夫のもとへは行けないのだ。宮殿の女たちもファキルの母も気を紛らわせようとしたが無駄だった。姫は何ごとにも喜びを見いださず、誰とも口をきこうとせず、昼も夜も泣いていた。願の一年が終わりに近づいても、姫は打ちひしがれたままだった。それでも婚礼は執り行われねばならない。ラージャーは星占いに諮り、婚姻の結び目を結ぶ日と時刻が定められた。大がかりな支度がなされた。都の菓子屋は昼も夜も菓子作りに追われ、乳売りは宮殿に凝乳を池ほども納める請け負いをし、盛大な花火のために火薬が作られ、宮殿の門の上に設けた桟敷には楽人の一団が置かれて、折々「連なる甘美の調べ」を響かせ、都じゅうが浮き立つ祝いの気配に包まれた。

It is time we should think of the minister's son, who, leaving his friend in the subterranean palace, had gone to his country to bring horses, elephants, and attendants for the return of the king's son and his lovely princess with due pomp. The preparations took him many months; and when everything was ready he started on his journey, accompanied by a long train of elephants, horses, and attendants. He reached the tank two or three days before the appointed day. Tents were pitched in the mango-topes adjoining the tank for the accommodation of men and cattle; and the minister's son always kept his eyes fixed on the tank. The sun of the appointed day sank below the horizon; but the prince and the princess dwelling beneath the waters made no sign. He waited two or three days longer; still the prince did not make his appearance. What could have happened to his friend and his beautiful wife? Were they dead? Had another serpent, possibly the mate of the one that had died, beaten the prince and the princess to death? Had they somehow lost the serpent-jewel? Or had they been captured when they were once on a visit to the upper world? Such were the reflections of the minister's son. He was overwhelmed with grief. Ever since he had come to the tank he had heard at regular intervals the sound of music coming from the city which was not distant. He inquired of passers-by what that music meant. He was told that the Rajah's son was about to be married to some wonderful young lady, who had come out of the waters of that very tank on the bank of which he was now seated, and that the marriage ceremony was to be performed on the day following the next. The minister's son immediately concluded that the wonderful young lady of the lake that was to be married was none other than the wife of his friend, the king's son. He resolved therefore to go into the city to learn the details of the affair, and try if possible to rescue the princess. He told the attendants to go home, taking with them the elephants and the horses; and he himself went to the city, and took up his abode in the house of a Brahman.

そろそろ大臣の息子のことを考えねばなるまい。彼は友を地底の宮殿に残して国へ帰り、王の息子と美しい姫が相応の行列で帰るための馬と象と供の者を整えていた。その支度に何か月もかかり、すべて整うと、象と馬と供の者の長い列を従えて旅に出た。約束の日の二、三日前に池に着いた。人と獣のために池に隣り合う果樹の林に天幕が張られ、大臣の息子はいつも池から目を離さずにいた。約束の日の日は地平に沈んだ。だが水の底に住む王子と姫は何の兆しも見せなかった。さらに二、三日待ったが、やはり王子は現れない。友と美しい妻に何が起こったのか。死んだのか。別の蛇が、おそらくあの死んだ蛇の連れ合いが、王子と姫を打ち殺したのか。どうかして蛇の玉を失くしたのか。それとも地上へ上がってきたところを捕らえられたのか。大臣の息子はそう思いめぐらした。嘆きに打ちひしがれた。池へ来てからずっと、遠くない都から決まった間をおいて楽の音が聞こえていた。通りかかる人にその楽は何かと尋ねてみた。すると、ラージャーの息子がある不思議な若い娘と婚礼を挙げるところで、その娘はいま彼が坐っているまさにこの池の水から現れたのだ、婚礼は明後日に執り行われるのだ、と聞かされた。大臣の息子はすぐさま、婚礼を挙げるというその不思議な池の娘こそ、友である王の息子の妻にほかならぬと結論した。そこで都へ入って詳しい事情を探り、できることなら姫を救い出そうと決めた。供の者たちには象と馬を連れて帰るように言い、自分は都へ行って、あるバラモンの家に宿を取った。

After he had rested and taken his dinner, the minister's son asked the Brahman what the meaning was of the music that was heard in the city at regular intervals. The Brahman asked, "From what part of the world have you come that you have not heard of the wonderful circumstance that a young lady of heavenly beauty rose out of the waters of a tank in the suburbs, and that she is going to be married the day after to-morrow to the son of our Rajah?"

休んで夕餉をとったあと、大臣の息子はバラモンに、決まった間をおいて都に聞こえる楽の音は何かと尋ねた。バラモンは尋ね返した。「あなたはいったい世界のどこからおいでなのです。天女のような美しさの娘が町はずれの池の水から現れ、その娘が明後日、われらがラージャーの息子に嫁ぐという、あの不思議な出来事をお聞きでないとは」

Minister's Son. No, I have heard nothing. I have come from a distant country whither the story has not reached. Will you kindly tell me the particulars?

大臣の息子——いいえ、何も聞いておりません。話の届かぬ遠い国から来たのです。どうかその子細を教えてくださいませんか。

Brahman. The Rajah's son went out a-hunting about this time last year. He pitched his tents close to a tank in the suburbs. One day, while the Rajah's son was walking near the tank, he saw a young woman, or rather goddess, of uncommon beauty rise from the waters of the tank. She gazed about for a minute or two and disappeared. The Rajah's son, however, who had seen her, was so struck with her heavenly beauty that he became desperately enamoured of her. Indeed, so intense was his passion, that his reason gave way; and he was carried home hopelessly mad. The only words he uttered day and night were--"Now here, now gone!" The Rajah sent for all the best physicians of the country for restoring his son to his reason; but the physicians were powerless. At last he caused a proclamation to be made by beat of drum to the effect that if any one could cure the Rajah's son, he should be the Rajah's son-in-law and the owner of half his kingdom. An old woman, who went by the name of Phakir's mother, took hold of the drum, and declared her ability to cure the Rajah's son. On the tank where the princess had appeared was raised for Phakir's mother a hut in which she took up her abode; and not far from her hut another hut was erected for the accommodation of attendants who might be required to help her. It seems the goddess rose from the waters; Phakir's mother seized her with the help of the attendants, and carried her in a palki to the palace. At the sight of her the Rajah's son was restored to his senses; and the marriage would have been celebrated at that time but for a vow which the goddess had made that she would not look at the face of any male person till the lapse of a year. The year of the vow is now over; and the music which you have heard is from the gate of the Rajah's palace. This, in brief, is the story.

バラモン——ラージャーの息子が去年の今ごろ狩りに出られたのです。町はずれの池のすぐそばに天幕を張られた。ある日、ラージャーの息子が池のそばを歩いていると、並はずれた美しさの若い女、いや女神というべきか、それが池の水から現れるのを見られた。女は一、二分あたりを見まわして、消えてしまった。だがそれを見たラージャーの息子は、その天女のような美しさに打たれ、狂おしいほど恋い慕われた。それがあまりに激しい想いだったので、理性が崩れ、望みなき狂気のまま屋敷へ運ばれたのです。昼も夜も口にされるのは「いまここに、いまはもういない!」という言葉だけ。ラージャーは息子を正気に戻そうと国じゅうのすぐれた医者を呼び寄せたが、医者たちは無力でした。とうとう、ラージャーの息子を治せる者があれば、その者をラージャーの婿とし領国の半分の主にするという触れを、太鼓を打って出させたのです。ファキルの母という名で通っていた老婆が太鼓に手を触れ、ラージャーの息子を治せると言い切った。姫の現れた池には、ファキルの母のために小屋が建てられて彼女がそこに住み、その小屋から遠からぬところに、手助けを求められたときのための家来の小屋がもう一つ建てられた。どうやら女神が水から現れ、ファキルの母が家来の手を借りて捕らえ、駕籠で宮殿へ運んだらしい。その姿を見てラージャーの息子は正気に返られた。婚礼はそのとき執り行われるはずでしたが、女神が、一年たつまでは男の顔を見ないという願を立てていたのです。その願の一年がいま終わった。あなたの聞いた楽の音は、ラージャーの宮殿の門から響いているのです。かいつまんで言えば、これがその話です。

Minister's Son. A truly wonderful story! And has Phakir's mother, or rather Phakir Chand himself, been rewarded with the hand of the Rajah's daughter and with the possession of half the kingdom?

大臣の息子——まことに不思議な話ですね! それでファキルの母、いやファキル・チャンド自身は、ラージャーの娘と領国の半分を褒美に得たのですか。

Brahman. No, not yet. Phakir has not been got hold of. He is a half-witted lad, or rather quite mad. He has been away for more than a year from his home, and no one knows where he is. That is his manner; he stays away for a long time, suddenly comes home, and again disappears. I believe his mother expects him soon.

バラモン——いや、まだです。ファキルはつかまっていないのです。あれは半分頭の足りぬ若者、いやまるきり気がふれている。一年以上も家を空けていて、どこにいるか誰も知らない。いつものことでしてね、長いこと姿を消しては、ふいに帰ってきて、また消えてしまう。母親はそろそろ帰ると思っているらしい。

Minister's Son. What like is he? and what does he do when he returns home?

大臣の息子——どんな風体の男です。帰ってくると何をするのです。

Brahman. Why, he is about your height, though he is somewhat younger than you. He puts on a small piece of cloth round his waist, rubs his body with ashes, takes the branch of a tree in his hand, and, at the door of the hut in which his mother lives, dances to the tune of dhoop! dhoop! dhoop! His articulation is very indistinct; and when his mother says--"Phakir! stay with me for some days," he invariably answers in his usual unintelligible manner, "No, I won't remain, I won't remain." And when he wishes to give an affirmative answer, he says, "Hoom," which means "Yes."

バラモン——そうですな、背丈はあなたくらい、年はあなたより少し若い。腰に小さな布切れを巻き、体に灰を塗り、木の枝を手に持って、母親の住む小屋の戸口で、ドゥープ! ドゥープ! ドゥープ! という調子で踊るのです。言葉はひどく不明瞭でしてね。母親が「ファキル! 幾日かわたしといておくれ」と言うと、決まってあのわけのわからぬ調子で「いや、いない、いない」と答える。うなずくときは「フーム」と言う。「はい」という意味です。

The above conversation with the Brahman poured a flood of light into the mind of the minister's son. He saw how matters stood. He perceived that the princess of the subterranean palace must have alone ventured out into the tank by means of the snake-jewel; that she must have been captured alone without the king's son; that the snake-jewel must be in the possession of Phakir's mother; and that his friend, the king's son, must be alone below the waters without any means of escape. The desolate and apparently hopeless state of his friend filled him with unutterable grief. He was in deep musings during most part of the night. Is it impossible, thought he, to rescue the king's son from the nether regions? What if, by some means or other, I contrive to get the jewel from the old woman? And can I not do it by personating Phakir Chand himself, who is expected by his mother shortly? And possibly by the same means I may be able to rescue the princess from the Rajah's palace. He resolved to act the role of Phakir Chand the following day. In the morning he left the Brahman's house, went to the outskirts of the city, divested himself of his usual clothing, put round his waist a short and narrow piece of cloth which scarcely reached his knee-joints, rubbed his body well with ashes, took in his hand a twig which he broke off a tree, and thus accoutred, presented himself before the door of the hut of Phakir's mother. He commenced operations by dancing, in a most violent manner, to the tune of dhoop! dhoop! dhoop! The dancing attracted the notice of the old woman, who, supposing that her son had come, said--"My son Phakir, are you come? Come, my darling; the gods have at last become propitious to us." The supposed Phakir Chand uttered the monosyllable "hoom," and went on dancing in a still more violent manner than before, waving the twig in his hand. "This time you must not go away," said the old woman, "you must remain with me." "No, I won't remain, I won't remain," said the minister's son. "Remain with me, and I'll get you married to the Rajah's daughter. Will you marry, Phakir Chand?" The minister's son replied--"Hoom, hoom," and danced on like a madman. "Will you come with me to the Rajah's house? I'll show you a princess of uncommon beauty who has risen from the waters." "Hoom, hoom," was the answer that issued from his lips, while his feet tripped it violently to the sound of dhoop! dhoop! "Do you wish to see a manik, Phakir, the crest jewel of the serpent, the treasure of seven kings?" "Hoom, hoom," was the reply. The old woman brought out of the hut the snake-jewel, and put it into the hand of her supposed son. The minister's son took it, and carefully wrapped it up in the piece of cloth round his waist. Phakir's mother, delighted beyond measure at the opportune appearance of her son, went to the Rajah's house, partly to announce to the Rajah the news of Phakir's appearance, and partly to show Phakir the princess of the waters. The supposed Phakir and his mother found ready access to the Rajah's palace, for the old woman had, since the capture of the princess, become the most important person in the kingdom. She took him into the room where the princess was, and introduced him to her. It is superfluous to remark that the princess was by no means pleased with the company of a madcap, who was in a state of semi-nudity, whose body was rubbed with ashes, and who was ever and anon dancing in a wild manner. At sunset the old woman proposed to her son that they should leave the palace and go to their own house. But the supposed Phakir Chand refused to comply with the request; he said he would stay there that night. His mother tried to persuade him to return with her, but he persisted in his determination. He said he would remain with the princess. Phakir's mother therefore went away, after giving instructions to the guards and attendants to take care of her son.

このバラモンとの話は、大臣の息子の心に光を注ぎ込んだ。事の次第が見えてきた。地底の宮殿の姫が蛇の玉を持って一人で池へ出ていったにちがいない。王の息子なしに一人で捕らえられたにちがいない。蛇の玉はファキルの母の手にあるにちがいない。そして友である王の息子は、逃れる手だてもなく、ただ一人水の底にいるにちがいない。友のうらぶれた、望みなきありさまを思うと、言いようのない嘆きに満たされた。夜の大半を深く思いめぐらして過ごした。地底の国から王の息子を救い出すのは不可能だろうか、と彼は考えた。どうにかして老婆から玉を手に入れられないか。母親がまもなく帰ると思っているというファキル・チャンド本人になりすませば、できるのではないか。そして同じ手で、ラージャーの宮殿から姫を救い出せるかもしれない。彼は翌日ファキル・チャンドを演じようと決めた。朝、バラモンの家を出て町はずれへ行き、いつもの着物を脱ぎ、膝までも届かぬ短く細い布を腰に巻き、体じゅうに灰をよく塗り、木から折り取った小枝を手に持ち、こう身支度してファキルの母の小屋の戸口の前に現れた。そしてドゥープ! ドゥープ! ドゥープ! の調子で、それはもう荒々しく踊りはじめた。その踊りは老婆の目にとまり、息子が帰ってきたものと思って、こう言った——「わたしのファキルや、帰ってきたのかい。おいで、いとしい子や。神々がとうとうわたしたちに味方してくださった」。ファキル・チャンドと思われた男は「フーム」と一音だけ発し、手の小枝を振りながら、前にもまして荒々しく踊りつづけた。「今度はどこへも行ってはいけないよ」と老婆は言った。「わたしといておくれ」。「いや、いない、いない」と大臣の息子は言った。「わたしといておくれ、ラージャーのお嬢さまと結婚させてあげるから。結婚するかい、ファキル・チャンド」。大臣の息子は「フーム、フーム」と答え、狂人のように踊りつづけた。「ラージャーのお屋敷へいっしょに行くかい。水から現れた並はずれて美しい姫さまを見せてあげよう」。「フーム、フーム」という答えが唇からもれ、足はドゥープ! ドゥープ! の音に合わせて荒々しく跳ねた。「マニクを見たいかい、ファキル。蛇の鎌首の玉、七人の王の財宝だよ」。「フーム、フーム」という答えだった。老婆は小屋から蛇の玉を持ち出し、息子と思っている男の手に置いた。大臣の息子はそれを受け取り、腰に巻いた布に丁寧に包み込んだ。ファキルの母は息子が折よく現れたことに喜びきって、ラージャーの屋敷へ行った。ファキルが現れた知らせをラージャーに告げるためでもあり、ファキルに水の姫を見せるためでもあった。ファキルと思われた男とその母は、たやすくラージャーの宮殿に通された。姫が捕らえられてからというもの、老婆は国じゅうでいちばん重んじられる者になっていたからである。老婆は彼を姫のいる部屋へ連れていき、引き合わせた。姫がこの半裸で体に灰を塗り、折々に荒々しく踊る狂人の相手を少しも喜ばなかったことは、言うまでもない。日が沈むと、老婆は息子に、宮殿を出て自分たちの家へ帰ろうと言った。だがファキル・チャンドと思われた男は聞き入れず、今夜はここにいると言った。母はいっしょに帰るよう説き伏せようとしたが、彼は言い張った。姫といっしょにいるのだと言うのである。そこでファキルの母は、息子の面倒を見るよう衛士と侍者に言いつけて、帰っていった。

When all in the palace had retired to rest, the supposed Phakir, coming towards the princess, said in his own usual voice--"Princess! do you not recognise me? I am the minister's son, the friend of your princely husband." The princess, astonished at the announcement, said--"Who? The minister's son? Oh, my husband's best friend, do rescue me from this terrible captivity, from this worse than death. O fate! it is by my own fault that I am reduced to this wretched state. Oh, rescue me, rescue me, thou best of friends!" She then burst into tears. The minister's son said, "Do not be disconsolate. I will try my best to rescue you this very night; only you must do whatever I tell you." "I will do anything you tell me, minister's son; anything you tell me." After this the supposed Phakir left the room, and passed through the courtyard of the palace. Some of the guards challenged him, to whom he replied, "Hoom, hoom; I will just go out for a minute and again come in presently." They understood that it was the madcap Phakir. True to his word he did come back shortly, and went to the princess. An hour afterwards he again went out and was again challenged, on which he made the same reply as at the first time. The guards who challenged him began to mutter between their teeth--"This madcap of a Phakir will, we suppose, go out and come in all night. Let the fellow alone; let him do what he likes. Who can be sitting up all night for him?" The minister's son was going out and coming in with the view of accustoming the guards to his constant egress and ingress, and also of watching for a favourable opportunity to escape with the princess. About three o'clock in the morning the minister's son again passed through the courtyard, but this time no one challenged him, as all the guards had fallen asleep. Overjoyed at the auspicious circumstance, he went to the princess. "Now, princess, is the time for escape. The guards are all asleep. Mount on my back, and tie the locks of your hair round my neck, and keep tight hold of me." The princess did as she was told. He passed unchallenged through the courtyard with the lovely burden on his back, passed out of the gate of the palace--no one challenging him, passed on to the outskirts of the city, and reached the tank from which the princess had risen. The princess stood on her legs, rejoicing at her escape, and at the same time trembling. The minister's son untied the snake-jewel from his waist-cloth, and descending into the waters, both he and she found their way to the subterranean palace. The reception which the prince in the subaqueous palace gave to his wife and his friend may be easily imagined. He had nearly died of grief; but now he suffered a resurrection. The three were now mad with joy. During the three days that they remained in the palace they again and again told the story of the egress of the princess into the upper world, of her seizure, of her captivity in the palace, of the preparations for marriage, of the old woman, of the minister's son personating Phakir Chand, and of the successful deliverance. It is unnecessary to add that the prince and the princess expressed their gratitude to the minister's son in the warmest terms, declared him to be their best and greatest friend, and vowed to abide always, till the day of their death, by his advice, and to follow his counsel.

宮殿の者がみな休んだころ、ファキルと思われた男は姫のほうへ来て、自分本来の声で言った——「姫、わたしがわかりませんか。大臣の息子、あなたの王子の夫の友です」。姫はこの言葉に驚いて言った——「誰ですって。大臣の息子ですって。ああ、夫のいちばんの友よ、どうかこの恐ろしい囚われから、死よりも辛いこのありさまから、わたくしを救い出してください。ああ、運命よ! わたくしがこんな惨めな身になったのは、わたくし自身の過ちのせいです。ああ、救ってください、救ってください、友のなかの友よ!」。そう言って泣き伏した。大臣の息子は言った。「嘆かれますな。今夜のうちにも救い出すよう力を尽くします。ただ、わたしの言うとおりになさってください」。「何でもおっしゃるとおりにします、大臣のご子息。何でもおっしゃるとおりに」。そのあとファキルと思われた男は部屋を出て、宮殿の中庭を横切った。衛士の何人かが誰何したので、彼は答えた。「フーム、フーム。ちょっと外へ出て、すぐにまた入ってくる」。衛士たちは、あの気のふれたファキルだと納得した。言葉どおり彼はまもなく戻ってきて、姫のもとへ行った。一時間してまた出ていき、また誰何され、最初と同じ答えをした。誰何した衛士たちは歯のあいだでぶつぶつ言いはじめた——「この狂人のファキルときたら、一晩じゅう出たり入ったりするつもりらしい。ほうっておけ。好きにさせろ。誰があいつのために一晩じゅう起きていられるものか」。大臣の息子が出たり入ったりしていたのは、衛士たちを自分の出入りに慣らすためであり、また姫と逃げるのに都合のよい機会をうかがうためでもあった。夜明け前の三時ごろ、大臣の息子はまた中庭を横切ったが、こんどは誰も誰何しなかった。衛士がみな眠り込んでいたのである。この幸先よいなりゆきに喜び、彼は姫のもとへ行った。「さあ姫、いまが逃れるときです。衛士はみな眠っています。わたしの背に乗り、髪をわたしの首に結びつけ、しっかりつかまっていてください」。姫は言われたとおりにした。彼はその愛らしい荷を背負って、誰何もされずに中庭を抜け、宮殿の門を出て——誰も咎めなかった——町はずれへ抜け、姫が現れたあの池にたどり着いた。姫は自分の足で立ち、逃れられたことを喜びながら、同時に震えていた。大臣の息子は腰布から蛇の玉を解き、水へ下りていって、二人ともに地底の宮殿への道をたどった。水底の宮殿の王子が妻と友を迎えたその様子は、察するにたやすい。王子は嘆きのあまり死にかけていたが、いまやよみがえった。三人は喜びに狂った。宮殿にとどまった三日のあいだ、三人は幾度も幾度も語りあった。姫が地上へ出たこと、捕らえられたこと、宮殿に囚われたこと、婚礼の支度のこと、老婆のこと、大臣の息子がファキル・チャンドになりすましたこと、そして首尾よく救い出したこと。王子と姫が大臣の息子にこのうえなく熱い言葉で感謝を述べ、彼をいちばんの、いちばん大きな友だと言い、死ぬ日まで常にその助言に従い、その進言のとおりにすると誓ったことは、言うまでもあるまい。

Being resolved to return to their native country, the king's son, the minister's son, and the princess left the subterranean palace, and, lighted in the passage by the snake-jewel, made their way good to the upper world. As they had neither elephants nor horses, they were under the necessity of travelling on foot; and though this mode of travelling was troublesome to both the king's son and the minister's son, as they were bred in the lap of luxury, it was infinitely more troublesome to the princess, as the stones of the rough road

故国へ帰ろうと心を決めて、王の息子と大臣の息子と姫は地底の宮殿を出て、道すがら蛇の玉に照らされながら、無事に地上へたどり着いた。象も馬もなかったので、歩いて旅をするほかなかった。この旅のしかたは、贅沢のうちに育った王の息子にも大臣の息子にも難儀だったが、姫にはそれよりはるかに難儀だった。荒れた道の石が

"Wounded the invisible Palms of her tender feet where'er they fell."

「その柔らかき足の、目に見えぬ裏を、踏むたびに傷つけた」のである。

When her feet became very sore, the king's son sometimes took her up on his broad shoulders, on which she sat astride; but the load, however lovely, was too heavy to be carried any great distance. She therefore, for the most part, travelled on foot.

姫の足がひどく痛むと、王の息子はときおり広い肩に姫を担ぎ上げ、姫はそこにまたがって坐った。だがどんなに愛らしい荷でも、遠くまで運ぶには重すぎた。そこで姫はおおかた歩いて旅をした。

One evening they bivouacked beneath a tree, as no human habitations were visible. The minister's son said to the prince and princess, "Both of you go to sleep, and I will keep watch in order to prevent any danger." The royal couple were soon locked in the arms of sleep. The faithful son of the minister did not sleep, but sat up watching. It so happened that on that tree swung the nest of the two immortal birds, Bihangama and Bihangami, who were not only endowed with the power of human speech, but who could see into the future. To the no little astonishment of the minister's son the two prophetical birds joined in the following conversation:--

ある夕方、人の住まいが見えなかったので、三人は木の下で野宿した。大臣の息子は王子と姫に言った。「お二人ともお眠りなさい。わたしが見張って、危ういことのないようにします」。王家の二人はまもなく眠りの腕に抱かれた。忠実な大臣の息子は眠らず、起きて見張っていた。ちょうどその木には、不死の鳥ビハンガマとビハンガミーの巣が吊るされていた。この二羽は人の言葉を話す力を持つばかりか、先のことも見通せた。大臣の息子が少なからず驚いたことに、この予言する二羽が次のような話を交わしはじめた——

Bihangama. The minister's son has already risked his own life for the safety of his friend, the king's son; but he will find it difficult to save the prince at last.

ビハンガマ——大臣の息子はもう、友である王の息子の身の安全のために自分の命を賭けた。だが最後に王子を救うのは難しかろう。

Bihangami. Why so?

ビハンガミー——なぜ。

Bihangama. Many dangers await the king's son. The prince's father, when he hears of the approach of his son, will send for him an elephant, some horses, and attendants. When the king's son rides on the elephant he will fall down and die.

ビハンガマ——王の息子には多くの危難が待ち受けている。王子の父は、息子が近づいたと聞けば、象と馬と供の者を迎えによこすだろう。王の息子がその象に乗れば、落ちて死ぬ。

Bihangami. But suppose some one prevents the king's son from riding on the elephant, and makes him ride on horseback, will he not in that case be saved?

ビハンガミー——だが誰かが王の息子を象に乗せず、馬に乗せたなら、それで助かるのではないか。

Bihangama. Yes, he will in that case escape that danger, but a fresh danger awaits him. When the king's son is in sight of his father's palace, and when he is in the act of passing through its lion-gate, the lion-gate will fall upon him and crush him to death.

ビハンガマ——そうだ、その場合はその危難は免れる。だが新たな危難が待ち受けている。王の息子が父の宮殿を目の前にして、その獅子門をくぐろうとするとき、獅子門が彼の上に落ちて押し潰す。

Bihangami. But suppose some one destroys the lion-gate before the king's son goes up to it; will not the king's son in that case be saved?

ビハンガミー——だが誰かが、王の息子がそこへ行く前に獅子門を壊したなら、それで助かるのではないか。

Bihangama. Yes, in that case he will escape that particular danger; but a fresh danger awaits him. When the king's son reaches the palace and sits at a feast prepared for him, and when he takes into his mouth the head of a fish cooked for him, the head of the fish will stick in his throat and choke him to death.

ビハンガマ——そうだ、その場合はその危難は免れる。だが新たな危難が待ち受けている。王の息子が宮殿に着いて、彼のために設けられた宴の席につき、彼のために料理された魚の頭を口に入れるとき、その魚の頭が喉につかえて彼を窒息させる。

Bihangami. But suppose some one sitting at the feast snatches the head of the fish from the prince's plate, and thus prevents him from putting it into his mouth, will not the king's son in that case be saved?

ビハンガミー——だが宴の席にいる誰かが王子の皿から魚の頭を取り上げ、口に入れさせなかったなら、それで助かるのではないか。

Bihangama. Yes, in that case he will escape that particular danger; but a fresh danger awaits him. When the prince and princess after dinner retire into their sleeping apartment, and they lie together in bed, a terrible cobra will come into the room and bite the king's son to death.

ビハンガマ——そうだ、その場合はその危難は免れる。だが新たな危難が待ち受けている。宴のあと王子と姫が寝間に引き取り、床をともにして横たわるとき、恐ろしいコブラが部屋に入ってきて、王の息子を噛み殺す。

Bihangami. But suppose some one lying in wait in the room cut the snake into pieces, will not the king's son in that case be saved?

ビハンガミー——だが誰かが部屋で待ち伏せて蛇を切り刻んだなら、それで助かるのではないか。

Bihangama. Yes, in that case the life of the king's son will be saved; but if the man who kills the snake repeats to the king's son the conversation between you and me, that man will be turned into a marble statue.

ビハンガマ——そうだ、その場合は王の息子の命は救われる。だが蛇を殺した者が、おまえとわたしのこの話を王の息子に告げたなら、その者は大理石の像に変わる。

Bihangami. But is there no means of restoring the marble statue to life?

ビハンガミー——だが大理石の像を生き返らせる手だてはないのか。

Bihangama. Yes, the marble statue may be restored to life if it is washed with the life-blood of the infant which the princess will give birth to, immediately after it is ushered into the world.

ビハンガマ——ある。姫が産む赤子の、生まれ落ちた直後のその命の血で洗えば、大理石の像は生き返る。

The conversation of the prophetical birds had extended thus far when the crows began to caw, the east put on a reddish hue, and the travellers beneath the tree bestirred themselves. The conversation stopped, but the minister's son had heard it all.

予言する鳥たちの話がここまで来たとき、烏が鳴きはじめ、東の空が赤みを帯び、木の下の旅人たちが身じろぎしはじめた。話はそこでやんだが、大臣の息子はすべてを聞いていた。

The prince, the princess, and the minister's son pursued their journey in the morning; but they had not walked many hours when they met a procession consisting of an elephant, a horse, a palki, and a large number of attendants. These animals and men had been sent by the king, who had heard that his son, together with his newly married wife and his friend the minister's son, were not far from the capital on their journey homewards. The elephant, which was richly caparisoned, was intended for the prince; the palki the framework of which was silver and was gaudily adorned, was meant for the princess; and the horse for the minister's son. As the prince was about to mount on the elephant, the minister's son went up to him and said--"Allow me to ride on the elephant, and you please ride on horseback." The prince was not a little surprised at the coolness of the proposal. He thought his friend was presuming too much on the services he had rendered; he was therefore nettled, but remembering that his friend had saved both him and his wife, he said nothing, but quietly mounted the horse, though his mind became somewhat alienated from him. The procession started, and after some time came in sight of the palace, the lion-gate of which had been gaily adorned for the reception of the prince and the princess. The minister's son told the prince that the lion-gate should be broken down before the prince could enter the palace. The prince was astounded at the proposal, especially as the minister's son gave no reasons for so extraordinary a request. His mind became still more estranged from him; but in consideration of the services the minister's son had rendered, his request was complied with, and the beautiful lion-gate, with its gay decorations, was broken down.

王子と姫と大臣の息子は朝になって旅をつづけたが、幾時間も歩かぬうちに、象一頭と馬一頭と駕籠一挺、それに大勢の供の者からなる行列に出会った。この獣と人々は王がよこしたものだった。息子が新しい妻と友である大臣の息子とともに帰路につき、都の近くまで来ていると聞いたのである。豪奢な飾りをつけた象は王子のため、銀の骨組みに華やかな装飾をした駕籠は姫のため、馬は大臣の息子のためだった。王子が象に乗ろうとすると、大臣の息子が近寄って言った——「わたしに象に乗らせてください。あなたは馬にお乗りください」。王子はこの図々しい申し出に少なからず驚いた。友は自分に尽くした働きを笠に着すぎていると思い、腹が立った。だが友が自分と妻を救ってくれたことを思い出して何も言わず、静かに馬にまたがった。とはいえその心は、いくらか友から離れた。行列は進み、しばらくして宮殿が見えてきた。その獅子門は王子と姫を迎えるために華やかに飾られていた。大臣の息子は王子に、宮殿に入る前に獅子門を壊さねばならないと言った。王子はこの申し出に呆れた。しかも大臣の息子はこの途方もない求めにわけを述べないのである。王子の心はいっそう友から離れた。だが大臣の息子の尽くした働きを思って、その求めは聞き入れられ、美しい獅子門は華やかな飾りもろとも壊された。

The party now went into the palace, where the king gave a warm reception to his son, to his daughter-in-law, and to the minister's son. When the story of their adventures was related, the king and his courtiers expressed great astonishment, and they all with one voice extolled the sagacity, prudence, and devotedness of the minister's son. The ladies of the palace were struck with the extraordinary beauty of the new-comer; her complexion was milk and vermilion mixed together; her neck was like that of a swan; her eyes were like those of a gazelle; her lips were as red as the berry bimba; her cheeks were lovely; her nose was straight and high; her hair reached her ankles; her walk was as graceful as that of a young elephant--such were the terms in which the connoisseurs of beauty praised the princess whom destiny had brought into the midst of them. They sat around her and put her a thousand questions regarding her parents, regarding the subterranean palace in which she formerly lived, and the serpent which had killed all her relatives. It was now time that the new arrivals should have their dinner. The dinner was served up in dishes of gold. All sorts of delicacies were there, amongst which the most conspicuous was the large head of a rohita fish placed in a golden cup near the prince's plate. While they were eating, the minister's son suddenly snatched the head of the fish from the prince's plate, and said, "Let me, prince, eat this rohita's head." The king's son was quite indignant. He said nothing, however. The minister's son perceived that his friend was in a terrible rage; but he could not help it, as his conduct, however strange, was necessary to the safety of his friend's life; neither could he clear himself by stating the reason of his behaviour, as in that case he himself would be transformed into a marble statue. The dinner over, the minister's son expressed his desire to go to his own house. At other times the king's son would not allow his friend to go away in that fashion; but being shocked at his strange conduct, he readily agreed to the proposal. The minister's son, however, had not the slightest notion of going to his own house; he was resolved to avert the last peril that was to threaten the life of his friend. Accordingly, with a sword in his hand, he stealthily entered the room in which the prince and the princess were to sleep that night, and ensconced himself under the bedstead, which was furnished with mattresses of down and canopied with mosquito curtains of the richest silk and gold lace. Soon after dinner the prince and princess came into the bedroom, and undressing themselves went to bed. At midnight, while the royal couple were asleep, the minister's son perceived a snake of gigantic size enter the room through one of the water-passages, and climb up the tester-frame of the bed. He rushed out of his hiding-place, killed the serpent, cut it up in pieces, and put the pieces in the dish for holding betel-leaves and spices. It so happened, however, that as the minister's son was cutting the serpent into pieces, a drop of blood fell on the breast of the princess, and the rather as the mosquito curtains had not been let down. Thinking that the drop of blood might injure the fair princess, he resolved to lick it up. But as he regarded it as a great sin to look upon a young woman lying asleep half naked, he blindfolded himself with seven-fold cloth, and licked up the drop of blood. But while he was in the act of licking it, the princess awoke and screamed, and her scream roused her husband lying beside her. The prince seeing the minister's son, who he thought had gone away to his own house, bending over the body of his wife, fell into a great rage, and would have got up and killed him, had not the minister's son besought him to restrain his anger, adding--"Friend, I have done this only in order to save your life." "I do not understand what you mean," said the prince; "ever since we came out of the subterranean palace you have been behaving in a most extraordinary way. In the first place, you prevented me from getting upon the richly caparisoned elephant, though my father, the king, had purposely sent it for me. I thought, however, that a sense of the services you had rendered to me had made you exceedingly vain; I therefore let the matter pass, and mounted the horse. In the second place, you insisted on the destruction of the fine lion-gate, which my father had adorned with gay decorations; and I let that matter also pass. Then, again, at dinner you snatched away, in a most shameful manner, the rohita's head which was on my plate, and devoured it yourself, thinking, no doubt, that you were entitled to higher honours than I. You then pretended that you were going home, for which I was not at all sorry, as you had made yourself very disagreeable to me. And now you are actually in my bedroom, bending over the naked bosom of my wife. You must have had some evil design; and you pretend that you have done this to save my life. I fancy it was not for saving my life, but for destroying my wife's chastity." "Oh, do not harbour such thoughts in your mind against me. The gods know that I have done all this for the preservation of your life. You would see the reasonableness of my conduct throughout if I had the liberty of stating my reasons." "And why are you not at liberty?" asked the prince; "who has shut up your mouth?" "It is destiny that has shut up my mouth," answered the minister's son; "if I were to tell it all, I should be transformed into a marble statue." "You would be transformed into a marble statue!" exclaimed the prince; "you must take me to be a simpleton to believe this nonsense." "Do you wish me then, friend," said the minister's son, "to tell you all? You must then make up your mind to see your friend turned into stone." "Come, out with it," said the prince, "or else you are a dead man." The minister's son, in order to clear himself of the foul accusation brought against him, deemed it his duty to reveal the secret at the risk of his life. He again and again warned the prince not to press him. But the prince remained inexorable. The minister's son then went on to say that, while bivouacking under a lofty tree one night, he had overheard a conversation between Bihangama and Bihangami, in which the former predicted all the dangers that were to threaten the life of the prince. When the minister's son had related the prediction concerning the mounting upon the elephant, his lower parts were turned into stone. He then, turning to the prince, said, "See, friend, my lower parts have already turned into stone." "Go on, go on," said the prince, "with your story." The minister's son then related the prophecy regarding the destruction of the lion-gate, when half of his body was converted into stone. He then related the prediction regarding the eating of the head of the fish, when his body up to his neck was petrified. "Now, friend," said the minister's son, "the whole of my body, excepting my neck and head, is petrified; if I tell the rest, I shall assuredly become a man of stone. Do you wish me still to go on?" "Go on," answered the prince, "go on." "Very well, I will go on to the end," said the minister's son; "but in case you repent after I have become turned into stone, and wish me to be restored to life, I will tell you of the manner in which it may be effected. The princess after a few months will be delivered of a child; if immediately after the birth of the infant you kill it and besmear my marble body with its blood, I shall be restored to life." He then related the prediction regarding the serpent in the bedroom; and when the last word was on his lips the rest of his body was turned into stone, and he dropped on the floor a marble image. The princess jumped out of bed, opened the vessel for betel-leaves and spices, and saw there pieces of a serpent. Both the prince and the princess now became convinced of the good faith and benevolence of their departed friend. They went to the marble figure, but it was lifeless. They set up a loud lamentation; but it was to no purpose, for the marble moved not. They then resolved to keep the marble figure concealed in a safe place, and to besmear it with the blood of their first-born child when it should be ushered into existence.

一行はいまや宮殿に入り、王は息子と嫁と大臣の息子を温かく迎えた。旅の顛末が語られると、王も廷臣たちもたいそう驚き、口をそろえて大臣の息子の明敏さ、思慮深さ、献身ぶりを讃えた。宮殿の女たちは新参の姫の並はずれた美しさに打たれた。その肌の色は乳と朱を混ぜたよう、その首は白鳥の首のよう、その目は羚羊の目のよう、その唇はビンバの実のように赤く、その頬は愛らしく、その鼻は真っ直ぐに高く、その髪は足首まで届き、その歩みは若い象のように優美だった——運命が自分たちのあいだに連れてきたこの姫を、美の目利きたちはそう言って讃えた。女たちは姫を囲んで坐り、その両親のこと、かつて住んでいた地底の宮殿のこと、親族をみな殺した蛇のことを、千も尋ねた。やがて新参の者たちが夕餉をとる時刻になった。食事は黄金の皿で供された。ありとあらゆる美味が並び、なかでもひときわ目立ったのは、王子の皿のそばの黄金の器に置かれた、大きなローヒタ魚の頭だった。食べている最中に、大臣の息子が突然その魚の頭を王子の皿からさらって言った。「王子、この魚の頭はわたしにいただかせてください」。王の息子はまったく憤慨した。だが何も言わなかった。大臣の息子は友がひどく怒っていると気づいたが、どうしようもなかった。その振る舞いは、どれほど奇妙であれ、友の命を守るのに必要だったのである。またその理由を述べて身の証しを立てることもできなかった。そうすれば自分が大理石の像に変わってしまうからである。食事が終わると、大臣の息子は自分の家へ帰りたいと言った。ほかのときなら王の息子は友をそんなふうに帰しはしなかったろうが、その奇妙な振る舞いに衝撃を受けていたので、すんなり承知した。だが大臣の息子には家へ帰るつもりなど毛ほどもなかった。友の命を脅かす最後の危難を避けようと心を決めていたのである。そこで剣を手に、王子と姫がその夜眠る部屋へそっと入り、羽根布団を敷き、この上なく豪奢な絹と金糸の蚊帳を吊った寝台の下に身をひそめた。夕餉のあとまもなく王子と姫は寝間に入り、衣を解いて床についた。真夜中、王家の二人が眠っているあいだに、大臣の息子は巨大な蛇が水道の一つから部屋に入り込み、寝台の天蓋の枠をよじ登るのを見た。彼は隠れ場所から飛び出し、蛇を殺し、切り刻んで、その切れ端を檳榔の葉と香料を入れる器に収めた。ところが蛇を切り刻んでいるとき、血が一滴、姫の胸に落ちてしまった。蚊帳が下ろされていなかったからである。この血の滴が美しい姫の身に障ってはと思い、彼はそれをなめ取ろうと決めた。だが若い女が半裸で眠っているのを見るのは大きな罪だと考え、七重の布で目隠しをして、血の滴をなめ取った。ところがなめている最中に姫が目を覚まして悲鳴をあげ、その悲鳴でかたわらの夫も目を覚ました。王子は、自分の家へ帰ったはずの大臣の息子が妻の体の上にかがみ込んでいるのを見て、激しく怒り、起き上がって斬り殺すところだったが、大臣の息子が怒りを抑えてくださいと乞い、こう言い添えた——「友よ、わたしはただあなたの命を救うためにこうしたのです」。「何を言っているのかわからん」と王子は言った。「地底の宮殿を出てからというもの、そなたは実に途方もない振る舞いをしてきた。まず、父である王がわざわざよこした豪奢な飾りの象に、わしを乗せまいとした。だがわしは、そなたがわしに尽くした働きを笠に着てひどく思い上がったのだと思い、そのままにして馬に乗った。次に、父が華やかに飾り立てたあの見事な獅子門を壊せと言い張った。それもそのままにした。それからまた、宴の席でわしの皿にあったローヒタの頭を、実に恥知らずなやり方でさらって、自分で食ってしまった。むろん、自分こそわしより高い誉れを受けて当然だと思ってのことだろう。それから家へ帰るふりをした。そなたはわしにたいそう不快な思いをさせていたから、それは少しも惜しくなかった。そしていま、そなたは現にわしの寝間にいて、わが妻の裸の胸の上にかがみ込んでいる。何かよからぬ企みがあったにちがいない。それをわしの命を救うためだと言う。命を救うためではなく、わが妻の貞節を破るためだったのだろう」。「ああ、そんな思いをわたしに向けないでください。わたしがこれをすべてあなたの命を守るためにしたことは、神々がご存じです。わけを述べる自由があれば、わたしの振る舞いがことごとく道理にかなっていたとおわかりになるでしょう」。「ではなぜ自由がないのだ」と王子は尋ねた。「誰がそなたの口を塞いだ」。「わたしの口を塞いだのは運命です」と大臣の息子は答えた。「すべてを話せば、わたしは大理石の像に変わってしまいます」。「大理石の像に変わるだと!」と王子は叫んだ。「わしがそんな戯言を信じるうつけだと思っているのか」。「では友よ」と大臣の息子は言った。「わたしにすべてを話せとおっしゃるのですか。それならば、友が石に変わるのを見る覚悟をなさってください」。「さあ言え」と王子は言った。「さもなくばそなたは死人だ」。大臣の息子は、身に着せられた汚れた疑いを晴らすため、命を賭してでも秘密を明かすのが務めだと思い定めた。彼は幾度も幾度も、無理強いなさるなと王子に警告した。だが王子は動かなかった。そこで大臣の息子は語りはじめた。ある夜、高い木の下で野宿していたとき、ビハンガマとビハンガミーの話を立ち聞きし、ビハンガマが王子の命を脅かす危難をことごとく予言したのだ、と。大臣の息子が象に乗ることについての予言を語り終えると、その下半身が石に変わった。彼は王子のほうを向いて言った。「ごらんなさい、友よ、わたしの下半身はもう石になりました」。「続けよ、続けよ」と王子は言った。「話を続けよ」。大臣の息子はつぎに獅子門を壊すことについての予言を語り、そのとき体の半分が石に変わった。つぎに魚の頭を食べることについての予言を語り、そのとき首までが石になった。「さあ友よ」と大臣の息子は言った。「わたしの体は首と頭を残してすべて石になりました。残りを話せば、わたしはきっと石の人間になります。それでもお続けさせますか」。「続けよ」と王子は答えた。「続けよ」。「よろしい、最後まで申しましょう」と大臣の息子は言った。「ですが、わたしが石に変わったあとで悔いて、生き返らせたいとお思いになった場合のために、その手だてをお教えしておきます。姫は幾月かののちに子をお産みになります。その赤子が生まれた直後に殺し、その血をわたしの大理石の体に塗れば、わたしは生き返ります」。それから彼は寝間の蛇についての予言を語った。そして最後の言葉が唇にのぼったとき、残りの体も石に変わり、彼は大理石の像となって床に倒れた。姫は床から飛び出し、檳榔の葉と香料の器を開けて、そこに蛇の切れ端があるのを見た。王子も姫も、いまや逝ってしまった友の誠実さと善意を信じずにいられなかった。二人は大理石の像のもとへ行ったが、それは息をしていなかった。声をあげて嘆いたが甲斐はなく、大理石は動かなかった。そこで二人は、大理石の像を安全な場所に隠しておき、初めての子が生まれたらその血を塗ろうと決めた。

In process of time the hour of the princess's travail came on, and she was delivered of a beautiful boy, the perfect image of his mother. Both father and mother were struck with the beauty of their child, and would fain have spared its life; but recollecting the vows they had made on behalf of their best friend, now lying in a corner of the room a lifeless stone, and the inestimable services he had rendered to both of them, they cut the child into two, and besmeared the marble figure of the minister's son with its blood. The marble became animated in a moment. The minister's son stood before the prince and princess, who became exceedingly glad to see their old friend again in life. But the minister's son, who saw the lovely new-born babe lying in a pool of blood, was overwhelmed with grief. He took up the dead infant, carefully wrapped it up in a towel, and resolved to get it restored to life.

やがて姫の産の時が来て、母によく似た美しい男の子が生まれた。父も母もその美しさに打たれ、できることならその命を助けたかった。だが、いま部屋の隅に命なき石となって横たわる、いちばんの友のために立てた誓いと、彼が二人に尽くしてくれた計り知れぬ働きを思い出し、二人は子を二つに断ち、その血を大臣の息子の大理石の像に塗った。大理石はたちまち生気を取り戻した。大臣の息子は王子と姫の前に立ち、二人は旧友が生きて戻ったのを見てこのうえなく喜んだ。だが大臣の息子は、生まれたばかりの愛らしい赤子が血の海に横たわっているのを見て、嘆きに打ちひしがれた。彼は死んだ赤子を抱き上げ、手ぬぐいに丁寧に包み、これを生き返らせようと決めた。

The minister's son, intent on the reanimation of his friend's child, consulted all the physicians of the country; but they said that they would undertake to cure any person of any disease so long as life was in him, but when life was extinct, the case was beyond their jurisdiction. The minister's son at last bethought himself of his own wife, who was living in a distant town, and who was a devoted worshipper of the goddess Kali, who, through his wife's intercession, might be prevailed upon to give life to the dead child. He, accordingly, set out on a journey to the town in which his wife was living in her father's house. Adjoining that house there was a garden where upon a tree he hung the dead child wrapped up in a towel. His wife was overjoyed to see her husband after so long a time; but to her surprise she found that he was very melancholy, that he spoke very little, and that he was brooding over something in his mind. She asked the reason of his melancholy, but he kept quiet. One night while they were lying together in bed, the wife got up and opening the door went out. The husband, who had little sleep any night in consequence of the weight of anxiety regarding the reanimation of his friend's child, perceiving his wife go out at that dead hour of night, determined to follow her without being noticed. She went to a temple of the goddess Kali, which was at no great distance from her house. She worshipped the goddess with flowers and sandal-wood perfume, and said, "O mother Kali! have mercy upon me, and deliver me out of all my troubles." The goddess replied, "Why, what further grievance have you? You long prayed for the return of your husband, and he has returned; what aileth thee now?" The woman answered, "True, O Mother, my husband has come to me, but he is very moody and melancholy, hardly speaks to me, takes no delight in me, only sits moping in a corner." To which the goddess rejoined, "Ask your husband what the reason of his melancholy is, and let me know it." The minister's son overheard the conversation between the goddess and his wife, but he did not make his appearance; he quietly slunk away before his wife and went to bed. The following day the wife asked her husband of the cause of his melancholy; and he related all the particulars regarding the killing of the infant child of the prince. Next night at the same dead hour the wife proceeded to Kali's temple and mentioned to the goddess the reason of her husband's melancholy; on which the goddess said, "Bring the child here and I will restore it to life." On the succeeding night the child was produced before the goddess Kali, and she called it back to life. Entranced with joy, the minister's son took up the reanimated child, went as fast as his legs could carry him to the prince and princess, and presented to them their child alive and well. They all rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and lived together happily till the day of their death.

友の子をよみがえらせようと心を定めた大臣の息子は、国じゅうの医者に相談した。だが医者たちは、命のあるかぎりどんな病のどんな人でも治してみせるが、命が絶えてしまえばそれは自分たちの司るところではない、と言った。とうとう大臣の息子は、遠い町に住む自分の妻のことを思い出した。妻は女神カーリーの篤い信者であり、その取りなしによって、女神が死んだ子に命を与えてくださるかもしれない。そこで妻が父の家に暮らすその町へ旅立った。その家に隣り合う庭があり、彼は手ぬぐいに包んだ死んだ赤子を庭の木に掛けておいた。妻は長い年月ののちに夫に会えて喜びきったが、驚いたことに、夫はひどくふさぎ込み、ほとんど口をきかず、何かを心のうちで思いつめていた。妻はふさぎ込むわけを尋ねたが、夫は黙ったままだった。ある夜、二人が床をともにしていると、妻が起き出して戸を開け、外へ出ていった。友の子をよみがえらせることへの気がかりの重さに、どの夜もろくに眠れずにいた夫は、妻がこんな夜更けに出てゆくのを見て、気づかれぬようあとをつけようと決めた。妻は家からさほど遠くない女神カーリーの祠へ行った。そして花と白檀の香で女神を拝み、こう言った。「おお母なるカーリーよ! わたくしを憐れみ、わたくしの苦しみをことごとく取り除いてくださいまし」。女神は答えた。「なぜだ、これ以上おまえに何の嘆きがある。おまえは長いこと夫の帰りを祈り、夫は帰ってきたではないか。いま何が不足なのだ」。女は答えた。「そのとおりでございます、母さま。夫は帰ってまいりました。ですがひどくふさぎ込んで物思いに沈み、わたくしにろくに口もきかず、わたくしを喜びもせず、ただ隅に坐って塞ぎ込んでおります」。女神はこう返した。「夫にふさぎ込むわけを尋ね、わたしに知らせよ」。大臣の息子は女神と妻の話を立ち聞きしたが、姿は見せず、妻より先にそっと抜け出して床に就いた。翌日、妻は夫にふさぎ込むわけを尋ね、夫は王子の赤子を殺した一部始終を語った。次の夜、同じ夜更けの時刻に妻はカーリーの祠へ行き、夫のふさぎ込むわけを女神に告げた。すると女神は言った。「その子をここへ連れてきなさい。命を返してやろう」。その次の夜、赤子は女神カーリーの前に差し出され、女神はその子を命へ呼び戻した。喜びに我を忘れ、大臣の息子はよみがえった赤子を抱き上げ、足の続くかぎりの速さで王子と姫のもとへ行き、二人の子を生きて健やかなまま返した。一同はこのうえもなく喜びあい、死ぬ日まで仲よく幸せに暮らした。

Thus my story endeth, The Natiya-thorn withereth, etc.

こうしてわたしの話はおしまい。ナティヤの棘は枯れゆく、云々。