The Boy with the Moon on his Forehead

There was a certain king who had six queens, none of whom bore children. Physicians, holy sages, mendicants, were consulted, countless drugs were had recourse to, but all to no purpose. The king was disconsolate. His ministers told him to marry a seventh wife; and he was accordingly on the look out.

あるところに王さまがいて、后が六人あったが、どの后にも子が生まれなかった。医者にも聖者にも行者にも相談し、数えきれぬほどの薬も試したが、どれも甲斐がなかった。王は打ちひしがれた。大臣たちが七人めの妃を娶るよう勧めたので、王はそれらしい娘を探しはじめた。

In the royal city there lived a poor old woman who used to pick up cow-dung from the fields, make it into cakes, dry them in the sun, and sell them in the market for fuel. This was her only means of subsistence. This old woman had a daughter exquisitely beautiful. Her beauty excited the admiration of every one that saw her; and it was solely in consequence of her surpassing beauty that three young ladies, far above her in rank and station, contracted friendship with her. Those three young ladies were the daughter of the king's minister, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and the daughter of the royal priest. These three young ladies, together with the daughter of the poor old woman, were one day bathing in a tank not far from the palace. As they were performing their ablutions, each dwelt on her own good qualities. "Look here, sister," said the minister's daughter, addressing the merchant's daughter, "the man that marries me will be a happy man, for he will not have to buy clothes for me. The cloth which I once put on never gets soiled, never gets old, never tears." The merchant's daughter said, "And my husband too will be a happy man, for the fuel which I use in cooking never gets turned into ashes. The same fuel serves from day to day, from year to year." "And my husband will also become a happy man," said the daughter of the royal chaplain, "for the rice which I cook one day never gets finished, and when we have all eaten, the same quantity which was first cooked remains always in the pot." The daughter of the poor old woman said in her turn, "And the man that marries me will also be happy, for I shall give birth to twin children, a son and a daughter. The daughter will be divinely fair, and the son will have the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands."

王都に、貧しい老婆がひとり住んでいた。野で牛の糞を拾い集め、それを団子にして日に干し、薪の代わりに市で売って暮らしていた。それが老婆のただ一つの生計だった。この老婆には、たとえようもなく美しい娘があった。その美しさは見る者すべての目を奪った。身分も家柄もはるかに上の三人の令嬢が娘と友だちになったのも、ひとえにその並はずれた美しさゆえだった。三人の令嬢とは、王の大臣の娘と、富裕な商人の娘と、王家の祭司の娘である。この三人と貧しい老婆の娘とが、ある日、宮殿からほど遠からぬ池で水浴をしていた。身を清めながら、めいめいが自分の取り柄を並べ立てた。「ねえ、姉さま」と大臣の娘が商人の娘に言った。「わたしを娶る人は幸せ者よ。わたしに着物を買ってやらずにすむんですもの。わたしがいちど身につけた布は、汚れもしないし、古びもしないし、破れもしないの」。商人の娘が言った。「わたしの夫だって幸せ者になるわ。わたしが煮炊きに使う薪は、けっして灰にならないんですもの。同じ薪が日ごと年ごと役に立つのよ」。「わたしの夫も幸せ者になりますわ」と王家の祭司の娘が言った。「わたしがある日炊いた米は、けっして尽きないの。みんなが食べ終わっても、はじめに炊いたのと同じだけが、いつも鍋に残っているのよ」。貧しい老婆の娘も、自分の番になって言った。「わたしを娶る人も幸せになりますわ。わたしは双子を産むんですもの、男の子と女の子を。娘は神々しいまでに美しく、男の子は額に月を、両の手のひらに星を持つのです」

The above conversation was overheard by the king, who, as he was on the look out for a seventh queen, used to skulk about in places where women met together. The king thus thought in his mind--"I don't care a straw for the girl whose clothes never tear and never get old; neither do I care for the other girl whose fuel is never consumed; nor for the third girl whose rice never fails in the pot. But the fourth girl is quite charming! She will give birth to twin children, a son and a daughter; the daughter will be divinely fair, and the son will have the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands. That is the girl I want. I'll make her my wife."

この話を、王がたまたま立ち聞きした。七人めの后を探していた王は、女たちの集まるところをこそこそ歩きまわるのが常だったのである。王は心のうちでこう考えた——「着物が破れも古びもせぬという娘など、わしには藁一本ほどの値打ちもない。薪の尽きぬという娘も、鍋の米の尽きぬという娘も同じことだ。だが四人めの娘はまことに心そそる! あの娘は双子を、男の子と女の子を産むという。娘は神々しいまでに美しく、男の子は額に月を、手のひらに星を持つという。あれこそわしの求める娘だ。あの娘を妻にしよう」

On making inquiries on the same day, the king found that the fourth girl was the daughter of a poor old woman who picked up cow-dung from the fields; but though there was thus an infinite disparity in rank, he determined to marry her. On the very same day he sent for the poor old woman. She, poor thing, was quite frightened when she saw a messenger of the king standing at the door of her hut. She thought that the king had sent for her to punish her, because, perhaps, she had some day unwittingly picked up the dung of the king's cattle. She went to the palace, and was admitted into the king's private chamber. The king asked her whether she had a very fair daughter, and whether that daughter was the friend of his own minister's and priest's daughters. When the woman answered in the affirmative, he said to her, "I will marry your daughter, and make her my queen." The woman hardly believed her own ears--the thing was so strange. He, however, solemnly declared to her that he had made up his mind, and was determined to marry her daughter. It was soon known in the capital that the king was going to marry the daughter of the old woman who picked up cow-dung in the fields. When the six queens heard the news, they would not believe it, till the king himself told them that the news was true. They thought that the king had somehow got mad. They reasoned with him thus--"What folly, what madness, to marry a girl who is not fit to be our maid-servant! And you expect us to treat her as our equal--a girl whose mother goes about picking up cow-dung in the fields! Surely, my lord, you are beside yourself!" The king's purpose, however, remained unshaken. The royal astrologer was called, and an auspicious day was fixed for the celebration of the king's marriage. On the appointed day the royal priest tied the marital knot, and the daughter of the poor old picker-up of cow-dung in the fields became the seventh and best beloved queen.

その日のうちに調べさせると、四人めの娘は野で牛の糞を拾う貧しい老婆の娘だとわかった。だが身分にこれほど隔たりがあっても、王は娶ると心を決めた。まさにその日、王は貧しい老婆を呼びにやった。老婆は、あわれなことに、王の使いが小屋の戸口に立っているのを見て、すっかり怯えてしまった。いつぞや知らずに王の牛の糞を拾ってしまったので、その罰に召されるのだと思ったのである。老婆は宮殿へ上がり、王の私室に通された。王は老婆に、たいそう美しい娘があるか、その娘は自分の大臣と祭司の娘の友だちか、と尋ねた。老婆がそうだと答えると、王は言った。「わしはおまえの娘を娶り、后にする」。老婆はわが耳を疑った——あまりに奇妙な話だった。しかし王は厳かに、心を決めた、娘を娶るつもりだ、と言い渡した。牛の糞を野で拾う老婆の娘を王が娶るという話は、まもなく都じゅうに知れわたった。六人の后はこの噂を聞いても信じようとせず、王自身が本当だと告げるまで信じなかった。后たちは、王がどうかしてしまったのだと思った。そしてこう説き立てた——「わたくしどもの下女にもなれぬような娘を娶るとは、なんという愚かしさ、なんという狂気でしょう! しかも、わたくしどもにその娘を同輩として扱えとおっしゃる——母親が野で牛の糞を拾って歩く娘を! まことに殿、正気を失っておいでです!」。だが王の決意は揺るがなかった。王家の星占いが呼ばれ、婚礼のよい日が定められた。その日、王家の祭司が婚姻の結び目を結び、野で牛の糞を拾う貧しい老婆の娘は、七人めの、そしていちばん愛される后となった。

Some time after the celebration of the marriage, the king went for six months to another part of his dominions. Before setting out he called to him the seventh queen, and said to her, "I am going away to another part of my dominions for six months. Before the expiration of that period I expect you to be confined. But I should like to be present with you at the time, as your enemies may do mischief. Take this golden bell and hang it in your room. When the pains of childbirth come upon you, ring this bell, and I will be with you in a moment in whatever part of my dominions I may be at the time. Remember, you are to ring the bell only when you feel the pains of childbirth." After saying this the king started on his journey. The six queens, who had overheard the king, went on the next day to the apartments of the seventh queen, and said, "What a nice bell of gold you have got, sister! Where did you get it, and why have you hung it up?" The seventh queen, in her simplicity, said, "The king has given it to me, and if I were to ring it, the king would immediately come to me wherever he might be at the time." "Impossible!" said the six queens, "you must have misunderstood the king. Who can believe that this bell can be heard at the distance of hundreds of miles? Besides, if it could be heard, how would the king be able to travel a great distance in the twinkling of an eye? This must be a hoax. If you ring the bell, you will find that what the king said was pure nonsense." The six queens then told her to make a trial. At first she was unwilling, remembering what the king had told her; but at last she was prevailed upon to ring the bell. The king was at the moment half-way to the capital of his other dominions, but at the ringing of the bell he stopped short in his journey, turned back, and in no time stood in the queen's apartments. Finding the queen going about in her rooms, he asked why she had rung the bell though her hour had not come. She, without informing the king of the entreaty of the six queens, replied that she rang the bell only to see whether what he had said was true. The king was somewhat indignant, told her distinctly not to ring the bell again till the moment of the coming upon her of the pains of childbirth, and then went away. After the lapse of some weeks the six queens again begged of the seventh queen to make a second trial of the bell. They said to her, "The first time when you rang the bell, the king was only at a short distance from you, it was therefore easy for him to hear the bell and to come to you; but now he has long ago settled in his other capital, let us see if he will now hear the bell and come to you." She resisted for a long time, but was at last prevailed upon by them to ring the bell. When the sound of the bell reached the king he was in court dispensing justice, but when he heard the sound of the bell (and no one else heard it) he closed the court and in no time stood in the queen's apartments. Finding that the queen was not about to be confined, he asked her why she had again rung the bell before her hour. She, without saying anything of the importunities of the six queens, replied that she merely made a second trial of the bell. The king became very angry, and said to her, "Now listen, since you have called me twice for nothing, let it be known to you that when the throes of childbirth do really come upon you, and you ring the bell ever so lustily, I will not come to you. You must be left to your fate." The king then went away.

婚礼からしばらくして、王は領内の別の地方へ半年のあいだ出かけることになった。発つ前に七人めの后を呼び、こう言った。「わしは領内の別の地方へ半年ほど出かける。その半年が過ぎぬうちに、そなたは産の床につくはずだ。だがそのときはそばにいてやりたい。そなたの敵が悪さをするかもしれぬからな。この黄金の鈴を取って、部屋に吊るしておけ。産の痛みが来たらこの鈴を鳴らせ。わしが領内のどこにいようと、すぐにそなたのもとへ参る。よいか、鈴を鳴らすのは産の痛みを覚えたときだけだぞ」。こう言って王は旅に出た。これを立ち聞きしていた六人の后は、翌日、七人めの后の部屋を訪ね、こう言った。「まあ、なんて立派な黄金の鈴でしょう、妹さま! どこで手に入れたの。なぜ吊るしてあるの」。七人めの后は、ありのままに答えた。「王さまがくださったのです。これを鳴らせば、王さまはそのときどこにおいででも、すぐにわたくしのもとへ来てくださるのですって」。「そんなばかな!」と六人の后は言った。「王さまのお言葉を取り違えたにちがいないわ。この鈴が何百マイルも離れたところで聞こえるなんて、誰が信じましょう。それに、たとえ聞こえたとしても、まばたきひとつの間に王さまがそんな遠くを旅してこられるものですか。きっとからかわれたのよ。鳴らしてごらんなさい。王さまのおっしゃったことがまるでたわごとだとわかりますから」。六人の后は、ためしに鳴らしてみろと勧めた。はじめは、王の言いつけを思って気が進まなかったが、とうとう説き伏せられて鈴を鳴らした。王はそのときもう一方の領地の都へ向かう道の半ばにいたが、鈴の音を聞くと旅を打ち切って引き返し、たちまち后の部屋に立っていた。后が部屋のなかを歩きまわっているのを見て、まだそのときでもないのになぜ鈴を鳴らしたのかと尋ねた。后は六人の后にせがまれたことは言わず、王のお言葉がまことかどうか試しただけだと答えた。王はいささか腹を立て、産の痛みが来るまで二度と鈴を鳴らすなとはっきり言い渡して、去っていった。幾週かのち、六人の后はまた七人めの后に、もういちど鈴を試してみろとせがんだ。こう言うのである。「はじめに鳴らしたときは、王さまはまだあなたのすぐ近くにおいでだったのよ。だから鈴を聞いて来るのもたやすかった。でも今はとっくにもう一方の都に落ち着いておいでですもの、それでも鈴を聞いて来てくださるかどうか、見てみましょう」。后は長いあいだ抗ったが、とうとう説き伏せられて鈴を鳴らした。鈴の音が届いたとき、王は法廷で裁きを下していたが、その音を聞くと(ほかには誰ひとり聞こえなかった)法廷を閉じ、たちまち后の部屋に立っていた。后に産の気配がないのを見て、なぜまたそのときでもないのに鈴を鳴らしたのかと尋ねた。后は六人の后にせがまれたことは何も言わず、ただもういちど鈴を試しただけだと答えた。王はひどく怒って言った。「よいか、二度も無駄にわしを呼びつけたからには、思い知るがよい。まことに産の苦しみが来て、どれほど力いっぱい鈴を鳴らそうと、わしはそなたのもとへは参らぬ。おのれの運にまかせるがよい」。そう言って王は去っていった。

At last the day of the seventh queen's deliverance arrived. On first feeling the pains she rang the golden bell. She waited, but the king did not make his appearance. She rang again with all her might, still the king did not make his appearance. The king certainly did hear the sound of the bell; but he did not come as he was displeased with the queen. When the six queens saw that the king did not come, they went to the seventh queen and told her that it was not customary with the ladies of the palace to be confined in the king's apartments; she must go to a hut near the stables. They then sent for the midwife of the palace, and heavily bribed her to make away with the infant the moment it should be born into the world. The seventh queen gave birth to a son who had the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands, and also to an uncommonly beautiful girl. The midwife had come provided with a couple of newly born pups. She put the pups before the mother, saying--"You have given birth to these," and took away the twin-children in an earthen vessel. The queen was quite insensible at the time, and did not notice the twins at the time they were carried away. The king, though he was angry with the seventh queen, yet remembering that she was destined to give birth to the heir of his throne, changed his mind, and came to see her the next morning. The pups were produced before the king as the offspring of the queen. The king's anger and vexation knew no bounds. He ordered that the seventh queen should be expelled from the palace, that she should be clothed in leather, and that she should be employed in the market-place to drive away crows and to keep off dogs. Though scarcely able to move she was driven away from the palace, stripped of her fine robes, clothed in leather, and set to drive away the crows of the market-place.

ついに七人めの后の産の日が来た。痛みを覚えるとすぐ黄金の鈴を鳴らした。待ったが、王は現れない。ありったけの力でもういちど鳴らしたが、やはり王は現れない。王はたしかに鈴の音を聞いた。だが后を不快に思っていたので、来なかったのである。王が来ないのを見て取ると、六人の后は七人めの后のもとへ行き、宮殿の女が王の部屋で産をするのは習わしではない、厩のそばの小屋へ行けと言った。それから宮殿の産婆を呼びにやり、たっぷり金を握らせて、赤子が生まれ落ちたらすぐに始末してしまえと言い含めた。七人めの后は、額に月を、両の手のひらに星を持つ男の子と、たぐいまれに美しい女の子を産んだ。産婆は生まれたばかりの子犬を二匹用意してきていた。それを母の前に置き、「あなたはこれをお産みになったのですよ」と言って、双子を土の壺に入れて持ち去った。后はそのとき人事不省で、双子が運び去られるのに気づかなかった。王は七人めの后に腹を立ててはいたが、后は王位の跡取りを産むはずだったと思い出して心を変え、翌朝、后に会いに来た。子犬が后の産んだものとして王の前に差し出された。王の怒りと憤りは際限がなかった。王は、七人めの后を宮殿から追い出し、革をまとわせ、市場で烏を追い払い犬を寄せつけぬ役に就けよと命じた。后はろくに動けもしないのに宮殿から追い立てられ、美しい衣を剥ぎ取られ、革を着せられて、市場の烏を追い払う役につかされた。

The midwife, when she put the twins in the earthen vessel, bethought herself of the best way to destroy them. She did not think it proper to throw them into a tank, lest they should be discovered the next day. Neither did she think of burying them in the ground, lest they should be dug up by a jackal and exposed to the gaze of people. The best way to make an end of them, she thought, would be to burn them, and reduce them to ashes, that no trace might be left of them. But how could she, at that dead hour of night, burn them without some other person helping her? A happy thought struck her. There was a potter on the outskirts of the city, who used during the day to mould vessels of clay on his wheel, and burn them during the latter part of the night. The midwife thought that the best plan would be to put the vessel with the twins along with the unburnt clay vessels which the potter had arranged in order and gone to sleep expecting to get up late at night and set them on fire; in this way, she thought, the twins would be reduced to ashes. She, accordingly, put the vessel with the twins along with the unburnt clay vessels of the potter, and went away.

産婆は双子を土の壺に入れると、どうやって始末するのが最上かと思案した。池に投げ込むのは、翌日見つかるかもしれぬのでよくないと思った。地に埋めるのも、ジャッカルに掘り返されて人目にさらされるかもしれぬのでやめた。いちばんよいのは焼いて灰にしてしまい、痕跡ひとつ残さぬことだと考えた。だが真夜中のこの時刻に、誰の手も借りずにどうやって焼けよう。そこでうまい思いつきが浮かんだ。町はずれに陶工がいて、昼のうちは轆轤で土の器をこしらえ、夜更けにそれを焼くのが常だった。産婆はこう考えた——陶工が並べておいて、夜遅く起きて火を入れるつもりで眠っている、あの焼く前の土の器のあいだに、双子の入った壺を置いてくるのがいちばんよい。そうすれば双子は灰になるだろう。そこで産婆は双子の入った壺を陶工の焼く前の器のあいだに置いて、立ち去った。

Somehow or other, that night the potter and his wife overslept themselves. It was near the break of day when the potter's wife, awaking out of sleep, roused her husband, and said, "Oh, my good man, we have overslept ourselves; it is now near morning and I much fear it is now too late to set the pots on fire." Hastily unbolting the door of her cottage, she rushed out to the place where the pots were ranged in rows. She could scarcely believe her eyes when she saw that all the pots had been baked and were looking bright red, though neither she nor her husband had applied any fire to them. Wondering at her good luck, and not knowing what to make of it, she ran to her husband and said, "Just come and see!" The potter came, saw, and wondered. The pots had never before been so well baked. Who could have done this? This could have proceeded only from some god or goddess. Fumbling about the pots, he accidentally upturned one in which, lo and behold, were seen huddled up together two newly born infants of unearthly beauty. The potter said to his wife, "My dear, you must pretend to have given birth to these beautiful children." Accordingly all arrangements were made, and in due time it was given out that the twins had been born to her. And such lovely twins they were! On the same day many women of the neighbourhood came to see the potter's wife and the twins to which she had given birth, and to offer their congratulations on this unexpected good fortune. As for the potter's wife, she could not be too proud of her pretended children, and said to her admiring friends, "I had hardly hoped to have children at all. But now that the gods have given me these twins, may they receive the blessings of you all, and live for ever!"

どうしたわけか、その夜、陶工と妻は寝過ごしてしまった。夜明け近くになって、妻が目を覚まし、夫を揺り起こして言った。「まあ、あんた、寝過ごしてしまいましたよ。もう朝近い。器に火を入れるにはもう遅すぎやしないかと、心配でなりません」。あわてて小屋の戸の閂を外し、器の並んだ場所へ駆け出した。そして自分の目を疑った。自分も夫も火を入れていないのに、器がすっかり焼き上がり、明るい赤みを帯びているではないか。この幸運に驚き、どう考えてよいかもわからぬまま、夫のところへ走って言った。「ちょっと来て、見てごらんなさい!」。陶工は来て、見て、驚いた。器がこれほどよく焼けたことは、かつてなかった。誰がやったのだろう。これは神か女神のしわざにちがいない。器をあれこれ探るうち、たまたま一つをひっくり返すと、なんと、この世のものならぬ美しさの、生まれたばかりの赤子が二人、寄り添って入っていた。陶工は妻に言った。「おまえ、この美しい子らをおまえが産んだことにしよう」。そのとおりに手筈が整えられ、やがて双子は妻が産んだのだと触れ回された。それはそれは愛らしい双子だった! 同じ日に近所の女たちが大勢、陶工の妻とその産んだ双子を見に、そしてこの思いがけぬ幸運を祝いに来た。陶工の妻はといえば、この自分の子と称する双子が自慢でならず、感心する友人たちにこう言った。「子どもなど授かろうとは思ってもみませんでした。でも神々がこの双子をくださったのですから、どうぞみなさまの祝福を受けて、いつまでも生きてくれますように!」

The twins grew and were strengthened. The brother and sister, when they played about in the fields and lanes, were the admiration of every one who saw them; and all wondered at the uncommonly good luck of the potter in being blessed with such angelic children. They were about twelve years old when the potter, their reputed father, became dangerously ill. It was evident to all that his sickness would end in death. The potter, perceiving his last end approaching, said to his wife, "My dear, I am going the way of all the earth; but I am leaving to you enough to live upon; live on and take care of these children." The woman said to her husband, "I am not going to survive you. Like all good and faithful wives, I am determined to die along with you. You and I will burn together on the same funeral pyre. As for the children, they are old enough to take care of themselves, and you are leaving them enough money." Her friends tried to dissuade her from her purpose, but in vain. The potter died; and as his remains were being burnt, his wife, now a widow, threw herself on the pyre, and burnt herself to death.

双子は育ち、たくましくなった。兄と妹が野や小道で遊んでいると、見る人みなの感嘆の的だった。こんな天使のような子らを授かった陶工の並はずれた幸運に、誰もが驚いた。二人が十二ばかりになったころ、父と目されていた陶工が重い病にかかった。この病が死で終わることは誰の目にも明らかだった。陶工は最期が近いのを悟って妻に言った。「おまえ、わしは誰もが行く道を行く。だが、暮らしてゆくに足るものは残してやる。生きて、この子らの面倒を見てやってくれ」。妻は夫に言った。「わたしはあなたより長生きはしません。善き貞節な妻がみなそうするように、わたしもあなたといっしょに死ぬ覚悟です。あなたとわたしは同じ火葬の薪の上でともに焼かれましょう。子どもたちは、もう自分のことは自分でできる年ですし、あなたはお金も十分に残してゆかれるのですから」。友人たちは思いとどまらせようとしたが、無駄だった。陶工は死に、その亡骸が焼かれるとき、いまや寡婦となった妻は薪の上に身を投げ、焼け死んだ。

The boy with the moon on his forehead--by the way, he always kept his head covered with a turban lest the halo should attract notice--and his sister, now broke up the potter's establishment, sold the wheel and the pots and pans, and went to the bazaar in the king's city. The moment they entered, the bazaar was lit up on a sudden. The shopkeepers of the bazaar were greatly surprised. They thought some divine beings must have entered the place. They looked upon the beautiful boy and his sister with wonder. They begged of them to stay in the bazaar. They built a house for them. When they used to ramble about, they were always followed at a distance by the woman clothed in leather, who was appointed by the king to drive away the crows of the bazaar. By some unaccountable impulse she used also to hang about the house in which they lived. The boy in a short time bought a horse, and went a-hunting in the neighbouring forests. One day while he was hunting, the king was also hunting in the same forest, and seeing a brother huntsman the king drew near to him. The king was struck with the beauty of the lad and a yearning for him the moment he saw him. As a deer went past, the youth shot an arrow, and the reaction of the force necessary to shoot the arrow made the turban of his head fall off, on which a bright light, like that of the moon, was seen shining on his forehead. The king saw, and immediately thought of the son with the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands who was to have been born of his seventh queen. The youth on letting fly the arrow galloped off, in spite of the earnest entreaty of the king to wait and speak to him. The king went home a sadder man than he came out of it. He became very moody and melancholy. The six queens asked him why he was looking so sad. He told them that he had seen in the woods a lad with the moon on his forehead, which reminded him of the son who was to be born of the seventh queen. The six queens tried to comfort him in the best way they could; but they wondered who the youth could be. Was it possible that the twins were living? Did not the midwife say that she had burnt both the son and the daughter to ashes? Who, then, could this lad be? The midwife was sent for by the six queens and questioned. She swore that she had seen the twins burnt. As for the lad whom the king had met with, she would soon find out who he was. On making inquiries, the midwife soon found out that two strangers were living in the bazaar in a house which the shopkeepers had built for them. She entered the house and saw the girl only, as the lad had again gone out a-shooting. She pretended to be their aunt, who had gone away to another part of the country shortly after their birth; she had been searching after them for a long time, and was now glad to find them in the king's city near the palace. She greatly admired the beauty of the girl, and said to her, "My dear child, you are so beautiful, you require the kataki [40] flower properly to set off your beauty. You should tell your brother to plant a row of that flower in this courtyard." "What flower is that, auntie? I never saw it." "How could you have seen it, my child? It is not found here; it grows on the other side of the ocean, guarded by seven hundred Rakshasas." "How, then," said the girl, "will my brother get it?" "He may try to get it, if you speak to him," replied the woman. The woman made this proposal in the hope that the boy with the moon on his forehead would perish in the attempt to get the flower.

額に月を持つ少年は——ついでに言えば、この少年は光の輪が人目を引かぬよう、いつも頭をターバンで包んでいた——妹とともに陶工の家をたたみ、轆轤も器も鍋釜も売り払って、王都の市場へ行った。二人が足を踏み入れたとたん、市場がにわかに明るくなった。市場の店の者たちはたいそう驚いた。神々しい者がこの場に入ってきたにちがいないと思った。人々は美しい少年と妹を不思議そうに見つめた。そして市場にとどまってくれと頼み、二人のために家を建ててやった。二人がそぞろ歩きをすると、いつも遠くから、革をまとった女がついてきた。市場の烏を追い払うようにと王に命じられた、あの女である。どうしたわけか、女は二人の住む家のあたりをうろつくのが常でもあった。少年はまもなく馬を買い、近くの森へ狩りに出かけるようになった。ある日、少年が狩りをしていると、王も同じ森で狩りをしていて、狩人仲間を見つけて近づいてきた。王は少年の美しさに打たれ、ひと目見たとたん、この少年をいとおしく思う気持ちがわいた。鹿が通りかかり、少年が矢を放つと、矢を射るのに要した力のはねかえりでターバンが頭から落ち、月のような明るい光が額に輝いているのが見えた。王はそれを見て、すぐさま、七人めの后から生まれるはずだった、額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ息子のことを思った。少年は矢を放つとすぐ馬を駆って去り、待って話をしてくれと王が懇々と頼んでも聞かなかった。王は出かけたときよりも悲しい心で帰ってきた。そしてひどくふさぎ込み、物思いに沈むようになった。六人の后が、なぜそんなに悲しげなのかと尋ねた。王は、森で額に月を持つ少年を見た、それで七人めの后から生まれるはずだった息子を思い出したのだ、と話した。六人の后はできるかぎりの言葉で慰めたが、あの若者はいったい誰だろうと訝った。双子が生きているということがありえようか。産婆は息子も娘も焼いて灰にしたと言ったではないか。ではあの少年は誰なのか。六人の后は産婆を呼びにやって問いただした。産婆は、双子が焼かれるのをこの目で見たと誓った。王の出会った少年については、すぐに何者か突きとめてみせると言った。調べてみると、産婆はまもなく、市場の店の者たちが建てた家に、よそ者が二人住んでいることを突きとめた。家に入ってみると、少年はまた狩りに出ていたので、娘だけがいた。産婆は、生まれてまもなく他国へ行っていた叔母だと偽り、長いこと二人を探していた、いま王都の宮殿の近くで見つけられて嬉しいと言った。そして娘の美しさをさんざんほめそやし、こう言った。「まあ、かわいい子や、おまえはこんなに美しいのだから、その美しさを引き立てるにはカタキ [40] の花がいる。兄さんに言って、この庭にその花をひと並べ植えてもらうがいい」。「それはどんな花なの、叔母さま。見たこともないわ」。「どうして見られよう、かわいい子や。ここにはないのだよ。海の向こう側に生えていて、七百人のラクシャサが守っているのだから」。「それでは」と娘は言った。「兄さんはどうやって手に入れるの」。「おまえが言えば、手に入れようとしてくれるだろうよ」と女は答えた。この女がこう持ちかけたのは、額に月を持つ少年が花を取りに行って命を落とせばよいと思ってのことだった。

When the youth with the moon on his forehead returned from hunting, his sister told him of the visit paid to her by their aunt, and requested him, if possible, to get for her the kataki flower. He was sceptical about the existence of any aunt of theirs in the world, but he was resolved that, to please his beloved sister, he would get the flower on which she had set her heart. Next morning, accordingly, he started on his journey, after bidding his sister not to stir out of the house till his return. He rode on his fleet steed, which was of the pakshiraj [41] tribe, and soon reached the outskirts of what seemed to him dense forests of interminable length. He descried some Rakshasas prowling about. He went to some distance, shot with his arrows some deer and rhinoceroses in the neighbouring thickets, and, approaching the place where the Rakshasas were prowling about, called out, "O auntie dear, O auntie dear, your nephew is here." A huge Rakshasi came towards him and said, "O, you are the youth with the moon on your forehead and stars on the palms of your hands. We were all expecting you, but as you have called me aunt, I will not eat you up. What is it you want? Have you brought any eatables for me?" The youth gave her the deer and rhinoceroses which he had killed. Her mouth watered at the sight of the dead animals, and she began eating them. After swallowing down all the carcases, she said, "Well, what do you want?" The youth said, "I want some kataki flowers for my sister." She then told him that it would be difficult for him to get the flower, as it was guarded by seven hundred Rakshasas; however, he might make the attempt, but in the first instance he must go to his uncle on the north side of that forest. While the youth was going to his uncle of the north, on the way he killed some deer and rhinoceroses, and seeing a gigantic Rakshasa at some distance, cried out, "Uncle dear, uncle dear, your nephew is here. Auntie has sent me to you." The Rakshasa came near and said, "You are the youth with the moon on your forehead and stars on the palms of your hands; I would have swallowed you outright, had you not called me uncle, and had you not said that your aunt had sent you to me. Now, what is it you want?" The savoury deer and rhinoceroses were then presented to him; he ate them all, and then listened to the petition of the youth. The youth wanted the kataki flower. The Rakshasa said, "You want the kataki flower! Very well, try and get it if you can. After passing through this forest, you will come to an impenetrable forest of kachiri. [42] You will say to that forest, 'O mother kachiri! please make way for me, or else I die.' On that the forest will open up a passage for you. You will next come to the ocean. You will say to the ocean, 'O mother ocean! please make way for me, or else I die,' and the ocean will make way for you. After crossing the ocean, you enter the gardens where the kataki blooms. Good-bye; do as I have told you." The youth thanked his Rakshasa-uncle, and went on his way. After he had passed through the forest, he saw before him an impenetrable forest of kachiri. It was so close and thick, and withal so bristling with thorns, that not a mouse could go through it. Remembering the advice of his uncle, he stood before the forest with folded hands, and said, "O mother kachiri! please make way for me, or else I die." On a sudden a clean path was opened up in the forest, and the youth gladly passed through it. The ocean now lay before him. He said to the ocean, "O mother ocean! make way for me, or else I die." Forthwith the waters of the ocean stood up on two sides like two walls, leaving an open passage between them, and the youth passed through dryshod.

額に月を持つ若者が狩りから帰ると、妹は叔母が訪ねてきたことを話し、できればカタキの花を取ってきてほしいと頼んだ。若者は、この世に自分たちの叔母などいるものかと疑わしく思ったが、愛する妹を喜ばせるために、妹が心を寄せたその花を取ってこようと決めた。そこで翌朝、帰るまで家から出るなと妹に言い置いて、旅に出た。パクシラージ [41] の種である俊足の馬にまたがり、まもなく、果てしなく広がるかに見える深い森のはずれに着いた。見ると、ラクシャサが何人かうろついている。若者は少し離れたところへ行き、近くの茂みで鹿と犀を矢で射てから、ラクシャサのうろついているあたりへ近づいて叫んだ。「おお叔母さま、おお叔母さま、甥がここにおります」。巨大なラクシャシーが近づいてきて言った。「おお、おまえが額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ若者か。わたしたちはみなおまえを待っていたのだよ。だがおまえがわたしを叔母と呼んだからには、食べはしない。何が望みだ。何か食べものを持ってきたか」。若者は仕留めた鹿と犀を差し出した。獣の死骸を見てラクシャシーの口に涎がわき、それを食べはじめた。死骸をすっかり呑み込んでしまうと、「さて、何が望みだ」と言った。若者は言った。「妹のためにカタキの花がほしいのです」。するとラクシャシーは、その花は七百人のラクシャサが守っているから手に入れるのは難しかろうと言った。それでもやってみるならよいが、まずはこの森の北側にいる叔父のところへ行け、と教えた。若者は北の叔父のところへ行く道すがら、鹿と犀を仕留め、少し離れたところに巨大なラクシャサを見つけて叫んだ。「叔父さま、叔父さま、甥がここにおります。叔母さまに言われてまいりました」。ラクシャサは近寄ってきて言った。「おまえは額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ若者だな。わしを叔父と呼ばず、叔母に言われて来たと言わなんだら、そのまま呑み込んでいたところだ。さて、何が望みだ」。うまそうな鹿と犀が差し出され、ラクシャサはそれをすっかり食べてから、若者の願いを聞いた。若者はカタキの花がほしいという。ラクシャサは言った。「カタキの花がほしいだと! よかろう、できるものなら取ってみるがいい。この森を抜けると、カチリ [42] の通り抜けられぬ森に出る。その森に向かって『おおカチリの母よ! どうか道をあけてください、さもなければわたしは死にます』と言え。そうすれば森は道をあけてくれる。次に大海に出る。海に向かって『おお海の母よ! どうか道をあけてください、さもなければわたしは死にます』と言え。そうすれば海は道をあけてくれる。海を渡れば、カタキの咲く庭に入る。さらばだ、言ったとおりにするのだぞ」。若者はラクシャサの叔父に礼を言って、旅をつづけた。森を抜けると、目の前に通り抜けられぬカチリの森があった。あまりに詰まって茂り、しかも棘だらけで、鼠一匹通れないほどだった。叔父の教えを思い出し、森の前に立って手を合わせ、「おおカチリの母よ! どうか道をあけてください、さもなければわたしは死にます」と言った。とたんに森のなかにきれいな道が開け、若者は喜んでそこを通り抜けた。こんどは大海が前に横たわっていた。海に向かって言った。「おお海の母よ! 道をあけてください、さもなければわたしは死にます」。たちまち海の水は両側に二つの壁のように立ち上がり、あいだに道をあけ、若者は足も濡らさずに渡っていった。

Now, right before him were the gardens of the kataki flower. He entered the inclosure, and found himself in a spacious palace which seemed to be unoccupied. On going from apartment to apartment he found a young lady of more than earthly beauty sleeping on a bedstead of gold. He went near, and noticed two little sticks, one of gold and the other of silver, lying in the bedstead. The silver stick lay near the feet of the sleeping beauty, and the golden one near the head. He took up the sticks in his hands, and as he was examining them, the golden stick accidentally fell upon the feet of the lady. In a moment the lady woke and sat up, and said to the youth, "Stranger, how have you come to this dismal place? I know who you are, and I know your history. You are the youth with the moon on your forehead and stars on the palms of your hands. Flee, flee from this place! This is the residence of seven hundred Rakshasas who guard the gardens of the kataki flower. They have all gone a-hunting; they will return by sundown; and if they find you here you will be eaten up. One Rakshasi brought me from the earth where my father is king. She loves me very dearly, and will not let me go away. By means of these gold and silver sticks she kills me when she goes away in the morning, and by means of those sticks she revives me when she returns in the evening. Flee, flee hence, or you die!" The youth told the young lady how his sister wished very much to have the kataki flower, how he passed through the forest of kachiri, and how he crossed the ocean. He said also that he was determined not to go alone, he must take the young lady along with him. The remaining part of the day they spent together in rambling about the gardens. As the time was drawing near when the Rakshasas should return, the youth buried himself amid an enormous heap of kataki flower which lay in an adjoining apartment, after killing the young lady by touching her head with the golden stick. Just after sunset the youth heard the sound as of a mighty tempest: it was the return of the seven hundred Rakshasas into the gardens. One of them entered the apartment of the young lady, revived her, and said, "I smell a human being, I smell a human being." The young lady replied, "How can a human being come to this place? I am the only human being here." The Rakshasi then stretched herself on the floor, and told the young lady to shampoo her legs. As she was going on shampooing, she let fall a tear-drop on the Rakshasi's leg. "Why are you weeping, my dear child?" asked the raw-eater; "why are you weeping? Is anything troubling you?" "No, mamma," answered the young lady, "nothing is troubling me. What can trouble me, when you have made me so comfortable? I was only thinking what will become of me when you die." "When I die, child?" said the Rakshasi; "shall I die? Yes, of course all creatures die; but the death of a Rakshasa or Rakshasi will never happen. You know, child, that deep tank in the middle part of these gardens. Well, at the bottom of that tank there is a wooden box, in which there are a male and a female bee. It is ordained by fate that if a human being who has the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands were to come here and dive into that tank, and get hold of the same wooden box, and crush to death the male and female bees without letting a drop of their blood fall to the ground, then we should die. But the accomplishment of this decree of fate is, I think, impossible. For, in the first place, there can be no such human being who will have the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands; and, in the second place, if there be such a man, he will find it impossible to come to this place, guarded as it is by seven hundred of us, encompassed by a deep ocean, and barricaded by an impervious forest of kachiri--not to speak of the outposts and sentinels that are stationed on the other side of the forest. And then, even if he succeeds in coming here, he will perhaps not know the secret of the wooden box; and even if he knows of the secret of the wooden box, he may not succeed in killing the bees without letting a drop of their blood fall on the ground. And woe be to him if a drop does fall on the ground, for in that case he will be torn up into seven hundred pieces by us. You see then, child, that we are almost immortal--not actually, but virtually so. You may, therefore, dismiss your fears."

さて、目の前にはカタキの花の庭があった。若者は囲いのなかに入り、広々とした宮殿にたどり着いたが、そこは誰もいないようだった。部屋から部屋へと歩いてゆくと、この世のものならぬ美しさの娘が、黄金の寝台に眠っているのを見つけた。近寄ってみると、寝台には小さな棒が二本、一本は金、もう一本は銀の棒が横たわっていた。銀の棒は眠る美女の足もとに、金の棒は頭のそばにあった。若者はその棒を手に取り、眺めていたが、そのとき金の棒がうっかり娘の足の上に落ちた。たちまち娘は目を覚まして身を起こし、若者に言った。「旅のかた、どうしてこんな陰気なところへおいでになったのです。わたくしはあなたが誰かも、あなたの身の上も存じております。あなたは額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ若者。お逃げなさい、ここからお逃げなさい! ここはカタキの花の庭を守る七百人のラクシャサの住まいなのです。いまはみな狩りに出ていますが、日の沈むころには帰ってきます。ここにいるのを見つかれば、食べられてしまいます。あるラクシャシーがわたくしを、父が王である地からさらってきたのです。そのラクシャシーはわたくしをたいそう可愛がって、帰してくれません。朝出かけるときにはこの金と銀の棒でわたくしを殺し、夕方帰るとその棒でよみがえらせるのです。お逃げなさい、逃げなければ死にますよ!」。若者は娘に、妹がカタキの花をたいそうほしがっていること、カチリの森を抜け、大海を渡ってきたことを話した。そして、ひとりで帰るつもりはない、あなたも連れてゆくと言った。その日の残りを二人は庭を歩きまわって過ごした。ラクシャサたちの帰る時刻が近づくと、若者は金の棒で娘の頭に触れて殺したうえ、隣の部屋に山と積まれたカタキの花のなかに身を隠した。日が沈んですぐ、若者は激しい嵐のような音を聞いた。七百人のラクシャサが庭へ帰ってきたのである。そのうちの一人が娘の部屋に入ってきて、娘をよみがえらせ、こう言った。「人間の匂いがする、人間の匂いがする」。娘は答えた。「どうして人間がこんなところへ来られましょう。ここの人間はわたくしひとりですわ」。ラクシャシーは床に身を伸ばし、娘に足を揉めと言った。揉んでいるうち、娘はラクシャシーの脚に涙をひとしずく落としてしまった。「どうして泣くのだね、かわいい子や」と人食いは尋ねた。「どうして泣くのだ。何か困ったことでもあるのかい」。「いいえ、母さま」と娘は答えた。「何も困ってはおりません。こんなに不自由なくしていただいて、何の困りようがありましょう。ただ、あなたが亡くなったら、わたくしはどうなるのだろうと思っていたのです」。「わたしが死んだら、だって、子や」とラクシャシーは言った。「わたしが死ぬものかね。そりゃ、生きものはみな死ぬさ。だがラクシャサやラクシャシーの死ぬことはけっしてない。おまえも知っていよう、この庭の真ん中にある深い池を。あの池の底に木の箱があって、そのなかに雄と雌の蜂が一匹ずついるのだよ。額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ人間がここへ来て、あの池に潜り、その木の箱を手に入れて、雄と雌の蜂を、その血をひとしずくも地に落とさずに押しつぶして殺したなら、そのときこそわたしたちは死ぬ——そう運命に定められている。だがこの定めが成就することは、まずありえまい。第一に、額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ人間などいるはずがない。第二に、たとえそんな男がいたとしても、七百人のわたしたちに守られ、深い海に囲まれ、通り抜けられぬカチリの森に塞がれたこの場所へ来ることなど、できはしまい——森の向こう側に置いた見張りや番人のことは言うまでもない。それに、たとえここへ来られたとしても、木の箱の秘密は知るまい。たとえ木の箱の秘密を知っていても、血をひとしずくも地に落とさずに蜂を殺すことはできまいよ。そしてもし一滴でも地に落ちたら、その男は災いだ。そのときはわたしたちに七百の切れ端に引き裂かれるのだからね。わかったろう、子や、わたしたちはほとんど不死なのだよ——ほんとうにではないが、事実上はそうなのだ。だから怖がるのはおやめ」

On the next morning the Rakshasi got up, killed the young lady by means of the sticks, and went away in search of food along with other Rakshasas and Rakshasis. The lad, who had the moon on his forehead and stars on the palms of his hands, came out of the heap of flowers and revived the young lady. The young lady recited to the young man the whole of the conversation she had had with the Rakshasi. It was a perfect revelation to him. He, however, lost no time in beginning to act. He shut the heavy gates of the gardens. He dived into the tank and brought up the wooden box. He opened the wooden box, and caught hold of the male and female bees as they were about to escape. He crushed them on the palms of his hands, besmearing his body with every drop of their blood. The moment this was done, loud cries and groans were heard around about the inclosure of the gardens. Agreeably to the decree of fate all the Rakshasas approached the gardens and fell down dead. The youth with the moon on his forehead took as many kataki flowers as he could, together with their seeds, and left the palace, around which were lying in mountain heaps the carcases of the mighty dead, in company with the young and beautiful lady. The waters of the ocean retreated before the youth as before, and the forest of kachiri also opened up a passage through it; and the happy couple reached the house in the bazaar, where they were welcomed by the sister of the youth who had the moon on his forehead.

翌朝、ラクシャシーは起きて、棒で娘を殺し、ほかのラクシャサやラクシャシーたちと食べものを探しに出ていった。額に月を、手のひらに星を持つ少年は花の山から出てきて、娘をよみがえらせた。娘はラクシャシーと交わした話をそっくり若者に語って聞かせた。それは若者にとって、まさに啓示だった。若者はすぐさま動きはじめた。庭の重い門を閉ざし、池に潜って木の箱を引き上げた。木の箱を開け、逃げ出そうとする雄と雌の蜂をつかまえた。そして手のひらの上で押しつぶし、その血のひとしずくまで自分の体に塗りつけた。それが終わったとたん、庭の囲いのまわりに大きな叫びとうめきが起こった。運命の定めのとおり、ラクシャサはみな庭に近づいてきては倒れて死んだ。額に月を持つ若者は、持てるだけのカタキの花とその種を取り、あの強大な者どもの死骸が山と積まれた宮殿を、若く美しい娘とともにあとにした。海の水は前と同じく若者の前から退き、カチリの森もまた道をあけた。こうして幸せな二人は市場の家にたどり着き、額に月を持つ若者の妹に迎えられた。

On the following morning the youth, as usual, went to hunt. The king was also there. A deer passed by, and the youth shot an arrow. As he shot, the turban as usual fell off his head, and a bright light issued from it. The king saw and wondered. He told the youth to stop, as he wished to contract friendship with him. The youth told him to come to his house, and gave him his address. The king went to the house of the youth in the middle of the day. Pushpavati--for that was the name of the young lady that had been brought from beyond the ocean--told the king--for she knew the whole history--how his seventh queen had been persuaded by the other six queens to ring the bell twice before her time, how she was delivered of a beautiful boy and girl, how pups were substituted in their room, how the twins were saved in a miraculous manner in the house of the potter, how they were well treated in the bazaar, and how the youth with the moon on his forehead rescued her from the clutches of the Rakshasas. The king, mightily incensed with the six queens, had them, on the following day, buried alive in the ground. The seventh queen was then brought from the market-place and reinstated in her position; and the youth with the moon on his forehead, and the lovely Pushpavati and their sister, lived happily together.

翌朝、若者はいつものように狩りに出た。王もそこにいた。鹿が通りかかり、若者が矢を放った。射たとたん、いつものようにターバンが頭から落ち、そこから明るい光が発した。王はそれを見て驚いた。そして、そなたと友誼を結びたいから待てと若者に言った。若者は自分の家へ来るようにと言って、住まいを教えた。王はその日の昼ごろ若者の家へ行った。プシュパヴァティー——これが海の向こうから連れてこられた娘の名である——は、何もかも知っていたので、王にこう語った。七人めの后がほかの六人の后に説き伏せられて、そのときでもないのに二度も鈴を鳴らしたこと、美しい男の子と女の子を産んだこと、その代わりに子犬が置かれたこと、双子が陶工の家で不思議なしかたで救われたこと、市場で手厚くもてなされたこと、そして額に月を持つ若者が自分をラクシャサの手から救い出したこと。王は六人の后に激しく怒り、翌日、生きたまま地に埋めさせた。それから七人めの后は市場から連れ戻され、もとの位に返された。そして額に月を持つ若者と、美しいプシュパヴァティーと、その妹は、ともに幸せに暮らした。

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

ここでわたしの話はおしまい。ナティヤの棘は枯れゆく、云々。