The Power of Fate

There was once a Rajah who had six daughters, none of whom were married, although all were grown up.

むかし、六人の娘を持つ藩王がいた。娘たちはみな年ごろなのに、一人も嫁いでいなかった。

One day he called them to him, and asked each in turn whether she was satisfied with her lot in life and what fate had given to her. Five of the daughters replied: "Father, our fate is in your hands: you feed and clothe us, and all that is to be provided for our future you will provide: we are well satisfied with our lot in life." The youngest daughter alone kept silent, and this vexed her father, who enquired why she made no reply.

ある日、藩王は娘たちを呼んで、一人ずつ順に、自分の身の上と、定めが与えてくれたものに満足しているかと尋ねた。五人の娘は答えた。「父上、わたしたちの定めはあなたの手のなかにあります。あなたがわたしたちに食べさせ着させてくださり、わたしたちの行く末に備えるべきものはみなあなたが備えてくださいます。わたしたちは自分の身の上にすっかり満足しています」ただいちばん下の娘だけが黙っていて、これが父の気にさわったので、父はなぜ答えないのかと尋ねた。

"My fate is in no one's hands," she said; "and whatever is to be, will be, whether so willed by my father or not."

「わたしの定めは誰の手のなかにもありません」と娘は言った。「なるべきことは、父上がそう望まれようとそうでなかろうと、なるのです」

The Rajah was now angrier than before, and ordered that she should be immediately put to death; but upon second thoughts he decided to send her to a distant forest, and there leave her without food or water, so that she might either be eaten by wild beasts at night, or else die of starvation.

藩王は前にもまして腹を立てて、娘をすぐに殺せと命じた。けれども考え直して、娘を遠い森へやって、食べ物も水もなしにそこへ置き去りにすることにした。そうすれば夜に野獣に食べられるか、さもなければ飢えて死ぬだろうというのである。

So she was placed in a dooly or litter and carried away. The dooly-bearers took her to a very dense jungle, and at length arrived at a clear space, in the centre of which stood a huge oak tree. Here they determined to leave her, so they tied the dooly to the boughs of the tree, where it could swing above ground, and departed.

そこで娘はドゥーリー、つまり輿に乗せられて運ばれていった。輿かきたちは娘をたいそう深い密林へ連れていき、とうとう開けた場所に着いた。そのまんなかには大きな樫の木が立っていた。輿かきたちはここに娘を置いていくことに決めて、輿を木の枝に結わえつけ、地面の上でぶら下がって揺れるようにして立ち去った。

Now the Princess was very religious, so she spent her time in reading, and said her prayers five times a day, believing that if it were her fate to die she would die, but if not, some help would be sent to her.

さて、王女はたいそう信心深かったので、書物を読んで時を過ごし、日に五度祈りを捧げた。死ぬのが定めなら死ぬだろうし、そうでなければ何か助けが遣わされるだろうと信じていたのである。

In this way day after day passed by without any relief, and the poor Princess was both hungry and cold, yet she continued to pray each day, until, on the morning of the ninth day, Mahadeo (or God), who had heard her unceasing prayers, called one of his messengers and said: "Some one on the earth is in great pain and sorrow, and her prayers are ever knocking at my door; go thou to seek who it is, and bring me word."

こうして何の助けもないまま日一日と過ぎ、かわいそうな王女は腹が減り寒い思いをしたが、それでも毎日祈り続けた。すると九日目の朝、王女の絶え間ない祈りを聞いていたマハーデーオ(すなわち神)が使いの一人を呼んで言った。「地上で誰かがたいそうな苦しみと悲しみのうちにあって、その祈りがいつもわたしの戸を叩いている。行ってそれが誰かを探し、知らせを持ってまいれ」

So the messenger went forth, and found the poor Princess in her dooly on the tree, so he quickly brought back the news to Mahadeo, who sent him back with food and water to her relief.

そこで使いは出かけていって、木の上の輿のなかにいるかわいそうな王女を見つけ、急いでマハーデーオに知らせを持ち帰った。マハーデーオは使いを、食べ物と水を持たせて王女を救いに送り返した。

After she had eaten and drunk, she washed the brass vessels in which her food had come, and continued to pray and give thanks to God. Now each day fresh food and water was sent to her, and for her faith and goodness, Mahadeo determined to give her a reward.

王女は食べて飲み終わると、食べ物の入っていた真鍮の器を洗って、祈りと神への感謝を続けた。それからは毎日新しい食べ物と水が王女に送られ、マハーデーオは王女の信仰と善良さに褒美を与えようと決めた。

Looking out of her dooly one day, she noticed that the earth looked wet in a certain spot, so she dug there with her nails, and found water; not only did she find water, but stones, which were all of solid gold and silver. "My fate has indeed been good," said the Princess, and she forthwith determined to build herself a Palace on that spot, and to surround it with a beautiful garden.

ある日、輿から外を眺めていると、王女はある場所の地面が湿っているように見えるのに気づいた。そこでそこを爪で掘ってみると、水が見つかった。見つかったのは水ばかりでなく、みな純金や純銀でできた石もあった。「わたしの定めはほんとうによいものだった」と王女は言って、すぐにその場所に自分の宮殿を建て、そのまわりを美しい庭で囲もうと決めた。

Next day she heard a woodman felling trees in the forest, and called loudly to him. The man was afraid, for it was a lonesome spot, where he had never before heard the sound of a human voice, and he thought she must be a spirit; but the Princess assured him that she too was human, and a King's daughter, who had been banished, and promised that if he would only bring her wood to build with, and workmen to make her house, she would pay him in gold daily.

次の日、王女は森で木こりが木を切っている音を聞いて、大声で呼びかけた。男は怖がった。そこは人の声など一度も聞いたことのない寂しい場所だったので、王女は霊にちがいないと思ったのである。けれども王女は、わたしも人間で、追放された王の娘だと請け合い、建てるための材木と家をこしらえる職人を連れてきてくれさえすれば、毎日金で払うと約束した。

Pleased at his luck, the woodman lost no time in calling carpenters and masons, and before long a lovely Palace and garden were made in the once jungly spot, and here the Princess with her servants lived a very happy life together.

自分の運のよさを喜んで、木こりはすぐさま大工や石工を呼び集め、まもなくかつて密林だったその場所に美しい宮殿と庭ができあがった。王女は召使いたちとここでたいそう幸せに暮らした。

One day the King, her father, riding by that way, was greatly surprised when he saw what a beautiful house and garden had been made in the midst of the jungle. He sent his servants to enquire whose it was, and to bring word quickly concerning it.

ある日、父の王がそこを馬で通りかかって、密林のまんなかにこんなに美しい家と庭ができているのを見てたいそう驚いた。王は召使いたちを遣わして、誰のものか尋ね、急いで知らせを持ってくるよう命じた。

The Princess saw her father's servants, and ordered that they should be kindly treated, and fed on the best of food; so they returned well pleased, to tell the King that it was his long-lost daughter, whom he had thought was dead, that owned the Palace, and she had sent a message to ask him to come and see her.

王女は父の召使いたちを見ると、手厚くもてなして最上の食べ物をふるまうよう命じた。そこで召使いたちはすっかり満足して戻り、宮殿の持ち主は王が死んだと思っていた長いあいだ行方知れずの王の娘で、会いに来てほしいと言づけをよこした、と王に告げた。

The Rajah was indeed surprised, and hastened to find out for himself whether or not the news were true. When the Princess met him she reminded him of what she had said about fate, and her belief that what was to be, would be in spite of all efforts to prevent it, so that the Rajah also was convinced that she was right.

藩王はほんとうに驚いて、知らせがほんとうかどうか自分で確かめようと急いだ。王女は父に会うと、定めについて自分が言ったことと、なるべきことはどれほど防ごうとしてもなるのだという自分の信念を思い出させた。そこで藩王も、娘が正しかったと納得した。

After this her sisters came to visit her, and she gave them many beautiful and costly presents. Not long afterwards the Rajah made up his mind to travel, and asked each of his five children what they would like him to bring her on his return. They all wanted something different, and he had almost forgotten to ask his youngest daughter what she wanted, as she already had all that heart could wish, but he felt ashamed to leave her out, so he asked her also.

このあと姉たちが王女を訪ねてきて、王女は姉たちに美しく高価な贈り物をたくさん与えた。それからまもなく藩王は旅に出ようと思い立ち、五人の娘の一人ひとりに、帰りに何を持ってきてほしいかと尋ねた。娘たちはみなそれぞれ違うものを欲しがった。藩王はいちばん下の娘に何が欲しいか尋ねるのをほとんど忘れかけていた。その娘は心に望むものをもうみな持っていたからである。けれども一人だけのけものにするのは気が引けたので、その娘にも尋ねた。

"I have all that I need, O my father, but if, in your travels, you come to a certain city where there is a little box for sale, bring it to me."

「おお父上、わたしには入り用なものはみなあります。けれども、旅の途中である町に行き当たって、そこで小さな箱が売りに出ていたら、それをわたしに持ってきてください」

The Rajah soon bought his five daughters their presents, all but the little box, so when he arrived at the city his youngest daughter had mentioned, he began to enquire if there was a little box for sale.

藩王はまもなく五人の娘への贈り物を買いそろえたが、小さな箱だけはまだだった。そこで末の娘の言った町に着くと、小さな箱が売りに出ていないかと尋ねはじめた。

Now it was well known in that place that a certain bunniah had in his safe keeping a magic box which contained a fan, and the soul of a king's son. If any one waved the fan forwards, the Prince would at once appear, but waved backwards he would at once disappear.

さて、その土地では、あるバニヤ(商人)が魔法の箱を大事に預かっていることがよく知られていた。その箱には扇と、王の息子の魂が入っていた。誰かが扇を前へあおげば王子はたちまち現れ、うしろへあおげばたちまち消えるのだった。

When the people heard a Rajah asking for a box, they thought that it was this magic box he meant, so they directed him to the bunniah, who said he might have it for five hundred rupees. This seemed a large sum to pay for so small, and, as it appeared to him, common a thing, yet, rather than return without it, the Rajah paid the price and returned to his own country. His five daughters were delighted with their gifts, and he sent the box to the youngest Princess.

人々は藩王が箱を求めているのを聞いて、この魔法の箱のことだと思ったので、王をそのバニヤのところへ案内した。バニヤは五百ルピーで譲ろうと言った。こんなに小さな、王の目にはありふれたものに払うには大金に思えたが、それなしで帰るよりはと、藩王は代金を払って自分の国へ帰った。五人の娘は贈り物に大喜びし、藩王は箱をいちばん下の王女に送った。

She soon opened it, took out the fan, and began to wave it. No sooner had she done so when a fine handsome Prince stood in her presence; but, when she waved in the opposite direction from herself, he disappeared.

王女はすぐに箱を開けて扇を取り出し、あおぎはじめた。そうするやいなや、立派な美しい王子が目の前に立った。ところが自分から遠ざけるほうへあおぐと、王子は消えた。

Every morning the Princess summoned the Prince with her fan, and during the day they spent many pleasant hours together playing Pacheesee, or Oriental Chess: in the evening she sent him away. The two were always happy together, and never weary of each other's presence, which, I am told, is a sign of the truest friendship.

毎朝、王女は扇で王子を呼び出し、昼のあいだ二人はパチーシー、つまり東洋の盤遊びをして楽しい時を何時間も一緒に過ごした。夕方になると王女は王子を帰した。二人は一緒にいるといつも幸せで、互いにいて飽きることがなかった。聞くところによれば、これこそまことの友情のしるしだという。

The five sisters soon came to show their youngest sister their presents; and laughed when they saw a simple little box, asking what made her choose such a plain common thing.

まもなく五人の姉たちが、贈り物を見せに末の妹のところへやって来た。そして簡素な小さな箱を見ると笑って、どうしてこんな飾り気のないありふれたものを選んだのかと尋ねた。

Upon this the foolish girl told them the whole secret of the box, and taking out the magic fan, waved it in their presence, and the Prince arrived as before.

これに愚かな娘は箱の秘密をすっかり話してしまい、魔法の扇を取り出して姉たちの目の前であおいだ。すると王子が前のように現れた。

This made the five elder sisters very angry and jealous; and while they sat together playing chess, they planned mischief in their hearts; so that evening they got some glass, and pounded it into little bits, and this they spread upon the couch on which the Prince was wont to take his midday rest. Next day, when he came, the bits of glass hurt the poor Prince cruelly; but, being a guest, he made no remark, and in the evening departed to his home, where, before long, he became very ill indeed.

これに五人の姉たちはひどく腹を立てて妬み、座って一緒に盤遊びをしながら、心のなかで悪だくみをした。そしてその晩、ガラスを手に入れて細かく砕き、王子がいつも昼の休みを取る寝椅子の上にまいた。次の日王子が来ると、ガラスのかけらがかわいそうな王子をむごく傷つけた。けれども王子は客の身だったので何も言わず、夕方には自分の家へ帰った。そして家でまもなく、ほんとうに重い病にかかった。

The King, his father, summoned all the cleverest Hakeems, or native physicians, to his son's bedside; but they could do nothing, and day by day the poor Prince lay at the point of death. In vain the Princess waved her fan; he was too ill to respond, and the five cruel sisters rejoiced to think their plan had succeeded so well.

父の王は、いちばん腕のよいハキーム、つまり土地の医者をみな息子の枕もとに呼び集めたが、誰にも何もできず、かわいそうな王子は日に日に死の瀬戸際にあった。王女が扇をあおいでも無駄だった。王子は病が重すぎて応えられず、むごい五人の姉たちは計画がまんまと成功したと思って喜んだ。

At last the youngest Princess could bear her suspense no longer; so, calling her servants together, she told them she was going by herself to a distant country on a pilgrimage, dressed like a Fakir, and none must follow her.

とうとういちばん下の王女は気がかりでもう耐えられなくなった。そこで召使いたちを呼び集めて、ファキール(行者)の身なりをして一人で遠い国へ巡礼に行く、誰もついてきてはならない、と告げた。

At first her servants would not consent, and declared they would follow wherever she went, but after a time the Princess had her way, and set out on her journey.

初め召使いたちは承知せず、どこへでもお供すると言い張ったが、しばらくして王女は思いどおりにして、旅に出た。

She wandered many miles that day, and at evening, weary and footsore, sat down under a tree to rest. While she sat there an eagle and a parrot began to talk in a neighbouring branch. "What news?" began the parrot.

その日、王女は何マイルもさまよい、夕方になると疲れて足を痛めて、木の下に腰を下ろして休んだ。そこに座っていると、隣の枝で一羽の鷲と一羽のオウムが話しはじめた。「何か知らせはあるかい」とオウムが切り出した。

"Have you not heard of the magic box, and the Princess, and how her sisters placed broken glass on the couch of the Prince, and how even now he lies at the point of death?"

「魔法の箱と王女の話を聞いていないのかい。王女の姉たちが王子の寝椅子に割れたガラスをまいて、今まさに王子が死の瀬戸際にあるという話を」

"This is indeed sad news; and is there no remedy for his illness?"

「それはほんとうに悲しい知らせだ。その病を治す手立てはないのかね」

"The remedy is simple, if they but knew it. You have only to gather the refuse from an eagle's nest, add water to it, and apply it to the hurt, when, after three applications, the glass will come away, and the flesh speedily heal."

「手立ては簡単さ、知ってさえいればね。鷲の巣の汚物を集めて水を加えて傷に塗るだけでいい。三度塗ればガラスが出てきて、肉はすぐに治るのさ」

This conversation was eagerly listened to by the Princess; and afterwards she carefully gathered the refuse beside the eagle's nest, and again started with all haste on her journey.

王女はこの話にじっと耳を傾けていた。そしてそのあと、鷲の巣のそばの汚物を丁寧に集めて、ふたたび大急ぎで旅に出た。

Arrived at the town, she began to cry in the streets, "A Hakeem, a Hakeem!" (or doctor), and was instantly summoned to the King's Palace; for he had promised even to give up his kingdom to any one who would save his son. So the Princess in this disguise hastened into the King's presence, and there arranged to treat the Prince, on condition that no other remedy should be tried by others at the same time.

町に着くと、王女は通りで「ハキーム、ハキーム!」(つまり医者)と叫びはじめた。すると王女はすぐに王の宮殿へ呼ばれた。王は息子を救ってくれる者には王国さえも譲ると約束していたのである。そこで変装した王女は急いで王の御前に出て、同時にほかの者がほかの手当てを試さないという条件で、王子の治療を引き受けた。

At the first application of her remedy small pieces of glass were seen to drop out, at the second, still more, and, at the last, all fell out, and not one was left! This gave the Prince such relief that he opened his eyes and regained consciousness, but did not recognise in the new Hakeem, dressed as a Fakir, his former friend, the Princess. At last he got well, and was able to leave his room, so the Princess went to the Rajah, and begged permission to return to her own country.

一度目に薬を塗ると、小さなガラスのかけらがこぼれ落ちるのが見え、二度目にはもっとたくさん落ち、最後にはみな落ちて、ひとつも残らなかった! これで王子はすっかり楽になって目を開け、意識を取り戻したが、ファキールの身なりをした新しいハキームが、昔の友である王女だとは気づかなかった。とうとう王子はよくなって部屋を出られるようになったので、王女は藩王のもとへ行って、自分の国へ帰らせてくれと願い出た。

"Return to your country when I can give you land and riches and honour here! Why need you do that? Ask me for anything, O wise Hakeem, even for my throne and my kingdom, and you shall have it."

「ここで土地も富も誉れも与えてやれるのに、国へ帰るとは! どうしてそうせねばならぬ。何でも望むがよい、おお賢いハキームよ。わが王座と王国でさえ、そなたに与えよう」

"I desire nothing, O King," returned the poor Hakeem, "but would crave of you a few tokens in remembrance of your son. A handkerchief, his sword, a ring from his finger, and his bow and arrows."

「わたしは何も望みません、おお王よ」と貧しいハキームは返した。「ただ、王子さまの思い出の品をいくつか頂戴しとうございます。ハンカチと、王子さまの剣と、指の指輪と、弓矢を」

"These gifts are too small a return for all you have done. You shall have them, and much more, if you will."

「そんな贈り物では、そなたのしてくれたことすべてへの返礼には小さすぎる。それはやろう。望むなら、もっとたくさんやろう」

But the Hakeem refused, and, returning to her home with the tokens she had asked for, once more resumed the dress of a Princess, and, taking out her fan, began to wave it. Immediately the Prince stood in her presence, but she feigned anger with him.

けれどもハキームは断って、望んだ品々を持って家へ帰ると、ふたたび王女の衣装をまとい、扇を取り出してあおぎはじめた。すぐに王子が目の前に立ったが、王女は王子に怒ったふりをした。

"All these many days I have waved my fan, and you have not come! Why have you come to-day, O Prince?"

「こんなに何日も扇をあおいだのに、あなたは来なかったわね! どうして今日は来たの、おお王子さま」

Then the Prince told her of all that had happened, of her sisters' cruelty, of his dangerous illness, and of the wonderful Hakeem who had saved his life, and to whom he should ever be grateful. The Princess was glad indeed to hear all this from his own lips, and, bringing out each gift, laid it before his astonished eyes, while she confessed that it was she herself who had tended him in his illness. The Prince was overcome with joy and gratitude, and asked her to become his wife; so they were married amid great feastings and rejoicings, and lived happily ever after. Such is the power of fate.

それから王子は、起こったことすべてを王女に話した。姉たちのむごい仕打ちのこと、命にかかわる病のこと、そして命を救ってくれ、いつまでも感謝すべき不思議なハキームのことを。王女は王子自身の口からこれをみな聞いてほんとうにうれしく、贈り物をひとつずつ取り出して王子の驚く目の前に並べ、病のあいだ看病したのは自分だったと打ち明けた。王子は喜びと感謝で胸がいっぱいになり、妻になってくれと頼んだ。こうして二人は盛大な宴と祝いのうちに結婚し、それからずっと幸せに暮らした。定めの力とはこのようなものである。