The Brahmin's Daughter

A certain Brahmin's wife had no affection for her seven stepdaughters, and persuaded their father to get rid of them. So he invited the girls to come with him on a visit to their grandmother, but on the way he slipped away quietly and left them eating plums in the jungle.

あるバラモンの妻は、七人の継娘をまったくかわいがらず、夫を説き伏せて娘たちを追い払わせた。そこでバラモンは娘たちを祖母のところへ訪ねに行こうと誘ったが、途中でそっと抜け出して、密林でスモモを食べている娘たちを置き去りにした。

After a while they found themselves all alone, and as night fell were very frightened, and hid themselves in the hollow of a large tree. Here a tiger found them and ate six, leaving only the youngest sister alive.

しばらくすると娘たちは自分たちだけになったことに気づき、夜になるとたいそう怖くなって、大きな木のうろに隠れた。そこで虎が娘たちを見つけて六人を食べ、いちばん下の妹だけが生き残った。

She hid in the tree for several days, and at last a Rajah found her, and asked how she had got there. Then she told him the whole story, and he felt pity for her and married her.

妹は何日も木のなかに隠れていたが、とうとうある藩王が娘を見つけて、どうしてここにいるのかと尋ねた。そこで娘は一部始終を話し、藩王は娘を哀れに思って結婚した。

But she often wondered what had become of her father, and whether he was alive or dead; and when she remembered the fate of her sisters, she secretly made up her mind to be revenged on her stepmother.

けれども娘はたびたび、父親はどうなったのか、生きているのか死んだのかと思った。そして姉たちの運命を思い出すと、ひそかに継母に仕返しをしようと心に決めた。

Then she called a crow, and asked it if it would go to her former home with a letter from her. In the letter she told her father of her sisters' fate and of her own good fortune.

そこで娘は烏を呼んで、自分の手紙を持って昔の家へ行ってくれるかと尋ねた。手紙には、姉たちの運命と自分の幸運のことを父親に書いた。

The crow carried the news to her father, and, greatly surprised, he read the contents of his daughter's letter to his wife.

烏はその知らせを父親に届け、父親はたいそう驚いて、娘の手紙の中身を妻に読んで聞かせた。

The woman was mercenary as well as cruel, and advised him to lose no time in visiting her, and bringing back all the money he could secure.

その女は残酷なうえに欲深かったので、すぐに娘を訪ねて、手に入れられるかぎりの金を持ち帰るよう夫に勧めた。

So the Brahmin went and spent eight or nine days in the Palace.

そこでバラモンは出かけていって、宮殿で八、九日を過ごした。

As he was preparing to return home, the girl called him, and gave him a box containing a snake, a scorpion, and a wasp; and as it was securely locked, he had no suspicion of its contents.

帰り支度をしていると、娘が父親を呼んで、蛇とサソリとスズメバチの入った箱を渡した。箱にはしっかり鍵がかかっていたので、父親は中身を少しも疑わなかった。

"Take this," she said, "and give it with the key to my mother; let her be alone in her room when she receives it, so that she may enjoy my gifts by herself."

「これを持っていって」と娘は言った。「鍵と一緒に母さんに渡してください。受け取るときは部屋に一人でいるようにしてね。わたしの贈り物を一人で楽しめるように」

Then she gave him another box full of clothes and jewels and money for himself.

それから娘は、父親自身のために、着物や宝石や金のいっぱい入ったもう一つの箱を渡した。

After a long journey, the Brahmin arrived at his home, and said to his wife: "This box is for me, and this one for you; keep it carefully, and open it when you are alone; here is the key." So saying he went out, shut the door, and put on the chain.

長い旅のあと、バラモンは家に着いて妻に言った。「この箱はわしので、こっちはお前のだ。大事にしまっておいて、一人のときに開けなさい。ほら、鍵だ」そう言うと、バラモンは外に出て戸を閉め、鎖をかけた。

Soon the woman began to cry: "I'm bitten, I'm bitten!" but he mistook it for "I've eaten, I've eaten!" meaning that he should come and share the feast. So he replied: "I've had my share, you eat what is your own share."

まもなく女は叫びはじめた。「くわれた、くわれた!」(刺された、という意味である)けれども夫はそれを「くった、くった!」と聞き違えて、自分もごちそうを分けに来いという意味だと思った。そこで夫は答えた。「わしは自分の分をもらった。お前は自分の分をお食べ」

When he opened the door, he found her dead, so he packed up his things and returned to his daughter, and lived happily ever after.

夫が戸を開けてみると妻は死んでいたので、夫は自分の荷物をまとめて娘のもとへ帰り、それからずっと幸せに暮らした。