My Lord Bag of Rice

Long, long ago there lived, in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or “My Lord Bag of Rice.” His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very interesting story of how he came to change his name.

むかしむかし、日本に俵藤太(たわらとうだ)、すなわち「俵の殿さま」として誰にも知られた勇ましい武者が住んでいた。本当の名は藤原秀郷(ふじわらのひでさと)といい、どうして名が変わったかについては、たいそう面白い話が伝わっている。

One day he sallied forth in search of adventures, for he had the nature of a warrior and could not bear to be idle. So he buckled on his two swords, took his huge bow, much taller than himself, in his hand, and slinging his quiver on his back started out. He had not gone far when he came to the bridge of Seta-no-Karashi spanning one end of the beautiful Lake Biwa. No sooner had he set foot on the bridge than he saw lying right across his path a huge serpent-dragon. Its body was so big that it looked like the trunk of a large pine tree and it took up the whole width of the bridge. One of its huge claws rested on the parapet of one side of the bridge, while its tail lay right against the other. The monster seemed to be asleep, and as it breathed, fire and smoke came out of its nostrils.

ある日、秀郷は冒険を求めて出かけていった。武者の気質を持っていて、何もせずにいることに耐えられなかったからである。そこで二本の刀を帯び、自分の背丈よりずっと長い大弓を手に取り、箙を背に負って出発した。いくらも行かぬうちに、美しい琵琶湖の一方の端に架かる瀬田の唐橋にさしかかった。橋に足を踏み入れるやいなや、行く手をふさいで巨大な蛇の竜が横たわっているのが見えた。その体は大きな松の幹のように太く、橋の幅いっぱいを占めていた。大きな爪の一本は橋の片側の欄干にかかり、尾はもう一方の欄干に届いていた。怪物は眠っているらしく、息をするたびに鼻の穴から火と煙が出ていた。

At first Hidesato could not help feeling alarmed at the sight of this horrible reptile lying in his path, for he must either turn back or walk right over its body. He was a brave man, however, and putting aside all fear went forward dauntlessly. Crunch, crunch! he stepped now on the dragon’s body, now between its coils, and without even one glance backward he went on his way.

はじめ秀郷は、行く手に横たわるこの恐ろしい爬虫を見て、驚かずにはいられなかった。引き返すか、その体の上をまたいで行くかしかなかったからである。けれども彼は勇ましい男だったので、恐れをすっかり脇へ置いて、ひるまずに進んだ。ごりごり、ごりごり! あるときは竜の体の上を、あるときはとぐろのあいだを踏んで、一度も振り返らずに道を進んだ。

He had only gone a few steps when he heard some one calling him from behind. On turning back he was much surprised to see that the monster dragon had entirely disappeared and in its place was a strange-looking man, who was bowing most ceremoniously to the ground. His red hair streamed over his shoulders and was surmounted by a crown in the shape of a dragon’s head, and his sea-green dress was patterned with shells. Hidesato knew at once that this was no ordinary mortal and he wondered much at the strange occurrence. Where had the dragon gone in such a short space of time? Or had it transformed itself into this man, and what did the whole thing mean? While these thoughts passed through his mind he had come up to the man on the bridge and now addressed him:

ほんの数歩行ったところで、うしろから呼びかける声が聞こえた。振り返ってみると、たいそう驚いたことに、あの怪物の竜はすっかり姿を消していて、その代わりに奇妙な身なりの男が、うやうやしく地に伏して礼をしていた。赤い髪が肩に流れ、その上に竜の頭の形をした冠を戴き、海の緑色の衣には貝の模様が織り込まれていた。秀郷はたちまち、これはただの人間ではないと悟り、この不思議な出来事にたいそう驚いた。あの竜はこの短いあいだにどこへ行ったのか。それともこの男に姿を変えたのか。いったいこれは何を意味するのか。そんな思いが頭をよぎるうちに、彼は橋の上の男のところまで来ていて、こう声をかけた。

“Was it you that called me just now?”

「いま、わたしを呼んだのはあなたか。」

“Yes, it was I,” answered the man: “I have an earnest request to make to you. Do you think you can grant it to me?”

「はい、わたくしでございます」と男は答えた。「あなたさまに切なるお願いがございます。お聞き入れいただけましょうか。」

“If it is in my power to do so I will,” answered Hidesato, “but first tell me who you are?”

「わたしの力でできることならば、やろう」と秀郷は答えた。「だがまず、あなたが何者か教えてくれ。」

“I am the Dragon King of the Lake, and my home is in these waters just under this bridge.”

「わたくしはこの湖の竜王で、住まいはこの橋のすぐ下の水のなかにございます。」

“And what is it you have to ask of me?” said Hidesato.

「して、わたしに何を頼みたいのか」と秀郷は言った。

“I want you to kill my mortal enemy the centipede, who lives on the mountain beyond,” and the Dragon King pointed to a high peak on the opposite shore of the lake.

「向こうの山に住む、わたくしの不倶戴天の敵である百足を退治していただきたいのです。」そう言って竜王は、湖の対岸の高い峰を指さした。

“I have lived now for many years in this lake and I have a large family of children and grand-children. For some time past we have lived in terror, for a monster centipede has discovered our home, and night after night it comes and carries off one of my family. I am powerless to save them. If it goes on much longer like this, not only shall I lose all my children, but I myself must fall a victim to the monster. I am, therefore, very unhappy, and in my extremity I determined to ask the help of a human being. For many days with this intention I have waited on the bridge in the shape of the horrible serpent-dragon that you saw, in the hope that some strong brave man would come along. But all who came this way, as soon as they saw me were terrified and ran away as fast as they could. You are the first man I have found able to look at me without fear, so I knew at once that you were a man of great courage. I beg you to have pity upon me. Will you not help me and kill my enemy the centipede?”

「わたくしはこの湖に長年住み、子や孫も大勢おります。ところがこのしばらく、わたくしたちは恐れのなかに暮らしております。怪物のような百足がわたくしたちの住まいを見つけて、夜ごとやって来ては一族の者を一人さらっていくのです。わたくしには救う力がありません。このまま長く続けば、子をみな失うばかりか、わたくし自身もあの怪物の餌食となりましょう。それゆえたいそう嘆かわしく、追いつめられて、人間に助けを求めようと心を決めたのです。何日ものあいだ、その思いから、あなたさまがご覧になったあの恐ろしい蛇の竜の姿でこの橋に待っておりました。どこかの強く勇ましい方が通りかかるのを願って。けれどもこの道を通る者はみな、わたくしを見るやいなや恐れおののいて、一目散に逃げ去りました。恐れずにわたくしを見ることのできた人は、あなたさまが初めてです。それでたちまち、あなたさまが大変な勇気をお持ちの方だと分かりました。どうかわたくしを憐れんでくださいませ。お助けくださって、敵の百足を退治してはいただけませんか。」

Hidesato felt very sorry for the Dragon King on hearing his story, and readily promised to do what he could to help him. The warrior asked where the centipede lived, so that he might attack the creature at once. The Dragon King replied that its home was on the mountain Mikami, but that as it came every night at a certain hour to the palace of the lake, it would be better to wait till then. So Hidesato was conducted to the palace of the Dragon King, under the bridge. Strange to say, as he followed his host downwards the waters parted to let them pass, and his clothes did not even feel damp as he passed through the flood. Never had Hidesato seen anything so beautiful as this palace built of white marble beneath the lake. He had often heard of the Sea King’s palace at the bottom of the sea, where all the servants and retainers were salt-water fishes, but here was a magnificent building in the heart of Lake Biwa. The dainty goldfishes, red carp, and silvery trout, waited upon the Dragon King and his guest.

秀郷は竜王の話を聞いてたいそう気の毒に思い、できるかぎり助けようと快く約束した。武者は、すぐにも相手を攻めようと、百足はどこに住んでいるのかと尋ねた。竜王は、そのすみかは三上山にあるが、毎晩決まった時刻に湖の宮殿へ来るのだから、それまで待ったほうがよろしいでしょう、と答えた。そこで秀郷は、橋の下の竜王の宮殿へ案内された。不思議なことに、主に従って下っていくと、水は二人を通すために左右に分かれ、水のなかを通っても衣は湿りさえしなかった。湖の底に白い大理石で建てられたこの宮殿ほど美しいものを、秀郷はそれまで見たことがなかった。海の底にある海の王の宮殿のことは幾度も聞いていた。そこでは召使いも家来もみな海の魚だという。けれどもここは、琵琶湖のただなかにある壮麗な建物であった。愛らしい金魚と、緋の鯉と、銀色の鱒とが、竜王とその客に仕えた。

Hidesato was astonished at the feast that was spread for him. The dishes were crystallized lotus leaves and flowers, and the chopsticks were of the rarest ebony. As soon as they sat down, the sliding doors opened and ten lovely goldfish dancers came out, and behind them followed ten red-carp musicians with the koto and the samisen. Thus the hours flew by till midnight, and the beautiful music and dancing had banished all thoughts of the centipede. The Dragon King was about to pledge the warrior in a fresh cup of wine when the palace was suddenly shaken by a tramp, tramp! as if a mighty army had begun to march not far away.

秀郷は、自分のために並べられたごちそうに驚いた。器は水晶と化した蓮の葉と花で、箸はこのうえなく珍しい黒檀であった。二人が座につくやいなや引き戸が開き、美しい金魚の舞い手が十人現れ、そのうしろから琴と三味線を持った緋の鯉の楽人が十人続いた。こうして時は飛ぶように過ぎて真夜中になり、美しい楽と舞は百足のことをすっかり忘れさせていた。竜王が新しい杯で武者に酒をすすめようとしたそのとき、宮殿が突然、どしん、どしんという足音に揺れた。まるで大軍がすぐ近くで行進しはじめたかのようであった。

Hidesato and his host both rose to their feet and rushed to the balcony, and the warrior saw on the opposite mountain two great balls of glowing fire coming nearer and nearer. The Dragon King stood by the warrior’s side trembling with fear.

秀郷と主はともに立ち上がって高欄へ駆け寄った。すると武者は、向かいの山に、燃えるような大きな二つの火の玉がだんだん近づいてくるのを見た。竜王は恐ろしさに震えながら武者のかたわらに立っていた。

“The centipede! The centipede! Those two balls of fire are its eyes. It is coming for its prey! Now is the time to kill it.”

「百足だ! 百足だ! あの二つの火の玉があれの目です。獲物を求めて来るのです! 今こそ討ち取るときでございます。」

Hidesato looked where his host pointed, and, in the dim light of the starlit evening, behind the two balls of fire he saw the long body of an enormous centipede winding round the mountains, and the light in its hundred feet glowed like so many distant lanterns moving slowly towards the shore.

秀郷は主の指すほうを見た。すると星明かりの薄い光のなかに、二つの火の玉のうしろに、途方もなく大きな百足の長い体が山をめぐって巻いているのが見え、その百本の足の光は、無数の遠い提灯がゆっくりと岸へ向かって動いていくようであった。

Hidesato showed not the least sign of fear. He tried to calm the Dragon King.

秀郷は恐れの色をみじんも見せなかった。そして竜王を落ち着かせようとした。

“Don’t be afraid. I shall surely kill the centipede. Just bring me my bow and arrows.”

「恐れるな。百足はきっとわたしが討ち取る。さあ、わたしの弓と矢を持ってきてくれ。」

The Dragon King did as he was bid, and the warrior noticed that he had only three arrows left in his quiver. He took the bow, and fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and let fly.

竜王は言われたとおりにした。武者は、箙に矢が三本しか残っていないことに気づいた。彼は弓を取り、矢を弦につがえ、注意深く狙いを定めて放った。

The arrow hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, but instead of penetrating, it glanced off harmless and fell to the ground.

矢は百足の頭のちょうどまんなかに当たったが、突き通らずに弾かれて、地面に落ちた。

Nothing daunted, Hidesato took another arrow, fitted it to the notch of the bow and let fly. Again the arrow hit the mark, it struck the centipede right in the middle of its head, only to glance off and fall to the ground. The centipede was invulnerable to weapons! When the Dragon King saw that even this brave warrior’s arrows were powerless to kill the centipede, he lost heart and began to tremble with fear.

ひるむことなく、秀郷はもう一本の矢を取り、弓の弦につがえて放った。またも矢は的を射て、百足の頭のちょうどまんなかに当たったが、やはり弾かれて地に落ちた。百足は武器の通じぬ身であった! 竜王は、この勇ましい武者の矢でさえ百足を殺せぬのを見て、気を落とし、恐ろしさに震えはじめた。

The warrior saw that he had now only one arrow left in his quiver, and if this one failed he could not kill the centipede. He looked across the waters. The huge reptile had wound its horrid body seven times round the mountain and would soon come down to the lake. Nearer and nearer gleamed fireballs of eyes, and the light of its hundred feet began to throw reflections in the still waters of the lake.

武者は、箙にもう矢が一本しか残っていないことに気づいた。これが外れれば、百足を討ち取ることはできない。彼は水の向こうを見た。あの巨大な爬虫は、その恐ろしい体を山に七重に巻きつけていて、まもなく湖へ下りてこようとしていた。火の玉の目はますます近く光り、その百本の足の光が、静まった湖の水に映りはじめた。

Then suddenly the warrior remembered that he had heard that human saliva was deadly to centipedes. But this was no ordinary centipede. This was so monstrous that even to think of such a creature made one creep with horror. Hidesato determined to try his last chance. So taking his last arrow and first putting the end of it in his mouth, he fitted the notch to his bow, took careful aim once more and let fly.

そのとき武者は、人の唾は百足に毒だと聞いたことがあるのをふと思い出した。けれどもこれはただの百足ではない。あまりに怪物じみていて、そんな生き物のことを思っただけで身の毛がよだつほどである。秀郷は最後の賭けに出ようと心を決めた。そこで最後の矢を取り、まずその先を口に含んでから、弓の弦につがえ、もう一度注意深く狙いを定めて放った。

This time the arrow again hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, but instead of glancing off harmlessly as before, it struck home to the creature’s brain. Then with a convulsive shudder the serpentine body stopped moving, and the fiery light of its great eyes and hundred feet darkened to a dull glare like the sunset of a stormy day, and then went out in blackness. A great darkness now overspread the heavens, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed, and the wind roared in fury, and it seemed as if the world were coming to an end. The Dragon King and his children and retainers all crouched in different parts of the palace, frightened to death, for the building was shaken to its foundation. At last the dreadful night was over. Day dawned beautiful and clear. The centipede was gone from the mountain.

こんども矢は百足の頭のちょうどまんなかに当たったが、前のように空しく弾かれることなく、その脳に深く突き刺さった。すると蛇のような体は激しく身を震わせて動かなくなり、大きな目と百本の足の火のような光は、嵐の日の夕日のような鈍い輝きに暗んで、それから闇のなかへ消えた。天は大きな闇に覆われ、雷が轟き、稲妻が閃き、風は猛り狂って吠え、まるで世の終わりが来たかのようであった。竜王も、その子らも家来たちも、宮殿のあちこちにうずくまって死ぬほど怯えた。建物が土台まで揺さぶられたからである。とうとう恐ろしい夜が明けた。朝は美しく晴れ渡った。百足は山から消えていた。

Then Hidesato called to the Dragon King to come out with him on the balcony, for the centipede was dead and he had nothing more to fear.

それから秀郷は竜王を呼んで、一緒に高欄へ出ようと言った。百足は死に、もう恐れるものは何もないからである。

Then all the inhabitants of the palace came out with joy, and Hidesato pointed to the lake. There lay the body of the dead centipede floating on the water, which was dyed red with its blood.

すると宮殿の者たちはみな喜んで出てきた。秀郷は湖を指さした。そこには死んだ百足の体が水に浮かんでいて、水はその血で赤く染まっていた。

The gratitude of the Dragon King knew no bounds. The whole family came and bowed down before the warrior, calling him their preserver and the bravest warrior in all Japan.

竜王の感謝は限りなかった。一族みなが来て武者の前に頭を下げ、わたしたちの救い主、日本じゅうで最も勇ましい武者と呼んだ。

Another feast was prepared, more sumptuous than the first. All kinds of fish, prepared in every imaginable way, raw, stewed, boiled and roasted, served on coral trays and crystal dishes, were put before him, and the wine was the best that Hidesato had ever tasted in his life. To add to the beauty of everything the sun shone brightly, the lake glittered like a liquid diamond, and the palace was a thousand times more beautiful by day than by night.

またも宴が催され、それは最初のものよりさらに豪勢であった。ありとあらゆる魚が、思いつくかぎりのやり方で——生でも、煮ても、茹でても、焼いても——調えられ、珊瑚の膳と水晶の器に載せて彼の前に並べられた。そして酒は、秀郷が生涯で味わったうちで最上のものだった。そのすべてをいっそう美しくするように日が明るく照り、湖は溶けた金剛石のようにきらめき、宮殿は夜よりも昼のほうが千倍も美しかった。

His host tried to persuade the warrior to stay a few days, but Hidesato insisted on going home, saying that he had now finished what he had come to do, and must return. The Dragon King and his family were all very sorry to have him leave so soon, but since he would go they begged him to accept a few small presents (so they said) in token of their gratitude to him for delivering them forever from their horrible enemy the centipede.

主は武者に数日とどまるよう説き伏せようとしたが、秀郷は、来てなすべきことはもう果たしたのだから帰らねばならぬと言い張った。竜王も一族もみな、こんなに早く去られることをたいそう残念がったが、それでも帰るというので、恐ろしい敵である百足から永久に救ってくれた感謝のしるしに、ささやかな贈り物を(と彼らは言った)受け取ってほしいと願った。

As the warrior stood in the porch taking leave, a train of fish was suddenly transformed into a retinue of men, all wearing ceremonial robes and dragon’s crowns on their heads to show that they were servants of the great Dragon King. The presents that they carried were as follows:

武者が玄関に立って別れを告げていると、魚の列がたちまち人の一行に変わり、みな礼装をまとい、偉大な竜王の家来であることを示す竜の冠を頭に戴いていた。彼らが運んできた贈り物は次のとおりである。

First, a large bronze bell. Second, a bag of rice. Third, a roll of silk. Fourth, a cooking pot. Fifth, a bell.

第一に、大きな銅の鐘。第二に、米俵ひとつ。第三に、絹の巻物ひとつ。第四に、鍋ひとつ。第五に、鈴ひとつ。

Hidesato did not want to accept all these presents, but as the Dragon King insisted, he could not well refuse.

秀郷はこの贈り物をすべて受け取る気はなかったが、竜王が言い張るので、断りきれなかった。

The Dragon King himself accompanied the warrior as far as the bridge, and then took leave of him with many bows and good wishes, leaving the procession of servants to accompany Hidesato to his house with the presents.

竜王は自ら橋まで武者を送り、それから幾度も頭を下げ、幸いを祈って別れた。そして家来の行列には、贈り物を携えて秀郷を家まで送るようにと言い残した。

The warrior’s household and servants had been very much concerned when they found that he did not return the night before, but they finally concluded that he had been kept by the violent storm and had taken shelter somewhere. When the servants on the watch for his return caught sight of him they called to every one that he was approaching, and the whole household turned out to meet him, wondering much what the retinue of men, bearing presents and banners, that followed him, could mean.

武者の家の者も召使いたちも、前の晩に帰ってこなかったのでたいそう案じていたが、とうとう、あの激しい嵐に足止めされてどこかに宿ったのだろうと考えていた。帰りを見張っていた召使いが彼の姿を見つけると、お帰りだとみなに呼ばわり、家じゅうの者が迎えに出てきて、贈り物と旗を掲げて従う一行は何なのだろうと大いにいぶかった。

As soon as the Dragon King’s retainers had put down the presents they vanished, and Hidesato told all that had happened to him.

竜王の家来たちは贈り物を置くとすぐに消え去り、秀郷は身に起こったことをすべて語った。

The presents which he had received from the grateful Dragon King were found to be of magic power. The bell only was ordinary, and as Hidesato had no use for it he presented it to the temple near by, where it was hung up, to boom out the hour of day over the surrounding neighborhood.

感謝する竜王から受け取った贈り物は、不思議な力を持つものであることが分かった。ただ鐘だけはふつうのもので、秀郷には使い道がなかったので、近くの寺に納めた。鐘はそこに吊るされ、あたり一帯に時を告げて鳴り響いた。

The single bag of rice, however much was taken from it day after day for the meals of the knight and his whole family, never grew less—the supply in the bag was inexhaustible.

けれども、たったひとつの米俵は、武者とその家じゅうの食事のために日ごと米を取り出しても、決して減らなかった——俵のなかの米は尽きることがなかったのである。

The roll of silk, too, never grew shorter, though time after time long pieces were cut off to make the warrior a new suit of clothes to go to Court in at the New Year.

絹の巻物もまた、正月に宮中へ上がるための新しい装束を武者のために仕立てようと、幾度も長く切り取っても、決して短くならなかった。

The cooking pot was wonderful, too. No matter what was put into it, it cooked deliciously whatever was wanted without any firing—truly a very economical saucepan.

鍋もまた不思議なものであった。何を入れても、火を焚かずに、望みのものを何でもおいしく煮上げた——まことにたいそう倹約な鍋である。

The fame of Hidesato’s fortune spread far and wide, and as there was no need for him to spend money on rice or silk or firing, he became very rich and prosperous, and was henceforth known as My Lord Bag of Rice.

秀郷の幸運の噂は遠く広くまで伝わった。そして米にも絹にも薪にも金を使う必要がなかったので、彼はたいそう富み栄え、それからのち俵の殿さまとして知られるようになった。