The Story of Princess Hase. a Story of Old Japan

Many, many years ago there lived in Nara, the ancient Capital of Japan, a wise State minister, by name Prince Toyonari Fujiwara. His wife was a noble, good, and beautiful woman called Princess Murasaki (Violet). They had been married by their respective families according to Japanese custom when very young, and had lived together happily ever since. They had, however, one cause for great sorrow, for as the years went by no child was born to them. This made them very unhappy, for they both longed to see a child of their own who would grow up to gladden their old age, carry on the family name, and keep up the ancestral rites when they were dead. The Prince and his lovely wife, after long consultation and much thought, determined to make a pilgrimage to the temple of Hase-no-Kwannon (Goddess of Mercy at Hase), for they believed, according to the beautiful tradition of their religion, that the Mother of Mercy, Kwannon, comes to answer the prayers of mortals in the form that they need the most. Surely after all these years of prayer she would come to them in the form of a beloved child in answer to their special pilgrimage, for that was the greatest need of their two lives. Everything else they had that this life could give them, but it was all as nothing because the cry of their hearts was unsatisfied.

むかしむかし、日本の古い都である奈良に、藤原豊成(ふじわらのとよなり)という名の賢い大臣が住んでいた。その妻は気高く善良で美しい人で、紫の前(むらさきのまえ)と呼ばれていた。二人は日本の習わしに従って、たいそう若いころにそれぞれの家の取り決めで結ばれ、以来むつまじく暮らしてきた。けれどもひとつ、大きな嘆きの種があった。年を重ねても子が生まれなかったのである。これは二人をたいそう不幸にした。老いの日を喜ばせ、家の名を継ぎ、自分たちが死んだのちには先祖の祭りを守ってくれる、わが子を見たいと二人とも切に願っていたからである。大臣とその美しい妻は、長く相談し、深く考えたのち、長谷の観音(長谷の慈悲の女神)の寺へ参ることに決めた。二人は、その信仰の美しい言い伝えに従って、慈悲の母である観音は、人の求めにいちばん必要な姿となってその祈りに応えに来てくださるのだと信じていた。これほど年月を重ねて祈ってきたのだから、このたびの特別の参詣に応えて、きっといとしい子の姿となって来てくださるにちがいない。それこそ二人の生涯の最大の求めだったからである。この世が与えうるほかのものはすべて持っていたが、心の叫びが満たされぬ以上、それはみな無に等しかった。

So the Prince Toyonari and his wife went to the temple of Kwannon at Hase and stayed there for a long time, both daily offering incense and praying to Kwannon, the Heavenly Mother, to grant them the desire of their whole lives. And their prayer was answered.

そこで豊成公と妻は長谷の観音の寺へ行って長くとどまり、二人とも日ごと香を供え、天の母である観音に、生涯の願いをお聞き届けくださいと祈った。そしてその祈りは聞き届けられた。

A daughter was born at last to the Princess Murasaki, and great was the joy of her heart. On presenting the child to her husband, they both decided to call her Hase-Hime, or the Princess of Hase, because she was the gift of the Kwannon at that place. They both reared her with great care and tenderness, and the child grew in strength and beauty.

とうとう紫の前に娘が生まれ、その心の喜びは大きかった。子を夫に見せると、二人はこの子を長谷姫(はせひめ)、すなわち長谷の姫と呼ぶことに決めた。あの地の観音の賜物だったからである。二人は深い慈しみと心配りをもって姫を育て、子はすこやかに美しく育っていった。

When the little girl was five years old her mother fell dangerously ill and all the doctors and their medicines could not save her. A little before she breathed her last she called her daughter to her, and gently stroking her head, said:

この幼い娘が五つの年になったとき、母が重い病にかかり、どんな医者もどんな薬も救うことができなかった。息を引き取る少し前に、母は娘を呼び寄せ、その頭を優しくなでながら言った。

“Hase-Hime, do you know that your mother cannot live any longer? Though I die, you must grow up a good girl. Do your best not to give trouble to your nurse or any other of your family. Perhaps your father will marry again and some one will fill my place as your mother. If so do not grieve for me, but look upon your father’s second wife as your true mother, and be obedient and filial to both her and your father. Remember when you are grown up to be submissive to those who are your superiors, and to be kind to all those who are under you. Don’t forget this. I die with the hope that you will grow up a model woman.”

「長谷姫や、母はもう長くは生きられないのが分かりますか。母は死んでも、おまえはよい娘に育たねばなりません。乳母にも家の誰にも、迷惑をかけぬようつとめなさい。もしかすると父上はふたたび妻を迎えられ、誰かが母の代わりになるでしょう。もしそうなっても母のことを嘆かず、父上の後添えをまことの母と思って、その方にも父上にも従い、孝を尽くしなさい。大人になったら、目上の人には従い、下の者にはみな優しくすることを忘れてはなりません。これを忘れないように。おまえが手本となる女に育つと信じて、母は死にます。」

Hase-Hime listened in an attitude of respect while her mother spoke, and promised to do all that she was told. There is a proverb which says “As the soul is at three so it is at one hundred,” and so Hase-Hime grew up as her mother had wished, a good and obedient little Princess, though she was now too young to understand how great was the loss of her mother.

長谷姫は母の話すあいだ、うやうやしい姿勢で聞き、言われたことをすべて守りますと約束した。「三つ子の魂百まで」という諺があるが、長谷姫は母が願ったとおり、善良で従順な幼い姫に育っていった。もっともこのときはまだ幼すぎて、母を失うことがどれほど大きなことか分かってはいなかった。

Not long after the death of his first wife, Prince Toyonari married again, a lady of noble birth named Princess Terute. Very different in character, alas! to the good and wise Princess Murasaki, this woman had a cruel, bad heart. She did not love her step-daughter at all, and was often very unkind to the little motherless girl, saying to herself:

先の妻が亡くなってまもなく、豊成公はふたたび妻を迎えた。照手の前(てるてのまえ)という名の、高貴な生まれの女である。ああ、善良で賢い紫の前とはまるで気性が違って、この女はむごく悪い心を持っていた。継娘をまるで愛さず、母のないこの幼い娘にしばしばたいそう冷たく当たり、心のなかでこう言っていた。

“This is not my child! this is not my child!”

「これはわたしの子ではない! これはわたしの子ではない!」

But Hase-Hime bore every unkindness with patience, and even waited upon her step-mother kindly and obeyed her in every way and never gave any trouble, just as she had been trained by her own good mother, so that the Lady Terute had no cause for complaint against her.

けれども長谷姫は、どんな冷たい仕打ちにも辛抱強く耐え、それどころか継母に優しく仕え、何事につけ従い、少しも面倒をかけなかった。よい実の母に教えられたとおりにである。それゆえ照手の前には、姫を責める口実がなかった。

The little Princess was very diligent, and her favorite studies were music and poetry. She would spend several hours practicing every day, and her father had the most proficient of masters he could find to teach her the koto (Japanese harp), the art of writing letters and verse. When she was twelve years of age she could play so beautifully that she and her step-mother were summoned to the Palace to perform before the Emperor.

幼い姫はたいそう勤勉で、好んで学んだのは音楽と詩歌であった。毎日何時間も稽古に費やし、父は見つけられるかぎり最も腕の立つ師をつけて、琴(こと)と、文や歌を書く道を教えさせた。十二の年になったころには、あまりに見事に弾けるようになっていたので、姫と継母は帝の御前で演奏するようにと宮中へ召された。

It was the Festival of the Cherry Flowers, and there were great festivities at the Court. The Emperor threw himself into the enjoyment of the season, and commanded that Princess Hase should perform before him on the koto, and that her mother Princess Terute should accompany her on the flute.

それは桜の花の祭りの日で、宮中では盛大な祝いが催されていた。帝はこの季節の楽しみに身を委ね、長谷姫に琴を弾かせ、母である照手の前に笛で合わせるようにと命じた。

The Emperor sat on a raised dais, before which was hung a curtain of finely-sliced bamboo and purple tassels, so that His Majesty might see all and not be seen, for no ordinary subject was allowed to look upon his sacred face.

帝は一段高い座におられ、その前には細く裂いた竹に紫の房をつけた御簾が下ろされていた。帝はすべてを見られるが、御自らは見られぬためである。ふつうの臣下はその神聖な御顔を仰ぐことを許されなかったからである。

Hase-Hime was a skilled musician though so young, and often astonished her masters by her wonderful memory and talent. On this momentous occasion she played well. But Princess Terute, her step-mother, who was a lazy woman and never took the trouble to practice daily, broke down in her accompaniment and had to request one of the Court ladies to take her place. This was a great disgrace, and she was furiously jealous to think that she had failed where her step-daughter succeeded; and to make matters worse the Emperor sent many beautiful gifts to the little Princess to reward her for playing so well at the Palace.

長谷姫は幼いながら腕の立つ楽人で、その見事な記憶と才で師たちをしばしば驚かせていた。この晴れの場でも、姫はみごとに弾いた。けれども継母の照手の前は、怠け者で日々の稽古を厭う女であったから、合奏でつまずいてしまい、宮中の女官の一人に代わってもらわねばならなかった。これは大きな恥辱であり、継娘が成功したところで自分が失敗したと思うと、照手の前は妬みに狂った。そして事をいっそう悪くするように、帝は宮中でみごとに弾いた褒美として、幼い姫に美しい贈り物を数多くお送りになったのである。

There was also now another reason why Princess Terute hated her step-daughter, for she had had the good fortune to have a son born to her, and in her inmost heart she kept saying:

さらにもうひとつ、照手の前が継娘を憎むわけができていた。この人には幸いにも息子が生まれていて、心の奥でこう言いつづけていたのである。

“If only Hase-Hime were not here, my son would have all the love of his father.”

「長谷姫さえいなければ、わたしの息子が父の愛をひとりじめできるのに。」

And never having learned to control herself, she allowed this wicked thought to grow into the awful desire of taking her step-daughter’s life.

そして自分を律することを学んでこなかったので、この邪な思いが、継娘の命を奪おうという恐ろしい願いにまで育つのを許してしまった。

So one day she secretly ordered some poison and poisoned some sweet wine. This poisoned wine she put into a bottle. Into another similar bottle she poured some good wine. It was the occasion of the Boys’ Festival on the fifth of May, and Hase-Hime was playing with her little brother. All his toys of warriors and heroes were spread out and she was telling him wonderful stories about each of them. They were both enjoying themselves and laughing merrily with their attendants when his mother entered with the two bottles of wine and some delicious cakes.

そこである日、照手の前はひそかに毒を取り寄せ、甘い酒に毒を入れた。この毒の酒を一本の瓶に入れ、もう一本のよく似た瓶にはよい酒を注いだ。五月五日の端午の節句の日のことで、長谷姫は幼い弟と遊んでいた。武者や英雄の人形がみな並べられ、姫はそのひとつひとつについて面白い話を弟にしてやっていた。二人とも侍女たちと楽しげに笑い合っていると、そこへ弟の母が、二本の酒の瓶とおいしそうな菓子を持って入ってきた。

“You are both so good and happy.” said the wicked Princess Terute with a smile, “that I have brought you some sweet wine as a reward—and here are some nice cakes for my good children.”

「二人ともほんとうによい子で楽しそうね」と悪い照手の前は微笑みながら言った。「褒美に甘い酒を持ってきましたよ——それに、よい子たちにおいしい菓子もね。」

And she filled two cups from the different bottles.

そして別々の瓶から二つの杯を満たした。

Hase-Hime, never dreaming of the dreadful part her step-mother was acting, took one of the cups of wine and gave to her little step brother the other that had been poured out for him.

長谷姫は、継母が演じている恐ろしい役を夢にも知らず、杯のひとつを取り、弟のために注がれたもう一方を幼い義弟に渡した。

The wicked woman had carefully marked the poisoned bottle, but on coming into the room she had grown nervous, and pouring out the wine hurriedly had unconsciously given the poisoned cup to her own child. All this time she was anxiously watching the little Princess, but to her amazement no change whatever took place in the young girl’s face. Suddenly the little boy screamed and threw himself on the floor, doubled up with pain. His mother flew to him, taking the precaution to upset the two tiny jars of wine which she had brought into the room, and lifted him up. The attendants rushed for the doctor, but nothing could save the child—he died within the hour in his mother’s arms. Doctors did not know much in those ancient times, and it was thought that the wine had disagreed with the boy, causing convulsions of which he died.

この悪い女は毒の瓶に念入りに印をつけておいたのだが、部屋に入るとき気が立っていて、慌てて酒を注いだために、知らず知らず毒の杯をわが子に渡してしまっていた。そのあいだじゅう、女は不安げに幼い姫を見つめていたが、驚いたことに、若い娘の顔には何の変わりも起こらなかった。突然、幼い男の子が悲鳴をあげ、痛みに体を折り曲げて床に倒れた。母は駆け寄り、用心して部屋に持ち込んだ二つの小さな酒の瓶を倒してから、子を抱き起こした。侍女たちは医者を呼びに走ったが、何をもってしても子を救うことはできなかった——子はその一時のうちに母の腕のなかで死んだ。あの古い時代には医者も多くを知らず、酒が子の体に合わず、そのために引きつけを起こして死んだのだと考えられた。

Thus was the wicked woman punished in losing her own child when she had tried to do away with her step-daughter; but instead of blaming herself she began to hate Hase-Hime more than ever in the bitterness and wretchedness of her own heart, and she eagerly watched for an opportunity to do her harm, which was, however, long in coming.

こうしてこの悪い女は、継娘を亡き者にしようとして自分の子を失うという罰を受けた。けれども自分を責める代わりに、女はそのやりきれない苦い心のなかで、前にも増して長谷姫を憎みはじめ、姫に害を加える機会を待ち構えた。けれどもそれはなかなか訪れなかった。

When Hase-Hime was thirteen years of age, she had already become mentioned as a poetess of some merit. This was an accomplishment very much cultivated by the women of old Japan and one held in high esteem.

長谷姫が十三の年になったころ、姫はもう、ひとかどの歌よみとして名を口にされるようになっていた。これは古い日本の女たちがたいそう熱心に磨き、高く重んじられた才であった。

It was the rainy season at Nara, and floods were reported every day as doing damage in the neighborhood. The river Tatsuta, which flowed through the Imperial Palace grounds, was swollen to the top of its banks, and the roaring of the torrents of water rushing along a narrow bed so disturbed the Emperor’s rest day and night, that a serious nervous disorder was the result. An Imperial Edict was sent forth to all the Buddhist temples commanding the priests to offer up continuous prayers to Heaven to stop the noise of the flood. But this was of no avail.

奈良は梅雨の季節で、近隣では日ごとに洪水の害が伝えられていた。宮中の御苑を流れる竜田川は岸いっぱいに水かさを増し、狭い川床を駆け下る激流の轟きが、昼も夜も帝の御休息をひどく妨げたので、重い神経の病を引き起こしてしまった。帝は仏寺のすべてに勅を下し、僧たちに、洪水の音を止めてくださるようたえず天に祈れとお命じになった。けれどもそれは効き目がなかった。

Then it was whispered in Court circles that the Princess Hase, the daughter of Prince Toyonari Fujiwara, second minister at Court, was the most gifted poetess of the day, though still so young, and her masters confirmed the report. Long ago, a beautiful and gifted maiden-poetess had moved Heaven by praying in verse, had brought down rain upon a land famished with drought—so said the ancient biographers of the poetess Ono-no-Komachi. If the Princess Hase were to write a poem and offer it in prayer, might it not stop the noise of the rushing river and remove the cause of the Imperial illness? What the Court said at last reached the ears of the Emperor himself, and he sent an order to the minister Prince Toyonari to this effect.

そのころ宮中では、宮廷の次席の大臣、藤原豊成公の娘である長谷の姫が、まだたいそう若いながら当代いちばんの歌よみであるとささやかれていて、その師たちもそれを裏づけた。むかし、美しく才ある乙女の歌よみが歌で祈って天を動かし、旱に苦しむ国に雨を降らせたという——歌よみ小野小町についての古い伝記はそう伝えている。もし長谷の姫が歌を詠んで祈りとして捧げれば、荒れる川の音を止めて、帝の病のもとを取り除けるのではないか。宮中の言葉はとうとう帝御自身の耳にも届き、帝は大臣豊成公にその旨の命をお下しになった。

Great indeed was Hase-Hime’s fear and astonishment when her father sent for her and told her what was required of her. Heavy, indeed, was the duty that was laid on her young shoulders—that of saving the Emperor’s life by the merit of her verse.

父に呼ばれて何を求められているかを聞いたときの長谷姫の恐れと驚きは、まことに大きかった。その若い肩にかけられた務めは、まことに重いものであった——自分の歌の徳によって帝の命を救うというのである。

At last the day came and her poem was finished. It was written on a leaflet of paper heavily flecked with gold-dust. With her father and attendants and some of the Court officials, she proceeded to the bank of the roaring torrent and raising up her heart to Heaven, she read the poem she had composed, aloud, lifting it heavenwards in her two hands.

とうとうその日が来て、姫の歌はできあがった。それは金粉をたっぷり散らした一枚の料紙に書かれていた。父と侍女たち、そして宮中の役人の何人かとともに、姫は轟く激流の岸へ進み、心を天に向けて、詠んだ歌を声に出して読み上げ、両の手でそれを天へと捧げた。

Strange indeed it seemed to all those standing round. The waters ceased their roaring, and the river was quiet in direct answer to her prayer. After this the Emperor soon recovered his health.

まわりに立つ者たちには、まことに不思議なことに思われた。水は轟くのをやめ、川は姫の祈りにまっすぐ応えるように静まったのである。このあと帝はまもなく健やかさを取り戻された。

His Majesty was highly pleased, and sent for her to the Palace and rewarded her with the rank of Chinjo—that of Lieutenant-General—to distinguish her. From that time she was called Chinjo-hime, or the Lieutenant-General Princess, and respected and loved by all.

帝はたいそうお喜びになり、姫を宮中へ召して、その誉れのために中将——すなわち近衛の次将——の位を授けられた。このときから姫は中将姫、すなわち中将の位の姫と呼ばれ、誰からも敬われ慕われた。

There was only one person who was not pleased at Hase-Hime’s success. That one was her stepmother. Forever brooding over the death of her own child whom she had killed when trying to poison her step-daughter, she had the mortification of seeing her rise to power and honor, marked by Imperial favor and the admiration of the whole Court. Her envy and jealousy burned in her heart like fire. Many were the lies she carried to her husband about Hase-Hime, but all to no purpose. He would listen to none of her tales, telling her sharply that she was quite mistaken.

ただ一人、長谷姫の成功を喜ばぬ者がいた。それは継母であった。継娘に毒を盛ろうとして自分の子を殺してしまったことを、いつまでも思いつめていたこの女は、姫が力と誉れへ昇り、帝の寵と宮中じゅうの称賛を受けるのを見る屈辱を味わった。その妬みとそねみは火のように心のなかで燃えた。女は長谷姫について幾度も嘘を夫に告げたが、すべてむだであった。夫はその話をひとつも聞き入れず、おまえの思い違いだと厳しく言うばかりであった。

At last the step-mother, seizing the opportunity of her husband’s absence, ordered one of her old servants to take the innocent girl to the Hibari Mountains, the wildest part of the country, and to kill her there. She invented a dreadful story about the little Princess, saying that this was the only way to prevent disgrace falling upon the family—by killing her.

とうとう継母は、夫の留守の機会をとらえて、家来の老僕の一人に、この罪のない娘を国じゅうでいちばん荒れた地である雲雀山(ひばりやま)へ連れていき、そこで殺せと命じた。女は幼い姫について恐ろしい作り話をこしらえ、家に恥辱が降りかかるのを防ぐにはこれしかない——姫を殺すよりほかにない、と言ったのである。

Katoda, her vassal, was bound to obey his mistress. Anyhow, he saw that it would be the wisest plan to pretend obedience in the absence of the girl’s father, so he placed Hase-Hime in a palanquin and accompanied her to the most solitary place he could find in the wild district. The poor child knew there was no good in protesting to her unkind step-mother at being sent away in this strange manner, so she went as she was told.

家来の嘉藤太(かとうだ)は、主人の命に従わねばならなかった。ともあれ、姫の父の留守のあいだは従うふりをするのが最も賢いやり方だと考えて、長谷姫を駕籠に乗せ、この荒れた地で見つけられるかぎり人里離れた場所へ連れていった。哀れな子は、こんな奇妙なやり方で追いやられることを情け知らずの継母に訴えてもむだだと知っていたので、言われるままについていった。

But the old servant knew that the young Princess was quite innocent of all the things her step-mother had invented to him as reasons for her outrageous orders, and he determined to save her life. Unless he killed her, however, he could not return to his cruel task-mistress, so he decided to stay out in the wilderness. With the help of some peasants he soon built a little cottage, and having sent secretly for his wife to come, these two good old people did all in their power to take care of the now unfortunate Princess. She all the time trusted in her father, knowing that as soon as he returned home and found her absent, he would search for her.

けれども老いた家来は、継母がこの理不尽な命の理由として自分に語ったことのすべてについて、若い姫がまったく潔白であることを知っていて、その命を救おうと心を決めた。とはいえ姫を殺さぬかぎり、むごい女主人のもとへは帰れない。そこで荒れ野にとどまることに決めた。里の者たちの助けを借りてまもなく小さな小屋を建て、ひそかに妻を呼び寄せて、この善良な老夫婦は、今や不運な身となった姫を世話するために力の限りを尽くした。姫はそのあいだじゅう父を信じていた。父が帰って自分がいないと知れば、必ず探してくださると分かっていたからである。

Prince Toyonari, after some weeks, came home, and was told by his wife that his daughter Hime had done something wrong and had run away for fear of being punished. He was nearly ill with anxiety. Every one in the house told the same story—that Hase-Hime had suddenly disappeared, none of them knew why or whither. For fear of scandal he kept the matter quiet and searched everywhere he could think of, but all to no purpose.

豊成公は何週間かのちに帰宅し、妻から、娘の姫が何か悪いことをして、罰を恐れて逃げ出したと聞かされた。公は心配のあまり病みそうになった。家じゅうの誰もが同じ話をした——長谷姫は突然姿を消し、なぜどこへ行ったのか誰も知らない、と。醜聞を恐れて公はこの件を表沙汰にせず、思いつくかぎりの場所を探したが、すべてむだであった。

One day, trying to forget his terrible worry, he called all his men together and told them to make ready for a several days’ hunt in the mountains. They were soon ready and mounted, waiting at the gate for their lord. He rode hard and fast to the district of the Hibari Mountains, a great company following him. He was soon far ahead of every one, and at last found himself in a narrow picturesque valley.

ある日、この恐ろしい気がかりを忘れようとして、公は家来をみな集め、山で幾日かの狩りをする支度をせよと命じた。家来たちはまもなく支度を整えて馬に乗り、門で主を待った。公は大勢の供を従え、雲雀山の地へ向けて激しく速く馬を駆った。まもなく誰よりもはるか先を行き、とうとう狭く趣のある谷にたどり着いた。

Looking round and admiring the scenery, he noticed a tiny house on one of the hills quite near, and then he distinctly heard a beautiful clear voice reading aloud. Seized with curiosity as to who could be studying so diligently in such a lonely spot, he dismounted, and leaving his horse to his groom, he walked up the hillside and approached the cottage. As he drew nearer his surprise increased, for he could see that the reader was a beautiful girl. The cottage was wide open and she was sitting facing the view. Listening attentively, he heard her reading the Buddhist scriptures with great devotion. More and more curious, he hurried on to the tiny gate and entered the little garden, and looking up beheld his lost daughter Hase-Hime. She was so intent on what she was saying that she neither heard nor saw her father till he spoke.

あたりを見回して景色をめでていると、すぐ近くの丘のひとつに小さな家があるのに気づいた。そしてそのとき、美しく澄んだ声が声に出して読むのがはっきりと聞こえた。こんな寂しい場所で、これほど熱心に学んでいるのは誰だろうと好奇心に駆られて、公は馬を降り、馬丁に馬を預けて丘を登り、小屋に近づいた。近づくにつれて驚きは増した。読んでいるのが美しい娘だと見えたからである。小屋は開け放たれていて、娘は景色のほうを向いて座っていた。耳を澄ますと、娘はたいそう篤い信心で仏の経を読んでいた。ますます不思議に思って、公は小さな門へ急ぎ、小さな庭に入って見上げると、そこに失った娘の長谷姫がいた。姫は読むことに心を奪われていて、父が声をかけるまで、その姿にも声にも気づかなかった。

“Hase-Hime!” he cried, “it is you, my Hase-Hime!”

「長谷姫!」と公は叫んだ。「おまえか、わが長谷姫か!」

Taken by surprise, she could hardly realize that it was her own dear father who was calling her, and for a moment she was utterly bereft of the power to speak or move.

不意を打たれて、姫は自分を呼んでいるのが愛する父その人であることがとても信じられず、しばらくのあいだ、話すことも動くこともできなかった。

“My father, my father! It is indeed you—oh, my father!” was all she could say, and running to him she caught hold of his thick sleeve, and burying her face burst into a passion of tears.

「父上、父上! まことにあなたでいらっしゃる——ああ、父上!」とだけ言うのがやっとで、姫は父に駆け寄ってその厚い袖にすがりつき、顔をうずめて激しく泣き出した。

Her father stroked her dark hair, asking her gently to tell him all that had happened, but she only wept on, and he wondered if he were not really dreaming.

父は娘の黒い髪をなでながら、何があったのかすべて話しておくれと優しく言ったが、姫はただ泣くばかりで、公は自分は夢を見ているのではないかと思った。

Then the faithful old servant Katoda came out, and bowing himself to the ground before his master, poured out the long tale of wrong, telling him all that had happened, and how it was that he found his daughter in such a wild and desolate spot with only two old servants to take care of her.

そこへ忠義の老僕、嘉藤太が出てきて、主の前に地に伏して礼をし、長い非道の物語を語り出して、何が起きたか、なぜ自分の娘がこんな荒れ果てた寂しい場所に、二人の老僕だけに世話されているのかを、すべて話した。

The Prince’s astonishment and indignation knew no bounds. He gave up the hunt at once and hurried home with his daughter. One of the company galloped ahead to inform the household of the glad news, and the step-mother hearing what had happened, and fearful of meeting her husband now that her wickedness was discovered, fled from the house and returned in disgrace to her father’s roof, and nothing more was heard of her.

公の驚きと憤りは限りなかった。公はただちに狩りをやめ、娘を連れて急いで家へ帰った。供の一人が先に馬を飛ばして、この喜ばしい知らせを家の者に伝えた。すると継母は、何が起きたかを聞き、自分の悪事が露見した今、夫に会うのを恐れて家から逃げ出し、恥辱にまみれて実家へ帰り、それきり消息を聞かれることはなかった。

The old servant Katoda was rewarded with the highest promotion in his master’s service, and lived happily to the end of his days, devoted to the little Princess, who never forgot that she owed her life to this faithful retainer. She was no longer troubled by an unkind step-mother, and her days passed happily and quietly with her father.

老僕の嘉藤太は、主の家中でこのうえない出世を褒美として与えられ、幼い姫に仕えながら生涯を幸せに終えた。姫は、この忠実な家来に命を救われたことを決して忘れなかった。姫はもう情け知らずの継母に悩まされることもなく、その日々は父とともに幸せに静かに過ぎていった。

As Prince Toyonari had no son, he adopted a younger son of one of the Court nobles to be his heir, and to marry his daughter Hase-Hime, and in a few years the marriage took place. Hase-Hime lived to a good old age, and all said that she was the wisest, most devout, and most beautiful mistress that had ever reigned in Prince Toyonari’s ancient house. She had the joy of presenting her son, the future lord of the family, to her father just before he retired from active life.

豊成公には息子がなかったので、宮廷の公家の一人の次男を養子に迎えて跡継ぎとし、娘の長谷姫と娶わせることにした。そして数年のうちに婚礼が行われた。長谷姫はよい老いを迎えるまで生き、豊成公の由緒ある家をこれまで治めたなかで最も賢く、最も信心篤く、最も美しい女主人であったと、誰もが言った。姫は、父が現役を退く直前に、次代の当主となるわが子を父に引き合わせる喜びを得た。

To this day there is preserved a piece of needle-work in one of the Buddhist temples of Kioto. It is a beautiful piece of tapestry, with the figure of Buddha embroidered in the silky threads drawn from the stem of the lotus. This is said to have been the work of the hands of the good Princess Hase.

今日でも、京都のある仏寺にひとつの縫い物が伝えられている。それは美しい綴れ織りで、蓮の茎から引いた絹のような糸で仏の姿が縫い取られている。これは善良な長谷の姫の手になるものだと言われている。