The Bamboo-cutter and the Moon-child

Long, long ago, there lived an old bamboo wood-cutter. He was very poor and sad also, for no child had Heaven sent to cheer his old age, and in his heart there was no hope of rest from work till he died and was laid in the quiet grave. Every morning he went forth into the woods and hills wherever the bamboo reared its lithe green plumes against the sky. When he had made his choice, he would cut down these feathers of the forest, and splitting them lengthwise, or cutting them into joints, would carry the bamboo wood home and make it into various articles for the household, and he and his old wife gained a small livelihood by selling them.

むかしむかし、年老いた竹取りの翁が住んでいた。たいそう貧しく、また悲しんでもいた。老いの日を喜ばせる子を天が授けてくれず、死んで静かな墓に横たえられるまで仕事から休める望みが、その心になかったからである。毎朝、翁は竹がしなやかな緑の穂を空に向けて立てているところなら、どこへでも森や丘へ出かけていった。そして見定めると、この森の羽根を切り倒し、縦に割ったり節ごとに切ったりして、竹の材を家へ運び、さまざまな家財をこしらえた。そして翁と老いた妻は、それを売って細々と暮らしを立てていた。

One morning as usual he had gone out to his work, and having found a nice clump of bamboos, had set to work to cut some of them down. Suddenly the green grove of bamboos was flooded with a bright soft light, as if the full moon had risen over the spot. Looking round in astonishment, he saw that the brilliance was streaming from one bamboo. The old man, full of wonder, dropped his ax and went towards the light. On nearer approach he saw that this soft splendor came from a hollow in the green bamboo stem, and still more wonderful to behold, in the midst of the brilliance stood a tiny human being, only three inches in height, and exquisitely beautiful in appearance.

ある朝、いつものように仕事に出て、よい竹の茂みを見つけ、その何本かを切り倒しにかかった。すると突然、緑の竹の林が明るくやわらかな光に満たされた。まるでその場所に満月が昇ったかのようであった。驚いてあたりを見回すと、その輝きが一本の竹から流れ出ているのが見えた。翁は不思議でたまらず、斧を落としてその光のほうへ歩いていった。近づいてみると、このやわらかな輝きは緑の竹の幹の空洞から出ていて、さらに驚いたことに、その輝きのただなかに、背丈わずか三寸の、このうえなく美しい姿の小さな人が立っていた。

“You must be sent to be my child, for I find you here among the bamboos where lies my daily work,” said the old man, and taking the little creature in his hand he took it home to his wife to bring up. The tiny girl was so exceedingly beautiful and so small, that the old woman put her into a basket to safeguard her from the least possibility of being hurt in any way.

「おまえはわしの子となるために遣わされたにちがいない。わしの日ごとの仕事のある竹のあいだで見つけたのだからな」と翁は言い、その小さな者を手に取って、育ててもらおうと家の妻のもとへ連れ帰った。この小さな娘はあまりに美しく、あまりに小さかったので、婆さんは、どんなことでも傷つけられる恐れがほんの少しでもないようにと、籠に入れて守った。

The old couple were now very happy, for it had been a lifelong regret that they had no children of their own, and with joy they now expended all the love of their old age on the little child who had come to them in so marvelous a manner.

老夫婦は今やたいそう幸せだった。自分たちの子がないことが生涯の悔いだったからである。そして今、これほど不思議なやり方で自分たちのもとに来た小さな子に、老いの日の愛のすべてを喜んで注いだ。

From this time on, the old man often found gold in the notches of the bamboos when he hewed them down and cut them up; not only gold, but precious stones also, so that by degrees he became rich. He built himself a fine house, and was no longer known as the poor bamboo woodcutter, but as a wealthy man.

このときから、翁は竹を切り倒して割るたびに、その節にしばしば黄金を見つけるようになった。黄金だけでなく宝石も出てきたので、次第に富むようになった。翁は立派な家を建て、もはや貧しい竹取りの翁ではなく、裕福な人として知られるようになった。

Three months passed quickly away, and in that time the bamboo child had, wonderful to say, become a full-grown girl, so her foster-parents did up her hair and dressed her in beautiful kimonos. She was of such wondrous beauty that they placed her behind the screens like a princess, and allowed no one to see her, waiting upon her themselves. It seemed as if she were made of light, for the house was filled with a soft shining, so that even in the dark of night it was like daytime. Her presence seemed to have a benign influence on those there. Whenever the old man felt sad, he had only to look upon his foster-daughter and his sorrow vanished, and he became as happy as when he was a youth.

三月が足早に過ぎ、そのあいだに、驚いたことに竹の子は一人前の娘に育ったので、育ての親は髪を結い上げ、美しい着物を着せた。あまりに不思議なほど美しかったので、二人は姫君のように屏風のうちに置いて誰にも見せず、自分たちで世話をした。まるで光でできているかのようで、家はやわらかな輝きに満たされ、夜の闇のなかでさえ昼のようであった。その姿はそこにいる者たちに恵みの力を及ぼすようだった。翁は悲しいときにはいつも、この育て子を見さえすれば嘆きが消えて、若かったころのように幸せになるのだった。

At last the day came for the naming of their new-found child, so the old couple called in a celebrated name-giver, and he gave her the name of Princess Moonlight, because her body gave forth so much soft bright light that she might have been a daughter of the Moon God.

とうとうこの新たに見つけた子に名をつける日が来て、老夫婦は名高い名付け親を招いた。名付け親はその子に、かぐや姫という名を与えた。その体からあまりにやわらかく明るい光が出るので、月の神の娘であってもおかしくないと思われたからである。

For three days the festival was kept up with song and dance and music. All the friends and relations of the old couple were present, and great was their enjoyment of the festivities held to celebrate the naming of Princess Moonlight. Everyone who saw her declared that there never had been seen any one so lovely; all the beauties throughout the length and breadth of the land would grow pale beside her, so they said. The fame of the Princess’s loveliness spread far and wide, and many were the suitors who desired to win her hand, or even so much as to see her.

三日のあいだ、歌と舞と楽で祝いが続いた。老夫婦の友も親族もみな集まり、かぐや姫の名付けを祝うこの宴を大いに楽しんだ。姫を見た者は誰もが、これほど美しい人は見たことがないと言った。この国の端から端までのどんな美人も、姫のそばでは色あせてしまうだろう、とみなが言った。姫の美しさの評判は遠く広くまで伝わり、その手を得たい、いやせめてひと目でも見たいと願う求婚者が数多く現れた。

Suitors from far and near posted themselves outside the house, and made little holes in the fence, in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Princess as she went from one room to the other along the veranda. They stayed there day and night, sacrificing even their sleep for a chance of seeing her, but all in vain. Then they approached the house, and tried to speak to the old man and his wife or some of the servants, but not even this was granted them.

遠近から来た求婚者たちは家の外に陣取り、姫が縁側を通って部屋から部屋へ移るときの姿をひと目でも見られればと、垣根に小さな穴をあけた。昼も夜もそこに居つづけ、姫を見る機会のために眠りさえ犠牲にしたが、すべてむだであった。それから家に近づいて、翁や婆さんや召使いの誰かに話しかけようとしたが、それさえ許されなかった。

Still, in spite of all this disappointment they stayed on day after day, and night after night, and counted it as nothing, so great was their desire to see the Princess.

それでもこれほど落胆しながら、彼らは日ごと夜ごとに居つづけ、それを何とも思わなかった。姫を見たいという願いがそれほど強かったのである。

At last, however, most of the men, seeing how hopeless their quest was, lost heart and hope both, and returned to their homes. All except five Knights, whose ardor and determination, instead of waning, seemed to wax greater with obstacles. These five men even went without their meals, and took snatches of whatever they could get brought to them, so that they might always stand outside the dwelling. They stood there in all weathers, in sunshine and in rain.

けれどもとうとう、男たちのほとんどは自分の求めがどれほど望みのないものかを知って、気力も望みも失い、家へ帰っていった。ただ五人の貴公子だけは別で、その熱意と決意は、障りがあるほど衰えるどころか強まるようであった。この五人は食事さえとらず、届けられるものを何でも合間に口にして、いつも住まいの外に立っていられるようにした。晴れでも雨でも、どんな天気でもそこに立ちつづけた。

Sometimes they wrote letters to the Princess, but no answer was vouchsafed to them. Then when letters failed to draw any reply, they wrote poems to her telling her of the hopeless love which kept them from sleep, from food, from rest, and even from their homes. Still Princes Moonlight gave no sign of having received their verses.

ときには姫に文を書いたが、返事をもらうことはなかった。文で返事を引き出せないと分かると、こんどは歌を詠んで、眠りも食も休みも、家さえも奪う望みなき恋を訴えた。それでもかぐや姫は、その歌を受け取ったそぶりさえ見せなかった。

In this hopeless state the winter passed. The snow and frost and the cold winds gradually gave place to the gentle warmth of spring. Then the summer came, and the sun burned white and scorching in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, and still these faithful Knights kept watch and waited. At the end of these long months they called out to the old bamboo-cutter and entreated him to have some mercy upon them and to show them the Princess, but he answered only that as he was not her real father he could not insist on her obeying him against her wishes.

この望みのない有様のまま冬が過ぎた。雪と霜と寒い風は次第に春のやわらかな暖かさに場を譲った。それから夏が来て、日は天にも地にも白く焼けつくように照りつけたが、この忠実な貴公子たちはなお見張りつづけ、待ちつづけた。この長い月々の終わりに、彼らは竹取りの翁を呼び出して、どうか憐れんで姫を見せてくださいと訴えた。けれども翁は、自分は実の父ではないのだから、姫の意に背いて従えと言い張ることはできぬ、とだけ答えた。

The five Knights on receiving this stern answer returned to their several homes, and pondered over the best means of touching the proud Princess’s heart, even so much as to grant them a hearing. They took their rosaries in hand and knelt before their household shrines, and burned precious incense, praying to Buddha to give them their heart’s desire. Thus several days passed, but even so they could not rest in their homes.

五人の貴公子はこの厳しい答えを受けて、それぞれの家へ帰り、この誇り高い姫の心に触れ、せめて話を聞いてもらえるだけでも、その最もよい手立ては何かと思案した。数珠を手に取って家の仏壇の前にひざまずき、貴い香をたいて、心の願いをかなえたまえと仏に祈った。こうして幾日か過ぎたが、それでも家で落ち着いてはいられなかった。

So again they set out for the bamboo-cutter’s house. This time the old man came out to see them, and they asked him to let them know if it was the Princess’s resolution never to see any man whatsoever, and they implored him to speak for them and to tell her the greatness of their love, and how long they had waited through the cold of winter and the heat of summer, sleepless and roofless through all weathers, without food and without rest, in the ardent hope of winning her, and they were willing to consider this long vigil as pleasure if she would but give them one chance of pleading their cause with her.

そこでふたたび竹取りの翁の家へ出かけた。こんどは翁が出てきて会ってくれたので、彼らは、どんな男にも決して会わぬというのが姫の決意なのかを教えてくださいと頼み、また、自分たちの恋の大きさと、冬の寒さと夏の暑さのあいだ、どんな天気にも眠らず屋根もなく、食べ物も休みもなしに、姫を得たいという熱い望みからどれほど長く待ちつづけたかを姫に伝えてくださいと懇願した。そして、もし姫が自分たちの思いを訴える機会を一度でも与えてくださるなら、この長い不寝番も喜びと思おう、と言った。

The old man lent a willing ear to their tale of love, for in his inmost heart he felt sorry for these faithful suitors and would have liked to see his lovely foster-daughter married to one of them. So he went in to Princess Moonlight and said reverently:

翁はその恋の訴えに快く耳を傾けた。心の奥では、この忠実な求婚者たちを気の毒に思い、美しい育て娘がそのうちの一人と結ばれるのを見たいとも思っていたからである。そこで翁はかぐや姫のところへ行って、うやうやしく言った。

“Although you have always seemed to me to be a heavenly being, yet I have had the trouble of bringing you up as my own child and you have been glad of the protection of my roof. Will you refuse to do as I wish?”

「あなたはいつもわたしには天の人のように思われましたが、それでもわが子として育てる苦労をいたしましたし、あなたもこの屋根の守りを喜んでくださいました。わたしの願いを聞いてはくださいませんか。」

Then Princess Moonlight replied that there was nothing she would not do for him, that she honored and loved him as her own father, and that as for herself she could not remember the time before she came to earth.

するとかぐや姫は、あなたのためにできないことは何もない、実の父として敬い愛しているし、自分自身については、この世に来る前のことは覚えていないのだ、と答えた。

The old man listened with great joy as she spoke these dutiful words. Then he told her how anxious he was to see her safely and happily married before he died.

翁はこの孝行な言葉を大きな喜びをもって聞いた。それから、自分が死ぬ前に姫が無事に幸せに嫁ぐのを見たいと、どれほど願っているかを話した。

“I am an old man, over seventy years of age, and my end may come any time now. It is necessary and right that you should see these five suitors and choose one of them.”

「わたしは七十を越えた老人で、いつ最期が来るか分かりません。この五人の求婚者に会って、そのうちの一人を選ぶことが、必要であり正しいことなのです。」

“Oh, why,” said the Princess in distress, “must I do this? I have no wish to marry now.”

「ああ、なぜ」と姫は困り果てて言った。「そんなことをせねばならぬのでしょう。わたくしには今、嫁ぐ気持ちがございません。」

“I found you,” answered the old man, “many years ago, when you were a little creature three inches high, in the midst of a great white light. The light streamed from the bamboo in which you were hid and led me to you. So I have always thought that you were more than mortal woman. While I am alive it is right for you to remain as you are if you wish to do so, but some day I shall cease to be and who will take care of you then? Therefore I pray you to meet these five brave men one at a time and make up your mind to marry one of them!”

「わたしはあなたを」と翁は答えた。「何年も前、大きな白い光のただなかで、三寸ばかりの小さな生き物であったときに見つけました。その光はあなたの隠れていた竹から流れ出て、わたしをあなたのもとへ導いたのです。ですからわたしはいつも、あなたはただの人の女ではないと思ってきました。わたしが生きているあいだは、お望みならそのままでおいでになってよい。けれどもいつかわたしはこの世を去る。そのとき誰があなたの世話をするのでしょう。ですからどうか、この五人の勇ましい方々に一人ずつ会って、そのうちの一人と結ばれる決心をしてくださいませ!」

Then the Princess answered that she felt sure that she was not as beautiful as perhaps report made her out to be, and that even if she consented to marry any one of them, not really knowing her before, his heart might change afterwards. So as she did not feel sure of them, even though her father told her they were worthy Knights, she did not feel it wise to see them.

すると姫は、自分は噂が言うほど美しくはないと思うし、たとえそのうちの誰かと結ばれることに承知しても、本当に自分を知らないまま結ばれるのだから、あとでその心が変わるかもしれない、と答えた。だから、父上は立派な貴公子だと言われるけれども、その心が確かだと思えない以上、会うのは賢いことに思われません、と。

“All you say is very reasonable,” said the old man, “but what kind of men will you consent to see? I do not call these five men who have waited on you for months, light-hearted. They have stood outside this house through the winter and the summer, often denying themselves food and sleep so that they may win you. What more can you demand?”

「あなたの言われることはみなもっともです」と翁は言った。「けれども、どのような方になら会うことに承知なさるのですか。何か月もあなたを待ちつづけたこの五人の方々を、わたしは軽々しい人たちだとは思いません。あの方々は冬も夏もこの家の外に立ちつづけ、あなたを得るためにしばしば食べ物も眠りも断ってこられた。これ以上何をお求めになれましょう。」

Then Princess Moonlight said she must make further trial of their love before she would grant their request to interview her. The five warriors were to prove their love by each bringing her from distant countries something that she desired to possess.

するとかぐや姫は、面会の願いを聞き入れる前に、その愛をさらに試さねばならぬと言った。五人の武人は、遠い国から姫の欲しいものをそれぞれ持ってくることで、その愛を証さねばならぬというのである。

That same evening the suitors arrived and began to play their flutes in turn, and to sing their self-composed songs telling of their great and tireless love. The bamboo-cutter went out to them and offered them his sympathy for all they had endured and all the patience they had shown in their desire to win his foster-daughter. Then he gave them her message, that she would consent to marry whosoever was successful in bringing her what she wanted. This was to test them.

その同じ夜、求婚者たちが着いて、順に笛を吹き、自ら詠んだ歌を歌って、その大きな倦むことのない愛を訴えはじめた。竹取りの翁は出ていって、育て娘を得たいという願いのために耐え抜いてきたすべてと、示してきた忍耐に同情の言葉をかけた。そして姫の言づけを伝えた——望むものを持ってくることに成功した者と結ばれることに承知しよう、と。これは五人を試すためであった。

The five all accepted the trial, and thought it an excellent plan, for it would prevent jealousy between them.

五人はみなこの試みを受け入れ、それは互いのあいだの妬みを防ぐ、実によい計らいだと思った。

Princess Moonlight then sent word to the First Knight that she requested him to bring her the stone bowl which had belonged to Buddha in India.

それからかぐや姫は、第一の貴公子に、天竺の仏の御石の鉢を持ってきてくださるようにと伝えた。

The Second Knight was asked to go to the Mountain of Horai, said to be situated in the Eastern Sea, and to bring her a branch of the wonderful tree that grew on its summit. The roots of this tree were of silver, the trunk of gold, and the branches bore as fruit white jewels.

第二の貴公子には、東の海にあると言われる蓬莱の山へ行き、その頂に生える不思議な木の枝を一本持ってくるようにと言った。この木の根は銀、幹は黄金で、枝には白い玉が実っているという。

The Third Knight was told to go to China and search for the fire-rat and to bring her its skin.

第三の貴公子には、中国へ行って火鼠を探し、その皮を持ってくるようにと言った。

The Fourth Knight was told to search for the dragon that carried on its head the stone radiating five colors and to bring the stone to her.

第四の貴公子には、頭に五色に輝く珠を戴く竜を探して、その珠を持ってくるようにと言った。

The Fifth Knight was to find the swallow which carried a shell in its stomach and to bring the shell to her.

第五の貴公子には、腹に貝を抱く燕を見つけて、その貝を持ってくるようにと言った。

The old man thought these very hard tasks and hesitated to carry the messages, but the Princess would make no other conditions. So her commands were issued word for word to the five men who, when they heard what was required of them, were all disheartened and disgusted at what seemed to them the impossibility of the tasks given them and returned to their own homes in despair.

翁はこれをたいそう難しい務めだと思って、その言づけを伝えるのをためらったが、姫はほかの条件を出そうとしなかった。そこでその命はひと言たがわず五人に伝えられ、五人は求められたことを聞くと、与えられた務めの成し遂げようもなさに、みな気落ちして嫌気がさし、絶望してそれぞれの家へ帰っていった。

But after a time, when they thought of the Princess, the love in their hearts revived for her, and they resolved to make an attempt to get what she desired of them.

けれどもしばらくして姫のことを思うと、心のなかの愛がふたたびよみがえり、五人は姫の望むものを手に入れようと試みることに決めた。

The First Knight sent word to the Princess that he was starting out that day on the quest of Buddha’s bowl, and he hoped soon to bring it to her. But he had not the courage to go all the way to India, for in those days traveling was very difficult and full of danger, so he went to one of the temples in Kyoto and took a stone bowl from the altar there, paying the priest a large sum of money for it. He then wrapped it in a cloth of gold and, waiting quietly for three years, returned and carried it to the old man.

第一の貴公子は姫に、その日から仏の鉢を求めて旅立つ、まもなくお届けできるものと願っております、と伝えた。けれども天竺まではるばる行く勇気がなかった。当時の旅はたいそう難儀で危険に満ちていたからである。そこで京都の寺のひとつへ行き、祭壇から石の鉢を取って、僧に大金を払った。それを金襴の布に包み、三年のあいだ静かに待ってから戻って、翁のもとへ持っていった。

Princess Moonlight wondered that the Knight should have returned so soon. She took the bowl from its gold wrapping, expecting it to make the room full of light, but it did not shine at all, so she knew that it was a sham thing and not the true bowl of Buddha. She returned it at once and refused to see him. The Knight threw the bowl away and returned to his home in despair. He gave up now all hopes of ever winning the Princess.

かぐや姫は、この貴公子がこれほど早く戻ったことをいぶかった。姫は金の包みから鉢を取り出し、部屋が光で満ちるだろうと思ったが、鉢はまるで輝かなかった。それで偽物であって、まことの仏の鉢ではないと知った。姫はすぐさまそれを返し、会うことを拒んだ。貴公子は鉢を投げ捨て、絶望して家へ帰った。そして姫を得る望みをすっかり捨てた。

The Second Knight told his parents that he needed change of air for his health, for he was ashamed to tell them that love for the Princess Moonlight was the real cause of his leaving them. He then left his home, at the same time sending word to the Princess that he was setting out for Mount Horai in the hope of getting her a branch of the gold and silver tree which she so much wished to have. He only allowed his servants to accompany him half-way, and then sent them back. He reached the seashore and embarked on a small ship, and after sailing away for three days he landed and employed several carpenters to build him a house contrived in such a way that no one could get access to it. He then shut himself up with six skilled jewelers, and endeavored to make such a gold and silver branch as he thought would satisfy the Princess as having come from the wonderful tree growing on Mount Horai. Every one whom he had asked declared that Mount Horai belonged to the land of fable and not to fact.

第二の貴公子は、両親に、健やかさのために転地が必要なのだと告げた。かぐや姫への恋こそが家を出る本当のわけだと言うのが恥ずかしかったからである。そして家を出ると同時に姫に、あなたがあれほど欲しがっておられる金銀の木の枝を得たいと願って、蓬莱の山へ発つと伝えさせた。従者たちには道の半ばまでしか同行を許さず、そこから帰らせた。浜に着いて小さな船に乗り込み、三日のあいだ船出したのちに上陸すると、何人もの大工を雇って、誰も近づけぬような造りの家を建てさせた。それから腕のよい玉細工師六人とともに閉じこもり、蓬莱の山に生える不思議な木から取ってきたものとして姫を満足させられるような、金銀の枝を作ろうとつとめた。彼が尋ねた者はみな、蓬莱の山は作り話の国のものであって、実在するものではないと言い切った。

When the branch was finished, he took his journey home and tried to make himself look as if he were wearied and worn out with travel. He put the jeweled branch into a lacquer box and carried it to the bamboo-cutter, begging him to present it to the Princess.

枝ができあがると、彼は家路につき、旅に疲れやつれた様子を装おうとした。玉の枝を蒔絵の箱に入れ、竹取りの翁のもとへ運んで、どうか姫に差し上げてくださいと乞うた。

The old man was quite deceived by the travel-stained appearance of the Knight, and thought that he had only just returned from his long journey with the branch. So he tried to persuade the Princess to consent to see the man. But she remained silent and looked very sad. The old man began to take out the branch and praised it as a wonderful treasure to be found nowhere in the whole land. Then he spoke of the Knight, how handsome and how brave he was to have undertaken a journey to so remote a place as the Mount of Horai.

翁はこの貴公子の旅やつれした様子にすっかり欺かれ、この方は長旅から枝を携えて今まさに戻られたのだと思った。そこで姫に、この方に会うよう説き伏せようとした。けれども姫は黙ったまま、たいそう悲しげな顔をしていた。翁は枝を取り出しはじめ、国じゅうどこにも見つからぬ不思議な宝だとほめそやした。それからこの貴公子について、どれほど立派で、蓬莱の山のような遠い場所への旅を引き受けるとはどれほど勇ましいかを語った。

Princess Moonlight took the branch in her hand and looked at it carefully. She then told her foster-parent that she knew it was impossible for the man to have obtained a branch from the gold and silver tree growing on Mount Horai so quickly or so easily, and she was sorry to say she believed it artificial.

かぐや姫は枝を手に取って、丹念に眺めた。それから育ての親に、蓬莱の山に生える金銀の木からこれほど早く、これほどたやすく枝を得ることなどできるはずがない、残念ながらこれは作り物だと思う、と告げた。

The old man then went out to the expectant Knight, who had now approached the house, and asked where he had found the branch. Then the man did not scruple to make up a long story.

そこで翁は、今や家のそばまで来て待っている貴公子のところへ出ていき、どこでこの枝を見つけたのかと尋ねた。すると男はためらいもなく長い作り話をこしらえた。

“Two years ago I took a ship and started in search of Mount Horai. After going before the wind for some time I reached the far Eastern Sea. Then a great storm arose and I was tossed about for many days, losing all count of the points of the compass, and finally we were blown ashore on an unknown island. Here I found the place inhabited by demons who at one time threatened to kill and eat me. However, I managed to make friends with these horrible creatures, and they helped me and my sailors to repair the boat, and I set sail again. Our food gave out, and we suffered much from sickness on board. At last, on the five-hundredth day from the day of starting, I saw far off on the horizon what looked like the peak of a mountain. On nearer approach, this proved to be an island, in the center of which rose a high mountain. I landed, and after wandering about for two or three days, I saw a shining being coming towards me on the beach, holding in his hands a golden bowl. I went up to him and asked him if I had, by good chance, found the island of Mount Horai, and he answered:”

「二年前、わたしは船に乗って蓬莱の山を探しに出ました。しばらく順風に乗って進むと、遠い東の海に着きました。そこで大嵐が起こり、幾日も揉まれて方角もまるで分からなくなり、とうとう見知らぬ島に吹き寄せられました。ここは鬼どもの住むところで、一度はわたしを殺して食おうとしました。けれども何とかこの恐ろしい者たちと親しくなり、彼らはわたしと水夫たちが船を直すのを助けてくれて、わたしはまた船出しました。食べ物は尽き、船の上で病にひどく苦しみました。とうとう出発の日から五百日目に、水平線のはるか彼方に山の頂らしきものが見えました。近づくとそれは島で、そのまんなかに高い山がそびえていました。上陸して二、三日歩き回ると、輝く者が黄金の鉢を手に、浜をこちらへ来るのが見えました。わたしは進み出て、幸いにも蓬莱の山の島を見つけたのでしょうかと尋ねました。すると答えて言うには、」

“‘Yes, this is Mount Horai!’”

「『さよう、これが蓬莱の山だ!』」

“With much difficulty I climbed to the summit, here stood the golden tree growing with silver roots in the ground. The wonders of that strange land are many, and if I began to tell you about them I could never stop. In spite of my wish to stay there long, on breaking off the branch I hurried back. With utmost speed it has taken me four hundred days to get back, and, as you see, my clothes are still damp from exposure on the long sea voyage. I have not even waited to change my raiment, so anxious was I to bring the branch to the Princess quickly.”

「たいそう苦労して頂まで登りますと、そこに黄金の木が、銀の根を地に張って生えておりました。あの不思議な国の驚異は数多く、それを語りはじめたら止まらなくなりましょう。長くとどまりたいと願いながらも、枝を折るとすぐに急ぎ帰りました。渾身の速さで、戻るのに四百日かかりました。ご覧のとおり、長い船旅にさらされて着物はまだ湿っております。着替えを待つ間さえ惜しんで、早く姫に枝をお届けしたい一心だったのです。」

Just at this moment the six jewelers, who had been employed on the making of the branch, but not yet paid by the Knight, arrived at the house and sent in a petition to the Princess to be paid for their labor. They said that they had worked for over a thousand days making the branch of gold, with its silver twigs and its jeweled fruit, that was now presented to her by the Knight, but as yet they had received nothing in payment. So this Knight’s deception was thus found out, and the Princess, glad of an escape from one more importunate suitor, was only too pleased to send back the branch. She called in the workmen and had them paid liberally, and they went away happy. But on the way home they were overtaken by the disappointed man, who beat them till they were nearly dead, for letting out the secret, and they barely escaped with their lives. The Knight then returned home, raging in his heart; and in despair of ever winning the Princess gave up society and retired to a solitary life among the mountains.

ちょうどこのとき、枝作りに雇われながらまだ貴公子から支払いを受けていなかった六人の玉細工師が家に着いて、働きの賃金をくださいという願い状を姫に差し出した。彼らが言うには、この貴公子が今しがた姫に差し上げた、銀の小枝と玉の実のついた黄金の枝を作るのに、千日以上も働いたのに、いまだに何の支払いも受けていないというのである。こうしてこの貴公子の欺きは露見し、また一人しつこい求婚者から逃れられたことを喜んだ姫は、枝を返すのがうれしくてならなかった。姫は職人たちを呼び入れて手厚く支払わせ、職人たちは喜んで去っていった。けれども帰り道で、当てのはずれたこの男に追いつかれ、秘密を漏らしたかどで死にかけるほど打ちのめされ、辛うじて命拾いした。貴公子は心に怒りを燃やして家へ帰り、姫を得る望みを断って人付き合いをやめ、山中で一人暮らすようになった。

Now the Third Knight had a friend in China, so he wrote to him to get the skin of the fire-rat. The virtue of any part of this animal was that no fire could harm it. He promised his friend any amount of money he liked to ask if only he could get him the desired article. As soon as the news came that the ship on which his friend had sailed home had come into port, he rode seven days on horseback to meet him. He handed his friend a large sum of money, and received the fire-rat’s skin. When he reached home he put it carefully in a box and sent it in to the Princess while he waited outside for her answer.

さて第三の貴公子には中国に友人がいたので、火鼠の皮を手に入れてくれと文を書いた。この獣のどの部分にも、火が害を及ぼせないという徳があった。貴公子は、望みの品さえ手に入れてくれるなら、いくらでも好きなだけ金を出そうと友に約束した。友の乗った船が帰港したという知らせが届くやいなや、彼は七日間馬を駆って迎えに行った。友に大金を手渡し、火鼠の皮を受け取った。家に着くとそれを丁重に箱に収め、姫のもとへ送り、外で返事を待った。

The bamboo-cutter took the box from the Knight and, as usual, carried it in to her and tried to coax her to see the Knight at once, but Princess Moonlight refused, saying that she must first put the skin to test by putting it into the fire. If it were the real thing it would not burn. So she took off the crape wrapper and opened the box, and then threw the skin into the fire. The skin crackled and burnt up at once, and the Princess knew that this man also had not fulfilled his word. So the Third Knight failed also.

竹取りの翁は貴公子から箱を受け取り、いつものように姫のところへ運んで、すぐにこの方に会うようにと言いくるめようとした。けれどもかぐや姫は断り、まずこの皮を火に入れて試さねばなりませんと言った。本物なら燃えないはずである。そこで縮緬の包みを取って箱を開け、皮を火に投げ入れた。皮はぱちぱちと音を立ててたちまち燃え尽き、姫はこの人もまた約束を果たさなかったのだと知った。こうして第三の貴公子もしくじった。

Now the Fourth Knight was no more enterprising than the rest. Instead of starting out on the quest of the dragon bearing on its head the five-color-radiating jewel, he called all his servants together and gave them the order to seek for it far and wide in Japan and in China, and he strictly forbade any of them to return till they had found it.

さて第四の貴公子も、ほかの者に劣らず不精であった。五色に輝く珠を頭に戴く竜を求めて自ら旅立つ代わりに、家来をみな呼び集めて、日本と中国の隅々まで探してこいと命じ、見つけるまでは誰一人帰ってはならぬと厳しく言い渡した。

His numerous retainers and servants started out in different directions, with no intention, however, of obeying what they considered an impossible order. They simply took a holiday, went to pleasant country places together, and grumbled at their master’s unreasonableness.

大勢の家臣と家来はそれぞれの方角へ出発したが、できるはずのない命令だと考えていたので、従うつもりなど毛頭なかった。彼らはただ休みを取って、心地よい田舎の場所へ連れ立って行き、主人の無理無体をぼやくだけだった。

The Knight meanwhile, thinking that his retainers could not fail to find the jewel, repaired to his house, and fitted it up beautifully for the reception of the Princess, he felt so sure of winning her.

そのあいだ貴公子は、家臣たちがきっと珠を見つけてくるものと思って、自分の家に戻り、姫を迎えるために美しくしつらえた。姫を得られると信じきっていたのである。

One year passed away in weary waiting, and still his men did not return with the dragon-jewel. The Knight became desperate. He could wait no longer, so taking with him only two men he hired a ship and commanded the captain to go in search of the dragon; the captain and the sailors refused to undertake what they said was an absurd search, but the Knight compelled them at last to put out to sea.

一年がむなしい待ち時間として過ぎ、それでも家来たちは竜の珠を持って帰らなかった。貴公子はやけになった。もう待てず、家来をたった二人だけ連れて船を雇い、竜を探しに行けと船頭に命じた。船頭も水夫たちも、そんなばかげた探索は引き受けられないと断ったが、貴公子はとうとう無理やり海へ出させた。

When they had been but a few days out they encountered a great storm which lasted so long that, by the time its fury abated, the Knight had determined to give up the hunt of the dragon. They were at last blown on shore, for navigation was primitive in those days. Worn out with his travels and anxiety, the fourth suitor gave himself up to rest. He had caught a very heavy cold, and had to go to bed with a swollen face.

出て幾日もたたぬうちに一行は大嵐に遭い、それがあまりに長く続いたので、その猛りが収まるころには貴公子は竜を追うのをあきらめる気になっていた。当時の航海は未熟だったので、一行はとうとう岸に吹き寄せられた。旅と気苦労に疲れ果て、第四の求婚者は休息に身を委ねた。ひどい風邪を引いていて、顔を腫らして床につかねばならなかった。

The governor of the place, hearing of his plight, sent messengers with a letter inviting him to his house. While he was there thinking over all his troubles, his love for the Princess turned to anger, and he blamed her for all the hardships he had undergone. He thought that it was quite probable she had wished to kill him so that she might be rid of him, and in order to carry out her wish had sent him upon his impossible quest.

その土地の国守がその有様を聞いて、使者に文を持たせて自分の家へ招いた。そこで自分の難儀のすべてを思い返すうちに、姫への愛は怒りに変わり、自分が耐えてきた苦労のすべてを姫のせいにした。姫は自分を厄介払いしようとして殺したがっていたにちがいない、その願いを遂げるために、できるはずのない探索に送り出したのだ、と考えたのである。

At this point all the servants he had sent out to find the jewel came to see him, and were surprised to find praise instead of displeasure awaiting them. Their master told them that he was heartily sick of adventure, and said that he never intended to go near the Princess’s house again in the future.

そこへ、珠を探しに送り出していた家来がみな会いに来て、叱責ではなく称賛が待っているのを見て驚いた。主人は彼らに、冒険はもう心底うんざりだ、これからは決して姫の家に近寄るつもりはない、と告げた。

Like all the rest, the Fifth Knight failed in his quest—he could not find the swallow’s shell.

ほかの者と同じく、第五の貴公子もその求めにしくじった——燕の貝を見つけることができなかったのである。

By this time the fame of Princess Moonlight’s beauty had reached the ears of the Emperor, and he sent one of the Court ladies to see if she were really as lovely as report said; if so he would summon her to the Palace and make her one of the ladies-in-waiting.

このころには、かぐや姫の美しさの評判は帝の耳にも届いていた。そこで帝は宮中の女官を一人遣わして、噂どおりに美しいのかを確かめさせた。もしそうなら、宮中に召して女官の一人にしようというのである。

When the Court lady arrived, in spite of her father’s entreaties, Princess Moonlight refused to see her. The Imperial messenger insisted, saying it was the Emperor’s order. Then Princess Moonlight told the old man that if she was forced to go to the Palace in obedience to the Emperor’s order, she would vanish from the earth.

女官が着くと、かぐや姫は父の懇願にもかかわらず会うことを断った。帝の使いは、これは帝の命だと言って引き下がらなかった。するとかぐや姫は翁に、もし帝の命に従って宮中へ行くことを強いられるなら、自分はこの世から消えてしまうでしょう、と告げた。

When the Emperor was told of her persistence in refusing to obey his summons, and that if pressed to obey she would disappear altogether from sight, he determined to go and see her. So he planned to go on a hunting excursion in the neighborhood of the bamboo-cutter’s house, and see the Princess himself. He sent word to the old man of his intention, and he received consent to the scheme. The next day the Emperor set out with his retinue, which he soon managed to outride. He found the bamboo-cutter’s house and dismounted. He then entered the house and went straight to where the Princess was sitting with her attendant maidens.

帝は、姫が召しに応じることを頑なに拒み、強いれば姿をすっかり消してしまうと聞くと、自ら会いに行こうと心を決めた。そこで竹取りの翁の家の近くへ狩りに出かけ、自ら姫を見ようと計らった。その意向を翁に伝えさせると、翁はこの計らいに承知した。翌日、帝は供を連れて出かけたが、まもなく供を引き離して先を駆けた。そして竹取りの翁の家を見つけて馬を降りた。それから家に入り、姫が侍女たちとともに座っているところへまっすぐ進んだ。

Never had he seen any one so wonderfully beautiful, and he could not but look at her, for she was more lovely than any human being as she shone in her own soft radiance. When Princess Moonlight became aware that a stranger was looking at her she tried to escape from the room, but the Emperor caught her and begged her to listen to what he had to say. Her only answer was to hide her face in her sleeves.

これほど不思議なほど美しい人を見たことがなく、帝は姫を見つめずにいられなかった。姫は自らのやわらかな光に輝いて、どんな人間よりも美しかったからである。かぐや姫は見知らぬ者が自分を見つめていると気づいて部屋から逃れようとしたが、帝はその手を取り、どうか言うことを聞いてくれと乞うた。姫の答えはただ、袖に顔を隠すことだけであった。

The Emperor fell deeply in love with her, and begged her to come to the Court, where he would give her a position of honor and everything she could wish for. He was about to send for one of the Imperial palanquins to take her back with him at once, saying that her grace and beauty should adorn a Court, and not be hidden in a bamboo-cutter’s cottage.

帝は姫に深く恋をして、宮中へ来てくれと乞い、誉れある地位と望むものすべてを与えようと言った。そして、その優美と美しさは宮廷を飾るべきであって、竹取りの小屋に隠れているべきではないと言って、すぐに連れ帰ろうと御輿を呼びにやろうとした。

But the Princess stopped him. She said that if she were forced to go to the Palace she would turn at once into a shadow, and even as she spoke she began to lose her form. Her figure faded from his sight while he looked.

けれども姫はそれを止めた。もし宮中へ行くことを強いられるなら、たちまち影に変わってしまうでしょうと言い、そう言っているうちにその姿は失われはじめた。帝が見ているうちに、その姿はまなざしから薄れていった。

The Emperor then promised to leave her free if only she would resume her former shape, which she did.

帝は、もとの姿に戻ってくれさえすれば自由にしておくと約束した。すると姫はもとに戻った。

It was now time for him to return, for his retinue would be wondering what had happened to their Royal master when they missed him for so long. So he bade her good-by, and left the house with a sad heart. Princess Moonlight was for him the most beautiful woman in the world; all others were dark beside her, and he thought of her night and day. His Majesty now spent much of his time in writing poems, telling her of his love and devotion, and sent them to her, and though she refused to see him again she answered with many verses of her own composing, which told him gently and kindly that she could never marry any one on this earth. These little songs always gave him pleasure.

もう帰らねばならぬ時刻であった。供の者たちは、これほど長く主の姿が見えぬので、王たる主に何があったのかといぶかっているだろう。そこで帝は姫に別れを告げ、悲しい心で家をあとにした。帝にとってかぐや姫は世界でいちばん美しい女であった。ほかの者はみな姫のそばでは暗く見え、帝は昼も夜も姫のことを思った。陛下はそれからの多くの時を歌を詠むことに費やし、その愛と一途な思いを訴えて姫に送った。姫は二度と会おうとはしなかったが、自ら詠んだ数多くの歌で答え、この世の誰とも結ばれることはできぬのだと、優しく心をこめて伝えた。この短い歌はいつも帝を喜ばせた。

At this time her foster-parents noticed that night after night the Princess would sit on her balcony and gaze for hours at the moon, in a spirit of the deepest dejection, ending always in a burst of tears. One night the old man found her thus weeping as if her heart were broken, and he besought her to tell him the reason of her sorrow.

このころ、育ての親たちは、姫が夜ごとに露台に座り、このうえなく沈んだ様子で幾時間も月を見つめ、いつも最後には泣き出すことに気づいた。ある晩、翁は姫が胸が張り裂けるように泣いているのを見つけ、その悲しみのわけを話してくださいと乞うた。

With many tears she told him that he had guessed rightly when he supposed her not to belong to this world—that she had in truth come from the moon, and that her time on earth would soon be over. On the fifteenth day of that very month of August her friends from the moon would come to fetch her, and she would have to return. Her parents were both there, but having spent a lifetime on the earth she had forgotten them, and also the moon-world to which she belonged. It made her weep, she said, to think of leaving her kind foster-parents, and the home where she had been happy for so long.

姫は涙ながらに、自分はこの世のものではないという翁の推し量りは正しかったのだと告げた——自分はまことに月から来たのであり、この世での時はまもなく終わるのだ、と。ちょうどその八月の十五日に、月の友たちが迎えに来て、自分は帰らねばならぬのだという。両親は二人ともそこにいるが、この世で一生を過ごすうちに、その両親のことも自分の属する月の世界のことも忘れてしまった。優しい育ての親と、これほど長く幸せに過ごした家を離れることを思うと涙が出るのです、と姫は言った。

When her attendants heard this they were very sad, and could not eat or drink for sadness at the thought that the Princess was so soon to leave them.

侍女たちはこれを聞いてたいそう悲しみ、姫がこれほど早く自分たちのもとを去るのだと思うと、悲しくて食べることも飲むこともできなかった。

The Emperor, as soon as the news was carried to him, sent messengers to the house to find out if the report were true or not.

帝はこの知らせが伝えられるとすぐ、その報せが本当かどうかを確かめに使者を家へ送った。

The old bamboo-cutter went out to meet the Imperial messengers. The last few days of sorrow had told upon the old man; he had aged greatly, and looked much more than his seventy years. Weeping bitterly, he told them that the report was only too true, but he intended, however, to make prisoners of the envoys from the moon, and to do all he could to prevent the Princess from being carried back.

竹取りの翁は帝の使者を迎えに出た。この数日の嘆きは老人にこたえていて、ひどく老け込み、七十の年よりもずっと老いて見えた。翁は苦く泣きながら、その報せはまことに本当だと告げたが、しかし月からの使者を捕虜にして、姫が連れ戻されるのを防ぐためにできるかぎりのことをするつもりだと言った。

The men returned and told His Majesty all that had passed. On the fifteenth day of that month the Emperor sent a guard of two thousand warriors to watch the house. One thousand stationed themselves on the roof, another thousand kept watch round all the entrances of the house. All were well trained archers, with bows and arrows. The bamboo-cutter and his wife hid Princess Moonlight in an inner room.

使者たちは戻って、あったことをすべて陛下に告げた。その月の十五日、帝は二千の武人の警固を送って家を見張らせた。千人は屋根に配され、もう千人が家のすべての入口のまわりを見張った。みなよく鍛えられた射手で、弓矢を携えていた。竹取りの翁と妻は、かぐや姫を奥の間に隠した。

The old man gave orders that no one was to sleep that night, all in the house were to keep a strict watch, and be ready to protect the Princess. With these precautions, and the help of the Emperor’s men-at-arms, he hoped to withstand the moon-messengers, but the Princess told him that all these measures to keep her would be useless, and that when her people came for her nothing whatever could prevent them from carrying out their purpose. Even the Emperors men would be powerless. Then she added with tears that she was very, very sorry to leave him and his wife, whom she had learned to love as her parents, that if she could do as she liked she would stay with them in their old age, and try to make some return for all the love and kindness they had showered upon her during all her earthly life.

翁は、その夜は誰も眠ってはならぬ、家の者はみな厳しく見張り、姫を守る用意をせよと命じた。この用心と帝の武人たちの助けがあれば、月の使者に抗せると翁は望んだ。けれども姫は、自分を留めようとするこれらの手立てはすべてむだであり、自分の一族が迎えに来れば、その目的を遂げるのを何ものも妨げられないのだと告げた。帝の兵たちでさえ無力なのだ、と。それから涙とともにこう言い添えた。自分は、親として愛するようになったあなたと奥さまを離れるのがたいそう、たいそう辛い。思いどおりにできるなら老いの日をともに過ごし、この世の一生のあいだ注いでくれた愛と親切のすべてにいくらかでも報いたいのだ、と。

The night wore on! The yellow harvest moon rose high in the heavens, flooding the world asleep with her golden light. Silence reigned over the pine and the bamboo forests, and on the roof where the thousand men-at-arms waited.

夜は更けていった! 黄色い実りの月が天高く昇り、眠る世界をその金の光で満たした。松と竹の林の上にも、千人の武人が待つ屋根の上にも、静けさが満ちていた。

Then the night grew gray towards the dawn and all hoped that the danger was over—that Princess Moonlight would not have to leave them after all. Then suddenly the watchers saw a cloud form round the moon—and while they looked this cloud began to roll earthwards. Nearer and nearer it came, and every one saw with dismay that its course lay towards the house.

やがて夜は白みはじめ、みな危難は去ったものと望んだ——かぐや姫は結局ここを離れずにすむのだろう、と。ところが突然、見張る者たちは月のまわりに雲が生まれるのを見た——そして見ているうちに、この雲は地へ向かって降りはじめた。それはだんだん近づいてきて、その進む先が家のほうであることを、誰もが恐れとともに見た。

In a short time the sky was entirely obscured, till at last the cloud lay over the dwelling only ten feet off the ground. In the midst of the cloud there stood a flying chariot, and in the chariot a band of luminous beings. One amongst them who looked like a king and appeared to be the chief stepped out of the chariot, and, poised in air, called to the old man to come out.

まもなく空はすっかり覆われ、とうとう雲は地上わずか十フィートのところ、この住まいの上に横たわった。雲のただなかには飛ぶ車があり、その車には光り輝く者たちの一団がいた。そのなかの、王のように見えて頭と思われる一人が車から出てきて、宙に浮いたまま、翁に出てくるようにと呼ばわった。

“The time has come,” he said, “for Princess Moonlight to return to the moon from whence she came. She committed a grave fault, and as a punishment was sent to live down here for a time. We know what good care you have taken of the Princess, and we have rewarded you for this and have sent you wealth and prosperity. We put the gold in the bamboos for you to find.”

「時が来た」とその者は言った。「かぐや姫が、来たところの月へ帰る時が。姫は重い過ちを犯し、その罰としてしばらくこの下界に住まわされたのだ。われらは、そなたが姫をどれほど大切に世話したかを知っている。そしてそのために報いを与え、富と栄えを送った。そなたが見つけられるように、竹のなかに黄金を入れておいたのだ。」

“I have brought up this Princess for twenty years and never once has she done a wrong thing, therefore the lady you are seeking cannot be this one,” said the old man. “I pray you to look elsewhere.”

「わたしは二十年のあいだこの姫を育ててまいりましたが、ただの一度も過ちを犯されたことはありません。ですからあなたがたのお探しの方は、この姫ではありますまい」と翁は言った。「どうかほかをお探しください。」

Then the messenger called aloud, saying:

すると使者は声高に呼ばわった。

“Princess Moonlight, come out from this lowly dwelling. Rest not here another moment.”

「かぐや姫、この賤しき住まいから出てきなさい。これ以上ひとときもここにとどまってはならぬ。」

At these words the screens of the Princess’s room slid open of their own accord, revealing the Princess shining in her own radiance, bright and wonderful and full of beauty.

この言葉に、姫の部屋の襖はひとりでに開き、自らの光に輝く姫の姿が現れた。明るく、不思議で、美しさに満ちていた。

The messenger led her forth and placed her in the chariot. She looked back, and saw with pity the deep sorrow of the old man. She spoke to him many comforting words, and told him that it was not her will to leave him and that he must always think of her when looking at the moon.

使者は姫を導き出して車に乗せた。姫は振り返り、翁の深い悲しみを憐れみとともに見た。姫は慰めの言葉を数多くかけ、自分の意でここを去るのではないこと、月を見るときにはいつも自分のことを思ってくださいと告げた。

The bamboo-cutter implored to be allowed to accompany her, but this was not allowed. The Princess took off her embroidered outer garment and gave it to him as a keepsake.

竹取りの翁はお供させてくださいと乞うたが、それは許されなかった。姫は刺繍を施した上着を脱いで、形見として翁に与えた。

One of the moon beings in the chariot held a wonderful coat of wings, another had a phial full of the Elixir of Life which was given the Princess to drink. She swallowed a little and was about to give the rest to the old man, but she was prevented from doing so.

車のなかの月の者の一人は不思議な羽衣を持ち、もう一人は不老不死の薬の満ちた小瓶を持っていて、それが姫に飲むようにと差し出された。姫は少し飲んで、残りを翁に与えようとしたが、それは止められた。

The robe of wings was about to be put upon her shoulders, but she said:

羽衣が肩に着せられようとしたとき、姫は言った。

“Wait a little. I must not forget my good friend the Emperor. I must write him once more to say good-by while still in this human form.”

「少しお待ちください。よき友である帝のことを忘れてはなりません。まだこの人の姿でいるうちに、もう一度お別れの文を書かねばなりません。」

In spite of the impatience of the messengers and charioteers she kept them waiting while she wrote. She placed the phial of the Elixir of Life with the letter, and, giving them to the old man, she asked him to deliver them to the Emperor.

使者と車を駆る者たちが焦れるのもかまわず、姫は文を書くあいだ彼らを待たせた。姫は不老不死の薬の小瓶を文とともに置いて、それを翁に渡し、帝にお届けくださいと頼んだ。

Then the chariot began to roll heavenwards towards the moon, and as they all gazed with tearful eyes at the receding Princess, the dawn broke, and in the rosy light of day the moon-chariot and all in it were lost amongst the fleecy clouds that were now wafted across the sky on the wings of the morning wind.

それから車は天へ、月へと昇りはじめた。みなが涙にくれた目で遠ざかる姫を見つめるうちに、夜が明けた。そしてばら色の日の光のなかで、月の車もそのなかのすべても、朝の風の翼に運ばれて空を渡る綿のような雲のあいだに消えていった。

Princess Moonlight’s letter was carried to the Palace. His Majesty was afraid to touch the Elixir of Life, so he sent it with the letter to the top of the most sacred mountain in the land. Mount Fuji, and there the Royal emissaries burnt it on the summit at sunrise. So to this day people say there is smoke to be seen rising from the top of Mount Fuji to the clouds.

かぐや姫の文は宮中へ運ばれた。陛下は不老不死の薬に触れることを恐れ、それを文とともに、この国で最も聖なる山である富士の山の頂へ送らせた。そして王の使いたちは、日の出とともにその頂でそれを焼いた。それゆえ今日でも人々は、富士の山の頂から雲へと立ちのぼる煙が見えると言うのである。