The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab

Long, long ago, one bright autumn day in Japan, it happened, that a pink-faced monkey and a yellow crab were playing together along the bank of a river. As they were running about, the crab found a rice-dumpling and the monkey a persimmon-seed.

むかしむかし、日本のある明るい秋の日に、桃色の顔をした猿と黄色い蟹が、川の土手に沿って一緒に遊んでいた。駆けまわっているうちに、蟹は握り飯を見つけ、猿は柿の種を見つけた。

The crab picked up the rice-dumpling and showed it to the monkey, saying:

蟹は握り飯を拾い上げて猿に見せ、こう言った。

“Look what a nice thing I have found!”

「見てごらん、こんなよいものを見つけたよ!」

Then the monkey held up his persimmon-seed and said:

すると猿は柿の種を掲げて言った。

“I also have found something good! Look!”

「おれもよいものを見つけたぞ! 見ろよ!」

Now though the monkey is always very fond of persimmon fruit, he had no use for the seed he had just found. The persimmon-seed is as hard and uneatable as a stone. He, therefore, in his greedy nature, felt very envious of the crab’s nice dumpling, and he proposed an exchange. The crab naturally did not see why he should give up his prize for a hard stone-like seed, and would not consent to the monkey’s proposition.

さて、猿はいつも柿の実が大好きなのだが、たった今見つけた種には使い道がなかった。柿の種は石のように硬くて食べられない。それで猿は、その欲深い性から蟹のうまそうな握り飯をたいそううらやみ、取り替えようと持ちかけた。蟹は当然、自分の獲物をどうして石のように硬い種と引き換えねばならぬのか分からず、猿の申し出に承知しなかった。

Then the cunning monkey began to persuade the crab, saying:

そこで狡い猿は蟹を説き伏せにかかって言った。

“How unwise you are not to think of the future! Your rice-dumpling can be eaten now, and is certainly much bigger than my seed; but if you sow this seed in the ground it will soon grow and become a great tree in a few years, and bear an abundance of fine ripe persimmons year after year. If only I could show it to you then with the yellow fruit hanging on its branches! Of course, if you don’t believe me I shall sow it myself; though I am sure, later on, you will be very sorry that you did not take my advice.”

「先のことを考えないとは、なんと愚かなことか! おまえの握り飯は今食べられるし、確かにおれの種よりずっと大きい。だがこの種を地に蒔けば、まもなく育って何年かで大きな木になり、年ごとに立派な熟れた柿をどっさり実らせるのだ。枝に黄色い実がぶら下がったところを、そのとき見せてやれたらなあ! もちろん、おれの言うことが信じられないなら、自分で蒔くまでだ。だがあとになって、おれの言うことを聞かなかったことをきっとひどく悔やむだろうがな。」

The simple-minded crab could not resist the monkey’s clever persuasion. He at last gave in and consented to the monkey’s proposal, and the exchange was made. The greedy monkey soon gobbled up the dumpling, and with great reluctance gave up the persimmon-seed to the crab. He would have liked to keep that too, but he was afraid of making the crab angry and of being pinched by his sharp scissor-like claws. They then separated, the monkey going home to his forest trees and the crab to his stones along the river-side. As soon as the crab reached home he put the persimmon-seed in the ground as the monkey had told him.

素朴な蟹は猿の巧みな説得に抗えなかった。とうとう折れて猿の申し出を承知し、取り替えが行われた。欲深い猿はたちまち握り飯をぺろりと平らげ、たいそう惜しそうに柿の種を蟹に渡した。それも取っておきたかったのだが、蟹を怒らせて、鋏のような鋭い爪で挟まれるのが怖かったのである。それから二人は別れ、猿は森の木へ、蟹は川辺の石のあいだへ帰っていった。蟹は家に着くやいなや、猿に言われたとおり柿の種を地に埋めた。

In the following spring the crab was delighted to see the shoot of a young tree push its way up through the ground. Each year it grew bigger, till at last it blossomed one spring, and in the following autumn bore some fine large persimmons. Among the broad smooth green leaves the fruit hung like golden balls, and as they ripened they mellowed to a deep orange. It was the little crab’s pleasure to go out day by day and sit in the sun and put out his long eyes in the same way as a snail puts out its horn, and watch the persimmons ripening to perfection.

翌年の春、蟹は若木の芽が地を押し分けて伸びてくるのを見て大喜びした。年ごとに木は大きくなり、とうとうある春に花を咲かせ、その秋には立派な大きい柿をいくつか実らせた。広くなめらかな緑の葉のあいだに、実は金の玉のようにぶら下がり、熟れるにつれて濃い橙色へと色づいていった。日ごとに外へ出て日なたに座り、蝸牛が角を出すように長い目を突き出して、柿が見事に熟していくのを眺めるのが、小さな蟹の楽しみであった。

“How delicious they will be to eat!” he said to himself.

「食べたらどんなにうまいだろう!」と蟹は独りごちた。

At last, one day, he knew the persimmons must be quite ripe and he wanted very much to taste one. He made several attempts to climb the tree, in the vain hope of reaching one of the beautiful persimmons hanging above him; but he failed each time, for a crab’s legs are not made for climbing trees but only for running along the ground and over stones, both of which he can do most cleverly. In his dilemma he thought of his old playmate the monkey, who, he knew, could climb trees better than any one else in the world. He determined to ask the monkey to help him, and set out to find him.

とうとうある日、柿はもうすっかり熟したにちがいないと分かり、ひとつ味わってみたくてたまらなくなった。蟹は幾度も木に登ろうとして、頭の上にぶら下がる美しい柿のひとつに手が届くことをむなしく望んだ。けれども毎度失敗した。蟹の足は木に登るためではなく、地面や石の上を走るためにできているからである。もっとも、そちらはこのうえなく巧みにやってのける。困り果てた蟹は、昔の遊び仲間の猿のことを思い出した。猿なら世界の誰よりも上手に木に登れると知っていたからである。そこで猿に助けを頼もうと心を決め、探しに出かけた。

Running crab-fashion up the stony river bank, over the pathways into the shadowy forest, the crab at last found the monkey taking an afternoon nap in his favorite pine-tree, with his tail curled tight around a branch to prevent him from falling off in his dreams. He was soon wide awake, however, when he heard himself called, and eagerly listening to what the crab told him. When he heard that the seed which he had long ago exchanged for a rice-dumpling had grown into a tree and was now bearing good fruit, he was delighted, for he at once devised a cunning plan which would give him all the persimmons for himself.

石だらけの川岸を蟹の歩き方で駆け上がり、小道を越えて薄暗い森に入ると、蟹はとうとう猿を見つけた。猿はお気に入りの松の木で午後の昼寝をしていて、夢のなかで落ちないように尾をしっかり枝に巻きつけていた。けれども自分の名を呼ばれるとすぐにすっかり目を覚まし、蟹の話を熱心に聞いた。ずっと前に握り飯と取り替えたあの種が木になって、今はよい実をつけていると聞くと、猿は大喜びした。たちまち、柿を全部自分のものにする狡い計略を思いついたからである。

He consented to go with the crab to pick the fruit for him. When they both reached the spot, the monkey was astonished to see what a fine tree had sprung from the seed, and with what a number of ripe persimmons the branches were loaded.

猿は蟹と一緒に行って、実を採ってやろうと承知した。二人がその場所に着くと、猿はあの種からこんな立派な木が生えたことと、枝がどれほど多くの熟れた柿で重くなっているかを見て驚いた。

He quickly climbed the tree and began to pluck and eat, as fast as he could, one persimmon after another. Each time he chose the best and ripest he could find, and went on eating till he could eat no more. Not one would he give to the poor hungry crab waiting below, and when he had finished there was little but the hard, unripe fruit left.

猿はすばやく木に登り、できるかぎりの速さで次から次へと柿をもいでは食べはじめた。毎度、見つけられるかぎり最もよく熟したものを選び、もう食べられなくなるまで食べつづけた。下で待っている腹をすかせた哀れな蟹には、ひとつも与えようとしなかった。そして食べ終わったときには、硬くて熟していない実しかほとんど残っていなかった。

You can imagine the feelings of the poor crab after waiting patiently, for so long as he had done, for the tree to grow and the fruit to ripen, when he saw the monkey devouring all the good persimmons. He was so disappointed that he ran round and round the tree calling to the monkey to remember his promise. The monkey at first took no notice of the crab’s complaints, but at last he picked out the hardest, greenest persimmon he could find and aimed it at the crab’s head. The persimmon is as hard as stone when it is unripe. The monkey’s missile struck home and the crab was sorely hurt by the blow. Again and again, as fast as he could pick them, the monkey pulled off the hard persimmons and threw them at the defenseless crab till he dropped dead, covered with wounds all over his body. There he lay a pitiful sight at the foot of the tree he had himself planted.

木が育ち実が熟すのを、あれほど長いあいだ辛抱強く待ちつづけた哀れな蟹が、猿がよい柿をみな食い尽くすのを見たときの思いは、想像がつくだろう。蟹はあまりに落胆して、木のまわりをぐるぐる走りながら、約束を思い出せと猿に呼ばわった。猿ははじめ蟹の訴えに耳も貸さなかったが、とうとう見つけられるかぎり硬く青い柿を選んで、蟹の頭をめがけて投げつけた。熟していない柿は石のように硬い。猿の投げたものは命中し、蟹はその一撃にひどく傷ついた。猿は次々と、もげるかぎりの速さで硬い柿をもいでは、無防備な蟹に投げつけつづけ、とうとう蟹は体じゅう傷だらけになって死んでしまった。蟹は、自らが植えた木のふもとに、痛ましい姿で横たわっていた。

When the wicked monkey saw that he had killed the crab he ran away from the spot as fast as he could, in fear and trembling, like a coward as he was.

悪い猿は蟹を殺してしまったと知ると、恐れおののきながら、その臆病な性のままに、できるかぎりの速さでその場から逃げ去った。

Now the crab had a son who had been playing with a friend not far from the spot where this sad work had taken place. On the way home he came across his father dead, in a most dreadful condition—his head was smashed and his shell broken in several places, and around his body lay the unripe persimmons which had done their deadly work. At this dreadful sight the poor young crab sat down and wept.

さて、蟹には息子があり、この悲しい出来事の起きた場所からさほど遠くないところで、友と遊んでいた。帰り道に、息子は父が死んでいるのに出くわした。それは見るも恐ろしい有様で、頭は砕け、甲羅は何か所も割れ、体のまわりには、この惨いわざをなした熟れぬ柿が転がっていた。この恐ろしい光景に、哀れな若い蟹は座り込んで泣いた。

But when he had wept for some time he told himself that this crying would do no good; it was his duty to avenge his father’s murder, and this he determined to do. He looked about for some clue which would lead him to discover the murderer. Looking up at the tree he noticed that the best fruit had gone, and that all around lay bits of peel and numerous seeds strewn on the ground as well as the unripe persimmons which had evidently been thrown at his father. Then he understood that the monkey was the murderer, for he now remembered that his father had once told him the story of the rice-dumpling and the persimmon-seed. The young crab knew that monkeys liked persimmons above all other fruit, and he felt sure that his greed for the coveted fruit had been the cause of the old crab’s death. Alas!

けれどもしばらく泣いてから、若い蟹は、泣いていても何にもならぬと自分に言い聞かせた。父を殺した仇を討つのが自分の務めであり、それをやり遂げようと心を決めた。そして下手人を突きとめる手がかりを探した。木を見上げると、よい実がなくなっていて、まわりには皮のかけらと無数の種が地に散らばり、父に投げつけられたに違いない熟れぬ柿も落ちていた。そこで若い蟹は、下手人が猿だと悟った。父がかつて握り飯と柿の種の話をしてくれたのを思い出したからである。若い蟹は、猿がほかのどんな果物よりも柿を好むことを知っていたし、その欲しがる実への欲深さこそが父の死のもとだったのだと確信した。ああ!

He at first thought of going to attack the monkey at once, for he burned with rage. Second thoughts, however, told him that this was useless, for the monkey was an old and cunning animal and would be hard to overcome. He must meet cunning with cunning and ask some of his friends to help him, for he knew it would be quite out of his power to kill him alone.

はじめ若い蟹は、怒りに燃えて、すぐにも猿を襲いに行こうと考えた。けれども考え直して、それはむだだと思った。猿は年を経た狡い獣で、打ち負かすのは難しい。狡さには狡さで当たり、友に助けを頼まねばならぬ。一人で猿を討ち取るのは、とうてい自分の力に余ることだと分かっていたからである。

The young crab set out at once to call on the mortar, his father’s old friend, and told him of all that had happened. He besought the mortar with tears to help him avenge his father’s death. The mortar was very sorry when he heard the woful tale and promised at once to help the young crab punish the monkey to death. He warned him that he must be very careful in what he did, for the monkey was a strong and cunning enemy. The mortar now sent to fetch the bee and the chestnut (also the crab’s old friends) to consult them about the matter. In a short time the bee and the chestnut arrived. When they were told all the details of the old crab’s death and of the monkey’s wickedness and greed, they both gladly consented to help the young crab in his revenge.

若い蟹はただちに、父の旧い友である臼のもとへ出かけ、起きたことをすべて話した。そして涙ながらに、父の死の仇を討つのを手伝ってくれと乞うた。臼はこの悲しい話を聞いてたいそう気の毒に思い、すぐさま若い蟹とともに猿を討ち取ることに手を貸そうと約束した。そして、猿は強く狡い敵だから、何をするにもたいそう用心せねばならぬと戒めた。それから臼は蜂と栗(これも蟹の旧い友である)を呼びにやり、この件を相談することにした。まもなく蜂と栗がやって来た。老いた蟹の死と、猿の悪しき心と欲深さのあらましを聞くと、二人とも喜んで若い蟹の仇討ちに手を貸すことを承知した。

After talking for a long time as to the ways and means of carrying out their plans they separated, and Mr. Mortar went home with the young crab to help him bury his poor father.

計略をどう実らせるか、その手立てについて長く語り合ってから一同は別れ、臼どのは若い蟹とともに家へ行き、哀れな父を葬るのを手伝った。

While all this was taking place the monkey was congratulating himself (as the wicked often do before their punishment comes upon them) on all he had done so neatly. He thought it quite a fine thing that he had robbed his friend of all his ripe persimmons and then that he had killed him. Still, smile as hard as he might, he could not banish altogether the fear of the consequences should his evil deeds be discovered. IF he were found out (and he told himself that this could not be for he had escaped unseen) the crab’s family would be sure to bear him hatred and seek to take revenge on him. So he would not go out, and kept himself at home for several days. He found this kind of life, however, extremely dull, accustomed as he was to the free life of the woods, and at last he said:

こうしたことが起きているあいだ、猿は(罰が下る前の悪人がしばしばそうするように)自分の手際のよさを一人祝っていた。友から熟れた柿を残らず奪い、それから殺してやったのは、まったく見事なことだと思った。それでもどれほど得意に笑ってみせても、悪事が知れたときの報いへの恐れを、すっかり払いのけることはできなかった。もし知れたら(もっとも、誰にも見られずに逃げたのだから、そんなことはあるまいと自分に言い聞かせていたが)蟹の一族はきっと自分を憎み、仇を討とうとするだろう。そこで猿は外へ出ず、何日か家にこもっていた。けれども森の自由な暮らしに慣れた身には、こんな暮らしはひどく退屈で、とうとうこう言った。

“No one knows that it was I who killed the crab! I am sure that the old thing breathed his last before I left him. Dead crabs have no mouths! Who is there to tell that I am the murderer? Since no one knows, what is the use of shutting myself up and brooding over the matter? What is done cannot be undone!”

「蟹を殺したのがおれだとは、誰も知らん! あの爺いは、おれが離れる前に息を引き取ったに決まっている。死んだ蟹に口なしだ! おれが下手人だと誰が言えるものか。誰も知らないのに、閉じこもって思い悩んで何になる。済んだことは取り返しがつかんのだ!」

With this he wandered out into the crab settlement and crept about as slyly as possible near the crab’s house and tried to hear the neighbors’ gossip round about. He wanted to find out what the crabs were saving about their chief’s death, for the old crab had been the chief of the tribe. But he heard nothing and said to himself:

そう言って猿は蟹たちの集落へぶらぶら出ていき、できるかぎりこっそりと蟹の家の近くを這いまわって、近所の噂話を聞こうとした。頭領の死について蟹たちが何と言っているかを知りたかったのである。あの老いた蟹は一族の頭領であった。けれども何も聞こえてこなかったので、猿は独りごちた。

“They are all such fools that they don’t know and don’t care who murdered their chief!”

「みな馬鹿ばかりで、頭領を殺したのが誰かも知らず、気にもかけていないのだ!」

Little did he know in his so-called “monkey’s wisdom” that this seeming unconcern was part of the young crab’s plan. He purposely pretended not to know who killed his father, and also to believe that he had met his death through his own fault. By this means he could the better keep secret the revenge on the monkey, which he was meditating.

猿はいわゆる「猿知恵」で、この無関心に見えるものが若い蟹の計略の一部だとは、まるで知らなかった。若い蟹はわざと、父を殺したのが誰かを知らないふりをし、また父は自分の不注意で死んだのだと信じているふりをしていた。そうすることで、心に温めている猿への仇討ちを、いっそうよく隠しておけるからである。

So the monkey returned home from his walk quite content. He told himself he had nothing now to fear.

こうして猿はすっかり安心して散歩から帰ってきた。もう何も恐れることはないと自分に言い聞かせた。

One fine day, when the monkey was sitting at home, he was surprised by the appearance of a messenger from the young crab. While he was wondering what this might mean, the messenger bowed before him and said:

ある晴れた日、猿が家に座っていると、若い蟹からの使いが現れたので驚いた。これは何事かといぶかっていると、使いは前に進み出て頭を下げ、こう言った。

“I have been sent by my master to inform you that his father died the other day in falling from a persimmon tree while trying to climb the tree after fruit. This, being the seventh day, is the first anniversary after his death, and my master has prepared a little festival in his father’s honor, and bids you come to participate in it as you were one of his best friends. My master hopes you will honor his house with your kind visit.”

「主より言づかってまいりました。主の父は先日、実を求めて柿の木に登ろうとして木から落ち、亡くなりました。きょうが七日目にあたり、父の死後はじめての忌日でございます。そこで主は父を弔うささやかな法要を営みますので、あなたさまは父の最もよい友の一人でいらしたのですから、どうかご列席くださいと申しております。主は、あなたさまのお越しでその家を飾っていただけますようにと願っております。」

When the monkey heard these words he rejoiced in his inmost heart, for all his fears of being suspected were now at rest. He could not guess that a plot had just been set in motion against him. He pretended to be very surprised at the news of the crab’s death, and said:

猿はこの言葉を聞いて心の底から喜んだ。疑われるのではないかという恐れが、これですっかり消えたからである。自分に対する計略がすでに動き出しているとは、思いもよらなかった。猿は蟹の死の知らせにたいそう驚いたふりをして言った。

“I am, indeed, very sorry to hear of your chief’s death. We were great friends as you know. I remember that we once exchanged a rice-dumpling for a persimmon-seed. It grieves me much to think that that seed was in the end the cause of his death. I accept your kind invitation with many thanks. I shall be delighted to do honor to my poor old friend!” And he screwed some false tears from his eyes.

「頭領のご不幸を聞いて、まことに心を痛めております。ご承知のとおり、わたしたちは大の仲よしでした。かつて握り飯と柿の種を取り替えたことを覚えております。その種が結局あの方の死のもととなったと思うと、たいそう心が痛みます。ご親切なお招き、深く感謝してお受けいたします。哀れな旧友を弔えるのは何よりのことです!」そして目から嘘の涙を絞り出した。

The messenger laughed inwardly and thought, “The wicked monkey is now dropping false tears, but within a short time he shall shed real ones.” But aloud he thanked the monkey politely and went home.

使いは腹のなかで笑い、こう思った。「悪い猿め、今は嘘の涙をこぼしているが、まもなく本物の涙を流すことになるぞ。」けれども口では丁重に猿に礼を述べて帰っていった。

When he had gone, the wicked monkey laughed aloud at what he thought was the young crab’s innocence, and without the least feeling began to look forward to the feast to be held that day in honor of the dead crab, to which he had been invited. He changed his dress and set out solemnly to visit the young crab.

使いが去ると、悪い猿は、若い蟹が何も知らないと思って声をあげて笑い、何の良心の痛みもなく、招かれた、死んだ蟹を弔うその日の宴を心待ちにしはじめた。猿は着物を着替え、おごそかに若い蟹を訪ねていった。

He found all the members of the crab’s family and his relatives waiting to receive and welcome him. As soon as the bows of meeting were over they led him to a hall. Here the young chief mourner came to receive him. Expressions of condolence and thanks were exchanged between them, and then they all sat down to a luxurious feast and entertained the monkey as the guest of honor.

行ってみると、蟹の家の者と親族がみな、彼を迎えようと待っていた。対面の礼が済むとすぐ、一同は猿を広間へ通した。そこへ若い喪主が迎えに出た。悔やみと礼の言葉が交わされ、それから一同は豪勢な宴の席につき、猿を主客としてもてなした。

The feast over, he was next invited to the tea-ceremony room to drink a cup of tea. When the young crab had conducted the monkey to the tearoom he left him and retired. Time passed and still he did not return. At last the monkey became impatient. He said to himself:

宴が終わると、猿は次に茶をいただくために茶室へ招かれた。若い蟹は猿を茶室へ案内すると、そのまま下がっていった。時が過ぎても、なお戻ってこない。とうとう猿は焦れてきた。そして独りごちた。

“This tea ceremony is always a very slow affair. I am tired of waiting so long. I am very thirsty after drinking so much sake at the dinner!”

「茶の湯というのはいつもえらく手間のかかるものだ。こんなに長く待つのはうんざりだ。膳であんなに酒を飲んだから、ひどく喉が渇いた!」

He then approached the charcoal fire-place and began to pour out some hot water from the kettle boiling there, when something burst out from the ashes with a great pop and hit the monkey right in the neck. It was the chestnut, one of the crab’s friends, who had hidden himself in the fireplace. The monkey, taken by surprise, jumped backward, and then started to run out of the room.

そこで猿は炭火の炉に近づき、そこで煮立っている釜から湯を注ごうとした。そのとき、灰のなかから何かが大きな音を立ててはじけ飛び、猿の首をまともに打った。それは炉に隠れていた蟹の友の一人、栗であった。不意を打たれた猿は跳びのき、それから部屋を走り出ようとした。

The bee, who was hiding outside the screens, now flew out and stung him on the cheek. The monkey was in great pain, his neck was burned by the chestnut and his face badly stung by the bee, but he ran on screaming and chattering with rage.

襖の外に隠れていた蜂が、今こそと飛び出して猿の頬を刺した。猿はひどく痛んだ。首は栗に焼かれ、顔は蜂にしたたか刺されていたが、怒りに叫び喚きながら走りつづけた。

Now the stone mortar had hidden himself with several other stones on the top of the crab’s gate, and as the monkey ran underneath, the mortar and all fell down on the top of the monkey’s head. Was it possible for the monkey to bear the weight of the mortar falling on him from the top of the gate? He lay crushed and in great pain, quite unable to get up. As he lay there helpless the young crab came up, and, holding his great claw scissors over the monkey, he said:

さて、石の臼はほかの石をいくつか連れて蟹の門の上に隠れていた。猿がその下を走り抜けようとすると、臼も石もみな猿の頭の上に落ちてきた。門の上から落ちてくる臼の重みに、猿が耐えられようはずもない。猿は押しつぶされて激しく痛み、起き上がることもできずに横たわった。そうして為すすべもなく横たわっていると、若い蟹がやって来て、大きな鋏の爪を猿の上にかざして言った。

“Do you now remember that you murdered my father?”

「わたしの父を殺したのを、もう思い出したか。」

“Then you—are—my—enemy?” gasped the monkey brokenly.

「では、おまえは——おれの——敵か」と猿は切れ切れに息をついだ。

“Of course,” said the young crab.

「そのとおりだ」と若い蟹は言った。

“It—was—your—father’s—fault—not—mine!” gasped the unrepentant monkey.

「あれは——おまえの——父親の——せいだ——おれのせいではない!」と、悔いる気のない猿はあえぎながら言った。

“Can you still lie? I will soon put an end to your breath!” and with that he cut off the monkey’s head with his pitcher claws. Thus the wicked monkey met his well-merited punishment, and the young crab avenged his father’s death.

「まだ嘘をつくのか。その息をすぐに止めてやる!」そう言って若い蟹は、その鋏の爪で猿の首を切り落とした。こうして悪い猿は当然の報いを受け、若い蟹は父の死の仇を討ったのである。

This is the end of the story of the monkey, the crab, and the persimmon-seed.

これが猿と蟹と柿の種の話の終わりである。