The Ogre of Rashomon

Long, long ago in Kyoto, the people of the city were terrified by accounts of a dreadful ogre, who, it was said, haunted the Gate of Rashomon at twilight and seized whoever passed by. The missing victims were never seen again, so it was whispered that the ogre was a horrible cannibal, who not only killed the unhappy victims but ate them also. Now everybody in the town and neighborhood was in great fear, and no one durst venture out after sunset near the Gate of Rashomon.

むかしむかし、京都の人々は、恐ろしい鬼の噂に怯えていた。その鬼は夕暮れどきに羅生門に現れ、通りかかる者を誰かれかまわず捕らえるというのである。さらわれた者は二度と姿を見せなかったので、あの鬼は世にも恐ろしい人食いで、哀れな者を殺すばかりか食べてしまうのだ、とささやかれた。町でも近隣でもみなが大いに恐れて、日が沈んだあとに羅生門の近くへ出ていく者は一人もいなかった。

Now at this time there lived in Kyoto a general named Raiko, who had made himself famous for his brave deeds. Some time before this he made the country ring with his name, for he had attacked Oeyama, where a band of ogres lived with their chief, who instead of wine drank the blood of human beings. He had routed them all and cut off the head of the chief monster.

さてそのころ京都に、頼光(らいこう)という名の武将が住んでいた。勇ましい働きで名を知られた人である。その少し前には、その名を国じゅうに響かせていた。鬼の一党が、酒の代わりに人の血を飲む頭目とともに住む大江山を攻めたからである。頼光は鬼どもを残らず打ち破り、頭目の怪物の首を刎ねた。

This brave warrior was always followed by a band of faithful knights. In this band there were five knights of great valor. One evening as the five knights sat at a feast quaffing SAKE in their rice bowls and eating all kinds of fish, raw, and stewed, and broiled, and toasting each other’s healths and exploits, the first knight, Hojo, said to the others:

この勇ましい武人には、いつも忠義の家来たちが従っていた。その一団のなかに、たいそう武勇に秀でた五人の者がいた。ある晩、この五人が宴の席につき、飯茶碗で酒を酌み交わし、生も煮物も焼き物もありとあらゆる魚を食べながら、互いの健やかさと手柄を祝って杯を挙げていると、一人目の北条(ほうじょう)がほかの者たちに言った。

“Have you all heard the rumor that every evening after sunset there comes an ogre to the Gate of Rashomon, and that he seizes all who pass by?”

「日が沈んだあと、毎晩羅生門に鬼が現れて、通る者をみな捕らえていくという噂を、みんな聞いたか。」

The second knight, Watanabe, answered him, saying:

二人目の渡辺(わたなべ)が答えて言った。

“Do not talk such nonsense! All the ogres were killed by our chief Raiko at Oeyama! It cannot be true, because even if any ogres did escape from that great killing they would not dare to show themselves in this city, for they know that our brave master would at once attack them if he knew that any of them were still alive!”

「そんな戯言を申すな! 鬼どもはみな、われらが主頼光さまが大江山で討ち取られたのだ! まことのはずがない。たとえあの大討ちから逃げおおせた鬼がいたとしても、この都に姿を現す度胸などあるものか。生き残りがいると知れば、われらの勇ましい主がただちに討ちに出られると、鬼どもは承知しているのだからな!」

“Then do you disbelieve what I say, and think that I am telling you a falsehood?”

「では、おれの言うことを信じず、嘘をついているとでも思うのか。」

“No, I do not think that you are telling a lie,” said Watanabe; “but you have heard some old woman’s story which is not worth believing.”

「いや、嘘をついているとは思わぬ」と渡辺は言った。「だがおまえが聞いたのは、信ずるに足らぬ老婆の作り話であろう。」

“Then the best plan is to prove what I say, by going there yourself and finding out yourself whether it is true or not,” said Hojo.

「ならば、おれの言うことを確かめるのがいちばんよい。自分で行って、まことかどうか自分の目で見てくるがいい」と北条は言った。

Watanabe, the second knight, could not bear the thought that his companion should believe he was afraid, so he answered quickly:

二人目の渡辺は、仲間に臆病者だと思われるのが我慢ならず、すかさず答えた。

“Of course, I will go at once and find out for myself!”

「もちろん、いますぐ行って、この目で確かめてこよう!」

So Watanabe at once got ready to go—he buckled on his long sword and put on a coat of armor, and tied on his large helmet. When he was ready to start he said to the others:

そこで渡辺はただちに支度をした。長い太刀を帯び、鎧をまとい、大きな兜の緒を締めた。支度が整うと、ほかの者たちに言った。

“Give me something so that I can prove I have been there!”

「そこへ行った証となるものを何かくれ!」

Then one of the men got a roll of writing paper and his box of Indian ink and brushes, and the four comrades wrote their names on a piece of paper.

すると一人が巻紙と、墨と筆の箱を取り出し、四人の仲間は紙に自分の名を書き記した。

“I will take this,” said Watanabe, “and put it on the Gate of Rashomon, so to-morrow morning will you all go and look at it? I may be able to catch an ogre or two by then!” and he mounted his horse and rode off gallantly.

「これを持っていって」と渡辺は言った。「羅生門に貼っておこう。あす朝、みなで見に行ってくれ。そのころには鬼の一匹や二匹、捕まえているかもしれぬぞ!」そして馬にまたがり、堂々と駆け出していった。

It was a very dark night, and there was neither moon nor star to light Watanabe on his way. To make the darkness worse a storm came on, the rain fell heavily and the wind howled like wolves in the mountains. Any ordinary man would have trembled at the thought of going out of doors, but Watanabe was a brave warrior and dauntless, and his honor and word were at stake, so he sped on into the night, while his companions listened to the sound of his horse’s hoofs dying away in the distance, then shut the sliding shutters close and gathered round the charcoal fire and wondered what would happen—and whether their comrade would encounter one of those horrible Oni.

たいそう暗い夜で、月も星も渡辺の道を照らしていなかった。闇をいっそう深くするように嵐が来て、雨は激しく降り、風は山の狼のように吠えた。並みの人間なら戸外へ出ることを思っただけで震え上がったであろう。けれども渡辺は勇ましく恐れを知らぬ武人であり、名誉と言葉がかかっていたので、夜の闇のなかへ駆け出していった。仲間たちは、その馬の蹄の音が遠ざかって消えるのを聞き、それから引き戸を固く閉めて炭火のまわりに集まり、どうなることかと案じた——仲間はあの恐ろしい鬼の一匹に出くわすのだろうか、と。

At last Watanabe reached the Gate of Rashomon, but peer as he might through the darkness he could see no sign of an ogre.

やがて渡辺は羅生門に着いたが、闇のなかをどれほど目を凝らしても、鬼のしるしひとつ見えなかった。

“It is just as I thought,” said Watanabe to himself; “there are certainly no ogres here; it is only an old woman’s story. I will stick this paper on the gate so that the others can see I have been here when they come to-morrow, and then I will take my way home and laugh at them all.”

「思ったとおりだ」と渡辺は独りごちた。「ここに鬼などいはしない。ただの老婆の作り話だ。この紙を門に貼っておこう。あすみなが来たとき、おれが来たことが分かるように。それから帰って、みなを笑ってやろう。」

He fastened the piece of paper, signed by all his four companions, on the gate, and then turned his horse’s head towards home.

渡辺は四人の仲間が署名した紙を門に貼りつけ、それから馬の頭を家のほうへ向けた。

As he did so he became aware that some one was behind him, and at the same time a voice called out to him to wait. Then his helmet was seized from the back. “Who are you?” said Watanabe fearlessly. He then put out his hand and groped around to find out who or what it was that held him by the helmet. As he did so he touched something that felt like an arm—it was covered with hair and as big round as the trunk of a tree!

そうしたとき、うしろに誰かがいるのに気づき、同時に、待てと呼びかける声がした。そして背後から兜をつかまれた。「何者だ」と渡辺は恐れげもなく言った。それから手を伸ばし、兜をつかんでいるのが誰か、何かを探ろうと手さぐりした。そうすると、腕のように感じられるものに触れた——毛に覆われていて、木の幹ほどの太さがあった!

Watanabe knew at once that this was the arm of an ogre, so he drew his sword and cut at it fiercely.

渡辺はたちまち、これは鬼の腕だと知り、太刀を抜いて猛然と斬りつけた。

There was a loud yell of pain, and then the ogre dashed in front of the warrior.

痛みに大きな叫び声があがり、それから鬼が武人の前に躍り出た。

Watanabe’s eyes grew large with wonder, for he saw that the ogre was taller than the great gate, his eyes were flashing like mirrors in the sunlight, and his huge mouth was wide open, and as the monster breathed, flames of fire shot out of his mouth.

渡辺は目を見開いて驚いた。鬼は大きな門よりも背が高く、その目は日の光を受けた鏡のように光り、大きな口はぽっかりと開いていて、怪物が息をするたびに口から炎が噴き出したのである。

The ogre thought to terrify his foe, but Watanabe never flinched. He attacked the ogre with all his strength, and thus they fought face to face for a long time. At last the ogre, finding that he could neither frighten nor beat Watanabe and that he might himself be beaten, took to flight. But Watanabe, determined not to let the monster escape, put spurs to his horse and gave chase.

鬼は敵を怯えさせようとしたが、渡辺はひるみもしなかった。力のかぎり鬼に打ちかかり、こうして二人は長いあいだ面と向かって戦った。とうとう鬼は、渡辺を怯えさせることも打ち負かすこともできず、自分のほうが負けかねないと見て、逃げ出した。けれども渡辺は怪物を逃がすまいと心を決め、馬に拍車を入れて追いかけた。

But though the knight rode very fast the ogre ran faster, and to his disappointment he found himself unable to overtake the monster, who was gradually lost to sight.

けれども武人がどれほど速く駆けても鬼のほうが速く走り、渡辺は無念にも怪物に追いつけず、鬼は次第に見えなくなってしまった。

Watanabe returned to the gate where the fierce fight had taken place, and got down from his horse. As he did so he stumbled upon something lying on the ground.

渡辺は激しい戦いのあった門へ戻り、馬から降りた。そのとき、地面に転がっている何かにつまずいた。

Stooping to pick it up he found that it was one of the ogre’s huge arms which he must have slashed off in the fight. His joy was great at having secured such a prize, for this was the best of all proofs of his adventure with the ogre. So he took it up carefully and carried it home as a trophy of his victory.

かがんで拾い上げてみると、それは鬼の大きな腕の一本で、戦いのときに斬り落としたものにちがいなかった。これほどの獲物を手に入れたことに渡辺は大いに喜んだ。鬼との一件を示す何よりの証だったからである。そこで大切に拾い上げ、勝利の印として家へ持ち帰った。

When he got back, he showed the arm to his comrades, who one and all called him the hero of their band and gave him a great feast. His wonderful deed was soon noised abroad in Kyoto, and people from far and near came to see the ogre’s arm.

帰り着くと、渡辺はその腕を仲間たちに見せた。仲間は一人残らず彼を一党の英雄とたたえ、盛大な宴を開いた。この見事な働きはまもなく京都じゅうに知れ渡り、遠近から人々が鬼の腕を見にやって来た。

Watanabe now began to grow uneasy as to how he should keep the arm in safety, for he knew that the ogre to whom it belonged was still alive. He felt sure that one day or other, as soon as the ogre got over his scare, he would come to try to get his arm back again. Watanabe therefore had a box made of the strongest wood and banded with iron. In this he placed the arm, and then he sealed down the heavy lid, refusing to open it for anyone. He kept the box in his own room and took charge of it himself, never allowing it out of his sight.

渡辺はやがて、この腕をどう安全に保つかで落ち着かなくなってきた。この腕の持ち主である鬼がまだ生きていると知っていたからである。いつかきっと、鬼が怯えから立ち直ったら、腕を取り戻しに来るにちがいないと確信していた。そこで渡辺は、いちばん頑丈な木で作り、鉄の帯を巻いた箱をこしらえさせた。そのなかに腕を納め、重い蓋を封じて、誰にも開けさせなかった。箱は自分の部屋に置いて自ら番をし、決して目の届かぬところへ置かなかった。

Now one night he heard some one knocking at the porch, asking for admittance.

さてある夜、玄関を叩いて中へ入れてくれと言う者の声が聞こえた。

When the servant went to the door to see who it was, there was only an old woman, very respectable in appearance. On being asked who she was and what was her business, the old woman replied with a smile that she had been nurse to the master of the house when he was a little baby. If the lord of the house were at home she begged to be allowed to see him.

召使いが誰かと見に出てみると、そこにはたいそう身なりの整った老婆が一人いるだけだった。何者で何の用かと問われると、老婆は微笑んで、この家の主人が赤子だったころの乳母でございます、と答えた。ご主人さまがご在宅なら、どうかお目にかからせてくださいと乞うた。

The servant left the old woman at the door and went to tell his master that his old nurse had come to see him. Watanabe thought it strange that she should come at that time of night, but at the thought of his old nurse, who had been like a foster-mother to him and whom he had not seen for a long time, a very tender feeling sprang up for her in his heart. He ordered the servant to show her in.

召使いは老婆を戸口に残して、乳母が訪ねてまいりましたと主人に告げた。渡辺は、こんな夜更けに来るのは妙だと思ったが、養い親のようであった、久しく会っていない乳母のことを思うと、胸にたいそう優しい情がわいた。そこで召使いに、通すようにと命じた。

The old woman was ushered into the room, and after the customary bows and greetings were over, she said:

老婆は部屋に通され、しきたりどおりの礼と挨拶が済むと、こう言った。

“Master, the report of your brave fight with the ogre at the Gate of Rashomon is so widely known that even your poor old nurse has heard of it. Is it really true, what every one says, that you cut off one of the ogre’s arms? If you did, your deed is highly to be praised!”

「ご主人さま、羅生門で鬼と勇ましく戦われたという評判は、ずいぶん広く知れ渡っておりまして、この哀れな老いた乳母の耳にも届きました。みなが申しますとおり、鬼の腕を一本お斬りになったというのは、まことでございますか。まことなら、それは大いにたたえられるべき手柄でございます!」

“I was very disappointed,” said Watanabe, “that I was not able take the monster captive, which was what I wished to do, instead of only cutting off an arm!”

「わたしは無念だったのだ」と渡辺は言った。「腕を斬り落としただけで、望んでいたように怪物を生け捕りにできなかったのだからな!」

“I am very proud to think,” answered the old woman, “that my master was so brave as to dare to cut off an ogre’s arm. There is nothing that can be compared to your courage. Before I die it is the great wish of my life to see this arm,” she added pleadingly.

「わたくしは誇らしく存じます」と老婆は答えた。「わが主人が、鬼の腕を斬り落とすほど勇ましかったとは。あなたさまの勇気に比べられるものはございません。死ぬ前にその腕を見ることが、わたくしの一生の大きな願いでございます」と、すがるように言い添えた。

“No,” said Watanabe, “I am sorry, but I cannot grant your request.”

「いや」と渡辺は言った。「気の毒だが、その願いは聞き入れられぬ。」

“But why?” asked the old woman.

「なぜでございます」と老婆は尋ねた。

“Because,” replied Watanabe, “ogres are very revengeful creatures, and if I open the box there is no telling but that the ogre may suddenly appear and carry off his arm. I have had a box made on purpose with a very strong lid, and in this box I keep the ogre’s arm secure; and I never show it to any one, whatever happens.”

「なぜなら」と渡辺は答えた。「鬼というのはたいそう執念深い生き物だ。もし箱を開ければ、鬼が突然現れて腕を持ち去らぬともかぎらぬ。そのためにわざわざ、たいそう頑丈な蓋の箱を作らせて、そのなかに鬼の腕をしっかり収めてある。何があろうと、誰にも見せはせぬのだ。」

“Your precaution is very reasonable,” said the old woman. “But I am your old nurse, so surely you will not refuse to show ME the arm. I have only just heard of your brave act, and not being able to wait till the morning I came at once to ask you to show it to me.”

「そのご用心はまことにもっともでございます」と老婆は言った。「けれどもわたくしはあなたさまの乳母でございます。まさかこのわたくしに腕をお見せくださらぬはずはございますまい。勇ましいお働きをたったいま聞いたばかりで、朝まで待ちきれずに、すぐさま見せていただきに参ったのでございます。」

Watanabe was very troubled at the old woman’s pleading, but he still persisted in refusing. Then the old woman said:

渡辺は老婆の訴えにたいそう困ったが、それでも断りつづけた。すると老婆は言った。

“Do you suspect me of being a spy sent by the ogre?”

「わたくしが鬼の遣わした間者だとお疑いなのでございますか。」

“No, of course I do not suspect you of being the ogre’s spy, for you are my old nurse,” answered Watanabe.

「いや、もちろんおまえを鬼の間者などとは疑っておらぬ。おまえはわたしの乳母なのだから」と渡辺は答えた。

“Then you cannot surely refuse to show me the arm any longer.” entreated the old woman; “for it is the great wish of my heart to see for once in my life the arm of an ogre!”

「では、これ以上腕を見せぬとおっしゃることはできますまい」と老婆は懇願した。「一生に一度、鬼の腕をこの目で見ることこそ、わたくしの心からの願いなのでございますから!」

Watanabe could not hold out in his refusal any longer, so he gave in at last, saying:

渡辺はもう断りきれず、とうとう折れて言った。

“Then I will show you the ogre’s arm, since you so earnestly wish to see it. Come, follow me!” and he led the way to his own room, the old woman following.

「では鬼の腕を見せてやろう、おまえがそれほど切に見たがるのだから。さあ、ついてまいれ!」そして自分の部屋へ案内し、老婆はあとについていった。

When they were both in the room Watanabe shut the door carefully, and then going towards a big box which stood in a corner of the room, he took off the heavy lid. He then called to the old woman to come near and look in, for he never took the arm out of the box.

二人とも部屋に入ると、渡辺は用心深く戸を閉め、それから部屋の隅に置いてある大きな箱のところへ行って、重い蓋を取った。それから老婆に、近くへ来てなかを見るようにと声をかけた。腕を箱から出すことは決してしなかったからである。

“What is it like? Let me have a good look at it,” said the old nurse, with a joyful face.

「どんなものでございましょう。とくと拝ませてくださいませ」と老いた乳母は喜びに満ちた顔で言った。

She came nearer and nearer, as if she were afraid, till she stood right against the box. Suddenly she plunged her hand into the box and seized the arm, crying with a fearful voice which made the room shake:

老婆は怖がるようにじりじりと近づき、とうとう箱のすぐ前に立った。そして突然、箱のなかへ手を突っ込んで腕をつかみ、部屋を揺るがすほどの恐ろしい声で叫んだ。

“Oh, joy! I have got my arm back again!”

「おお、うれしや! わが腕を取り戻したぞ!」

And from an old woman she was suddenly transformed into the towering figure of the frightful ogre!

そして老婆の姿から、たちまち恐ろしい鬼のそびえ立つ姿に変わった!

Watanabe sprang back and was unable to move for a moment, so great was his astonishment; but recognizing the ogre who had attacked him at the Gate of Rashomon, he determined with his usual courage to put an end to him this time. He seized his sword, drew it out of its sheath in a flash, and tried to cut the ogre down.

渡辺は跳びのき、驚きのあまりしばらく身動きもできなかった。けれども羅生門で自分を襲ったあの鬼だと見て取ると、いつもの勇気をふるって、こんどこそ仕留めようと心を決めた。太刀をつかみ、閃光のように鞘から抜き放って、鬼を斬り伏せようとした。

So quick was Watanabe that the creature had a narrow escape. But the ogre sprang up to the ceiling, and bursting through the roof, disappeared in the mist and clouds.

渡辺があまりに素早かったので、鬼は危うく逃れた。鬼は天井まで跳び上がり、屋根を突き破って、霧と雲のなかへ消えてしまった。

In this way the ogre escaped with his arm. The knight gnashed his teeth with disappointment, but that was all he could do. He waited in patience for another opportunity to dispatch the ogre. But the latter was afraid of Watanabe’s great strength and daring, and never troubled Kyoto again. So once more the people of the city were able to go out without fear even at night time, and the brave deeds of Watanabe have never been forgotten!

こうして鬼は腕とともに逃げおおせた。武人は無念に歯ぎしりしたが、それよりほかにできることはなかった。鬼を討ち取る次の機会を辛抱強く待った。けれども鬼のほうは渡辺の大力と豪胆を恐れて、二度と京都を騒がせなかった。こうして都の人々はふたたび、夜でさえ恐れずに外へ出られるようになり、渡辺の勇ましい働きは今日まで忘れられていない!