Cursed by the Snake

[Ha Yon graduated in the year 1396, and became magistrate of Anak County. He built many pavilions in and about his official place of residence, where people might rest. As he went about his district, seeing the farmers busy, he wrote many songs and verses to encourage them in their work. He became later a royal censor, and King Tai-jong commended him, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Later he became Chief Justice. He cleared out the public offices of all disreputable officials, and made the Court clean. When he had leisure it was his habit to dress in ceremonial garb, burn incense, sit at attention, and write prayer verses the livelong day.

〔ハ・ヨンは1396年に及第し、安岳(アナク)郡の郡守になった。官舎の内外に人々が休めるよう多くの東屋を建てた。郡内をめぐって農民が忙しく働いているのを見ると、その仕事を励ますためにたくさんの歌や詩を書いた。のちに司諫になり、太宗王は「よくやった、善良で忠実な僕よ」とほめた。のちには大司憲になった。官庁から不行跡な役人をことごとく一掃し、朝廷を清めた。暇があると、礼服をまとい、香を焚き、端座して、一日じゅう祈りの詩を書くのが習いだった。

When he was young, once, in the Court of the Crown Prince, he wrote a verse which was commented upon thus: "Beautiful writing, beautiful thought; truly a treasure." He was a great student and a great inquirer, and grateful and lovable as a friend. He studied as a boy under the patriot Cheung Mong-ju, and was upright and pure in all his ways. His object was to become as one of the Ancients, and so he followed truth, and encouraged men in the study of the sacred books. He used to awake at first cock-crow of the morning, wash, dress, and never lay aside his book. On his right were pictures, on his left were books, and he happy between. He rose to be Prime Minister.]

若いころ、あるとき東宮で詩を書くと、それはこう評された。「美しい筆、美しい思い。まことに宝である。」偉大な学徒で偉大な探究者であり、友としては恩を知り愛すべき人だった。少年のころ忠臣鄭夢周(チョン・モンジュ)に学び、あらゆる行いにおいて正しく清らかだった。昔の賢人の一人のようになることを志し、真理に従い、人々に聖なる書物を学ぶよう勧めた。朝の一番鶏とともに起きて顔を洗い着替え、決して書物を手放さなかった。右には絵、左には書物があり、そのあいだにいて幸せだった。ついには宰相にまで昇った。〕

The Story

話

The old family seat of Prince Ha Yun was in the County of Keum-chon. He was a famous Minister of State in the days of peace and prosperity, and used frequently to find rest and leisure in his summer-house in this same county. It was a large and well-ordered mansion, and was occupied by his children for many years after his death.

ハ・ユン君の古い本家は衿川(クムチョン)郡にあった。君は太平の世の名高い大臣で、よくこの同じ郡の夏の家で休息と暇を過ごしていた。それは大きく整った屋敷で、君の死後も長年子どもたちが住んでいた。

The people of that county used to tell a very strange story of Ha and his prosperity, which runs thus: He had placed in an upper room a large crock that was used to hold flour. One day one of the servants, wishing to get some flour from the jar, lifted the lid, when suddenly from the depths of it a huge snake made its appearance. The servant, startled, fell back in great alarm, and then went and told the master what had happened. The master sent his men-slaves and had the jar brought down. They broke it open and let out a huge, awful-looking snake, such as one had never seen before. Several of the servants joined in with clubs and killed the brute. They then piled wood on it and set fire to the whole. Vile fumes arose that filled the house. From the fumes all the people of the place died, leaving no one behind to represent the family. Others who entered the house died also, so that the place became cursed, and was left in desolation. A little later a mysterious fire broke out and burnt up the remaining buildings, leaving only the vacant site. To this day the place is known as "haunted," and no one ventures to build upon it.

その郡の人々は、ハとその繁栄について、たいそう奇妙な話を語り伝えていた。それはこういう話である。ハは二階の部屋に粉を入れておく大きな甕を置いていた。ある日、召し使いの一人が甕から粉を取ろうと蓋を持ち上げると、突然その底から巨大なヘビが現れた。召し使いはぎょっとしてひどく驚いてあとずさりし、それから主人に何が起こったかを知らせに行った。主人は下男たちをやって甕を下ろさせた。下男たちが甕を割ると、それまで誰も見たことのない、巨大で恐ろしい姿のヘビが出てきた。召し使いが何人も棍棒を持って加わり、その獣を殺した。それから上に薪を積んで全体に火をつけた。ひどい煙が立ちのぼって家じゅうに満ちた。その煙でその家の者はみな死に、家を継ぐ者は一人も残らなかった。その家に入ったほかの者も死んだので、そこは呪われた場所になり、荒れるに任された。しばらくすると不思議な火事が起こって残った建物を焼き尽くし、空き地だけが残った。今日までその場所は「祟りのある所」として知られ、誰もあえてその上に家を建てようとしない。

Im Bang.

任埅(イム・バン)