The Fortunes of Yoo

There was a man of Yong-nam, named Yoo, who lived in the days of Se-jong. He had studied the classics, had passed his examinations, and had become a petty official attached to the Confucian College. He was not even of the sixth degree, so that promotion was out of the question. He was a countryman who had no friends and no influence, and though he had long been in Seoul there was no likelihood of any advancement. Such being the case, disheartened and lonely, he decided to leave the city and go back to his country home.

世宗のころ、嶺南(ヨンナム)にユという男がいた。ユは経書を学んで科挙に及第し、成均館付きの小役人になっていた。六品にも届かなかったので、昇進など思いもよらなかった。友も後ろ盾もない田舎者で、長くソウルにいても出世の見込みはまったくなかった。そういうわけで、気落ちしてさびしくなって、ユは都を去って田舎の家に帰ろうと決めた。

There was a palace secretary who knew this countryman, and who went to say good-bye to him before he left.

この田舎者を知っている一人の承旨がいて、ユが発つ前に別れを告げに来た。

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the countryman said, "I have long been in Seoul, but have never yet seen the royal office of the secretaries. Might I accompany you some day when you take your turn?"

この機会に乗じて、田舎者は言った。「わたしは長くソウルにおりますが、承旨の方々の宮中の役所をまだ一度も見たことがありません。いつかあなたが当番のときに、ご一緒させていただけないでしょうか。」

The secretary said, "In the daytime there is always a crowd of people who gather there for business, and no one is allowed in without a special pass. I am going in to-morrow, however, and intend to sleep there, so that in the evening we could have a good chance to look the Palace over. People are not allowed to sleep in the Palace as a rule, but doing so once would not be specially noticed." The secretary then gave orders to the military guard who accompanied him to escort this man in the next day.

承旨は言った。「昼間はいつも用のある人が大勢集まっていて、特別な通行証がなければ誰も入れません。けれども、わたしは明日入って、そこに泊まるつもりなので、夕方なら宮殿をゆっくり見てまわるよい機会があるでしょう。宮殿に泊まることはふつう許されていませんが、一度くらいならとくに目にとまることもないでしょう。」それから承旨は、お供の武官の番兵に、次の日この人を案内して入れるよう命じた。

As the secretary had arranged, the countryman, on the evening following, made his way into the Palace enclosure, but what was his surprise to find that, for some reason or other, the secretary had not come. The gates, also, were closed behind him, so that he could not get out. Really he was in a fix. There chanced to be a body-servant of the secretary in the room, and he, feeling sorry for the stranger, arranged a hidden corner where he might pass the night, and then quietly take his departure in the morning.

承旨の手はずどおり、田舎者は次の日の夕方、宮殿の囲いのなかへ入っていったが、驚いたことに、どういうわけか承旨は来ていなかった。門もうしろで閉まってしまったので、外へ出ることもできなかった。ほんとうに困った羽目になった。たまたま部屋に承旨の身のまわりの世話をする召し使いがいて、その者がよそ者を気の毒に思って、一晩過ごして朝にこっそり出ていけるように、人目につかない隅を用意してくれた。

The night was beautifully clear, and apparently every one slept but Yoo. He was wide awake, and wondering to himself if he might not go quietly out and see the place.

夜はみごとに晴れわたり、ユのほかはみな眠っているようだった。ユはすっかり目がさえて、そっと出ていってこの場所を見てまわってはいけないだろうかと思っていた。

It was the time of the rainy season, and a portion of the wall had fallen from the enclosure just in front. So Yoo climbed over this broken wall, and, not knowing where he went, found himself suddenly in the royal quarters. It was a beautiful park, with trees, and lakes, and walks. "Whose house is this," thought Yoo, "with its beautiful garden?" Suddenly a man appeared, with a nice new cap on his head, carrying a staff in his hand, and accompanied by a servant, walking slowly towards him. It was no other than King Se-jong, taking a stroll in the moonlight with one of his eunuchs.

ちょうど梅雨のころで、すぐ前の囲いの塀が一部崩れていた。そこでユはこの崩れた塀を乗り越え、どこへ行くとも知らずにいると、突然王の住まいに出てしまった。木々や池や小道のある美しい庭園だった。「この美しい庭のある家は、誰の家だろう」とユは思った。突然、真新しい冠をかぶり、杖を手にした男が、召し使いを一人連れて、ゆっくりユのほうへ歩いてくるのが見えた。それはほかならぬ世宗王で、宦官の一人を連れて月明かりのなかを散歩していたのだった。

When they met Yoo had no idea that it was the King. His Majesty asked, "Who are you, and how did you get in here?"

出会ったとき、ユはそれが王だとは思いもしなかった。陛下は尋ねた。「そなたは誰だ。どうやってここへ入ってきたのだ。」

He told who he was, and how he had agreed to come in with the secretary; how the secretary had failed; how the gates were shut and he was a prisoner for the night; how he had seen the bright moonlight and wished to walk out, and, finding the broken wall, had come over. "Whose house is this, anyway?" asked Yoo.

ユは自分が誰かを話し、承旨と一緒に入ることになっていたこと、承旨が来なかったこと、門が閉まって一晩閉じ込められてしまったこと、明るい月の光を見て外を歩きたくなり、崩れた塀を見つけて越えてきたことを話した。「ところで、ここはいったい誰の家なのですか」とユは尋ねた。

The King replied, "I am the master of this house." His Majesty then asked him in, and made him sit down on a mat beside him. So they talked and chatted together. The King learned that he had passed special examinations in the classics, and inquiring how it was that Yoo had had no better office, Yoo replied that he was an unknown countryman, that his family had no influence, and that, while he desired office, he was forestalled by the powerful families of the capital. "Who is there," he asked, "that would bother himself about me? Thus all my hopes have failed, and I have just decided to leave the city and go back home and live out my days there."

王は答えた。「わたしがこの家の主だ。」それから陛下はユを招き入れ、自分のそばの敷物に座らせた。こうして二人は話をし、語り合った。王は、ユが経書の特別な試験に及第していることを知り、どうしてもっとよい官職につけなかったのかと尋ねた。ユは答えて、自分は名もない田舎者で、家には後ろ盾がなく、官職を望んでも都の勢いのある家々に先を越されてしまうのだと言った。「わたしのことなど」とユは言った。「誰がかまってくれましょう。こうして望みはみな絶え、ちょうど都を去って郷里に帰り、そこで残りの日々を暮らそうと決めたところなのです。」

The King asked again, "You know the classics so well, do you know something also of the Book of Changes?"

王はまた尋ねた。「それほど経書をよく知っているのなら、『易経』のことも何か知っているか。」

He replied, "The deeper parts I do not know, but the easier parts only."

ユは答えた。「奥深いところは存じませんが、やさしいところだけなら。」

Then the King ordered a eunuch to bring the Book of Changes. It was the time when his Majesty was reading it for himself. The book was brought and opened in the moonlight. The King looked up a part that had given him special difficulty, and this the stranger explained character by character, giving the meaning with convincing clearness. The King was delighted and wondered greatly, and so they read together all through the night. When they separated the King said, "You have all this knowledge and yet have never been made use of? Alas, for my country!" said he, sighing.

そこで王は宦官に『易経』を持ってくるよう命じた。ちょうど陛下が自ら読んでおられたころだった。本が持ってこられて、月明かりのなかで開かれた。王がとくに難しく思っていた箇所を開くと、よそ者はそれを一字一字説き明かし、その意味を納得のいく明快さで示した。王は大いに喜んでたいそう感心し、こうして二人は夜通し一緒に読んだ。別れるとき、王は言った。「これほどの学識がありながら、一度も用いられなかったとは。ああ、わが国よ!」王はそう言ってため息をついた。

Yoo remarked that he would like to go straight home now, if the master would kindly open the door for him.

ユは、主が戸を開けてくださるなら、もうまっすぐ家へ帰りたいと言った。

The King said, however, that it was too early yet, and that he might be arrested by the guards who were about. "Go then," said he, "to where you were, and when it is broad daylight you can go through the open gate."

けれども王は、まだ早すぎるし、あたりにいる番兵に捕らえられるかもしれないと言った。「だから」と王は言った。「もといた所へ行って、すっかり明るくなったら、開いた門から出ていくがよい。」

Yoo then bade good-bye, and went back over the broken wall to his corner in the secretary's room. When morning came he went out through the main gateway and returned to his home.

そこでユは別れを告げ、崩れた塀を越えて承旨の部屋の隅へ戻った。朝になると、ユは表門から出て家に帰った。

On the following day the King sent a special secretary and had Yoo appointed to the office of Overseer of Literature. On the promulgation of this the officials gathered in the public court, and protested in high dudgeon against so great an office being given to an unknown person.

次の日、王は特に承旨をやって、ユを文学の監督の官に任じた。これが布告されると、役人たちは朝廷に集まり、名もない者にそれほどの大官を与えることにひどく腹を立てて抗議した。

His Majesty, however, said, "If you are so opposed to it, I'll desist."

けれども陛下は言った。「それほど反対なら、やめておこう。」

But the day following he appointed him to an office one degree still higher. Again they all protested, and his Majesty said, "Really, if you so object, I'll drop the matter."

ところが次の日、王はユをさらに一段高い官に任じた。またみなが抗議し、陛下は言った。「まことに、それほど反対なら、この件はやめにしよう。」

The day following he appointed him to an office still one degree higher. Again they all protested and he apparently yielded to them. But the day following higher still he was promoted, and again the protests poured in, so much so that his Majesty seemed to yield. On the day following this the King wrote out for him the office of Vice-President of all the Literati.

次の日、王はユをさらにもう一段高い官に任じた。またみなが抗議し、王は折れたように見えた。けれども次の日、ユはさらに高く昇進させられ、また抗議が殺到したので、陛下は折れたように見えた。その次の日、王はユのために全儒者の副長の官を書き与えた。

The high officials gathered again and inquired of one another as to what the King meant, and what they had better do about it. "If we do not in some way prevent it, he will appoint him as President of the Literati." They decided to drop the matter for the present, and see later what was best to do.

高官たちはまた集まって、王はどういうつもりなのか、自分たちはどうしたらよいのかと互いに尋ね合った。「なんとかして止めなければ、あの者を儒者の長に任じてしまうだろう。」一同は、今のところはこの件をやめにして、あとでどうするのがいちばんよいか見ようと決めた。

A royal banquet was announced to take place, when all the officials gathered. On this occasion the high Ministers of State said quietly to the King, "It is not fitting that so obscure a person have so important an office. Your Majesty's promoting him as you have done has thrown the whole official body into a state of consternation. On our protest you have merely promoted him more. What is your Majesty's reason, please, for this action?"

王の宴が開かれることが告げられ、役人がみな集まった。この折に、国の高い大臣たちはひそかに王に言った。「あのように名もない者がそれほど重い官につくのはふさわしくありません。陛下があのように昇進させられたので、役人たちはみな狼狽しております。わたくしどもが抗議すると、陛下はただいっそう昇進させられるばかりでした。いったいどういうわけで、このようになさるのでしょうか。」

The King made no reply, but ordered a eunuch to bring the Book of Changes. He opened it at the place of special difficulty, and inquired as to its meaning. Even among the highest ministers not one could give an answer. He inquired by name of this one and that, but all were silent. The King then said, "I am greatly interested in the reading of the Book of Changes; it is the great book of the sages. Any one who understands it surely ought to be promoted. You, all of you, fail to grasp its meaning, while Yoo, whom you protest against, has explained it all to me. Now what have you to say? Yoo's being promoted thus is just as it ought to be. Why do you object? I shall promote him still more and more, so cease from all opposition."

王は何も答えず、宦官に『易経』を持ってくるよう命じた。王はとくに難しい箇所を開いて、その意味を尋ねた。いちばん高い大臣たちのなかにさえ、一人として答えられる者はいなかった。王はこの者あの者と名を呼んで尋ねたが、みな黙っていた。そこで王は言った。「わたしは『易経』を読むことにたいそう心を寄せている。これは聖人の偉大な書である。これを理解する者は、必ず昇進させるべきだ。そなたたちは誰もその意味をつかめないのに、そなたたちが反対するユは、わたしにすっかり説き明かしてくれた。さあ、何か言うことがあるか。ユがこうして昇進するのは、まさにそうあるべきことだ。どうして反対するのか。わたしはユをもっともっと昇進させるから、反対はいっさいやめよ。」

They were afraid and ashamed, and did not again mention it.

一同は恐れ恥じ入って、二度とそのことを口にしなかった。

Yoo from that time on became the royal teacher of the Choo-yuk (Book of Changes), and rose higher and higher in rank, till he became Head of the Confucian College and first in influence, surpassing all.

そのときからユは周易(易経)の王の師となり、位はますます高く上って、とうとう成均館の長となり、勢いでも誰よりも抜きんでた第一人者になった。

Note.--Many people of ability have no chance for promotion. It is difficult to have one's gifts known in high places; how much more difficult before a king? The good fortune that fell to the first scholar was of God's appointment. By caring for a vacant house the honour came to him, and he was promoted. The other's going thus unbidden into the Palace was a great wrong, but by royal favour he was pardoned, received and honoured.

注——才ある人の多くは、昇進の機会がない。自分の才を高い所に知ってもらうのは難しい。まして王の前ではなおさらである。先の学者にめぐってきた幸運は、天の定めによるものだった。空き家を守ったことで誉れがその人にめぐってきて、昇進したのである。もう一人のように招かれもせずに宮殿に入るのは大きな過ちだったが、王の恵みによって許され、迎えられ、重んじられた。

By one line of poetry a man's ability was made manifest, and by one explanation of the Choo-yuk another's path was opened to high promotion.

詩の一行によって一人の才が明らかにされ、周易のひとつの説き明かしによって、もう一人に高い昇進への道が開かれた。

If Se-jong had not been a great and enlightened king, how could it have happened? Very rare are such happenings, indeed! So all men wondered over what had befallen these two. I, however, wondered more over the King's sagacity in finding them. To my day his virtue and accomplishments are known, so that the world calls him Korea's King of the Golden Age.

世宗が偉大で聡明な王でなかったら、どうしてこんなことが起こりえただろう。まことにめったにないことである! それで人はみな、この二人に起こったことを不思議に思った。けれどもわたしは、二人を見いだした王の賢さのほうをいっそう不思議に思う。わたしの時代に至るまで、その徳と業は知られていて、世は世宗を朝鮮の黄金時代の王と呼んでいるのである。

Im Bang.

任埅(イム・バン)