The Temple to the God of War

[Yi Hang-bok.--When he was a child a blind fortune-teller came and cast his future, saying, "This boy will be very great indeed."

〔李恒福(イ・ハンボク)——子どものころ、盲目の占い師が来て運勢を占って言った。「この子はまことにたいそう偉くなるでしょう。」

At seven years of age his father gave him for subject to write a verse on "The Harp and the Sword," and he wrote--

七歳のとき、父が「琴と剣」という題で詩を書かせると、李はこう書いた——

"The Sword pertains to the Hand of the Warrior And the Harp to the Music of the Ancients."

「剣は武人の手のものにして、琴は古人の楽のもの。」

At eight he took the subject of the "Willow before the Door," and wrote--

八歳のとき「門前の柳」という題をとって、こう書いた——

"The east wind brushes the brow of the cliff And the willow on the edge nods fresh and green."

「東風は崖の額をなで、へりの柳は青々とうなずく。」

On seeing a picture of a great banquet among the fierce Turks of Central Asia, he wrote thus--

中央アジアの荒々しいトルコ人の大宴会の絵を見て、李はこう書いた——

"The hunt is off in the wild dark hills, And the moon is cold and gray, While the tramping feet of a thousand horse Ring on the frosty way. In the tents of the Turk the music thrills And the wine-cups chink for joy, 'Mid the noise of the dancer's savage tread And the lilt of the wild hautboy."

「狩りは荒れた暗い山々へ去り、月は冷たく灰色なり。千の馬の踏む足音は、霜の道に響きわたる。トルコ人の天幕には楽が震え、酒杯は喜びに鳴る。踊り手の荒々しい足踏みの音と、野の笛の調べのなかに。」

At twelve years of age he was proud, we are told, and haughty. He dressed well, and was envied by the poorer lads of the place, and once he took off his coat and gave it to a boy who looked with envy on him. He gave his shoes as well, and came back barefoot. His mother, wishing to know his mind in the matter, pretended to reprimand him, but he replied, saying, "Mother, when others wanted it so, how could I refuse giving?" His mother pondered these things in her heart.

十二歳のとき、李は誇り高く高慢だったという。身なりがよく、その土地の貧しい少年たちにうらやまれていたが、あるとき李は上着を脱いで、うらやましそうに見ていた少年に与えた。靴も与えて、はだしで帰ってきた。母は李の心を知ろうと、叱るふりをしたが、李は答えて言った。「お母さん、ほかの人があんなに欲しがっているのに、どうしてあげずにいられましょう。」母はこれらのことを心に留めて思いめぐらした。

When he was fifteen he was strong and well-built, and liked vigorous exercise, so that he was a noted wrestler and skilful at shuttlecock. His mother, however, frowned upon these things, saying that they were not dignified, so that he gave them up and confined his attention to literary studies, graduating at twenty-five years of age.

十五歳のとき、李は強くたくましい体つきで、激しい運動を好み、名高い相撲取りで羽根蹴りも巧みだった。けれども母はこうしたことを品がないと眉をひそめたので、李はそれをやめて文学の研究に専念し、二十五歳で及第した。

In 1592, during the Japanese War, when the King escaped to Eui-ju, Yi Hang-bok went with him in his flight, and there he met the Chinese (Ming) representative, who said in surprise to his Majesty, "Do you mean to tell me that you have men in Cho-sen like Yi Hang-bok?" Yang Ho, the general of the rescuing forces, also continually referred to him for advice and counsel. He lived to see the troubles in the reign of the wicked Kwang-hai, and at last went into exile to Puk-chong. When he crossed the Iron Pass near Wonsan, he wrote--

1592年、日本との戦のとき、王が義州(ウィジュ)へ逃れると、李恒福は王の避難に同行した。そこで李は中国(明)の使節に会い、使節は驚いて陛下に言った。「朝鮮に李恒福のような人物がいるとおっしゃるのですか。」救援軍の将軍楊鎬(ヤン・ホ)も、絶えず李に助言と意見を求めた。李は邪悪な光海君の治世の騒乱まで生き、とうとう北青(プクチョン)に流された。元山の近くの鉄嶺を越えるとき、李はこう書いた——

"From the giddy height of the Iron Peak, I call on the passing cloud, To take up a lonely exile's tears In the folds of its feathery shroud, And drop them as rain on the Palace Gates, On the King, and his shameless crowd."]

「鉄の峰のめくるめく高みから、わたしは流れ行く雲に呼びかける。一人流される者の涙を、その羽毛の衣のひだに受け取って、宮殿の門に、王に、そして恥知らずの取り巻きの上に、雨として降らせよと。」〕

The Story

話

During the Japanese War in the reign of Son-jo, the Mings sent a great army that came east, drove out the enemy and restored peace. At that time the general of the Mings informed his Korean Majesty that the victory was due to the help of Kwan, the God of War. "This being the case," said he, "you ought not to continue without temples in which to express your gratitude to him." So they built him houses of worship and offered him sacrifice. The Temples built were one to the south and one to the east of the city. In examining sites for these they could not agree on the one to the south. Some wanted it nearer the wall and some farther away. At that time an official, called Yi Hang-bok, was in charge of the conference. On a certain day when Yi was at home a military officer called and wished to see him. Ordering him in he found him a great strapping fellow, splendidly built. His request was that Yi should send out all his retainers till he talked to him privately. They were sent out, and then the stranger gave his message. After he had finished, he said good-bye and left.

宣祖の治世の日本との戦のとき、明が大軍を東へ送り、敵を追い払って平和を取り戻した。そのとき明の将軍は朝鮮の陛下に、勝利は戦の神である関(クァン)の助けによるものだと告げた。「そうである以上」と将軍は言った。「その神に感謝を表す廟がないままでいてはなりません。」そこで人々は関のために祠を建てて供え物をした。建てられた廟は、都の南にひとつ、東にひとつだった。その場所を調べるとき、南の廟の場所について意見がまとまらなかった。城壁の近くにしたい者もいれば、もっと遠くにしたい者もいた。そのとき、李恒福という役人がその会議を取り仕切っていた。ある日、李が家にいると、一人の武官が訪ねてきて会いたいと言った。通してみると、たいそう立派な体格の大男だった。その頼みは、二人きりで話したいので家来をみな外へ出してほしいというものだった。家来たちが外へ出されると、見知らぬ男は伝言を伝えた。話し終えると、男は別れを告げて去った。

Yi had at that time an old friend stopping with him. The friend went out with the servants when they were asked to leave, and now he came back again. When he came in he noticed that the face of the master had a very peculiar expression, and he asked him the reason of it. Yi made no reply at first, but later told his friend that a very extraordinary thing had happened. The military man who had come and called was none other than a messenger of the God of War. His coming, too, was on account of their not yet having decided in regard to the site for the Temple. "He came," said Yi, "to show me where it ought to be. He urged that it was not a matter for time only, but for the eternities to come. If we do not get it right the God of War will find no peace. I told him in reply that I would do my best. Was this not strange?"

李のところには、そのとき古い友が泊まっていた。友は外へ出るよう言われたとき召し使いたちと一緒に出ていたが、今戻ってきた。入ってくると、友は主の顔がたいそう妙な表情をしているのに気づいて、わけを尋ねた。李は初め答えなかったが、のちに、たいそう途方もないことが起こったのだと友に話した。訪ねてきた武官は、ほかならぬ戦の神の使いだったのである。その使いが来たのも、廟の場所がまだ決まっていないせいだった。「使いは」と李は言った。「廟がどこにあるべきかを示しに来たのだ。これは今のことだけでなく、来たるべき永遠にかかわることだと強く言った。正しく定めなければ、戦の神は安らげないというのだ。わたしはできるかぎりのことをすると答えた。不思議なことではないか。」

The friend who heard this was greatly exercised, but Yi warned him not to repeat it to any one. Yi used all his efforts, and at last the building was placed on the approved site, where it now stands.

これを聞いた友はたいそう心を動かされたが、李は誰にも話してはならないと戒めた。李は力を尽くし、とうとう建物は認められた場所に建てられ、今もそこに立っている。

Im Bang.

任埅(イム・バン)