The Magic Invasion of Seoul

A gentleman of Seoul was one day crossing the Han River in a boat. In the crossing, he nodded for a moment, fell asleep and dreamed a dream. In his dream he met a man who had Gothic eyebrows and almond eyes, whose face was red as ripened dates, and whose height was eight cubits and a span. He was dressed in green and had a long beard that came down to his belt-string. A man of majestic appearance he was, with a great sword at his side and he rode on a red horse.

ソウルのある紳士が、ある日舟で漢江を渡っていた。渡るあいだにうとうとして眠りこみ、夢を見た。夢のなかで、紳士は一人の男に会った。その男は蚕のような眉と切れ長の目をしていて、顔は熟したナツメのように赤く、背丈は八尺と一掌あった。緑の衣をまとい、帯紐まで垂れる長いひげを生やしていた。威風堂々とした姿で、腰に大きな刀を帯び、赤い馬に乗っていた。

He asked the gentleman to open his hand, which he did, and then the august stranger dashed a pen-mark on it as the sign of the God of War. Said he, "When you cross the river, do not go direct to Seoul, but wait at the landing. Seven horses will shortly appear, loaded with network hampers, all proceeding on their journey to the capital. You are to call the horsemen, open your hand, and show them the sign. When they see it they will all commit suicide in your very presence. After that, you are to take the loads and pile them up, but don't look into them. Then you are to go at once and report the matter to the Palace and have them all burned. The matter is of immense importance, so do not fail in the slightest particular."

男は紳士に手を開くよう言い、紳士が開くと、その尊い見知らぬ人は戦の神のしるしとして筆でさっと印を書きつけた。その人は言った。「川を渡ったら、まっすぐソウルへは行かず、渡し場で待て。まもなく、網の籠を積んだ馬が七頭現れて、みな都へ向かって進んでいくだろう。その馬方たちを呼んで、手を開いてしるしを見せよ。それを見ると、その者たちはみなお前の目の前で自ら命を絶つだろう。そのあと、荷を取って積み上げよ。だが中を見てはならぬ。それからすぐに宮中へ行ってこのことを報告し、それをみな焼かせよ。これはたいそう大事なことだから、ほんの少しでもしくじってはならぬ。」

The gentleman gave a great start of terror and awoke. He looked at his hand and there, indeed, was the strange mark. Not only so, but the ink had not yet dried upon it. He was astonished beyond measure, but did as the dream had indicated, and waited on the river's bank. In a little there came, as he was advised, the seven loads on seven horses, coming from the far-distant South. There were attendants in charge, and one man wearing an official coat came along behind. When they had crossed the river the gentleman called them to him and said, "I have something to say to you; come close to me." These men, unsuspecting, though with somewhat of a frightened look, closed up. He then showed them his hand with the mark, and asked them if they knew what it was. When they saw it, first of all, the man in the official coat turned and with one bound jumped over the cliff into the river. The eight or nine who accompanied the loads likewise all rushed after him and dashed into the water.

紳士はひどく恐ろしくなってはっと目を覚ました。手を見ると、ほんとうにそこに奇妙な印があった。そればかりか、墨がまだ乾いていなかった。紳士はこの上なく驚いたが、夢で指図されたとおりにして、川岸で待った。しばらくすると、言われたとおり、はるか南から七頭の馬に積んだ七つの荷がやって来た。付き添いの者たちがいて、官服を着た男が一人うしろからついてきた。一行が川を渡ると、紳士はその者たちを呼んで言った。「話がある。近くへ来てくれ。」その者たちは疑いもせず、それでもいくらか怯えたようすで寄ってきた。紳士は印のある手を見せて、これが何か知っているかと尋ねた。その者たちがそれを見ると、まず官服の男が向きを変えて、ひと跳びで崖から川に飛び込んだ。荷に付き添っていた八、九人の者も、みなそのあとを追って水に飛び込んだ。

The scholar then called the boatmen, and explained to them that the things in the hampers were dangerous, that he would have to make it known to the Palace, and that in the meantime they were to keep close guard, but that they were not to touch them or look at them.

それから書生は舟人たちを呼んで、籠の中身は危ないものなので宮中に知らせなければならないが、そのあいだしっかり見張っていて、触れたり中を見たりしてはならないと説いた。

He hurried as fast as possible, and reported the matter to the Board of War. The Board sent an official, and had the loads brought into Seoul, and then, as had been directed, they were piled high with wood and set on fire. When the fire developed, the baskets broke open, and little figures of men and horses, each an inch or so long, in countless numbers, came tumbling out.

紳士はできるかぎり急いで兵曹に報告した。兵曹は役人をやって荷をソウルに運び込ませ、それから指図どおり、荷に薪を高く積んで火をつけた。火が燃え広がると籠が裂けて開き、一寸ほどの小さな人や馬の人形が数えきれないほど転がり出てきた。

When the officials saw this they were frozen with fear; their hearts ceased beating and their tongues lolled out. In a little, however, the hampers were all burned up.

役人たちはこれを見ると恐怖に凍りついた。心臓は止まり、舌はだらりと垂れた。けれどもしばらくすると、籠はすっかり焼けてしまった。

These were the creation of a magician, and were intended for a monster invasion of Seoul, until warned by Kwan.

これは魔術師のこしらえたもので、関(クァン)に警告されるまでは、ソウルへの恐ろしい侵攻のために用意されていたのである。

From that time on the people of Seoul began faithful offerings to the God of War, for had he not saved the city?

そのときからソウルの人々は、戦の神に忠実に供え物をするようになった。戦の神が都を救ってくださったのだから。

Im Bang.

任埅(イム・バン)