The Old Man in the Dream

Kwon Jai was a man high in rank and well advanced in years. He was, however, much given to sport and various kinds of pleasure. One night he had a dream, when an old man came to him, who bowed low, and in tears said, "Sir, Minister Hong wishes to kill off me and all my posterity. Please save me, won't you?"

権才(クォン・ジェ)は位の高い、かなり年を重ねた人であった。しかし狩りやさまざまの遊びをたいそう好んだ。ある夜、夢を見た。一人の老人が現れ、深々と頭を下げ、涙ながらに言った。「旦那さま、洪(ホン)公がわたくしと、わたくしの子孫のすべてを殺そうとしております。どうかお助けくださいませんか。」

Kwon asked, "How can I save you?" The old man replied, "Hong will assuredly ask Your Excellency to help him. Desist from it, please, for if you do, Hong will give it up and I shall live and all mine."

権が尋ねた。「どうすればお前を助けられるのだ。」老人は答えた。「洪公はきっと旦那さまに助力をお求めになります。どうかお断りください。そうしていただければ洪公は思いとどまり、わたくしも一族もみな生きながらえます。」

A little later there came a rap at the door, when Kwon awakened and asked, "Who is there?" It was Hong, who that day had planned an excursion to Lotus Lake to fish for turtles, and now had come specially to invite Kwon to go with him.

しばらくして戸を叩く音がした。権は目を覚まし、「どなたか」と尋ねた。洪であった。その日、蓮池へ出かけて亀を釣る趣向を立て、権を誘おうとわざわざ訪ねてきたのである。

Then Kwon knew that the turtle had appeared to him in a dream in the form of an old man, so he declined, saying he was ill. I learned later that Hong also did not go.

そこで権は、亀が老人の姿を借りて夢に現れたのだと悟り、病と言って断った。のちに聞いたところでは、洪もまた出かけなかったという。

Yi Ryuk.

李陸(イ・リュク)